This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 178 Confrontation

As Xiao Xingchen's voice boomed like a bell, the man from Great Xia's face instantly changed color, like a chameleon.

He asked solemnly, "Just who are you?"

"Let's go inside and have a proper talk. You can rest assured that these confidential matters will not be leaked."

Xiao Xingchen knew perfectly well that this was the ultimate secret that enabled Great Xia to contend with the Nine Heavens. They would definitely keep it tightly under wraps. He was also eager to know what astonishing stage industrial development had reached on that distant other side, and who his former transmigrator was.

While everyone else thought that the people of Great Xia wouldn't care about Xiao Xingchen, Wang Xiaobo nodded without hesitation.

"Alright, I'll go with you. As for the debt owed by the Confucian Temple, I'll give you a few days. I hope that both the Confucian Temple and the Great Qian will give me a satisfactory answer by then."

"That's good. You must be new to Daqian. Come on, let me introduce you to a very interesting arena competition that we've been holding recently. I'm sure you'll love it. Come on, everyone move aside and go home."

Xiao Xingchen didn't try to hide his voice, which was as melodious as a nightingale's song, causing everyone to be astonished once again. What had he said that could cause such a dramatic change in the attitude of the people of Great Xia? Moreover, he had deliberately made the Quasi-Saint make way for him and even offered a puzzling smile.

"This disciple will go ahead first. Master, please hurry to the palace. I'm sure Emperor Wu is anxiously waiting for you."

No one knew what Xiao Xingchen was thinking. He led the group from Daxia into Yong'an in full view of everyone. The onlookers were dumbfounded. What was even more outrageous was that he actually led his people straight into Huayu Tower. This made many people smile bitterly. Looking at the whole world, this was probably the first time in history that a brothel was used to entertain envoys from a country.

Xiao Xingchen didn't think too much about it. He knew that his appearance would put him in the spotlight again, but he had no time to worry about that.

He was filled with curiosity about the suddenly appearing Great Xia. Ruoxue had prepared a room early on, and she could also see that Xiao Xingchen and Great Xia must have their own exclusive topics.

Coming to Huayulou is simply to escape the hustle and bustle.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a brothel. I'm sure you're all familiar with it. Please feel free to entertain yourselves. I wish to speak with Wang Xiaobo alone."

"That's perfect, just what I wanted. Shall we talk privately?"

Wang Xiaobo also showed great interest in the boy in front of him, and turned to the people following behind him and said,

"Xiao Feng, you can enjoy yourselves on your own. We'll discuss the next steps after I've finished talking."

"I know. Be careful and don't forget what your teacher told you before you left."

Xiao Feng and the others gave Xiao Xingchen a deep look, then understood and walked out. Once only the two of them were left in the room, Xiao Xingchen gave Ruoxue a wink, and Ruoxue, sensing his intention, followed suit and left as well.

At this moment, he spoke again and asked, "I wish to know everything about your Great Xia, from its founding to the present day."

Wang Xiaobo shook his head and retorted.

"Before that, I need to ascertain whether you are friend or foe. How do you know those words?"

"If I say it's just a guess, do you believe me?"

"If you don't believe me, the reason why the Nine Heavens have been able to keep the Great Xia Dynasty alive until now is simply because they covet our secrets. Even they have searched for many years but have not been able to find any clues on steam. How do you know this?"

"No, it is only today that I have learned of a place called Great Xia on the other side of the ocean. You advocate equality for all and even shake hands. This reminds me of some old friends. Therefore, I am very curious about when you founded your country and by whom?"

"I don't believe you! If you don't tell me why you know these things, I will never utter a single word!"

Wang Xiaobo responded decisively, which made Xiao Xingchen frown slightly, as if a pebble had been thrown into a calm lake.

The two of them talked back and forth like two cunning foxes, each trying to get information out of the other. However, their questions were of utmost importance to each other, like secrets hidden deep in their hearts that could not be easily revealed.

This instantly made the atmosphere heavy, as if time itself had frozen.

Wang Xiaobo slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the crowd surging like a tide outside. He couldn't help but sigh, "Is this the Great Qian Dynasty? It seems nothing special!"

“That depends on who you’re comparing it to. If you compare an agricultural society to an industrial society, you’ll naturally look down on it. But if you compare the Great Qian Dynasty to other countries, they’re already considered quite good,” Xiao Xingchen replied.

“You’re right. I’ve heard the term ‘industrial society’ before. In our country, it’s a secret known only to a select few. I never expected to hear it here. I’m truly curious. Who are you, and how do you manage to see through the secrets of our Great Xia at a glance?”

"Similarly, tell me who founded the Great Xia, and I will tell you why I know,"

Wang Xiaobo continued to shake his head, his attitude as candid as that of an innocent child.

"It seems we can't reach an agreement. I will never tell you that the Nine Heavens have been searching for the person who created the Great Xia Dynasty. To this day, the origin of the Great Xia Dynasty remains a mystery that no one knows. I cannot trust you, do you understand?"

"I have no ill intentions towards you."

"You can't see into someone's heart."

Xiao Xingchen smiled helplessly, secretly regretting that he had been too hasty. Perhaps for him, this was just an answer, but for the people of Daxia, it was the very foundation of their survival, after all, the Nine Heavens were watching them like hawks.

"I understand, but that doesn't diminish my goodwill towards you. If I have the chance, I would love to visit your country in person."

"Go to our place? Are you sure?"

Seeing Wang Xiaobo's astonished expression, as if he had seen a ghost, Xiao Xingchen looked puzzled.

"has a problem?"

“Our place is a forbidden zone by the Nine Heavens, like being surrounded by an iron barrel. No one can enter without their permission. You don’t naively think that a theocratic era would allow outcasts like us to thrive, do you?”

"I can understand their fear of the spread of the Great Xia's ideology, but I don't think the Great Xia is powerful enough to threaten them now. Your industrial level is nothing compared to that of cultivators."

"That's right, we are all mortals, relying on external things to fight against them, but apart from these, do you really think we are useless?"

Wang Xiaobo revealed a mysterious smile, then said confidently,

"There are some things that you people here may have never heard of. Besides those foreign objects, we have a race there, and their name is demons,"

"Monster clan?"

Xiao Xingchen's body jolted violently as if electrocuted; this was the first time in his life he had ever heard of the true existence of demons.

"Demon race? No, they are called demons, but they are not true demons. It is precisely because of the existence of demons that we can fight to the death with the Nine Heavens, which is also one of the reasons why they cannot destroy the Great Xia."

"I want to know more about demons,"

"Of course, but you need to exchange something for it, just like with the Confucian Temple. All transactions must be equal. If you offer something, I won't be accused of leaking secrets, and I can report back to my superiors. What do you think?"

Xiao Xingchen's eyes narrowed slightly. These young people from the Great Xia Dynasty were indeed somewhat different. They didn't exude any aura of cultivation; instead, they seemed more like a group of merchants who had traveled far and wide.

"What do you want? Or rather, what do you have about me that you covet?"

"That depends on you. Now you're the one asking for my help, so the amount of leverage you have depends on what you can give me, not what I want, because what I want is something you probably can't afford to give me at all."

"Now I finally understand why the Confucian Temple was willing to mortgage Hanhai. I must say, you are truly shrewd businessmen!"

"It's all for survival, after all, the place we live in is like a cage, and we can hardly come and go freely."

"Therefore, what you crave most is resources, am I right?"

Xiao Xingchen grew suspicious. The Confucian Temple dared to mortgage the vast ocean of the Great Qian Dynasty. This might have been a conspiracy by the Great Xia Dynasty. The Great Xia Dynasty had long coveted that land and was thus carefully orchestrating this whole affair.

"The vast ocean holds the resources you've always dreamed of, buried deep underground. Am I right? That's why you've ventured out of the Great Xia Dynasty to demand the vast ocean from the Great Qian Dynasty. You've already determined that the Confucian Temple is unable to repay the original price, and that Yujingtian being dragged into it as collateral is probably a plan you've already devised. You have some experts there, don't you?"

This was the first time Xiao Xingchen had taken the initiative since they met. Just as he had said at the beginning, once he lost his bargaining chips, he would be manipulated by the other party.

However, his words seemed to strike at the heart of Da Xia's problem. For the first time, a ripple appeared on Wang Xiaobo's face, perhaps even one of confusion.

“You are very intelligent. You have seen through our entire plan from just a few words from me. Reason tells me that I cannot talk to you too much. To the Great Xia, you are like a flood or a ferocious beast, extremely dangerous.”

"So, you're plotting to kill me, aren't you?"

“Indeed, you instill fear in me. You seem to know everything about the Great Xia Dynasty, which forces me to re-evaluate our relationship.” Wang Xiaobo’s expression was unusually grim.

Xiao Xingchen was perfectly aware of all this. After all, he had seen through what they relied on for survival, which was tantamount to handing over his life and fortune to them.

Once Han Hai's meticulous plan is exposed, all their hard work will instantly vanish.

However, these were precisely his bargaining chips, and he knew it was time to show some sincerity, otherwise the people of Great Xia would only become more hostile towards him, which was definitely not what he wanted to see.

"To reiterate, I have no hostility towards your region. In fact, we might even be like-minded. I know you may have doubts, and I cannot make you completely trust me. However, I can tell you frankly, is it possible that there is more than one Great Xia?"