I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 373 - 212: Not Long, Just an Undercover for Thirty Years Only_2

Chapter 373: Chapter 212: Not Long, Just an Undercover for Thirty Years Only_2

As a Disciple of the Great Sect, even without specializing in Arrays, one still had corresponding knowledge.

"Cultivator, how many years have you been infiltrating the Feather Transformation Sect? Have you mastered the ’72 Transformations’ and the ’Great Heavenly Immortal Technique’?" Gu Shanhai ventured to ask.

"I have been infiltrating for quite a short time, just over thirty years. As for these two techniques, I have naturally learned them. The sect would not treat me unfairly." Bai Lv saw through Gu Shanhai’s probing, but he didn’t mind. With a shake of his body, he transformed into a green snake and then turned into a white fox. After several transformations, he reverted back to his human form.

"This ’Great Heavenly Immortal Technique’ is a bit more familiar to me, but the ’72 Transformations’ are limited. I can currently perform only twelve transformations, let alone the subsequent myriad ones," Bai Lv said with some emotion after confirming his identity.

Although the ’72 Transformations’ were said to be the Evading Disaster Avoiding Tribulation Method of the Middle Three Realms, it had been common practice in the Chengyun Sect to cultivate it during the Purple Mansion Stage.

If one were to wait until breaking through the Middle Three Realms to the Spirit Origin Stage to cultivate it, it would be too late.

Upon breaking through to the Spirit Origin from the Purple Palace, one would face calamity and tribulations. If one didn’t know the Avoiding Calamity and Tribulation Method by then, one would have to endure the tribulations head-on.

The ’36 Transformations’ technique, like the ’72 Transformations,’ was to be cultivated in the final realm of the Middle Three Realms, the Cave Soul Stage.

Thus, for Bai Lv, who was in his Purple Mansion Stage, knowing it was quite normal.

"Thirty years..." Gu Shanhai commented, considering it short? Oh well, for the Purple Mansion Stage, it indeed was short.

Converted, it was probably likened to three months?

Both Juxia Sect and Feather Transformation Sect operated at a slow pace. Most cultivators were in closed-door cultivation and contemplation, making it difficult for them to gather intelligence.

"And you, Cultivator, how many years have you been here?" Bai Lv casually asked.

"Oh, not long, almost twenty years," Gu Shanhai replied, going along with the local customs.

He couldn’t very well say he felt that time was dragging on.

Bai Lv nodded, "Indeed, you’re also nearing the late stages of the Purple Mansion. In another seventy to eighty years, you should also start preparing to break through to the Spirit Origin Stage. In fact, once I complete my mission here, I’m planning to return to the Chengyun Sect to absorb a Spirit Vein and break through to the Spirit Origin Stage."

His calm tone made those seventy to eighty years sound as trivial as seven to eight months, not at all like a time unit that could span the lives of two generations of mortals.

"Yes, indeed, it’s coming up quickly. We don’t even know if the matter between the three sects will be settled by then," Gu Shanhai reflected, although there was an extra zero, but there was no need to contradict the other.

"That won’t be easy. From the current situation, it would probably take at least a thousand years."

Bai Lv felt nothing about this statement, but Gu Shanhai felt a darkness before his eyes.

What’s going on, a thousand years?!

Gu Shanhai even suspected that the ’thousand years’ mentioned by the other party wasn’t just one thousand years, but rather nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine years, reflecting a different sense of time.

Thus, this ’thousand years’ was probably about ten years or so.

"Cough, I mean, is there any chance this could end within three to five years?" Gu Shanhai asked.

At this moment, Bai Lv’s look at Gu Shanhai was as if he was being played with. This was war, not child’s play; three to five years would pass in a flash, how could it possibly end.

"It’s not impossible, but the Chengyun Sect is currently at a disadvantage. Unless there’s an influx of more powerful magical treasures, talismans, etc., to turn the tide," Bai Lv cautiously explained the situation to Gu Shanhai.

"I estimate that, if nothing unexpected happens, the Chengyun Sect could completely clean up the intruding members from the foreign sect within the territory in ten years, and enter a stalemate in twenty years."

Hearing these time units left Gu Shanhai feeling cold; twenty years of conflict would result in the death of many people, the disappearance of countless resources, all these were tangible losses.

"Too long, it seems I need to figure out a solution."

"Shouldn’t you be able to contact the Sect Leader or an Elder now?"

If this truly drags on for a thousand years, Gu Shanhai’s opportunity will cool down, not to mention there isn’t even a guarantee of victory.

Two against one, the opponent could simply wear down the Chengyun Sect to death, once too many people die, trouble will definitely arise without a seamless transition.

Faced with such disadvantages, we absolutely cannot drag on with the opponent; we can only aim to quickly gain an advantage with a blitz strike.

"What are you thinking about?" Bai Lv looked somewhat horrified, "Can’t you just make contact yourself? Why does he have to do it."

"Just some little things that could quickly end the war or even wipe out the enemy directly, of course, you can make an appearance while I stay behind," Gu Shanhai still wanted to remain behind the curtain, not planning on further contact.

Bai Lv’s face fell: "What do you want to do using me as a human shield?"

"Handle some dangerous tasks--don’t worry, reap the benefits as my substitute, and I’ll take the blame for any cons, even if problems arise, the Sect Leader will know I’m the mastermind behind the scenes and won’t bother you," Gu Shanhai kindly cautioned.

In Bai Lv’s case, once it’s passed up, the Sect Leader and Elders would realize it’s Gu Shanhai’s idea since Bai Lv’s creative spark is suppressed, not disappeared; he couldn’t propose anything innovative.

His main intention was for Bai Lv to serve as a shield for Feather Transformation Sect and Juxia Sect, for if Gu Shanhai were exposed, he could surely expect these two sects to rally their full forces to hunt him down, Yun Yu, or even the entire temple of Chengyun Sect didn’t have his allure.

Even in this, Gu Shanhai was thinking of running several gambits.

"..." At Gu Shanhai’s words, Bai Lv was speechless; his mind was initially full of refusals, but after carefully examining Gu Shanhai, a certain conjecture surfaced in his mind.

"Just make sure if things go south, don’t blame my head," Bai Lv gritted his teeth and accepted.

"Oh, figured something out? If you’ve guessed, don’t say it. Just be the shield for now, guaranteeing you glory once it’s over, bigger than the credit for being an undercover," Gu Shanhai was not foolish, sensing some thoughts from the other party, though not clearly.

The stronger one’s power, the stronger the guard over their own thoughts and ideas, therefore the higher the resistance Gu Shanhai’s ability to probe thoughts had to overcome for clarity.

But if Gu Shanhai were to forcibly intrude, he could do so, but since Bai Lv is one of his own, he wouldn’t use such tactics.

The two entered the main hall, and Gu Shanhai also arranged for Little White to brew tea and Azure Dragon to boil water.

Bai Lv watched in amazement, "When I establish my own sect branch, I must also keep a few spiritually enlightened magical beasts around; this is far more impressive than having disciples."

"Enjoying the sight is one thing, but consider how many resources you have to spend on several magical beasts, unlike disciples, the sect won’t reimburse you for these, you have to fend for yourself," Gu Shanhai teased, generally, disciples who go out to establish a sect aren’t supported by Chengyun Sect if they aren’t focusing on Beast Taming.

Gu Shanhai was different, Little White and Azure Dragon were naturally taken care of by the Chengyun Sect, his status was different as well.

"How much would it cost?" Bai Lv, not practicing Beast Taming Technique and merely curious, had no idea about the expenses.

"That’s a lot to cover, let me explain in detail..." Having browsed the Chengyun Sect’s legacy, Gu Shanhai naturally knew the consumption of Beast Taming Technique.

Bai Lv, drinking tea and listening to the resources Gu Shanhai listed, trembled slightly.

"The art of Beast Taming actually entails such huge expenses... It seems this matter needs further consideration," Bai Lv was deeply touched; his cultivation resources were sufficient for his own use and even had excess, but raising a magical beast would only be feasible if left free-ranging, otherwise, even daily cultivation would be untenable.

If left free-ranging, one couldn’t raise one as intelligent as Little White; wisdom had to be nurtured gradually and sequentially, not immediately possessing human-like spiritual intelligence but rather growing with the cultivator’s power.

The two talked a lot more, and even shifted the topic to Gu Shanhai’s Five Elements Sect, with Bai Lv expressing his desire to establish a sect like Gu Shanhai’s, at least with equal grandeur.

Gu Shanhai, without dampening his spirit, knew better than to think about style; truly establishing a sect meant the first hurdle for these Late-stage Purple Mansion disciples was building the premises properly, not recruiting disciples.