Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 667 - 314 Trade!_1

Meanwhile, in the wilderness, within a quiet, dilapidated temple, the wind suddenly began to howl.

A flame unexpectedly blazed to life on the temple's dusty floor. The surrounding weeds and dust scattered uncontrollably in all directions, like snowflakes in a biting wind.

Han Sancheng walked in, hunched over, and sat with a smile before the bonfire. "They've all dispersed," he said.

The ruined temple remained quiet, the only sound being the dilapidated wooden door creaking as it swung open and shut in the wind.

Han Sancheng seemed to be talking to the air. "That kid has a few tricks up his sleeve. He played the fools from the Taiqing Sect and the Nine Peaks Sect like fiddles. It was laughable to watch!"

CRACK!

A dry branch in the fire snapped with a crisp sound, sending a few sparks flying.

The firelight flickered across Han Sancheng's deeply furrowed face. He seemed to remember something. "If you wanted to save him, why didn't you let me do a thorough job of it?"

As he spoke, he flicked his wrist. A pile of distant leaves was swept up by an invisible force and fell into the fire. The flames instantly surged, seeming to banish all the darkness from the temple.

It was only then that a Divine Statue became visible. Someone was sitting beneath it.

He was very young, but his aura was unfathomable.

If Wang Xiu were here, he would have recognized this person at once. It was none other than Ye Guhong, who had left the Cangyuan Realm many years ago.

He looked much the same as before, but his aura had changed drastically. It was like the Abyss itself, carrying a quality that made one's heart tremble. No one knew what he had experienced, but his long hair was now half black and half white, making him seem far more world-weary.

Ye Guhong slowly opened his eyes, the firelight reflecting in his pupils. "Who told you I wanted to save him?"

Han Sancheng's brow furrowed. "You had me get rid of the people hunting him down. Wasn't that to save him?"

"He doesn't need me to save him," Ye Guhong said coolly. "He only needs time and space."

Han Sancheng narrowed his eyes. After a long moment, he said, "So you're using the situation to your advantage."

Ye Guhong did not speak.

Taking a deep breath, Han Sancheng said with some irritation, "Even if those people mistakenly believe that kid has some connection with this old man, or if they grow suspicious of the Holy Land's stance, how long can that last? The Yi Clan hates him to the bone, not to mention the allure of the Dragon Emperor's inheritance! Plenty of people would be willing to risk their lives for it!"

Ye Guhong remained silent.

But silence can mean different things. This time, Han Sancheng understood.

He felt a sense of disbelief. "Do you truly have that much confidence in him? You think that as long as the renowned experts from the major powers don't get involved, no one else can touch him?"

After Han Sancheng's appearance tonight, no matter how desperately the major powers wanted Wang Xiu and his inheritance, they would hesitate before acting. His actions had been too abnormal; even a child could tell something was amiss. The implication of protection was too strong, though no one dared to say it aloud.

The major powers had long histories and valued their reputations. Until they understood the Holy Land's position, their famous experts would not act rashly. Otherwise, they might obtain the inheritance but not have the life left to enjoy it.

Only those with decent but not top-tier strength, the reckless sort who didn't fear death, would be willing to risk it all. The desperate have nothing to lose.

But that was the problem. Even among them, there were many formidable characters. On what grounds did Ye Guhong believe Wang Xiu could handle them all with ease?

Even if his talent was extraordinary, his Cultivation Level was at most the early Saint Realm. While such cultivators weren't found on every street corner in the Nine Heavens, they were by no means rare. The moment Wang Xiu revealed himself, he would face an endless wave of pursuers.

Besides... how long could this stalemate even last? When enough time passed and the major powers realized the Holy Land had no intention of intervening, what would become of Wang Xiu?

Ye Guhong did not answer Han Sancheng's question. There was no need. He closed his eyes and said indifferently, "You may leave."

Han Sancheng was struck speechless. In the entire Yaoguang Heavenly Realm, simply by the authority of the Sky Monitor Division token at his waist, the number of people who dared speak to him this way could be counted on one hand. If it were anyone else, he would have long since refused to tolerate it.

But whenever he recalled the mysterious youth before him, he felt a chill. The boy not only knew his family's secret arts as if they were his own but was also aware of the dark secrets his ancestors had hidden for years. Faced with this, no matter how furious Han Sancheng became, he could only suppress it.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered eliminating the problem at its source. But this youth was an enigma, his methods terrifyingly bizarre. He appeared to only be at the Saint Manifestation stage, yet some of his techniques were beyond even his own comprehension. It was hard not to suspect he was some monster from one of the ancient Di Clans.

He had no confidence he could subdue Ye Guhong in a single blow. If he let him escape, any piece of the information the boy possessed could lead to the Han family's complete annihilation from the Yaoguang Heavenly Realm. They would never recover.

I can't gamble!

Han Sancheng's thoughts churned, but his expression remained unchanged. His old face, red in the firelight, cracked a smile. "Young Master, I've done what you asked. Have you perhaps forgotten something?"

Ye Guhong said, "There is a Jade Slip in your robe."

Stunned, Han Sancheng looked down. His expression changed. A hard object had indeed materialized against his chest. It was a Jade Slip.

His heart lurched, and a cold sweat broke out across his back. With my Cultivation Level, I didn't even notice... When did he put this in my robe?! How did he do that?!

He turned to stare at the figure sitting in the dim light, feeling as if the silhouette were forged from cold iron, capable of freezing his very gaze.

Ye Guhong's voice sounded again. "Everything about your Han family, including the evidence, is recorded at the location described in that Jade Slip. Destroy it... and no one will ever know."

Han Sancheng scanned the Jade Slip with his Divine Sense, his face a mask of shifting emotions. His eyes, usually so warm and placid, now stared like a venomous snake at Ye Guhong.

The implication was clear. You'll still know!

"If I wanted to destroy you, I wouldn't need to go to such trouble," Ye Guhong said.

Still uneasy, Han Sancheng pressed, "Young Master... why don't you swear an oath?"

"I dare swear it, but would you dare believe it?" Ye Guhong returned.

"Not an ordinary oath, of course," Han Sancheng said. "Swear upon your Dao heart, with your Divine Soul and physical body as collateral. Those who betray it will be forever barred from the cycle of Reincarnation! Swear this oath, Young Master, and I'll leave immediately!"

"And if I don't?" Ye Guhong asked.

Han Sancheng fell silent, his expression turning to ice as he stared fixedly at Ye Guhong. The temperature plummeted.

"I may have lived a wretched life, clinging to the world's fleeting pleasures, but I know that indecision breeds disaster! Do you think a single secret can control me for the rest of my life? Impossible!"

His stooped back straightened.

The wind howled. The fire erupted wildly, a storm of sparks raining down on Ye Guhong, like a meteor shower about to burst within the ruined temple.

Ye Guhong remained seated. His handsome, cold face was clearly illuminated by the firelight, showing not a single trace of panic.

He spoke coolly, "Are you so sure the one sitting here is truly me?"

Han Sancheng's pupils shrank. A terrible premonition seized him.

BANG!

Amidst the flames, "Ye Guhong" shattered into countless motes of light and dissipated in the wind, leaving only a broken wooden puppet where he had been. It was covered in carved symbols.

"A mirror decoy!" Han Sancheng's face twisted in shock.

Through the howling wind and roaring fire, Ye Guhong's indifferent voice echoed.

"Your Han ancestors were the kind of people who dared make deals with the Demon Race. When doing business with someone like you, how could I not keep a trick up my sleeve?"

Panic filled Han Sancheng's eyes, his killing intent vanishing completely. That familiar, amiable smile returned, though it now looked painfully forced.

"Young Master, that was just a joke! Please, calm down! We can talk this through! We can talk!"

"Young Master!"

"Young Master?"

"..."

After a long time, a voice finally sounded.

"This is the only time. There will not be a second."