Chapter 486 - 350: Spirit Vein Upgrade
He wasn’t offered a seat.
They simply left him standing.
Looking up at the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave, Cao Yuchen took a deep breath.
’To be honest, I really didn’t want to come here. But for that sliver of a possibility, I have no choice but to endure it.’
"Greetings, Great Cave Master."
Since he had come asking for a favor, Cao Yuchen showed the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave ample respect.
If they had met under normal circumstances, they would have simply addressed each other by name; there would be no need for such a formal title.
"Great Cave Master, I have come in person because I have a favor to ask," Cao Yuchen said.
He appeared perfectly calm on the surface, as if nothing the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave said could possibly anger him.
And he couldn’t afford to get angry.
After all, this was the territory of the Black Ghost Cave sect.
Although the animosity between Demons and Ghost Cultivators was not as intense as that between Demons and Spirit Refiners, they were, in the end, on different cultivation paths.
If he truly did anything out of line here, he would be the one to suffer the consequences.
"So, you Demons have a request for us? Let’s hear it." The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave gave Cao Yuchen the chance to speak.
"This matter concerns the Celestial Cloud Sect."
Cao Yuchen had already thought long and hard about how to best persuade the Black Ghost Cave to join them against the Celestial Cloud Sect.
Of course, even his best-case scenario had a very slim chance of success.
"The Spirit Refiner faction, the Celestial Cloud Sect, is very powerful right now. We have already suffered many losses in our clashes with them. If this continues, the Celestial Cloud Sect will likely occupy our Earth Realm and grow even stronger. I came here today to seek the Great Cave Master’s help in dealing with them. Working together against the Celestial Cloud Sect would be beneficial to the Black Ghost Cave as well."
"GYEGYEGYEGYE."
After hearing Cao Yuchen’s words, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave didn’t answer, merely continuing his unsettling laughter.
This was his way of expressing his amusement.
What Cao Yuchen had just said was the funniest joke he had heard in his entire life.
"Why do you laugh, Great Cave Master?"
"Why do I laugh? You still don’t understand?" The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave stopped his chilling laughter. "Isn’t the meaning behind your words that after the Celestial Cloud Sect destroys you, they’ll come for us next?"
"Do you really believe that’s possible? When your Celestial Demon Sect faces true annihilation, it would be odd if you didn’t run to the Black Dragon Hall for help. I know the history very well. Your Celestial Demon Sect almost wiped out the Celestial Cloud Sect. If the Purple Mist Sect, a Nascent Soul Spirit Refiner power, hadn’t intervened, you would have actually succeeded."
"You say that after the Celestial Cloud Sect takes your Earth Realm, they’ll turn on us. But if you took the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory, wouldn’t you also turn on the Black Ghost Cave?"
The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave’s final sentence completely extinguished any possibility of the Black Ghost Cave helping the Celestial Demon Sect against the Celestial Cloud Sect.
It was his way of very directly stating: we are also rivals.
If the Celestial Demon Sect wanted an ally, they should have gone to the Demon Spirit Sect.
Seeing those two Demon Core Formation powers ally once again to fight the Celestial Cloud Sect, mutually depleting their strength, was what the Black Ghost Cave wanted to see most.
Of course, it wasn’t as if there were no conditions under which they would act against the Celestial Cloud Sect.
If the Celestial Cloud Sect went too far and killed as many as three of their Black Ghost Cave Elders, then the situation would be different. This was something they had discussed and agreed upon long ago.
But so far, the Spirit Refiners from the Celestial Cloud Sect had not killed a single one of their Black Ghost Cave Elders.
The Celestial Cloud Sect’s actions against them were more of a retaliation.
Their actions against the Celestial Demon Sect, however, were another matter entirely.
The Black Ghost Cave was also quite familiar with the current situation in the Celestial Demon Sect’s Earth Realm.
The Celestial Cloud Sect was striking most fiercely at the Celestial Demon Sect. Their attacks on the Black Ghost Cave and the Demon Spirit Sect were far more restrained. And comparing the two, the Celestial Cloud Sect was putting even less pressure on them than on the Demon Spirit Sect.
"Since the Great Cave Master thinks this way, I will take my leave."
"I won’t see you out."
Hearing this, Cao Yuchen no longer had any intention of continuing the conversation and departed in a proper manner.
The other party had made their stance so clear that there was no possibility of further negotiation.
There was no need for him to waste time here just to be insulted.
The mission was a failure.
’But I at least came and made contact. Lu Yaoling probably won’t say much after I get back.’
’If Lu Yaoling is unforgiving, I’ll suggest Lu Yaoling go in person.’
’This was my first visit. If Lu Yaoling went, it would be the second. The Black Ghost Cave’s attitude would likely be even worse.’
With this thought in mind, Cao Yuchen left the Black Ghost Cave and headed back with a clear conscience.
As Cao Yuchen was leaving, a scene unfolded back at the Black Ghost Cave.
A Ghost Cultivator at the Core Formation stage entered from the Outer Sect and looked up at the Great Cave Master.
"I say, Great Cave Master, why didn’t you keep that mid-stage Core Formation Demon here? He walked right into a trap by coming to our territory."
"Compared to a Spirit Refiner’s, a Demon’s soul might not be as pure, but the soul of a mid-stage Core Formation Demon is still incredibly valuable."
"Third Cave Master, there’s no need to tell me your thoughts. You can go and repeat what you just said to the Second Cave Master. See how he deals with you then."
At that moment, the Third Cave Master seemed to recall an unpleasant memory.
It was a memory of when he had vied with the Second Cave Master for authority, back when the Second Cave Master hadn’t yet reached the late-stage of Core Formation.
"You old fool, you’ve really gotten old. To think you’re content to..."
"What is the current situation? Among all the Cave Masters, your thinking is the most problematic."
The Great Cave Master cut the Third Cave Master off, leaving him with those words before departing.
Staring at the Great Cave Master’s departing back, the Third Cave Master’s expression was grim, his thoughts hidden.