Yuan Ming thought about it and decided to suppress the doubts and curiosity in his heart.

No matter who stood behind Pan Si Island, at least in dealing with the Wuyue Sect, their interests were aligned. As for the rest, it was not yet time to delve deeper.

"The Senluo Sect will probably make a move in the next two days. By then, Ximen Rui and the others will certainly take action as well. During the chaos, it would be the best opportunity for the Divine Envoy to strike," Luo Zhu stated confidently.

"Indeed, if that's the case, I will make a move in secret when the time comes. However, if possible, it would be better than ever if Island Master Luo could hold off the others for me for a while," Yuan Ming nodded in agreement with Luo Zhu's assessment.

"I can only say I will do my best," Luo Zhu replied.

Yuan Ming did not expect her to guarantee anything. Hearing this, he chose not to say more and was ready to take Xiao Fangcheng and Xi Ying to leave the place.

But just then, Luo Zhu suddenly spoke up again.

"One more thing, please remember, the Wuyue Sect has already discovered that Xing Rong is being controlled. Whatever plans the Divine Envoy has, do not expect any help from Xing Rong anymore, and the subsequent plan should exclude him," she warned.

"Is this true, Island Master Luo?" Yuan Ming asked, his heart tightening.

"The information source is very reliable, and with such matters, it is better to err on the side of caution. The Wuyue Sect itself is proficient in exploring enemy intelligence through undercover brainwashing, so it's normal for them to be on guard against such tactics. Divine Envoy, you must be very careful in the future," Luo Zhu advised, her voice gentle as if instructing a loved one, which was very endearing.

However, Yuan Ming always maintained a lucid spirit platform and was not influenced by her charm. Moreover, at this time, his attention was entirely on the intelligence Luo Zhu had spoken of.

"Thank you, Island Master Luo, for the information. I will certainly be extra careful," Yuan Ming said with a bow of thanks.

Seeing this, Luo Zhu appeared somewhat disinterested and waved her hand, watching as Yuan Ming left the City Lord Mansion.

No sooner had Yuan Ming returned to his place than Xiao Fangcheng, who had yet to sit down and rest, suddenly showed a look of alertness and took out a palm-sized Jade Talisman from his Storage Ring.

This was a Magic Artifact for communication left by Xing Rong. At this moment, a blue spirit light was flashing on it, signifying that someone was trying to contact Xiao Fangcheng.

Without hesitation, Yuan Ming immediately had Xiao Fangcheng infuse the Jade Talisman with Mana.

"In thirty minutes, at Cloud Sea Tower."

Xing Rong's voice quickly came from the Jade Talisman, and then the spirit light went out.

"What do you think?" Yuan Ming pondered for a moment before looking at Xi Ying.

"It shouldn't be a trap. Our father and the Senluo Sect are currently targeting Pan Si Island. Even if what Luo Zhu says is true, and they have realized there is a problem with Xing Rong, they would only match their plan to ours, focusing on exterminating Pan Si Island as a priority and unlikely to act rashly," Xi Ying quickly judged.

"Then let's proceed according to the original plan. Xiao Fangcheng, you take the child plate later and deliver it to the Senluo Sect," Yuan Ming nodded.

When Xiao Fangcheng designed the Forbidden Great Array for Bamboo Sea Square, he specifically made the Array Plate that controls the array into a mother-child pair. Both plates could control the square's restrictions, but the mother plate had a higher level of authority and could take control from the child plate at any time.

He designed it this way to ensure that Pan Si Island would honor its promise to give two-tenths of the square's profits as compensation to Red Lotus Island. However, Pan Si Island had not reneged on their part of the profits, so this matter remained a secret hidden in Xiao Fangcheng's heart.

But after Yuan Ming refined him into a Tree-man Puppet, he had revealed all these secrets without reservation.

"Except for us, no one knows about the existence of the mother-child array plates. Even if the Senluo Sect suspects Xing Rong of betrayal, they won't find any flaws in the array plate. Even if they abandon it, we won't lose anything," Yuan Ming touched his chin.

"Father is a cautious man. If he realizes that the line with Xiao Fangcheng cannot be used, he might change the original plan and not trouble Bamboo Sea Square," Xi Ying analyzed.

"It doesn't matter. Unless they leave directly, the initiative is always in our hands. Even if they don't trouble us tomorrow, I will act directly against Ximen Rui and ensure to cut off an arm of the Wuyue Sect in the Southern Border," Yuan Ming stated decisively.

Hearing this, Xi Ying stared at Yuan Ming for a long while, making him feel uncomfortable all over, and it became difficult to maintain the serious expression on his face.

"Jealous?" Xi Ying asked softly.

"A little," Yuan Ming initially wanted to deny it but, facing Xi Ying's sly, cat-like gaze, he somehow ended up changing his response.

Xi Ying giggled, her eyes curving into crescents, seemingly quite satisfied with Yuan Ming's answer.

"Cough, alright, let's not talk about that now. Xiao Fangcheng, go to Cloud Sea Tower now and wait for Xing Rong. If he is alone, ask about the situation on his end. Remember, you have to beat around the bush and don't treat him as one of us, exposing our information," Yuan Ming said, a bit embarrassed, and coughed twice, changing the subject.

Xiao Fangcheng took his orders and left, and after two incenses, he returned to report.

"Xing Rong seems to have no abnormalities. Luo Yongqi still trusts him a lot. He said that contacting me this time was also an order from Luo Yongqi, telling him to bring the Forbidden Array Plate over as soon as possible. We might make our move tomorrow," said Xiao Fangcheng.

Yuan Ming pondered for a moment but ultimately shook his head.

If Xing Rong had been discovered, it was possible for someone of his abilities to be placed under a forbidden spell without any notice. This was also the reason why Yuan Ming had not met with Xing Rong.

Since Luo Zhu could tell that Xing Rong was also his man, then what she said couldn't be without reason. Moreover, both sides were currently in a state of cooperation; there was no need to deceive each other.

Fortunately, according to Yuan Ming's plan, Xing Rong was not the key to breaking the situation, and the general strategy would not change for the time being.

Everything would only come to light tomorrow.

...

Early the next day, the Senluo Sect and Pan Si Island began intense negotiations.

Although it was just a single Spirit Vein, there were many issues to discuss, such as how exactly to divide the sphere of influence, who would guard it, and whether the produced resources needed to be distributed uniformly, and so on.

The Core Formation Elders of both sides went at each other with verbal swords and spears, using almost every means short of physical confrontation to strive for benefits for their Sects.

Unexpectedly, on Pan Si Island's side, as the chief representative participating in the negotiations, it turned out to be Xiao Yao.

At the start of the negotiations, Yuan Ming, who was lying in ambush, realized the intention behind Pan Si Island's choice of representative.

In negotiations, the first thing to consider is the strength of both parties. With Wu Yue Sect lurking in the shadows, the Senluo Sect and Pan Si Island had comparable overt power, so naturally, there wouldn't be much difference in their say at the negotiating table. What comes next would be the personal abilities of the negotiators.

And Xiao Yao had two abilities that were very beneficial for negotiation—he was eloquent and had a thick face.

Everyone present was at Core Formation, and behind them sat the Nascent Soul Ancestors as spectators. Although they argued fiercely, they still took into account their status and face.

But Xiao Yao was different. As soon as the opponent revealed any verbal loophole, he could immediately develop a long-winded, hour-long argument around that point, and if the opponent caught his own flaws, he would then pretend to be deaf and ignore whatever was said.

With his help, the situation in the negotiations quickly tilted toward Pan Si Island. However, the Senluo Sect also quickly changed their tactics, rigidly holding onto several bottom lines, even if some of the conditions were absolutely unacceptable to Pan Si Island, they would not budge.

After all this wrangling, by the afternoon, the negotiations unavoidably hit a dead end.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, is this the attitude of Senluo Sect in negotiations?" Luo Zhu, looking over at Luo Yongqi who was leisurely tasting his tea, began with an overcast face.

Yuan Ming sneaked a peek at Luo Zhu, feeling that her performance was seamless. No one who saw her like this would guess that she already knew this negotiation was nothing but a facade for the Senluo Sect.

"Our Sect has its own bottom line. How can we simply discard it to reach a settlement?" Luo Yongqi spoke unhurriedly.

"Then what's the point of talking? Why don't we fight it out? Whoever wins takes that Spirit Vein!" Luo Zhu seemed to laugh in anger.

"That's what you said, Fellow Daoist." It was as if Luo Yongqi was waiting for these words. He scoffed coldly, his hand holding the tea cup shook, and the next instant it transformed into a flexible scorpion tail, stabbing towards Luo Zhu. Enjoying the story? Find more at *.

Seeing this, Luo Zhu put on a shocked appearance, but the gestures of her hands casting her spell were not a bit slow.

Subsequently, Yuan Ming saw something appear in front of Luo Zhu, while the scorpion tail unleashed by Luo Yongqi seemed to fall into a quagmire, its speed rapidly slowing until it froze mid-air.

Yuan Ming was somewhat astonished and immediately used his Divine Sense to scan the void in front of Luo Zhu, only to discover that the void in front of her was filled with fine, invisible threads; it was these threads that had stopped the scorpion tail transformed from Luo Yongqi's right arm.

"Fellow Daoist Luo's Thousand Silk Threads indeed live up to their reputation," Luo Yongqi said in praise, as the scorpion tail arm transformed again into a white monkey arm enveloped in flames. With a slight squeeze of its fist, the flames spread along the threads wrapped around the arm.

"Heh, spare me the flattery. You, Luo Yongqi, have been scheming for this day for a long time, haven't you? Good, I have long heard about your Transplanting Technique that integrates the Hundred Beasts. Today, let me get a good look at it," teased Luo Zhu with a mocking smile, though her expression turned more solemn. As her spell moved, the threads scorched by the flames broke apart.

"Afraid I'll have to disappoint Fellow Daoist Luo. Xing Rong, make your move!" Luo Yongqi's eyes flashed sharply.

As his voice dropped, Xing Rong, who was behind him, immediately took out the Array Plate given by Xiao Fangcheng the previous night, touched a point on it, and in an instant, the workshop's Great Array surged with countless pale-green spirit lights. Mysterious runes also materialized, converging into hundreds of Wind Blades shooting towards the Pan Si Island cultivators in the workshop.

"The Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain Great Array that Fellow Daoist Xiao helped your island to set up is being fully activated for the first time against your own people. How does it feel, Fellow Daoist Luo?" Luo Yongqi laughed heartily as his right arm returned to its original appearance.