Translator: CinderTL
Here he comes.
Xu Sanyan chuckled softly. He knew someone would eventually lose patience and come to his side, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
He had assumed they would wait until he broke through to the Dao Seeking Realm before making their move. After all, siding with him meant completely antagonizing Elder Wu and his faction.
With a casual wave of his hand, Xu Sanyan deactivated the barrier outside his door. "Come in."
He didn't even bother to rise and greet the visitor.
He had no time for such formalities. He believed only in the supremacy of profit. No matter how strong a relationship might be, it couldn't withstand the allure of profit. In the demonic sect, talk of sentiment was laughable.
As long as Xu Sanyan's promises of benefits were enticing enough, his followers would praise the fragrance of his excrement even if he defecated on their heads.
Without such benefits, even if Xu Sanyan knelt and begged, no one would give him a second glance.
"Greetings, Holy Son," the old man said, his posture ramrod straight as he entered. Dressed in a clean, gray robe, he exuded an air of dignified refinement.
Xu Sanyan sized him up, but even using the Qi Observation Technique, he couldn't discern the man's true depths.
"Please sit," Xu Sanyan said.
"Thank you, Holy Son," Liu Tang replied.
Xu Sanyan chuckled softly. "What brings Elder Liu here?"
"I've come to assist you, Holy Son," Liu Tang said, stroking his beard.
"Assist me?" Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
"As the Holy Son has only recently ascended to this high position, there are undoubtedly many matters you are unfamiliar with. I have served the Holy Sect for over three centuries and previously assisted the former holy son. While I wouldn't claim to know every detail of the sect's affairs, I have gained considerable experience."
Xu Sanyan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You assisted the former holy son?"
"Yes," Liu Tang nodded.
"How did he die?"
Liu Tang shook his head, a hint of melancholy in his expression. "He perished within a secret realm over two centuries ago. The Central Region discovered an ancient secret realm, and all five Great Sects sent representatives. The holy son also went, but he never returned."
Xu Sanyan nodded, then steered the conversation back on track. "You say you can assist me. What do you want in return?"
Before Liu Tang could answer, Xu Sanyan spoke again. "Don't tell me you want nothing. If you want nothing, I'll have no use for you. Think carefully before you answer. You only get one chance."
Xu Sanyan propped his elbow on the table, his fist supporting his chin, and stared calmly at Liu Tang.
Liu Tang pondered quietly. He hadn't expected the Holy Son to act so unpredictably. Based on his understanding, Xu Sanyan should be desperate for talent. Liu Tang's offer of service at this critical moment should have been warmly welcomed, like bringing charcoal in a snowstorm.
Yet the reality was the opposite. The Holy Son showed no concern for Elder Wu and the others, remaining remarkably composed, as if he already had a plan in mind.
A tense silence settled over the room. Xu Sanyan didn't press him, waiting patiently.
After a long pause, Liu Tang finally spoke. "I have a son of decent talent. He's just twenty years old and has already reached the Inner Qi Peak Stage. This old man wishes to secure a future for him."
Xu Sanyan's lips twitched slightly. "And how old are you, Elder?"
"Four hundred and ten years."
"Your son is twenty?"
"The Holy Son jests..." Liu Tang chuckled. "In my youth, I was solely devoted to the Dao and had no intention of continuing my lineage. Now that my path has reached its end, with no further progress possible, I can only place my hopes on the next generation."
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly. "Tell me what my next move should be."
This was a test. If Liu Tang's reasoning held merit, he would pass the assessment.
Liu Tang understood the implication perfectly. Having already formulated his strategy, he spoke calmly and deliberately, "The Holy Son's initial move of spreading the news was excellent. However, most people are still observing, hesitant to commit. I believe we should add fuel to the fire."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "Continue."
"Gather momentum."
"Explain."
"Rally the lower-level cultivators. First, consolidate our forces, then gradually familiarize ourselves with the operations of the various halls. We must seize the opportune moment to intervene."
"The Holy Son has only just entered the game. With an unstable foundation, prematurely meddling in the affairs of the various halls could easily backfire. If our opponents were to sabotage us, causing losses to the sect's interests, even the Holy Son would face repercussions. The risks far outweigh the potential gains."
"Too slow," Xu Sanyan said, shaking his head.
This method required gradual accumulation over time. While steady, the timeline was far too protracted for his patience.
Liu Tang explained, "The struggle for power and profit is a slow, grinding process. We chip away at their influence one day, bite off another piece the next, gradually accumulating advantages as their strength wanes."
"Moreover, Elder Wu and his faction have deep roots. Their people control every hall, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to gain a foothold."
Xu Sanyan remained impassive, asking instead, "Do you know how much spirit stone revenue Crimson Dragon Mountain's various halls generate annually?"
Liu Tang mentally calculated. "After deducting all expenses, the net profit is roughly one million spirit stones. Half goes to the sect, ten percent to the Hall Master, and the remainder is divided among the elders. Elder Wu's position alone nets him at least fifty to sixty thousand spirit stones a year, or treasures of equivalent value."
Xu Sanyan pursed his lips. No wonder they're fighting to the death over this. Such a vast fortune would be hard for anyone to relinquish easily.
"Half goes to the sect?"
Liu Tang nodded. "Exactly. The sect's expenses are enormous. Spirit stones are needed for disciples' cultivation, purchasing medicinal herbs for pill refinement, and countless other needs. It's a substantial drain on resources."
Having gained a clear understanding, Xu Sanyan looked up at him. "If I entrust this matter to you, how long will it take to achieve results?"
"Within ten years, success is guaranteed," Liu Tang declared with unwavering certainty.
"Ten years?" Xu Sanyan rolled his eyes inwardly. By then, his cultivation level would have advanced to an unimaginable stage. He might no longer need to scheme with these people, instead simply waving his hand to obliterate anyone who defied him.
"If I appoint you as vice hall master of the Hall of Affairs, how long would it take you to uncover their secrets?"
Liu Tang's heart leaped with joy. "Within one year, success is guaranteed."
With authority in hand, he could rally support and operate far more effectively.
Xu Sanyan's expression remained icy. "Very well. I'll give you one year. After that, I'll assess the results. If I'm dissatisfied..."
"This old one understands," Liu Tang said, cupping his hands in a respectful bow.
His path had reached its end, his lifespan nearing its limit. If he could pave the way for his descendants before death, it would be a meritorious deed. Failure would mean nothing more than death itself.
A slow smile spread across Xu Sanyan's stern face. "Very well. Bring your son tomorrow. I'll take a look at him."
"Yes, then I won't disturb the Holy Son's duties any further. Farewell."
Liu Tang understood Xu Sanyan's meaning. Bringing his son was nothing more than a veiled threat, but he had already steeled himself for this.
Having come here today, he had already made his decision: to stake everything—his wealth, his very life—on Xu Sanyan. Their fates were now intertwined: mutual prosperity or shared ruin.
After all, every gamble carries its risks.
No sooner had Liu Tang left than Meng Zhuer arrived with Xiang Tan and Chu Yuan.
"Greetings, Senior Brother," the two women said, bowing respectfully.
Xu Sanyan sat lazily at the head of the table, his gaze drifting down their necklines to the creamy white flesh of their breasts, the deep, undulating cleavage between them.
A sudden spark of interest lit his eyes. Grinning, he patted his thigh. "Come, sit here."
(End of the Chapter)
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