The Lu Clan's Conditions

Beside Lu Qingshan, Grand Elder Lu Guangyao and Lu Fan quietly watched their clan leader's performance.

They knew full well that it was all to squeeze a little more value out of the Azure Feather Dynasty.

Qing Zhe, however, was beginning to panic. He had thought that, at worst, he would lose a little face and be done with it after a sincere apology. But now, how could it be that simple?

"Do you know how much my Lu Clan lost in a single night?"

Lu Qingshan narrowed his eyes, his tone distinctly hostile. Under the pressure of a Spirit Concentration Realm expert, Qing Zhe's expression looked worse than if he were crying.

How much could they have lost in one night? Besides, we never even entered the city. Qing Xu was the only one who went in, and you took her as your adopted daughter.

Naturally, Qing Zhe did not dare say any of that aloud.

Held back by fear, Qing Zhe could only ask in a trembling voice, "Clan Leader Lu, what do you think we should do?"

At worst, I'll pay a little compensation out of my own pocket.

As the dynasty's ninth prince, he did have a modest fortune.

Hearing that Qing Zhe had finally taken the bait, Lu Qingshan suppressed his delight and said with a calm expression, "Every member of my Lu Clan is a dragon among men. By frightening them like this, you've indirectly left who knows how many of them trembling with fear."

"Some were even at critical points in their breakthroughs. You frightened them so badly that they suffered backlash, and their cultivation realms fell."

Lu Qingshan went on and on, talking about just how enormous the Lu Clan's losses were.

"But we're allies, after all."

Suddenly, Lu Qingshan changed tack, and a friendly smile returned to his face.

But when Qing Zhe saw that smile, it was as though he had seen a devil, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.

Lu Qingshan said, "For all that, your Azure Feather Dynasty only needs to offer a little compensation."

"Let's start with fifty million spirit stones, and throw in some eighth- or ninth-grade spirit pills."

Spirit stones were the currency of this world. Not only could they be used for transactions, but they could also greatly increase a cultivator's cultivation speed.

That was because cultivation involved absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, while spirit stones were formed from condensed Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Cultivators could also use spirit stones to restore their strength in battle.

Generally, however, powerful cultivators rarely used spirit stones in battle.

Spirit pills, by comparison, were used more frequently.

Speaking of spirit pills, one could hardly avoid mentioning the Dao of Alchemy.

Of the three thousand great Daos, the Dao of Alchemy held a position that could not be underestimated. Cultivators who practiced it were commonly known as alchemists. They held esteemed positions and were extremely rare.

Alchemists could refine pills with all sorts of effects. Among them were Spirit Gathering Pills, which had the same effect as spirit stones but were more powerful.

There were also Spirit Berserk Pills that increased combat strength, Blood Qi Pills that healed injuries, and so on.

Pills were divided into nine grades, from first to ninth. The higher the grade, the stronger the effect.

Those who could refine first-grade pills were known as first-grade alchemists. Likewise, those who could refine ninth-grade pills were known as ninth-grade alchemists.

Throughout the entire history of the Cangxuan Continent, ninth-grade alchemists had been few and far between.

Every one of them was a legend among legends.

Lu Qingshan vaguely remembered that there seemed to have been a ninth-grade alchemist in the Lu Clan's records. In that era, the Lu Clan's resources and wealth had reached a peak, and no faction had been willing to offend a faction with a ninth-grade alchemist holding the fort.

Unfortunately, that era was far too distant, and there was no telling when that ancestor might awaken.

A ninth-grade alchemist had to be immensely powerful. Even if he awakened someday, it would probably be a very, very long time from now.

Lu Qingshan sighed inwardly and stopped indulging in fantasies.

As for spirit stones, the storage ring Ancestor Qingtian had given them contained ten million.

Ten million spirit stones might sound like a lot, but in the eyes of a Saint Realm expert, that amount could probably be used up in a single battle.

Upon hearing Lu Qingshan's demands, Qing Zhe's mouth fell open wide enough to swallow an egg.

He had never imagined that someone could open their lion's jaws so wide.

To meet Lu Qingshan's demands, they would probably have to empty out the entire Azure Feather Dynasty, and even then they would barely manage.

Beside Lu Qingshan, Lu Guangyao and Lu Fan exchanged a glance, shock in their eyes as well.

Lu Guangyao had hardly ever left White Cloud City. Before the ancestor emerged, the largest reserve the entire Lu Clan had ever possessed was only a little over a thousand spirit stones.

But now, the clan leader had opened by asking for fifty million. Fifty million! He had never seen so many spirit stones in his life.

Lu Fan was better off by comparison. As the reincarnation of a saint, he had seen his share of the world.

If Lu Qingshan had not told him the plan beforehand, he might have thought Lu Qingshan was deliberately trying to destroy the alliance.

Qing Zhe, however, knew none of this.

His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, muttering, "Fifty million, fifty million... Clan Leader Lu, why don't you just kill me instead? Fifty million... my Azure Feather Dynasty really can't come up with that much."

Hearing this, Lu Qingshan sighed and said helplessly, "In that case, all right."

"Don't worry. After you die, my Lu Clan will certainly let bygones be bygones and remain on friendly terms with your Azure Feather Dynasty forever."

A dazzling golden light then gathered in Lu Qingshan's hand, its sharp edge fully exposed.

The Dao of Metal!

At the sight, Qing Zhe jumped to his feet in fright and backed away.

"Clan Leader Lu, y-you're serious?!"

Lu Qingshan raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one who told me to kill you? As long as you die, this matter will end here."

Cold sweat streamed down Qing Zhe's face. "Clan Leader Lu, there must be another way. Calm down!"

Seeing that it was about time, Lu Qingshan withdrew the golden light in his hand. He smiled faintly and said, "I hear your dynasty controls a heaven and earth secret realm called the Lush Wood Blessed Land."

The moment those words came out, Qing Zhe's entire body trembled.

At that moment, his eyes were completely swallowed by fear.

How does he know about the Lush Wood Blessed Land? That's my Azure Feather Dynasty's most closely guarded secret.

In an instant, one person came to mind-Qing Xu.

Damn it, that wretched girl even told him about that! Does she really intend to betray the Azure Feather Dynasty completely?

Qing Zhe was furious, but with Lu Qingshan present, he did not dare show it. His expression changed, and he played dumb. "Clan Leader Lu, I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Lu Qingshan sneered. "Haven't I made myself clear enough?"

"I know the Lush Wood Blessed Land is the lifeline of your Azure Feather Dynasty, and that you would never allow outsiders to lay a finger on it. But you should know there are exceptions to everything."

Qing Zhe fell silent.

Lu Qingshan continued, "Our two factions are allies now. I'm not asking for much-just give my Lu Clan a few places to enter the Lush Wood Blessed Land each year."

To gain entry to the Lush Wood Blessed Land, Lu Qingshan softened his tone and spoke politely.

Even so, Qing Zhe still did not say a word.

Chi Chen and the others kept their heads down, making their presence even less noticeable.

Lu Qingshan was not surprised.

He had not been saying any of this to Qing Zhe, but to the Feather Emperor behind him.

After all, Qing Zhe did not have that authority.

Lu Qingshan then instructed someone beside him, "Lu Fan, take Young Master Qing away and treat him well."

"As for you..."

Lu Qingshan turned his gaze to Chi Chen and the others.

Feeling his gaze on them, Chi Chen and the others could not help trembling.

Lu Qingshan continued, "Pass my words on to the Feather Emperor."

"You may go."

"Thank you, Clan Leader Lu. We will convey every word to His Majesty without the slightest mistake."

Chi Chen and the others thanked him repeatedly, then left the Lu Clan with their tails between their legs.

Poor Qing Zhe, meanwhile, was detained in the Lu Clan for the time being.

"Clan Leader, will this really work?"

Lu Guangyao asked worriedly.

Lu Qingshan sighed. "We have to try. That's a blessed land. Without the support of a blessed land, our Lu Clan will never become a true superpower."

In truth, Lu Qingshan himself was not sure whether this would make the Feather Emperor agree.

After all, the Feather Emperor had no shortage of children.

Lu Qingshan only wanted the other party to understand his determination regarding the Lush Wood Blessed Land.

If you don't agree, then your relationship with my Lu Clan will forever remain an alliance in name only.

But if you want to take it a step further, then agree to my demands.