Indeed, allowing Su Mian to negotiate was intended for that purpose. Although she doubted Shi Chun's identity and the decision from above, she could not change anything.

Seeing the other party release Demonic Qi from within, confirming he was a Demon Cultivator, she felt somewhat assured.

Despite some confusion, she accepted reality and slowly said, "Borrowing the Sky Splitting Sword is naturally due to its power to sever Heavenly Immortal. With this sword in hand, seizing the Token is like adding wings to a tiger."

Shi Chun shook his head, "You better not say you came here to seize Tokens and help a certain Commander vie for the Domain Master's position."

Su Mian simply said, "With the Token, people can be gathered. Once enough are gathered and sent to the Land of Extreme Abyss, used as blood sacrifices, it is possible to locate the Demon Altar."

Feng Chi was startled upon hearing this, "The Demon Altar is here? Isn't the Demon Altar hidden in the Demon Transformation Pond?"

Su Mian calmly said, "I previously thought it was in the Demon Transformation Pond as well. Now I know that's smoke released by the Demon Path to conceal the true location of the Demon Altar. Thinking now, it's less surprising the Altar is in the Demon Realm."

Shi Chun had heard about the Demon Altar from Feng Chi and others. As to what the Demon Transformation Altar was, it was his first time hearing, so he couldn't help but ask, "I know the Demon Altar. What's with the Demon Transformation Altar—is it about dissolving the Demon Altar?"

Feng Chi explained, "The 'Pond' in Demon Transformation Pond refers to a pond, allegedly a place the Demon Ancestor cultivated early in his years. It's said he attained the True Demon Body in that pond, hence calling it the Demon Transformation Pond. Legend has it, the Demon Altar lies within the Demon Transformation Pond, known only to a few Demon Path high officials."

Shi Chun responded with an "oh" and asked Su Mian, "Blood sacrifices are required to find the Demon Altar? So, the Demon Path doesn't know the exact location either?"

Su Mian knew lying wouldn't fool him. She grabbed a relatively round stone from the ground, broke off a piece from about one-tenth of it, then put it back together, pointing to the seam, "This stone represents the Demon Realm, and this seam is the Land of Extreme Abyss. It formed when the Demon Ancestor battled invading enemies, breaking the crust. Originally, the Demon Altar's location was hidden in the void above this crack. As a result of that battle, it was thrust into the Extreme Abyss, concealed within spatial turbulence, without a fixed location. Only through blood rituals using high Demon Path magic can it be summoned from the void."

Shi Chun responded with an "oh" again, "Previously gathering thousands of people was to use as blood sacrifices?"

He understood now why he was told to go to the Command Center for the West Ox Team; the so-called Land of Extreme Abyss was in that direction.

Su Mian: "Thousands are not enough. You're told to gather some first; thirty thousand people need to be sent into the Extreme Abyss."

Using tens of thousands as sacrifices, even with Shi Chun's indifference to life, he took a cold breath, doubting, "No, isn't the 'Desolate Broken Blade' enough to open the Demon Altar? Why so much blood sacrifice?"

Su Mian: "Blood sacrifices only make the Demon Altar appear. It essentially is the Demon Ancestor's cultivation chamber, with a seal placed by his own hand at the door. Without the Demon Ancestor casting spells, it's difficult to open unless using an indestructible sharp object to forcibly break through."

Shi Chun keenly sensed something, asking, "So someone found the Demon Altar before; otherwise, how are you so certain?"

Su Mian: "Indeed, it was found. The Three Sects' high officials once gathered at the Demon Altar's door. They managed to bring thirty thousand spiritually aware living sacrifices, but at the door, trying various methods, they couldn't enter. Ultimately, they returned in regret."

Shi Chun squinted slightly, "The passage to the Demon Realm was extremely unstable before, with the entrance controlled. Entering was quite difficult, especially while trying to bring in thirty thousand spiritually aware living sacrifices... So, choosing the Demon Realm for the Battle of Great Pardon wasn't a coincidence, it's driven by the Demon Path behind the scenes?"

Su Mian: "That remains unknown. It's not for you or me to speculate, thinking too much is useless."

Shi Chun: "'Desolate Broken Blade' is in your sect's hands; you can open the Demon Altar. Why compete with the other Two Sects?"

Su Mian: "With the broken blade, we naturally have the advantage. Finding the Demon Altar first allows entrance, sweeping everything inside into our bags. Legend has it, the Altar contains treasures left by the Demon Ancestor. Whoever obtains them can command the Demon Path, even unite the realms.

But if the other Two Sects find the Demon Altar first, once summoned, if they guard the door, do we proceed or not? Opening the Altar in front of them means allowing them to raid it; whoever finds the Altar can justifiably enter. They might even find something else to open the Demon Altar, so finding it first is crucial."

Shi Chun and Feng Chi immediately understood the implication: someone else bringing forth the Demon Altar creates a rare opportunity before them. You must open the door; you have the broken blade to open it, but they have the merit of locating it, thus a legitimate reason to enter and raid—it's uncertain who will ultimately earn the power to command the world.

Considering this, Shi Chun couldn't help but smile, "Meaning, if your sect fails to gather enough sacrifices, you'll have to cooperate with others. It seems placing the Battle of Great Pardon in the Demon Realm wasn't your sect's doing; having the broken blade, only a fool would turn a chance for monopoly into this."

Feng Chi nodded slightly, recognizing that this strategy indeed jeopardizes a unilateral opportunity, making previous efforts competing for the 'Desolate Broken Blade' in the Divine Fire Covenant meaningless.

Su Mian: "That's not for us to worry. I've said what needed saying; you can discern it's not deceit. I've shown my sincerity; if you use excuses not to lend the Sky Splitting Sword, it's unjustifiable. Additionally, the Tokens Feng Yin can use to command thousands should also have fallen into your hands. Immediately redistribute these and allocate over ten thousand troops from the Heavenly Court Team's Command Center into your possession, then lead them to the Land of Extreme Abyss. Any shortage in sacrifices, find ways later."

Shi Chun paused, pointing at himself, "I lead over ten thousand troops from the Heavenly Court Team into the Extreme Abyss—what happens when they're missing, how do I explain it?"

Su Mian shook her head, "Just say they encountered spatial turbulence. The competition among the five teams isn't about who has the most survivors but who has the most Tokens; as long as a heap of Tokens is brought back, any explanation fits."

Shi Chun: "How to explain if my Sky Splitting Sword ends up with you—say you snatched it? Then can I still use it afterward?"

Su Mian: "Simple, we'll give you a chance to snatch it back. So many excuses, you won't renege on your promises when the benefits come, right?"

Shi Chun sneered, he now had strong troops and didn't really take the other party seriously, he said bluntly: "I just think you guys are pretty stupid, it's such a simple thing, first you want to borrow my sword, then you want me to gather people, possibly causing trouble for me, and not knowing when it can be done. Later on, you'll probably catch me to cause more trouble. Simple things don't have to be so complicated."

Upon hearing this, Feng Chi got animated immediately, just enjoying this fact that the Master handles everything, and belittles the Demon Path's pomp.

Su Mian exclaimed, with his eyes also showing expectation: "Earlier I heard from the higher-ups that you are quite capable, hence hiring you at a high price. I was skeptical until the Li Hongjiu incident, where you rescued Li Hongjiu from dangers amidst the encirclement, only then I realized the higher-ups were truthful. Since Shi... Since Brother Chun has a different insight, I'd like to hear it."

Shi Chun said lightly: "Simple, isn't it just about getting people? I can help you lure them over, no need to grab those tokens foolishly, it's the stupid way, time-consuming and dangerous."

Su Mian was stunned, exchanging glances with Feng Chi, then asked again: "How many people can you lure over?"

Shi Chun: "Didn't you guys want thirty thousand people?"

Su Mian: "You can lure thirty thousand people over?"

Shi Chun: "It shouldn't be a big problem, you should discuss with your superiors, if they are willing to pay more money, as long as the payment is adequate, I could even lure more people over."

Of course, it's not purely for money, he really feels that there are quite a lot of people chasing after him. With Sky Splitting Sword in his hand, he doesn't believe he can't lure people over.

As soon as he entered the Demon Realm, several parties chased him, and just now over twenty thousand people attacked the island where he took refuge, injuring his people, this account he is already suffocated to settle. Whoever wants him dead, he wishes they would all be killed.

Definitely better if he can make some money out of this opportunity, everyone's cultivation is improving, and the consumption of cultivation resources is getting bigger and bigger, as the Master, he must earn money; only with money can he have people's loyalty.

"..."

Su Mian choked speechlessly, getting thirty thousand people already isn't easy, should they add more people, is this really feasible?

The problem is, the other party indeed seems to have that damn 'charm', she might not get much attention if she steps out, whereas the other party gets chased by a handful of people.

The key is, if he indeed manages to accomplish this so simply, won't that make them look useless?

Feng Chi understood too, couldn't help but smile and shake her head, finding the superiors didn't choose the wrong person, the Master had to come in, an individual equivalent to thousands of troops, she fears the upper leadership will get addicted to using him.

"Hold on." Su Mian suddenly tossed out the words and turned to leave, going a bit further with her back facing them.

Clearly, she was using the Mother-child Talisman to contact someone, Shi Chun squinted slightly, then turned his head to ask Feng Chi quietly, "She actually has a superior here, who could her superior be, can they get in? Or, is her superior someone from the various command centers?"

Feng Chi whispered back: "I don't know, ever since leaving Xiang Laner, my information access has shrunk."

Not long after, Su Mian turned back and said: "Once you create a big stir, your action of luring people will also draw attention from the other two sects, when they see people heading to the Land of Extreme Abyss, they'll understand what's happening, and surely will follow, easy to lose the initiative. The key is, the other two sects will also see through your Demon Path identity, aren't you afraid?"

Shi Chun shook his head: "Overthinking it, I'm not afraid of the other two sects knowing I'm with the Demon Path, you don't need to worry for me. The key is, you have the 'Desolate Broken Blade', I can help you gather thirty thousand people faster than the other two sects, let's not look back, give me a straightforward answer."

Feng Chi already frowned, looking at Su Mian in a way that conveyed her reluctance to say something, yet stopping herself.

Su Mian turned again and then returned, "The environment of the Land of Extreme Abyss is complex, after entering, the Mother-child Talisman will be useless, the marker on the Mountain River Map will also lose effect, you can try first."

Shi Chun asked: "How about the money issue?"

Su Mian's tone slightly gravitated: "The upper said, once money is received, work should be done honestly, without any temporary price hikes."

Shi Chun: "It's not a temporary price hike, it's about whether the job shouldn't be priced to be done. In order for you to gain the initiative soon, this time I don't mind exposing myself to the other two sects. Additionally, given my current relationship with Mulan Jin... isn't it worth the price increase? Do you really want a one-off deal? I'll compromise, and not ask you to pay more, I just request one thing, no matter how many people I lure over, their possessions belong to me, including those tokens."

With this proposal, it seemed not like a price hike, Su Mian's face showed hesitation, thus she turned away again.

Soon, she turned back and gave a straightforward reply, "Agreed!"

Shi Chun nodded: "It's settled!"

Feng Chi's mouth immediately filled with smile, looking at Shi Chun with blatant admiration, realizing that the Master always turns similar endeavors into big deals.

She remembers that when the Master first entered the Divine Fire Domain, he made a fortune, then another upon exiting, even profiting from the Artifact Refining Sect, this time before coming in he already seized a fortune, and yet hasn't even exited and already is angling for another. Things that were clearly bothering him turned 'crises' into 'opportunities', becoming money-making matters.

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