Chapter 53 Soft And Hard Tactics

Xuanyuan stared at Tai Yin, who was standing beside the familiar figure of a Peak Rank 2 Enslavement Path Gu Master. The three Gu Masters all glanced at each other from across the central hall before Tai Yin grinned, placing her hands on her hips.

"What are you doing here Xuanyuan? Are you following me?".

The girl's tone was accusatory, but from the massive smirk on her face and the constant glances she sent to Song Pei, it seemed as though she was extremely pleased with herself, to the point where she jabbed the slightly young man beside her, causing him to wince as he felt her elbow dig into his ribs.

Song Pei glared at her for a moment, but Tai Yin just waltzed up to Xuanyuan her hands behind her back, smiling at the much taller boy. Xuanyuan rolled his eyes at her, gesturing to Song Pei, smiling at him.

"I actually wanted to discuss the proposition I extended to you and Tai Yang with Song Pei here. However... it seems that I wasn't the only one who thought of this... was I Tai Yin?".

The Sword Path Gu Master smiled, a silvery glint flashing in her eyes. The girl just shrugged her shoulders looking to the side innocently, also gesturing towards Song Pei.

"I just mentioned your expedition to Song Pei. All of us disciples have completed a years worth of regular training and are all now required to complete missions for the Sect. Song Pei plans on joining the Dark Soul Hall, but cannot do so until he becomes a Rank 3 Gu Master. He doesn't know anyone in the Dark Soul Hall either, so when you asked me about joining your expedition, I thought I might ask if Song Pei wanted to join as well?".

Xuanyuan suppressed a frown only turning towards Song Pei, who just stared at Tai Yin occasionally glancing towards Xuanyuan. He was obviously gauging his expression, but Xuanyuan didn't show any sort of emotion, other than the soft smile which constantly seemed to mar his face.

Xuanyuan didn't mind asking Song Pei himself if he wanted to join the expedition, but considering that Tai Yin had gone over his head asking others if they wanted to join, even without giving him her answer beforehand made him annoyed, knowing that it might force him into an ultimatum.

If Tai Yin and Tai Yang attached some requirement that needed Song Pei to join if they wanted to come along, then that was fine, seeing that they wanted to go through Xuanyuan first before asking.

But inviting Song Pei without telling Xuanyuan first, called into question who was leading the expedition.

Glancing at Tai Yin, Xuanyuan just nodded.

"If Song Pei wants to join, then all he has to do is ask Tai Yin. You have not given your answer either, and until that happens, neither of you will be coming".

Tai Yin and Song Pei frowned somewhat, hearing the words come out of Xuanyuan's mouth. While his tone was calm and soft, his words were hard and unyielding! Xuanyuan didn't want any room for mistake or error, he was the one organizing the expedition, so he would lead, while the others would follow.

He didn't want to waste his time during the expedition sorting out the chain of command, so before they even had a chance to join, Xuanyuan wanted to make it clear.

He was their leader, not the other way around. 

Xuanyuan was quite open when it came to cultivation or research or even the dissemination of knowledge to his fellow Gu Masters. It was possible, even if it was extraordinarily small, that they might have some sort of breakthrough that could assist him in the future. 

However, when it came to taking charge and leading others, there was no Xuanyuan would allow himself to be relegated to a follower to those of the same cultivation as him.

Tai Yin and Song Pei shared a look, before the latter spoke, his expression somewhat guarded.

"Tai Yin informed me that you valued strength Xuanyuan. The strength of Tai Yin, Tai Yang and myself exceed that of the rest of your group members. Having us would benefit you in the long run, ensuring our safety and increasing our gains at the end of the expedition".

Xuanyuan nodded, but just shrugged his shoulders with the same attitude that Tai Yin did moments before.

"Perhaps... but two of my friends, Long Xi and Yu Zhong Er have also agreed to participate. Long Xi is a Peak Rank 2 Gu Master, while Yu Zhong Er is an Upper Stage Rank 2 Gu Master. With them, Yu Xiaolong, Jia Yufei and Li Xiao Er, our strength is more than enough to succeed in this endeavor... with or without you".

Tai Yin frowned somewhat, not knowing Long Xi's name, but hearing Yu Zhong Er's name before. 

A few months ago, a few young members of the Golden Soul Hall started spreading rumors about Xuanyuan, saying that he assaulted female members of the Golden Soul Hall, causing his reputation to plummet and gossip to spread rampantly.

As an Elder descendant, she knew that it was more than likely Huo Jin who spread these rumors, especially after a beautiful girl with white strands of hair publicly rejected him in the middle of the Wood Soul Hall.

She inwardly approved of this Yu Zhong Er, but had never once met, or even thought about her after that.

Glancing at Song Pei, Tai Yin showed an expression of interest, knowing that Xuanyuan had the influence to reach other talented and beautiful female Gu Masters. Considering that she was a few years older than her, she should have a much greater grasp on her Gu, as well as the number of Gu she had in her possession.

If this Long Xi was anything like Yu Zhong Er, then with Xuanyuan, the three of them were more than a match for the three of them.

Xuanyuan couldn't tell what Tai Yin was thinking, but just continued before she had a chance to say anything.

"I will not hide anything. I wanted to ask the two of you individually, so that you both could join of your own accord. I am aware that the three of you, including Tai Yang all know each other, so that the presence of Song Pei, or the Tai siblings would not make you feel out of place amongst the rest of us".

"It is true that I value strength, but I value trust and friendship so much more than martial strength. If the condition of one group is that the other must join as well, then I will accept it. However, you must also accept the rest of us when you join our expedition. I can trust the strong to have my back during a battle. But I trust my friends with my life".

Xuanyuan stared at the silent Tai Yin and Song Pei, both of which avoided his direct gaze, glancing at each other for a moment.

Xuanyuan used a combination of hard and soft tactics on the pair. Giving them both a firm warning, then playing on their emotions to promote unity and friendship. This was a righteous sect, one that encouraged warmth, familiarity and love.

Xuanyuan knew better than most how to use these to his advantage.

Song Pei eventually let out a sigh, shaking his head, giving Xuanyuan a small bow.

"I apologize Xuanyuan. My impression of you... to be honest I didn't think that much of it. But I can see why Tai Yin and Tai Yang say that your... different than most. If you would allow me to join you and your team on your expedition, I would be honored".

Tai Yin showed a somewhat awkward expression as well, scratching the back of her head. She didn't bow, but her cheeks were somewhat red, and she turned her face away from Xuanyuan's, trying to hide her embarrassment. 

"It was... not honorable of me to ask Song Pei without telling you first. Yang and I thank you for inviting us to join your team, and we both accept. My brother and I are actually thinking of joining the Dark Soul Hall once we become Rank 3 Gu Masters as well, so in the future, come and look for us here if you want to find us".

Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow, but just nodded, not prying too deeply into Tai Yin's affairs. So long as the three of them joined Xuanyuan's expedition, they would be considered a group in the eyes of a Sect, registered under Xuanyuan's leadership.

The various Soul Halls in the Ancient Soul Sect each governed important aspects of the Sect. 

Earth Soul Hall which patrolled and guarded Earth Soul City.

Dark Soul Hall which protected the entranceways to the Earth Abyss.

Wood Soul Hall which took care of the food that Gu Masters fed their Gu.

Light Soul Hall which governed healing and rejuvenation. 

These were all considered factions within the Ancient Soul Sect. However, most of the time, any group could take on missions from a certain faction, and at least two of the requests on the board were from members of the Wood Soul Hall and Light Soul Hall.

The only time that the Soul Hall's ever directly battled against each other, was during the Sect wide tournament ever three years. 

All Gu Masters, that belonged to a Soul Hall could participate. With the exception of Burning Soul Hall, all Gu Masters required a cultivation of Rank 3 or higher to join, so the minimum requirement to participate in the Sect wide tournament was a Rank 3 cultivation.

Xuanyuan knew that once Tai Yin, Tai Yang and Song Pei all became Rank 3 Gu Masters, they would be allowed to join the Dark Soul Hall formally, and fight under their banner during the next tournament. They had yearly missions which they had to complete, but other than that, most of the time they would continue doing what they were planning right now, completing missions and requests handed out by the Sect.

There were rewards given out by the Sect for the amount of missions completed per year. But rewards for the final rank received at the end of the tournament were given out by each Soul Hall. 

After organizing another meeting between Tai Yin, Tai Yang and Song Pei in a week from now, Xuanyuan let out a small breath of air, smiling as he completed the line up for his expedition. With four Peak Rank 2 Gu Masters, Xuanyuan wouldn't have to worry about encountering a lone Rank 3 Gu Master, or a random beast king in the wilderness. 

Xuanyuan was saving his Rank 2 Red Steel Relic Gu for the moment he reached the Upper Stage Rank 2, instantly propelling his cultivation to the Peak Rank 2 Gu Master stage. 

Yu Zhong Er could also use dark red primeval essence with the assistance of her Four Flavors Liquor Worm, meaning that her cultivation, even without primeval essence stones, would still reach the Peak Rank 2 Gu Master stage in the next couple months. 

Her and Long Xi were still both A Grade talents, so it was only a matter of time for them as well.

They would have six Peak Rank 2 Gu Masters on this expedition. And with the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus, Xuanyuan himself wouldn't have to worry about his cultivation and would instead only accumulate more primeval essence stones over the duration of his trip.

Xuanyuan thought about obtaining a Nine Leaf Vitality Grass life Fang Yuan previously did, but decided against it, in favor of the more rare Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus. The Nine Lead Vitality Grass useful only because a Gu Master could sell the leaves it produced. 

In the wilderness, travelling, Xuanyuan would be forced to fed the Rank 1 Vitality Leaf Gu in order to prevent it from deteriorating and dying. Even if he wanted to accumulate Vitality Leaf Gu, it would end up burning a significant hole in his wallet trying to sustain so many Gu at once.

Xuanyuan had gotten the affairs of his team in order, now all that was left was to gather his own affairs into order.

Smiling he swiftly headed towards Earth Soul City.

It was time to refine Gu!