The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 332 - 152: Martial Arts Exert Power, Shaking the East Sea (Please Subscribe)_2

Chapter 332: Chapter 152: Martial Arts Exert Power, Shaking the East Sea (Please Subscribe)_2

He still preferred the unruly and insubordinate demeanor displayed by Divine Soul when he first arrived in the Southern regions, wishing he would revert to that form.

But Yan Fu couldn’t really say much; he, together with the five elders of Zhong Mountain, couldn’t even wear down Xu Qing, let alone cause significant exhaustion. To then demand action from Divine Soul seemed like asking for too much.

As for Ren Tianyou, he was secretly hoping. "Yan Fu, liven up a bit, don’t embarrass Duke Wei by letting Divine Soul take the stage."

Unfortunately, much to Ren Tianyou’s disappointment,

Yan Fu simply played dead.

The eldest of the Zhong Mountain’s five elders was also regretting his impulsive action, which had cheapened his image, and wondered if the tributes from Duke Wei would be reduced.

Their cultivation consumed more resources than martial artists of the same tier.

Not only do they have to provide for disciples and concubines... Ah, that’s not right, for Tri-legged Cauldrons...

But also for annual ancestral and deity worshipping rituals...

Alas, to sum it up, there are too many rules and too much consumption. If the tributes were to decrease, it wouldn’t be enough to cover the expenses.

These are hard times indeed.

He even regretted that after the five brothers succeeded in their Divine Soul Cultivation, they didn’t choose to take the imperial examination. With a powerful Divine Soul, even without cheating, a bit of grueling work would have paved their way to success in the examination essays, enough to secure an official position.

But with flourishing Divine Soul Cultivation and constant flattery from others, especially being special guests of the Duke Wei Mansion, how could they calm down to study?

These years, their Divine Soul Cultivation has also stagnated.

It is not necessary for a cultivator to endure hardships, but addiction to pleasure guarantees an unattainable future, like drawing water with a sieve or grappling for the moon’s reflection in the water.

Everyone knows the principle, but the environment is just as it is.

Cultivation is such that forced austerity doesn’t guarantee success; yet, indulgence is truly indulgence!

The thoughts of those present varied.

However, the outcome was already fixed.

King Lin looked bewildered, wondering who he was and where he was.

Was this considered winning without fighting?

Thankfully, Xu Qing voiced his consolation telepathically, "Big brother, it’s thanks to your intimidating presence that today’s situation could be resolved."

King Lin felt consoled!

He almost couldn’t help saying "thank you"!

Xu Qing’s words, indeed, were not incorrect.

In a lifetime, two brothers; why make distinctions so clear.

Ren Tianyou, of course, was very agreeable to dividing a trade route to Lingnan between Xu Qing and King Lin, to resolve this conflict.

What good would it do for him to overpower King Lin and alienate Xu Qing?

It would only waste the strength of his Giant Whale Gang and give Duke Wei a chance to usurp power.

As for Yan Fu, he didn’t have a good solution even if he didn’t accept it.

Ever since Red-haired Yan Kong appeared, his strength was no longer sufficient to suppress Ren Tianyou. In addition, Ren Tianyou didn’t fall for the trap and didn’t engage in a fierce fight with Xu Qing and King Lin.

It would be the same hard case even for Duke Mansion.

This is the inherent weakness and tactic of compromise of the powerful and the gentry class; if there exists an absolute advantage, they treat the opposition like ants.

Once they encounter tough opposition, the first thought is compromise, then they wait for the other party to show weakness and flaws before going in fangs and claws.

If not, and the other party ends up on top, the response is simple: join them and be done with it.

Beat them if you can, join them if you can’t.

Aristocratic families never aspire to be the highest mountain, only the longest river.

They bypass the higher mountains and merge into mighty rivers!

Yan Fu himself was an extension of Duke Wei’s will, so naturally his thought pattern followed that of Duke Wei. Once the idea of compromise arose, it felt like the world had suddenly widened.

Duke Wei Mansion, being substantial in capital and business, wouldn’t be troubled even if it meant granting Xu Qing a trade route. Losing the Giant Whale Gang’s fang wouldn’t prevent the heirs of Duke Wei Mansion’s steward from leading a life of luxury.

In this freezing weather, having run about for the Duke’s affairs, he already more than lived up to the special treatment granted by the Duke!

For a moment, the atmosphere on the field became exceptionally harmonious, and everyone seemed rather merry.

Red-haired Yan Kong, however, seemed out of place.

Sensing that things were not going his way, he silently slipped back to the camp.

He couldn’t understand how Xu Qing, the kid, turned out to be even more enigmatic than himself, like a Heavenly Demon.

He just couldn’t stand it, not at all.

Returning to his camp, Red-haired Yan Kong mulled over and analyzed every move Xu Qing made earlier, trying to grasp the underlying intentions and the sophisticated subtleties of his maneuver.

In this day and age, even Evil Demons must advance with the times to bewitch the public.

...

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After obtaining what he wanted, Xu Qing did not join Ren Tianyou and the others for feasting and socializing back at the main camp.

If he did go, he wouldn’t know what would happen.

Under the scenario of ’the knife hangs over the fish,’ they could renege on their word.

The benefits he wanted were always fought for.

Although Xu Qing had taken advantage of their internal disharmony to dissolve their opposition, without his and King Lin’s martial prowess as deterrence, no strategizing would have sufficed.

Even the skill of an excellent butcher is useless without a knife; an attempt to slice through intricacies effortlessly won’t work with bare hands.

Afterwards, the brothers headed back first to the sea vessel Xu Qing had brought.

King Lin was generally pleased.

Feng Wu came up to inspect Xu Qing’s robes, noticing they were intact but a little dirty.

Actually, with Xu Qing’s ability, it would be effortless to use the Hua Realm to remove the dust from his body. But doing so wouldn’t create a stark contrast with the immaculate King Lin.

Naturally, King Lin would not sully his own appearance to show that he had exerted great effort.

And so, Feng Wu also noticed King Lin’s excessive cleanliness, casting a peculiar glance.