LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 180: New Rice, New Rice!
At first, Tan Xingyu wanted to make a private deal with Meng Yu, but after spending over ten days with Bai Qianqian, his thoughts had changed.
Before Meng Yu left, he asked Meng Yu if he would mind if he sent the details of this deal to the Immortal Sect.
Meng Yu was a robber, a wanted individual by the Immortal Sect. Tan Xingyu couldn't help Meng Yu in any way, but the female Golden Core was innocent. He wanted some people to know, so that if they made a move, they might spare her.
Meng Yu was a bit surprised at the time but nodded his thanks.
Of course, Meng Yu knew what Tan Xingyu wanted to do.
It was ostensibly to clear the female Golden Core's name, but actually it was also to clear Meng Yu's name.
Soon after, an envoy from the Immortal Sect arrived, inquired about the relevant matters, and took Tan Xingyu away.
Facing the questions from above, his answer was straightforward.
He felt that things couldn't go on like this. Meng Yu had always been cautious in his dealings with everyone; though there had been some improprieties, since they were now unable to catch him or do anything about him, why couldn't they get along properly?
He was willing to be a messenger of peace, letting Meng Yu feel the Immortal Sect's goodwill, just as that little Golden Core girl wholeheartedly trusted Meng Yu. He too believed that Meng Yu, who had won that girl's heart, still had redemption in him.
Now was an opportunity. Meng Yu both wanted the Son of Heavenly Way's plan and desired to help the female Golden Core. So why not establish proper contact with him?
In the history of the Immortal Sect, there had been countless situations where enemies became friends, or where friend and foe were indistinguishable.
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As long as the female Golden Core could provide Spirit Stones, they would support her. From any angle, the Immortal Sect didn't lose out. And if Bai Qianqian couldn't hold on any longer and was willing to let the Immortal Sect take over, it would be like letting the camel's nose into the tent. All those Spirit Stones on that land, ah, not to mention rescuing more kind-hearted people like Bai Qianqian, wouldn't that be what the Immortal Sect ought to do?
The consultation was ongoing above, and Tan Xingyu sincerely expressed his views. Meng Yu was a guy with a heart as strong as steel, but that little girl was a breakthrough. Clearly, Meng Yu had feelings for Bai Qianqian. Wasn't that a good thing?
The problem now wasn't whether you were afraid of him, but whether he was afraid of you. Going forward, would there come a day when he led a group of Golden Cores or even Nascent Souls to counterattack the Immortal Sect?
The Golden Core young lady was very pure and kind, but in that world, there were many more malevolent beings. If Meng Yu could lead them in looting and profiteering together...
There was a knock at the door. It was best to agree when someone kindly wanted to trade grain with you for Spirit Stones.
...
Tan Xingyu's actions were something Meng Yu had guessed, especially his words about not coming back, which moved Meng Yu a little.
Alas... Male chauvinism could be deadly.
If he had gone to Tan Xingyu himself, it's highly likely he would've just been told to get lost, to put it lightly. Now, by letting the little girl do some farm work for a few days, she had become a close friend, which was much more effective.
"Due to the rush, I only managed to buy this Eight-Eyed Jade Bone Sword and some Spirit Rice. I really apologize."
The next morning, Meng Yu gathered everyone and began distributing rewards.
Although the generosity of the rewards was much reduced this time, everyone was still very obedient, the reason being simple. Looking at the full storeroom of Spirit Rice, even the dullest demon could figure out that the Moon-Watching Sect was now secure.
The Mountain Protection Array's greatest fear was having its ley lines cut and then being besieged incessantly, preventing cultivation and leading to exhaustion of resources. But if there were enough Spirit Stones within the array, there was no fear of the enemy. And even if the Spirit Stones were insufficient, as long as there were enough Spirit Rice and Spiritual Spring, they could make up for it with their physical bodies.
Moreover, Meng Yu could always return to seek reinforcements!
"Master Lin, farewell."
Having Master Lin watch as they distributed the items and then letting him leave without discussing any terms.
"As for those hostages, my friend, both Qianqian and I are very concerned about them, but we've done all the worrying we could. We'll be overjoyed if they are unharmed, but if there is any mishap, we'll repay it tenfold. You can convey this to the Five Directions Tower."
"As for the opinions from my family, our stance is clear, I have to rely on myself."
"No more need to be said. Master Lin, I hope that after the siege on the Moon-Watching Sect ends, we'll still be friends."
Then, he saw the guest out with tea.
...
Because of the sky-covering array, the Moon-Watching Sect couldn't see the commotion outside, but in reality, it was bustling.
Sect battles often involved not just the two sects in question but many other forces large and small around them.
Everyone likes to back the winner and then come to see if they can get any spoils, take advantage of a crisis, or simply cut in on the action.
Moreover, the reason the Five Directions Tower moved against the Moon-Watching Sect, had a clear moral high ground. It suggested Bai Qianqian wanted to become the Demon King, gathering various demonic beasts and evil spirits in an attempt to rebuild the Demon Emperor's Court in the Western Wastes.
The accusation was hefty but also handy. As the saying goes, it's not that you rebel that's frightening, but that you have the strength to rebel. Although Bai Qianqian was a very good rabbit, upon reflection, with her noble status as one of the Nine Great Divine Beasts, vast knowledge, and excellent relations with humans and demons alike, it was not impossible for her to stir up trouble.
The Five Directions Tower had besieged the Moon-Watching Sect for over a month, and their rear had been attacked multiple times. Many of these were spontaneous actions by monsters, whom even Bai Qianqian didn't recognize, but that didn't stop them from using her name to enrich themselves at the Five Directions Tower.
Similarly, many forces got involved, and even within the Human Race, strong voices stated that they couldn't treat Bai Qianqian that way.
This, in turn, influenced some hardliners. Why don't you speak up when we kill other demons, but Bai Qianqian actually has such strength and prestige?
Amidst all the pulling and dragging, Bai Qianqian, who was not very well-known before, suddenly became known to everyone. All the cultivators in the Western Wastes knew that there was a jade rabbit planting crops in the wasteland and that it had even seduced a disciple of Divinity Transformation, now supposedly involved in some grand conspiracy, and so on.
Anyway, rumors were flying everywhere; even several major powers had gotten involved, wanting to see what was going on.
Many large and small powers had spies waiting around, and many even had teams arriving, hoping to get a piece of the action, and so on.
Master Lin left the Protective Formation with an expressionless face. Then, a Golden Core Master from the Five Directions Tower approached with a warm smile and asked.
"How is the situation over there?"
"Very good, extremely good."
Master Lin said no more, but the grin couldn't be contained on the Golden Core's face.
It seemed that the Moon-Watching Sect was not holding up well.
Then, the two of them went up to the Flying Boat in the sky, where, apart from the two Masters of the Five Directions Tower, there were two other Masters present.
"Master Lin, how did it go on this trip? Did Bai Qianqian cry?"
The one speaking was a Master from the Five Directions Tower, his smile full of cruelty.
This robust, rough-faced Golden Core Master was the most adamant advocate from the Five Directions Tower for the eradication of Bai Qianqian.
The two Masters sitting nearby were watching Master Lin.
They were neutral, mainly interested in the results of Master Lin's negotiations.
"The situation inside the Moon-Watching Sect is very good, too good to be true."
With a wave of his hand, multicolored smoke billowed out from his sleeves, then condensed into an image in front of everyone, after which, the picture started to change, just like a movie.
The little imps were exuberant, frolicking and romping around.
The Great Demons were holding their heads high and chests out, their morale was soaring.
The scene of the entire Moon-Watching Sect appeared before everyone as if it were a video.
This was Master Lin's ability, and many noticed some details, such as the weapons in the hands of Niu Erzhuang and Ji Qiaoer and so on, because the colorful smoke released by Master Lin even added halos to these items.
"These weapons were purchased by Meng Yu through the Teleportation Array, back to his own home.
Probably a Third-grade weapon and about ten Second-order weapons; according to Meng Yu, his family didn't consider this a crisis, just a test for him, so they didn't send ten or eight Golden Cores over, he just brought some specialties, such as Third and Second-grade weapons, some Spirit Rice, and so on."
"Nonsense, we've been monitoring the Moon-Watching Sect, and there's no trace of the Teleportation Array being used."
"Hmm, you're right, maybe Meng Yu is lying. The large amount of wealth was already within the Moon-Watching Sect, they just never bothered to take it out. Also, would you like to see what Bai Qianqian's bridal chamber looks like?"
A new image appeared, and he thoughtfully added text to the picture.
Those who were previously triumphant now had their smiles frozen on their faces.
"By the way, just before leaving, I shamelessly implored Meng Yu, saying that I couldn't possibly return empty-handed as a mediator."
Master Lin's smile was somewhat grim.
"As a Golden Core Master, I shamelessly begged like a clown, trying to curry favor, and his attitude was also very good, so he gave me a load of Spirit Rice, which had just been stored away."
Master Lin's expression was a bit fearful.
As a major creditor of Bai Qianqian, he naturally knew that Bai Qianqian, due to climate issues, had never grown Spirit Rice. So, where did this Spirit Rice come from?
Recently, something had happened in Zhongzhou, and there was a severe shortage of Spirit Rice; everyone was searching for it far and wide to fill the gap. And Meng Yu, with such ease, brought out so much. What did that imply?
"First-grade Spirit Rice, what's so strange about that? Doesn't Bai Qianqian have a secret realm? Planting some First-grade Spirit Rice there isn't impossible," said another Master from the Five Directions Tower.
"He also gave me a box of Third-grade Spirit Rice, this year's new rice, freshly harvested."
He tossed out the Jade Box, and over a hundred grains of rice, red with hints of purple and incredibly translucent, flew into the air.
Storage Bags and Secret Technique Boxes can't absolutely retain the freshness of food, especially this Third-grade Spirit Rice, which would be greatly different from old rice. The new rice that now appeared before everyone was what Tan Xingyu had just harvested from the field.
"Five Directions Tower, I really thank you for letting me deeply offend Bai Qianqian."
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
"New rice!"