"It might be even more powerful than we imagined, perhaps comparable to the Kunlun Sect," Master Tianlong said solemnly.

Clearly, he had overestimated the strength of the Taiqing Sect, mistaking the terrifying capabilities of the Array Plate for the intervention of a Nascent Soul Stage Master.

"Hahaha... That's wonderful!" Instead of worrying, the third leader burst into delighted laughter.

America's Genetically Enhanced Humans were growing increasingly strong, posing an ever-greater threat to China. For over a decade, America had repeatedly tried to blockade China, aiming to stifle the nation's rise both economically and militarily. However, they had never achieved their goal. The reason was that China had the terrifyingly powerful Daoyi Sect, which was backed by even stronger powers like the Kunlun and Shushan Sects.

But if America's Genetically Enhanced Humans became strong enough to counter or even surpass the Kunlun and Shushan Sects, they could finally achieve their goal of blockading China. The nation's development would surely come to a grinding halt.

The long-suffering people of China had only enjoyed a few decades of peace and happiness. Were they to be bullied by foreign powers once again?

However, if China had another sect on par with Kunlun—the Taiqing Sect—and if that sect was willing to confront America's Genetically Enhanced Humans, China's power would increase significantly. America's objectives might never be achieved.

Zhang Bin stepped forward and invited the third leader into the villa's conference room.

"Zhang Bin, you truly are talented and very strong. I am so relieved that Dawei has a brother like you," the third leader said kindly as he sat down, looking at Zhang Bin with admiration. "And I must thank you for healing Dawei's injuries, preventing the end of my Zhao Family line."

Zhang Bin responded with modesty. He held great respect for the third leader, an elder who had worked tirelessly for the country and its people his entire life.

"Zhang Bin, I know you have been wronged, and not just once. This is a result of our failures," the third leader said. "Please, be magnanimous."

"I'm sorry, leader, but I am not a magnanimous person. If I were, I would be seen as weak and easy to bully, which would only invite more abuse and could even lead to my death," Zhang Bin stated. "Therefore, my terms will not change. The Daoyi Sect must pay a huge amount in compensation, deliver a ransom that satisfies my Taiqing Sect's elders, and execute the person who gave the order. Only then will this matter be settled."

The third leader frowned, wanting to say more, but Zhang Bin cut him off, his voice filled with grief and indignation. "The Daoyi Sect has come to my door to bully me time and again, yet no one helped me or tried to stop them. If I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve, I would be a corpse by now. And yet, I haven't killed any of their people. I've merely hung up a few ants, and already you've come to stop me, to persuade me. So, no matter what, the Taiqing Sect will not change its mind this time. We are prepared for rivers of blood if we must. We will see if it is the Daoyi Sect that is destroyed, or the Taiqing Sect that endures."

"Doesn't this only hurt our own and delight our enemies?" the third leader said, his voice laced with anguish.

"We have done nothing wrong. The Daoyi Sect is the one at fault," Zhang Bin said. "Therefore, leader, you should be negotiating with the Daoyi Sect to accept the Taiqing Sect's terms, not coming to us and asking for peace."

"Then let me ask you this: in a time of national crisis, will the Taiqing Sect stand up?" the third leader asked solemnly.

"My Taiqing Sect is an orthodox sect of China, and all its disciples are Chinese. Should the nation face peril, our sect will naturally step forward. But do not bother us with minor issues," Zhang Bin declared. "The Taiqing Sect is a hidden sect. Our main task is to pass on the legacy of the Dao and medicine, to preserve our nation's core strength so that it can rise again no matter what disasters it faces. And I, Zhang Bin, am a disciple sent into the world by the Taiqing Sect precisely because traditional Chinese medicine is in decline. It is my mission to reverse this trend."

His speech was so vivid and convincing that even the third leader believed him. A look of relief and respect appeared on his face as he muttered, "The Taiqing Sect is truly great! Zhang Bin, you have been wronged. I will do my best to persuade the Daoyi Sect to accept your terms and resolve this through peaceful negotiation."

Soon, he left the conference room, whispering a few instructions to Master Tianlong.

Master Tianlong understood immediately. He left the villa and made a phone call to Sect Master Si Yangze of the Daoyi Sect, meticulously recounting the entire event.

Si Yangze was so furious he howled, "What a Taiqing Sect! To set up such a grand Formation in Sanchahe Village! Do they think they can bully our Vice Sect Leader and Elders just because we are unfamiliar with Formations?"

He came from Kunlun and had cultivated to the peak of the Golden Core Realm, just a hair's breadth from Great Perfection. With a lifetime ahead of him, he was certain to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. As such, his knowledge and vision were incomparable to other Golden Core Realm Cultivators. He immediately understood Zhang Bin's tactics and was naturally enraged.

"A Formation?" Master Tianlong was taken aback. "It wasn't a Nascent Soul Stage Master acting covertly?"

"It's a Formation. Only a Formation could be so terrifying as to directly bind one's Cultivation Level," Si Yangze said furiously. "Fine. Just fine. So a sect actually dares to oppose the Daoyi Sect. Do they think the Daoyi Sect doesn't kill?"

"Sect Master Si Yangze, whether it's the Daoyi Sect or the Taiqing Sect, both are True Cultivation Sects of China. Let's not kill each other and fall into the enemy's trap. The third leader is here right now. He hopes you will exercise restraint and come to Sanchahe Village as soon as possible to resolve this issue through peaceful negotiation."

"I will go, but not until tomorrow morning," Si Yangze said before hanging up.

Master Tianlong's expression changed slightly, his heart filling with concern. This is bad. He's not going to the Kunlun Sect for help, is he?

Although the Daoyi Sect was nominally under state control, it was not entirely obedient. This was especially true of Sect Master Si Yangze. His strength was unfathomable, and having come from the Kunlun Sect, not even the third leader could easily make him bow his head.

That night, the third leader, Master Tianlong, and the others stayed at Zhang Bin's villa, waiting for Si Yangze to arrive for negotiations the next day.

Zhang Bin, however, did not sleep. He went into the Great Green Mountain and gathered one hundred Spirit Stones. Combined with his previous stock, he had almost five hundred Spirit Stones in total. He placed them all into the Array Plate's Energy Cabin, leaving only a few for himself to recover his True Yuan.

He was preparing for the worst. If the Daoyi Sect brought masters from the Kunlun Sect to forcefully break the Formation, it would consume a vast amount of energy. Thus, he had to prepare more Spirit Stones.

He firmly believed that peace wasn't won with words, but with overwhelming strength.

And tomorrow would be the greatest test for the Taiqing Sect he had fabricated.

If he passed, all would be well. If he failed, there would be terrible trouble.

Therefore, he had to give it his all.

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