Chapter 206 - 160: A Taste of Their Own Medicine (2)

Besides, this would frame the relationship as one of employment rather than an alliance, which would make it easier to persuade his clan. At this thought, Rong Shaoyuan’s expression softened slightly. "What do you want?"

Song Changsheng took out a list he had already prepared and handed it to Rong Shaoyuan. After a quick glance, Rong Shaoyuan found the terms acceptable and nodded. "I’ll go persuade the clan. Wait for my news."

After they exchanged imprints on their Communication Jade Tokens, Rong Shaoyuan hurriedly departed.

Watching the man’s retreating back, Song Changsheng’s lips curved into a cold smile. ’Now *this* is giving them a taste of their own medicine!’

——————

Upon returning to his pavilion, Rong Shaoyuan immediately sought out the Elder leading their delegation, Rong Mingtao.

Rong Mingtao was from Rong Shaoyuan’s grandfather’s generation. He held a lofty position in the Rong Clan, and his words carried great weight. If he could be persuaded, the matter would essentially be settled.

"Greetings, Sixteenth Grand-uncle." Rong Shaoyuan bowed respectfully.

"Ah, Shaoyuan. What brings you to see this old man so late?" Rong Mingtao said, a little surprised.

"I am worried about the clan’s war effort and found it difficult to meditate. I went out to see a friend, and after meeting him, I had a sudden, perhaps naive, idea. I came to hear your opinion, Sixteenth Grand-uncle."

"Oh? Let’s hear it." Rong Mingtao stroked his foot-long beard, feeling quite pleased. ’There aren’t many in the younger generation who worry about the clan so much these days.’

"The clan is currently fighting on two fronts, and our manpower is stretched thin. We’re at a significant disadvantage in the struggle over the Spirit Stone Vein. If the Lieyang Sect hadn’t lost their heads and mobilized so many forces to hunt down Song Changsheng, our clan’s situation would be even more difficult.

Yu Chengbo and Mao Wuwei are the Lieyang Sect’s main strength on the Spirit Stone Vein battlefield. If our clan could eliminate even one or two of them, the tide of battle would surely turn."

"Are you suggesting an ambush?"

"Precisely!"

After Rong Shaoyuan finished, Rong Mingtao felt a little disappointed. It was the same old idea. If it were that easy to accomplish, he wouldn’t be so worried.

’So young and naive,’ Rong Mingtao thought to himself.

Outwardly, however, he remained encouraging. "You mean well, Shaoyuan. It’s a fine idea, but very difficult to execute."

Rong Shaoyuan immediately cupped his fist. "That is the very reason I am here."

"Let’s hear it," Rong Mingtao said absently, no longer expecting Rong Shaoyuan to offer any viable solution.

"The reason you say it’s difficult to execute is simply because our clan currently lacks the manpower. But what if I told you I could find two powerful allies at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm for our clan? Would the plan be feasible then?" Rong Shaoyuan said, full of confidence.

"What?" Rong Mingtao was suddenly alert. "Where are these powerful allies from?" he asked in a low voice. "Are they reliable?"

"Remember the friend I went out to see? That person was none other than Song Changsheng. It occurred to me then that the Song Clan is also an enemy of the Lieyang Sect. Could our clan perhaps hire their cultivators to help us with the ambush?

When I proposed the idea, Young Clan Leader Song agreed readily. He said they could dispatch two Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, and that Clan Leader Song would personally take part." Rong Shaoyuan embellished the story slightly, changing a "request" into a "hiring."

"You’re saying Song Xianming will accept our offer and personally come down from the mountain?" Rong Mingtao’s eyes went wide, and in his shock, he accidentally tore out a few strands of his white beard.

"Correct. The Song Clan’s Grand Elder will also take part." Rong Shaoyuan could understand why Rong Mingtao lost his composure at the mention of Song Xianming’s name.

This was because it sent an important message to the world: Song Xianming’s injuries were nearly or completely healed. It made sense, too—wasn’t the Green Sky White Jade Pill tailor-made for him?

Song Xianming was a figure who had defined an era in the Daqi Cultivation World, and he was widely recognized as one of the cultivators most likely to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. With his injuries healed, his breakthrough wouldn’t be far off.

"It seems the Seven Eminent Clans may soon become the Eight Eminent Clans. With him involved, this plan has a real chance of success. What do they want?" Rong Mingtao’s mind began to race. Those two from the Song Clan were roughly on par with Yu Chengbo’s group. With his own clan’s people, the ambush would have an eighty percent chance of success at least!

Rong Shaoyuan quickly handed over the list Song Changsheng had written. "Here are their terms."

"Good." Rong Mingtao gave him an approving glance, then took the list and studied it carefully.

The first item was to split the spoils of war evenly, which he had no issue with.

Next was a payment of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, a price he could also accept.

Finally, there was a list of cultivation resources, such as Spirit Medicines and Spirit Plant Seeds, which in total were likely worth another hundred thousand Spirit Stones.

Frankly, the price wasn’t cheap, but it was absolutely worth it. They were, after all, getting two Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivators, and Song Xianming was even a Tier Three Low-Grade Array Master.

"Acceptable." Rong MingTao agreed with almost no hesitation. Two hundred thousand Spirit Stones were a trifle compared to the entire Spirit Stone Vein, and that wasn’t even factoring in the value of Song Xianming’s reputation.

"Shaoyuan, you have performed a great service for the clan. When we return, I will report it as such. Now, go contact the Song Clan. Tell them our clan will dispatch two cultivators at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection and two at Late-stage Foundation Establishment. We will rendezvous at Wuyi Mountain to finalize the details," Rong Mingtao said decisively.

"As you command!" Rong Shaoyuan was overjoyed. The credit was one thing, but what was truly important was earning the favor of a respected and powerful Elder. His future bid for the Young Clan Leader position would be much smoother now.

After receiving Rong Shaoyuan’s reply, Song Changsheng breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He hadn’t dropped the ball on the clan’s first diplomatic mission.

Early the next morning, he dispatched Song Qingluo down the mountain to deliver the message, and then the long wait began...

After the three-day lecture concluded, the Great City Lord personally played the zither for everyone. That day, the entire Luoxia City was enveloped in melodious music that lingered for days.

Some listeners even broke through their bottlenecks and entered new realms. This was no exaggeration; Song Changsheng witnessed it with his own eyes.

DONG.

With the song’s end, the grand gathering drew to a close. Early the next morning, the guests began to take their leave of the Great City Lord. Everyone had been away for some time, and it was time to go back.

Seeing the members of the Lieyang Sect depart, Song Changsheng clasped his hands behind his back, a cold smirk touching his lips. ’There’s a little surprise waiting for you on the road.’

’I should get ready to head back, too. That little fellow must be getting impatient,’ Song Changsheng thought. An incredibly cold face surfaced in his mind. ’He must have grown quite a lot by now.’

"What are you thinking about, Fellow Daoist Song?" Zhuang Yuechan had appeared beside him at some unknown time.

"I was thinking about the safest route to take back." ’Once bitten, twice shy,’ he thought. Plenty of people wanted him dead; he really needed to plan carefully.

"Are you planning to leave already, Fellow Daoist Song?"

"I’ve been away from home for over a year. It’s time I went back to check on things."

A sly glint flashed in Zhuang Yuechan’s lovely eyes. She shook her head. "I’m afraid your wish can’t be granted, Fellow Daoist. My master wishes to see you."

Song Changsheng froze. ’The Great City Lord wants to see me?’

——————

In a nameless region on the border of Bian Province and Yang Province, a brutal battle had just ended. The collapsed mountains and ravaged landscape silently testified to its ferocity.

"I never thought he’d actually detonate his own Spiritual Power. If Clan Leader Song hadn’t been so quick to react, I’d have been skinned alive, if not killed," Rong Mingtao said with lingering fear, staring at the massive crater before them.

Song Xianming waved a hand. "We fought shoulder to shoulder; it was nothing. Now that Mao Wuwei is dead, and Yu Chengbo and He Beishui have fled with grievous injuries, our strategic objective has been met. We should withdraw before the Lieyang Sect gets desperate."

"Agreed."

That day, the Lieyang Sect was once again shaken to its core...

...