Chapter 745 - 583: Peace Talks
Chapter 745: Chapter 583: Peace Talks
The great war between the Human Alliance and the Demon Alliance was still raging.
In truth, the Human Alliance had been relentlessly suppressed by the Demon Alliance from the very beginning. This was despite having the support of the World of Ten Thousand Laws, and despite the Demon Race’s highly respected elder, Gui Ning, remaining neutral and helping neither side.
However, the Human Alliance had shown astonishing resilience, holding out to this day.
But ever since Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng returned to the front lines, the cultivators of the Demon Alliance had been plagued by a headache like never before.
First, Xiao Mo had already stepped into the Immortal Realm, and Gui Junmeng had even reached Immortal Realm Perfection.
Moreover, the quality of their Realms was exceptionally high, far beyond that of ordinary Immortal Realm cultivators.
Their entry into the war had an immediate and tangible effect, significantly boosting the Human Alliance’s overall strength.
Second, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng were not merely stopping at the Immortal Realm.
Everyone knew the Dual Cultivation Technique they practiced was a direct path to the Great Dao.
Their future entry into the Ascension Realm was practically a foregone conclusion.
In not too many years, the Human Alliance would likely gain two Ascension Realm powerhouses.
This very real possibility weighed on the hearts of the Demon Race like a giant boulder, making it difficult for them to accept.
Finally, the presence of Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng gave the Human Alliance’s cultivators a vision of the future.
The once-low morale within the Human Alliance had been reignited.
But regardless, after clashing for so long, both sides were actually showing signs of exhaustion.
The Human Alliance had previously expressed a desire for peace talks. They were willing to sit down and negotiate, as long as they could protect their own territory and the Human Race could gain the dignity it deserved in the Demon Race’s World.
But how could the Demon Race possibly agree so easily?
However, not long ago, Tushan had surprisingly taken the initiative to send the Human Alliance a letter.
When Daoist Yun Xi and the other high-ranking members of the Human Alliance saw the letter’s contents, they were all stunned.
The Demon Alliance had actually invited the Human Alliance to peace talks?
And the location for these talks was set for Tushan, six months from now.
"Impossible! The Demon Race has always been despicable and shameless, and they hate us to the bone. How could they suddenly want peace talks?" a Jade Realm cultivator from the Human Alliance stated, rejecting the idea outright. "We absolutely cannot trust the Demon Race!"
"I feel the same way." Another cultivator, this one at the Nascent Soul Realm, frowned with a grave expression. "For them to suddenly propose peace talks now... I fear there’s a trap. We must be on guard."
"You can’t quite say that."
Someone else chimed in, their tone more contemplative.
"Our Human Alliance now has Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng, who are destined to enter the Ascension Realm. The Demon Alliance must be feeling immense pressure. Besides, the war has dragged on for so many years and both sides have suffered heavy losses. Doesn’t it make sense that they’d want peace talks?"
"I still feel something’s not right." A Sect Leader shook his head, his brow tightly furrowed and his voice filled with doubt.
"I heard that when the Demon Alliance proposed these peace talks, they actually faced significant internal resistance. But guess what? In the end, it was that old woman, Tushan Meng, who had the final say and forced the decision through!"
"We all know about that old woman, Tushan Meng. Her ambition is boundless—she wishes she could swallow the entire Demon Race’s World. How could she suddenly have a change of heart and want to make peace with us?"
"It’s not entirely impossible."
Another voice calmly retorted, weighing their words.
"Tushan has gained far too much. Never mind all the Blessed Land Grotto Heavens they’ve annexed over the years; many Demon Race Dynasties and Sects have also sworn fealty to them. They’ve already swallowed up thirty percent of the Demon Race’s World, which has drawn the ire of the other major powers. It seems perfectly reasonable for them to quit while they’re ahead and choose to stop now."
"Daoist Yun Xi..." an elderly Immortal Realm cultivator said respectfully, turning his gaze to the persistently silent Daoist Yun Xi. "What are your thoughts?"
At once, everyone in the great hall stopped talking and turned in unison to look at Daoist Yun Xi.
Daoist Yun Xi closed her eyes slightly, her expression tranquil. She thought for a moment, then slowly opened her eyes and spoke in a calm voice:
"Regarding this matter, the Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy actually approached me privately the day before yesterday." She looked at the crowd, paused, and continued, "He told me that a month ago, he was invited to Tushan and had a discussion with Tushan Meng. She did indeed express her desire for a truce."
"The Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy also believes that it’s no long-term solution for our two sides to keep fighting endlessly. Rather than continue to wear each other down, it would be better to call a temporary truce and give the Demon Race’s World time to rest and recover."
"..."
Hearing that even the Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy was speaking up for this, the crowd fell back into deep thought.
The Human Alliance had always held this Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy in the highest regard.
Years ago, the Demon Race’s World had intended to destroy Cold Mountain Academy and reclaim the Qi Fortune that had gathered there.
The Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy, Cun Caiguang, made a swift decision. He had the Beihai Dragon Queen take all the students and flee the Demon Race’s World, while he single-handedly held off the pursuing forces from various Dynasties and Sects.
It was said that in the end, he was saved by Gui Ning, and had not been heard from since.
Now, if even Cun Caiguang felt the Human Alliance and the Demon Alliance could sit down for talks, then maybe... maybe they really could give it a try?
"Daoist Yun Xi..."
A cultivator stepped forward, a note of caution in his voice.
"It’s not that the Human Alliance and the Demon Alliance can’t negotiate, but why must it be at Tushan? If Tushan’s Mountain Protection Array were suddenly activated, wouldn’t we be walking into a death trap?"
Daoist Yun Xi gently shook her head and explained patiently, "Because Tushan doesn’t trust the words of our Human Race, and we, in turn, do not trust a mere paper agreement from them. Therefore, Tushan Meng proposes that the Human Alliance and the Demon Alliance jointly swear an oath for the truce under the Moon God Tree."
"This way, the truce pact will be directly linked to the Heavenly Dao Laws through the Moon God Tree. Whichever side dares to break the pact first will suffer a severe backlash from the Great Dao, with no one spared."
"Moreover," Daoist Yun Xi added, "the Academy Director of Cold Mountain Academy told me that Tushan Meng has already sworn a solemn oath under the Moon God Tree upon her own Dao—that in these peace talks, she will absolutely not harm any cultivator from the Human Alliance. If she violates this oath, her body will be destroyed and her Dao will perish, her soul will scatter, and she will never be reincarnated for all eternity."
"..."
Hearing that Tushan Meng had actually made such a vicious oath, the crowd was already seventy percent convinced.
Daoist Yun Xi raised her head, her gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present as she spoke in a steady voice:
"I have decided to take three Immortal Realm cultivators and five Jade Realm cultivators to Tushan for the negotiations. If you trust me, then you may accompany me."