Chapter 79: Chapter 79: The Sect Leader Seems So Awesome (Fourth Update)
Xu Nian’s expression remained unchanged; it seemed he had already guessed Cui Shengshu would say this.
In his view, Cui Shengshu must have already known about the Red Dragon Sword; otherwise, he wouldn’t have exploded in such a furor upon seeing the letter.
For the sake of the Nine Heavens Alliance? Hah. Would anyone believe such words? Between the Nine Heavens Alliance and the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure, even if Cui Shengshu were a saint, he would not pass up the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure!
Moreover, his son Cui Wenzheng also had the look of someone ready to proactively admit his mistakes. All of this seemed logically consistent, as if the father and son duo had known this day would come and had already prepared for this scene in advance. If that were the case, Cui Shengshu’s scheming would be truly extensive. This swordsman, appearing refined and amiable, seemingly full of Jianghu righteousness, was perhaps the one hidden deepest of all.
Xu Nian chuckled lightly. "I know not only that you possess one of the Nine Dragons Secret Treasures," he said, "but I also know about the others, and even their locations, with utmost clarity!"
Upon this declaration, the pavilion fell into dead silence.
Cui Shengshu and his son Cui Wenzheng both turned to look at Xu Nian, their eyes revealing complete shock and greed.
It is hard to fathom human hearts. Xu Nian had always been aware of this. The waters of Jianghu run too deep; neither Jianghu reputation nor daily actions are trustworthy. A man who helps the poor during the day might engage in trafficking women at night—and these women could be the very same ones he helped. Are such people good or evil? Cui Shengshu appeared gentle and erudite on the surface, but who truly knew what he did in the shadows? In Xu Nian’s eyes, human nature was fundamentally evil! Apart from the players, he would not easily trust anyone he knew. Even with Zhou Yuntong of the Brocade Guard, he always chose to remain wary.
"Is this true?" Cui Wenzheng asked urgently.
Cui Shengshu, beside him, did not speak, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
The last time the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure was unsealed was three hundred years ago, when the Imperial Court had intervened to erase much of the information. He had thought he would never have a chance to encounter the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure in his lifetime. Unexpectedly, he had obtained the Red Dragon Sword! But even with the Red Dragon Sword, it was useless. He needed not only the Red Dragon Sword but also the other Nine Dragon Keys! Now that Xu Nian had spoken these words so bluntly, he couldn’t help but be moved. Power to overturn the entire world. Wealth that could rival nations—who wouldn’t desire such things?
"To tell you the truth, one of the Nine Dragon Keys, the Black Dragon Dagger, is in our Profound Yellow Sect’s possession," Xu Nian stated calmly. "And the Red Dragon Sword is in Alliance Leader Cui’s hands. I believe it’s the blood-red sword you always carry, isn’t it?"
Cui Shengshu did not respond, his expression turning gloomy as his gaze swept over the sword at his waist.
Then, an almost imperceptible killing intent fell upon Xu Nian.
"Does Alliance Leader Cui want to kill me?" Xu Nian chuckled lightly. "Have you considered, Alliance Leader Cui, that by killing me, you would never know the whereabouts of the remaining Nine Dragon Keys? Not to mention, even the Black Dragon Dagger would be out of your reach!"
As Xu Nian spoke, Cui Shengshu’s killing intent began to subside.
The act only needed to be performed once; there was no need to prolong it. Besides, his opponent had already laid his cards on the table, hadn’t he?
Cui Shengshu narrowed his eyes. His prior refined demeanor was gone. "What do you want?"
"To search for the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure together!" Xu Nian said calmly. "I will provide information on the remaining Nine Dragon Keys, and together with others, we will search for the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure!"
He was well aware of the situation with the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure. The Profound Yellow Sect couldn’t handle it all on their own. Since that was the case, more people needed to be brought into the fold. It would be best to escalate the situation completely, dragging both Jianghu and the Imperial Court into it. By then, wouldn’t the true nature of the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure become crystal clear?
"Sect Leader Xu, perhaps you’ve misunderstood something. I don’t necessarily have to have the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure!" Cui Shengshu slowly turned around. Looking at the lake before him, he said calmly, "My Nine Heavens Alliance doesn’t want to wade into these muddy waters, and we also won’t hand over the Red Dragon Sword!"
His words were resolute.
But Xu Nian understood that this was just talk. An excuse, really. Who couldn’t come up with one?
"Once news of the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure spreads, can the Nine Heavens Alliance hold onto the Red Dragon Sword?" Xu Nian countered.
Cui Shengshu turned his head coldly. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not a threat, just a reminder to Alliance Leader Cui." Xu Nian slowly stood up. Smiling, he said, "One of the Nine Dragon Keys, the Purple Dragon Long Blade, is buried in the Xiaonanyu Mountain Stream of Dafang Mansion. It’s the only unowned Nine Dragon Key right now. Consider this my gesture of sincerity. Whether to join forces or not is up to Alliance Leader Cui to decide. The Profound Yellow Sect will await your visit. However, by then, Alliance Leader Cui, your Red Dragon Sword will have to be entrusted to my Profound Yellow Sect. After all, I also need your gesture of sincerity, don’t I?"
Saying this, he gestured to Junlin and his team, signaling for them to follow him out.
Realizing this, Junlin and his team also rose.
Cui Shengshu clenched his fists tightly, listening to the footsteps of Xu Nian and his group growing fainter in the distance.
A few breaths later, Cui Shengshu turned around abruptly.
"Sect Leader Xu, please wait!"
Hearing this, Xu Nian’s footsteps halted, and a smile curled the corners of his mouth.
Success! His strategy of feigned retreat had worked. Cui Shengshu was indeed interested in the Nine Dragons Secret Treasure—very interested. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have called out to Xu Nian at the last moment.
"Does Alliance Leader Cui have something else to discuss?" Xu Nian turned back, looking at Cui Shengshu with a surprised expression.
"Dafang Mansion isn’t far from our Nine Heavens Alliance. I’ll personally go to the Xiaonanyu Mountain Stream to search." Cui Shengshu said thoughtfully, "Please, Sect Leader Xu, stay here for a few days. If I find the item, I won’t refuse to join forces anymore and will gladly hand over the Red Dragon Sword!"
To him, it didn’t matter whether he found the Purple Dragon Long Blade or not. If he found it, he would have the Purple Dragon Long Blade, and the Red Dragon Sword would only be with Xu Nian temporarily. If he didn’t find it, he would lose nothing. He could then confirm Xu Nian was deceiving him, and killing him would be of no great consequence.
"Alright!" Xu Nian nodded. "Then I will await Alliance Leader Cui’s return at the Nine Heavens Alliance!"
Cui Shengshu turned to his son Cui Wenzheng and instructed, "Have Old Li arrange rooms for Sect Leader Xu and his people. You, prepare our men; take a team of trusted followers and accompany me in the search."
"Of course, Father!" Cui Wenzheng’s face showed delight.
On Xu Nian’s side, Junlin and his team didn’t quite understand how the plot was unfolding. But they felt their Sect Leader had somehow hoodwinked the other party without seeming to do much at all.
"Why do I feel like our Sect Leader is so awesome?"
"You think he just *seems* awesome? Our Sect Leader *is* definitely awesome! He knows the whereabouts of all the Nine Dragon Keys!"
"Do you guys think our Sect Leader or Cui Shengshu is more formidable? If they fought, who would come out alive?"
"Definitely our Sect Leader! Don’t forget, the protagonist of this game is our Sect Leader!"
"Makes sense!"
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