Chapter 553 - 383: Killing with a Borrowed Knife (2)
Chapter 553: Chapter 383: Killing with a Borrowed Knife (2)
"It seems that way."
"Oh, and Old Ghost Tang, let’s be clear about this. If we succeed in taking the Demon Spirit Sect’s territory, don’t think your Ghost-Controlling Sect can just dump all the land that borders the Celestial Cloud Sect on us at the Black Ghost Cave. It’s only fair if we each get half of it."
The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave seized the opportunity to say this.
If he could get Old Ghost Tang to agree to this first, they wouldn’t even have to scheme for it later.
"Well..." Old Ghost Tang considered it. The Great Cave Master wanted each sect to take half of the territory that bordered the Celestial Cloud Sect, but he hadn’t specified that the Ghost-Controlling Sect had to have a larger share of the border.
It seemed fair on the surface, but there was one problem for his Ghost-Controlling Sect.
Old Ghost Tang wasn’t concerned about bordering the Celestial Cloud Sect; that wasn’t an issue in his eyes.
The problem he cared about was that this method of division would split the territory they received from the Demon Spirit Sect into disjointed plots. If they simply divided the territory based on proximity, they could get one large, contiguous piece. That way, the resulting border would look much neater.
He thought for a moment.
Old Ghost Tang still didn’t give him an answer.
A short while later, he took out a map.
This map was centered on the Black Ghost Cave’s domain and covered roughly one-twentieth of the Qionglin Domain.
"Can your Black Ghost Cave accept this method of division?"
Old Ghost Tang drew a line on the map. This line partitioned the Demon Spirit Sect’s territory, and the resulting border for the Ghost-Controlling Sect’s new land looked much more aesthetically pleasing.
The Great Cave Master looked at it carefully.
According to this division, only one-third of the territory the Ghost-Controlling Sect would take from the Demon Spirit Sect would border the Celestial Cloud Sect. The remaining two-thirds of the borderlands were given to his Black Ghost Cave.
"Acceptable." The Great Cave Master nodded quickly.
He needed the Ghost-Controlling Sect to share a border with the Celestial Cloud Sect.
This division merely reduced the length of the border between the Ghost-Controlling Sect and the Celestial Cloud Sect, which was far better than the Ghost-Controlling Sect not bordering them at all.
The Great Cave Master had achieved his goal.
"Then it’s settled." After the other party agreed, Old Ghost Tang put the map away.
The general division had been decided. The specific details of carving up the land would have to wait until after they eliminated the Demon Spirit Sect and occupied its territory.
It was a bit premature to discuss the specifics now.
"Old Ghost Tang, do you have a plan for how to eliminate the Demon Spirit Sect?"
"Of course." Old Ghost Tang nodded in reply, then mysteriously uttered five words, "Use the Celestial Cloud Sect."
"Use the Celestial Cloud Sect..." the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave repeated.
As for how to eliminate the Demon Spirit Sect and seize its lands, Old Ghost Tang of the Ghost-Controlling Sect had long had a few ideas.
After understanding the Great Cave Master’s objective, he had been thinking along these lines.
"Explain the specifics."
"First, we do this... then we do that... and that should be about it."
As Old Ghost Tang explained his plan, the Great Cave Master nodded repeatedly.
These ideas were all highly feasible.
"Old Ghost Tang, your ideas are good, but I have a few points to add..."
The two of them talked for a long time.
The Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave left the Ghost-Controlling Sect completely satisfied.
The matter was more or less settled.
After returning to the Black Ghost Cave, the Great Cave Master still had to explain the matter clearly and obtain the approval of the other Cave Masters. There couldn’t be too many dissenting voices.
Or rather, getting the Second Cave Master’s consent was crucial.
Because the plan was beneficial to the Black Ghost Cave, none of the other Cave Masters had any objections.
Eliminate the Demon Spirit Sect, seize its territory, and then resist the Celestial Cloud Sect alongside the Ghost-Controlling Sect—the entire plan, once executed, would be advantageous to their Black Ghost Cave.
Seven days after returning from the Ghost-Controlling Sect, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave finally set out for the Demon Spirit Sect.
When he arrived at the Demon Spirit Sect, Zhao Chongguang, the Supreme Elder with the most authority in the sect, came out to receive him personally.
This also showed how seriously the Demon Spirit Sect was taking this matter.
Zhao Chongguang worried that if he didn’t come out to greet him, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave might take offense.
In this entire collaboration, their Demon Spirit Sect was already in the weaker position.
The reality of their situation didn’t allow them to act tough.
"Great Cave Master, how did the talks with the Ghost-Controlling Sect go?" Zhao Chongguang asked directly as soon as the Great Cave Master sat down.
This was the issue he was most concerned about right now.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, the results of the talks probably won’t meet your expectations." The Great Cave Master said, giving Zhao Chongguang a warning to lower his expectations.
"What are the specifics?" Zhao Chongguang pressed.
"The Ghost-Controlling Sect can agree not to move against your Demon Spirit Sect, but getting them to back off comes with conditions."
"Conditions... What conditions?"
"The Ghost-Controlling Sect needs to expand its territory."
"What!?"
Zhao Chongguang understood now. The Ghost-Controlling Sect wanted them, the Demon Spirit Sect, to cede a portion of their territory in exchange for peace.
They would never agree to such a thing under any circumstances.
Even if the Demon Spirit Sect were actually willing, the Nascent Soul Influence, the Black Dragon Hall, wouldn’t want to see this happen. What’s more, an Elder from the Black Dragon Hall was still acting as Guardian for their Demon Spirit Sect.
If the Ghost-Controlling Sect wanted to take their territory, then war was the only option.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, from the look on your face, you must have misunderstood." The Great Cave Master gestured for Zhao Chongguang to calm down, as he hadn’t even finished speaking. "The Ghost-Controlling Sect wants to expand its territory, but not by taking yours. If they really wanted your territory, wouldn’t my trip have been for nothing?"
Hearing this, Zhao Chongguang finally calmed down.
’That’s right. According to the Great Cave Master, I’ve already made him certain promises. If he went to the Ghost-Controlling Sect and came back with a deal like that, it would be a huge loss of face for him.’
’It would also mean the Ghost-Controlling Sect has no respect for the Black Ghost Cave at all.’
’A situation like that would send a message that the relationship between the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect isn’t as amicable as the rumors say.’
"The Ghost-Controlling Sect wants the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory."
"What!?"
Zhao Chongguang lost his composure once again.
"You’re telling me they want the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory? Great Cave Master, are you saying we’re supposed to attack the Celestial Cloud Sect and then hand over the land we conquer to the Ghost-Controlling Sect?! Hasn’t the Ghost-Controlling Sect even bothered to find out what the Celestial Cloud Sect’s situation is right now?"
Their Demon Spirit Sect had already lost two Supreme Elders at the hands of the Celestial Cloud Sect.
If they still had any designs on the Celestial Cloud Sect, they would have made their move long ago, right after the Celestial Cloud Sect destroyed the Celestial Demon Sect, to disrupt their growth. They wouldn’t have waited until now.
A full fifteen years had passed since the Celestial Cloud Sect eliminated the Celestial Demon Sect.
Fifteen years!
Fifteen years was more than enough time for the Celestial Cloud Sect to absorb the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Zhao. We understand the situation, as does the Ghost-Controlling Sect. The reason it was difficult to move against them before, after the Celestial Demon Sect fell, was because of that mysterious Spirit Refiner, wasn’t it? We’ve heard that the Black Dragon Hall is currently making a move on the Purple Mist Sect, and that mysterious Spirit Refiner is from the Purple Mist Sect."
"It wasn’t entirely because of the mysterious Spirit Refiner," Zhao Chongguang refuted the Great Cave Master’s claim.
"Understood, we all understand."
The Great Cave Master motioned for Zhao Chongguang to listen to him.
Seeing this, Zhao Chongguang prepared to listen intently.
"We won’t be the only ones dealing with the Celestial Cloud Sect. Since the Ghost-Controlling Sect wants the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory, they will certainly have to contribute their strength. You and I would, at most, be playing a supporting role.
Once the Ghost-Controlling Sect actually takes a piece of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s land, won’t they be the ones bordering the Celestial Cloud Sect? That way, it’ll be easier for us when dealing with the Celestial Cloud Sect, wouldn’t it?"
Throughout his explanation, the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave repeatedly emphasized how this situation would be beneficial to both their sects.
There were so many benefits to helping the Ghost-Controlling Sect seize the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, the more I talk with you about it, the more I realize the deal I struck with the Ghost-Controlling Sect is even better than we imagined."
"But provoking the Celestial Cloud Sect right now... that doesn’t seem like a good idea..."
Zhao Chongguang had to admit that the Great Cave Master had a point.
But the current Celestial Cloud Sect was clearly a power not to be trifled with.
"Compared to when they destroyed the Celestial Demon Sect, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s strength has weakened considerably. Their old Sect Leader has passed away, which means they’re down one mid-stage Core Formation combatant..."
The Great Cave Master continued trying to persuade Zhao Chongguang.
Toward the end of his speech, he threw up his hands.
"...If you’re not satisfied with the deal I negotiated, Fellow Daoist Zhao, then we can only maintain the status quo."