Chapter 38: Won’t You Reconsider?

"Greetings, Master Asura!" the Cloud Void Sect Master said, cupping his hands in a bow toward Mo Qianqian.

The elders and disciples of the Yuling Sect present were somewhat surprised. The people from the Cloud Void Sect, even just the disciples, were usually arrogant and haughty toward them. They hadn’t expected the Cloud Void Sect Master to be so polite to Elder Asura. As expected of a Spirit Master, even a sect master treated him with such reverence.

"Greetings, Master Asura!" The elders and disciples of the Cloud Void Sect followed their sect master’s lead and bowed together.

"Are you looking for me?" Mo Qianqian asked in an indifferent tone.

"Exactly!" the Cloud Void Sect Master replied. "May I ask what kind of treatment the Yuling Sect Master has offered you, Master Asura?"

Mo Qianqian looked at the Cloud Void Sect Master without speaking.

The Cloud Void Sect Master smiled. "Please don’t misunderstand, Master Asura. What I mean is that whatever benefits the Yuling Sect has given you, our Cloud Void Sect can match. Moreover, we will only offer more, never less, as long as you are willing to join our Cloud Void Sect."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present turned ugly. Although they knew the Cloud Void Sect had come to poach him, hearing the other party try to recruit him right in front of them was still quite displeasing. They had finally managed to bring in a Spirit Master, only for the Cloud Void Sect to show up so quickly. On top of that, the conditions they were offering were actually higher than what the Yuling Sect could provide.

"Sect Leader Mo, does your Cloud Void Sect think we of the Yuling Sect don’t exist?" Mo Hao shouted in a deep voice from the side.

Although his disciple had been killed by Asura and he harbored anger toward the man, if Asura was poached by the Cloud Void Sect, Lu Jun would have died in vain. The indignation he had endured would also have been for nothing. As for seeking revenge after Asura was recruited away, he didn’t even need to think about it. Once Asura joined the Cloud Void Sect, he would undoubtedly be protected by them, leaving Mo Hao with absolutely no chance.

"Which sect a Spirit Master of such esteemed status wishes to join is not something a mere sect like your Yuling Sect can dictate," an elder of the Cloud Void Sect spoke up. "Where Master Asura wants to go is not up to the Yuling Sect; it is up to Master Asura himself!"

"You!" Mo Hao flared with anger.

"He is right. What Elder Asura wants to do is naturally up to Elder Asura to choose. Our Yuling Sect will not interfere, nor do we have the right to!" the Yuling Sect Master interjected at this moment.

Mo Hao and the elders and disciples of the Yuling Sect all wore ugly expressions. Were they really just going to let the other party poach someone right in front of the entire Yuling Sect like this?

"I appreciate the high regard, Sect Leader Mo, but I’m sorry to say that I have no intention of leaving the Yuling Sect!" Mo Qianqian directly and tactfully refused.

Hearing Mo Qianqian’s words, everyone from top to bottom in the Yuling Sect secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was especially true for Mo Hao. The opposing side poaching someone right to their faces had shown them no respect at all. Now that Asura had personally refused, it was undoubtedly a slap in the face to the Cloud Void Sect right in front of them.

"Master Asura, there’s no need to be in a rush to refuse. Our Cloud Void Sect’s strength and wealth are far beyond what the Yuling Sect can compare to," the Cloud Void Sect Master said. "If Master Asura is willing to come to my Cloud Void Sect, we can offer a sixty-forty split on the enhancement pills. Moreover, the Cloud Void Sect promises to help Master Asura find the medicinal ingredients needed to refine pills that can upgrade a Spirit Master’s grade."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was astonished. Pills to upgrade a Spirit Master’s grade? This was undoubtedly a massive temptation for a Spirit Master. Upgrading from a First-Grade Spirit Master to a Second-Grade Spirit Master would bring a tremendous boost in both strength and status. The medicinal ingredients required for such pills were also extremely precious and rare. For the Cloud Void Sect to be willing to help find them was absolutely a huge price to pay.

Even Mo Qianqian felt a bit surprised in his heart. He hadn’t expected the Cloud Void Sect to offer such massive stakes. However, since he had already come to the Yuling Sect, and considering the feud between the Yuling Sect and the Cloud Void Sect, he naturally wouldn’t abandon the former to help the latter. Furthermore, Shi Muyao was still in the Yuling Sect, and he had killed Shi Yunhai. No matter how great the price they offered, he wouldn’t join. Once the Cloud Void Sect discovered the truth, he would even be in danger.

"Sect Leader Mo’s conditions are very tempting. However, I stand by my words—since I have already joined the Yuling Sect, I will not go to the Cloud Void Sect. Please return, Sect Leader Mo." Mo Qianqian refused again; his tone was flat, but his attitude was resolute.

The Cloud Void Sect Master frowned, his expression turning somewhat displeased.

"Master Asura, won’t you reconsider?" the Cloud Void Sect Master asked again, still unwilling to give up.

Mo Qianqian shook his head.

The faces of the Cloud Void Sect Master and his group of elders and disciples looked rather unsightly. None of them had expected this Spirit Master to refuse so decisively.

"May I ask you for the reason, Master? If you have other needs, my Cloud Void Sect will help with all our might," the Cloud Void Sect Master said again.

"No need!" Mo Qianqian refused once more.

"Sect Leader Mo, respecting Elder Asura’s choice was what you yourselves said. Please head back!" the Yuling Sect Master also spoke up. She was somewhat surprised by Asura’s direct refusal as well. After all, the temptation had been truly massive.

"That is only natural. We naturally respect Master Asura’s choice, but..." The Cloud Void Sect Master let out an inexplicable laugh. "There are so many people who covet Spirit Masters. There are even some factions who would rather destroy a Spirit Master than see one fall into the hands of others. The Yuling Sect, I’m afraid, does not possess enough strength to protect Master Asura.

"I am simply worried that if someone targets Master Asura, the Yuling Sect won’t be able to keep him safe.

"If any accident were to happen to Master Asura, that would truly be a tragic pity!"

Mo Qianqian’s face darkened. It was obvious that the other party was threatening him. If they couldn’t have him, they would destroy him!

The Yuling Sect Master’s face also sank. "There is no need for Sect Leader Mo to worry about that. My Yuling Sect is not so weak. If anyone dares to target Master Asura, my Yuling Sect will show absolutely no mercy!

"Furthermore, I’ll leave Sect Leader Mo with a word of advice: Spirit Masters hold an esteemed status and will not yield to others’ threats. The rallying power of a Spirit Master is also far beyond what a minor faction could withstand!"

Upon hearing this, the Cloud Void Sect Master’s expression also changed. This was a threat directed back at their Cloud Void Sect. But he had to admit that a Spirit Master indeed possessed such rallying power. Although it might not be quite that exaggerated, as long as a Spirit Master gave the word, there would inevitably be desperadoes willing to attack a faction for the sake of pills.

"Sect Leader Yu is correct. However, today, we still want to show Master Asura that what we say is true—the Yuling Sect is indeed far inferior to our Cloud Void Sect, just taking our disciples as an example." As he spoke, the Cloud Void Sect Master glanced over the people of the Yuling Sect. "Sect Leader Yu, it’s rare for us to visit. Why don’t we have the younger generation of our two sects compete to see just how vast the gap is between us? What do you say?"

A smile hung on the Cloud Void Sect Master’s face. It was clear he was fully confident.

At his words, the group of disciples who had come from the Cloud Void Sect all crossed their arms, looks of disdain surfacing on their faces. This was especially true for a young man in red around twenty-four or twenty-five years old named Mu Yan Mountain, who wore an expression of indifference as if this competition had nothing to do with him.

"Hmph, do they think Cloud Void Sect disciples are stronger than our Yuling Sect disciples?"

"That’s right, do they think our Yuling Sect has no geniuses?"

"Our three senior sisters—Shangguan Jing, Pei Hong, and Mu Zi—are no pushovers. If any of those three steps up, they might just sweep the floor with all the Cloud Void Sect disciples!"

"We don’t even need our three senior sisters to step up to deal with the Cloud Void Sect disciples."

Every one of the Yuling Sect disciples began to discuss angrily. Being told by the Cloud Void Sect Master that there was a huge gap between them and the Cloud Void Sect, and using the younger generation as an example, was naturally unacceptable to them. The three top geniuses of the Yuling Sect present—Pei Hong, Mu Zi, and Shangguan Jing—all had their eyes fixed on Mu Yan Mountain, wondering what was going through his mind.

Even Mo Qianqian wanted to see what level the top geniuses of the Yuling Sect and the Cloud Void Sect had reached. He wanted to know exactly which faction’s geniuses were stronger.

However, just as the youths of both sides were glaring at each other with mutual contempt and itching to fight, the Yuling Sect Master spoke up. "Our Yuling Sect has no interest in competing with you. Everyone, please return."

Hearing this, even Mo Qianqian couldn’t help but freeze in surprise. The crowd of the Yuling Sect present was equally stunned. Their sect master wasn’t accepting the opponent’s challenge? The Cloud Void Sect disciples were also somewhat caught off guard.

"What, does Sect Leader Yu feel that the Yuling Sect disciples are far inferior to the Cloud Void Sect disciples, and thus is unwilling to accept our challenge?" the Cloud Void Sect Master retorted.

"No, I simply have no interest in your Cloud Void Sect. Everyone, please go back. Take care, I won’t be seeing you out!" the Yuling Sect Master said very bluntly.

The people of the Cloud Void Sect were rendered speechless.

The people of the Yuling Sect stood dazed for a moment before a feeling of vindication washed over them. That was right! Why should they accept a challenge just because the other side demanded it? Wouldn’t that make them lose face? Directly showing the guests the door and refusing the battle was a great way to vent their frustration, denying the opponent even the opportunity to challenge them.

"Heh heh, it seems the Yuling Sect doesn’t dare to accept the challenge. Fine then, we won’t mention this challenge between disciples for now. However..." The Cloud Void Sect Master looked at the Yuling Sect Master with a smile, then turned his gaze back to Mo Qianqian.