‘So, this is the Moon Lily faction… I didn’t expect to be actually covered in moon lilies though…’

Zhang Dong was done with going through the main city that belonged to the Heavenly Crane Sect. After being picked up by Sun Shi who was the initial elder that started this whole journey, he met up with Sun Shen. This person was at the level of great circle of nascent soul that was above the norm. When comparing him against the tribe chiefs from the demi-humans he didn’t fall that much behind.

A theoretical battle would go in the demi-human’s favor even more if he faced someone like the vampire lord that could regenerate himself at a fast pace. However, with some help from other nascent soul masters, he could see this man being victorious. Without seeing what kind of techniques he was capable off it was hard to make a complete assessment. This at least meant that this sect had enough force to not get steamrolled by these invaders, that is if they actually committed to some type of strategy.

The more they waited the more ground the other camps took and their influence grew smaller. Zhang Dong was still convinced that if the Azure Emperor along with this Sect actually acted then the Emerald Phoenix Empire wouldn’t have been able to progress this far. He was able to hold off the demi-human offensive so it should have been possible for people that weren’t that far off from his level. The only problem as always was cooperation, cultivators didn’t like to work with one another and only acted if the reward justified it.

Perhaps if both sides were offered some kind of treasure or long-lost cultivation technique then they would consider making a move. The old men at the top wouldn’t be easily convinced as they had mostly emptied all the resources that would allow them to progress. Only legendary objects would move their hearts and trust was nonexistent. It wouldn’t be strange if after taking care of the Emerald Phoenix Emperor one of the sides attempted to overthrow the other if they were weakened enough.

This everlasting fear of being betrayed was the biggest reason that all sects preferred not getting involved in any kind of outside battles. There was always something that they could lose or it could have been trickery involved of some kind. This was also one of the reasons so many misunderstandings happened as they always expected some kind of ruse.

‘They do have a nice fragrance and spiritual energy, I could probably make some good pills from them… I wonder if the other factions have more of the same.’

While thinking about his options here Zhang Dong slowly walked through the garden filled with spiritual lily flowers. This land was truly beautiful and he regretted that he wasn’t able to look at these lilies during the night when the moon was at its zenith. From the whispers that he heard around and interaction with the Sun Lily faction, he knew that both of them were at each other's throats.

These Moon Lilies were something one had to cultivate at night while the Sun Lilies were the exact reverse. They were like Yin and Yang and also carried the same energies with them. In this case, the Sun side was pushing towards the element of fire while the Moon to the ice element. The women on this side were exceptionally pale and filled with that icy demeanor that was so sought after by the cultivators in this world. So were the men though while the Sun side was more exterior with their emotions. It was as if a group of introverts and extroverts were going after each other.

“Elder Sun Shen, I think this is enough, could you tell me your intention?”

After arriving at the main sect area and this sub-zone that was the Moon Lily faction. Some sects had mountain peaks that divided their groups while others had massive buildings or even separate cities. This one on the other hand had whole valleys surrounded by medium-sized mountains from each side. Ten such valleys existed here and he was invited to one of them where he could have a conversation with their leader.

Of course, as per cultivator standards, he was taken on a tour through all the various vistas. They were clearly trying to show him the superiority of their faction by presenting various high-quality resources and manufacturing processes. He was even shown some of the pills that this sect was famous for but it was not something that he was interested in or envious of. Anything that was in this Empire was already at his fingertips. With enough time he would have probably been able to create a massive army that would have easily defeated both three great sects even if they were at full power and existed again.

It was obvious that they wanted to entice him with something to have a bargaining chip. As it stood now they didn’t know what they could offer to the Golden Dragon for his services. It wasn’t possible for anyone to not want any kind of reward. Zhang Dong on the other hand didn’t really need anything besides the basic resources like spirit stones and herbs. With the base materials, he could use his crafting abode to produce pills and weapons at a factory scale.

There was not really much they could offer to him and if it was any other time then a deal would not have been made. However, what he needed was to siphon the Daos of the two Emperors for himself and gain more power to go against the Overseer. If he could use the Heavenly Crane Sect to get him into a one-on-one confrontation with the Emerald Phoenix Emperor then it would actually be enough.

If he could get them to act as a vanguard and just allow him to add the finishing touches, then it would be enough. The only problem was the mistrusting nature of cultivators. If he didn’t ask for anything then they would assume that there was something else he was after. Something that either was worth risking his life for or he was intending to betray them when they needed him the most.

There were many records of faction leaders not keeping promises and pulling their troops out of battle to allow their allies to be eradicated. Then invading their weakened lands and taking over. Sometimes the third party would just wait for two foes to go into battle and after both of them were at the end of their wits, they entered the playing field to flip the board.

“I’m sure the honorable Golden Dragon knows what we wish of him.”

“That is true, you want me to help you with your little problem in the east but what can you offer me in return?”

After going through the various smithies, libraries, and alchemist workshops he ended up in a secluded room with Sun Shen the leader of the Moon Lily faction. It seemed that the man was convinced that the problem was greater than the other thought. He was even willing to bring in an outsider that could potentially put them in bad grace with the current Emperor.

“We will swear an oath of comradeship to the United Element Sect that will not be broken for millennia.”

“Hoh, you wish to be our long-lived friends but such an oath won’t mean much after both of us are gone, you’ll have to give me something more tangible.”

“Does the Golden Dragon have something in mind?”

“I actually do, I’ve seen the resourcefulness of your sect and you do have something that I want.”

A bond of friendship between two sects would only last as long as their Patriarch’s stayed in power. Sun Shen here could only go through with something like that if their leader agreed to it so it wasn’t a done deal. Normally it would have been a great deal to any other sect or clan. If they gained recognition as an allied sect to the Heavenly Crane Sect then no one could come seeking trouble with them.

People coming from the Heavenly Crane Sect would be compelled to help anyone from the United Element Sect if there was any trouble. Zhang Dong’s sect didn’t really need any help in this regard as they had already proven themselves to be strong. What he needed was resources that he could use to enhance his own army.

“Oh, if it’s within my power then I’m sure we could come to an agreement.”

“As you know we are in dire times and as such resources are scarce. I wish you to supply me with the highest quality spirit metals that the eastern region is known for, of course without any taxation…”

“You wish to use our ore mines?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Dong nodded as the resources on his side were starting to be drained. What he needed was more materials to produce large flying ships like the Argonaut and other minerals. This was the best way of improving his forces without spending too many spirit points on rising people's cultivation. There was just not enough spirit steel to go around for manufacturing such large flying vessels and the eastern region was known for having abundant mines.

“My faction has access to a repository of ancient metals and some mines but…”

“Is there a problem?”

“... I won’t lie, but the mines belong to another faction that we aren’t at great terms with.”

“Let me guess, is it the Sun Lily faction?”

“I see the Golden Dragon is wise.”

The old man nodded as he misunderstood Zhang Dong’s shot in the dark for wisdom. Instead, to him, it only made sense that what he wanted was lying behind someone that he was up against. It was as if the world was conspiring against him to make things harder. This could have actually been very true in this case if the Overseer was keeping track of his movements.

“Do you perhaps have a way to move the Sun Lily faction to prepare the items that I want?”

“That is…possible, I would have to discuss it at the faction leader gathering.”

“Can you take care of that? I don’t think you or me have time to waste on too much bureaucracy.”

He wished to just head out into the field and drive the invaders back. Nevertheless, he had asked for payment and unless he wanted to be looked down on he needed to stick through it. There was always a way to change the minds of others and he was very convincing when it came to knocking some sense into people.

“This might actually be possible, we are holding a meeting tomorrow… but do you wish to join me for it?”

“Yes, would that be a problem?”

Zhang Dong asked while giving the old man the gentlest smile he could muster. The only way to move things along would be to kick up a fuss where the most prominent sect elders were taking part in.