If There Was Anything One Was Unwilling to Do, It Was Only Because the Stakes Weren't High Enough
Little C, you've gone off course! Come back, come back quickly!
Little A, it's not ready yet, we need to increase the intensity.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You let out a cold laugh, your voice full of sarcasm.]
"Pavilion Master Hua, you overestimate me."
"I will not engage in such an unreasonable deal! I, Lu, am better off leaving this Nü Zhi City!"
[As soon as you finished speaking, you turned and walked towards the door without the slightest hesitation.]
"Why did Fellow Daoist Lu refuse so quickly?"
[Hua Yunzhen's voice drifted from behind you, still in that unhurried tone.]
"As I said, you can name your terms."
"In this world, if there's anything one is unwilling to do, it's simply because the stakes aren't high enough."
[Her voice possessed a strange magic, as if it could see into the deepest desires of the human heart.]
[Salty Fish, in effect.]
Your Dao Heart is as strong as gold, stronger than iron.
[Are you sure that in that last sentence, Hua Yunzhen did use a special bewitching technique?]
[Name your conditions? Little vixen, you said it yourself.]
Your hand, which was resting on the doorknob, paused, as if you were struggling to weigh the pros and cons.
[After several breaths, you turned around, your expression shifting between light and shadow.]
"Since Pavilion Master Hua has put it this way, it would be ungrateful of me to refuse further."
You step back to the desk, place your hands on the table, and lean over to stare at her.
"I am currently collecting the Essence of the Five Elements. If Pavilion Master Hua can provide one, I will risk consuming my own life force to refine this batch of pills for you!"
[The teacup lid in Hua Yunzhen's hand stopped in mid-air.]
She frowned slightly and let out a soft sigh.
"What a pity."
"I did see such a rare and wondrous treasure as the Essence of the Five Elements once, two months ago, at the grand auction in Doushu City."
"If I had met you sooner, I would have spared no expense to acquire that piece of the Essence of Breath Soil for you."
She shook her head regretfully.
"Unfortunately, that treasure was won by a mysterious Nascent Soul Cultivator."
"That man looked like a spoiled brat, but his actions were strange and cunning. After bidding for the treasure, he disappeared without a trace, presumably having already fled thousands of miles away."
[Upon hearing this, your expression remained unchanged, but you were secretly delighted.]
Hearing others comment on you to your face is indeed quite fascinating.
[Especially when you get a comment from a Hua Yunzhen, "weird and treacherous," you feel like you've finally graduated from the Old Silver Coin Vocational Technical College.]
[Excuse me, Pavilion Master Hua, that cunning and treacherous fellow is standing right in front of you.]
You let out a cold laugh and straightened your back.
"Since Pavilion Master Hua cannot produce it, then there is nothing more to discuss."
"The one in Doushu City is gone, but I happen to have a Water Element Essence in my Desire Sea Pavilion."
[Hua Yunzhen's eyes flickered, and her voice softened slightly.]
"If Fellow Daoist Lu can refine this batch of pills, the Water Element Essence will be your reward."
"Words alone are not enough."
[You met Hua Yunzhen's gaze without yielding an inch.]
"Lu wants to see the Water Element Essence first to confirm the authenticity of the items before discussing the furnace."
Hua Yunzhen, leaned back in her chair, and shook her head.
"How could I possibly carry such a priceless treasure with me?"
"This treasure has always been nurtured within the water veins of the pavilion; removing it rashly will inevitably diminish its spiritual essence."
"How about this, fellow Daoist? Condescend to accompany me back to the Desire Sea Pavilion. The moment you step through the Mountain Gate my Desire Sea Pavilion, I will immediately present you with the treasure."
"At that time, I will be in the pavilion to protect you while you refine elixirs. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
[Go to the Desire Sea Pavilion's lair?]
[You sneered inwardly. This woman's scheme is cunning; she wants to bring you to her territory, where you'll be completely at her mercy.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: After hesitating for a moment, she readily agreed.]
[B: You think you can get this grandmaster for free? No way! Make her hand it over right now.]
[C: Your eyes lit up, and you rubbed your hands together, saying, "Let's go to the Desire Sea Pavilion! Excellent! My Secret Method is extremely taxing, and I'll need a lot of Yin energy to replenish it afterwards. I've heard that your pavilion's furnaces are of excellent quality. I wonder if Pavilion Master Hua could select ten or eight and personally deliver them tonight..."]
It's like a pillow being delivered just when you're about to fall asleep.
Originally, after refining this batch of pills and receiving the reward, the clues to the Severed-Fate Hehuan Powder would most likely have been lost.
Unexpectedly, Hua Yunzhen took the initiative to invite him.
Even a fool could tell that this woman's invitation to the Desire Sea Pavilion was most likely malicious; it was clearly Hongmen Banquet.
But so what?
With the ability to "Early Leave," I have the world at my fingertips.
Moreover, even if a mere so-called Void Refining Demoness were to actually fight, she might not be able to defeat him.
As for Little C's mouth, it's destined to be censored sooner or later.
Little A, the host promised you, and this grand drama will eventually need you to bring it to a close.
The host has kept his promise.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
[Your face showed a troubled expression, your brow furrowed, as if you were weighing the risks.]
[After a long while, you seemed to have made up your mind and raised your head.]
"Pavilion Master Hua, please wait outside for a moment."
[You said in a deep voice.]
"Lu needs to discuss this with the elders in his sect."
[Hua Yunzhen gave you a deep look, asked no further questions, stood up, pushed open the door, and walked out.]
[As soon as she left, you immediately raised your hand, and several Formation Flags flew out, disappearing into the four walls of the room.]
[You've set up three or four top-tier Isolation Grand Formations in one go.]
[Of course, you didn't use the Great Five Elements Heaven-Trapping Formation. If you had accidentally used it, you would have been exposed.]
These Formation Technique formations, imbued with powerful energy and interconnected, instantly transformed this small, elegant room into a self-contained world, isolating it from all detection from the inside and outside.
[When Hua Yunzhen outside the door, saw the battle begin, her expression visibly changed.]
[But you, inside the private room, after doing all that, simply leisurely sat back down at the table and poured yourself another cup of hot tea.]
[When acting, you naturally have to go all the way.]
[You leisurely finished a pot of tea, and estimating that the time was about right, you then used Method Formula to dispel the layers of Formation Technique one by one.]
[When you pushed the door open again, a look of relief crossed your face.]
[Hua Yunzhen looked at you, her scrutiny deepening, but ultimately it transformed into a cryptic smile.]
"Grandmaster Lu, are you ready?"
[Options pop up.]
[A: This indicates that everything is ready and we can depart immediately.]
[B: Arms crossed, sneer: "You think you can just leave like that? This grandmaster still needs to go shopping. I'll trouble Pavilion Master Hua to carry my bags and pay the bill."]
[C: He flung his crown away and went mad on the spot: "Where are you going! This Grandmaster's business trip is a matter of life and death, so quickly have Yin City Lord wear mourning clothes and Sister Ning in black stockings dance with him. Tonight, we'll throw a grand farewell party! Don't even think about carrying me out of the city until I've cried three thousand tears!"]