Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 750: Handing over a knife



After retrieving the water and soil into his Spatial Rings, Wu Long lowered the talismans that formed the concealing wall to ground level, and deactivated them in batches as soon as they were relatively low.

The talismans withered into dust as soon as Spiritual Qi stopped flowing through them.

Although, from up close this concealment was sloppy, only proven effective because Wu Long distracted his opponent and his subordinates with a flashy battle, its main function was to hide that sight that would have been visible for miles and miles away. And from far away this disguise was basically perfect.

Wu Long then collected the Spatial Ring, and after disposing of the body, the group traveled back to the Silver Wing City.

As soon as he got back, Wu Long received confirmation from Zhao Xieren that the Three Pillars Sect had agreed to cooperate, which sent the further plans into motion.

The two groups from the Major Sects that seemed to have disappeared that day without a trace, generated a lot of rumors floating around the city, but the main theory was that they fought against each other and were then ambushed by a third party in a weakened state.

The members of the Thousand Eyes Palace that returned were witnessed by various groups in the city, and were clearly only Nine Mortal Realms practitioners, so it was deemed impossible they were in any way connected to the disappearance of the two groups, both of which only had Transcendents in them.

At the same time, the Ember Palm Pavilion lodged an official complaint against the two other Sects, alleging they sent their groups out to intercept two Disciples of the Ember Palm Pavilion.

After all, the three Sects were of the Righteous Path, and openly targeting Disciples of others was considered not only taboo involving penalties, but also dishonorable, affecting the dignity and reputation of the Sect.

The two Sects denied the allegation, but were unable to explain why their groups were in that area at that time, since the fact they were present was already confirmed, as those who sold them the information about the Disciples of the Ember Palm Pavilion did not hesitate to also sell the information that the two Sects sent out teams.

If they denied there were any of their people at all in that vicinity, they lost any clues to finding their Elders and Sect Protectors, or at least clues as to what happened to them. Not to mention, that if they denied their existence and their bodies were later found there, it would be even worse.

Thus all they could do was to silently search, while keeping the reason they sent out those groups vague.

All this, however, facilitated the involvement of the Martial Alliance, and soon the news reached the continent that the branch of the Alliance located in the Wei Dynasty sent a delegation and an overseer.

A few days later, Wu Long was standing at a clearing in the forest, wearing the disguise of a Talisman Master from the plateau.

Soon, a group approached the vicinity.

A formless ripple of Spiritual Qi spread from Wu Long, and after a moment a similar but different in fluctuations ripple came back, as both confirmed they were the counterparts that were supposed to meet here by the predetermined signal.

The Ember Palm Pavilion approached, this time led by an Elder who was likely higher in status than the two they met before, who were also present. HIS cultivation was at the 6th level of Essence Gathering Realm, so he was unlikely to be a Grand Elder.

'An Inner Court Elder then...', Wu Long narrowed his eyes.

"You are quite bold to meet us like this", the Inner Court Elder noted as he saw Wu Long's cultivation.

For someone claiming to have information about the Ember Palm Pavilion's missing agent, not having equal strength when meeting was risky.

"I was hired to be an intermediary", Wu Long shrugged, as talismans swirled around him, forming an intricate set of circular patterns.

"Long-distance communication array? Heh, how clever... and if we tried to capture you to find the ones who sent you?", the Inner Court Elder snorted with amusement.

"They would flee while I'll have no use to you", Wu Long shrugged.

The Ember Palm Pavilion members had complicated looks appear on their faces. It was rather rude for those who hired this Talisman Master to not meet in person, but they couldn't exactly blame the other side, since the topic was sensitive.

And the Inner Court Elder's initial questions only served to confirm that it would not have been wise to meet if they didn't have sufficient force, or assurance this will not grow into a conflict, since the two sides did not have trust.

At the same time, it was unlikely that they could gain anything from capturing this Talisman Master. Even though he could be bluffing, and know who he worked for, checking his bluff was not to their advantage.

[Greetings], at this time, a voice came through the communication channel that the Talisman Master set up.

'Hoh... how talented...', the Inner Court Elder narrowed his eyes, since the complex link only took half a minute to establish, and was seemingly quite stable.

"Let's skip the pleasantries, we all know why we're here. Why do you claim we don't have those who came from the Battle God's Cradle?", he then spoke aloud, staring intently into the communication array even though there was no image, only sound.

[The topic is a bit sensitive, would you mind if only the esteemed Elders were privy to the conversation?], the reply surprised the three Elders, but they signaled the Sect Protectors to move further away.

And seeing that, the Talisman Master created a sound barrier that isolated the three Elders with himself and the communication array within it.

"Now are you able to answer?", the Elder impatiently asked again.

[Because we're the ones who arrived from there], the answer caused shock to appear on the faces of the Ember Palm Pavilion Elders.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"And our agent?"

[We have him, as a gesture of good will, we are willing to return him to you], the voice from beyond the communication array spoke causing the three Elders to furrow their eyebrows. "Goodwill, you say...", the Inner Court Elder muttered as his eyes threw a glance at the masked Talisman Master.

There was no reaction from him, as he seemed to be just a bystander, in fact, there was a sound isolating array around him, so he likely did not even hear their conversation. This conversation turned out to be more important than the Elder in charge thought. "What is your purpose in approaching us?", the Elder then inquired, inwardly glad he agreed to exclude the Sect Protectors from the conversation.

[We wish to establish a connection with your Sect. We will help you gain dominance over your competitors, and help establish communication with the authorities on the other side in the Boundless Mortal World. And you will help us, there are a few things we need help with, but I suppose the main and hardest one is to gain access to the other World Stone]

"The other World Stone? To the Silent Haven Continent?"

[No, the third one on this Continent, to the Great Wilderness]

"Wha-... are you insane?"

[We will not open the World Stone, no, I should say we will not completely open it. We only wish to tamper with the Formation to allow a backdoor to the other side that we can control at

will]

"...", the Inner Court Elder became silent for a few moments, as he processed this

proposition.

The Martial Alliance was technically in charge of the Seal, but as all three Major Sects vying for dominance on the continent were part of the Alliance, as long as one Sect emerged victorious and was acknowledged as being the custodians of the continent, they would largely take over the responsibility of maintaining the Seal on the World Stone as well. The Martial Alliance itself would only leave minimal presence, or perhaps only send periodic check-ups. He did not know enough about formations to know if what the man on the other side of this communication array was talking about was possible.

If it indeed was possible, even though he didn't know what purpose could they possibly have for desiring it, it was a fairly harmless deal for the Ember Palm Pavilion, but... "How would your help be of use to us in gaining control over the continent?"

[Haha, we already helped you], the voice spoke, and a signal appeared from within the array, seemingly triggered from the other side.

The Talisman Master saw the signal, and took out a Spatial Ring, tossing it to the Elder.

Catching the ring, the Elder first sank his Spiritual Sense inside, and then raised his widened

eyes to the communication array.

"This...", he spoke not sure how to react, since inside the Spatial Ring were spare robes of the

Seven Extreme Swords Sect and Crystal Wood Sect Elders.

[I believe our cooperation would prove useful to you]

"...", the Elder became silent. He was not authorized to make such a deal. However, as if

anticipating that...

[And by you, I mean the three esteemed Elders personally]

"What do you...", the Inner Court Elder's ears perked up as he felt something in the tone of the

speaker, a familiar inflection when making a shady deal, "Are you suggesting I betray the

Sect?!"

[Of course not, your Sect would only gain in being the dominant force over this continent, and would receive no harm. That said, why should that stop you from gaining something on top of that, that will not be in conflict with the interests of your Sect?]

"...", the Elder didn't show any eagerness, but didn't stop the one speaking either, as the two Elders behind him gulped, exchanging a nervous look.

[It's fairly simple, when your Sect gains this continent as the territory of influence, you just need to become the one in charge of the branch, that way our cooperation and the identity of our group as being the ones from the Battle God's Cradle would be strictly between your branch and us, your Main Sect does not need to know, and it would thus avoid any problems as well. Meanwhile we can proceed to become good partners that help each other out and keep

each other's secrets]

"But a Branch Master should be at minimum..."

[Exactly, which is where the part you profit comes in. We will help you breakthrough to the Essence Ignition Realm, and for the esteemed Elders who follow you, we will help them reach Inner Court Elder cultivation, which equals to the Grand Elder of a branch Sect...]

The words coming from the communication array lit greed in the eyes of the three Elders, as their own minds already started the process of rationalization of how this deal would bring benefit to all sides while harming none.

The Main Sect would gain what they desire, the Elders too, and this mysterious group that came from the Boundless Mortal World would receive anonymity from forces that would otherwise try to restrain them, while operating in the territory of the branch.

If the Main Sect of the Ember Palm Pavilion were to be involved, this mysterious group would immediately be ousted for being ascenders from the Boundless Mortal World, and then a hunt would begin for them. However, if no one knew, it was a different story, their identity would be safe, and the fact the Elders knew about it would also be a guarantee of partnership, since

this mysterious group could not betray them.

There was only one thing that had to be clarified.

"How would you help us advance?", the Elder spoke, gulping after asking the question as he

eagerly awaited the answer.

[Helping you advance is part of the help in gaining control over this continent. If we could not do that our partnership will fall apart. It would be hard to prove to you we have that ability at this point, but it would become apparent early on into our cooperation. For now, as long as you agree, we can all profit. There is no risk for you, since if we cannot deliver on our part, you hold the cards to oust us], the voice spoke, as the Elders exchanged hesitant looks. After some time of silence in which the three Elders spoke with sound transmissions between each other, the Inner Court Elder nodded, "For now, let's say we will see how this goes. We

can't be certain that you can do what you say that you can, but I recognize there is little merit in telling such an easily disprovable lie"

[Excellent, we will contact you shortly with more details, for now, we will deliver your agent who went missing to your Spiritual Land in the coming days]

The three Elders took a last look at each other, and after nodding, moved out to leave the area,

taking the Sect Protectors with them.

"Hahaha, you really are skilled at scamming people", Fen Baihu appeared near Wu Long a bit later, "a communication array, when you were the one talking to them" Wu Long simply smiled in response, as she shook her head at his shamelessnes. "But are you sure it was okay telling them about Battle God's Cradle? Even if they don't know our identity now, we would have to work with them later...", she then added.

"We had to give them a sense of having the upper hand to get them to lower their guards and even consider cooperating", Wu Long shrugged, "If we didn't give them anything tangible they could use against us, in their eyes we would be too risky to deal with. When they hold our weakness, however, they feel inclined exploring what benefits they could get. Simply reporting our identity would get them a pat on their backs, while all the benefits would be

sucked up by whoever is their superior in the Sect. Gaining something directly from us might be a better choice, which is why they are hesitating" "And if they were the wrong type to propose this to?", she asked.

"It's the reason I came here in person, to see what they were like, and if they showed the wrong kind of reaction or intentions", Wu Long chuckled, as he was constantly monitoring the three Elders during the conversation, which could have taken a turn to different direction

at any moment.

"But for the most part, you can almost always count on greed for personal gain", Wu Long

then added, as he was fairly certain this conversation would go exactly the way it went long before having it.

"You can be surprisingly reckless sometimes", she shook her head as any number of things

could go wrong at any time.

"Yes,

but it's not like I rely that much on these plans to work, you know?", he smiled, turning

his gaze to her.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying that even if all of my plans failed completely, I never rely on them to the extent

that it would ruin me if they did. It would be good if they worked, but it won't be the end of the world if none of them worked at all"

"Are you saying it would be fine even if the Eternal Duality Valley was stripped of its disguise today or tomorrow?"

"Yes. Our identities of having ascended from the Boundless Mortal World would eventually

catch up with us anyway, it's just a matter of time, not a question of whether that would

happen. And that happening earlier than later would not really matter much in the bigger picture, because I don't rely on it happening later", Wu Long nodded. "Haa~, I don't get you. You talk about overconfidence in one moment, and say things like that in the other...", she shook her head, struggling to understand him. "Hahaha, I suppose that's fair. People are often contradictory in nature, after all, and I am no

exception. What I'm saying is that in the chaos of life, you can plan and get ready all you want, you can do everything right, make absolutely no mistakes anywhere, and do your absolute best, and still fail miserably despite all of it. That is not incompetence, negligence, or weakness, it's just how life is. All I can do is prepare as much as I can, and pick what options I

believe to be best, while putting in effort, what use is there in worrying about things entirely outside my control?", Wu Long lightly laughed as he could sympathize with her confusion.