Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

Chapter 608: Terms of Exchange

In the world of Cultivation, the conflicts between various cultivation forces generally do not involve the black market. Especially the leaders of those major forces, to some extent, are aware of the background of the black market. Out of concerns for the powerful Dark Alliance, they consciously avoid bringing the battles to the black market. Over the years, this has almost become an unwritten rule within the Cultivation World.

For example, in the Endless Sea of Sand region, despite experiencing numerous major battles, the black market has not suffered significant losses. The people in the black market stay away from the battleground and remain unaffected.

However, the Barbarian Clan, being extraterritorial invaders, are unfamiliar with the forces of the black market and do not pay attention to these unwritten rules. In the eyes of the Barbarian Clan invaders, all cultivation forces are treated equally, and they must all be dealt a destructive blow.

One might think that with the considerable resources of the black market, losing some strongholds or a treasure repository should not be a big deal. But unfortunately, this particular treasure repository holds an item of special importance to certain individuals within the Dark Alliance leadership.

After the loss of that stronghold, the black market organized manpower to try and reclaim it, retrieving the treasure from the Barbarian Clan's grasp. However, the strength of the Barbarian Clan's army was too overwhelming, and the cultivation forces in Yuan Tu Great Prairie were utterly defeated, unable to provide any assistance. Relying solely on the black market's strength led to a disastrous attempt, almost resulting in the complete annihilation of their forces.

Consequently, that stronghold became entirely under the control of the Barbarian Clan. Later on, though the Jiuqu League and Three Sects Alliance jointly managed to stall the Barbarian Clan's advance, temporarily stabilizing the situation in Yuan Tu Great Prairie, fully recovering the lost territory and reclaiming the lands occupied by the Barbarian Clan's army remained a distant prospect.

The Dark Alliance made numerous efforts to regain the treasured repository. However, the Dark Alliance, despite its vast influence, is divided into various factions, and internal struggles are fierce. Moreover, the Dark Alliance's strength is limited in a specific region. Even the combined forces of the Jiuqu League and the surrounding branches of the Three Sects Alliance can only engage in a protracted battle with the Barbarian Clan's army, unable to achieve a decisive victory.

Unable to prevail openly, the Dark Alliance's high-level strategists resorted to covert means. They didn't seek to defeat the Barbarian Clan outright but rather to secretly send people to infiltrate and stealthily retrieve the treasure. However, deploying a Primordial Spirit True Monarch would attract too much attention, and regular high-ranking members of the Dark Alliance would find it difficult to command a Primordial Spirit True Monarch for personal gain.

Therefore, the Dark Alliance dispatched several teams composed of Gold Core cultivators to secretly infiltrate Yuan Tu Great Prairie. However, each attempt ended in failure with heavy casualties. Despite hundreds of years passing, some high-level members of the Dark Alliance have not completely given up. Periodically, they organize teams to venture into Yuan Tu Great Prairie.

Despite their repeated failures, a sense of resilience and determination has grown among the Dark Alliance high command. They not only deployed the Dark Alliance's own Gold Core cultivators but also paid a hefty price to hire several Gold Core cultivators from the Jiuqu League.

While these repeated failures and casualties have tarnished the reputation of the Dark Alliance high command, it has become increasingly challenging for them to employ powerful Gold Core cultivators.

Jue Ying Daoist Master, after assisting Taiyi Sect in procuring the Void Nether Stone, has been discovered by a certain high-ranking member of the Dark Alliance. This individual saw an opportunity and offered a proposition. If Taiyi Sect dispatches a team of cultivators to infiltrate that stronghold and retrieve the treasure from the treasure repository, the individual will employ their power to provide Taiyi Sect with a substantial amount of Void Nether Stone.

Taiyi Sect, although a recent addition to the Jiuqu League, has risen in prominence only in recent years. However, Taiyi Sect has already proven its combat strength through multiple hard-fought battles. While it may not dare to compare itself with those Primordial Spirit sects, there are not many Gold Core sects that can surpass Taiyi Sect. If Taiyi Sect were to mobilize fully and dispatch a team of Gold Core cultivators, there would indeed be some chance of success.

Upon hearing Jue Ying Daoist Master's account, Meng Zhang fell into a momentary silence. The Void Nether Stone was undoubtedly essential, but asking Taiyi Sect cultivators to risk their lives in exchange seemed a bit excessive. Many Gold Core cultivators had failed before; could Taiyi Sect cultivators truly succeed? Even if they were to miraculously succeed, the cost would undoubtedly be substantial.

Observing Meng Zhang's silence, Jue Ying Daoist Master, who understood his old friend well, knew that he was likely unwilling to accept this exchange condition. Jue Ying Daoist Master hurriedly offered an explanation to avoid misunderstandings.

As it turns out, the treasure hidden within that repository was also of great use to Jue Ying Daoist Master and her disciples. Many years ago, Jue Ying Daoist Master's master, Luo Ye Daoist Master, had set her sights on that treasure repository. However, she knew that a head-on approach was not feasible and needed a different plan. She paid a high price to obtain a clever way to infiltrate the stronghold, open the treasure repository, and take away the treasure. But if Luo Ye Daoist Master were to actively explore and find the repository or open its secrets, it would undoubtedly raise suspicions. She didn't want to let the higher-ups in the alliance benefit without a price.

As a fellow member of the Dark Alliance, Luo Ye Daoist Master was all too familiar with certain high-ranking members who were entirely untrustworthy. Over the years, Luo Ye Daoist Master had been quietly patient, waiting for the right opportunity. And now, that opportunity had finally arrived.

The higher-ups in the alliance wanted Taiyi Sect's help to retrieve the treasure, which meant they would reveal how to find the repository and open it to Meng Zhang. Luo Ye Daoist Master's plan was to use her method to infiltrate the stronghold together. Then, Meng Zhang would open the repository and retrieve the treasure. As for how to handle the higher-ups in the alliance and how to ensure Taiyi Sect obtained the necessary Void Nether Stone, Luo Ye Daoist Master had already made plans.

Jue Ying Daoist Master's role in this meeting was to deliver Luo Ye Daoist Master's message. If Meng Zhang trusted them and was willing to participate in this plan, then they could proceed to the next step of the plan. However, if Meng Zhang felt the risk was too significant and was unwilling to participate, then the matter would have to be abandoned.

Jue Ying Daoist Master emphasized to Meng Zhang that Luo Ye Daoist Master had planned and prepared for this for a long time, and the plan was meticulous, with no loopholes. Taiyi Sect would not need to deploy too much overwhelming force, just two Gold Core cultivators working together would be sufficient to complete the plan. Luo Ye Daoist Master and Jue Ying Daoist Master themselves would accompany the operation, so Meng Zhang need not worry about the safety of Taiyi Sect cultivators. As long as everything went according to plan, there would be no casualties.

Having listened to Jue Ying Daoist Master's words, Meng Zhang once again fell into silence. He and Jue Ying Daoist Master had faced life and death together multiple times, battling side by side against the enemy, creating an unbreakable bond of trust. While he trusted Luo Ye Daoist Master's character and knew she wouldn't betray him, the matter at hand was of significant importance, and he needed to carefully consider it.

While he could trust Luo Ye Daoist Master, it didn't guarantee that her plan was without flaws. Infiltrating the extraterritorial Barbarian Clan's territory carried significant risks, and danger lurked at every moment. Meng Zhang couldn't help but take this matter seriously and weigh his options.

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