Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 165: The Art Of Negotiation

Han Xuhan finally got back his footing in the conversation with Sect Master Xuan Zi. Scheming and backstabbing? This was familiar territory for him! He was like a fish in water in these matters.

Quickly reorganizing his thoughts, he started spilling what took place in that artificial macrocosm.

"The person who summoned me claimed to be Qian Yun, the friend I made in the initial stage of the Holy Land. I’ve already told you about how he ended up being possessed by the ghostly cultivator within the depths of the Holy Land, who called himself Zhao Weiqing.

"I was not so sure who I was really talking to, because Qian Yun’s explanations as to how he had gotten rid of Zhao Weiqing’s puppetization technique did not satisfy me. He was too vague about it. So I took the exchange as Zhao Weiqing himself trying to coax me into something dangerous.

"He wanted me to supply him with cultivation resources for a few people. In return, he’d supply me with various types of cultivation techniques related to law manipulation, training methods for disciples of the Holy Land, some secrets closely guarded in the Holy Land’s libraries, whatever is left of it..."

Xuan Zi started laughing loudly, startling Xuhan. For quite a while Xuan Zi’s laughter continued, his head thrown back, long hair shaking wildly.

But looking at his face, Han Xuhan couldn’t detect any signs of mirth. The laugh looked more like an outburst of malice.

"So he’s that desperate?" Xuan Zi growled softly.

"Did he tell you how to supply the resources to him, or how he is going to transfer anything valuable to you? Does he want you to travel back to the Holy Land again? And how much resources does he need?"

Seeing his eagerness, Han Xuhan silently cursed the old man. This insidious sect master of his had really made some elaborately thought-out plans, hadn’t he?

What could be his end goal? Usurping the control of that entire world fragment where the Holy Land lay hidden? How ambitious!

"He talked a bit about a technique rooted in that artificial macrocosm. With me on this side, and he standing inside the Holy Land, an exchange of materials is possible through that technique. He said he is going to teach it to me the next time we meet there," Han Xuhan answered nervously.

"As for the quantity of resources, he said he needs at least enough to satiate more than fifteen cultivators who have advanced accomplishments in both the Martial and Mystic paths."

Han Xuhan lied for the first time since had entered the sect master’s palace. Qian Yun’s demand hadn’t been so exorbitant. He said he needed resources for a dozen people.

Han Xuhan guessed that they were the fellow adventurers who had been possessed by Zhao Weiqing, the legion that had chased him around in and outside the Holy Land. All of them were probably cooperating together as a team even now!

As to why Han Xuhan was lying to the Sect Master about their number, the reason was simple. He wanted to extort this old fart.

Who told the sect master to use Han Xuhan as bait?

Who told the sect master to let him go under the threat of spiritual torture?

Since he was being used by Xuan Zi, he would at least make the risk worth it!

Resources for three extra people were enough to keep his own cultivation speed on par with the best disciples of the sect, or even higher. Just like Mu Ran and Xuanyuan Zhou, he was going to cultivate multiple paths this way for as long as he could!

Coupling the extra resources with his fat wallet, Han Xuhan was going to leave even the most talented, lucky, and hardworking disciples in the dust!

"Fifteen cultivators? Both on the Martial Path and Mystic Path? I thought Zhao Weiqing’s cultivation was-ah, never mind."

Xuan Zi seemed to realize what the reason could be even without Han Xuhan’s explanation. This old man was a proper old monster for sure.

"This is a good deal. You could probably pressure them into giving away far more precious things compared to some measly resources. Play your own part carefully, disciple Xuhan. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for you and the sect. Much responsibility lies on your shoulders now that you’ve accepted his offer."

Xuan Zi took out a blood-red medallion from his pockets and handed it to Xuhan.

"This is something few members of this sect possess. Every time you need to supply him with resources, take this medallion and visit Elder Shen from the treasury. He is in charge of the resource management of the sect. Take the resources you need from him and do your job."

For some reason, seeing Xuan Zi’s dirty smile, Han Xuhan felt that his little lie had been exposed. But he was never the bashful sort to begin with. Even if the old fox knew, what could he do about it without pissing him off?

If Xuan Zi had any big plans for the Holy Land of Laws, he needed to keep Han Xuhan safe and satisfied. He was the only link to that place now...

So, with an honest and solemn look on his face, Han Xuhan respectfully took the medallion.

"Is there anything in particular I should demand from the other party during our first exchange, Master Zi?"

Xuan Zi didn’t even think about it. The response seemed to have been at the tip of his tongue the entire time.

"Ask him to hand over the blueprint of their hidden world fragment. He’ll definitely refuse at first. Keep pressuring him using the carrot and the stick method. Dangle the resources over his face a few times and vaguely hint that he doesn’t have as much time as he thinks. He’ll cave in. I have enough trust in your capability to pull this off. Go now, shoo!"

Han Xuhan walked out of the sect master’s residence with a complicated expression.

"Do I have such a reliable aura? It definitely isn’t as simple as a sheer coincidence. The old fart was controlling the flow of events behind the curtains the whole time. And he definitely wants something very precious from the Holy Land of laws. It can’t just be a mere blueprint. What else could it be...?"

In the back of his mind, a single realization suddenly registered.

"Wait a damn minute, I went in there to confess, to get out of the deal, and reduce my chances of falling into a protagonist template.

"How did I get myself into an even deeper mess despite doing the opposite of what any protagonist would do?"

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶