Start with a red name

After listening to the High Priest of the Holy Mountain's introduction, Geng Xuan nodded in approval and said, "A very clever move. This is a seed that your Holy Mountain lineage has carefully cultivated for the future!"

At this point, he looked at the High Priest of the Holy Mountain and asked:

"Why are you telling me all this?... The best thing to do is to continue nurturing her quietly!"

Moreover, according to the High Priest of the Holy Mountain, the "Crimson Wolf Followers" who were quietly developing in the far north were fewer in number but of extremely high quality and extremely loyal to the "Holy Mountain lineage".

In addition, there are harsh natural conditions that act as a "moat".

With such inherent advantages, they could easily form their own system and wouldn't need to come here now to proactively discuss cooperation with this "thief".

Why compromise when you can clearly claim supremacy?
Didn't you see that Huona next to her was already pouting in grievance?

Geng Xuan's question startled the High Priest of the Holy Mountain, who then smiled wryly:
"But the problem now is, with you stirring things up, it can't be hidden anymore!"

From a certain perspective, Geng Xuan's actions can be described as vicious.

Originally, the two states of Xuanyou were just a corner of the world.

The tribespeople who worship "Canglangtian" are the "leftovers" in this corner of the world.

Not to mention people from other states, even within the two states themselves, no one ever gave them a second glance.

Whether it was Dong Guan or anyone before him, there was no place for "Canglang believers" on the grand stage of Xuanyou and Erzhou.

Even if they exist, they appear on the very edge of the "stage" as "consumables" or "weeds".

Apart from themselves, no one has ever truly looked at them, nor has anyone ever truly looked at the power that these "weeds" have been quietly accumulating.

If it weren't for Geng Xuan, regardless of whether it was Dong Guan or someone else active on this "stage," they could have continued to develop quietly as inconspicuous "weeds."

But now, Geng Xuan has stolen the name of "Canglang Divine Child" and activated these "weeds" that are scattered throughout the Xuanyou and Erzhou for the first time.

The power it unleashed was undeniable.

It can't be hidden any longer!

From then on, not only would insightful people within the Xuanyou and You states take their existence seriously.

Throughout the land, all heroes and valiant individuals will acknowledge their existence.

Even if the High Priests of the Holy Mountain "cherish their own possessions" and continue to hide the essence of the North cultivated by their "Holy Mountain lineage" for generations in their smuggled goods, they cannot change this general trend.

Once this trend takes hold, the precious seeds they have hidden in the far north will no longer be able to remain hidden.

Exposure was inevitable, sooner or later.

Speaking up at this point not only increases your leverage but also projects an image of integrity and honesty.

If it is kept hidden, it will be seen as "deliberate" and "scheming" when it is exposed in the future.

If the situation evolves to this point, it will be the end for the "Holy Mountain lineage" and the "Crimson Wolf followers".

Having seen through all of this, even though he harbored deep resentment towards Geng Xuan, who was responsible for all of this.

After careful consideration, however, he took the initiative to seek peace, rather than engaging in a bloody and deadly confrontation with the "Black Wind Army" as Xiuna had hoped.

However, the high priest of the Holy Mountain soon realized that he thought he had shown enough sincerity and offered his most valuable bargaining chip, but the seemingly gentle and harmless guy in front of him was far more vicious than he had imagined!
Geng Xuan asked, "Since it's a collaboration... what can you offer me?"

The high priest of the holy mountain looked at him and said earnestly:
"Although you have earned the title of 'Child of the Azure Wolf,' you should understand that this reputation, gained through intimidation and bribery, can only have a temporary effect."

People's hearts can be deceived for a time, but not forever.

This is a double-edged sword; one day, it will backfire.

"And I can use the reputation accumulated over hundreds of years by the 'Holy Mountain lineage' to vouch for you, making the lie seem real." "I can also mobilize all the elite forces of the Northern Frontier, having them all join the 'Black Wind Army' to serve you."

Geng Xuan wanted to say, "I'm not afraid of backlash. I don't need your Northern Essence. You can keep it to yourself."

However, he also understood that the old man hadn't fully revealed another meaning.

Since he can use the prestige of the "Holy Mountain lineage" to make something out of nothing, he can also sabotage it in the opposite way. Now, let's expose this boil.

The same principle applies to those "Northern elites"—they can be "one of us" and become an asset, or they can be "enemies" and become an obstacle.

Such an outcome might not result in mutual destruction with the "Black Wind Army," but it could certainly leave them in a state of utter chaos.

More importantly, he has to expend more effort and time to solve this problem.

After this internal strife, which is like exchanging pieces, the troops at hand will also suffer heavy losses.

If this is true, apart from this direct "exchange of pieces," the entire Xuanyou and Youzhou regions will be completely transformed into a killing field.

The conflict between the tribal people and the sand people is about to erupt completely.

To take it to an extreme, the two states of Xuanyou could very well become mortal enemies.

Compared to now, the number of dead and injured will be ten or even a hundred times greater!

Geng Xuan, who takes the world as his responsibility and has a strong sense of ownership, would never want to see such a situation in the Nine Provinces, as long as possible.

However, Geng Xuan did not agree directly.

He smiled broadly and said:
"Cooperation is certainly possible, but I have a small request."

The High Priest of the Holy Mountain frowned slightly, but still patiently said, "Speak!"

Geng Xuan looked at Hack beside him and nodded gently with a smile.

Hack, who had always considered himself an outsider, felt a pang of unease upon seeing this.

He wanted to stay out of it, but when the high priest of the holy mountain looked at him with a probing gaze, he forced himself to speak.

As he spoke, the High Priest of the Holy Mountain's brows, which had initially been slightly furrowed, furrowed even more deeply.

Huna, standing nearby, stared wide-eyed in fury.

As soon as Harker finished speaking, she stretched out her arm like a sword, pointed at the other person, and angrily rebuked:
"You heartless traitor, shameless scoundrel, how dare you... Waaah!"

Just as Shuna was speaking eloquently, she let out a sob and could no longer utter a word.

Only her wide-open eyes revealed the boundless anger simmering within her.

The high priest of the Holy Mountain took her hand, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he turned and walked out.

Just as he led his disciple to the door, Geng Xuan suddenly spoke again: "High Priest, are you refusing?"

The high priest of the holy mountain suddenly stopped in his tracks.

After a moment, he stepped outside again, replying as he did so:
"let me consider it."

His seemingly casual response carried a hint of dejection in his tone.

After the master and apprentice left, Hake looked at Geng Xuan with a worried expression and said:

"Actually, we could wait until they board the ship before revealing our true intentions." (End of Chapter)