Chapter Ninety: Taking a Hard Line (Part 1)

“What did you say? Say it again!”

Xuan Xingzi seemed unclear about Jiang Feng’s second condition and wanted to confirm it once more.

“Second, even if you eliminate the Fang family for me, there are still the Liu and Wang families. Don’t bring up my marriage with the Wang family or the long-standing cooperation between the Liu and Jiang families. Honestly, I don’t think my marriage to Yingying can sway anything. The Wang family’s strength is formidable, and I’m reluctant to entangle my marriage with such a giant. Besides, Yingying isn’t even a direct relative of Wang Yu. Even if I marry her, the relationship between the Jiang and Wang families won’t improve much. How much friction there will be behind the scenes is something I can’t predict.” Jiang Feng analyzed each point carefully, not out of unreasonable fussiness, but with reason and logic.

“It’s natural for you to have such suspicions. To be honest, even if I swapped identities with you, I might have the same doubts,” Xuan Xingzi said. “You’re not lacking in wisdom and cunning. I’m actually curious about what ideas you have?”

“Simple!” A hint of scheming flashed in Jiang Feng’s eyes. “You announce that one-third of the business of the Langya Chamber of Commerce will be transferred to the Jiang family. How much of that share you give to me personally, I won’t interfere with. But this way, the Jiang family will have an invisible cooperative relationship with the Langya Chamber. Neither the Liu family nor the Wang family will dare to covet the Jiang family anymore. You and I are both cultivators; we don’t fuss over trivial business matters. What we care about is cultivation. Every time our Netherpower advances a level, it fills us with joy. As for business, I imagine it’s just a means for you to accumulate pills and Nether artifacts. If you agree to this, I won’t just give you the Nether Prison Map, but also the Devouring Nether Technique I learned during the Jiuyan Contest, allowing you to devour and cultivate simultaneously with immense power! That Devouring Nether Technique is known only to be within reach of very high-level masters. With it, you might even break through to the Void Nether Realm!”

Such a powerful temptation reached Xuan Xingzi’s ears: “Moreover, once the Langya Chamber and Jiang family’s strength both soar greatly, Jiuyan Town will naturally belong to our two families!”

Jiang Feng’s two demands were clear: first, have Xuan Xingzi eliminate the Fang family; second, have him transfer one-third of the Langya Chamber’s business to the Jiang family.

Although it sounded outrageous, it wasn’t meant to mock. Jiang Feng knew that for a Netherpower cultivator like Xuan Xingzi, maximizing benefit was everything. As long as he could gain immense cultivation, he could abandon anything else. Moreover, none of the four great families posed a real threat to him. No matter which one he supported, the Langya Chamber would remain the most powerful force in Jiuyan Town!

Jiang Feng added infinite devouring as a temptation. If Xuan Xingzi still refused, Jiang Feng would reveal the “Star Shift” technique, all to secure the Jiang family’s foothold in Jiuyan Town!

Infinite devouring combined with the ability to transfer others’ Netherpower via Star Shift—though risky Nether techniques—were tempting to anyone.

Besides, Xuan Xingzi would not truly lose anything.

One-third of the Langya Chamber’s business? Jiang Feng felt his own request was somewhat too generous. The income from that share was trivial to Xuan Xingzi and could be regained in less than half a year. But Jiang Feng’s infinite devouring was a rare opportunity even with great fortune.

Xuan Xingzi was a fragment of the star spirit, and infinite devouring was a formidable Nether technique that absorbed various Netherpowers. If Xuan Xingzi obtained it, he might immediately break through his cultivation and rise another level!

Jiang Feng counted on this fact to dare propose such terms.

After listing all the benefits, Jiang Feng watched Xuan Xingzi’s expression carefully to gauge his thoughts and prepare for his own schemes.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Xingzi merely smiled faintly and nodded. “I didn’t expect that while I was tempting you with the Star Radiance Sword, you would entice me with your Nether technique. Honestly, I don’t care much about that Nether technique. Since I am a fragment of the stars cultivated into a Netherpower user, I can draw on the power of the stars. Don’t forget, you spent some time in Duan Xingyun’s Star Soul Radiance Array—such star power is within easy reach for me. But I am somewhat interested in the Nether technique you used in the Jiuyan Contest that directly transfers others’ Netherpower. If I could master that technique, it would greatly benefit my cultivation. If you can offer such a temptation, that would be truly substantial!”

“Then I will give you that Nether technique. If you agree, Senior Xuan Xingzi, you will surely step into the Void Nether Realm.” Jiang Feng now resembled a demon tempting a mortal.

“Heh, I naturally—” Xuan Xingzi said lightly, as if nothing in the world could move him, “will not agree.”

“What?” Jiang Feng’s eyes suddenly turned cold. He exhaled heavily and then calmed down. “If I cancel the second demand and give you these instead, would you agree?”

This was a huge concession!

Unconsciously, cold sweat filled Jiang Feng’s palms, and his legs began to tremble slightly.

Yet he remained confident, recalling that when he entered the Langya Hall, he saw the vast palace hung with gold and silver decorations of no real value. This showed Xuan Xingzi was a somewhat stingy Netherpower user. So if Jiang Feng removed the second demand, not causing any loss to the Langya Chamber’s business, surely Xuan Xingzi would agree.

Retreating to this point, Jiang Feng believed Xuan Xingzi had no reason to refuse anymore.

He was advancing by retreating; once this was settled with Xuan Xingzi, he could break through his psychological defenses and immediately deploy countless tactics to devour the entire Langya Chamber!

Awaiting Xuan Xingzi’s nod and agreement, a great burden in Jiang Feng’s heart would be lifted, making things much easier.

However, the starry old man only smiled gently and said, “In the Langya Chamber, I heard from Xingyun that you are deeply scheming. I also heard from spies that you harbor countless plots and tricks. I didn’t believe it at first—you’re just a youth, how could you have such disposition? But seeing you today, I have no choice but to believe it. Even without your current cultivation, you would still be a terrifying strategist for the Jiang family. Such words would tempt any head of the four great families, but not me. Cultivators each have their own path. Since you say business and fame are but clouds to you, why couldn’t I consider your life as fleeting as a cloud? Jiang Feng, you were wrong from the start. Here and now, only I can threaten you. You cannot threaten or tempt me!”

“That old bastard!” Jiang Feng swallowed hard. “I thought only Fang Yichen in Jiuyan Town would be so cunning, but Xuan Xingzi not only has a belly full of plots but is as ruthless as my grandfather. No matter how I tempt him or lower my demands, he remains unmoved, impervious to poison and fire! And it seems now, no matter what I say, it’s useless. He’s decided to seize the Nether Prison Map from me!”

“Looks like I have no choice but to take the map away, either to give it to my grandfather or keep it myself. I certainly can’t give it to you, an outsider,” Jiang Feng shook his head.

“So you’re forcing me to act?” Xuan Xingzi shook his head and smiled bitterly. “I really don’t want to fight. Your current cultivation comes from great fortune and unparalleled luck. And someone as scheming as you, if I don’t kill you, you’ll be a future hazard. But if I kill you, the Jiang family will surely suspect. It’s best if we don’t fight. Just give me the Nether Prison Map, and I’ll still give you the Star Radiance Sword.”

“Enough nonsense! I’m not afraid of you!” Jiang Feng was fierce. Unable to tempt Xuan Xingzi, he would resort to brute force. In any case, the Nether Prison Map could not fall into his hands.

When wisdom fails, the only thing that can surpass it is eternal power.

Jiang Feng unleashed his Netherpower. Immediately above him in the void appeared a red dharma image, swirling with blood and demonic energy, spinning without end, bridging the void and the real world. The air currents exploded and roiled, as if the world itself was breaking apart.

In an instant, the dharma image took on a terrifying outline!

Xuan Xingzi stood calmly in the void, radiating overwhelming, dreadful majesty from head to toe. His broad, solid palms shimmered with subtle luster, as though containing the world’s most fearsome power, making one feel that a single wave of his hand could cover the entire world.

One hand shielding the heavens!

His cloak billowed as he stood in the air like an ancient war god descending to earth. Though still within the sealed Azure Emperor Glazed Cauldron, he drew an endless stream of star power from the heavens. Between his palms formed a vortex, and a terrifying Netherpower instantly condensed, voraciously absorbing the star power above!