"Xiao-ge, Xiao-ge! Liu Changlao! I see Liu Changlao's name! Did you see it?" Jiang Youfu, almost bouncing with excitement, eagerly tapped Lin Xiao on the shoulder, his voice brimming with enthusiasm as he communicated through sound transmission.
Seeing the name "Liu Chun" highlighted in the list above, Lin Xiao smiled and nodded, "I saw it, I saw it. Let's go! This calls for a celebration—let's get some good food!"
Satisfied with the result, the two walked off, arms around each other's shoulders, leaving the Talisman Master Conference under the cover of night.
——
In the Pusi Kingdom.
Within the imperial palace's study, a small meeting room hosted just four people.
Seated at the head was Emperor Li Zhouxuan, and on either side of the guest seats sat Prime Minister Meng, along with Liu Yunan and Qin Jianghe.
Prime Minister Meng found it a bit odd to be sitting across from two young cultivators who looked no older than his grandson. Although it was said that one shouldn't judge cultivators by their appearance, the Prime Minister, having served in his position for many years, had interacted with various elders and capable disciples from the three major sects, none of whom appeared so youthful.
He couldn't help but sneak another glance at the two young cultivators across from him. They didn't seem to be more than sixteen years old. While it was true that in noble families, boys were considered adults at fourteen, this was more a formality. When it came to serious decisions, no one would actually let a teenager take charge unless there were no adults left in the family.
Seeing Prime Minister Meng's slightly unnatural expression, Emperor Li Zhouxuan took a sip of tea, lightly covering his mouth as he cleared his throat, subtly reminding his Prime Minister to continue the conversation. The emperor himself wasn't very comfortable discussing serious matters with people so young, finding the situation a bit awkward. He preferred to leave such tasks to the capable Prime Minister.
Despite his internal discomfort, the Prime Minister knew the conversation had to proceed. Picking up on the emperor's signal, he cleared his throat slightly and respectfully addressed both the emperor and the two young cultivators across from him:
"We are honored to have the esteemed cultivators from the Lingxian Sect come such a long way. We deeply admire Lingxian Sect's strength and righteousness. Not only did you swiftly eradicate the villain Wei Hai, rescuing Shangyang Sect from a dire situation, but you also responded promptly to aid the common folk, saving countless lives from the clutches of Huan You Kingdom's tyranny.
However, though the mountain villagers have been rescued and the dangerous substance in Huan You Kingdom has been sealed by your esteemed sect, the threat has not been completely eradicated. Moreover, Huan You Kingdom's disregard for human life and their despicable actions have left us with no choice. The court is currently planning to unite with Qinghe Sect, Yunyan Sect, and Shangyang Sect to launch an expedition against Huan You Kingdom's court and its allied sects.
I wonder, what is your sect's view on this planned expedition?"
Qin Jianghe glanced at Prime Minister Meng. Though he phrased it as seeking advice, the Prime Minister was clearly hoping that the Lingxian Sect would join them in the campaign against Huan You Kingdom.
Liu Yunan subtly tugged on Qin Jianghe's sleeve, signaling him to respond. They had agreed earlier that to avoid any awkward moments during the official discussion, they would take turns speaking. Given the formal nature of the occasion and their status as cultivators, it wouldn't be appropriate to transmit sound in the presence of their hosts, as it could be seen as impolite. The two had grown up with Lin Xiao and were influenced by his sense of propriety in such matters.
Understanding the signal, Qin Jianghe calmly replied, "We are flattered by your praise, Prime Minister Meng. As you are aware, our Lingxian Sect is but a small sect, incomparable in size and resources to the three major sects. The battle against the cultivator Wei Hai took a significant toll on us. Asking us to contribute as the three major sects do in the campaign against Huan You Kingdom would truly be beyond our capabilities..."
Hearing this, both Li Zhouxuan and Prime Minister Meng felt a wave of disappointment, though they didn't show it outwardly. Qin Jianghe's reasoning was sound—after all, killing a Nascent Soul stage cultivator who had overtaken Shangyang Sect must have come at a great cost.
Just as Prime Minister Meng was about to say something, Qin Jianghe continued, "However, while our sect may not have the manpower to contribute directly to the campaign, we do have certain channels for acquiring resources related to cultivation and combat. Should the court or the three major sects have any needs, our sect can provide supplies at the lowest possible prices as a gesture of goodwill."
His words took both Li Zhouxuan and Prime Minister Meng by surprise. They were still focused on the earlier topic of joint efforts against Huan You Kingdom when suddenly the conversation had shifted to discussing trade.
The two men looked at Qin Jianghe with a hint of suspicion. Could this young man really be as young as he looked?
Li Zhouxuan, who knew more about cultivators, quickly understood and responded warmly, "If your sect can indeed provide sufficient resources and ensure stable supply channels, the court is willing to act as an intermediary and introduce you to the three major sects. Additionally, the Li royal family will maintain a stable trade relationship with your sect.
However, I must ask, what kind of resources does your sect offer, and of what quality...?"
The royal family owned a very small spirit stone mine, a legacy passed down through generations. They had always used it sparingly, relying on their own cultivation efforts rather than using spirit stones, which they saw as a luxury reserved for breaking through bottlenecks. They feared exhausting the mine's limited resources.
Because of this cautious approach, the mine remained small, and the family would only extract new stones, never touching the main reserve. Even so, over time they had accumulated a modest stockpile.
If they could obtain reasonably priced spirit stones to exchange for items that would enhance the cultivation efficiency of the few royal cultivators, it would be a significant boon.
Moreover, Li Zhouxuan knew a bit about the three major sects. Although they were considered the pinnacle of the mortal world, their resources were largely inherited and had become increasingly sparse over the generations, leaving them with only the most basic cultivation techniques and rudimentary skills.