Chapter 379: For Your Use Only

Chapter 379: For Your Use Only

When Master Zhao mentioned the Sea Domain Dragon Clan, the esteemed elders present all looked alarmed, exchanging uneasy glances.

Speaking of the Sea Domain Dragon Clan brought to mind the disasters of centuries past.

Nowadays, people were terrified just by hearing the word “dragon.” For hundreds of years, the Sea Domain Dragon Clan had little to do with the land; their sudden proposal for a lasting friendship with the Xuanyun Sect felt very strange.

Even the elders of the Xuanyun Sect, known for facing great challenges, couldn’t help but feel some level of worry.

There’s an old saying: “Flattery without reason usually comes from a hidden agenda.”

Everyone understood this.

Thus, they were concerned about this sudden diplomacy from the Sea Domain Dragon Clan—something definitely felt amiss.

Master Zhao reiterated:

“Everyone, while the treasures brought by the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s messenger seem genuine and their sincerity appears adequate, I find this sudden visit too unusual and contradictory to our traditional image of the Sea Domain Dragon Clan.”

Elder Yuan interjected:

“Indeed, Master, this is exceedingly peculiar and hard to fathom. After all, we haven’t disturbed the ocean in any way, posing no threat to the Sea Domain Dragon Clan, and we haven’t fought them, nor are we clear about their current strength. It’s hard to believe they are here to seek peace and protection.”

“That’s right,” Master Zhao nodded.

“Though we may not know the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s overall strength now, their species is known for its exceptional talents. They wouldn’t seek allies merely for survival.”

“Could it really be for a lasting friendship?” one elder speculated.

“Unlikely,” the pragmatic Han Fairy immediately shot down that theory.

A sudden alliance like this surely had ulterior motives—a hidden agenda was definitely at play.

Han Fairy continued:

“Though our Xuanyun Sect is strong, we don’t pose enough of a threat to intimidate the Sea Domain Dragon Clan. Their proactive approach in sending a messenger implies they must have something to gain; perhaps they desire benefits from our Xuanyun Sect.”

“Gaining benefits sounds plausible for organizations like Helong Hall or Refining Demon Sect, but the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s power and strength likely surpass our own. It would be quite the hassle for them to seek peace just to gain advantage,” another elder countered.

“Considering the Sea Domain Dragon Clan has had minimal contact with the land for ages, it’s reasonable that they might be somewhat ignorant of the continent’s current situation. Using a friendly approach to engage with us makes sense.” Han Fairy further elaborated.

“I believe Han Fairy’s assertion hints at the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s intention to invade the land,” Elder Zhou chimed in.

“But right now, the situation on land is turbulent, and various factions are at odds. Our human race is not as united as we were centuries ago. If the Sea Domain Dragon Clan were to take advantage of this chaos, their success would be much more probable. Seeking goodwill now seems somewhat redundant and suggests deeper intentions.”

The hall buzzed as everyone debated, sharing viewpoints. Some felt that the Sea Domain Dragon Clan had good intentions and should not be turned away, while others believed they were scheming to implement some hidden plan under the guise of peace.

Some thought the Sea Domain Dragon Clan could easily capitalize on the chaos without needing to seek friendship and gifts, especially since those treasures were quite beneficial for the Xuanyun Sect, suggesting they didn’t have any malice.

Everyone expressed their opinions, but in the end, no conclusion was reached, as the truth remained elusive.

While they speculated on the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s intentions, Lin Nuo worried about one thing:

Uh-oh, does this mean I’ll have to create a promotion opportunity for Su Kexin?

As far as he remembered, in his previous life, no major upheaval involving the Sea Domain Dragon Clan ever happened, nor had he heard of any friendly alliances with them.

Of course, there could have been, but he wouldn’t know; he was just a noob in his past life with no chance to attend important gatherings.

Oh, he was still a noob this time, but his hero-level reputation as a young cultivator was what got him here.

As the elders debated, Master Zhao’s gaze shifted to the two young disciples present, Lin Nuo and Liu Shuqin.

Master Zhao asked:

“You two young disciples, what are your thoughts on this matter?”

Liu Shuqin glanced at Lin Nuo. She felt hesitant to speak up without his cue, waiting for him to take the lead.

Like a dutiful wife, she wouldn’t speak unless her husband, the head of the household, did; even though she had her own thoughts.

Lin Nuo didn’t want to voice an opinion either; he came here just to enjoy the spectacle. He was waiting for Liu Shuqin to say something.

Eventually, they both looked at each other in silent agreement, but neither spoke.

After an awkward moment, Master Zhao cleared his throat and said:

“Lin Nuo, why don’t you share your thoughts? Feel free to express whatever is on your mind.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Nuo thought, “Hey, old man, aren’t you breaking the hierarchy? By rank, Liu Shuqin should be the one speaking first.”

Well, whatever, let’s just say something.

Clearing his throat, Lin Nuo said:

“We shouldn’t overcomplicate this. Treat them as out-of-town messengers. They bring gifts; we respond with courtesy. We don’t have to fully trust them—we should guard ourselves while being polite.”

His main point was simple: just treat them as guests, exchange gifts, and proceed with daily business as usual.

After all, were they really going to engage in a battle of wits against the Sea Domain Dragon Clan? Didn’t the Xuanyun Sect know their own limitations?

Torrential floods could easily drown the Xuanyun Sect.

As soon as Lin Nuo finished speaking, Liu Shuqin eagerly chimed in:

“Yes, Junior Brother is right. We shouldn’t let our guard down completely, but neither should we assume ill intentions. From what it seems, the Sea Domain Dragon Clan’s messenger is quite sincere. We can’t dismiss that. Having more allies is better than more enemies. I think any negotiation shouldn’t involve crucial information or secrets, and it’s manageable.”

Liu Shuqin glanced at Lin Nuo with a gentle smile, as if seeking his approval on her perspective.

Master Zhao noticed the tender look Liu Shuqin had for Lin Nuo and wondered if there was more than just friendship between them.

He was also concerned about Lin Nuo’s future partner, hoping it would be a fellow female cultivator from their sect. After all, why should outside waters flow into their fields? Cultivating internal talent would promote the glory of the Xuanyun Sect.

Master Zhao had high hopes for the pairing of Qin Shili and Lin Nuo, believing that a strong man and woman together would undeniably become a force to be reckoned with in the cultivation world.

After much discussion, the meeting concluded with a compromise similar to Lin Nuo’s suggestion—greet the guests with kindness, but don’t lay open your heart.

After leaving, Lin Nuo and the others followed Han Fairy back to the affiliated hall.

On the way, they didn’t bring up the topic of the Sea Domain Dragon Clan again, as it was advised not to discuss such matters outside the meeting.

Lin Nuo was also too lazy to comment; what if Su Kexin overheard and dragged him off to save the world?

Could he still play the role of the villain?

Han Fairy entered the affiliated hall and said to Lin Nuo:

“Lin Nuo, a Male Cultivator Spirit Spring has been constructed in the hall, exclusively for your use. If you’re willing, you can come for a soak tonight.”