Coercion

Wang Mengde lifted his foot and walked out of the bedroom.

He walked down the corridor, across the courtyard, and arrived at the entrance to the reception room.

The door was open.

He stood outside the threshold, looking inside.

A person was sitting in the main seat.

The man appeared to be around fifty years old, tall with broad shoulders and a wide back. Sitting there, he seemed like a mountain, exuding an aura of profound composure.

He wore a dark blue robe, the hem embroidered with dark silver cloud patterns that shimmered faintly under the lamplight.

His face was square, with slightly high cheekbones and a jawline that was as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, each line carrying an undeniable hardness.

Liu Yuanming.

Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator.

The Sixth Elder of the Evergreen Sect.

Wang Mengde had only heard of this name in rumors, but now that he had seen it with his own eyes, he truly understood the weight of the words "Foundation Establishment Master".

It was an invisible, overwhelming sense of oppression, like an unseen mountain pressing down on your shoulders, making even breathing difficult.

Liu Yuanming's gaze fell on Wang Mengde.

The overwhelming pressure of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage descended upon us.

It wasn't the kind of gradual, prepared release, but rather an instantaneous, unexpected, crushing force, like the sky falling down.

It was as if an invisible hand had gripped Wang Mengde's heart and tightened its grip suddenly.

It was as if a massive boulder weighing ten thousand pounds had fallen from a great height and slammed into his shoulder.

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze for a moment.

The teacup on the table made a soft "clucking" sound, and the tea inside rippled in circles.

Wang Mengde's body suddenly sank.

The feeling was like being pushed off a cliff, with the wind whistling in your ears and a suffocating sensation in your chest.

His knees bent slightly, and the blue bricks beneath his feet made a dull thud, revealing a hair-thin crack on their surface.

His back was pressed down slightly, his shoulder blades were stretched outwards, and the fabric of his robe was stretched taut, making a soft hissing sound.

His breathing became heavy in an instant, his nostrils flared, his lips were pursed, and his teeth were grinding together.

But his knees didn't bend.

His feet were rooted to the ground like nails, not moving an inch.

The physical strength of the seventh level of Body Tempering was pushed to its limit at this moment.

His back straightened up again.

Like a green bamboo bent by a strong wind and then springing back up, like a steel knife that has been repeatedly forged by a heavy hammer but has not broken.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and sweat dripped from his temples, staining his collar and leaving a small dark patch.

His jaw was taut like a bowstring about to break, and his masseter muscle bulged out a hard ridge on the side of his cheek.

His hands hung naturally at his sides, his fingers slightly curled, his nails almost digging into his palms.

But his eyes never lowered.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the oppressive aura that would make even a Qi Refining cultivator kneel on the spot, and walked step by step into the reception room.

Every step was slow.

Every step was heavy.

The soles of the boots pounded on the blue bricks with a dull "thump, thump," like a hammer striking an anvil.

His back remained straight, his shoulders remained upright, and his head remained held high, never bowing down even slightly.

He stopped three steps away from Liu Yuanming.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed deeply.

The movements were so precise, as if measured with a ruler: hands clasped together, left hand pressing down on right, thumbs touching, raised to eyebrow level, then slowly bowing, neither humble nor arrogant, respectful without being obsequious, reverent without being subservient.

"Junior Wang Mengde greets Senior Liu."

His voice was calm and steady, neither arrogant nor humble.

The reception room was quiet for about three breaths.

Liu Yuanming remained silent.

His oppressive aura continued to emanate, like an invisible mountain pressing down on Wang Mengde's shoulders.

His gaze and spiritual senses swept over Wang Mengde.

Bone age: 39 years old.

Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement.

At this age and with this level of cultivation, he is quite formidable among Rogue Cultivator, but among disciples of a sect, he is considered rather ordinary.

However, his Physical Body Cultivation had actually reached the seventh level of Body Tempering.

This is not a simple matter.

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Yuanming's eyes.

The oppressive aura slowly receded.

The feeling of being crushed by a mountain vanished instantly, as if I had been pulled out of the water and my breathing became clear again.

The Spiritual Qi in the air resumed its flow, and the tea in the teacup stopped sloshing.

Wang Mengde's chest rose and fell slightly, but he quickly adjusted his breathing and stood up straight again.

Liu Yuanming picked up the cup of spiritual tea on the table and took a sip.

The tea slid down my throat, suppressing part of the fire in my heart, but not completely.

His voice came from behind the teacup, deep and steady, devoid of any emotion. "What's your name?"

Wang Mengde.

Liu Yuanming put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and looked at him scrutinizingly.

Which Lineage?

"This junior is a rogue Rogue Cultivator who grew up on Rosy Cloud Island," Wang Mengde's voice remained steady. "I currently work for the Island Patrol Office."

Rosy Cloud Island.

Rogue Cultivator.

Island Patrol Office.

Liu Yuanming frowned slightly.

The Rogue Cultivator on Rosy Cloud Island, to put it bluntly, are cultivators with no foundation, no background, and no backing.

Liu Yuanming was silent for a moment, then asked the most crucial question, "What kind of Spirit Root?"

"Five-Element Spirit Root."

Liu Yuanming's brows furrowed sharply.

Five-Element Spirit Root.

A universally acknowledged waste of Spirit Root in the cultivation world.

Its cultivation speed is far inferior to that of other Spirit Root.

What others can break through with one pill, you need five of.

Others may spend thirty years to Foundation Establishment, but you might spend one hundred and fifty years and still not even touch the threshold.

In any sect, those with Five-Element Spirit Root are destined to be rejected.

In any large Lineage, those with Five-Element Spirit Root are often abandoned.

In the world of cultivation, the phrase "Five-Element Spirit Root" is basically equivalent to "hopeless in this life."

And Liu Yuanming's daughter actually found a dao companion with Five-Element Spirit Root.

A vein throbbed violently on Liu Yuanming's temple.

If he hadn't owed Liu Yiyi's mother so much, he would have loved to slap this brainless, bastard daughter to death.

Liu Yuanming took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the anger that was rising within him.

He owed one person in his entire life.

That was Liu Yiyi's mother, the woman who followed him when he was at his lowest point but never enjoyed a single day of happiness with him.

That's why he was so indulgent towards Liu Yiyi.

Extra care and attention.

Liu Yuanming closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, the anger in his eyes had mostly subsided, replaced by a deep, weary helplessness.

"Father," Liu Yiyi's voice came from the corner, "Wang Mengde —although his Spirit Root isn't good, his comprehension of Law Technique is extraordinary."

Liu Yuanming turned his gaze to his daughter.

Liu Yiyi took two steps forward from the corner, speaking much faster than usual, as if afraid her father would interrupt her before she finished listening, "He's very powerful. He's mastered four Peak Mastery Law Technique, and he's also a second-tier advanced Talisman master. The Spirit Shield Talisman he draws have a success rate of up to 90%, and their quality is even better than those sold in Talisman shops."

There was a moment of silence in the reception room.

Liu Yuanming's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Four Peak Mastery Law Technique," Liu Yuanming repeated, his tone calm, but something flickered slightly in his eyes. "Second-tier advanced Talisman master."

His gaze returned to Wang Mengde, this time scrutinizing him more carefully and deeply than before.

What does Peak Mastery of magical Law Technique mean?

This means that a person's understanding and mastery of a certain Law Technique has reached its peak, and that the power of this Law Technique in his hands far exceeds that of other cultivators of the same level.

Four types.

Four Peak Mastery Law Technique.

This is quite unique among the Rogue Cultivator in this sea area.

Liu Yuanming has been in the cultivation world for over a hundred years and has seen many geniuses.

But at the age of thirty-nine, only one person has mastered all four Law Techniques to Peak Mastery.

This can no longer be described as simply "having good comprehension".

This person possesses an almost monstrous talent in the Law Technique.

Also, there's a second-tier advanced Talisman master.

Liu Yuanming tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.

Being a second-tier advanced Talisman master means that this young man can draw Talisman with power approaching that of the Peak Qi Refinement.

A Rogue Cultivator with Five-Element Spirit Root, possessing exceptional Law Technique comprehension, and also a second-tier advanced talisman master.

Liu Yuanming's gaze lingered on Wang Mengde for a long time.

He gave the young man a slightly higher regard.

But that's all.

He's thirty-nine years old and only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement.

The insurmountable barrier of Five-Element Spirit Root cannot be overcome simply by relying on Law Technique comprehension and talisman-making talent.

Cultivating immortality is about cultivating one's realm, one's lifespan, and the possibility of living as long as heaven and earth.

No matter how powerful the Law Technique Talisman how exquisite the talismans, if one's cultivation level doesn't rise, it's all just castles in the air.

A Qi Refining cultivator's lifespan is only 120 years. At 39 years old, Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement Refining. With the cultivation speed of a cultivator with Five-Element Spirit Root, it would take at least 20 more years to reach the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Foundation Establishment... that's even further away.

This young man's chances of Foundation Establishment are too slim.

So small as to be almost negligible.

Liu Yuanming remained silent, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Wang Mengde and Liu Yiyi.

But...

If he helps them, the other party might have the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment.

Although the difficulty of Foundation Establishment with Five-Element Spirit Root far exceeds that of ordinary people, it is not entirely impossible.

As long as you're willing to invest resources and quickly reach the Peak Qi Refinement, there's a sliver of hope for Foundation Establishment.

But..

Liu Yuanming's gaze darkened slightly.

Was this person after his status?

A Rogue Cultivator with Five-Element Spirit Root, struggling on Rosy Cloud Island, suddenly encounters Liu Yuanming's daughter?

The resources, connections, and backing of the Liu Family —any one of them—would be enough to save him decades of hard work.

Was his approach to Yiyi genuinely fond of the girl, or was he simply after Liu Yuanming's reputation?

A vague and inexplicable sense of unease welled up in Liu Yuanming's heart.

He glanced at Liu Yiyi, who was standing in the corner with red eyes, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers. She would steal glances at Wang Mengde every now and then, and the dependence and joy in her eyes were impossible to hide.

Things have come to this.

Killing this kid won't do any good.

Yiyi will hate him for the rest of her life.

He already owed Yiyi's mother too much.

Liu Yuanming took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the stale air.

He picked up the cup of tea on the table, which had gone cold, and took a sip.

The bitter tea lingered in his mouth for a moment before he slowly swallowed it and placed the teacup back on the table.

"Wang Mengde," he began, his voice low and steady.

"This junior is here."

Liu Yuanming's gaze fell on Wang Mengde's face, and the scrutiny in his narrow eyes was even stronger than before.

"You have cultivated the Luan-Phoenix Harmony Formula."

Wang Mengde nodded. "Yes."

Liu Yuanming leaned back in his chair, his gaze like two knives piercing straight into Wang Mengde's eyes.

"Since you've cultivated this Cultivation Method, do you have other dao companion?"

The air in the reception room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Wang Mengde raised his head and met Liu Yuanming's gaze, his eyes calm and unwavering.

Yes, there is one more.

Liu Yuanming's eyes narrowed slightly.

Besides.

One.

His daughter, Liu Yuanming's daughter, was not the only dao companion of this minor Rogue Cultivator with Five-Element Spirit Root.

And he, as the father, only found out about this today.

A vein throbbed again on Liu Yuanming's temple.

The fire he had suppressed suddenly surged back up with a "boom," burning his throat dry and making his chest feel like it was stuffed with burning cotton.

But he didn't react.

He simply stared at Wang Mengde, his gaze as cold as the sea in winter.

"You Soul Oath to sever all ties with your other dao companion."

His tone left no room for argument or negotiation.

"I'll give you a better Earth-rank Cultivation Method."