Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 507 Give it a try

As night fell, heavy dark clouds loomed over Yongning City, completely obscuring the stars and moon. A fierce wind howled, sounding like the roar of a giant beast.

At the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate, the residence of Sect Leader Luo Huang was brightly lit.

"Both the Hunyuan Sect and the Xuanyang Sect have agreed to the alliance terms, and they will send representatives to our sect in the next two days to participate in the alliance ceremony. However, they both emphasized that it is merely an alliance and have not promised to send troops to assist the Mingyue Sect if it insists on attacking our sect," Feng Ziyi said, sitting at the lower seat.

Hua Yuanzong's Third Elder, Huo Youming, frowned deeply: "Last time, the sect leader used the Golden Yuan Pill as a condition to obtain the Xuan Yang Sect's assistance. Although both the Xuan Yang Sect and the Hun Yuan Sect have grudges against the Ming Yue Sect, it is impossible for them to help our sect deal with the Ming Yue Sect without compensation. I just don't know what we should offer them in exchange this time?"

Feng Ziyi glanced at Luo Huang, the sect leader, who sat in the main seat with a deep gaze and remained silent: "If I had to choose between the two, I would say that Hunyuan Sect is better than Xuanyang Sect. Song Xian not only led the people to defeat Xu Zhuoxuan, but also made a name for himself in the battle of Xijiang County. It is said that he was able to hold his own against Murong Hai. If we can get his help, our sect will be safe."

Luo Huang did not respond, but Huo Youming took over: "It's not that easy! Even if Hunyuanzong agrees to send troops to help, Song Xian probably won't come in person."

As soon as he finished speaking, a disciple came outside and whispered, "Sect Leader, Uncle Tian has returned and is waiting outside the mansion for an audience."

"Please come quickly," Luo Huang finally spoke.

Soon, Tian Xuan, the second elder of Huayuan Sect, arrived in the hall.

"Junior Brother Tian, ​​what did the Beast Taming Sect say?"

Tian Xuan shook his head: "I only met Zhan Yuanqiu, the person in charge of external affairs, and his attitude was very perfunctory."

Feng Ziyi's eyes flickered slightly: "It seems my guess was right. The last time the Bright Moon Sect went all out to help the Beast Taming Sect attack the Murong family, it was to gain the support of the Beast Taming Sect and make them turn a blind eye so that they could deal with our sect. I just don't know why the Bright Moon Sect has been holding back for so long."

"Perhaps it was because we had just helped the Beast Taming Sect take down the Murong family at that time, and the Beast Taming Sect was too embarrassed to ignore us, which is why it took so long."

"If the Beast Taming Sect stands idly by, we can only rely on the Hunyuan Sect and the Xuanyang Sect now."

What conditions should I offer to entice them?

"Spirit stones alone are definitely not enough; we'll probably have to exchange them for some resource-rich territories..."

The three elders discussed amongst themselves, but Luo Huang remained silent until the very end, when all three were at a loss, at which point he finally spoke.

"It's better to rely on yourself than to rely on others. The Bright Moon Sect is determined to destroy us. If they do it once, they will do it again. Even if we exchange resources and territory this time to ask others to help us repel the Bright Moon Sect's offensive, they will still have their eyes on our sect."

Huo Youming frowned deeply: "But with our own strength, we are no match for the Bright Moon Sect."

Luo Huang looked outside and saw a flash of lightning. Suddenly, a torrential downpour began, the rain pounding against the bamboo forest, causing large swathes of bamboo trees to sway and bend.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the heavy rain, through the bamboo forest, and look towards the distant void.

"Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to take a gamble."

All three were startled. Feng Ziyi frowned: "Does the sect leader intend to..."

"There is no other way but for me to form my core and thus deter the Bright Moon Sect." Luo Huang's voice was low, yet it carried an extremely weighty and resolute quality.

In fact, his cultivation had already reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. The reason he hadn't attempted to break through to Core Formation was that he wanted to prepare more thoroughly, as he hadn't yet mastered his newly acquired cultivation technique. Therefore, he had been diligently cultivating the technique for the past few years.

But now we have no choice but to take a gamble.

He had already prepared the Golden Essence Pill needed for Core Formation.

Others only knew that he took a Golden Yuan Pill in exchange for the support of Xuan Yang Sect, but they did not know that he originally had two pills, which he obtained in the secret realm. Otherwise, he would not have been willing to give them away so easily.

As for the spiritual veins needed to form the core, he had already secretly contacted the Yunxing Merchant Guild and could borrow their spiritual veins to stimulate the core formation process.

Therefore, he did not make this request to the Beast Taming Sect, because he knew that even if he did, the Beast Taming Sect would not agree. Hong Haoran had always been protective of his own, and Xu Zhuoxuan was the only surviving descendant of his family. In addition, the Bright Moon Sect was supported by the Beast Taming Sect.

Xu Zhuoxuan's covetousness of the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate was common knowledge, so how could Hong Haoran possibly agree to let him use the Beast Taming Sect's spiritual veins to form his core?

Therefore, he had already secretly contacted the Yunxing Chamber of Commerce.

The Yunxing Chamber of Commerce was initially reluctant, and even though he offered many favorable conditions, they did not agree.

However, the Beast Taming Sect's move to annex the Murong family changed the Yunxing Merchant Guild's mind.

The original structure of Xijiang County was one dominant sect with two subordinate sects. As the largest sect in Xijiang County, and with the backing of Xuan Yuan Sect, the Beast Taming Sect undoubtedly held the dominant position.

Although the Murong family and the Yunxing Chamber of Commerce were not as powerful as the Beast Taming Sect, they still held a place in society and were in a subordinate position. Originally, everything was harmonious.

Since Yun Xuanzong intervened and caused trouble, the situation has subtly changed. The Murong family and Yun Xuanzong joined forces to deal with the Beast Taming Sect, resulting in the complete annihilation of Yun Xuanzong. Now that the Murong family has been completely swallowed up, the Yunxing Merchant Guild is worried that they will be next, so they decided to do Hua Yuanzong a favor.

They knew that the Beast Taming Sect had never been fond of the Huayuan Sect, and the Bright Moon Sect harbored a deep-seated hatred towards them. Winning over the Huayuan Sect now might provide them with an extra ally in the future.

"It's far too risky for the sect leader to attempt to form the core now. What if he fails and the Bright Moon Sect attacks again? How will we defend ourselves then?"

"If I don't attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage, do I really have a way to withstand it?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Youming fell silent, as did Feng Ziyi and Tian Xuan.

Luo Huang gazed blankly at the boundless darkness outside the house, his voice ethereal, as if drifting from afar.

“I anticipated that the Beast Taming Sect wouldn’t step forward, and it would be extremely difficult to persuade the Hunyuan Sect and Xuanyang Sect to send troops to help. Moreover, after their failure last time, the Mingyue Sect will definitely be well-prepared this time. Therefore, I sent someone to contact the Yunxing Chamber of Commerce long ago. Now this is the only way to go, and there is still a chance if we take a gamble.”

.........

The sky is clear and the air is fresh, with not a single cloud in sight.

In the spacious and bright hall of the Mingyue Sect's main gate in Humen City, Xu Zhuoxuan sat in the main seat, listening to the report from Ding Mingde, the sect's external affairs elder.

"It is understood that Huayun Sect has been frequently sending people to contact Xuanyang Sect and Hunyuan Sect in recent days, probably trying to win them over. In addition, Huayuan Sect has also sent people to Yushou Sect."

"In addition, they are also making their own preparations. They have begun to mobilize the cultivators of Yongning City to defend the city and are scrambling to buy talismans, magical artifacts, and hemostatic and healing pills."

"And also, within the Huayuan Sect..."

Before Ding Mingde could finish speaking, a burly man entered from outside and bowed to Xu Zhuoxuan: "Reporting to the sect leader, we have just received news that representatives from the Huayuan Sect, Hunyuan Sect, and Xuanyang Sect have gathered in Yongning City Market to publicly announce their alliance, stating that if any of them is attacked, the other two will come to their aid."

Xu Zhuoxuan listened without any expression on his face, only nodding, his gaze drifting towards the outside, seemingly lost in thought.

Ding Mingde, standing to the side, frowned instantly: "It seems that Huayuan Sect has persuaded Hunyuan Sect and Xuanyang Sect. If the three of them join forces, with the current strength of our sect, it is probably unlikely that we can take down Huayuan Sect's mountain gate."

Xu Zhuoxuan said calmly, "It's just a bluff. Don't worry. Just do as I say, and I guarantee that the Hunyuan Sect and Xuanyang Sect won't dare to support the Huayuan Sect."

Ding Mingde didn't know where their confidence came from. In the last battle in Xijiang County, the Mingyue Sect suffered many casualties. Now they were trying to build momentum to attack the Huayuan Sect. If they failed again, the Mingyue Sect would not be completely defeated, but they would be in serious trouble.

However, he knew that seizing the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate was not only Xu Zhuoxuan's obsession for many years, but also a top priority concerning his cultivation. No matter how he tried to persuade him, it would not stop his determination, so he could only nod in agreement.

Just then, Elder Nie Liang of the Bright Moon Sect walked in with a solemn expression: "Sect Leader, a Golden Core cultivator has arrived outside the mountain gate, saying he is your friend."

Xu Zhuoxuan's previously deep gaze suddenly lit up, and he immediately got up and walked outside.

Outside the mountain gate, a small old man with slightly white hair and a hunched back waited with his hands behind his back. In the distance, several streaks of light shot over, and the leader was Xu Zhuoxuan. He greeted him with a warm smile: "Fellow Daoist Dou, you have finally arrived. My sect and I have been looking forward to your arrival as if we were waiting for rain in a drought."

The old man chuckled twice: "Judging from Fellow Daoist Xu's words, it seems you are complaining that I am late."

"How could I dare? Fellow Daoist Dou's arrival as promised shows that he is a man of his word. I have always respected people like you, so how could I complain? Please come inside with me."

As the two talked, a burst of light rose up, and they headed towards the mountain gate.

Behind Xu Zhuoxuan, Nie Liang and Ding Mingde exchanged a glance. Only then did they understand why Xu Zhuoxuan was so confident; it turned out he had brought in outside help.

With two Golden Core cultivators, taking over the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate would be no problem, and they could also use it to intimidate the Hunyuan Sect and Xuanyuan Sect.

Inside the council hall, Xu Zhuoxuan and the old man surnamed Dou had already taken their seats as host and guest, respectively.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, there's no need for formalities. I've come all this way to help you take over the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate. When will you fulfill the conditions you promised me?" The old man surnamed Dou went straight to the point.

Xu Zhuoxuan flipped his hand and took out a storage bag, then handed it to him with a wave of his hand: "This was prepared long ago for Fellow Daoist Dou. This is half of the deposit. The other half will be given to you after we take down Huayuan Sect."

The old man surnamed Dou glanced at the storage bag and nodded in satisfaction: "As Fellow Daoist Xu said, the other half will be delivered afterward. However, let me make this clear beforehand: I will assist you in attacking the Huayuan Sect's mountain gate, provided that the Huayuan Sect does not have any Golden Core cultivators stationed there. If we encounter any powerful Golden Core cultivators, I will not risk my old life to help you. I will turn around and leave immediately. If such a thing happens, don't blame me for not making this clear beforehand."

"Fellow Daoist Dou, rest assured, Huayuan Sect has absolutely no Golden Core cultivators."

"That's good."

"Fellow Daoist Dou has come from afar, and I have already had a banquet prepared to welcome you. To entertain you, I have specially purchased precious spiritual wine and food. Let's drink and talk!"

(End of this chapter)