Chapter 569: Chapter 391: Double Rejection

After the Demon Spirit Sect Leader departed, Zhao Chongguang remained lost in thought.

「A short while later.」

He sent word, summoning two Elders.

...

「The Dragon Demon Palace.」

Ever since the Celestial Demon Sect was annihilated, life had not been easy for the Dragon Demon Palace.

While contending with the Wind Ling Sect, they also had to remain constantly vigilant of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s movements.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, please have a seat."

Within a magnificent, opulent hall—the reception area of the Dragon Demon Palace—two men were currently seated.

The Demon Spirit Sect had dispatched an Elder by the name of Luo, and the one from the Dragon Demon Palace responsible for his reception was also an Elder.

Had the Demon Spirit Sect sent a Core Formation expert, the Dragon Demon Palace would have matched the gesture.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries before, at the gesture of the Dragon Demon Palace’s Elder, Elder Luo of the Demon Spirit Sect stated the purpose of his visit.

"I have come on behalf of the Demon Spirit Sect, hoping to receive the Dragon Demon Palace’s support."

"Support?" The Dragon Demon Palace Elder stared speechlessly at Elder Luo. "Fellow Daoist Luo, you must be joking. With what could our Dragon Demon Palace possibly support the Demon Spirit Sect? We have the Celestial Cloud Sect before us and the Wind Ling Sect behind us. We’re caught between two Core Formation Influences of Spirit Refiners. Our situation is far worse than yours."

"But... the Celestial Cloud Sect has yet to make a move against you."

"Just because they haven’t made a move now doesn’t mean they won’t in the future."

At this, the Dragon Demon Palace Elder stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, if you have come only for this, then please take your leave."

Regarding matters between the two great sects, there was little an Elder of the Dragon Demon Palace could decide on his own. This, however, was an exception, for their Palace Master had already given the order:

If the Demon Spirit Sect asks for support, send them right back where they came from.

Compared to the Demon Spirit Sect, the Dragon Demon Palace’s predicament was clearly far worse.

"Don’t be so hasty. I haven’t finished speaking. It won’t be too late to make a decision after you’ve heard me out." Elder Luo of the Demon Spirit Sect quickly explained his sect’s current situation. "Previously, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s attacks against us weren’t very intense. Now, for some unknown reason, they’ve increased the pressure. That is why we need the Dragon Demon Palace’s help."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that’s all."

"Now that you’ve said your piece, Fellow Daoist Luo, you may return. As for whether our Palace Master will provide support, His Excellency will inform your Supreme Elder in due course."

"Very well."

This was a satisfactory result, all things considered.

At the very least, the Dragon Demon Palace Elder had not rejected him outright.

After Elder Luo of the Demon Spirit Sect departed, the Dragon Demon Palace Elder went directly to see the Dragon Demon Palace Master.

"Palace Master."

"The Demon Spirit Sect came to us. Was it about anything other than support?" the Dragon Demon Palace Master asked, looking quizzically at the Elder who had just entered.

"Nothing else. They were just seeking our support."

"I already told you what to do about their request for support. You should have simply refused them. There was no need to report this to me."

"Palace Master, it’s because of this: the Demon Spirit Sect needs our help because the Celestial Cloud Sect, for some unknown reason, has suddenly intensified its attacks against them."

"That’s because the Demon Spirit Sect brought it on themselves!"

The Dragon Demon Palace Master roared, his anger flaring at the mere mention of it.

After the Celestial Cloud Sect annihilated the Celestial Demon Sect, the Dragon Demon Palace had made no move against them. Yet the Demon Spirit Sect, without their knowledge, had attacked the Celestial Cloud Sect.

’What is that if not courting death?’

’If the Demon Spirit Sect hadn’t attacked the Celestial Cloud Sect, a problem like this wouldn’t have arisen for decades, perhaps even a century.’

The Dragon Demon Palace Master couldn’t think of a single reason to support the Demon Spirit Sect for provoking the Celestial Cloud Sect without cause.

"Palace Master, do you think the Demon Spirit Sect’s previous actions were plotted together with the Ghost Cultivator Influence?"

"If that’s true, then we have even less reason to support them. They deserve whatever they get for colluding with Ghost Cultivators!"

Seeing the Palace Master’s fury escalate, the Elder wisely kept his mouth shut.

Cooperating with influences of other cultivation paths was shameful. The current Dragon Demon Palace Master was a man who tolerated no such impurities.

He hadn’t been aware of the Demon Spirit Sect’s prior scheming.

Had he known the details, the Elder from the Demon Spirit Sect wouldn’t have even made it past the gates of the Dragon Demon Palace.

"Enough about the Demon Spirit Sect. If they’re capable enough to provoke the Celestial Cloud Sect, then they can pay the exorbitant price to have Black Dragon Hall sort it out for them... By the way, did their envoy mention what price they were willing to pay for our support?"

"He did not," the Dragon Demon Palace Elder replied, shaking his head.

"Hmph! Do they really think our sects’ fates are intertwined?"

’It’s true that if the Demon Spirit Sect were annihilated, the Dragon Demon Palace’s situation would worsen,’ he thought. ’But it would still be an acceptable outcome compared to the current mess.’

’With or without the Demon Spirit Sect, we are still caught between the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect.’

’Besides, the Demon Spirit Sect has a Guardian Elder from Black Dragon Hall. It would be extremely difficult for the Celestial Cloud Sect to actually annihilate them.’

’With the Demon Spirit Sect drawing the Celestial Cloud Sect’s attention, we can better focus on dealing with the Wind Ling Sect.’

...

「Lion King Cave.」

One of the Demon Cultivation Core Formation Influences.

The Purple Blood Pavilion, a Blood Demon Core Formation Influence, was situated between the Demon Spirit Sect and Lion King Cave.

Among the Demon Cultivation Core Formation Influences, Lion King Cave’s overall strength was considerable. It was much stronger than either the former Celestial Demon Sect or the Dragon Demon Palace, having already reached a Quasi-First-Class level with a total of eight Core Formation Demons within its ranks.

The current Cave Master of Lion King Cave had already reached the peak of Late-stage Core Formation in his Cultivation.

Once he broke through to the Peak of Core Formation, Lion King Cave would become a true first-class Demon Cultivation Core Formation Influence.

「In the center of the massive cavern.」

All the Core Formation experts of Lion King Cave were assembled.

One Cave Master and seven Vice Cave Masters.

The Cave Master of Lion King Cave had a full mane of golden hair, giving him the appearance of a living lion’s head.

"Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, everyone. There is one small matter to discuss."

"What small matter?"

"The Demon Spirit Sect has requested our support," the Cave Master of Lion King Cave announced.

"Is that... a *small* matter?"

"The Demon Spirit Sect’s problems aren’t Lion King Cave’s problems, so yes, it’s a small matter," one of the Vice Cave Masters said.

"Yes, yes, a small matter indeed."

The Cave Master of Lion King Cave glanced at the seven Vice Cave Masters. "What are your thoughts on this request for support from the Demon Spirit Sect?"

"Cave Master, what compensation is the Demon Spirit Sect offering?"

"If we dispatch one Early-stage Core Formation expert to support them for fifty years, we will receive one Lower Grade Demon Communication Pill as compensation."

"Fifty years of service for a single Demon Communication Pill? And a Lower Grade one at that! The Demon Spirit Sect shows no sincerity at all. If we support them, we’ll have to face the Celestial Cloud Sect as it is now, and we might even run into that mysterious Spirit Refiner. We should just refuse."

"Hahaha, I’d say their sincerity is plain enough. It’s not that they can’t offer anything better, but that anything better is reserved for Black Dragon Hall."

"Then let Black Dragon Hall solve their problems for them. Our own situation is hardly a walk in the park."

Although Lion King Cave’s overall strength was impressive, its geographical location was less than ideal.

They didn’t border any other Demon factions, and their conflicts with the surrounding influences were considerable.

For instance, they had significant friction with the Purple Blood Pavilion, the Blood Demon Influence that lay between them and the Demon Spirit Sect.

"Whoever agrees to support the Demon Spirit Sect can be the one to go," the Cave Master said, once the Vice Cave Masters’ discussion had wound down.

As soon as he said this, the Vice Cave Masters who had initially been open to supporting the Demon Spirit Sect quickly reversed their positions.

’In that case, it’s better not to offer any support at all.’

If one’s luck was bad, supporting the Demon Spirit Sect could lead to their own demise.

The Celestial Cloud Sect had destroyed the Celestial Demon Sect. Even with the help of that mysterious Spirit Refiner, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s power could not be underestimated.

Furthermore, the Celestial Cloud Sect had recently gained another Core Formation expert. By that count, the number of Core Formation cultivators in the Celestial Cloud Sect was now the same as in their own Lion King Cave.

"Since no one is in favor, the matter is decided."

With the Cave Master’s final word, the Vice Cave Masters departed one by one.

...

「Demon Spirit Sect.」

The two Elders had returned.

Neither had brought back news of reinforcements.

Both Lion King Cave and the Dragon Demon Palace had refused.

In the case of the Dragon Demon Palace, the envoy had managed to prevent an outright rejection.

But so much time had passed, and the Dragon Demon Palace Master still hadn’t contacted him—Zhao Chongguang—which could only mean the Dragon Demon Palace had no intention of sending aid.

"Forget Lion King Cave, but what is the Dragon Demon Palace thinking?" Zhao Chongguang wondered. He and the Dragon Demon Palace were as close as lips and teeth; if one fell, the other would be left exposed.

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