Chapter 662

Greedy humans.

In the crystal stone hall, a giant composed entirely of magma let out a low roar.

But greedy humans are the easiest to control.

A shapeless spirit hidden in the shadows chuckled softly: "It's just fifty slots to avoid the divine tribulation and ensure godhood… and letting them stay in the human world has no effect on us."

But these slots could originally be exchanged for enormous benefits.

A dwarf whose body glittered with golden light swung a great hammer, letting out a low angry roar.

Which is more important, those benefits or these treasures?

A jellyfish-like entity, its body shimmering with dreamy water ripples, with a huge head from which dozens of long crystal-blue tentacles hung, exuding a terrifying pressure, extended one tentacle and lightly pointed at the thirteen soul crystals and thirteen bowls of blood essence floating in the hall.

Inside the hall, including You Ruo's true form, everyone fell silent.

The slots for ascending to godhood could only be exchanged for ordinary spirit crystals, spirit medicines, and the like, whereas these soul crystals and that blood essence possessed immeasurable value.

Even an idiot knows which to choose.

But our little prince wants the Nine Turns Mysterious Technique to become his inheritance art." You Ruo gritted her teeth and said hatefully: "Damn it, I alone dare not make this decision… you all know that every major human faction's inheritance arts have been processed by us.

You Ruo said in a low voice: "The arts we have processed cause them to stray slightly, making their foundations imperfect and leaving subtle little flaws… thus the gods they become are not our opponents."

Taking a deep breath, You Ruo said solemnly: "But what truly belongs to them, those ancient arts we have forbidden… are perfect, flawless, and could even let them challenge gods across major realms…"

Should we grant this dangerous 'knowledge,' this power, to an ambitious little prince?" You Ruo spread her hands: "I alone dare not decide; this responsibility must be borne by all of us.

A silence fell over the hall.

After a long while, the life hidden in the shadows murmured: "If we control the total number of their family's gods, we can certainly achieve this… even if they cultivate forbidden arts, if their god count stays under a hundred… or even two hundred, three hundred… would that threaten us?"

In the darkness, two bright eyes flashed: "Especially, if we share these precious soul crystals and blood essence, we… I mean, we present here… how powerful could we become?"

The golden‑glittering dwarf said in a low voice: "Thirteen shares aren't enough to go around…"

You Ruo said solemnly: "So we need this ambitious, ruthless, and highly capable little prince to bring us more spoils… whether it's Xiahou Lu Ming or Linghu Qingqing, it's obvious their experience, vision, family interests, and tangled interests prevent them from doing this."

Wu Tie can recklessly slay a major clan's god‑realm expert… but neither Xiahou Lu Ming nor Linghu Qingqing dares to do so recklessly.

Wu Tie can go all‑out, but the Xiahou and Linghu royal clans wouldn't dare play like that.

Thus Xiahou Lu Ming shouted the slogan "War of National Annihilation" with great vigor, but look—on the Three Kingdoms battlefield, so many god‑realm elders have been clinking away for half a year, yet not a single one has been seriously wounded.

Such a stalemate serves the national and clan interests of both Dai Wei and Qing Qiu.

But this stalemate clearly does not serve the interests of You Ruo and her ilk; hence she went straight to Wu Tie, making an offer and promise directly to him.

If even Prince An Huo Xiong possessed a hundred, two hundred, or even three hundred gods cultivating the Nine Turns Mysterious Technique, it would still pose no threat to us…

The giant composed of seven‑colored crystal stones spoke: "Moreover, there's no doubt that, given his current power, wanting to have a hundred gods would take a long time to achieve…"

The crystal giant said solemnly: "The threat he poses is a future possibility… yet what he can bring us is real, tangible benefit directly relevant to us. So why not?"

The crystal giant grinned: "Fellow brothers, we are on rotation here, monitoring and observing Mu Dalu's activities—how much longer is our term?"

You Ruo laughed.

The golden dwarf laughed.

The jellyfish‑like entity laughed.

Throughout the hall, hundreds of diverse powerful beings burst into laughter.

You Ruo and her group's term here won't be long; in just a few years someone will come to replace them. Then hundreds of divine clans will be busy handing over work, and even if the human forces on the ground undergo some minor changes… it's still unknown who will bear the blame.

Well then, everyone…" You Ruo raised her right hand.

The crystal giant raised its right hand.

The magma giant raised its right hand.

The golden dwarf raised its right hand.

The jellyfish also raised… a tentacle.

On the ground, You Ruo's face twisted ferociously as she stared at Wu Tie for a long while; after a long time he finally exhaled heavily, reached out both hands, and lightly patted the two small leaves that had just fallen onto Wu Tie's shoulder.

Prince An Huo Xiong, fine—your terms, we accept.

You Ruo smiled at Wu Tie: "Fifty guaranteed slots for ascension to godhood… and you need not pay any extra price; they can stay by your side to serve you. Your family, those who share your blood, can cultivate the Nine Turns Mysterious Technique; I believe that, as long as your luck isn't too awful, your family will become the strongest among the three divine nations in the future."

You Ruo lowered her voice: "In the future, if you have any other requests in the Qing Qiu Divine Nation, you can come directly to me…"

You Ruo chuckled, pulled out a token forged of frozen ice, and lightly slipped it into Wu Tie's hand: "Remember, my name is You Ruo… for anything, you can contact me directly through this token."

Wu Tie lowered his head to look at the token in his hand; You Ruo had already turned and left, laughing.

From afar, You Ruo's voice drifted over: "Soon, fifty Heaven‑God Tokens and the permit for the Nine Turns Mysterious Technique will be delivered to the prince's hand… but please keep this matter confidential, after all it invites too much envy—you're a smart person, right?"

After You Ruo disappeared from sight, Wu Tie muttered to himself: "This guy—is he looking for another proxy besides Linghu Qingqing?"

Tsk, these so‑called gods are just like flies—show up wherever there's a stench, and their manners are so ugly.

Hefting the token in his hand, Wu Tie tucked it away, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed toward the Three Kingdoms battlefield.

A jade tablet and a black bone floated simultaneously before Wu Tie.

Wu Tie, using his soul power, carefully read and compared the information inside.

The data on the jade tablet comes from the Qing Qiu Divine Nation's Forbidden Demon Hall; it is the information they have gathered on all living god‑realm elders of the Dai Wei Divine Nation.

And the black bone stores similar information from the Fu Xi Divine Nation's Black Hall.

Deep underground in the Fu Xi Divine Nation, aside from a great rift leading to the surface in the wilds of the Qing Qiu borderlands, the Fu Xi Divine Nation has five or more similar entrances and exits within the territories of Da Wu and Dai Wei; however, the one inside Qing Qiu is the largest.

The Black Hall's gathered information lacks the detail of the Forbidden Demon Hall.

After all, the Forbidden Demon Hall actively collects data, whereas the Black Hall mostly gathers information passively—often only when those god‑realm elders intrude into the underground Fu Xi Divine Nation and clash with its experts can we obtain scattered bits of news about them.

Comparing the information on the jade tablet and the black bone lump, Wu Tie settled on one person.

Dao Xiaoke, the elder ancestor of the Dai Wei Dao clan, an affiliate of the Gong Sun clan who externally imparts sword‑dao knowledge, former head of the 'Sword Discussion Hall' that recorded sword‑dao geniuses for its own use, and the unrivaled sword god who can match Gong Sun Xiu Niang in swordsmanship.

The Dao clan, a peculiarity among the Dai Wei clans, conducts itself in a manner extremely similar to the Xiang clan.

Only, the Xiang clan likes to dominate openly on the battlefield, whereas the Dao clan… perhaps due to their innate dark and twisted nature, they most enjoy delving deep underground, hunting the citizens of the Fu Xi Divine Nation amid the endless dark rock layers, and assassinating its experts.

: Dao Xiaoke, Fuxi God Country, Divine Realm

As for, unintentionally exposing the tracks of Dao Xiao Ke, the underground clan that he exterminated now numbers nearly ten thousand; Dao Xiao Ke alone, in the underground world, has slaughtered absolutely over ten million living beings.

Logically speaking, given the earlier declaration of war by Xiahou Lumíng and the assassination attempt on Wu Tie, Dao Xiao Ke should have been sent to act; he is a killing god with countless combat experiences.

: Forbidden Demon Hall, Gongsun clan, Dao Xiaoke

: Sword Discussion Hall, Gongsun Xiuyang, Tao clan, Gongsun clan (already)

After all, the Gongsun clan is a sect that venerates women; their ancestral cultivation method can only be brought to perfection by women.

: (Dao Xiaoke, Tao clan already)

In the information of the Demon-Sealing Hall, they actually threw out a line from a book—"This so-called, the heart of Sima Zhao is known to all passersby"!

: (Dao Xiaoke, Wu Tie, Gongsun Xiuyang already)

And Gongsun Xiangniang indeed failed to get it… It is said that these days, within the Wei state, the Dao clan and the Gongsun clan have produced some discrepancies; the younger members of the two clans who attend and serve have also erupted in many open and covert conflicts.

: Yin-Yang Daoist, Black Bone, Jade Tablet

Black Bone is something that cannot be seen by people; it is an exclusive recording tool for top experts of the underground world. Wu Tie being in an enemy country, no amount of caution is excessive.

On the second day, early in the morning, Wu Tie set out with a small detachment of guards.

From White Wolf River rushing to the frontline military city, with the small teleportation array set up between the capital cities, it was just a short while.

: Linghu Qingqing (glossary)

"Beloved minister, come, come, come, keep me company at the meal… Hahaha, these past few days, the esteemed elders of my Qingqiu have not brought shame upon my Qingqiu; I am quite pleased." Linghu Qingqing laughed loudly, and had the eunuchs add a set of tables and chairs for Wu Tie in the campaign hall.

Wu Tie laughed as he bowed to Linghu Qingqing, then sat down firmly and steadily.

Palace maids served exquisite snacks, and Wu Tie, without any reservation, proceeded to eat and drink heartily.

Linghu Qingqing looked at Wu Tie with a smile and nodded in satisfaction. It proves that this blade is very useful; this fellow, ignorant and fearless, has offended numerous clans of the Wei to the death—alas, he can only willingly become a blade in my hand from now on.

This battle situation has lasted over half a year; although it appears to be a stalemate, Linghu Qingqing does not think so.

After all, Linghu Qingqing believes that, on the side of the gods, he has taken the initiative, he is his man, having slain thirteen Wei god-realm elders; the news transmitted back by You Ruo is quite good, and the gods are all satisfied with this battle result.

Since he has already won the favor of the gods… then, Linghu Qingqing pondered, should we just call it a day?

There really is no need to truly wage a war of extermination against the Wei; after all, the Qingqiu Divine Kingdom is now fighting on two fronts.

: Three Kingdoms Battlefield, Southwest Theater, Martial God Kingdom

Linghu Qingqing was turning the thought over, pondering how to better use this sharp blade of Wu Tie, when the sound of the frontline fleet arrays roaring in unison came again.

Linghu Qingqing then laughed: "Beloved minister, look, the Wei has taken the initiative to attack again… hehe, weren't they defeated badly enough just two days ago?"

Shaking his head, Linghu Qingqing rose to his feet, swept his wide sleeve, and said: "Beloved minister, follow me to watch the battle… hm, you also shouldn't lag behind to tidy up the White Wolf River; up front, getting to know more of the Wei's charming talents is also a good thing."

Upon saying the phrase "charming talents," Linghu Qingqing couldn't help but laugh.

: (none)

A group of attending ministers, guards, and the like also laughed.

But soon, everyone's smiles suddenly stiffened; outside the military city, amidst the frantically clashing fleet arrays, there hovered an old man clad in the ceremonial robes of a Wei prince.

Above the old man's head shone a bright, sparkling cloud aura, with specks of golden light continually falling.

Upon the cloud aura floated a brush three feet six inches long, as thick as a thumb, its body pure white like jade, the tip jet black like the night sky.

: Spring and Autumn Brush, Great Wei State Treasure, Imperial Academy

Although the two sides had previously fought fiercely, with seven or eight, a dozen or so god-realm elders dueling each other daily, everyone knew deep down that although the fighting looked perilous, it was merely going through the motions, making it hard to truly endanger lives.

But once the nation's divine artifact appears, things could easily turn deadly.

: Linghu Zhao, Linghu Buhuo, Qingqiu God Kingdom (already)

A rolling surge of water burst forth, with Linghu Yuan's head bearing a jet-black jade purifying vase that emitted powerful undulations, surrounded by rolling boundless waves, charging toward the opposing Wei prince of the Xiahou clan.

Wu Tie stood on the city wall, squinting at the jade purifying vase atop Linghu Yuan's head.

: Innate One Qi Water Mother Bottle, Five Elements United, Five Elements Daoist

This vessel, Wu Tie can fully control it with a single thought.

This treasure, Wu Tie recalls, was bestowed upon his own son by Old Master Hu, who once established the Fox Tail abroad.

And Old Master Hu has already been slain by me… this treasure now appears in Linghu Yuan's hand; it seems that Old Master Hu's lineage within the Linghu clan has completely lost power, and even this supreme treasure has been seized by Linghu Qingqing and entrusted to more reliable clansmen.

Wu Tie's fingers twitched slightly as he gazed at the distantly opposed Linghu Yuan and his companion.

His gaze swept over the distance; on a huge dragon boat far away, a group of the Divine Ancestors of Great Wei were watching the battle, among them one thin and cold, wearing a black fur long robe, exactly the thief Xiaoyao selected by Wu Tie as the target.