https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-154-153-Touched-Touched-like-a-Shoot/12586583/
Chapter 153: 152. I Can Sway People
Chapter 153: 152. I Can Sway People
Although the principle of "feigning solidity from emptiness and emptiness from solidity" holds, if Li Zhengxuan truly possessed clues about the Celestial Master Sword, he would still maintain strict secrecy and would not publicize it lightly.
After all, that was Li Zhengxuan's top priority at the moment, and its priority should surpass all other goals except for the Celestial Master Seal.
Considering this, it was less likely that Nichiyou was Li Zhengxuan himself or someone close to him.
In that case, guessing his source of information would be challenging.
Perhaps it was merely a coincidence that led to the discovery of Li Zhengxuan's secret.
If one truly wanted to verify, the only option might be to have a chat with that senior brother to find out who had leaked his secrets.
Numerous thoughts flashed through Lei Jun's mind.
During the first round of information exchange, the four people present were more likely to provide somewhat reliable true information and wouldn't resort to making things up on the spot.
However, their deeper motives for sharing this information were another matter.
Perhaps they all intended to stir up trouble and force the enemy out of hiding.
"May I address you as 'Master Woodday,' my friend."
At this point, Moonday addressed the question to Woodstar Thursday: "Regarding the abbot of Bodhi Temple traveling to Youzhou in the northern frontier to invite the remains of the ancestor, do you know if it was a premeditated decision or a last-minute arrangement?"
Thursday: "I'm afraid I'm unaware of the specifics."
Monday: "My apologies, I was out of line."
Everyone is being rather cautious during this first conversation... Lei Jun thought to himself.
He also refrained from saying more.
After initiating the discussion by throwing out the first piece of information, he mostly listened silently to the dialogue between the other three.
However, being the first interaction, everyone spoke sparingly, and there wasn't much to glean from the conversation.
The relatively valuable part was the initial intelligence they explicitly provided.
"Here, only our minds can enter; tangible objects cannot be exchanged."
Moonday spoke, "If not for this limitation, shall we end it here for today? As we have just met, it's understandable that we each have our reservations. We can discuss the matter of a deal some other time and focus on exchanging information for now. What do the three of you think?"
Sunday: "As long as we each take what we need and don't interfere with one another, and everyone understands this clearly, then there shouldn't be a problem."
Moonday: "Those who are interested can contact me privately."
Sunday: "I'll be straightforward. Recently, I'm in need of a spiritual object related to the soul."
Thursday: "What kind specifically?"
Sunday: "A spiritual object that can help the soul leave the body and travel far. As for what I can offer, I have a Sunlight Gold Crystal the size of an infant's fist."
Upon hearing this, Lei Jun's heart stirred.
The Sunlight Gold Crystal was an extremely rare spiritual object of pure yang energy. It was intensely yang and pure, making it incredibly precious.
Even in the Pure Yang Palace, the sacred site of the Daoist Elixir Cauldron sect, which focused on cultivating yang energy, this treasure was exceedingly rare, often sought throughout the world without success.
In comparison, it was even rarer than the Yin Moon Soul Stone.
A Sunlight Gold Crystal the size of a fingernail was already exceedingly rare, and news of one the size of an infant's fist would undoubtedly set the Pure Yang Palace cultivators in motion.
For cultivators of the Pure Yang Palace who had reached the Three Heavens stage, such a crystal would be of utmost importance.
This 'Sunday' had indeed brought out a treasure that perfectly matched his code name.
Thursday seemed to ponder for a moment before replying after a while, "Unfortunately, I don't have the soul-related spiritual object that you seek."
Sunday: "Feel free to voice your concerns. If you're interested, we can discuss this privately. Apart from the Sunlight Gold Crystal, I'm open to offering other items as long as I have them. We can negotiate the terms and location of the trade according to your preferences."
Lei Jun and the others had no objections.
Although it was evident that everyone had their reservations, the overall atmosphere of this first conversation was amicable.
After withdrawing his mind from that page of the heavenly book, Lei Jun sat in his meditation chamber, contemplating quietly.
And then...
He decided to do nothing for the time being.
Instead, he continued his cultivation, focusing on breathing exercises and visualizing the spirit.
The next morning, he left his residence and made his way to the Wanfa Zongtan (Altar of Myriad Methods).
Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen had been nurturing and healing her sword wound there during this period.
To Lei Jun, the secret he guarded most closely was the luminescent ball in his mind that foretold dangers and guided him toward fortune.
Currently, the second most important secret was the Celestial Master Seal.
Following that, it was the page from the heavenly book.
Lei Jun acknowledged that he had a fair share of good fortune, and a significant aspect of it was reflected in the people he encountered.
His master, Yuan Mobai, though somewhat devious and cunning, was mostly gentle and caring toward his disciples, including Lei Jun.
As far as Yuan Mobai was concerned, as long as Lei Jun and his fellow disciples didn't betray the sect like Chen Yi had, most other matters could be discussed.
Of course, he wouldn't expel Lei Jun and the others from the sect just because they occasionally practiced secret techniques from other sects.
On this basis, the more outstanding Lei Jun and his senior brothers became, the happier Yuan Mobai would be.
This sentiment stemmed from both their master-disciple relationship and Yuan Mobai's importance to the continuation of the Celestial Master's lineage.
Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen, on the other hand, might represent the other extreme.
Her abundance of blessings and opportunities was something Lei Jun could only describe as unfathomable and incomprehensible.
Senior Sister Xu Yuanzhen and Junior Brother Wang Guiyuan, who between them had the deeper pockets and more secrets, was a difficult question to answer.
Of course, this didn't mean that Xu Yuanzhen was harmless. On the contrary, she often meddled in the affairs of others. However, her style or source of pleasure didn't lie in what she could gain, but rather in the losses of those she targeted.
For the time being, this habit of hers did not affect Lei Jun.
As for his junior, Tang Xiaotang, well, she was incredibly formidable. In Lei Jun's words, she was an originalist when it came to individual cultivation.
Perhaps coincidentally, although Tang Xiaotang had joined the Talisman Faction of the Daoist School, her cultivation philosophy leaned more towards the Elixir Cauldron Faction's sacred site, the Pure Yang Palace, which was eagerly seeking her talent.
Tang Xiaotang's cultivation rarely involved the refinement of artifacts, elixirs, or even spirit talismans as her cultivation base grew.
Perhaps due to her pride in her exceptional innate talent, Tang Xiaotang's cultivation focused more on her own artistic pursuits rather than external elixirs.
Aside from treasures like the Celestial Master Seal and the Celestial Master Sword, which held special significance in her quest for the Celestial Master position, Tang Xiaotang generally lacked interest in other artifacts and treasures. Instead, she delighted in enhancing her own cultivation base and honing her supernatural powers.
Over the years, she hadn't even personally refined any artifacts.
Add to that Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan, who viewed all sorts of opportunities as dangerous floods and beasts.
Lei Jun found himself in a relatively relaxed and benevolent environment.
He could also focus more on his own cultivation, without the need to scheme against those around him.
When faced with difficulties, he even had a powerful ally to turn to.
Of course, this reliance on a powerful ally wasn't always for his own benefit.
This time, the Sunlight Gold Crystal mentioned by Nichiyou had caught Lei Jun's attention.
He could make use of it himself.
However, if he wanted to maximize its potential, the person most suited for this treasure was his junior, Tang Xiaotang.
At the moment, the competition for the Celestial Master Sword was intensifying.
Within the Celestial Master's Mansion, the Lis and those with other surnames were locked in a silent struggle.
The Celestial Master Sword was a critical factor in this power dynamic.
However, aside from the sword, there were other matters that could disrupt the balance.
For instance, if Tang Xiaotang's cultivation base were to advance even further.
The Sunlight Gold Crystal could be a pivotal opportunity.
The purely yin Yin Moon Soul Stone had a restraining effect on her.
On the other hand, the purely yang Sunlight Gold Crystal might be the perfect boost!
As for the treasure that Nichiyou sought, the Spirit of the Soul, Lei Jun happened to have one.
The Dispelling Soul Essence.
This spirit object might have limited use to Lei Jun and the Daoist Talisman Faction cultivators.
But as Nichiyou had said, it could help the soul leave the body and travel far.
Such a coincidental match even led Lei Jun to suspect if the other party already knew his true identity and was aware that he possessed the Dispelling Soul Essence. If they had such abilities, why not just come to Dragon Tiger Mountain and negotiate openly with me unless we have a grudge... Lei Jun shook his head slightly.
While the likelihood of a coincidence was higher, if he were a lone cultivator, Lei Jun might have ignored it and not considered taking the risk.
But...
I can sway people.
Lei Jun calmly arrived outside the Wanfa Zongtan (Altar of Myriad Methods).
As Lei travels through the cultivation world, he relies on three things: boldness, righteousness, and numbers!
After seeing Xu Yuanzhen, Lei Jun suddenly remembered something and sized up his senior sister with a glance.
Without turning her head, Xu Yuanzhen, who was looking at the floating sword-scarred stone slab in mid-air, asked, "What?"
"Senior Sister, what do you think of the Seven Luminaries of the Heavens and Days?" Lei Jun asked.
Xu Yuanzhen casually replied, "As for the stars and luminaries, they are important, but they can also be insignificant."
From her response, Lei Jun deduced that Senior Sister wasn't one of the Seven Luminaries... He nodded.
Making sure they were alone, he said seriously, "Senior Sister, have you ever seen a very special kind of paper, one or several sheets, shimmering, as if torn from a book..."
This time, Xu Yuanzhen reacted.
She turned to face him directly, "Have you seen it? Or do you have it?"
Lei Jun nodded, "I happened to come across a page by chance."
He looked at Xu Yuanzhen, "Do you have one too, Senior Sister?"
"I don't," Xu Yuanzhen replied. "I once encountered it, but I missed the opportunity, and it slipped through my fingers. It left a deep impression on me."
Lei Jun raised his eyebrows, "That's quite unexpected. Did someone snatch it away from you?"
"Neither of us got it. The page flew away, and we both missed our chance," Xu Yuanzhen said, her eyes cold and bright. "I remember there was a number on that page, a 'six'. What about yours?"
"The page I have is 'three'," Lei Jun replied.
The Heavenly Book, Six, most likely corresponds to the planet, Mars, in the book's starry sky.
"For now, it still seems ownerless."
Lei Jun recounted the incident to Xu Yuanzhen.
As she listened, Xu Yuanzhen's interest was piqued. However, it wasn't directed at the pages of the heavenly book.
"Oh, so apart from you, there are three others?" Xu Yuanzhen asked, "And there are three empty slots left?"
Lei Jun nodded.
"Get in touch with Nichiyou and tell him that I want the Sunlight Gold Crystal. Even if they don't accept the Dispelling Soul Essence, it doesn't matter. Ask them what they want in return, and I'll see what I have on hand," Xu Yuanzhen instructed.
Even with the most meticulous transaction location and method, if the other party's cultivation base and strength were superior, there was still a possibility that Lei Jun would be double-crossed.
Or perhaps, they would uncover his true identity.
But with Xu Yuanzhen's involvement, it would be an entirely different story.
"What about the location, time, and method of the transaction?" Lei Jun asked.
Without hesitation, Xu Yuanzhen replied, "The location will be decided by them, and as for the time, let's make it within the next two days. I'll temporarily suspend my duties at the Wanfa Zongtan and go meet this person to see who they are."
Lei Jun immediately immersed his mind in the True One Law Altar, using the page from the heavenly book to send a message to Nichiyou.
The other party didn't respond immediately, perhaps due to being busy or taking time to consider the offer.
Later, they replied: The Dispelling Soul Essence was exactly what they needed.
Although the public perception was that the Sunlight Gold Crystal held greater value, Nichiyou agreed to exchange it for Lei Jun's Dispelling Soul Essence.
The transaction location was set on an island in the East Sea.
It seemed open and exposed, but the turbulent ocean currents made it ideal for keeping things discreet.
Lei Jun handed over the Dispelling Soul Essence to Xu Yuanzhen.
Together, they bid farewell to Yuan Mobai and temporarily closed the Wanfa Zongtan, entrusting the stone slab to Yuan Mobai's care.
Then, Xu Yuanzhen set off.
"It's probably not that they saw through your identity, but rather a coincidence," Yuan Mobai said, "However, this Sun of a Person is indeed testing the waters by offering the Sunlight Gold Crystal. They're hoping someone will take the bait."
After hearing about what had transpired, he didn't inquire further into how Lei Jun had obtained the heavenly book but instead considered the related issues from a technical perspective alongside his disciple.
"If it weren't for the Pure Yang Palace taking the spotlight, I wouldn't have made up my mind so easily this time," Lei Jun said.
In other words, the possibility of Nichiyou being someone from the Pure Yang Palace wasn't entirely nonexistent, but it wasn't high.
To use the Sunlight Gold Crystal as bait for a transaction and to test others, it was unlikely that anyone from the Pure Yang Palace would be willing to part with it.
If they could resist the temptation, Lei Jun would truly commend them for their self-control.
Yuan Mobai considered this for a moment before speaking, "If your Senior Sister hadn't been on the mountain this time, and you encounter a similar situation in the future, don't agree to anything hastily. I'll investigate first, and then we can make a decision together."
Lei Jun agreed and felt curious at the same time.
Due to his responsibility for overseeing the Wanfa Zongtan, Yuan Mobai couldn't easily leave Dragon Tiger Mountain.
Hence, he wasn't able to handle such matters on Lei Jun's behalf.
On the other hand, Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang often went out, and their whereabouts were unpredictable.
It was only because Xu Yuanzhen happened to be on the mountain this time that Lei Jun was able to successfully enlist her help.
Next time, he might not be so lucky.
As for Wang Guiyuan, regardless of their strength, it would be unrealistic to expect him to take such a risk.
Yuan Mobai's earlier implication seemed to suggest that he had another idea in mind.
Since his master didn't elaborate at the moment, Lei Jun naturally didn't ask further.
"Speaking of which, I'm more concerned about the other two pieces of information," Yuan Mobai said thoughtfully.
"The Grand Marshal of the Demon Suppression Army, Sheng Yan, and the King of Wu, as well as the Abbot of Bodhi Temple going to the northern frontier of Youzhou?" Lei Jun asked.
Yuan Mobai nodded slightly.
Lei Jun recalled that the King of Wu had once visited Dragon Tiger Mountain and met with their master.
"His Highness, the King of Wu, is discontent," Yuan Mobai said slowly, "Back then, when it came to succeeding the throne, he competed with the previous emperor, but he lost that game."
Lei Jun understood.
Similar situations had occurred within the Heavenly Master's Mansion as well.
It wasn't between Li Cangtian and the previous Heavenly Master, Li Qingfeng, who were half-brothers.
Instead, it was between Li Qingfeng and his sister, Li Hongyu, who had once competed for the position of Heavenly Master.
Li Hongyu always believed that she was no less capable than Li Qingfeng.
Even after Li Qingfeng reached the Eighth Heaven cultivation realm first, she attributed it to their father's favoritism.
That King of Wu had once competed with the previous emperor, Zhang Qilong.
Even after Emperor Zhang Qilong's passing, he still missed out on the throne.
A thousand words could be summed up in one sentence.
Discontent.
Lei Jun didn't care whether the King of Wu was content or not. He only cared about the extent to which the King of Wu could influence Dragon Tiger Mountain and the Heavenly Master's Mansion: "Master, you sent the King of Wu away, but now he's still making moves. What is he relying on? Surely he's not just depending on the Grand Marshal of the Demon Suppression Army."
PS: Today's first update is a bit late, please forgive me.
(End of Chapter)
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