The actual situation was a bit more complicated than Su Wenjing had described, but the general development did follow that pattern.
Moreover, Su Wenjing never really intended to negotiate with those people.
His goal was simply to fight.
Last time, because the people of Qingxing had helped, he hadn’t been able to take action. This time, he planned to hit back twice as hard.
So Su Wenjing felt he’d been rather decisive in his actions.
He never expected that as soon as Li Yunxian arrived, she’d even accuse him of being wishy-washy!!
Su Wenjing was left speechless.
He really wanted to have a proper conversation with Li Yunxian about the matter, but unfortunately…
Su Wenjing looked at Li Yunxian, who had collapsed onto the sofa, putting on a ‘I’m so delicate’ act, and ultimately said nothing.
This guy should speak as little as possible for now.
“Currently, Feng Songhua and Wan Yushan (the merged one on the schemers’ list), along with three Nascent Souls, are all in my space.”
“From the information we got during the meeting, I get the sense they’re not from the same faction.”
“If they want to rescue these few, their various factions will definitely have to negotiate internally first. Until they’re certain of success, they won’t show up before us again.”
Hearing this, someone’s face showed a trace of concern, and they asked, “Will there be someone at the Mahayana stage coming out at that time?”
Su Wenjing didn’t foolishly expose his true strength by saying things like ‘I’m not afraid of Mahayana,’ but instead turned to glance at Li Yunxian.
“Even if they do, you don’t need to worry.” Su Wenjing’s voice was calm.
“They don’t understand how Li Yunxian managed to kill a Nascent Soul at Foundation Establishment stage.”
“They’ll wonder whether Li Yunxian is a special case, or if this is a common occurrence.”
“I saw a pill being sold in the commercial street, called the Bloodburst Pill, which can temporarily boost one’s cultivation to the limit.”
“So, if Li Yunxian could kill a Nascent Soul, then could you, as Golden Core cultivators, risk your life against a merged cultivator?”
“Could Nascent Souls fight Mahayana and perish together?”
“And perhaps I could even take on a Tribulation Transcender?”
“These ideas sound absurd, but Foundation Establishment killing Nascent Soul is also absurd.”
“No one wants to bet on whether it’s true or not.”
“That’s the benefit Li Yunxian’s three sword strikes, executed at great cost, brought about.”
“One slap is enough to knock people flat—unless they’re idiots, their eyes will become much clearer.”
Upon hearing this, quite a few people looked at Li Yunxian.
Their eyes were full of inquiry.
Li Yunxian had provided all of them with pills, things of even higher quality than the Bloodburst Pill, and everyone had them.
After taking them, a Golden Core could immediately display strength close to Nascent Soul, and Nascent Soul could rise a minor realm.
The price was damage to one’s meridians, and after the effects wore off, the spiritual power in the meridians would be exhausted, leaving one as weak as a mortal for three days.
Li Yunxian’s current condition seemed even worse than the aftereffects of the pill.
Could such a thing really exist?
“Her situation is special.” Su Wenjing explained for Li Yunxian in a calm voice, “It’s unrelated to any auxiliary items.”
“You can’t do it, and neither can I.”
On hearing this, the others immediately looked disappointed.
They also wanted to experience what it was like when Li Yunxian’s sword silenced the whole arena.
Meanwhile, Duan Qiu glanced at Li Yunxian and Su Wenjing, puzzled and lost in thought.
When did Yunxian and Professor Su become so close? How come Professor Su knows everything about Li Yunxian and can even answer on her behalf?
Wasn’t Professor Su always the type to mind his own business and not care about anything?
Shouldn’t she, Duan Qiu, be the one in the room who understands Li Yunxian best?
Why did she know nothing?
Su Wenjing ignored everyone’s disappointed expressions and got back to the point, saying, “Soon, someone from Qingxing will approach us to discuss releasing those people.
“That merged cultivator named Zheng Yue, after cleaning up the mess at Ascension Terrace, regardless of their personal feelings, will definitely want to rescue his colleague.”
“If they don’t plan on completely falling out with Qingxing or the entire Interstellar world, then the merged cultivator surnamed Feng, who belongs to Ascension Terrace, definitely has to be released.”
“They won fair and square and have reason on their side. Raising some conditions in exchange for releasing their people is not an issue.”
“My first proposal is to restore the teleportation array…” Su Wenjing hadn’t finished speaking when Li Yunxian interrupted him.
“Don’t bother about that.” At this moment, Li Yunxian had already taken out a small blanket from her storage artifact and covered herself, snuggling in with her eyes closed.
Though her voice was soft, it was clear and resolute.
“This is Qingxing, not Shenzhou. Don’t interfere with their internal affairs.”
Su Wenjing, as the last surviving Tribulation Transcender in Shenzhou, had indeed done many things that affected Shenzhou’s development, and he held a not insignificant position within Shenzhou.
But he was not really a leader.
He had never been a leader.
He was just part of the upper management at Tiantong Academy, and even then, not a very hands-on one.
Although he knew a lot due to his age, his way of thinking still followed the academy management style.
—First, ensure the academy’s stability.
But Qingxing isn’t Tiantong Academy. As for their own top-level affairs, whether the teleportation array is open or closed, the actual impact is on Qingxing. Li Yunxian had never bothered with such matters.
As outsiders, it wasn’t their concern.
Li Yunxian was very clear on where to draw the line in such things.
“No bargaining with Ascension Terrace.”
“I play the bad cop, next you play the good cop.” Li Yunxian paused to catch her breath.
She was so weak now that even saying a few words was exhausting.
Still, Li Yunxian continued, “Don’t release anyone else. If someone from Ascension Terrace comes, just release the one surnamed Feng. As for the other merged cultivator, persuade Feng to apologize to you.”
If they agree to the conditions, then they’re even.
Now that they clearly have the strength and are willing to take a step back and give face, the other side should accept this favor.
—As for how this favor came to be, never mind.
For people in high positions, favors are the hardest thing to repay.
After finishing, Li Yunxian opened her eyes and looked at Su Wenjing. “If they refuse, then capture that guy too.”
“If you offer a way out and they don’t take it, then be prepared to fight to the death.”
“If they don’t know what’s good for them, then there’s no need to save their face.”
But…
“You’re still able to handle another merged cultivator, right?” Li Yunxian confirmed with Su Wenjing.
Su Wenjing, suddenly having his ability questioned:
His mouth twitched.
“You don’t need to worry about that.” Su Wenjing snorted coldly. “It’s not like I’d be left paralyzed just by fighting two people.”
Li Yunxian, who really was left paralyzed:
She suspected Su Wenjing was pointedly mocking her!
She was only suffering soul pain, not seriously wounded!
Li Yunxian debated inwardly whether she should endure the pain and jump up to smack Su Wenjing on the head a few times.
The others, watching the exchange between the two:
Only now did they suddenly realize these two seemed to have a particularly close relationship?
Su Wenjing always wore a cold, indifferent expression, never really putting any emotion into his words with anyone, let alone using sarcasm like now.
And Li Yunxian…
Over this period, they hadn’t spent as much time with her as Duan Qiu had, but they knew she was warm and easy to get along with—her manner and attitude toward their own people was always top notch.
But toward Su Wenjing, it was as if there was no consideration for his feelings at all.
She just spoke plainly and directly.
You wouldn’t act like this if you weren’t close.
It might be a stereotype, but…
Why would a Nascent Soul and a Foundation Establishment be this close?
Everyone was confused.
But it was still a good thing for the two core members of the team to get along.
After listening to their conversation and discussing the situation a little more, everyone had pretty much finished organizing their thoughts when the comms bell in the top floor suite suddenly rang.
They exchanged glances, and finally Duan Qiu stood up and answered the call.
A male voice came from the other side.
“Is that Boss? You guys aren’t in any trouble, right?” Ying Wenhe’s voice came through.
Everyone had assumed that, at this moment, it would be someone from Ascension Terrace contacting them—no one expected it to be Ying Wenhe.
Duan Qiu turned to look at Li Yunxian and the others, silently asking what she should say.
Before Li Yunxian could respond, the sound of chaotic scuffling came through the comms, and then Sheng Yu’s voice emerged.
“We just went to Ascension Terrace and didn’t see you, so we came here to the hotel.”
“Right now, it’s just the few of us who were in the screening room.”
Compared to Ying Wenhe’s immediate concern, Sheng Yu was accurate and composed, clearly reporting the situation on her end and leaving Li Yunxian space to consider how much to say.
She might not be as knowledgeable as Ying Wenhe in some areas, but at least she wasn’t distracted by emotions, and she always got straight to the point.
Li Yunxian gave Duan Qiu a slight nod.
Su Wenjing maintained his usual calm demeanor and said nothing.
Only then did Duan Qiu reply, “Come on up, we’re all on the top floor.”
Soon, everyone who’d been in the screening room earlier arrived at the top floor of the hotel.
As soon as they walked in and saw the scene, they all froze.
A group of injured people lay before them.
Actually, “injured” wasn’t quite accurate.
After Su Wenjing brought them back to the suite, those who’d been hurt had all taken the pills Li Yunxian had prepared for them.
The effects of those pills were practically immediate—after some time talking, now only a few who’d sustained mortal wounds still looked weak, while the rest were fine.
But although their bodies had healed, no one had had time to tidy up their appearance.
Their ragged clothes and messy hair made it obvious that most people here had just fought a desperate battle.
“What happened?” they asked in shock.
“It’s nothing,” Duan Qiu replied.
She was always friendly and outgoing, never caring about someone’s cultivation level, and loved making friends.
She had been that way with Li Yunxian at first, and was the same with these people now.
So she was relatively close with them.
But her tone now was noticeably stiff and distant.
Their hearts sank.
None of them were fools—thinking back to the incident at Ascension Terrace, how Li Yunxian and her team had rushed over to help, and the irritation and anger in the staff’s voices when they arrived and asked questions—
Putting all this together, it wasn’t hard to draw a conclusion.
—Li Yunxian and the others must have gotten into a conflict with the people from Ascension Terrace.
Ascension Terrace was Qingxing’s official administrative body. If those people were offended, of course blame would fall on them.
But that wasn’t the main point.
The main point was…
“Where’s Boss?!” Sheng Yu and Ying Wenhe looked around in panic, suddenly realizing Li Yunxian was nowhere to be seen.
Hearing their alarmed shout, as if she’d died already, Li Yunxian:
“…Still alive,” she replied weakly.
Only then did they spot someone lying on the sofa inside the room.
It was Li Yunxian, her face pale as paper.
Seeing Li Yunxian’s appearance, the people from Shenzhou:
They restrained themselves, not letting their expressions turn strange.
Wasn’t it true that Li Yunxian’s complexion hadn’t been this bad just now?
The people from Interstellar stared in shock, as if Li Yunxian only had a single breath left.
Just a moment ago in the screening room, Li Yunxian had still been lively, helping them find the source of trouble.
She’d even said she wanted to go see other cities.
But now, in the blink of an eye…
As for the locals from Qingxing, they remembered all too well the cold, mocking words people from other planets had posted online just days before—
—You Qingxing people can’t even protect your own.