NOVEL NEXT Chapter 337: Decision
"Dao Artifact!?"
Alkaid's follower, Qi Sha, shuddered upon hearing Leng Qingqiu's words.
Dao Artifact!
For a Dao Lord, crafting a Dao Artifact was not a difficult task.
But just like those billionaires who make tens of billions a year, who can earn in a single day what many elites can't save in a lifetime—are they willing to waste a day for a so-called elite?
Therefore, to any existence below a Dao Lord, a Dao Artifact was a treasure they might not be able to collect or buy even if they devoted their entire lives.
But Alkaid...
Seemed to lack no Dao Artifacts.
After the initial shock, Qi Sha quickly recovered his composure.
This reaction somewhat surprised Leng Qingqiu.
Dao Artifact!
This was a Dao Artifact!
Many cultivators in the Refining Void Realm might not possess such a proving treasure.
And this is your response?
From her slightly surprised look, Qi Sha guessed her thoughts, feeling a silent emotion.
Ever since following Hall Master Alkaid, he seemed somewhat immune to the Dao Artifacts he dared not even think about on ordinary days.
Upon hearing about one now, he was just slightly surprised, then no other reaction.
Clearly, his horizons had been raised.
Compared to the thoughts of Qi Sha and Leng Qingqiu, Alkaid was more concerned about another issue.
"You want to use me as bait because the Demon Race has placed a bounty on me? What's the bounty amount?"
He was quite curious.
Leng Qingqiu contemplated for a moment, considering that this was information Alkaid could easily find out on his own, so she didn't hide it: "Currently, Junior Sect Leader Alkaid ranks ninth on the Demon Race's Hollow Void bounty list, with a bounty of 30,000 Void Dao Elixirs."
"40,000 Void Dao Elixirs... that's 480 million Pure Yang Great Pills? Nearly half a Dao Artifact,"
Alkaid said.
"Yes."
Leng Qingqiu nodded and added, "So, our Penglai Immortal Sect is willing to offer a Dao Artifact to request Junior Sect Leader Alkaid's help, which indeed shows great sincerity…"
"Using a Dao Artifact to purchase a life in the Hollow Void, sounds nice, but that's only your perception. In my view, I just need to go into seclusion for a period to step into the Void Refinement Realm, and my life is not so cheap,"
Alkaid stated.
Leng Qingqiu furrowed her brows and after a while said, "We didn't mean to equate that Dao Artifact with the life of True Monarch Alkaid, just requesting the True Monarch's assistance... The team led by the Heaven-Devouring Demon King is cowardly yet cunning. It has an expert at hiding to cover our perception and another skilled in detection, specifically sensing Dao seeds, thus avoiding all cultivators who've laid down Dao seeds."
"That's why we are asking for True Monarch Alkaid's help." Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire
She looked at Alkaid, her tone full of confidence, "The Heaven-Devouring Demon King and his team aren't strong themselves. What makes them formidable is their ability to strike unpredictably. In other words, once True Monarch Alkaid can draw them out, with my power, I can easily slaughter this group of Demon Kings, and True Monarch Alkaid won't face any real danger."
"You are following behind me, not accompanying me; from when I suddenly encounter an attack by the Heaven-Devouring Demon King's party to your timely arrival, it will take at least a few breaths, slower perhaps a dozen breaths. During this period, am I alone facing so many Demon Kings without any real danger?"
Alkaid said.
Leng Qingqiu remained silent, and after a long while, she said, "That's why we are willing to pay a Dao Artifact as compensation."
"A Dao Artifact... unexpectedly facing six to eight expert ambush Demon Kings, this isn't buying a life?"
Alkaid asked with a smile.
"For an ordinary Hollow Void cultivator, suddenly facing an attack by six to eight expert ambush Demon Kings is indeed extremely perilous, but True Monarch Alkaid is capable of annihilating three Hollow Void Demon Kings single-handedly. With such strength, already reaching the peak in the Hollow Void Realm, even facing the Heaven-Devouring Demon King's team, could he not endure even a few breaths?"
Leng Qingqiu's face also showed a hint of a smile. "Of course, if True Monarch Alkaid's feat of killing three Hollow Void Demon Kings single-handedly had other circumstances... and you don't actually possess such power, then it's presumptuous of me to say. After all, if you really don't have this power, this mission indeed poses a lethal risk to you."
"You don't need to provoke me; killing three Hollow Void realm Demon Kings and withstanding six to eight Hollow Void realm Demon Kings as bait are two different things."
The former is a head-on confrontation.
The latter...
Using oneself as bait, almost entrusting one's life and death to the enemy's hands.
Could he ensure the information Leng Qingqiu told him was true?
Was it really just the six to eight Demon Kings led by the Heaven-Devouring Demon King?
Even if the information Leng Qingqiu provided was completely true, what if it was deliberately leaked to her by the Demon Race?
What if there was a Void Refinement Realm Demon Emperor hiding among those Demon Kings?
Besides, Leng Qingqiu's information might already be outdated, not to mention years, but at least months.
During these months, whether the lineup of the Heaven-Devouring Demon King had grown stronger was also an unknown factor.
Too many variables.
He would naturally not risk his life.
"Sect Master Leng, please find someone else."
Alkaid outright refused.
"It seems that True Monarch Alkaid really has no confidence in himself... I am quite disappointed,"
Leng Qingqiu spoke indifferently.
"Disappointed?"
Alkaid frowned.
Leng Qingqiu's words were somewhat disrespectful.
He smiled but not really, saying, "Sect Master Leng, that word shouldn't be used carelessly."
"Oh? Am I wrong?"
Leng Qingqiu asked.
"By choosing me for this mission, doesn't it prove that throughout the entire Penglai Immortal Sect, from the True Disciples to the Hollow Void Elders and the Young Sect Master, none were considered more excellent or suitable than me? Yet now, you express disappointment in me... doesn't this imply that within the entire Penglai Immortal Sect, none of the True Disciples, Hollow Void Elders, or the Young Sect Master meet the standards of Deputy Sect Master Leng, leading only to further disappointment?"
Alkaid did not hold back, speaking bluntly.
He even deliberately emphasized the words "Deputy Sect Master."
"You..."
Leng Qingqiu looked displeased and was about to say something when Luli quickly intervened to smooth things over, "Since Junior Sect Leader Alkaid is unwilling to lead the Heaven-Devouring Demon King, let it be, we will think of another way."
"Indeed, I believe the Penglai Immortal Sect is full of talents, someone will be able to replace me in carrying out this mission."
Alkaid nodded, "Besides, Deputy Sect Master Leng is a Refining Void expert. How long can the Heaven-Devouring Demon King's forces evade your pursuit when you put in a bit of effort? You should be able to catch those Demon Kings."
"Hmph!"
Leng Qingqiu swung his arm dismissively, "I don't need you to worry about my affairs!"
With those words, he immediately disappeared from the resting room.
This scene made Luli slightly embarrassed.
"True Monarch Alkaid, Deputy Sect Master Leng has been unable to capture the Heaven-Devouring Demon King, whose troops have repeatedly attacked our sect's elites. Deputy Sect Master Leng is under tremendous pressure and spoke out of turn. I hope True Monarch Alkaid understands,"
Luli said, extending an apology on behalf of Leng Qingqiu.
"No matter, just gather the things I need as soon as you can,"
Alkaid said.
"I will prompt the sect again right away,"
Luli hurriedly responded.
Alkaid nodded.
This Hollow Void, who had come from Biyou Fairy City, also took his leave.
After he left, Qi Sha, who had accompanied him, finally spoke, "Junior Sect Leader, it seems the Outer Sea is unstable and the Penglai Immortal Sect cannot fully control the situation. Should we..."
"Losing control is the norm,"
Alkaid replied.
The Deep Blue Sea was originally the domain of the Jade Kirin Demon Saint among the Nine Veins of the Demon Race.
The Penglai Dao Lord had defeated the Jade Kirin Demon Saint back then, seizing the Deep Blue Sea to establish a sect, and also fulfilling the grand feat of expanding the territory for the Human Race.
Just like human living areas, where every place is occupied by the Ten Great Immortal Paths, Four Great Immortal Dynasties, Three Immortal Martial Sects, and Six Buddhist Temples, so too are the Demon Race territories.
Deprived of the Deep Blue Sea, the living space for the Jade Kirin Demon Saint's clan was greatly squeezed, forcing it to try to reclaim the Deep Blue Sea by any means necessary.
Therefore, the battle in the Outer Sea of the Deep Blue Sea had never ceased for a hundred years.
The Jade Kirin Demon Saint, unable to provoke the Penglai Dao Lord, avoids her.
Whenever the Penglai Dao Lord appears to slay a certain Demon Emperor or Demon Monarch, it flees in another direction to attack the Immortal Sect's Elders, Palace Masters, and Deputy Sect Masters.
If the Penglai Dao Lord pursued it, it would flee deeper into the Demon territories.
The other Demon Saints among the Nine Veins would not sit idly by and watch the Penglai Dao Lord rampage through their home bases; naturally, they would come out to force her back.
Their main strategy was to avoid direct confrontation and wear you out.
Unfortunately, the Penglai Immortal Sect, being newly established with limited powerful cultivators and having almost taken over the entire Deep Blue Sea, had a territory even larger than that of Heavenly Dao Sect and Taiyi Immortal Sect. Relying solely on Penglai Dao Lord to completely control the situation was naturally somewhat difficult.
Of course, overall, Penglai Immortal Sect still held the upper hand.
"Each time Penglai Dao Lord takes action, revealing her position, as long as she's not too close to the Jade Kirin Demon Saint, that hiding Jade Kirin Demon Saint will have to act too. But the Dao Lords move so quickly, the concept of being 'somewhat close' could cover half the Deep Blue Sea. Many times, Penglai Dao Lord acts three times before the Jade Kirin Demon Saint has a chance to respond. Luckily, the foundation of Penglai Immortal Sect is shallow and cannot sustain such a protracted warfare; otherwise, the Jade Kirin lineage would have been eradicated long ago,"
Alkaid stated, then smilingly said, "The three-to-one loss ratio is somewhat better than those Demon Kings. It might not even be worth it for the Penglai Dao Lord to act personally. But, the Demon Emperors and Demon Monarchs, each living in fear in the Outer Sea to avoid catching the attention of Penglai Dao Lord, will definitely work slowly. In other words, there are quite a few Demon Kings in the Outer Sea, and safety is likely higher than we imagine."
"Junior Sect Leader, are you thinking of...?"
"I'm thinking of joining in the fun,"
Alkaid said, estimating the time a bit and laughing, "But no rush, let's rest for a while. We'll wait for Penglai Immortal Sect to release the bounty for the Heaven-Devouring Demon King and allow the members of the battle hall to digest their recent achievements before we go."