Chapter 260: Good Advice Hard to Persuade

Are you willing?

Of course, Lu Ye was not willing, and he was well aware that the current plea for peace was merely Taoist Master Shouren's wishful thinking.

Among those people, very few were genuinely inclined toward peace.

Yet, looking at Taoist Master Shouren, Lu Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of shared suffering.

The pitiable state of Taoist Master Shouren now was no different from his own laughable past in his previous life.

It was only because Lu Ye possessed the system.

Without it, his life would have been far more miserable.

"Master Shouren, if each sect is willing to offer one million Supreme Spirit Stones, I will agree to peace. But I have one condition for you—do not reveal my terms of agreement yet. First, ask them what they are willing to sacrifice for peace."

Lu Ye had already decided how to deal with Taoist Master Shouren.

Once his strength improved and he truly possessed the power to suppress the Heavenly Realm, he would act.

He would destroy Taoist Master Shouren's Guardian Path.

No one understood Taoist Master Shouren's inner struggles better than Lu Ye.

His heart was truly torn.

On one hand, he despised the Guardian Path, yet on the other, he dared not abandon it.

Trapped in the mire, every time he suffered injustice, he struggled desperately—only to sink deeper.

Receiving Lu Ye's reply, Taoist Master Shouren was not as overjoyed as one might expect.

He was no fool.

He understood Lu Ye's meaning.

Yet, those who walked this path always clung to hope.

Even if he could foresee the inevitable outcome, he still wanted to try.

"This humble Taoist takes his leave!"

Lu Ye nodded.

"Take care."

Taoist Master Shouren departed.

He had always believed Lu Ye was not the devil among devils. From their conversation, he faintly sensed that Lu Ye, too, seemed like a pitiable soul.

What had become of this world?

Taoist Master Shouren arrived at Cangmang Mountain, where many powerful figures had set up a temporary encampment.

"Esteemed seniors, Taoist Master Shouren has returned."

A Domain Realm cultivator came to report.

Wang Yi of the Wang family spoke, "Let him in."

Taoist Master Shouren walked in quickly, his expression slightly uplifted.

"Everyone, good news, good news! That Lu Ye has agreed to peace talks!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Grandmasters exchanged glances.

"Is he truly willing?" Wang Yi asked.

"He said so himself—he is willing!"

"Hahaha! If he's willing to negotiate peace, then it's a good thing. We, too, have no desire for humanity to turn on itself," said Hong Tian, the Daoist from Three Immortals Mountain, with a smile.

"Indeed. If he is willing to pay some price, peace is acceptable. As long as he is willing to hand over his many divine abilities and methods of attaining the Dao, my Invincible Sword Sect can coexist peacefully with him."

"I have no interest in his methods of attaining the Dao, but I am somewhat intrigued by the treasures left behind from his past life. He doesn’t need to surrender all of them—just allow me to pick through the treasures, and from then on, the Invincible Sword Sect will gladly coexist with him!"

"If you ask me, he doesn’t need the treasures at all. Since he possesses so many techniques from his past life, he can grow rapidly even without them!"

The crowd chattered on, each voicing their opinion.

Taoist Master Shouren fell silent.

Wait…

Aren’t we the ones seeking peace with Lu Ye?

How did this turn into demanding things from Lu Ye? And now, "he doesn’t need the treasures"?

A sect called the Heavenly Formation Sect, also a first-rate sect of the Fourth Heaven, had its Supreme Elder, Zhang Xunzuo, speak up.

"Brother Shouren, what conditions did Lu Ye set for peace?"

He said "conditions."

Taoist Master Shouren let out a long sigh.

"He said—one million Supreme Spirit Stones from each sect. Those willing to pay will have all past grievances wiped clean."

"One million Spirit Stones? Isn’t that too little? What we lack isn’t Spirit Stones."

Anger flashed in Taoist Master Shouren’s eyes, and his voice rose.

"We are the ones seeking peace with him, not the other way around. This one million Supreme Spirit Stones is what you must give him, not what he gives you. And you say it’s too little? Is it still too little now?"

*Crack!*

A wooden table was smashed to pieces.

"Upside down! The world is upside down! If not for the Daoist’s intervention, he would already be dead! And now he dares to say we must seek peace with him? And demand one million Supreme Spirit Stones from us? He’s delusional!"

"Taoist Master Shouren, no offense, but such an outrageous condition should have been rejected on the spot. We are the stronger side—how could the strong seek peace from the weak?"

"Exactly! Everyone, abandon these unrealistic fantasies. Eradicating demons is everyone’s duty. We must unite and slay this fiend together!"

Taoist Master Shouren took a step back.

Watching the impassioned crowd, listening to their roars.

Taoist Master Shouren spoke one last sentence.

"Anyone who wishes to seek peace can come to me..."

"Shouren, how dare you sow discord among the ranks!" Wang Yi roared in anger.

Taoist Master Shouren...

He fell silent and quietly withdrew.

Standing alone atop the clouds, he gazed at the boundless land below.

Below the Fifth Heaven lay a single vast continent, while the Fifth Heaven and above consisted of stars and the void.

The Fourth Heaven had the largest landmass.

The Fifth Heaven was mostly void.

No one knew what thoughts occupied Taoist Master Shouren at this moment.

In his past life, Lu Ye had often been like this—alone in the starry expanse, quietly watching the flow of the celestial river.

Others thought he was contemplating the Dao.

But he himself knew he was lost in uncertainty.

"Master Shouren!"

A voice suddenly called out.

Taoist Master Shouren turned to look.

The newcomer was none other than Zhang Xunzuo of the Heavenly Formation Sect.

"What brings you here, fellow Daoist?"

"Here—one million Supreme Spirit Stones. Please deliver them to Fellow Daoist Lu Ye on my behalf. This operation was driven by greed, and I deeply apologize for the trouble caused to Fellow Daoist Lu Ye. My sect will cease all actions against him henceforth and humbly seek his forgiveness." Zhang Xunzuo spoke with sincere remorse.

Taoist Master Shouren was stunned.

Then overjoyed.

"Fellow Daoist!"

He grasped Zhang Xunzuo's hand.

So, there were still things in this world worth protecting—things he could protect.

His wavering Dao heart, once unstable, now grew firm again.

Yes, this was the essence of the Guardian Path.

Even if battered and bruised, a single ray of light could make one forget the pain.

"Could you ask on my behalf if any other sects are willing to seek peace?"

Zhang Xunzuo, however, shook his head repeatedly.

"You've already spoken, Master. If they refuse peace, that's their choice. It's beyond my control—please understand."

Taoist Master Shouren walked the Guardian Path, but Zhang Xunzuo did not.

What concern were the lives of others to him?

Kind words cannot save those doomed to perish.

If they insisted on killing Lu Ye and seizing his treasures, so be it.

After all, it wouldn't be him who died!