Chapter 612: Mutual Restraint, Weighing Pros and Cons

After the Dongji Region Branch Alliance completed the Grand Alliance's mission, they did indeed receive a batch of Origin Crystals and Rule Crystals.

However, the quantity was not large.

Moreover, when the Dongji Region Branch Alliance completed the Grand Alliance's mission, numerous factions chose to contribute their strength.

Consequently, after the Origin Crystals and Rule Crystals obtained by the Dongji Region Branch Alliance were divided, the share received by Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji was even smaller, especially the Rule Crystals they cared so much about.

Only the Rule Crystals could compel two powerful figures of the late Void Realm, such as the two of them, to travel thousands of miles to this Dongxuan City.

Hearing Lingyun Hai's repeated inquiry, Ye Ye Qingxuan's heart was already clear; he knew why Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji had come.

Under their gazes, Ye Ye Qingxuan calmly lifted his teacup and took a sip before speaking lightly:

"Alliance Leader Ling is joking. Our Dongxuan City did not participate in the last mission released by the Alliance, nor did we receive any Rule Crystals after the mission concluded."

"The source and value of the Rule Crystals should be well known to both of you, Daoist friends. How could this City Lord possibly possess any Rule Crystals?"

Ye Ye Qingxuan did not admit to possessing Rule Crystals.

Although Ye Ye Qingxuan's strength made him fearless against Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji, he was unwilling to provoke too many powerful enemies or attract the gaze of too many people.

Troubles are naturally better in smaller quantities.

"City Lord of Dongxuan, your Dongxuan City did not receive any Origin Crystals last time either, yet you still produced Origin Crystals, did you not?"

"In that case, this Sect Leader believes that City Lord of Dongxuan should also be able to produce Rule Crystals."

Hearing Ye Ye Qingxuan's response, before Lingyun Hai could say anything, Qian Yan Wuji on the side could not wait and spoke up to refute him.

Seeing that Qian Yan Wuji had spoken first, Lingyun Hai said no more.

Their purposes for this journey were identical, and what Qian Yan Wuji said aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.

Therefore, after Qian Yan Wuji spoke, Lingyun Hai remained silent, allowing Qian Yan Wuji to continue his questioning.

Lifting his teacup for another sip, listening to Qian Yan Wuji's words, Lingyun Hai's expression gradually grew cold as he stared at Ye Ye Qingxuan.

Although he had no intention of acting from the start, he did not object to assisting Qian Yan Wuji in applying some pressure on Ye Ye Qingxuan to force him to submit.

Clearly, regarding the evasive words spoken by Ye Ye Qingxuan, not only Qian Yan Wuji but even Lingyun Hai did not believe them.

Seeing that Ye Ye Qingxuan still maintained an air of indifference, Qian Yan Wuji's face instantly darkened, and he continued speaking with a hint of threat:

"City Lord of Dongxuan, you surely would not disappoint me and Alliance Leader Ling, would you?"

While speaking, Qian Yan Wuji narrowed his eyes, inadvertently revealing his aura and pressing his pressure down upon Ye Ye Qingxuan.

Seeing this, a flash of coldness passed through Ye Ye Qingxuan's eyes; subsequently, he raised his hand and lightly waved it away, breaking Qian Yan Wuji's pressure, and spoke icily:

"This City Lord has disappointed you both today. What can the two of you do to me?"

While speaking, Ye Ye Qingxuan's heart stirred slightly, and a landscape painting emitting seven-colored light appeared behind him, slowly enlarging and rotating.

On the scroll, besides mountains and rivers, there were various flowers, grasses, trees, birds, beasts, insects, and fish, all vivid and lifelike, resembling a real world.

Looking at the seven-colored landscape painting behind Ye Ye Qingxuan and sensing the aura emitted by this seven-colored water map,

Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji's pupils contracted slightly, and they exclaimed in unison:

"A three-star mid-grade Spiritual Treasure?"

After the exclamation, Lingyun Hai remained silent.

However, after Qian Yan Wuji's exclamation, his emotions became even more agitated, and he exclaimed in disbelief: "How is this possible? You are merely a cultivator of the early Void Realm; how could you possess a three-star mid-grade Spiritual Treasure?"

It was no wonder Qian Yan Wuji was so agitated.

Think of how, after he broke through to the Void Realm in the past, he wandered the Eastern Region of the Earthly Profound Realm for over ten thousand years and still failed to obtain a single three-star mid-grade Spiritual Treasure.

Yet now, a cultivator of the early Void Realm who grew up in the Dongji Region and never left it was able to possess a three-star mid-grade Spiritual Treasure.

How could this not make him emotionally agitated and filled with jealousy? Seeing Qian Yan Wuji's agitated state, Ye Ye Qingxuan remained indifferent and paid him no mind.

Indeed, the landscape painting behind him was precisely his innate magic treasure, the World Map.

However, the World Map here was merely a sub-map temporarily split from the main body of the World Map.

The current World Map has already transformed into a one-star high-grade Spiritual Treasure; after a full revival, it is capable of rivaling a powerful figure of the early Tribulation Crossing Realm for a short time.

Even if it is just a split sub-map, it is sufficient to rank at the level of a three-star low-grade Spiritual Treasure.

Besides the floating World Map behind him, the Rule Power faintly radiating from Ye Ye Qingxuan's body also made Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji feel a considerable threat.

This forced Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji to forcibly calm themselves down.

Ye Ye Qingxuan had no intention of playing the pig to eat the tiger.

The reason he actively revealed his strength was to make Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji retreat in the face of difficulty.

Before fighting, there is still room for negotiation; once fighting begins, stopping the conflict is no longer so easy.

After all, facing him were not cultivators of the early or mid Void Realm, but two powerful figures of the late Void Realm.

Although his Rule Power far exceeded that of Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji, his cultivation base of the early Void Realm ultimately hindered the full expression of his Rule Power.

If a battle broke out, relying on the World Map sub-map, which is comparable to a three-star low-grade Spiritual Treasure, he would not fall into a disadvantage and might even suppress Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji.

However, killing two powerful figures of the late Void Realm like Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji was not something that could be achieved in a short time.

At that time, suppressing Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji would not only consume a great deal of his energy.

If the power of the World Map sub-map were to diminish during the process of suppressing Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji, the situation might instantly reverse.

By then, relying solely on this external avatar, he would find himself in a dilemma with no way forward or back.

Precisely because of this, although Ye Ye Qingxuan now had some confidence in suppressing Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji, he did not act recklessly.

Moreover, who knows if Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji were hiding other methods? If he were to be careless, the Dongxuan City and Xingluo Zhou he had painstakingly built might be destroyed in an instant.

Although the Earthly Profound Realm Alliance currently suppresses everything, making it highly unlikely that Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji would wage war in Xingluo Zhou regardless of the consequences and cause suffering to all living beings there,

Ye Ye Qingxuan was not a gambler.

If Lingyun Hai and Qian Yan Wuji could retreat in the face of difficulty due to his strength, that would naturally be the best outcome.

Looking at the silent Lingyun Hai opposite him and Qian Yan Wuji, whose face was constantly changing, Ye Ye Qingxuan sighed inwardly:

"Fighting and killing are ultimately not my wish, but this does not mean I fear slaughter."

"I hope the two of you will conduct yourselves wisely and not force my hand, or else—"

At this thought, a flash of coldness inadvertently swept through Ye Ye Qingxuan's eyes.

Ling Ling Yunhai, who had been silent until now, noticed the change in Ye Ye Qingxuan and finally broke his silence, speaking slowly: "Since the Lord of Dongxuan City says there are no Rule Crystals, the two of us naturally believe him."

"In this matter, it seems this Alliance Leader and Sect Master Qian were somewhat rash. Please forgive us, Lord of Dongxuan City."

As for Ling Ling Yunhai's words, Qian Yan Wuji, who had calmed down, opened his mouth slightly but ultimately remained silent.

Ye Ye Qingxuan was not certain he could completely suppress Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji; likewise, how certain were Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji that they could capture Ye Ye Qingxuan? Moreover, Ling Ling Yunhai had never intended to strike personally from the start.

As for Qian Yan Wuji? If he were facing an ordinary early-stage Void Meditation Realm cultivator.

Relying solely on a mid-grade Three-Star Spiritual Treasure, Qian Yan Wuji might have attempted to join forces with Ling Ling Yunhai to take a risky gamble.

After all, no matter how powerful a Spiritual Treasure is, it cannot fully revive for an extended period.

But the Ye Ye Qingxuan across from him was not an ordinary early-stage Void Meditation Realm cultivator.

The Rule Power he revealed gave Qian Yan Wuji a significant sense of crisis; clearly, Ye Ye Qingxuan's own strength could not be underestimated by them.

After weighing the situation in his mind for a long time, Qian Yan Wuji, whose emotions had just been quite turbulent, finally put aside certain hidden thoughts after Ling Ling Yunhai spoke.

Since returning to the Dongji Domain, because there were very few people within it capable of posing a danger to him, Qian Yan Wuji had gradually become somewhat arrogant and less cautious in his actions.

However, Qian Yan Wuji was ultimately not a brute who relied solely on force.

Otherwise, Qian Yan Wuji would not have roamed the Eastern Domain for so long and still managed to return alive to the Dongji Domain.

Since he did not have absolute certainty, Qian Yan Wuji naturally would not recklessly attack Ye Ye Qingxuan and completely tear off the mask of civility.

Across from them, seeing that Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji no longer intended to strike, Ye Ye Qingxuan did not keep them waiting long: "It is getting late; the two of you should return."

Although Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji ultimately restrained themselves and did not attack him.

But since they had already become enemies, Ye Ye Qingxuan naturally no longer had any intention of pretending to be friendly with Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji.

With his current cultivation base and strength, even facing two late-stage Void Meditation Realm experts like Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji, he was fully capable of doing as he pleased.

Facing Ye Ye Qingxuan's order to leave, Ling Ling Yunhai and Qian Yan Wuji, though displeased in their hearts, did not say much with their mouths.

The two were just preparing to rise and depart.

Qian Yan Wuji seemed to suddenly remember something; his standing body paused for a moment, then he looked back at Ye Ye Qingxuan and spoke:

"Lord of Dongxuan City, when our various powers in the Dongji Domain hold the Grand Recruitment Ceremony soon, our Dongqian Sect wishes to open a recruitment point in Xingluo Province."

"I wonder, Lord of Dongxuan City, might you be able to grant us a favor then?"

In Qian Yan Wuji's view, he was after all a formidable late-stage Void Meditation Realm expert, with combat power essentially standing at the peak level of the Dongji Domain.

He was now personally asking only to open a temporary recruitment point in Xingluo Province.

The Lord of Dongxuan City should agree to this.

Unfortunately, Qian Yan Wuji was destined to be disappointed.

Regarding Qian Yan Wuji's request, Ye Ye Qingxuan, who had long regarded Xingluo Province as his own private domain, grew cold and directly refused: "Xingluo Province is the territory of my Dongxuan City. Please, Sect Master Qian, show some self-respect."

As if joking! Qian Yan Wuji had just been threatening him, and now he wanted to recruit disciples in Xingluo Province under his command?

Ye Ye Qingxuan wondered how thick Qian Yan Wuji's face must be to make such a request. "Hmph, Alliance Leader Ling, let us go!"

Seeing that Ye Ye Qingxuan had refused his request without even considering it.

Qian Yan Wuji let out a cold snort and left the place first, abandoning any thought of recruiting disciples in Xingluo Province.

Now that he realized Ye Ye Qingxuan's strength was not inferior to his own, without Ye Ye Qingxuan's approval, his Dongqian Sect rashly recruiting disciples in Xingluo Province would only bring shame upon itself.

Therefore, there was no need for the Dongqian Sect to send Elders traveling thousands of miles to Xingluo Province just to waste time.

Were they just some disciples with good talent? In recent years, the Dongji Province where his Dongqian Sect was located had not lacked such people either.

In this era, great provinces teeming with geniuses were not limited to just Xingluo Province.

Seeing that Qian Yan Wuji had already left, Ling Ling Yunhai did not stay long either.

After nodding slightly to Ye Ye Qingxuan, his figure turned into a streak of light and vanished.

Watching the departing figures of Qian Yan Wuji and Ling Ling Yunhai, Ye Ye Qingxuan remained as calm and indifferent as ever, leisurely sipping the tea in his cup.

Outside Xingluo Province.

Qian Yan Wuji, who had left Dongxuan City earlier, was currently paused here, waiting for several breaths.

After Ling Ling Yunhai flew over, Qian Yan Wuji moved his figure to stand beside Ling Ling Yunhai, shoulder to shoulder.

While flying toward the direction of Dongji Province, he spoke:

"Alliance Leader Ling, the Lord of Dongxuan City has been so rude to the two of us. Shall we simply let this go?"

Hearing this, Ling Ling Yunhai glanced at Qian Yan Wuji and asked back calmly:

"Then what do you plan to do?"

On this journey, if Dongxuan City could voluntarily produce the Rule Crystals, allowing him to obtain them through trade, that would naturally be even better.

Otherwise, at most, he would simply allow Qian Yan Wuji to attack Dongxuan City, letting Qian Yan Wuji dig out all of Dongxuan City's secrets for him.

Then he could use righteousness as a pretext to seize Qian Yan Wuji and claim all the spoils.

As a high-level cultivator dispatched by the Grand Alliance of the Di-Li Xuan Realm to establish a branch alliance in the Dongji Domain.

Ling Ling Yunhai was very familiar with the various regulations formulated by the high command of the Di-Li Xuan Realm Alliance.

At this time, if a high-level cultivator dared to attack without cause within the Di-Li Xuan Realm, causing major damage to the environment of the Di-Li Xuan Realm, they would absolutely be severely punished.

Moreover, if one killed a high-level cultivator of the Di-Li Xuan Realm without any legitimate reason.

Once discovered by the Di-Li Xuan Realm Alliance, even if they did not die, they would still be stripped of a layer of skin.

As the Alliance Leader of the Dongji Domain branch, Ling Ling Yunhai was very familiar with some of the methods of the Grand Alliance's high command; naturally, he would not easily violate the regulations of the Di-Li Xuan Realm Alliance.

Just now, inside Dongxuan City, even if Ye Ye Qingxuan had lacked the ability to defend himself, he himself would not have attacked Ye Ye Qingxuan voluntarily.

Moreover, now that he knew Ye Ye Qingxuan possessed power not inferior to his own, and even slightly stronger.

Under such circumstances, he naturally was even less likely to attack Dongxuan City.

Hearing Hearing Lingyunhai's rhetorical question, Qian Yan Wuji was momentarily speechless, and could only stubbornly say:

"Let's just hope the City Lord of Dongxuan does not possess any Rule Crystals, otherwise..."

(End of this chapter)