Qin Ran left the reception hall of the Boundless Sword Sect, found Li Shiyin, Lu Junxing, and others, mounted Chasing the Wind, and headed straight out of the Boundless Sword Sect.
They took off directly from the mountain thousands of meters high where the Boundless Sword Sect was located, flying quickly toward the Dao Sword Sect.
Halfway through, Lu Junxing looked at Qin Ran and asked, "Uncle-Master, why are you in such a hurry? Did the negotiations fall through?"
"No..." Qin Ran had been smiling when he left the reception hall, but now that they had left the Boundless Sword Sect, his expression gradually darkened. By now, it had become unusually grim. He replied to Lu Junxing, "The negotiations were successful. The Sect Leader of the Boundless Sword Sect decided to ally with us."
"Then?" Lu Junxing was very confused.
"Something unexpected happened..." Qin Ran said, "I didn't expect Jian Wuming to be so foolish as to directly invite people from Zhican Valley. Now that Zhican Valley knows about our negotiations, things will definitely not go as I planned."
"What will happen?"
As Chasing the Wind ran swiftly, Qin Ran sat on its back, watching the mountains, waters, and trees rapidly receding behind them. With a grave expression, he explained, "Zhican Valley will receive the news and prepare in advance, and even..."
He emphasized each word, "They might make desperate moves."
Shortly after Qin Ran left the reception hall, Sun Yicheng was brought back by the Sect's people.
Jian Wuming was still sitting in the main seat. He looked at Sun Yicheng as he walked in and smiled, asking, "Do you know what Qin Ran discussed with me?"
"Nothing more than trying to win you over," Sun Yicheng said. "I hope you've thought it through. Zhican Valley has medicinal pills, spirit stones, and endless resources. Cooperating with the Dao Sword Sect can't compare to cooperating with Zhican Valley."
Jian Wuming wore a cold smile as he said, "I've already agreed to Qin Ran's proposal."
"What?!" Sun Yicheng was shocked, "Do you know what you're doing? This is unwise! Whatever the Dao Sword Sect can give you, Zhican Valley can match; what the Dao Sword Sect can't provide, Zhican Valley can still offer. If you don't believe this, consider our years of cooperation. How can you betray us without reason? How will you maintain your standing in the cultivation world after this?!"
"If you don't tell and I don't tell, who will know?" Jian Wuming said, "Besides, when has the cultivation world ever cared about loyalty?"
Even Sun Yicheng, known for his deep scheming, was panicking now. Because with Jian Wuming's words, it wasn't just Zhican Valley that was in danger – he was in even greater peril. Whether he could leave the Boundless Sword Sect alive today was now uncertain.
"What did Qin Ran discuss with you?" Sun Yicheng stared at Jian Wuming and asked, "Zhican Valley can give you all the spirit stones that the Dao Sword Sect has. What more do you want?!"
Seeing Sun Yicheng's panic, Jian Wuming appeared more relaxed. He leaned back in his chair and said, "Qin Ran said that it would be easier for the Boundless Sword Sect and Dao Sword Sect to unite and destroy Zhican Valley than for the Boundless Sword Sect and Zhican Valley to unite and destroy the Dao Sword Sect. I think he's right."
Sun Yicheng tried to keep himself calm. Remembering the previous cauldron incident, he hurriedly asked, "Then how can your two sects coexist peacefully? Zhican Valley and the Boundless Sword Sect can coexist because we focus on different aspects – one on medicine, one on martial arts. But how can the Boundless Sword Sect and Dao Sword Sect maintain peace? When two tigers fight, one must die!"
Jian Wuming took out the scroll Qin Ran had given him from his Universe Bag, showing it to Sun Yicheng while smiling, "Senior Qin is truly talented. He has already made comprehensive plans. After Zhican Valley's destruction, the Hengduan Mountains will enter a new era."
Sun Yicheng suffered another heavy blow, almost unable to stand steady.
He asked playfully, "Plans... since you have plans, why not cooperate with Zhican Valley using them? After all, we had agreed first."
"For this plan to work, Zhican Valley must die," Jian Wuming replied, putting away the plans.
Could Zhican Valley really be facing its end? Sun Yicheng stepped back twice.
"Sect Leader, how has Zhican Valley treated you?" he asked hopefully.
"Very well," Jian Wuming said. "That's why I'm telling you that at the end of this month, we will launch a full-scale attack on Zhican Valley.
"This is out of consideration for the years of friendship between Zhican Valley and the Boundless Sword Sect. I'm telling you so you can prepare and minimize casualties."
"End of the month?" Sun Yicheng was stunned and asked, "What date is it today?"
"The sixteenth!"
"Fourteen days left..." Sun Yicheng turned around and rushed out of the reception hall, heading straight back to Zhican Valley.
"Sect Leader?" someone in the reception hall asked Jian Wuming, "Why didn't you kill him?"
"Kill him?" Jian Wuming looked at his shadow and sneered, "Why should I kill him?
"Zhican Valley wants to use the Boundless Sword Sect as a pawn, planning to destroy us after eliminating the Dao Sword Sect, to rule the Hengduan Mountains alone. The Dao Sword Sect also wants to use us as a pawn, planning to destroy us after eliminating Zhican Valley, also wanting to dominate the Hengduan Mountains. They all want to be the hegemon of the Hengduan Mountains...
"Since the Hengduan Mountains is destined to have a hegemon, destined to have a victor, why can't it be our Boundless Sword Sect?"
"The Dao Sword Sect also wants to destroy the Boundless Sword Sect?" the shadow asked, confused. "But didn't Qin Ran provide a comprehensive plan?"
"Plan?" Jian Wuming took out Qin Ran's scroll and destroyed it with sword energy, turning it to ash. "That's just child's play. They really think I'm that easily fooled."
The shadow paused, then asked, "How will the Boundless Sword Sect become the final winner?"
"They all look down on our Boundless Sword Sect, thinking we're the weakest," Jian Wuming looked out the window, his eyes full of calculation. "Now that I've leaked the information to Zhican Valley, they will surely fight to the death. Tell me, will they come to the Boundless Sword Sect or go to the Dao Sword Sect?"
"More likely the Boundless Sword Sect," the shadow said. "Because we have the weakest overall strength..."
"No!" Jian Wuming sneered, "They will definitely go to the Dao Sword Sect.
"Because if Zhican Valley attacks the Boundless Sword Sect, the Dao Sword Sect might come to our aid. But if Zhican Valley attacks the Dao Sword Sect, I've promised Zhican Valley that I'll act as their inside man and switch sides at the right moment."
He stood up, looking at the setting red sun outside, and said in a deep voice, "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Since they don't take us seriously, let them fight among themselves!"
Qin Ran returned to the Dao Sword Sect and went straight to the Sect Leader's cave dwelling.
"Sect Leader, there's been a change," he said gravely.
"Did it fail?" Gu Yueming asked in surprise.
"No..." Qin Ran hesitated, then said, "But it could be considered a failure."
"What exactly happened?" Gu Yueming asked.
"Zhican Valley's people were at the Boundless Sword Sect..." Qin Ran said, "I'm worried Zhican Valley will fight desperately."
After thinking for a moment, he said, "So, Sect Leader, it's time to mobilize all the sect's cultivators. Everyone needs to return and prepare for defense. We must be ready for battle at any moment."
"Defense?"
"Yes..." Qin Ran sighed, "I agreed with the Boundless Sword Sect on the end of the month. But before then, we must prepare our defenses."
Hearing his tone, Gu Yueming frowned and asked, "What about you?"
"I must go into seclusion for a while to develop new methods for spiritual medicine cultivation and true formations..." Qin Ran said, "If the new spiritual medicine cultivation method is successful, Zhican Valley will no longer matter."
Gu Yueming looked at him, knowing that even if he stayed, he wasn't suited for direct combat, and could only say, "Go ahead with your seclusion..."