Since it’s a stalemate, it means both parties can restate their positions. However, it’s clear to any discerning observer that the so-called outcome of no victory is just Kang Rulin showing face to the Xiao Alliance.Thus, Kang Rulin first expressed his stance, still adhering to his previous position, but under this premise, he stated that other matters could be negotiated, which was a step back.
Then Hu Weidong proposed two conditions.
The first demand was that sorcerers from the Stone Gang could only select their apprentices within the Stone District, and the range of apprenticeships would be limited to those of Eastern Country descent.
This demand was too excessive, and Kang Rulin certainly couldn’t agree. Hu Weidong also knew it wouldn’t reach an agreement, it was just an outrageous price. The final result of the negotiation was that the Stone Gang promised not to impart teachings or accept apprentices within the traditional sphere of influence of the Xiao Alliance.
This demand still sounded excessive, but the reality was that, with the strength of the Stone Gang, it was simply impossible to challenge the Xiao Alliance in this aspect.
The world is vast, and there are areas outside the Xiao Alliance’s sphere of influence worth exploring. On the other hand, even if they only selected apprentices within the Stone District, it would be more reliable and worth nurturing.
This condition also had a loophole, as most of the hundred thousand residents of the Stone District were migrants. If the Shi Family favored a certain apprentice, they could also arrange for them to move to the Stone District first.
Hu Weidong’s second demand was to dispatch a team to settle in the Stone District to learn from its construction experience.
Kang Rulin seemed hesitant but actually agreed quickly. The two parties then discussed the specific details, ultimately deciding that the so-called delegation couldn’t just idly inspect but had to participate in the actual production and construction.
The Stone District would assign them posts, designate tasks, and also pay internship wages, for about half a year. As to how much they could learn, it would depend on themselves.
They quibbled over the number of team members, with Hu Weidong initially wanting to send a hundred people, but the Stone District couldn’t risk letting so many Xiao Alliance members in, so it was eventually agreed to be no more than thirty people.
Hu Weidong, always looking for more advantages, proposed thirty people per period, and the Xiao Alliance could send multiple teams as needed... this was his final request, and Kang Rulin reluctantly nodded.
Truth be told, the two conditions Hu Weidong proposed, from the perspective of the Supreme Council of the Xiao Alliance, were flawless, and would only receive great support.
This was the core demand of the Xiao Alliance, and Hu Weidong actually completed the task in this manner, resulting in perfection under the collective witness of the top leadership!
He Kao was not surprised at all because the suggestion to send a team to learn came from his private advice to Hu Weidong.
From the perspective of the Stone Gang, they couldn’t completely block the Xiao Alliance’s covetous gaze. Even if they won this gamble, the Xiao Alliance would keep trying to infiltrate. It was better to openly let them in.
Some things aren’t feared to be learned by others; the fear is that they can’t learn them, and it’s even better if they do.
Kang Rulin agreed in private communication, largely because of this reason. Xiao Alliance is not a specific person, but an organization, and he couldn’t expect the organization to always keep its promises.
Even if they won this gamble, Kang Rulin couldn’t forever be the bodyguard for the Stone Gang, needing to give the Xiao Alliance a way out, and opportunistically draw in a faction within them.
For Hu Weidong, this was harvest aplenty; he led the gamble and negotiated the matter, becoming the lead figure, and primarily deciding who to send to observe and learn.
Hu Weidong could cultivate his team through this, while he also became the protector of the Stone Gang in the Supreme Council, and the Stone Gang became his allied force outside the Xiao Alliance.
Such high-level figures moved from disagreement to consensus in a short time, just after an intense gamble, they swiftly reconciled.
Hu Weidong politely declined Kang Rulin’s invitation to a banquet, stating he had matters to rush back to deal with. A week later, he would send a team of thirty people to the Stone District for observation, and would then address the Hailari incident.
Kang Rulin expressed that the Stone District always welcomed Elder Hu as a guest, and was prepared to receive the delegation...
In the distant classroom, He Kao exalted to Mei Guyu through Divine Thought: "The ginger grows spicier with age, I anticipated this outcome, but didn’t expect them to execute it so beautifully." Then he added, "That Hu Weidong is indeed remarkable!"
Previously, He Kao privately discussed with Hu Weidong, and indirectly communicated with Kang Rulin through the Ancestral Hall, eventually formulating the gamble plan.
But he merely arranged the outcome of the gamble based on both sides’ core demands, while the process required both sides’ spontaneous performance.
No one expected they would perform so well, with the gamble so wonderful, and ensuing negotiations seamlessly matching the circumstances and demands of both parties.
Even the unexpected disruption by Hailari was deftly maximized by both sides. Especially Kang Rulin, he didn’t interrogate or detain Hailari, but publicly handed him over to the Xiao Alliance for self-management.
As for He Kao, the strategist, he was indeed dutiful because it was he who discovered Hailari.
However, looking back, even if He Kao hadn’t discovered Hailari, Kang Rulin would have found and stopped him, and the final outcome would be unchanged... Kang Rulin didn’t place his hopes on others.
Kang Rulin simply used two painted bodies consecutively, never showing his face in person, so the Xiao Alliance could find no target to strike. Truly seasoned and exceptional, He Kao had no choice but to admire!
Mei Guyu laughed in the Divine Thought: "Really? If senior thinks like this, it’s modest enough! For things to resolve this way, it’s precisely because of your greatest contribution, yet you left no name.
"Indeed a Hidden Moth, and indeed a disciple of Elder Jiang!"
This statement is true, as the result today is largely due to He Kao’s efforts. Although he is not a sorcerer of the Lingxi Sect, he is indeed a protégé cultivated by Jiang Daozhen. Elder Jiang is best at strategic planning, and He Kao has done well today.
In another direction far away, the scene in the mirror in front of Mei Lin and Arthur is constantly changing, as if an invisible surveillance lens is rapidly sweeping through many places in the Stone District.
Yet within the range of an Artifact Master’s divine sense, there’s no need to lock onto a specific person; the mirror reflection can be shifted at will, which is one of the unique uses of the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror.
The mirror scene quickly sweeps over several four-story buildings. Mei Lin seems to have noticed something and promptly pulls the "lens" back, stopping at the fourth floor of a certain building.
As the "lens" zooms in and enlarges, it actually penetrates the wall into a classroom. There are two people inside, one is a male youth whose attire looks normal, the other should be female, but her outfit is very strange.
Arthur frowned, "This kid looks familiar... No, he’s..."
Mei Lin replied, "Ancestor Master Huailin, Zhao Sanjin!"
Why did these two recognize Zhao Sanjin at a glance? Because last time, when the Pure Yang Pill was concocting, the plan to target He Kao was something Xiao Alliance plotted.
Zhao Ci leaked information about He Kao’s itinerary, and Xiao Alliance arranged assassins to attack He Kao at Ba Mountain Medicine Garden, with the aim of framing Zhao Ci, to estrange the sorcerer disciples of the Huailin lineage.
Because Zhao Ci’s identity is quite special, he is the direct great-grandson of Zhao Sanjin. This move was also a test, as no one knows whether Zhao Sanjin is still alive, and if he is, would he show up to protect his descendants because of this affair?
Thus, they certainly collected information on Zhao Sanjin.
Arthur: "Why would Zhao Sanjin appear here?"
Mei Lin pondered, "Kang is an elder of the Magic Sect, he should know Zhao. This time, Kang proposed a duel in his personal capacity on behalf of the Stone Gang, ostensibly unrelated to the Magic Sect, hence they couldn’t invite someone from the Ancestral Hall; they could only ask Zhao to oversee the matter."
Arthur: "It seems Kang and Zhao have a good private relationship... Who’s that little soul-capturing monster beside him? Use the divine techniques of the Demon Realm to see."
The Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror has the marvelous use of seeing through various disguises of divine techniques, but it requires the Artifact Master to actively trigger it.
Just as Mei Lin urged the "Magic Mirror" to activate the marvelous dispelling, the "little soul-capturing monster" raised two fingers forward. A sharp edge flashed through, and the light and shadow in the mirror shattered, leaving even Mei Lin’s divine sense momentarily dazed.
Once Mei Lin stabilized her mind and reactivated the "Magic Mirror" to observe, those two had already left. She remarked in astonishment, "That person’s cultivation is not simple; I don’t know what method was used to sever my Magic Mirror’s divine techniques."
Arthur said grimly, "Since she came here with Zhao Sanjin, her cultivation must not be low! Zhao Sanjin is still alive, we can try to activate the backup plans we left with Zhao Ci."
...
He Kao was in conversation with Mei Guyu, when he suddenly felt as though he was being observed by someone. As a Hidden Moth, he reacted keenly to this, but for the moment, could not detect the observer’s whereabouts.
With Sword Heart Clarity and a cultivation already at Tier Seven, Mei Guyu similarly had sharp senses. Using Divine Thought, she intimated, "Someone skilled is spying on us, with cleverly high-level means. It’s unclear where they’re located."
As soon as she said this, though her expression wasn’t visible, her aura changed, like an unsheathed sharp sword.
Because the peeper’s means had changed, they seemed to have exercised a divine technique remotely that could potentially pierce through all disguises; even the Celestial Net Umbrella transforming into a cloak might not be able to conceal it...
This was no longer a vague feeling, but a direct sensing. Mei Guyu simultaneously detected Mei Lin’s location, extending two fingers forward in a slash.
There was no visible Rainfall Divine Sword, only a flash of sword light at the fingertips, instantly cutting off the opponent’s divine technique.
Rainfall Sword against Bone-Penetrating Mirror, divine artifact against divine artifact; in this remote engagement, Mei Guyu seemed to fare marginally better. She then said, "The matter here is concluded, we should leave first and speak after."
He Kao took Mei Guyu back to Floating Colors Grotto Heaven.
Mei Guyu shed the cloak formed by the Celestial Net Umbrella and frowned, "I sensed as much; had I not acted timely just now, the disguise of this Celestial Net Umbrella might have been uncovered. The opponent’s tool is likely the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror, yes?"
He Kao explained, "The lost sect’s sacred artifact of the Observing Body Sect, the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror, is confirmed currently in Xiao Alliance’s possession, held by Great Elder Mei Lin. They refer to it as the Magic Mirror."
Mei Guyu’s expression turned a bit serious: "With the marvelous powers of the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror, even your Hidden Moth Gauze disguise might be seen through. You must be careful in the future and not overly rely on this item."
**
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