Long Baxiang's words actually reflected the thoughts of most of the others present. This time, Emperor Yunlan of Pill Fire City had brought along a formidable contingent from the Heavenly River Palace, the Heavenly Sound Temple, and the Immortal Heavenly Capital. Their combined strength far surpassed that of any other faction. If there wasn't an agreement in place beforehand, it would easily lead to squabbling later on — and when that happened, all their efforts might amount to nothing more than doing Emperor Yunlan's group a favor.
The representative from the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect spoke up as well: "Emperor Baxiang's words may be blunt, but the logic is sound. We really should reach an agreement first. Otherwise, when the time comes to divide the spoils unevenly, it'll be difficult to manage."
At this point, if Emperor Yunlan didn't make some gesture of goodwill, the others wouldn't be willing to put in their full effort. And without that, the idea of working together in unity would fall apart entirely.
Emperor Yunlan pondered for a moment before saying coolly: "Let us divide the spoils into ten portions. My Pill Fire City, together with the sects and forces I've brought along, shall take seven portions combined. Your Nine Suns Heavenly Sect and Heavenly Dragon Sect shall each receive one portion. The remaining one portion will go to the various other factions."
This was Emperor Yunlan's proposed distribution.
He considered this offer more than generous — at the very least, he hadn't consumed everything and had left something for the lesser powers.
Of course, the forces from the Upper Eight Domains taking the lion's share was simply a given.
The second- and third-rate factions heard Emperor Yunlan's words and, though somewhat displeased deep down, didn't dare voice any objection.
Being granted one portion was already an act of mercy. At this point, even if Emperor Yunlan gave them nothing at all, there was nothing they could do about it.
Perhaps this one-portion allocation was merely meant to harness their strength!
However, just because these lesser factions didn't dare object didn't mean the Heavenly Dragon Sect and the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect would accept it happily. Upon hearing this distribution plan, Emperor Baxiang's face immediately turned green.
"Yunlan, you're asking for the moon, and not the way one should! Your appetite is far too large. If everyone were to be as shameless as you, then this matter truly cannot be discussed."
The great emperor from the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect shook his head vigorously: "Preposterous, preposterous! Setting aside your various factions, the fact that you came together means you count as a single force. On what grounds does your one faction take seven portions while we are only given one each?"
The Nine Suns Heavenly Sect and the Heavenly Dragon Sect had every right to be dissatisfied, for they were the most powerful among the eight great sects of the Upper Eight Domains.
Why should they receive only one portion?
Emperor Yunlan's proposed distribution was, in truth, somewhat deliberate. As the saying goes — start with an outrageous demand, then negotiate down from there.
It was a negotiation, after all. Naturally, one had to open with an astronomical figure and then work toward a middle ground. If the initial offer was too modest, there would be no room to negotiate.
"Long Baxiang, you say my appetite is large? Is your Heavenly Dragon Sect's appetite any smaller? By your logic, are you suggesting your Heavenly Dragon Sect should take the largest share?"
Long Baxiang snorted angrily: "Aside from the one portion given to the other factions, of the remaining nine portions, my Heavenly Dragon Sect should receive at least three. Otherwise, I will absolutely not agree to this alliance."
The great emperor from the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect also chimed in with a laugh: "My Nine Suns Heavenly Sect also wants three portions. Otherwise, don't bother bringing us into this."
These two were also making outrageous demands.
Asking for three portions was clearly a brazen opening gambit.
But that was the nature of negotiation. Since it was a negotiation, there was no need for modesty. One might as well set the bar impossibly high first and see what could be hammered out in the end.
Before Emperor Yunlan could respond, a powerful figure from the Heavenly River Palace spoke with a smile: "You two — now that's what you call asking for the moon. Nine portions in total, and your two factions want to take six? The rest of us, all these factions combined, are supposed to share the remaining three? Are you certain you're not dreaming?"
"That's right. Negotiations should follow proper decorum. You can't just spout wild demands."
"In my estimation, even without your two factions, we might still be able to break through these restrictions."
"Exactly. The fact that your Heavenly Dragon Sect can't do it doesn't mean no one else can."
Long Baxiang sneered repeatedly at these words, his eyes boring into the Heavenly River Palace expert: "Your Heavenly River Palace? You don't even qualify to be called a faction. When you stop being Pill Fire City's lackey, then you can come and speak. Right now, your Heavenly River Palace has no standing."
"And your Heavenly Sound Temple — hold your tongue as well. A puppet faction has no right to sit at the same table as my Heavenly Dragon Sect!"
"And as for your Immortal Heavenly Capital — heh heh... Has your Heavenly Capital Master lost all courage from being intimidated by the Radiant King City? How is it that even the Immortal Heavenly Capital has become Pill Fire City's vassal?"
Long Baxiang's venomous tongue was truly fearsome — not many could stand to face it.
The Nine Suns Heavenly Sect had always had a terrible relationship with the Immortal Heavenly Capital, and at this moment they added their own mockery: "The Immortal Heavenly Capital is truly going downhill with each passing year. Back in the day, though the Immortal Heavenly Capital may have been wayward, they at least had some backbone. Now they've fallen so low as to become someone else's vassal. Fine, be a vassal if you will — but at a gathering like this, you still expect to sit as equals with our first-rate sects and divide the spoils? Do you even have that right?"
It had to be said that both the Nine Suns Heavenly Sect and the Heavenly Dragon Sect were among the most arrogant and domineering of the eight great first-rate sects of the Upper Eight Domains.
Their relationship with each other had never been particularly cordial, but at this moment they found themselves standing on the same side, forced to form a temporary alliance.