One-Click Upgrade: Super Decomposition System

Chapter 397 - Both of Them Had Their Own Plans both of Them Were on the Same Side!

Chen Qi responded with a reassuring smile.

“Master Jiang, there's no need to worry. We're all brothers here. Your father will be safe, I assure you!”

“Still, the Baiqi Killing Sword and the martial cultivator training method were direct orders from the Seven Kills Palace Master. I'm merely carrying out those orders, so I hope you won't hold it against me, Master Jiang.”

Jiang Hao didn't hesitate in his reply.

“I'll retrieve the Baiqi Killing Sword and the cultivation method. But I need to see my father and the people I sent to find him first.”

Hearing this, Chen Qi's spirits lifted, and he quickly responded.

“Absolutely, Master Jiang. Rest assured, now that we're allies, we have no intention of breaking our promise!”

“Great, we'll reconvene later. I'm off to gather the items!”

Chen Qi had no intention of stopping Jiang Hao from departing.

Once Jiang Hao left the Xu Prefecture, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by an icy demeanor.

“They dare to threaten me!”

“Let's see if they can even make it out of Tianhee City with what they've taken!”

……

Meanwhile, back at the Xu Prefecture, Chen Qi's smile also faded as he watched Jiang Hao's retreating figure, his expression turning grave.

“I've underestimated the situation,” he murmured to himself.

The surrounding elders were deep in thought when one of them addressed Chen Qi.

“Hall Master, Jiang Hao's easy agreement seems suspicious. There could be deceit at play.”

This sparked a chorus of agreement from the other elders.

“Indeed, Hall Master!”

“He's an enigma. Even if we secure the Baiqi Killing Sword and the cultivation method…

What if he reneges on the deal as soon as we release him?”

……

Chen Qi had already considered the elders' concerns.

He faced them, his expression souring.

“But if we refuse to comply and completely provoke him, would he really just let it be?”

At Chen Qi's words, the elders fell silent.

They knew he was right; provoking Jiang Hao might mean none of them would leave Tianhee City unscathed.

It was then they remembered a warning from the Fifth Elder before their meeting.

“We can't afford to confront him; he's an enigma. Unless the Palace Masters themselves intervene, it would be a one-way trip!”

At the time, everyone dismissed the Fifth Elder's warnings as hyperbole, and no one took him seriously.

After all, the spiritual energy of the world had only just begun to rejuvenate. Even before its full resurgence, the four Palace Masters of the Nether King's Hall had become seasoned martial cultivators, thanks to the legacy of their order.

Now, their prowess was even more inscrutable.

How could a newcomer with no substantial background hope to match them?

Yet, upon encountering Jiang Hao, the Fifth Elder's words came rushing back to them.

Regret washed over them in an instant.

But with the situation having escalated to this point, they were in too deep to back out now. They had no choice but to forge ahead, despite their misgivings.

After a heavy silence, an elder who had remained quiet until now finally spoke up.

“Hall Master, I have a suggestion.”

At this, all eyes turned to him.

Chen Qi quickly prompted him.

“Speak, Second Elder.”

Without delay, the Second Elder laid out his strategy.

“I propose two options for the Clan Leader to consider.”

“The first and preferable one involves leveraging the Hsu Family's allegiance to the Nether King's Hall. We could delegate this task to them.”

“Meanwhile, we make our exit before Jiang Hao arrives and retreat to a safe distance, awaiting word from the Hsu Family.”

“This approach would safeguard our lives, but the downside is that we risk failing to secure the Baiqi Killing Sword and the secrets of cultivating martial prowess, thus falling short of our objective.”

After presenting his case, the Second Elder cast a meaningful glance at Chen Qi.

In essence, it was a tactical retreat.