Chapter 291

Chapter 291: Bargaining

Seeing this, Mo Qianxun couldn’t help but curse inwardly, "That damn little scoundrel is using me as a weapon!"

Though he felt quite frustrated, as the Clan Leader, he couldn’t speak up for anyone else in front of outsiders. So, even knowing he was being used by Fang Lie, he had no choice but to begrudgingly defend him.

*"Ahem~"* Mo Qianxun cleared his throat and frowned, saying, "Although this brat is a bit troublesome, what he said has some truth. Even if Master Tianlong discovered Chongming Ancient Temple, he has left and did not claim it. Instead, it benefited some Man-Eating Demon Monks. Fang Lie took that territory from the demons; by the rules, that should be his domain, right? I wonder what Master Bai Lian thinks?"

"This~" Master Bai Lian furrowed his brows and said, "That does seem reasonable!"

"Master~" The senior disciple of Master Bai Lian quickly exclaimed, "Have you forgotten? That used to be a subsidiary temple of our Great Thunder Sound Temple, and it is recorded in our sect!"

Upon hearing this, Master Bai Lian frowned and said nothing.

Fang Lie, however, sneered immediately, "So that was a subsidiary temple of your Great Thunder Sound Temple! Haha, if that is the case, then it’s my fault!"

"Just knowing is enough!" the monk retorted angrily.

*"Hehe, I simply didn’t know before. Now that I know, I naturally need to show my acknowledgment!"* Fang Lie said with a smile. "However, as far as I know, whenever a major sect sets up a subsidiary temple, it must be announced to the world to signify its legitimacy. But I wonder, when Chongming Ancient Temple became a subsidiary of Great Thunder Sound Temple, was it announced to the world?"

"That~" The monk suddenly fell silent. That place was a gift from Master Tianlong to his illegitimate child, so how could it be claimed as a subsidiary of Great Thunder Sound Temple?

If it had really been announced and recognized as a subsidiary, Great Thunder Sound Temple could have easily driven the Man-Eating Demon Monk away with just a letter.

Therefore, Master Tianlong, acting out of selfish motives, had not allowed Chongming Ancient Temple to become a subsidiary of Great Thunder Sound Temple and certainly had not announced it to the world either.

Knowing he was in the wrong, the monk hastily replied, "It has not yet been announced, but we have records within our sect!"

*"Hehe, Master~"* Fang Lie couldn’t help but sneer, "It seems that records from your inner temple do not count!"

"Indeed~" Huo Wufang, also unable to tolerate the other party’s attitude, couldn’t help but laugh derisively, "If anyone could just record something and then claim that a paradise belongs to them, that would be too easy!"

As soon as he said this, the few monks across from him felt their faces flush.

There was no way around it; the monk had no good arguments! If their records counted, could they just claim that East Kunlun or Mo Sect belonged to Great Thunder Sound Temple? That would be ridiculous and laughable.

At this moment, Fang Lie continued to smile, saying, "Of course, aside from announcing to the world, there is another situation that could justify claiming Chongming Ancient Temple as yours. That is if the original owner of Chongming Ancient Temple, the Man-Eating Demon Monk, is one of your Great Thunder Sound Temple’s disciples. Just like how my Qingyu Island is automatically recognized as belonging to Mo Sect because I am a disciple of the Mo Sect. So now, I ask everyone, is the Man-Eating Demon Monk indeed one of your Great Thunder Sound Temple’s disciples? If you acknowledge that, then I will accept that Chongming Ancient Temple is yours."

"That~" Master Bai Lian and the three monks fell completely speechless and didn’t know what to say.

Though it seemed simple to nod, the consequences were enormous, and even Master Bai Lian’s position couldn’t handle it.

Keep in mind that the Man-Eating Demon Monk had been wreaking havoc in Wanxing Sea for hundreds of years, killing countless cultivators, many of whom belonged to various righteous sects. Not to mention, dozens of Mo Sect disciples had also died at his hands.

The elders of these people would not let this go easily and had long protested to Great Thunder Sound Temple. However, at that time, Great Thunder Sound Temple feared trouble and simply denied it.

Now, if they dared to admit it again, it would mean that they had deceived everyone in the past!

Deceiving one person didn’t matter, but deceiving hundreds or thousands of high-level cultivators, nearly all of the righteous sects, would be a huge issue that would surely provoke public outrage.

Even if Master Bai Lian held an extraordinary position, he would not dare to nod in acknowledgment.

Fang Lie had long known they wouldn’t admit it, which was why he acted so arrogantly. Now that he saw these monks utterly dumbfounded, he felt a great sense of joy.

*"Oh dear~"* Fang Lie then pretended to be sorrowful, saying, "Look, it’s not that I’m unwilling to return Chongming Ancient Temple, but it actually has nothing to do with you! It’s neither your subsidiary temple nor a temple of your esteemed disciples, merely a devil’s lair occupied by demons. According to the rules of jianghu, such places belong to whoever conquers them, right?"

"Right~" Master Bai Lian reluctantly nodded and then sighed, "Well then, I acknowledge that Chongming Ancient Temple is your spoils of war. However, since it is a Buddhist sacred place, and you from the Mo Sect belong to the Daoist lineage, it’s clearly not appropriate. How about this? Just give it to us! I am willing to owe you a favor!"

A favor from a Thunder Tribulation Immortal is no small matter, but Fang Lie felt uncertain. After all, he had killed their cherished disciple, creating a rift between them. Even with this favor, he feared that this person wouldn’t be sincere when he needed help.

However, with Master Bai Lian in such a high position, asking him for a favor, if Fang Lie refused, it would seem too heartless. Given his rank, he lacked the qualification to decline.

But Fang Lie was clever; since he couldn’t stop it himself, he decided to let someone else take the fall!

So, Fang Lie blinked his large eyes at Mo Qianxun, silently urging him to decide.

In the past, even if Fang Lie had pleaded directly, Mo Qianxun would’ve ignored him.

But times had changed. With The Great Unity Spell’s spread and the abundance of spirit pills, Fang Lie’s standing in Mo Sect soared. Even Sect Leader Mo Qianxun no longer treated him carelessly, instead seeking opportunities to mend past neglect.

Though reluctant to provoke Bai Lian Chan Master, Mo Qianxun forced himself to say, "Master, you dismissively claim such vast territory—isn’t this too frivolous?"

Had Fang Lie or others spoken thus, Bai Lian Chan Master would’ve taken offense. But Mo Qianxun, a Semi-Immortal of immense power, held the qualification.

Understanding Fang Lie enjoyed Mo Qianxun’s protection, Bai Lian Chan Master sighed inwardly. He knew blood must be spilled to claim Chongming Ancient Temple.

"What does the Sect Leader suggest?" Bai Lian Chan Master smiled.

"Youngsters prefer concrete gains," Mo Qianxun replied slyly. "With Great Thunder Sound Temple’s wealth, a trifling gift should suffice. Surely Master wouldn’t shortchange him?"

"Naturally not." Bai Lian Chan Master paused. "Beyond Chongming Ancient Temple, I request the Man-Eating Demon Monk and his Bright Pearl. Will Benefactor Fang relinquish them?"

"The seventh-rank Buddhist treasure I’ll surrender," Fang Lie said lightly. "The monk stays."

Bai Lian Chan Master’s true aim lay elsewhere. He merely frowned before offering, "Then I’ll gift an eighth-rank middle-grade Flying Sword, guaranteed to accept you immediately."

Fang Lie’s silent smile radiated refusal.

Bai Lian Chan Master’s face tightened. "Am I being miserly?"

The veiled anger was palpable—rejecting an eighth-rank Treasure seemed excessive. Even Mo Qianxun and Huo Wufang grew uneasy.

"Fang Lie, quit while you’re ahead!" Mo Qianxun chuckled.

"Don’t overreach!" Huo Wufang snapped. "Great Thunder Sound Temple barely owns eighth-rank Treasures! This shows utmost sincerity!"

"Secret Vault." Fang Lie’s two words froze the room.

"What? Secret Vault?" Mo Qianxun, Huo Wufang, and the Bai Family Head gasped. Bai Lian Chan Master’s group paled.

"The Man-Eating Demon Monk mentioned an ancient Secret Vault at Chongming Ancient Temple," Fang Lie grinned. "Only high monks can open it. Surely an eighth-rank Flying Sword pales in comparison?"

"Aha!" Huo Wufang roared. "No wonder Great Thunder Sound Temple suddenly cares about Chongming Ancient Temple after ignoring Wanxing Sea for ages! So it’s about the vault!"

Mo Qianxun feigned dignity, coughing. "Master, this deceit—profiting without investment—is unworthy."

"Precisely!" The Bai Family Head interjected. "Chongming Ancient Temple plus a seventh-rank top-grade treasure already equal an eighth-rank Treasure’s value! The Secret Vault’s essentially free? Unacceptable!"

Bai Lian Chan Master flushed. "The Secret Vault remains… merely Legend."