Li Ping was thoroughly flexible.
This chiefly manifested in how he grew strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
Against a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would throw heavy punches without hesitation; against someone of his own cultivation stage, he would proceed cautiously; against a higher-stage cultivator, he would simply flee.
Just like now.
If Qu Youkong had taken a hard line or even attacked outright, Li Ping would have immediately backed down and fled.
But since Qu Youkong had reservations and had softened his attitude, Li Ping felt there was no need to back down just yet. He could show a measured degree of toughness.
Taking a principled stance and maintaining the stereotypical temper of a rogue Core Formation old monster would save him a great deal of trouble in his future dealings with other Western Wasteland factions.
Of course, he still had to observe certain limits. Becoming an old monster was fine, but becoming an Old Devil was not.
Anyone on the Demonic Path was fair game for everyone to kill.
The cultivation world was little different from the mortal world. Being a pushover had never been a compliment.
The only drawback to becoming an old monster concerned other True Persons' expeditions and Cave Abode explorations.
Given a choice, they probably would not invite an old monster to join their team.
Li Ping did not care about that, though. Even if someone truly invited him on an expedition, he would not dare accept.
He had always preferred lying low and cultivating diligently, rather than participating in explorations of ancient cultivators' Cave Abodes and the like.
At that thought, Li Ping chuckled. "Heh heh... I haven't even taken my newly acquired maidservant to bed yet, and you expect to inspect her just because you ask, Fellow Daoist Qu?