Chapter Eleven: The Negotiation

A man led the group, his voice gentle yet carrying an unmistakable tone of command.

Lu Qingyun furrowed his brows slightly, sensing the intense aura radiating from them—these were no ordinary people.

“Who are you? Why are you waiting here?”

Lu Qingyun asked cautiously.

The man smiled but didn’t answer directly.

“Are you here seeking treasures? Indeed, there are many treasures here, but not everyone can take them.”

Wang Pangzi and Han Man gripped their weapons tightly, standing behind Lu Qingyun.

“We mean no offense. We’re just here to train and gain experience,” Lu Qingyun replied in a low voice. He didn’t want to make enemies without cause but understood that sometimes conflict was unavoidable.

The man nodded, seeming somewhat satisfied with Lu Qingyun’s answer.

“Training is good, but be careful. The dangers here are far greater than you imagine.”

Though they wore smiles, the ill intentions beneath made Lu Qingyun even more vigilant.

“Brother Lu, these people...” Wang Pangzi began but hesitated.

Lu Qingyun waved him off.

“No matter who they are, we must stay alert. The depths of Fengyun Gorge are far more complicated than we thought.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Lu Qingyun’s eyes as he instinctively positioned Wang Pangzi and Han Man behind him. He attempted to activate his system to gauge their strength, but unexpectedly, there was no response.

Could it be the special environment of the sacred ground? Now was not the time to dwell on it; he had to focus.

“What do you mean by ‘waiting for a long time’?” Lu Qingyun’s gaze sharpened, his voice tinged with coldness.

The leading man maintained his smile, seemingly unfazed by Lu Qingyun’s suspicion.

“Of course, we knew you were coming long ago.”

Lu Qingyun didn’t press further on that question but shifted the topic.

“Are you the guardians of this place?”

The man shook his head and introduced himself.

“We’re not guardians. We come from the Tianling Sect, a fairly renowned sect on this continent. I am the chief disciple, Xu Feng.”

He gestured to his companions.

“We’re also treasure hunters, but our strength isn’t enough. We need help to enter the deepest parts of the sacred palace.”

There was a hidden meaning behind Xu Feng’s smile.

“We’ve already fought off many others and have been waiting for your arrival.”

Lu Qingyun felt a stir in his heart, sensing the probing and anticipation in Xu Feng’s words.

Clearly, the sect was determined to claim the sacred treasures but, due to some limitations, required outside assistance.

“Why choose us?” Lu Qingyun asked with some puzzlement.

Xu Feng smiled gently.

“Because of your strength and your deeds in Fengyun Gorge—they’ve spread. Someone who led those people, defeated bandits, and ventured this far is definitely extraordinary.”

Lu Qingyun fell silent for a moment before replying slowly.

“We need time to consider.”

Xu Feng nodded.

“Of course. This is a serious matter and must be considered carefully. We won’t rush you. The palace won’t go anywhere.”

He paused, then added,

“But time waits for no one. Opportunities don’t come twice. Think carefully, and when you’re ready, find me.”

With that, Xu Feng and his group moved a distance away, giving Lu Qingyun and his companions space to discuss.

Lu Qingyun turned to Wang Pangzi and Han Man.

“What do you think?”

Wang Pangzi scratched his head.

“Brother Lu, I think these guys are not simple. If we cooperate with them, we might be used.”

Han Man nodded in agreement.

“True, we can’t trust them easily, but if they really need help, maybe we can benefit from this opportunity.”

Lu Qingyun pondered for a while, then spoke.

“I don’t want to trust them lightly either, but the sacred ground of Fengyun Gorge isn’t easy to explore. If this chance lets us enter the palace, we might find something useful.”

He looked toward the distant palace, determination shining in his eyes.

“Our goal is to grow stronger. If there’s an opportunity, we must seize it. But we can’t let our guard down—we must always be prepared for potential dangers.”

Wang Pangzi and Han Man exchanged glances, then nodded at Lu Qingyun.

After weighing the pros and cons, Lu Qingyun decided to engage more deeply with Xu Feng and his group.

He knew that in a place like Fengyun Gorge, every decision could mean life or death, so caution was essential.

He walked back calmly, his demeanor softened but his gaze remained resolute.

“Brother Xu, we are newcomers without sect or clan. It’s an honor to have your attention and favor. Naturally, we came here for the treasures inside.”

He paused, then continued,

“If we cooperate to enter, what benefits will we receive? How will the treasures be divided?”

His questions cut straight to the heart, clear and direct.

Xu Feng looked at Lu Qingyun with a glint of admiration.

He liked dealing with clever people, and Lu Qingyun clearly was one.

“Brother Lu, you think things through carefully.”

Xu Feng nodded, smiling.

“Though Tianling Sect is righteous, in places like this, trust is scarce. When it comes to interests, even family ties weaken—that’s an eternal truth.”

Lu Qingyun waited quietly for Xu Feng’s reply, knowing this was a game of strategy—whoever spoke first might lose the upper hand.

Xu Feng didn’t answer directly but instead asked,

“Then, Brother Lu, what do you want?”

The question was tossed back to Lu Qingyun.

He smiled faintly, unwilling to reveal his hand so easily.

“Brother Xu, I think this should be mutually agreed upon. We’re here to cooperate, not to fight. If I say what I want, that means the rest belongs to you, which isn’t fair.”

Xu Feng laughed heartily, clearly not surprised by Lu Qingyun’s answer.

“You are indeed clever, Brother Lu. I like working with smart people. How about this: the treasures we find will be split equally based on value and usefulness?”

Lu Qingyun considered the proposal. It sounded fair, but practical issues might arise.

“Scoring is good, but how exactly will it work? What if both sides want the same treasure?”

Xu Feng shrugged.

“We’ll discuss on the spot. If we still can’t decide, then strength will determine the outcome. After all, here the strong prevail.”

Lu Qingyun recognized this as a relatively fair offer.

He nodded.

“Alright, it’s settled. I hope we can cooperate well.”

Xu Feng extended his hand.

“Cooperate well.”

They shook hands, reaching a preliminary agreement.

Though Lu Qingyun remained wary, he knew that in Fengyun Gorge, sometimes one must take risks and cooperate to seize greater opportunities.

Wang Pangzi and Han Man approached, seeing the agreement. Though their concerns weren’t fully eased, they understood this was the best choice for now.

“Brother Lu, we trust you,” Wang Pangzi said seriously.

After the accord, Lu Qingyun and the Tianling Sect disciples entered the sacred palace together.

They moved through ancient columns and stone steps, surrounded by murals and carvings narrating past glory.

Despite the passage of millennia, the palace remained magnificent. Every stone, every statue radiated an indescribable solemnity and mystery.

Their footsteps echoed through the vast hall until they reached a massive stone door.

Lu Qingyun took a deep breath and pushed it open with force.

But beyond the door was not the treasure they expected—instead, a sudden fierce wind burst forth.

The gale howled, whipping up dust, causing exclamations.

Suddenly, a gigantic demon beast crawled out of the darkness, far larger than any they had encountered before. Its countless legs scraped the ground with a grating sound.

“This is... the Hundred-Legged Centipede!” Xu Feng’s voice trembled with recognition.

The Hundred-Legged Centipede was a legendary demon beast, enormous, covered in armor as hard as iron, each leg sharp as a blade.

Its head bore a pair of blood-red compound eyes, shining with cruelty, and its snapping pincers dripped green venom.

“Everyone, run!” Lu Qingyun shouted. There was no chance of victory against such a creature.

The group turned and fled, but the centipede was incredibly fast, its many legs allowing it to move swiftly through the palace.

It opened its huge maw, releasing poisonous mist as it chased the fleeing crowd.

Xu Feng ran, speaking urgently.

“The centipede’s armor is nearly impenetrable, and its venom deadly. We must find its weakness, or...”

Before he finished, the centipede swung its tail violently, breaking several stone pillars and blocking their escape.

“What do we do? We can’t just wait to die!” Wang Pangzi asked anxiously.

Lu Qingyun gripped the Azure Cloud Sword tightly, determination flashing in his eyes.

“We split up to distract it and look for an opportunity to strike its weak spot.”

Everyone nodded and scattered. The centipede seemed enraged, twisting its body as it pursued them relentlessly.

Lu Qingyun took advantage of the chaos to approach, sword shimmering, searching for a vulnerable spot.

But the beast was cunning; its armor covered almost its entire body. Only fleeting glimpses of its soft abdomen appeared, offering fleeting targets.

The palace echoed with the centipede’s roars and the shouts of the group, the situation critical.

Lu Qingyun knew if they didn’t find a solution soon, they would all perish here.

His eyes quickly scanned the palace, seeking an exit or useful mechanism.

Suddenly, he noticed a faint glow flickering in a corner.

“Everyone, head there!” Lu Qingyun commanded. He didn’t know what awaited but it was their only hope.

Led by him, they moved toward the light.

The centipede seemed to sense something, growing more frenzied in its pursuit.

At last, they reached the source: a glowing stone tablet inscribed with ancient characters.

Xu Feng glanced at it and exclaimed joyfully,

“This is the control mechanism tablet!”

“Quick, Lu Qingyun, try if your sword can activate it!”

Without hesitation, Lu Qingyun swung his sword at the tablet.

The instant the sword struck, the palace trembled, and a hidden door slowly opened.

“Quick, inside!” Lu Qingyun shouted.

They hurried through the secret door as the centipede furiously struck it from outside but couldn’t break through.

Panting, they exchanged looks—safe for now, but their fear remained.

Lu Qingyun knew this was merely a temporary reprieve. The centipede was outside, and they were trapped within this mysterious palace.

During the brief respite, Lu Qingyun tried summoning his system again, hoping for assistance or guidance, but still no response.

His unease deepened. It seemed the system’s power was restricted within this sacred ground.

Outside, the centipede’s pounding rattled the stone door, each impact making it tremble as if it could break through at any moment.

Lu Qingyun looked to Xu Feng, a hint of hope in his eyes.

“Brother Xu, you are experienced and come from a sect. Do you know how to deal with the Hundred-Legged Centipede?”

Xu Feng pondered briefly, then shook his head.

“This centipede is fast, heavily defended, and poisonous—balanced in offense and defense. It’s truly a formidable foe.”

His tone carried helplessness. Even the sect’s knowledge and experience offered no immediate solution.

Seeing Xu Feng at a loss, Lu Qingyun relied on his own knowledge.

He thought deeply, a spark igniting in his eyes.

“Try fire. Its shell is hard, so physical attacks might be ineffective, but if we scorch it from outside, it might not withstand the heat.”

Xu Feng looked at him with newfound respect.

“Our Tianling Sect does have a formation that can unleash flames, but it takes time to set up. And if it fails to subdue the centipede, we’ll all be doomed.”

Lu Qingyun knew it was a risky plan, but if they did nothing, their fate was sealed by the beast.

He took a deep breath, resolute.

“We have no choice. If we don’t try, it’s the same end. I’ll lead the setup. Brother Xu, what does your formation require?”

Seeing Lu Qingyun’s determination, Xu Feng knew there was no turning back and explained the formation’s setup and necessary materials.

“We need five different spirit stones as formation eyes, plus some specific spirit herbs as catalysts to activate it.”

Lu Qingyun turned to Wang Pangzi and Han Man immediately.

“We happen to have some of those herbs. Brother Xu, the spirit stones will have to come from your side. Time is tight—we split up and act quickly.”