Meanwhile, back at the Soaring Cloud City, the Elders of the Divine Dao Alliance led by the Second Elder made their way towards the Leng Mansion.
Sitting on the back of Snow Condors, a two meters tall Demonic Beast of the Demon Duke Realm, comparable to Xantian Realm cultivators.
These Demonic Beasts possessed a gentle and peaceful personality compared to their kind and thus, were easier to tame. They were native inhabitants of the northern part of the Heaven Desolate Region and possessed the Jade Level, Sky Andean Bloodline.
Looking down from atop the Snow Condor and taking in the scenery of the Soaring Cloud City, the Divine Dao Alliance's Second Elder, Huang Ling said to the elders behind him. "No matter what happens during the negotiation today, no one is to provoke Prince Leng. After all, entering the Ancient Tomb and acquiring the Supreme Item is our number one priority."
"No problem Elder Ling, as long as Prince Leng doesn't overstep his boundaries, then we'll keep from doing so." The Fourth Elder, Fang Duan coldly said.
"I'm a little curious Elder Ling, what exactly is the Supreme Item we are looking to obtain in the Ancient Tomb?" The Eight Elder, Fang Mingshuo asked as he gazed at the Second Elder, Huang Ling.
A question which garnered attention from the Fourth and Fifth Elder, pricking up their ears, they stared at the Second Elder, Huang Ling, as they expectantly awaited his response.
Hearing the question, the First Elder, Huang Ling's expression turned grave as he solemnly answered, "That information is only known to the upper echelons of our Divine Dao Alliance. All i am privy to, is that the Supreme Item is extremely powerful and whosoever possesses it will have the power to dominate this world." Pausing for a bit, he continued, "Once we obtain the Supreme Item, that'll be the time for our Divine Dao Alliance to reign over the Great Thousand World." The Second Elder said as he clenched his fist. The other elders also relished the idea of reigning over the Great Thousand World as they excitedly clenched their fists.
A few minutes later, with the Leng Mansion in sight they began a gentle descent, landing with such control that even a mortal would have no cause to complain, let alone a cultivator.
They were now situated at the very edge of the outer Leng Mansion territory, confronted with an ancient maroon metal gate that exuded a sense of oppression and heaviness, and also an array of Imperial Guards standing on both sides of the gate blocking their path forward.
A majestic Golden Dragon was carved onto both sides of the gate's surface with impeccable attention to detail, so much so that if one were to gaze for too long they would find it difficult to distinguish it from reality.
Ten middle-aged men in azure robes stood in a single file, their expressions stern and uncompromising as they stared at the newcomers with intensity, each with a cultivation at the peak Star of the Jade Soul Realm.
The Elite Guardians of the Leng Mansion were not a force to be trifled with, each of them seasoned experts of the imperial family that were trained in Xuan Grade Martial Techniques from an early age. When they attacked as one, holding back a peak Xuan Soul Realm expert was an easy task, and killing one was not entirely impossible.
"We are here to see Prince Zhou Leng" The Second Elder, Huang Ling respectfully announced as he observed the group of people blocking their path.
"Prince Zhou Leng has been expecting visitors from the Divine Dao Alliance, now that you're here, I'll lead you to him." Steward Yun was present, acknowledged, and the cultivators stepped aside with a practiced motion and allowed them to pass.
The Second Elder, Huang Ling flew down from atop the Snow Condor, walking past the Elite Guardians without exchanging any further words. The other elders walked at his side, but neither of them tried to interact with the Elite Guardians either, the latter merely nodding in acknowledgement.
A few seconds later, the Elders stood in front of the maroon metal gates, the Golden Dragon's gaze condescendingly landing down upon them.
They were peak Xuan Soul Construct, embedded with the fragmented soul of an adult Golden dragon. One glance at it and the Second Elder, Huang Ling could tell that it was the work of a Spiritual Grandmaster, or perhaps an even higher level of existence.
The Elders lightly flared their Qi, and they could feel the gaze of the Golden dragons intensify as it recorded their Qi signature.
Then, as abruptly as it began, the attention upon them dissipated. The metal gates began to rumble, the very earth trembling beneath their feet, as it slowly creaked open.
The gates were not part of a larger installation or structure like one would expect, but instead integrated directly into the inner mansion's protective Rune Formation. The metal gates finally opened, and Steward Yun led them to the Meeting Hall were Prince Zhou Leng awaited their arrival.
Within the Meeting Hall, the Divine Dao Alliance Elders sat down on the seats lined up on both sides of the hall, while staring at Prince Zhou Leng sitting at the very end of the hall on a throne-like seat.
The staring contest between the Elders and Prince Zhou Leng continued for a while, creating an awkward atmosphere. Deciding to break the silence, Second Elder Huang Ling said as he stared at Prince Zhou Leng, "I'm sure Your Highness knows the reason why we are here today. Our Divine Dao Alliance demands an explanation for what happened to our subordinates and Sixth Elder Huang Wu. We received a message from Elder Huang Wu stating that he was attacked by your Imperial Protector, Ye Guhan."
"Demand an explanation!? You act like he committed no offense. Huang Wu trespassed into my territory, an offense punishable by death. And yes, I ordered Ye Guhan to attack him, but unfortunately he was found dead, killed by a palm strike along with the others. If that's all you have to say, then you should be on your way back to whence you came." Prince Zhou Leng said with a hint of ridicule visible on his face.
"Impossible! Elder Huang Wu was a peak Star Jade Soul Realm expert, and you expect us to believe that he was killed by just a palm strike. You..."
"Enough!" Preventing the Fourth Elder, Fang Duan from speaking further, the Second Elder Huang Ling turned to Prince Leng and asked, "Can we see his corpse?"
"Of course" Prince Zhou Leng calmly replied, then he turned towards Steward Yun who was standing beside him and said, "Yun He, bring out the corpse."
"Yes, Your Highness." Steward Yun replied.
Then he walked towards the Second Elder Huang Ling, and brought out a corpse from his spatial ring, placing it on the ground in front of him. The corpse had already been rotting for a period of time, as proven by the faint stench of corpse permeating the air.
Furrowing his brows as he observed the corpse, the Fourth Elder, Fang Duan said, "He really died of a palm strike, who'd be capable of such a thing?"
"Even a Xuan Soul Realm expert wouldn't be able to Kill a Jade Soul Realm cultivator with just a palm strike. Not even an Earth ranked Assassin from the Blood Kill Pavillion could do it." The Fifth Elder, Huang Shuyun followed up with his own deduction as he observed the corpse.
Placing the corpse into his own spatial ring, the Second Elder Huang Ling said to the Elders beside him. "We'll figure everything out when we get back to the North Snow Domain." Turning towards Prince Zhou Leng, he continued, "We have a proposal Prince Zhou Leng, you let members of our Divine Dao Alliance enter the Ancient Tomb together with your people and thirty percent of whatever treasures we find will be given to you."
"I guess this is the main reason you've come all the way to Soaring Cloud City and not for some dead fellow. But, why would I let others enter the Purple Cloaked Rune Master's Tomb when i can have all the treasures for myself?"
"It's more than just the Tomb of a Purple Cloaked Rune Master Prince Zhou Leng. If your Highness agrees to our proposal, then we'll definitely let you in on what we know about the Ancient Tomb." The Second Elder, Huang Ling said unhurriedly with the feeling of having the initiative.
Carefully deliberating over what the Second Elder said, Prince Zhou Leng replied, "Okay, I agree." He then continued, "Rune Master Liu Shu has made an analysis after studying the Purple Cloaked Rune Master's Tomb. He discovered that only a maximum number of twenty people at the Nascent Soul Realm and below are eligible to enter the tomb. The Divine Dao Alliance will be allocated 8 quotas to enter the Ancient Tomb and I'll be entitled to forty percent of the treasures you obtain. is that acceptable to you Elder Huang Ling?"
"Yes Prince Zhou Leng." The Second Elder, Huang Ling answered with a smile visible on his face and then asked, "So when are we entering the Ancient Tomb?"
"We'll open the entrance two months after the Bloodforge Trials." Prince Zhou Leng answered.
"I'm glad we've come to terms Prince Zhou Leng, if there's nothing else, we'll be taking our leave." After saying this, the Second Elder, Huang Ling stood up from his seat followed by the other Elders, as they marched out of the Meeting Hall.
Tailing their departure with his eyes, Prince Zhou Leng furrowed his brows as he thought to himself. 'There's definitely something fishy going on' Turning his head, he said, "Ye Guhan, find out what the Divine Dao Alliance has been up to lately and also why they desperately want to enter the Ancient Tomb."
"Yes, your Highness." Appearing from a dark corner of the meeting hall, Ye Guhan said as he slowly merged with the shadows once again.