Chapter 213: Negotiation

Master Luo spent a sleepless night, and the next day sought out several array masters in Xiancheng, gave them a few instructions, then went to the Qian family and found Master Qian.

"I've already told them all—no more harassment of Mo Hua, and the beast hunters had better not start any conflicts either."

Master Qian frowned. "Master Luo, you're saying this…"

Master Luo countered, "Young Master Qian, what are your own plans?"

"You mean Mo Hua?"

"Exactly."

Master Qian paused slightly, then said, "Originally, I intended to cultivate goodwill with him—if he could serve the Qian family, that would be best; if not, I hoped he'd stay neutral and take no side; if that still failed, then I'd have no choice but to act ruthlessly. Once violence breaks out, life and death are fate—I can no longer control it."

Master Qian relayed his advice to Qian Hong to Master Luo.

Master Luo sneered. "But Qian Hong acted directly—he tried to kill Mo Hua."

Master Qian blinked in surprise, then sighed.

"He's the patriarch. I can do nothing about it."

Matters within the Qian family could only be decided by the patriarch; though Master Qian was an array master and an elder, his status was high, yet he could not sway the patriarch's decisions.

Master Luo's gaze sharpened. "Have you considered your own path forward?"

"Path forward?"

"If the Qian family continues to prosper, you may remain their elder indefinitely. But if the Qian family falls, where will you go?"

Master Qian was displeased. "Master, you're mistaken—the Qian family has held power in Xiancheng for generations; how could it possibly collapse so easily?"

Master Luo sipped his tea and said nothing.

Master Qian thought carefully, a chill settling in his heart; he lowered his tone and spoke softly:

"I am an elder of the Qian family and their array master, favored by the clan—I cannot act against the clan's interests."

Master Luo prodded: "You're favored because you're an array master—would the Qian family favor you if you weren't one?"

Master Qian's heart trembled.

He had always known this deep down, but having held a high position, he'd never truly reflected on it.

Master Qian had encountered many Qian family cultivators—those guarding the estate, those serving tea, those bowing in attendance.

They too were Qian family disciples—yet who among them had ever been favored?

If I weren't an array master, I might not be any better off than they are.

The family favors me because I am an array master—not because I am a Qian family disciple. Everything I have now is mine solely because I am an array master.

Master Luo pressed further: "If you remain an array master, even if the Qian family weakens, you'll still be favored. If you're not an array master, even if the Qian family grows strong, they may never bestow blessings upon you."

Master Qian fell silent for a moment, then whispered: "Please, Master Luo, enlighten me."

Master Luo raised an eyebrow. "What matters most to an array master?"

Master Qian thought deeply, then said: "Family and lineage?"

Master Luo's expression turned disappointed; he sighed and tapped his finger on the table:

"It's the arrays!"

"An array master should study arrays, strive for higher mastery. If you were a second-rank array master, would you care about these trivial matters of qi condensation cultivators?"

Master Qian hesitated. "But arrays… aren't easy to learn…"

He knew arrays were important—but without family support, without array lineage, how could he learn them?

Master Luo looked at him and said:

"You're already a first-rank array master—you don't need to rely on the family so heavily. The Qian family has no higher array lineage to offer. What you must do now is find a way to advance further in arrays."

"Master Luo speaks wisely—but how can I advance further?" Master Qian asked.

Master Luo gave no direct answer.

Master Qian pieced together the earlier words, suddenly understanding, and said slowly: "Mo Hua?"

Master Luo nodded.

"But how is this connected to Mo Hua?" Master Qian asked, puzzled.

Master Luo fell silent for a long while, then sighed deeply, reluctantly saying:

"Mo Hua's array mastery—I am inferior to him."

Master Qian's eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"

Master Luo's expression turned cold.

Master Qian realized his mistake—array masters were proud by nature; no one would joke like this.

"But… how is this possible? How old is he?" Master Qian couldn't believe it.

"Don't care how old he is—the fact is the fact. The cultivation world is vast; countless prodigies exist. Our horizons are limited—it's normal we've never encountered one."

Master Luo paused, then added: "Moreover, the younger he is, the greater his potential—his future achievements in arrays will be boundless."

Master Qian frowned, his heart twisting; he let out a cold, bitter snort:

"Even if he becomes a second-rank array master someday, I won't grovel to him—I won't do such a humiliating thing!"

"You're foolish!" Master Luo muttered. "Who told you to grovel? What you must do is cultivate goodwill—so that when the time comes, he might, out of goodwill, offer you a few words of guidance on arrays."

"Arrays aren't hard because of effort—they're hard because of wrong paths. If he becomes a high-rank array master, just a few words from him could clear your fog and save you years of wasted effort."

"Grovel? You're an old man with wrinkles—you're not some fresh, dewy young miss. Who'd care if you groveled?"

Master Qian felt a flush of shame, but after careful thought, he realized Master Luo was right.

In Xiancheng, first-rank array masters were the peak—beyond that, progress was impossible.

Without lineage, without guidance from a second-rank array master, many higher-level arrays left him utterly confused—he had no idea where to begin.

If Mo Hua truly advanced further and became a second-rank array master, even a few words of insight from him would be worth ten years of blind, fruitless study.

As for pride—Master Luo didn't care. Why should he?

Compared to the Dao of formation arrays, these matters are utterly trivial.

"But…" Master Qian hesitated, "the Qian family wants to kill him, and I am their formation master—what if he holds a grudge and takes it out on me?"

"Relax," Master Luo said. "I've met Mo Hua. This child's nature and grade are excellent, and he understands reason. As long as you don't provoke him, he won't blame you."

Master Luo had lived over a hundred years; his judgment of people was always sharp.

Master Qian nodded, then frowned: "Then what should I do?"

He couldn't directly betray the Qian family…

"Do nothing."

Master Qian stared, "Do nothing?"

"Stay out of the Qian family's disputes. Don't oppose Mo Hua. Prepare some gifts, and I'll deliver them to him on your behalf, explain the situation—he won't hold it against you," Master Luo said.

After long thought, Master Qian sighed in relief: "That's best. Then I'm in your debt, Master Luo."

This way, both sides are spared, and he won't be torn between them.

The next day, he went to see Qian Hong. Though he didn't say it outright, he made clear his disapproval of Qian Hong for ignoring his advice and sending people to kill Mo Hua, thereby deepening the enmity.

Qian Hong was displeased; their words clashed, and they parted on bad terms.

Qian Hong dared not ask Master Qian for favors again, yet he also did not dare to offend him too much.

Master Qian was an elder, soon to become a First-Rank Formation Master, and held considerable influence within the clan.

If he pushed Master Qian too far and caused him to ally with other elders, Qian Hong's position as head would become unstable.

Currently, Master Qian is the only one in the Qian family who can become a First-Rank Formation Master, yet many could become head of the Qian family—not just Qian Hong alone.

Master Qian also used this incident to gradually distance himself from Qian Hong.