Chapter 310

Chapter 310: Assertiveness and Negotiation

Since the other side wanted to be straightforward, Zhou Luo did not beat around the bush either.

After all, given his current status, he was communicating with them on a completely equal footing.

In fact, thanks to his previous impressive achievements, the other side probably held a degree of awe towards him.

Sure enough, a light flashed in Xue Ding Shan’s eyes, and he felt a flicker of surprise inwardly.

He chuckled lightly: “Friend Zhou is absolutely right. This city does indeed belong to the Lu Family.”

“However, you may not be aware that the person in charge of Feng City and the Lu Family main house are actually not of the same lineage. Moreover, the two sides have always held different philosophies.”

“They are actually opposed to the family’s decision to start The Great Battle. So, privately, they have already chosen to join our Xue Family.”

“At present, Feng City still functionally belongs to the Lu Family. However, our Xue Family naturally must care for our allies.”

His words were impeccably phrased. He made absolutely no mention of seizing the city; instead, he presented the fact as if it were the Lu Family members who had actively extended the invitation.

If Zhou Luo were to aggressively confront them by saying the Lu Family had fallen,

This way, Xue Ding Shan could take the opportunity to assert that this branch of the Lu Family was different from the main clan. Since they had already formed an alliance with this branch, the Xue Family could not simply stand by and watch them be destroyed.

This would give them justification to intervene.

Zhou Luo understood this perfectly, but today his purpose was not to engage in hypocritical pleasantries.

In times like this, with two great long-life families clearly contesting for supremacy, power had to be demonstrated; otherwise, any discussion would be futile.

That was precisely why he had brought the Wang Family and the Li Family along.

“What if my Lin Family wants this Feng City?” He stared directly at the other man, his gaze intense.

He wanted to probe their bottom line.

Xue Ding Shan’s expression remained unchanged. He smiled and said, “Friend Zhou, since the Lu Family has split, Feng City is no longer part of the Lu Family. As they are now allied with our Xue Family, we naturally cannot just watch them be destroyed.”

He seemed to be relying on legitimacy and principle to handle the situation.

“Just because they split, does that mean they stop being surnamed Lu? I doubt the Wang and Li Families would agree either.” Zhou Luo turned his gaze to the two men opposite.

The Wang Family head immediately responded earnestly, “Elder Zhou is absolutely right. During The Great Battle, my Wang Family already became enemies with the Lu Family. We cannot simply allow them to reestablish themselves.”

“My thoughts align with Elder Zhou’s.” The Li Family elder stated, bowing his head slightly.

Xue Ding Shan’s smile froze. He understood this was the three long-life families putting pressure on him.

Previously, he had thought he could stall the matter to avoid a resolution. But judging by their stance now, an easy resolution seemed unlikely.

“Then, going by Friend Zhou’s logic, since the Lu Family has fallen, this should be considered an unclaimed city, shouldn’t it?” Xue Ding Shan countered.

If it were merely an unclaimed city, then the Xue Family occupying it should be justifiable.

“No. It already belongs to the Lin Family.” Zhou Luo declared with absolute authority.

The brief exchange made him realize the other side had absolutely no intention of relinquishing the city.

Given that, wasting further words was pointless.

Xue Ding Shan’s brows furrowed slightly, and his aura erupted with sudden intensity.

In an instant, an overwhelming pressure descended, crushing down on the Wang Family head and the Li Family elder. They couldn’t breathe; their faces flushed a deep crimson red.

"What does Daoist Friend Zhou mean?"

In Xue Ding Shan’s eyes, though the other had killed two Foundation Establishment cultivators to make a name in a battle, he always felt it was just luck.

After all, the first Foundation Establishment cultivator had just succeeded in establishing their foundation with unstable cultivation. Getting killed was reasonable.

While the Ancestor of the Lu Family had previously fought fiercely with the Lin Family Ancestor once. Zhou Luo’s subsequent strike couldn’t really be considered a solo fight either.

Thus in Xue Ding Shan’s eyes, at best the other had some capability, but facing an established Foundation Establishment strong person like himself, he certainly wouldn’t gain any advantage.

Zhou Luo narrowed his eyes, a soft breeze stirring around him.

The breeze swept past, instantly dissolving the oppressive pressure permeating the area.

The Wang Family head and Lu Family elder breathed sighs of relief, gasping heavily for air.

"I came not to negotiate with you. Your Xue Family may refuse to hand over Feng City—just ensure you have no worries about my Lin Family’s iron cavalry."

Zhou Luo’s voice remained calm yet radiated an overwhelming, domineering presence.

These words landed in the chamber, shattering the formerly harmonious atmosphere instantly into one tense enough that swords felt drawn and bows strung.

Xue Ding Shan hadn’t expected the other to dare act this arrogantly on his own turf.

Didn’t he fear being suppressed and executed right on this spot?

Even if he truly did it, afterwards—once the Lin Family lost another Foundation Establishment cultivator—they’d surely not dare protest. Meanwhile, he could seize this chance to expand Xue Family territory.

But then his gaze involuntarily shifted to the Wang and Li Family representatives sitting there like they were on pins and needles.

Had they not been present, he would’ve truly tested this opponent’s strength.

But ultimately, he still had to show some regard toward these two long-life families.

Especially the Li Family with their two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If three long-life families joined forces, that meant five Foundation Establishment cultivators arriving personally.

The urgent priority remained making these two families back down in the face of difficulty.

Thus Xue Ding Shan deliberately uttered a sentence completely out of context:

"I have a son who quite luckily managed to enroll at the Qingshan Sect."

Qingshan Sect, not the Qinyuan Sect.

These words made both the Wang Family head and Li Family elder’s expressions shift subtly as they instinctively glanced toward Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo inwardly understood. Now he knew the source of the other’s confidence.

So the Qingshan Sect meant to interfere within Qinyuan Domain through the Xue Family.

But did the opponent truly not fear the Qinyuan Sect learning of this?

Or had those two Immortal Sects, branching from the same origin long ago, privately reached some kind of agreement?

Zhou Luo knew of the Qinyuan Sect’s situation solely through his children’s updates.

Only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage recently had he deeply realized: to an Immortal Sect, long-life families mattered no more than the difference between a human and a dog.

To progress further, to amass enough cultivation resources for breakthroughs into higher realms, relying solely on a single long-life family wasn’t feasible.

After all, cultivating one Foundation Establishment required massive resources. What about a Golden Core stage expert? A Nascent Soul realm sovereign?

The scale of cultivation resources demanded became truly monstrous.

Too much for one minor Lin Family to ever sustain.

He must expand.

Seeking expansion within Qinyuan Domain required increasing his own influence within Qinyuan Sect.

Hence he sent talented children to enroll under Immortal Sects.

A century from now, once these children gained ability, they could also extend resources back toward his family.

Moreover, more children equated to more comprehensive intelligence on Qinyuan Sect.

Just like now—he still couldn’t ascertain Qinyuan Sect’s stance on this matter, forcing cautious action.

Nonetheless he predicted the Qingshan Sect wouldn’t flaunt itself so blatantly within Qinyuan Domain.

Thus he countered sharply:

"Quite the coincidence. A pair of my own children also study at Qinyuan Sect. Their master happens to be a Golden Core master."

The implication was clear. Though Qinyuan Sect might not formally back him, should the Xue Family dare involve the Qingshan Sect, he would absolutely report everything to Qinyuan Sect—and publicize it across Qinyuan Domain.

Thereafter, for the sake of face and dignity, Qinyuan Sect couldn’t possibly permit Qingshan Sect intervention.

A flicker of astonishment crossed Xue Ding Shan’s eyes—he hadn’t expected the other to show zero regard for Qingshan Sect whatsoever.

Qingshan Sect’s support for the Xue Family was actually entirely covert.

Though his son’s message assured there was no need to fear Qinyuan Sect, exposing this affair would still severely damage Xue Family reputation.

He felt absolutely certain the other would balk, abandoning Feng City entirely.

After all, following recent major battles, the Lin Family had already gained substantially.

Who could have imagined such an unyielding stance?

Observing that utterly composed posture, his heart sinking, he used his mental strength to transmit privately:

"Friend Zhou… Perhaps this matter isn’t beyond discussing after all?"

If the other wouldn’t concede, the party lacking justification—themselves—had no choice but to yield.

And crucially, now not allowing other long-life families to detect this shift, he opted for telepathic communication.

Zhou Luo responded, equally via mental strength:

"Not at all."

"How precisely do you believe this discussion should proceed?"