Translator: CinderTL
"Ji Yin, Lan Chen, you both personally promised not to pursue this matter further. As sect masters and among the most powerful cultivators in this world, do you intend to go back on your word?" Mi He challenged.
Before Song Wen or Lan Chen could respond, Mo Yexue spoke first.
"They may have agreed, but I didn't. Mi He, the Beastmaster Sect won't get off the hook without paying a price."
Mi He clasped her hands in a fist and bowed slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Mo, this matter is the fault of the Beastmaster Sect. However, the dead cannot be brought back to life. The Beastmaster Sect is willing to offer compensation in Spirit Stones or cede some of our sect's assets. We only ask that you show magnanimity and cease pursuing this matter."
Mo Yexue crossed her arms, a playful smile on her face as she watched Mi He.
"It's not impossible for me to forgive you, but there's one condition."
Mo Yexue paused dramatically, drawing out the suspense.
Mi He, seeing this, looked up at Mo Yexue, anticipation in her eyes.
Then, Mo Yexue continued, "As long as the Beastmaster Sect cedes its sect's territory, I'll drop the matter."
Mi He's expression stiffened, and her eyes flashed with hatred. She ground her teeth as she spoke.
"So, you've set your sights on the Beastmaster Sect's blessed land! Don't even dream of it. I will never hand over our sect's territory," Mo Yexue said calmly.
"If you refuse, it doesn't matter. We'll slaughter your entire Beastmaster Sect, and this land will still be ours," Mi He retorted, her eyes blazing with fury. "Every one of the tens of thousands of disciples in the Beastmaster Sect would rather die than surrender. You won't find it so easy to destroy us."
Seeing the tension escalate, Lan Chen quickly intervened.
"Fellow Daoists, we've known each other for many years. Why resort to violence? Let's compromise. Fellow Daoist Mi He, hand over those who participated in the attack on the Profound Heaven Sword Sect's secret realm. Fellow Daoist Mo, you guarantee that you will no longer pursue this matter. Ji Yin and I will bear witness to this agreement. How does that sound?"
Mo Yexue nodded. "Very well. Since Lan Chen has spoken, I agree to this arrangement."
Mi He frowned, scrutinizing the three figures through the Sect Protection Array's barrier.
"You Three Great Sects have mobilized such a massive force. Is it truly just to settle an old score? Will you truly retreat once I hand over the culprits?"
Lan Chen smiled. "Of course."
Mi He pondered for a moment, then her expression suddenly turned cold.
"You're lying to me! You're using the pretense of 'handing over someone' to lure me into opening the Sect Protection Array, then launch a surprise attack to wipe out the Beastmaster Sect in one fell swoop, aren't you?"
Lan Chen said, "Fellow Daoist Mi He, why would you think that? What good would it do us to destroy your sect?"
Mi He scanned the three figures, finally fixing her gaze on Song Wen.
"While I don't know your true intentions, they're likely related to Blood Sui."
Mo Yexue sneered. "Mi He, even if you've guessed our purpose, what can you do? Do you really think you can sit safely behind your Sect Protection Array forever? The elite forces of our Three Great Sects have gathered here. Under siege, how long do you think your Sect Protection Array can hold out?"
Lan Chen said, "Mi He, we have indeed come for Blood Sui. If you lead your disciples to help us sever all the earth veins near the Beastmaster Sect's territory, we promise not to kill a single member of your sect. Moreover, we'll let you take away all the treasures within the Beastmaster Sect."
Mi He retorted furiously, "That's impossible! Severing the earth veins would turn this place into a lifeless wasteland, destroying the Beastmaster Sect's thousand-year legacy in an instant. I, Mi He, will never commit such a heinous act of destroying my sect and betraying my ancestors!"
At that moment, Song Wen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Mi He, I know you're hoping Blood Sui can drive us away, even kill us. But I've fought Blood Sui before. I wouldn't come unprepared. Though powerful, Blood Sui rarely moves, and its tentacle attacks have a limited range. As long as we stay far away, it can't touch us. It's the Beastmaster Sect that will suffer severe damage from Blood Sui."
"The reason the three of us are negotiating with you is twofold: first, we don't want to commit too much killing; second, your sect has occupied this land for over ten thousand years and knows every earth vein in the area intimately. With your help, we can seal off all the earth veins quickly."
"Moreover, we don't need to sever the earth veins completely. Temporary sealing will suffice. Once we've slain Blood Sui, we'll restore the earth veins, and the Beastmaster Sect can continue its legacy here."
Mi He finally understood the situation.
She also understood why Song Wen and the others hadn't attacked immediately.
First, they feared she might awaken Blood Sui prematurely, making it difficult for them to kill it.
Second, the Beastmaster Sect's headquarters was rich in Spiritual Qi, a rarity in the world. The area's earth veins, both large and small, numbered in the hundreds.
These veins were hidden deep underground, and finding and sealing them all in a short time would be nearly impossible.
But Mi He could accomplish this effortlessly.
"Not only do you want to sever the earth veins, turning the Beastmaster Sect into a barren wasteland, but you also intend to slay our Guardian Divine Beast. What secret does Blood Sui hold that warrants such elaborate schemes?"
Mi He, who had always claimed she would never become a 'destroyer of her sect and ancestors,' didn't outright refuse. Instead, she began probing for Blood Sui's secret.
Song Wen watched Mi He, his eyes narrowing slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "It seems Fellow Daoist Mi He already has some suspicions."
Mi He replied uncertainly, "Could Blood Sui be the Blood of Fallen Immortal?"
Song Wen confirmed, "Yes."
A sharp glint flashed in Mi He's eyes, her undisguised surprise turning her head back toward Sui Peak.
Song Wen continued, "Fellow Daoist Mi He, your sect has raised Blood Sui for many years. You should know that it can reproduce and expand on its own. If you help us kill it, we can give you a complete tentacle. With careful cultivation using abundant Spirit Stones and blood food, you'll be able to break through to the Divine Transformation Realm once you reach Peak Nascent Soul."
The joy on Mi He's face gradually faded, replaced by a stern expression. "I joined the Beastmaster Sect as a child. I cultivated here, grew here. Everything I have, the sect gave me. How could I stand by and watch the Beastmaster Sect become a barren wasteland? How could I let you slay our Guardian Divine Beast?"
Song Wen's expression turned cold. "What do you mean, Fellow Daoist?"
Mi He held up two fingers. "Twenty percent! I want twenty percent of Blood Sui's fleshly body! Ji Yin, don't think I don't know how massive Blood Sui's body is. You can't dismiss me with a mere tentacle."
(End of the Chapter)
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