Great Demon Sun Wukong

But no matter what, the Spirit Controller still had considerable confidence in his own safety. Indeed, after the Spirit Controller finished speaking, the others did not take any action. Instead, Yi Xuan smiled and said, "If the Spirit Controller still refuses to see reason, I think you will witness even more of our methods." Even though the Spirit Controller's body was bound by the Seal Heavenly Stamp and suppressed by the Soul Locking Array, his aura did not diminish in the slightest.

A frown creased his brow, and an aura that could intimidate the soul suddenly erupted from the Spirit Controller. Though powerful, the aura did not achieve the effect the Spirit Controller had imagined due to the suppression of the Soul Locking Array. Everyone, including the Chi Ghost, burst forth with their own auras to counter it. As the two auras clashed, the Spirit Controller not only failed to intimidate the others with his aura but also suffered a slight disadvantage. Consequently, the Spirit Controller's aura abruptly shifted, gathering all at one point and, like the tip of a needle, suddenly aimed at Yi Xuan, who was the strongest among them.

Yi Xuan, sensing the targeted aura of the Spirit Controller, let out a cold snort. Before her, a palm-sized Formation Map suddenly appeared, of course, crafted entirely from Yi Xuan's aura which drew upon the power of space within the void. At this moment, Yi Xuan's formidable power once again shocked everyone. While the rest could only compress their auras into an extremely small point to disrupt the enemy's aura, Yi Xuan was already capable of freely manipulating space with her aura and forming a Formation Map, indicating a vast gap between them.

The tip of the Spirit Controller's aura penetrated the Formation Map, then disappeared into it without a trace. The Spirit Controller cried out in shock, "Aura made manifest, are you at the Heavenly Venerate's Peak?" Yi Xuan simply smiled faintly without denying or confirming it. Sometimes, it's not a bad thing to keep your enemy in the dark about your true strength, especially during negotiations like these. "How strong I am is not important. What matters is how the Spirit Controller chooses next. This is linked to many lives, of course, including your own," Yi Xuan said.

After Yi Xuan finished, the Spirit Controller couldn't help but curse inwardly: Unimportant my foot, no wonder she could seal the Annihilation Nine Headed Serpent – so she was at the Heavenly Venerate's Peak all along, and capable of manifesting aura into form, something not any ordinary Heavenly Venerate's Peak could achieve. Lucky for me that I tested her just now; otherwise, I would have thought she was at the Heavenly Venerate Primary Stage. If I really thought that way, I would definitely be at a disadvantage during negotiations, and if I provoked her too far, we might both end up destroyed. With her power at the Heavenly Venerate's Peak, even if she faced two Law Enforcers, escaping with her life would be entirely possible. Damn it, I was nearly fooled by her act."

However, the Spirit Controller did not show much fear. "I wonder what options I have for my choice?" Poor Spirit Controller had not only seen his plan hatched over tens of thousands of years fall apart, but he was also taken captive. Due to his misjudgment of Yi Xuan's strength, he was destined to be at a tremendous disadvantage in the upcoming negotiations. After all, in his view, it was a risky act to haggle over terms between a captured Heavenly Venerate at the Primary Stage and one at the Peak – if he were presumptuous in his demands, destruction was certain.

"Truth be told, we don't hold any deep grudges against the Spirit Controller, and although we, the Crimson Army, despise the action of Law Enforcers, we have to admit that without your efforts in the past, this universe would probably still be in chaos. Moreover, we have some understanding of the responsibilities of Law Enforcers. Apart from anything else, just for standing against external forces, Law Enforcers have been indispensable. Therefore, I don't want to make things too difficult for you, as if such a battle of that level were to erupt again, we might very well become comrades-in-arms."

Yi Xuan had barely finished speaking when the Spirit Controller's expression turned somewhat ugly. At first glance, Yi Xuan's words seemed to say, "Don't worry, we won't be too harsh." But the Spirit Controller heard another implication, which was: Despite your formidable strength as Law Enforcers and being invincible in this universe, you are not as free as you seem on the surface, and I know that not all eight of you are in this universe. So if you really don't know your place, I don't mind getting rid of you. Because if that level of battle ever breaks out again, we have the Crimson Army, and so, losing one of you wouldn't matter.

Although he detected the warning in Yi Xuan's words, the Spirit Controller didn't show any reaction; instead, he appeared to sigh with relief. That's where the cleverness of the Spirit Controller lay—in situations where he was at a disadvantage and under someone else's control, it was best not to appear too wise and strong-willed, as that would surely lead to no good end. "Since the lady puts it that way, nothing could be better. This incident was never targeted at you, and we don't really have much enmity between us. So as long as you release me, we can consider this incident to have never happened. The Patrolling Celestial World trial will proceed as normal, with no Annihilation Nine-Headed Serpent, no Crimson Army; everything will be as usual. I believe this should be the best outcome."

For someone of the Spirit Controller's high status, these words were already not easy to utter. As one of the eight Law Enforcers, he was a figure who even the Nine Great Divine Kingdoms would not take lightly. Yet now, he was demonstrating such restraint, to everyone's surprise. After hearing the Spirit Controller's words, Yi Xuan first nodded, but then she shook her head and said, "Pretending nothing happened is naturally the ideal scenario. Truth be told, our Crimson Army does not wish to go to war with you Law Enforcers at this time. If our two powers were to clash, those who would benefit in the end would surely be the creatures from the otherworld battlefield. Besides, you would certainly need to keep this matter a secret; otherwise, if the other Law Enforcers found out you actually intended to destroy the Patrolling Celestial World and the Underworld God Army, there would be no need for us to take action—they would strike you down themselves. However, to just let you go like this, I feel like that would be at our loss."

Once again, the Spirit Controller was inwardly astonished. He didn't know what rank Yi Xuan held within the Crimson Army, but she was not only aware that the Law Enforcers were currently dealing with the otherworld battlefield but also had such a clear understanding of their relationship. She was definitely not a minor character. Subsequently, the Spirit Controller felt a twinge of pain in his heart; it looked like his life was safe, but he would have to pay dearly. Such was the victor's right—the right to claim spoils of war.

Clenching his teeth fiercely, the Spirit Controller said, "What do you want? I warn you, do not go too far. My patience has its limits!" Yi Xuan put a finger to her lips, pursed her small mouth, and after carefully thinking it over, she smiled and said, "First off, the outcome of the Patrolling Celestial World trials should be as follows: Netherworld World, first place; Fangcun Spirit Realm, second; Myriad Gods Hall, third; Ancient Primordial World, fourth; Canglan River Realm, fifth; Genesis Divine Nation, sixth. Myriad Demons Country gets eliminated from the Divine Kingdom ranks—how about that?"

The condition Yi Xuan put forward wasn't difficult, as there were only six powers remaining, and among them, five were part of the Allied Forces. As for the ranking of the trial, they had already decided on it, and the order Yi Xuan mentioned was exactly what they had in mind. However, to their surprise, Yi Xuan had directly moved Genesis Divine Nation from being eliminated into the ranks of the Divine Kingdom, and Myriad Demons Country, which was supposed to be sixth, was eliminated.

The Spirit Controller didn't hesitate too much before agreeing. Although this was somewhat unfair to Myriad Demons Country, it didn't cause him any loss; the saying 'better for a comrade to die than for oneself' encapsulated this situation perfectly. When Yi Xuan saw the Spirit Controller nod, she continued, "Secondly, aside from the Wasteland Soil Stele, Burning Fire Stele, and Ultimate Water Stele, ownership of the six other Heavenly Steles cannot change, meaning the newly ascended Divine Kingdoms cannot obtain a Heavenly Stele, and those who lose their Divine Kingdom status also won't lose their World Suppressing Stele. How you explain this to the various nations is your business—how does that sound?"

This condition was somewhat difficult. After all, it was taken for granted in everyone's minds that a Divine Kingdom would own a World Suppressing Stele, but now the newly risen Divine Kingdoms couldn't have one—which was going to be a tough sell to those powers? Also, the Spirit Controller found it strange why Yi Xuan would make such an odd request. However, after considering it, he agreed. Though it wasn't in line with the rules, he believed that given his formidable power and the dignity of the Law Enforcers, those powers hopefully wouldn't do anything too outrageous. If necessary, he would find other ways to compensate them. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote with your recommendation tickets and Monthly Pass at Starting Point (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)