The Long Journey to Immortality

Chapter 84 Negotiation

The teleportation portal connecting the human world and the ancient cultivation realm is far more stable than most Golden Core cultivators imagine.

Leaving aside the symbolic protective barrier erected by the Seven Mountains Alliance outside the teleportation gate, even if ten Nascent Soul cultivators were to bombard it with all their might for two years, they might not be able to break through the teleportation gate while it still retains its teleportation capabilities.

The restrictions established by the Seven Mountains Alliance were mainly to cover up the inscriptions on the stone tablet, so as to prevent the news of the "calamity" from spreading widely and causing panic.

Such a stable portal is what allows human factions with different cultures to sit at the negotiating table in a seemingly amicable manner, discussing how to divide the spoils.

It's called dividing up the profits, but a more straightforward way to put it is dividing up the seats to enter the secret realm.

After all, no one knows how many spirit stones, magic treasures, secret manuals, and immortal herbs are hidden in the secret realm.

No one can say for sure how many opportunities a cultivator might find by entering the secret realm.

However, allowing a certain number of Qi Refining cultivators from each family to enter is something that can be controlled.

This matter was the focus of the meeting.

Xuan Yang Valley, to some extent, still cared about its reputation as the number one sect in the Central Plains. After only standing up the other sects for a day, Valley Master Long Zhenren led a delegation of nearly a hundred cultivators to the deep valley.

Compared to the welcoming ceremony for the arrival of Zhengyi Sect, the welcoming ceremony for Xuanyang Valley was much grander.

The two leaders of the Seven Mountains Alliance stood there respectfully waiting, while the Red Jade Taoist, who had welcomed the Zhengyi Sect the day before, could only barely stand in the second row.

Even the Western Regions and Southern Frontier each sent two Golden Core cultivators to express their gratitude to Xuan Yang Valley in public, so that they could have a more legitimate reason to sit at the negotiating table later.

Although the Zhengyi Sect was unwilling, they still had to make a gesture.

Fairy Zizhu and True Man Qingshui made their appearance, and the fifteen disciples at the twelfth level of Qi Refining who had come with the delegation to the deep valley were also brought out to support the group.

However, contrary to most people's expectations, the Xuan Yang Valley group, who arrived late, did not show off at the welcoming ceremony.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the two fellow Daoists from the Seven Mountains Alliance, Master Long took the initiative to apologize to Daoist Qingshui and the other forces present.

"I apologize, everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't think things through when I made the appointment. Two days ago happened to be the day when the East Sea Dragon Clan gathered every fifty years. Although I only have a little bit of the bloodline, I had to be invited to participate in the event, which is why I was late."

Master Long is the most famous cultivator in the Central Plains region who possesses the bloodline of the True Spirit. He changed his Daoist name after he awakened the bloodline of the True Spirit in his body during the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

With a sincere attitude and sufficient reasons, the resentment in the hearts of the cultivators from the major sects who were "oppressed" by Xuan Yang Valley was greatly dispelled.

“It’s rare for the three sects of the Central Plains to gather together. This time, there are also fellow Daoists from the West and South. I think we should get to know each other better and have more exchanges,” Master Long said, and then he started talking about the meeting. “So, I plan to hold a formal meeting tomorrow. Before the meeting, I will have a private talk with the fellow Daoists from the West and South to try to resolve the grudges between us.”

"I also hope that all fellow Daoists can view this issue from the perspective of the human race."

Master Long's words were so eloquent that no one dared to nitpick or find fault.

The four Golden Core cultivators from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians were overjoyed, feeling that they had found a powerful patron, and their gazes toward Master Long became even more affectionate.

After saying that, Master Long took the initiative to inquire about his lodgings.

The grand welcoming ceremony ended halfway through, with cultivators from various factions returning to their respective homes.

However, with just these few words, the cultivators from the Zhengyi Sect and the Seven Mountains Alliance understood the thoughts of Master Long and Xuan Yang Valley.

While Master Long was having a four-person gathering with cultivators from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians, Daoist Yunmin was also sitting in a room with Situ Nan and Fairy Bai.

"Most likely, they couldn't refuse, but they also wanted to suppress us, so they specially brought in the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions," Daoist Yunmin had been using his divine sense to perceive and observe Xuan Yang Valley when it arrived, so he naturally knew everything that had just happened. "They were thinking of distributing this pie to more people, so that the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions would become stronger, thereby restraining the power of both of us."

Due to geographical reasons, the Southern Barbarians and the Zhengyi Sect were at odds, while the Western Regions were at war with the Seven Mountains Alliance.

If the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions gain benefits from this ancient cultivation secret realm, even if the Zhengyi Sect and the Seven Mountains Alliance do not suffer losses now, they will suffer losses in the next ten or twenty years.

In the northern region, Xuan Yang Valley, free from external threats, could reap the benefits of the conflict and watch the struggles unfold, widening the gap between itself and its pursuers.

Situ Nan and Bai Xianzi largely agreed with this.

The beautiful fairy with white hair spoke first, "Fellow Daoist Yun Min makes a lot of sense, but this is a scheme by Valley Master Long, and it's hard for us to resist. We should raise our objections at the meeting."

“Yes,” Situ Nan agreed, “If the negotiations break down and Xuan Yang Valley disregards its reputation, then if they bring a hundred or so Qi Refining cultivators to try to enter the secret realm, there’s nothing we can do.”

Master Yunmin raised the corners of his mouth slightly, a smile on his face, and shook his head, "No, no."

Immediately afterwards, Daoist Yunmin explained his plan in detail, pointing out a clear path for both sides.

After nearly half an hour of discussion, Daoist Yunmin and the two leaders of the Seven Mountains Alliance reached a gentleman's agreement to join forces and plan a major undertaking.

The preparations before a meeting take much longer than the meeting itself.

When the meeting began, a few Golden Core cultivators who were qualified to sit at the table were seated on a high platform, while the other Golden Core cultivators and Qi Refining disciples could only sit at a distance and listen and watch.

The first step in the meeting agenda is for each party to simply lay out their own requirements on the table.

Although the Seven Mountains Alliance presided over the meeting as the host, it was the Valley Master of Xuan Yang Valley, True Man Long, who first put forward conditions.

"Everyone, the spirit stones in the sect's treasury don't just appear out of thin air. Even in the secret realms of ancient cultivators, sending too many people in might not necessarily bring more benefits. On the contrary, it would increase the burden on the sect and increase the loss of talented disciples."

Master Long continued, “Therefore, I think it would be better if my Xuan Yang Valley arranged for twenty Qi Refining cultivators to enter the secret realm, the Seven Mountains Alliance and the Zheng Yi Sect each sent fifteen, and the West and South each sent ten disciples to enter the secret realm. What do you all think of this arrangement?”

Although Master Long was offering his own opinion, he had already forcefully arranged the positions of other forces, which naturally aroused the dissatisfaction of the Seven Mountains Alliance and the Zhengyi Sect.

Yunmin Daoist simply went along with what Long Zhenren said, saying, "I think what Valley Master Long said makes a lot of sense."

"But I think that entering the secret realm will inevitably lead to fighting. In order to avoid large-scale internal strife that damages the foundation and harmony, it would be better to send fewer disciples into the secret realm."

“Xuan Yang Valley has entered the top ten, our side and the Seven Mountains Alliance have entered the top seven, while the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions have each entered the top three.”

What do you all think?

Without needing Yunmin Daoist's prompting, Situ Nan immediately praised them, while listing the atrocities committed by the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions in the Central Plains over the past twenty years, and declared, "Yunmin Daoist and Long Zhenren are truly benevolent people. If I were to make the decision, not a single person from the Western Regions or the Southern Barbarians would be allowed to enter."

Fairy Bai stepped in to smooth things over, comforting her senior brother and expressing her stance, cleverly applying the human rhetoric of True Man Long.

"We are all human cultivators, so please put aside your grudges, senior brother."

Situ Nan still glared angrily at the Southern Barbarian and Western Region cultivators at the table. "Alright, I suggest making some adjustments based on Fellow Daoist Yun Min's suggestion."

"The number of people from our three major sects in the Central Plains who have entered the secret realm remains unchanged, but you will each have one less."

This greatly worried the cultivators from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians. They kept giving Long Zhenren meaningful glances, hoping he would fulfill the promise he made during their private meeting.

Before Master Long could speak, Situ Nan brought up history again, saying, "The Western and Southern factions have committed countless crimes in the Central Plains. I don't want to go out in the future and be criticized by other cultivators and called a traitor."

These words were a veiled attack, leaving Master Long momentarily at a loss for how to speak up for the two factions in the southwest.

This was one of Yunmin Daoist's plans: to make the hostile relationship between the Central Plains and the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions clear, so that the Seven Mountains Alliance and the Zhengyi Sect would not be afraid of Xuan Yang Valley overturning the table.

What if you flip the table?

If word got out, it would become that Xuan Yang Valley was unwilling to cooperate with Zheng Yi Sect and Qi Yue Alliance, but instead mingled with hostile forces such as the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions.

This is unacceptable to Xuan Yang Valley, which has always considered itself the leader of the righteous path in the Central Plains.

Political correctness is also quite important in the cultivation world.

As the valley master, Master Long was also concerned about his reputation and did not want to be pointed at and labeled a "traitor."

In his view, Yunmin Daoist's arrangements would not harm the interests of Xuan Yang Valley. As long as everything proceeded normally, Xuan Yang Valley, which was full of talented people, could still reap the most benefits in this ancient cultivation secret realm.

It's not worth ruining your reputation for a trivial move.

Furthermore, even according to Yunmin Daoist's plan, Xuan Yang Valley, where Dragon Valley Master resides, is still respected and receives the largest share of the pie.

Daoist Yunmin had a good grasp of Xuan Yang Valley's mindset, so the negotiations proceeded quite smoothly and pleasantly.

Not to mention that even if Golden Core cultivators become sect leaders, valley masters, or alliance leaders, they still don't like to talk.

The cultivators discussed this crucial matter at length, exchanging their opinions for only a quarter of an hour before reaching a conclusion.

The representatives from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians were powerless to do anything but watch as Xuan Yang Valley made a few symbolic remarks on their behalf, allowing the Seven Mountains Alliance and the Zhengyi Sect to further diminish their already meager interests.

Ultimately, each party compromised.

The number of people from all sides entering and leaving the secret realm was basically arranged according to the opinions of Daoist Yunmin.

The Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians were temporarily regarded as one entity, referred to as sects outside the Central Plains, and each side was only allowed to send five disciples into the sect.

As for how many southern barbarians or western regions will enter, that's a matter for negotiation.

The second strategy devised by Daoist Yunmin was to let the already divided Western Regions and Southern Barbarians kill each other for petty gains.

With the core issue resolved so quickly, other minor matters were naturally settled even faster.

Within an hour, all matters concerning the ancient cultivation secret realm were completely settled.

Once the secret realm opens, all major powers can arrange for outstanding Qi Refining cultivators selected from their internal trials to enter the secret realm and search for treasures.

Chapter 85 The Grand Competition Ahead

The cultivators below the stage could clearly see the performances of the several leaders of various factions at the high negotiating table.

Opinions vary on who will ultimately profit and who will lose after the agreement is reached.

However, everyone could clearly see that Xuan Yang Valley was deliberately trying to win over the two hostile forces, the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians.

Even if Xuan Yang Valley is acting from the perspective of the "human race" and making such small moves, it is still inevitable that it will cause some controversy.

Even the entourage members standing below the stage thought so. After the process and content of the meeting were relayed several times through seven or eight mouths and ears, the opinions of small factions or ordinary people might be more significant.

A blood feud cannot be erased by a mere moral high ground.

After the meeting, seeing the puzzled looks on his Qi Refining disciples' faces, Master Long hesitated, wondering if he had made a mistake.

Fortunately, the matter had been discussed in the valley, and the vast majority of the Golden Core elders expressed their support. This allowed Master Long to summon Golden Core cultivators from the Southern Barbarians and the Western Regions before leading his team away, presenting them with some spirit stones and pills to express goodwill and apology, so that the gentleman's agreement reached by the three parties in private could continue.

The cultivators from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians had no choice but to accept the gifts, swallow their bitterness, and continue to cling to the Xuan Yang Valley so that they could gain even greater benefits from the ancient cultivation secret realm.

The cultivators from the two Central Plains factions departed, and the Seven Mountains Alliance left only a group of low-level disciples to cultivate here, symbolically protecting the teleportation gate to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering the deep valley.

The Golden Core cultivators from the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians stayed in the deep valley for another half a day, discussing how to divide the five spots before leaving.

Compared to the Southern Barbarians, the Western Regions have more cultivators, stronger cultivators, and more complex internal power dynamics, making them more eager for this spot.

Therefore, after paying a considerable price, the Western Regions side took the fifth spot, ending the dispute in the deep valley.

Yunmin Daoist's plan was not ambitious enough; he underestimated the importance and determination that the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians attached to this matter.

In their interactions with the Central Plains cultural sphere, the people of the Western Regions and the Southern Barbarians learned the meaning of "restraint".

The large-scale martial arts battle that Yunmin Daoist had imagined between the two sides, whom he regarded as barbarians, did not occur, adding a slight flaw to this trip to the deep valley.

Upon returning to the Zhengyi Sect, the fifty Qi Refining cultivators who had accompanied the sect leader and the Golden Core elders to the secret valley to observe the meeting became the focus of attention within the sect.

The cultivators wanted to learn about the contents of the meeting through their words and find out what the entrance to the secret realm hidden deep in the valley looked like.