Seeing Zhan Hongyuan's grim expression, Wang Da said, "Sect Master, all sects are involved in this matter. If my Wandao Sect forces our demands for people, we may become enemies with more than half of the forces in the cultivation world."
Zhan Hongyuan held the Mind-Clearing Mantra and calmed himself down for a while before saying, "Alright, alright, what conditions did Lou Yunqi propose?"
"Oh, he said one disciple costs ten million high-grade spirit stones, and one elder costs fifty million high-grade spirit stones, no bargaining."
"...Is he obsessed with money?!"
Zhan Hongyuan was furious. Even if he paid the ransom or emptied the Wandao Sect, he still couldn't get these people back. But the problem was that, under pressure, the Wandao Sect dared not act rashly.
One or two sects might be manageable, but if they were to clash with half of the cultivation world, even the Myriad Paths Sect wouldn't be able to withstand it.
After a moment of silence, Zhan Hongyuan sighed.
"Change it, change it, go to the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild and borrow some high-grade spirit stones."
Regardless of anything else, he was still the sect leader of the Myriad Paths Sect, and the Myriad Paths Sect was his foundation. No matter how selfish Zhan Hongyuan was, if he wanted to survive, he did not want the sect he took over to decline in his hands.
But after he finished speaking, Wang Da stood there, hesitating and not moving. Zhan Hongyuan said in a deep voice, "Aren't you going yet?"
"Um... Sect Master, I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Speak quickly, what trouble could be more complicated than this?"
Wang Da paused, then spoke in a low voice: "Sect Master, weren't our elders and disciples arrested? They weren't imprisoned in the Longevity Palace, but... they were captured by the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild."
"The reason those sects helped is twofold: first, their own sect leaders and sect masters were kidnapped; second, the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild offered a reward of 10 million high-grade spirit stones for each disciple and 50 million high-grade spirit stones for each elder. They just paid the reward."
This time, Zhan Hongyuan really couldn't hold back and vomited blood.
This is exactly the same ransom that the Myriad Paths Sect is demanding. Does this mean the Myriad Paths Sect is paying to kidnap their own elders and disciples?!
Zhan Hongyuan's face was very ugly: "Is the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce just bored and has nothing better to do? They don't make a single penny, yet they cause trouble for my Wandao Sect. Aren't they always neutral?!"
"Sect Master, what should we do now?"
"..."
Zhan Hongyuan was so angry he almost couldn't catch his breath. After a long while, he said, "Let's go to the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce. I want to see what they're up to. They might as well have a chat with me, a Mahayana cultivator!"
"What about Elder Ruan?"
"Keep it locked!"
Zhan Hongyuan said coldly, and with a wave of his hand, he made the floating tree cover Yanlai Peak. He then quickly left with Wang Da. After they left, Ruan Qing'an finally opened his eyes.
"The Palace of Longevity, the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild..."
037: [Is it Lou Yunqi and Mu Cangwu?]
Ruan Qingan did not speak, but simply lowered his eyes quietly.
...
The plight of the Myriad Paths Sect quickly spread throughout the cultivation world, and the sect temporarily lost the ability to deal with the rumors.
The Flying Cloud Chamber of Commerce and the Longevity Palace also gained an absolute advantage, which caused the Myriad Paths Sect, which had always dominated the cultivation world, to lose its supreme status for a time.
With Ruan Qing'an, who was able to suppress all the sects with a single sword and then leave gracefully, seriously injured, and Shen Changlin, who was able to suppress the entire younger generation and was still so arrogant that no one could beat him, leaving, everyone vaguely sensed a change—the Wandao Sect was declining.
Three days later, when Zhan Hongyuan arrived at the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce with the remaining elders, he immediately attracted the attention of the entire cultivation world.
The headquarters of the Flying Cloud Chamber of Commerce is located in Wanhua City, the center of the cultivation world. Wanhua City is also the most prosperous city in the entire cultivation world, composed entirely of cultivators. The area of this single city is comparable to that of a first-class sect.
Wanhua City is known as a place where anyone can buy anything they want. Everything sold in Wanhua City is of no question about its origin, and the same goes for the cultivators who come here; their origins are not questioned.
As long as they are within the territory of Wanhua City, they will be protected by the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, making it the largest force independent of all other sects.
The streets are bustling with activity as people come and go.
And just today—
"Mu Cangwu, come out here!"
A deafening shout echoed throughout the entire Wanhua City. The cultivators in the city subconsciously looked up at the sky and saw a middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back, walking through the air.
For a moment, the cultivators couldn't help but panic. Zhan Hongyuan was indeed mild-mannered in his dealings with others. Compared to the domineering nature of the Myriad Paths Sect, he could be considered a gentleman. But—the Myriad Paths Sect had been undergoing too many changes recently. Even saints would be driven crazy!
Seeing that no one from Wanhua City stepped forward, Zhan Hongyuan stood in mid-air, reached out and clenched his fist, unleashing a powerful surge of spiritual energy that collided with the restriction.
Soon, the restrictions on Wanhua City began to tremble slightly.
Just as Zhan Hongyuan was about to increase the pressure again, a pale blue spiritual energy surged out, and a figure in a blue robe appeared in front of him.
"Sect Master Zhan, why are you so angry?"
Mu Cangwu held a jade-shaped folding fan in one hand, his eyes smiling, like a refined scholar, and strolled over: "But Wanhua City has failed to provide adequate hospitality, hence this anger."
"Mu Cangwu, you know why I've come here!"
Zhan Hongyuan's expression darkened slightly: "I, Zhan Hongyuan, am indeed a kind person, but the Wandao Sect is not a sect that can be bullied by others. Your Feiyun Chamber of Commerce has always been neutral, so why do you want to get involved in this matter?"
"Today, the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce must give my Wandao Sect an explanation and return all the elders and disciples!"
"Haha, what a joke!"
Mu Cangwu laughed loudly, and the next moment he abruptly put away his jade-bone folding fan: "Sect Leader Zhan, are you joking with me? I am a businessman. How could I do something that doesn't bring me any profit?"
Zhan Hongyuan's face darkened: "You refuse?"
"Since Sect Master Zhan is unwilling to pay the ransom, then let's try it today—can you take any of my Wanhua City!"
The smile vanished from Mu Cangwu's face. As his slender fingertips twitched slightly, invisible puppet strings attacked from all directions. Not only that, but a dazzling sword light also struck, the sword intent fierce and powerful. Just as Mu Cangwu made his move, another person arrived.
Lou Yunqi, sword in hand, flashed across the sky like a streak of light and swiftly arrived beside Mu Cangwu.
His eyes were filled with impatience: "Still not resolved?"
"Lou Yunqi..."
Upon seeing the newcomers, Zhan Hongyuan immediately retreated, staring intently at the two people before him—back when he faced Lou Yunqi, he was not yet at the Great Ascension stage and was no match for him at all.
Even now, Zhan Hongyuan still felt somewhat uncertain when facing Mu Cangwu and Lou Yunqi...
Like Nguyen Thanh An, they are able to take on challenges beyond their level.
Moreover, he is still recovering from his injuries.
For a moment, the atmosphere above Wanhua City froze. The three stood in a triangular formation, and when Zhan Hongyuan was looked at by the two with eyes that were filled with murderous intent, his aura dissipated by a bit.
"For the sake of my disciples and elders of the Myriad Paths Sect, I can back down, but they must be handed over completely intact!"
"..."
The cultivators of Wanhua City: What the heck? We're not fighting anymore?
Seeing Zhan Hongyuan trying to save face, Mu Cangwu tightened the puppet strings between his fingers: "Either give me spirit stones, or I'll make a request."
What are the requirements?
"Hand over Ruan Qing'an from your sect and return him."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Hongyuan suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Lou Yunqi and Mu Cangwu. However, the two were clearly on the same side at this moment, and his thoughts raced through his mind in an instant.
The next moment, Zhan Hongyuan's pupils contracted slightly: "The previous contract-forming ceremony, could it be that you and—"
"Sect Leader Zhan, hand over the person."
Lou Yunqi's voice was slightly cold, while Mu Cangwu simply stood aside, waving his jade-bone folding fan, his eyes seemingly smiling, but at that moment the two of them were so forceful that they wouldn't give an inch.
He would give up anything, except... her.
Zhan Hongyuan's face was very ugly. He was caught in a dilemma and it took him a long time to finally react.
\u0004\u0004\u0004\u0004
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com