Three men strode in to two rows of men that belonged to the six major sects. The men's eyes were filled with resentment and grudge-if looks could kill, the three men would be dead by now. Liu Zong and Liu Heng couldn't help but inhale sharply.

"Don't be nervous," said Jiang Ning in a low voice. "You'll be facing more terrifying things in the future."

The two brothers paused momentarily when they heard Jiang Ning's words, then pulled themselves together.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

They knew that Jiang Ning had been seizing every opportunity that he had to train and better them. The realization had dawned upon them only now. The gratitude that they felt could not be put down in words but they were adamant that they were going to remember what he had done for them.

The sect leaders of the six major sects were in the tent when Jiang Ning strode in. He swept his eyes past the men and immediately recognized a few elders whom he was familiar with.

There was Li Gao, who was seated at one side, the elders from Buddha Sect and Qiankun Sect, as well as Elder Luo Long, who had been glaring at Jiang Ning murderously since he had entered the tent and probably wished he could kill Jiang Ning with a look.

They were looking at Jiang Ning with disbelief, as if incredulous that Jiang Ning had brought two unimportant persons into their base.

The elders respected his boldness but they were also aware that his actions were a sign of his arrogance and brazenness.

He thought too highly of himself.

"You must be Jiang Ning." Luo Qi sat there without any intention of rising to his feet. Even though he had to raise his head slightly to meet Jiang Ning's eyes, the aura that he was exuding was clearly that of superiority.

"That's me." Jiang Ning didn't beat around the bush. He pulled a chair over and sat down with a casualness that made it seem like he had just walked into his own garden and not the base of the six major sects.

Liu Zong and Liu Heng were not as composed as Jiang Ning as they stood behind him, alert and on their guard.

Besides the sect leaders of the various sects, there were also powerful elders present. They were but juniors in their presence and the weakest in their midst.

"You wish to negotiate," Ting Chan

said. "I would like to know why you would like to negotiate with us and why you believe that we would negotiate with you. What are your bargaining chips? The six major sects have gathered at Qingshan Sect and I believe you know what we want. Is there any point in having a negotiation at all?"

Ting Chan let loose a flurry of questions, then stared at Jiang Ning and waited for his answers.

The other sect leaders did not utter a word.

"Because I don't want to see so many people die for nothing," Jiang Ning simply said. "That should be enough."

He looked straight into Ting Chan's eyes. "I believe that the aim of everyone present is to survive and not perish with their sect. I have a way to deal with the gray fog."

Something flickered in Ting Chan's eyes when he heard Jiang Ning's words. He eyed Jiang Ning curiously.

"You? That's rubbish!" Li Xuan shook his head and snorted. "This young punk doesn't know what he's dealing with. Have you seen the gray fog? You said that you can deal with it? You? How?"

Did he truly think that the six major sects were filled with fools?

They would have dealt with the problem a long time ago if it were something that had a solution. Inè fact, the other sects, including those sects that had been devoured by the fog, had probably tried to come up with a solution.

But they had all failed. It was something that could not be eradicated, only avoided.

"That's great. Everyone knows how

terrifying the gray fog is. How are you going to deal with it?" Wu Liang shook his head and sighed. "Two sect leaders investigated the fog personally, only to never return from their trip. You're saying that you have a solution to this problem? You must be joking."

The other sect leaders were of the firm belief that Jiang Ning was simply boasting. What he was promising them was impossible.

"Humph, I can't believe that you're using this as a bargaining chip, Jiang Ning. Do you take us as fools?" Luo Qi slammed his fist on the table. "There's a price to pay for playing us like idiots."