Negotiating the Price of a Heart

You Win?

Ji Ning’s heart suddenly surged with excitement. The plan to force the Seamless Gate to submit through relentless slaughter had been a mad gamble from the very beginning. Even Ji Ning himself had known this… it was extremely dangerous, with a vanishingly small chance of success. But back then, Ji Ning had no other options. This was the only path he could walk. Fortunately, through the World Prison, he had obtained the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation’ divine ability, finally rendering the Seamless Gate helpless against him.

“Release my wife.” The Fiendgod Ji Ning stared at the black-robed Godking.

“No rush.”

The black-robed Godking looked back at Ji Ning. “Let’s talk first.”

“Talk?” The Fiendgod Ji Ning said coldly, “There’s nothing to talk about. You release my wife, and I will immediately withdraw. Otherwise, I will continue to kill…”

“Oh?” The black-robed Godking’s voice turned cold. “Wanting your wife back without paying any price at all? That’s a pipe dream. If I release Yu Wei, are you saying you won’t move against my Seamless Gate anymore?”

The Fiendgod Ji Ning said, “At the very least, I won’t launch any more ambushes like this.”

“Hah, easy to say. Once Yu Wei returns, there will be nothing left for my Seamless Gate to threaten you with. And you are, after all, on Nuwa’s side. This is a war of life and death between two great camps; all means are justified. At that time, your master, Bodhi, and the other top powers will use you to deal with my Seamless Gate again. Would you refuse?” The black-robed Godking sneered. “You are powerful now, which is why I say you’ve won—won the right to negotiate. In the past, I asked you to join my Seamless Gate before I would let Yu Wei reunite with you. Now, I won’t force you to join. But do you really think you can get away without paying a single price? Hahaha… If Yu Wei reunites with you and you then ambush me again, wouldn’t my Seamless Gate become a laughingstock?”

“I can swear a vow,” Ji Ning said in a low voice.

“A vow?” The black-robed Godking snorted dismissively. “True Gods and Daofathers can all ignore Heavenly Oaths. With your current strength, as long as your master helps you, you can withstand the punishment for breaking a Heavenly Oath. A vow is utterly useless.”

Ji Ning fell silent.

It was true.

Heavenly Oaths were useless against True Gods and Daofathers. The power of the heavenly punishment was ultimately limited; it was not infinite in scope.

“Choose: either pay a price and get your wife back, or we continue this struggle. At worst… I will withdraw all of my Empyrean Gods and True Immortals and use another method to infiltrate the Three Realms.” The black-robed Godking’s voice was cold. “Although establishing all those outposts cost us considerable effort, my Seamless Gate can afford the loss.”

“The choice is yours,” the black-robed Godking said coldly.

Ji Ning looked at the black-robed Godking before him, remaining silent.

“It seems you’re unwilling to pay any price at all. Very well.” The black-robed Godking’s voice grew even colder.

“Speak,” Ji Ning finally said.

The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning and laughed. “That’s better. Everything must be fair. The fact that you forced my Seamless Gate to negotiate with you is something you should be proud of. Thinking you wouldn’t have to pay any price is far too arrogant. Our Seamless Gate’s demand is not excessive. The teleportation technique you’re currently using is truly extraordinary. Our Seamless Gate has only one request—hand over this teleportation divine ability to us. And you must guarantee that at least one of our great powers can successfully cultivate it.”

“Impossible.” Ji Ning sneered. “You’re dreaming.”

Ridiculous.

The Nuwa camp had been so thrilled about this teleportation divine ability and the six vials of Chaos Nectar that even his master Bodhi had been ecstatic. Clearly, this was a game-changing asset, far more important than the birth of one or two new True Gods or Daofathers. This black-robed Godking truly was greedy, directly demanding such a divine ability. Moreover, the Godking was well aware that cultivating such a heaven-defying technique would certainly have many thresholds. He even wanted Ji Ning to guarantee that at least one great power could succeed.

“Our demand is very simple, yet you refuse…” The black-robed Godking shook his head.

“It’s not that I refuse; it’s that I’m utterly incapable of fulfilling that demand,” Ji Ning said, shaking his head in anger. “This divine ability was discovered by my master, who bestowed it upon me and forbade me from passing it on. I cannot go against my master’s orders. If I did, my master would surely kill me. How is that any different from asking me to defect to your Seamless Gate?”

“Stop thinking about it. This divine ability is a supreme art of our Nuwa camp, and it is extremely difficult to cultivate. Although my master acquired it, even he failed to master it. Currently, I am the only one who has succeeded.” Ji Ning sneered. “Don’t even bother. Even if you obtained it, you wouldn’t be able to cultivate it. And besides, there is absolutely no chance of you acquiring it.”

“You are the only one who has cultivated it?” The black-robed Godking pressed.

“Yes,” Ji Ning nodded.

Earlier, after giving the six vials of Chaos Nectar to Suiren, Bodhi had once again instructed Ji Ning. Suiren’s cultivation of the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation Technique’ was a great secret that must never be revealed. Given Suiren’s power, he would only truly act in the final battle. Revealing the technique at that moment would catch the Seamless Gate completely off guard… Although the Seamless Gate would then realize Ji Ning had lied, by then it would be too late!

Not only would he say this to the Seamless Gate, he would also say the same to the other great powers of the Nuwa camp. Only the most paramount figures—Bodhi, Daoist Three Purities, Divine Farmer, and a few others—truly knew that Suiren was cultivating the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation Technique’.

…

The black-robed Godking was somewhat suspicious. Could it really be that Ji Ning was the only one who had succeeded? But he also understood that such a teleportation divine ability would certainly be incredibly difficult to cultivate. Perhaps only a handful of beings in the entire Three Realms could master it. It was possible that Ji Ning was telling the truth. Still, the Godking harbored a sliver of doubt, and he also knew that obtaining this technique from the Nuwa camp was probably hopeless. In truth, demanding the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation Technique’ had been a ludicrous opening gambit. The black-robed Godking hadn’t truly believed it would succeed.

“Fine, let’s drop the teleportation technique.” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “Now, I require three treasures.”

“Speak,” Ji Ning said, watching him.

“The first treasure is called ‘Seven Treasures Azure Yang Mist’ I don’t need much, just ten catties!” The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “The second treasure is called ‘Bloodflower Marrow’, I also require only ten catties.”

Ji Ning listened in silence.

Three treasures?

Although the first two were rare and valuable, the Nuwa camp had them. He could exchange for them using other treasures. Ten catties of ‘Seven Treasures Azure Yang Mist’ and ten catties of ‘Bloodflower Marrow’ were quite precious, but the burden on Ji Ning would not be too great. However, from his understanding of this Seamless Gate Godking, the third treasure would certainly not come so easily.

“The third treasure… one stalk of Iceheart Leaf.” The black-robed Godking stared at Ji Ning.

“Iceheart Leaf?” The Fiendgod Ji Ning said in a low voice. “Are you referring to the Iceheart Leaf from Moon Underwater Lake?”

“Exactly,” the black-robed Godking said, looking at Ji Ning.

“Are you trying to send me to my death?” The Fiendgod Ji Ning roared furiously.

The endless Chaos held many unknown wonders.

In the peaceful days of the past, great powers loved to roam the Chaos. Many chaos treasures and exotic items were discovered there. But there were also dangerous places and death zones. Daofather Fuju had perished silently in the Chaos. Daoist Three Purities had discovered the ‘Ninefold Chaos Seal’ within it. In short, the Chaos held great opportunities and great dangers.

And ‘Moon Underwater Lake’ was one of the most dangerous places.

Moon Underwater Lake was a deep pit in the Chaos, adjacent to a massive star. The lake water perfectly reflected the star, like a reflection beneath the moon—a beautiful, mesmerizing sight. However, ‘Moon Underwater Lake’ was a place of inscrutable mystery; only Empyrean Gods could enter! In the primordial era, Empyrean Gods would often enter, believing there were great opportunities within. For the sake of such fortune, they were willing to risk it. But those who entered… none ever came out.

By the time of the Three Realms era, an Empyrean God named ‘Venerable Brightclarity’ managed to escape alive. He had entered in the primordial era and only emerged during the Three Realms period.

After emerging, Venerable Brightclarity merely said that there were great dangers within, but also many chaos treasures. At the time, he brought three treasures back with him, one of which was the ‘Iceheart Leaf’. Venerable Brightclarity’s strength was astonishing. After his return, he had already reached the pinnacle of Empyrean Gods and True Immortals. As for now, after cultivating for a long, long period of time, he had even broken through to become a Buddha within the Buddhist faith.

“All I ask for is a single stalk of Iceheart Leaf,” the black-robed Godking said, looking at Ji Ning. “Venerable Brightclarity brought back twelve stalks back then.”

“But in all the endless years since, Venerable Brightclarity is the only one who has come back alive,” Ji Ning said angrily. “Countless Empyrean Gods have entered. You Seamless Gate have also sent many Empyrean Gods in. And who among them has come out? If I die in there, you would naturally be overjoyed. If I am trapped inside for countless years and only emerge later… this great calamity will have already passed by then, won’t it?”

“Yes.”

The black-robed Godking looked at Ji Ning. “You are very clever. I know you still have your Primaltwin. You can send your Primaltwin in, while your Primaltwin remains in the Three Realms… You won’t be dead. And inside Moon Underwater Lake, there is still a chance you will come out alive. After all, in terms of strength, you far surpass the Venerable Brightclarity of the past.”

“You only need to send your Primaltwin in, and there is a hope of emerging. In exchange for your reunion with Yu Wei, you should be satisfied,” the black-robed Godking said, looking at Ji Ning. “My Seamless Gate will have these three treasures.”

Ji Ning looked at the black-robed Godking.

In his heart, he was sneering.

The Seamless Gate had certainly calculated well. If his Primaltwin entered Moon Underwater Lake, the Seamless Gate would at least no longer have to worry about Ji Ning ambushing them. But the Seamless Gate didn’t know… that Ji Ning’s Primaltwin was actually eighteen clones in one!

“The twelve stalks of Iceheart Leaf that the Buddhist faith obtained were used up long ago,” the black-robed Godking said, looking at Ji Ning. “They can only be found in Moon Underwater Lake. As soon as you agree, I will immediately release Yu Wei from the Infinity Hells and even let you meet her. Once you bring me the three treasures, you can take your wife, Yu Wei, away.”

Ji Ning was silent for a moment. “Fine.”

The black-robed Godking smiled.

He knew that, given Ji Ning’s feelings for Yu Wei, he would agree. After all, this only meant that Ji Ning himself would have to take a risk, not that he would have to defect. When Ji Ning had been too weak to even resist, he had still desperately launched ambushes. Clearly, for Yu Wei, he would be willing to risk anything.

These three treasures were indeed urgently needed by the Seamless Gate, and they would also force Ji Ning into Moon Underwater Lake, tying him down.

“Hahaha… I will immediately arrange for you to meet your wife,” the black-robed Godking said with a laugh.

…

A new chapter begins.

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