Chapter 1826: Luoxue Situation
"Stand idly by and watch?" A trace of faint mockery surfaced in Fang Qianxue's eyes. "There is no such lucrative deal in this world, not even for you."
"Then what exactly does your esteemed side plan to do?" Wang Zhenlong's brow furrowed slightly. "Do not forget, Half Saint Fang has not yet ascended to a Saint. Furthermore, once this news leaks out, it is bound to draw packs of wolves, tigers, and leopards on that day. The Wang Family choosing not to interfere has already demonstrated our stance."
"If you stand idly by and watch, then after Half Saint Fang ascends to the Saintly seat, he will begin a thorough liquidation of your Wang Family. Over the years, your family's Inspection Division has opposed the Xie Zhi Division more than a few times," said Fang Qianxue coldly. "You wouldn't happen to think that everyone in our family is magnanimous, would you?"
"So that means there is nothing to talk about?" Wang Zhenlong let out a soft sigh. "I will still stick to my old words. Whether he can successfully become a Saint remains completely unknown. Under such circumstances, our Wang Family truly cannot choose a side. The only reason we were willing to come and negotiate with you today is that our family's Half Saint cherishes talent. He witnessed with his own eyes how Half Saint Fang rose from insignificance and walked step by step to where he is today."
Fang Qianxue did not waste any words. "You may all leave now."
Wang Zhenlong was taken aback. He had originally thought Fang Qianxue would haggle and debate with him for a few more rounds. He never expected her to be so decisive, declaring the failure of the negotiation just like that.
Wang Zhenlong probed, "We aren't going to discuss it a bit more?"
Fang Qianxue asked indifferently, "What is there to discuss?"
Wang Zhenlong fell silent for a long while before asking, "Is Half Saint Fang truly that confident in his ability to become a Saint? I heard from the people below that before long, you will announce this matter to the entire Nether Ruins. I want to know why. Why would he place himself in such a perilous situation?"
"Go ask him yourself. How should I know?" Fang Qianxue shot him a ridiculing look. "I came here to negotiate with you, not to act as an information courier. You either accept our conditions, or you leave immediately."
The divine ability users of the Wang Family were all enraged.
In their view, Half Saint Fang and the Limit Breaking powerhouses beneath him were still wanted criminals of the Luoxue Alliance. The status between the two sides was as stark as government officials and bandits. Yet these bandits were acting arrogant, domineering, and completely insufferable.
"Then I would like to hear what the Fang Clan requires us to do."
To the surprise of the Wang Family, Wang Zhenlong did not lose his temper. Instead, he asked calmly, "What exactly do you want us to do?"
"What your family needs to do is announce your detachment from the Luoxue Alliance," Fang Qianxue said with a faint smile. "I need a resounding statement."
Detach from the Luoxue Alliance?
Everyone was stunned.
A contemplative look surfaced in Wang Chongsong's eyes. That condition was actually... not too demanding. Given the Wang Family's unique status, they had never been truly willing to serve under the Luoxue Alliance in the first place. However, if the Wang Family really detached itself from the Luoxue Alliance, they would inevitably face suppression over the next few decades before Half Saint Fang could ascend to the Saint Realm. Furthermore, what if he failed to become a Saint? How would the Wang Family contend with the Luoxue Alliance afterward?
Evidently, Wang Zhenlong and the others had thought of this as well, and they looked as if they were about to laugh out of sheer exasperation.
Fang Qianxue said indifferently, "You still have time to consider. You have ten years to come to a decision. You may all leave."
"Then... I shall take my leave."
Wang Zhenlong cupped his hands and then led his people away.
As Wang Chongsong walked past, he exchanged a glance with Fang Chen and couldn't resist sending a transmission, "Old Fang, is there any inside information you can share?"
"Don't even think about it, Old Wang. My status isn't that high, so I don't know any more than you do. But I feel that if your family follows the Fang Clan's lead, you won't go wrong."
"Unfortunately, I am not the one who gets to decide...."
Wang Chongsong let out a soft sigh. He nodded to Fang Chen and quickly followed the rest of the Wang Family, vanishing down the end of the stairs.
***
Ten days passed.
A piece of news suddenly began to circulate within the territory of the Nether Ruins, spreading like wildfire.
"On the day of the Saint Canon longevity celebration, Half Saint Fang actually intends to ascend to a Saint at the Chaoxian Tower in Zanglong City!?"
"Is this news real or fake?"
"Regardless of whether it's real or fake, Zanglong City is bound to be incredibly lively on that day. It will likely be a spectacular sight rarely seen in a thousand years. I must go!"
"That brat Fang Lie actually plans to openly ascend to the Saint Realm?"
"A newborn calf really does not fear the tiger. We must definitely go witness the commotion on that day."
"Let's go together!"
Seeing that even Zanglong City had begun to widely circulate this piece of news, Fang Chen grew increasingly curious about Half Saint Fang's purpose behind making such a high-profile attempt to become a Saint.
Logically speaking, if he had already become a Saint long ago, he might use this to lure out his mortal enemies. But those Saints and Half Saints were no fools. They would certainly deduce this possibility.
Fang Chen pondered for a long time before pushing the thoughts aside. There were only a few decades left before the Saint Canon longevity celebration. That amount of time would pass in the blink of an eye. He would eventually see what Half Saint Fang had up his sleeve.
Ever since the news began to circulate, one negotiation team after another arrived in Zanglong City. Fang Chen was no longer qualified to attend these subsequent negotiations, but he was still able to learn the backgrounds of the visitors through Fang Ding.
Most of them were Half Saint clans from within the Luoxue Alliance. A minority belonged to forces under the command of the other Saints, all of whom had harbored past grudges against the Fang Clan. Yet, an even greater number of factions chose to maintain a wait-and-see, cynical, or mocking attitude. For instance, not a single one of the nine great Saints dispatched anyone to negotiate.
Many Half Saint clans, believing their blood feuds with the Fang Clan were utterly irreconcilable, also refrained from sending representatives. They were all simply waiting for the day of the Saint Canon longevity celebration to watch the spectacle unfold.
Ultimately, Fang Chen remained in the dark about the exact outcomes of those negotiations.
***
Ten years passed.
First, the Wang Family announced their departure from the Luoxue Alliance. Following closely behind, the Shi Family announced their departure as well.
Within a remarkably short window, seven or eight Half Saints from within the borders of the Luoxue Alliance alone chose to break away, throwing their weight behind the Fang Clan.
The fallout of that development threw the Luoxue Alliance into absolute chaos, indirectly causing many of its war zones to suffer staggering losses. After all, the clansmen of these Half Saint families constituted the very backbone of the Luoxue Alliance. Their collective choice carried immense ramifications!
It took the Luoxue Alliance several years to finally suppress the internal turmoil. Only by seeking assistance from the other Saints were they able to steady the front lines and maintain a balanced state in their conflict against the Flame Race.
Following that, the Luoxue Alliance slapped a wanted status on all the Half Saint families that had dared to break away without authorization, launching a campaign of subjugation against them. In response, these families chose to preserve their strength. Most retreated into their respective Inner Domains, completely withdrawing from public view and avoiding any direct, head-on clashes with the Luoxue Alliance.
How bizarre. Why did they all agree to leave the Luoxue Alliance exactly ten years later? What kind of intelligence did they receive during this period that prompted them to make such a call?
After gathering the external intelligence, Fang Chen tried to piece together a clear thread of logic. However, due to the lack of a critical piece of information, the true underlying reason remained entirely elusive.
Old Wang has probably retreated into the Wang Family's Inner Domain by now. Otherwise, a quick chat with him might have shed light on the matter.
Fang Ding's voice echoed, "Old Ancestor, it is time for today's cultivation."
Hearing that, Fang Chen, who had already pushed his cultivation to the peak of the fifth transformation realm, stood up and stretched his limbs. He then followed Fang Ding toward the Saint Tower.
My foundation is enough for me to break through to the sixth transformation if I can track down a sixth-transformation immortal. As for the Ancient Immortal Register, I already have it on me. With a seventh-transformation immortal herb, I can also seamlessly ascend to an Ancient Immortal.
Fang Chen couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion.
The progress he had achieved over the past ten or so years spent here vastly outstripped what he had gained during his two centuries at North Wind Ridge. The Saint Tower here was nothing short of a cultivation paradise, perfectly complementing his specific method of cultivation. It allowed him to completely drain his immortal essence in an incredibly short amount of time, causing his recovered immortal essence to emerge a fraction stronger each time!
By now, he had already tasked Fang Ding with scouting out sixth- and seventh-transformation immortal herbs specific to the Sword Immortal path.
If those leads panned out, he had a strong inkling that the moment he finally stepped out of the History Immortal Book, he would be completely transformed.