While both Xie Tian and Xu Miao were increasing their strength, Xu Xiuying and Wei Huang had a meeting.
The agendas were their alliance cooperation terms, the wedding between Xu Miao and Wei Yuan, and also the matter regarding the time-and-space technique.
Inside the grand hall, elders from the Wei Clan, Wei Huang, Xu Xiuying, an unknown woman in white robes, and a giant in samurai armor were sitting around a long rectangular table.
The 250-meter tall giant stood out from the rest. He wore an oni mask to cover his face, but his skin color, trimmed fingernails, and clothes indicated that he was a human… in disguise.
The giant oni rested his heaven-grade kanabo, aka a two-handed war club, by planting its barbed section downward while he held both hands on top of the weapon's handle in front of him. The giant oni resembled an ancient Japanese warlord in the Sengoku period or a domineering leader.
The menacing air from this person terrified every cultivator in the grand hall, except Wei Huang, Xu Xiuying and the mysterious woman.
The giant's red eyes locked on to Xu Xiuying. With a deep voice, the large man rebuked the woman.
"Xu Xiuying. Your adopted son humiliated my daughter in public. And now, you have the guts to ask for help?"
"Wei Cao. Watch your tone. Your senile grandfather killed an official in cold blood. Sooner or later, the imperial agents will show up here to investigate the matter. If you wish to maintain your sovereign in the city and create your country, you'd better be careful of what slipping through your mouth. Shit talking will get you nowhere."
Xu Xiuying glared back at Wei Cao, the peak 6th stage oni lord, who was also Wei Yuan's father.
"I rushed here when I found out that we've taken over a city, but you didn't make things easier for us or yourself. I know that you've taken the young man with the space-and-time ability. I want him and his secrets!"
Wei Cao didn't bother beating around the bushes. He extorted for Xie Tian and his secrets.
"Son, stop! We're here to discuss alliance terms, not creating another enemy!" Wei Huang stopped his impulsive son before things got out of hands.
Wei Cao stopped talking and snorted.
Regretting that he didn't treat his son well, Wei Huang sighed. He turned toward Xu Xiuying and the woman next to her with a polite smile.
"I'm sorry about my son's behavior. I wish senior Xu Lanying and friend Xu Xiuying can overlook my reckless child's rudeness."
Unlike the usual, Wei Huang took a humble stance instead of bickering with Xu Xiuying. After all, there was another supreme being in the room.
"I don't mind. He's been on edge since you killed the castellan and invited all demon races here to create a new country. He has to keep his domineering image, or your clan won't be able to tame those rowdy demons."
Xu Lanying, Xu Xiuying's mother and the real sect master of the Silver Phoenix Sect's main branch, had a similar face as her succubus daughter. Her trademark silver long hair, paled skin, white eyebrows, crystal pupils, and her stunning beauty could fall a nation with only a smile.
This was a demon lord, the only pureblood succubus and one of the survivors from the Great Purge. She reigned half of the Aves continent by expanding the silver phoenix sect branches in every city. Her strength surpassed Jia Shan, who was only an initial level of the 7th realm.
Among the continent's cultivators, Xu Lanying was one of the top 10 strongest grandmasters. Only undying geezers from top sects and the Imperial Emperor could contest against this demon queen.
Planning to repel the imperial family and establishing a foothold for all demon races, Wei Huang required the woman's assistance.
Thus, Wei Huang stood up and bowed to Xu Lanying once more.
"Thank you for your consideration. Then, let's begin our first agenda. It's about the marriage between our descendants."
Wei Huang changed the subject and brought up the political marriage matter first, so it could establish a connection between his clan and this demon lord early. Afterward, alliance negotiation would be easier.
"Since Wei Yuan will join your clan and change her surname to Xu, I would like to ask for your sincerity. I hope that the bride token will be of equal value," Wei Huang indirectly requested for a bribe, testing the water.
Xu Lanying didn't answer. She only glanced at her daughter, so Xu Xiuying could reveal her cards.
Xu Xiuying nodded. She smiled at Wei Huang and took out several manuals, which were copies of Xie Tian's written scrolls.
"These are the extracted information regarding Xie Tian's skills. From my investigation, he has a lesser dragon's bloodline, and he can cultivate dragon Qi. These are his techniques."
Wei Cao's eyes gleamed, but Wei Huang frowned. The latter was disappointed that Xu Xiuying didn't mention time-and-space ability.
Still, Wei Huang took the scrolls and skimmed through the content.
After reading a couple scrolls, Wei Huang shook his head, "They're incomplete."
"The completed versions will be given to you after the wedding. These are samples of what we have."
"I see. Then, I might sound rude, but these manuals are useless to us. I hope that you can reconsider the bride tokens as something else."
Wei Huang was a cunning fox. He was aware that these skills were only useful to cultivators with a dragon bloodline. For demon oni like him, they could not practice these techniques.
"What do you want, then?" Xu Xiuying decided to be direct.
"We request the time-and-space technique as a bride token," Wei Huang declared his demand.
All Wei clansmen's faces turned solemn, but Xu Xiuying and Xu Lanying were still grinning.
Xu Xiuying giggled. As she needed someone to test if Xie Tian's time-reversing technique was practical, she didn't mind giving a copy to Wei Huang, so his clansmen could be her guinea pigs, "Sure, but I'll give it to you after the wedding."
Since Xu Xiuying already half-confessed that they had Xie Tian under their control, Wei Huang pressed on, "I haven't finished. I also want the heaven-grade weapon of Xie Tian!"
"Ah, that's a tall call. If you wish for his sentient weapon, I have conditions."
"Alright, name your conditions."
"Okay," Xu Xiuying paused and looked at Wei clansmen, "I want Wei clansmen to spread words that you have the time-and-space technique! Also, you have to deploy at least a thousand 4th stage cultivators to protect the Poseidon Spa House for a year!"
Wei Huang squinted his eyes. This move was obviously a countermeasure against the looming threat against her sect since everybody suspected that she possessed the technique manual.
Moreover, Xu Lanying was a celebrity. Most cultivators were aware of her presence wherever she visited. Therefore, with her being here, all cultivators would know that Xu Lanying came here to ensure her sect's safety and take the time-and-space secret for herself.
With the defense force of the Wei Clan and Xu Lanying's presence, nobody would dare offend them unless they had a death-wish. Only major sects or the imperial family could challenge Xu Lanying's authority.
As a result, the one being threatened would be the mountain goose sect and the Wei Clan, who had another copy of the technique. Without a 7th stage grandmaster, Wei Huang would be an easier target to bully or raid.
"So, you're using your adopted son's wedding to buy your way out. You'll shift all trouble to us."
"Wrong. It's a cooperation between our clans. Since we're now relatives, shouldn't we help each other when we're facing a crisis? It's not like my mother won't help you."
Wei Huang snorted. He saw through Xu Xiuying's plan, and he didn't like her moves.
Moreover, he had just killed an imperial official to take over the city. Soon, the royal family would send agents here to investigate. Then, his clan would have to face two issues at the same time, which might escalate the problems.
Still, for the sake of establishing a demon city and gather all hidden demon races to his clan, Wei Huang had to show the world that his clan could contest against the royal family and overcome all crises. Once he could repel their attacks, Wei Huang could enthrone his son, Wei Cao, as the King of all demon races and create a demon country.
It was an ambitious goal with great risks.
"Then, I want to add more conditions," Wei Huang negotiated for more benefits, "When we're in trouble, your sect must deploy your forces to help us."
"That's natural."
"Secondly, it's possible that my granddaughter has gotten pregnant. I want the first child to join my clan."
"Eh, that won't do. If it's a girl, my clan will take her."
"I see. Then, if it's a boy, he will join my clan."
"Fair enough."
These villains disregarded Xu Miao's existence and treated him as a bystander while they were deciding his family's fate.
Wei Huang continued, "Next, it's about Xu Miao's dual cultivation abilities. I heard from my granddaughter that she got stronger after she had dual-cultivated with him."
"So?"
"There are many widows and unmarried women in my clan, and I want my grandson-in-law to help them. For a starter, I want him to visit my clan at least three times a week to dual-cultivate with my clan members!"
This was Wei Huang's sneaky move. He knew that Xu Miao had many treasures and secrets. Therefore, making him breeding with his clanswomen and getting them pregnant might attract Xu Miao's fatherly sense. Wei Huang would also have a legitimate reason to extort treasures and refined spirit stones from his grandson-in-law as children rearing funds.
Xu Xiuying cackled, "Sure. However, you have to pay for his service. After all, I'm running a brothel here, and Xu Miao is one of the workers. I want 1,000 refined stones per day."
Wei Huang and Wei Cao's faces twitched. They never expected that she would have treated her adopted son as one of the prostitutes. Furthermore, the fee was absurd.
"… Too expensive. I'll pay only 10 refined stones a day."
"That's not a way to haggle the price. He's popular in the brothel, you know. Every girl that he fucked got a lot stronger within a few days. Why don't you ask your daughter how many essences she got."
"…"
Wei Cao called Wei Yuan to attend the meeting. Within 5 minutes, the soon-to-be bride entered the grand hall. The oni girl still had her green dragon scale robes on her to show everyone that the treasure was hers.
"Wei Yuan greets seniors."
Wei Yuan understood the importance of this meeting. She maintained her graceful demeanor and temperament.
Wei Cao nodded at his daughter, "You dual-cultivated with Xu Miao before, right? What kind of benefits did you get?"
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