Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 110

Volume 6 Chapter 110: Cooperation

Meanwhile, as Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan hurried towards "Ronghua Mountain," deep in the Western Desert, Zhang Xusheng, who had been trapped for many days by Immortal Zizhen, Mr. Liu, and Li Fulu, had fought against the three Grandmasters for a full ten days.

Since that day when Zhang Xusheng infused the "Demon Orb" into Xu Qingfan’s body, he sensed that Zizhen and the others were chasing him, and hurriedly escaped deeper into the Western Desert. However, about an hour later, he was finally stopped by Zizhen and the others.

Last time, Zhang Xusheng almost managed to escape, so this time, Zizhen and the others wasted no time. After stopping Zhang Xusheng, they immediately attacked with all their strength.

At this moment, Zhang Xusheng no longer had the "Immortal Body" and the constant supply of Spirit Qi. His abilities were only on par with Immortal Zizhen and the others, but he suddenly found himself at a disadvantage, and he had almost no power to fight back.

Even so, Zhang Xusheng was still one of the top masters in the cultivation world. Even though he was at a disadvantage, it took Immortal Zizhen and the other three a full ten days to completely defeat him.

With a loud bang, Zhang Xusheng, trapped by Li Fulu’s Kui Water force, had no way to escape. He was struck by Immortal Zizhen’s overwhelming purple energy. His face turned even paler as blood sprayed from his mouth, turning into a rain of blood that fell to the ground and quickly soaked into the yellow sand.

As Zhang Xusheng fell to the ground, four dark glimmers flashed by and pierced into his limbs, leaving him unable to move. It was one of Mr. Liu’s treasures, the "Black Dragon Nail."

Seeing that Zhang Xusheng was finally defeated and captured by them, Immortal Zizhen, Mr. Liu, and Li Fulu exchanged glances and couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

The fierce battle was finally over.

Looking at the "Black Dragon Nail" embedded in his limbs, under such a precious treasure that could almost rival the "Holy Spirit Sword," the remaining energy within Zhang Xusheng could not move at all. A bitter smile crossed his lips as he murmured, "If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have restored my true form so early. Although escaping with my Nascent Soul is dangerous, at least I could run faster and wouldn’t be caught this quickly. However, if I don’t restore my true form, I also can’t create an interesting opponent for myself in the future."

Just as Zhang Xusheng was murmuring, Immortal Zizhen, Mr. Liu, and Li Fulu flashed to Zhang Xusheng’s front, surrounding him. Seeing that Zhang Xusheng showed no signs of tension and continued to mumble to himself, the three of them furrowed their brows tightly. Mr. Liu asked first, "Zhang Xusheng, what are you saying? What opponent?"

Zhang Xusheng struggled to turn his head, looking at Mr. Liu in front of him. He smiled slightly and said, "I was thinking about how I should negotiate with you."

Immortal Zizhen snorted coldly and retorted, "You have no strength to fight back now. Do you think you still have something to negotiate with?"

"I do," Zhang Xusheng replied with a smile. "You still have the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ in my hands, and don’t you want to know the location of the ‘Ming’ organization’s headquarters?"

Immortal Zizhen said coldly, "You are now in our grasp. The ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ can be taken back at any time. As for the location of the ‘Ming’ organization’s headquarters, if you are willing to tell us this secret, we will keep our promise and not take your life. However, if you don’t tell us, it’s not a problem because we still have a year to explore and find out. So you have no right to negotiate with us. The current victors are us, not you. Zhang Xusheng, do not confuse your identity."

Zhang Xusheng maintained his smile but replied, "Even if you take back the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ from me now, in just one year’s time, can you refine it for use? In fact, after my improvements, the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ now has the blood of the kylin integrated into it. Though just a little, the current ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ is already quite different from what you’ve refined. Moreover, I have trained the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ to the point where it responds to my thoughts. You might need more than a year just to familiarize yourselves with this new ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ and to remove my control over it. So, how can you deal with the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ that is about to return?"

Knowing that Zhang Xusheng would not lie at this time, and that what he said was indeed reasonable, Immortal Zizhen and the other two had no rebuttal, and their expressions turned unpleasant.

Seeing the expressions of Immortal Zizhen and the others, Zhang Xusheng’s smile grew wider as he said slowly, "There’s no need to be so pessimistic. Perhaps what I say next will make you feel better: the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ can no longer seal the Shura Clan, so it is basically useless to you. Even if you can’t refine it immediately, it won’t be a big loss, right?"

How could these words make Immortal Zizhen and the others feel good? Zhang Xusheng suddenly brought this up, clearly to tease Immortal Zizhen and the others.

Indeed, after hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, Immortal Zizhen and the others all trembled, and Li Fulu’s eyes sparkled as he suddenly took a step forward and coldly asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Zhang Xusheng did not answer but instead looked at the expressions of the three people for a moment before he said, "How did you all know that the Shura Clan would return around next year?"

"Wasn’t it you who told us? You wanted us to fight the ‘Ming’ organization so that you could benefit while we helped you create the ‘Four Spirit Sky Map’ treasure."

Li Fulu said with a cold smile.

"So, you believed it? Truly, when Li Xuhan mentioned this, you all believed without doubt. My deceased senior brother was quite popular," Zhang Xusheng said slowly.

Immortal Zizhen trembled again and quickly asked, "What do you mean? Has the Shura Clan already returned?"

Zhang Xusheng shook his head and said lightly, "I don’t know either. I only inferred this from their actions during my time in the ‘Ming’ organization a few years ago."

Mr. Liu, who had not spoken until now, suddenly said seriously, "Zhang Xusheng, just tell us what you need to say. As for whether to believe it or not, we will decide that ourselves."

Zhang Xusheng looked deeply at Mr. Liu, suddenly sighed softly, and said, "No human would want to release the Shura Clan, because no human can control them. So it can be almost certain that the leader of the ‘Dark’ organization, ‘Tian’, is actually a Shura Clan member who escaped from humans long ago. You should have read about the Shura Clan in ancient books; back then, strong members of the Shura Clan were either sealed or died under the ‘Five Elements Sacred Tool’. Every dead Shura Clan member can have their body found, except for one person. Although he was killed in front of thousands of cultivators, after the great battle, humans could never find his body."

Immortal Zizhen asked, "Are you talking about the Great Brahma, who was known as the first wise man of the Shura Clan?"

"Yes, that’s right, Great Brahma," Zhang Xusheng nodded with a smile. "The first wise man of the Shura Clan, would he really let me easily guess his purpose, even the specific time? Although I have great confidence in my own intelligence, I wouldn’t dare to make such a guarantee. If I were him, I would definitely keep something back, like creating mystery to confuse the real time of the Shura Clan’s return…"

After a pause, Zhang Xusheng continued, "There’s one more thing. I used to have some people placed within the ‘Dark’ organization, and they were supposed to contact me every month. However, it has been almost two months since I last heard from them. I think you can guess what that means."

"Are you saying that the Shura Clan has returned? Why have we received no news, and there hasn’t been any strange activity in the entire Shenzhou Continent?" Immortal Zizhen asked, his body trembling slightly, but he quickly calmed down.

"Even the powerful Shura Clan, after being sealed for tens of thousands of years, still needs time to recover after returning. If I am not mistaken, the Shura Clan has probably been back for quite a while. This is their time to regain strength. Right now, the Shura Clan could fully recover their power at any moment. Your only chance to defeat them and seal them again is before they fully recover."

Zhang Xusheng answered cheerfully, and the ease on his face created a sharp contrast with the seriousness and tension on Immortal Zizhen and the others’ faces.

"How do we know what you are saying is true?" Li Fulu suddenly asked.

Zhang Xusheng replied calmly, "Even if I am lying, you must admit that my lies could very well come true, right? Moreover, my people planted in the ‘Dark’ organization truly haven’t contacted me for a long time. They are either dead or trapped, but either way, it means the Shura Clan has not only returned but their power is about to recover. So, are you interested in talking with me now?"

A flash of anger crossed Li Fulu’s eyes as he suddenly asked, "You thought of all this a long time ago. Why did you delay us for so long? Couldn’t you have said it earlier? If you had told us from the start, this great battle wouldn’t have happened. You made us waste a whole month. What is your true intention?"

Hearing Li Fulu’s words, Mr. Liu looked at him with a puzzled expression. The usually silent Li Fulu seemed to have much more to say today, interrupting the conversation between both sides and steering the topic in different directions.

After questioning Zhang Xusheng, Li Fulu turned to Immortal Zizhen and said, "Friend Zizhen, what Zhang Xusheng said may be possible, but his attitude is very suspicious. Perhaps Zhang Xusheng is still cooperating with the ‘Underworld’ organization and is leading us into a trap, so we can’t fully trust his words."

Immortal Zizhen shook his head, signaling Li Fulu to calm down, and gestured for Zhang Xusheng to continue speaking.

Zhang Xusheng looked deeply at Li Fulu and then smiled, saying, "The first time I faced you, it was only a month after the deadline, and although those hidden people didn’t contact me, it didn’t catch my attention until now, after two months. I’ve only just realized the problem. Most importantly, if I don’t keep you occupied, how will my followers escape from your Righteous Alliance?"

Immortal Zizhen said coldly, "I didn’t realize you would actually think about your followers, but at ‘Black Glory Valley,’ there are countless masters from my Righteous Alliance and eleven Taoist friends who have reached the Mahayana Stage. Even if you keep us busy, can they escape?"

Zhang Xusheng replied with a smile, "I still have many plans to complete. I can’t afford to lose too many of my followers. I’ve spent many years training them, and it would be a pity to lose them. As for whether they can escape, Taoist Friend Zizhen, you underestimate Anluo. He is the most perfect creation of my life."

"Are you talking about that monster who can mimic others’ abilities using their blood? I’ve already captured him," Immortal Zizhen said with a cold snort.

Immortal Zizhen replied with a cold snort.

Zhang Xusheng smiled wider and said, "So, you underestimated Anluo. If I’m right, Anluo should have already escaped with my men by now."

After pausing for a moment, Zhang Xusheng seemed to remember something and nodded to Immortal Zizhen with a smile, assuring, "But don’t worry, Taoist Friend Zizhen. Without my order, Anluo will not harm anyone."

Seeing Zhang Xusheng being so arrogant, a trace of anger flashed in Li Fulu’s eyes again. He wanted to say something more, but Mr. Liu beside him stopped him. Mr. Liu turned to Immortal Zizhen and said, "Taoist Friend Zizhen, the situation is urgent. Let’s get to the main point."

Immortal Zizhen nodded and said to Zhang Xusheng, "If your Anluo really didn’t harm anyone from the Righteous Alliance, then even if all your men escape, it won’t affect the overall situation. Now, tell us your conditions."

Zhang Xusheng replied casually, "It’s simple. We cooperate. I’ll take you to the main base of the ‘Ming’ organization, but you will join me in dealing with the ‘Ming’ organization and the revived Shura Clan. How about it? This plan is beneficial for you without any harm. Relying only on the Righteous Alliance’s strength, it would be difficult to deal with the Shura Clan, even if they haven’t fully regained their power."

Immortal Zizhen looked at Zhang Xusheng in confusion. This kind of cooperation indeed gave the Righteous Alliance a big advantage, but on the other hand, if Zhang Xusheng proposed other conditions, Immortal Zizhen and the others might not agree. However, this way of cooperation seemed a bit out of character for Zhang Xusheng.

Li Fulu snorted coldly and said, "There’s definitely a scheme."

However, before Immortal Zizhen could say anything, Mr. Liu suddenly moved.

Mr. Liu clapped his hands together and the four "Black Dragon Nails" that had pierced into Zhang Xusheng’s limbs instantly transformed into four beams of black light, merging into Zhang Xusheng’s body.

Zhang Xusheng knew that the "Black Dragon Nail" had penetrated deep into his body. Although he was no longer trapped by its power, his life was still in Mr. Liu’s hands. If Mr. Liu had even the slightest change of heart, those four "Black Dragon Nails" would take his life in an instant.

Then, Zhang Xusheng heard Mr. Liu’s voice.

"Alright, as you wish, we will cooperate."

Zhang Xusheng slowly stood up from the ground, looked at Mr. Liu with a slight smile, and asked, "Is this how cooperation works?"

"Yes," Mr. Liu answered calmly. "We are the winners, and you are the loser. This is what cooperation looks like between winners and losers."

Zhang Xusheng sighed softly; indeed, Mr. Liu was his strongest rival in the Righteous Alliance.