Chapter 274

Chapter 274: Let’s Fish Again (Fourth Update)

“One million?”

Daoist Shouren was left dumbfounded.

Do these people always have to be like this? When the light of the sword isn’t actually about to fall on them, they never feel the pain?

So it was one million top-tier Spirit Stones; Daoist Shouren always had this sneaking suspicion.

It seemed that Lu Ye had only mentioned this figure because he was considering Daoist Shouren’s reputation.

Although he and Lu Ye didn’t know each other, there was this strange… how should he put it?

Daoist Shouren felt as if the other party knew him very well.

And he, too, felt like he knew something about the other.

The other party wasn’t even cultivating the Great Dao of Guarding. He could only assume that whoever was cultivating it must be extraordinarily close to Lu Ye.

“One million top-tier Spirit Stones is absolutely impossible. Don’t even mention one million; two million would likely be a stretch. If you really want peace this time, you’ll definitely need to bleed a little.” Daoist Shouren said earnestly.

“Huh? Two million is too much, why not just go rob someone?”

Daoist Shouren silently stared at him.

He didn’t know whether the other party considered him a fool or if he was just being one himself.

Lu Ye was indeed out robbing!

“One hundred and fifty thousand, we’re willing to offer one hundred and fifty thousand as a peace price, Daoist Shouren. If the various Dao lineages of the Fourth Heaven are all wiped out by Emperor Lu Ye, the Fourth Heaven will be finished!”

Daoist Shouren felt a headache coming on.

“If you really want peace, give me an acceptable upper limit. Then I can help you negotiate. Stop bringing up one hundred and fifty thousand,” Daoist Shouren said with a stern gaze.

After all, he was a giant in the Heaven and Earth Realm; even when angry, his eyes bore a chilling intensity, as if he were a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

“One… one hundred and eighty thousand?”

“Two million. If you agree, I’ll go; if not, then forget it!”

…

The crowd exchanged glances, gritting their teeth.

“Two million it is, please trouble Daoist Shouren.”

A top sect, grinding their teeth, was rich enough to scrape together three to four million top-tier Spirit Stones, while the poorer ones could barely muster two million to the brink of bankruptcy, and the really impoverished ones would need to sell treasures.

Daoist Shouren also thought two million should be about right.

He began searching for Lu Ye.

Flies buzzed around him, Daoist Shouren used this method to test the Aroma of Achievement in Dao.

After all, if someone catches the Aroma of Achievement in Dao, it would already be too late.

He searched for more than a day.

Suddenly, the flies rushed forward chaotically, Daoist Shouren took a deep breath and the flies vanished from his hand.

“Daoist Lu Ye, Daoist Lu Ye, it’s me, Daoist Shouren. I mean no harm, do you remember me?” Daoist Shouren quickly began shouting.

Lu Ye halted.

He turned to look at Daoist Shouren.

“What’s the matter?”

“Daoist, I was entrusted to come here to negotiate peace. I’m not going to lecture you about the virtues of the Great Dao. I truly bring their sincerity this time.”

Lu Ye’s interest piqued slightly.

Sincerity?

Did they have sincerity?

In his last life, while cultivating the path of guarding, he hadn’t seen much sincerity from these people.

Now they claimed to be sincere?

“Spill it then, what are they willing to offer?” Lu Ye asked.

“The top force is willing to offer one hundred and eighty thousand top-tier Spirit Stones to resolve the grievances. The first-tier force offers one hundred and fifty thousand, and the second-tier force offers one million. Each force is doing their best, I hope Daoist sees this.”

“They were indeed wrong and have deeply realized their mistakes. The greedy ones have already been exterminated, and there are truly some innocents among the weaker sects. We hope Daoist can give them a chance.”

“It’s not coercion; we just sincerely hope for your understanding.”

To prevent self-righteousness, Daoist Shouren stressed this point.

Lu Ye chuckled lightly.

It seemed Daoist Shouren really had experienced quite a bit.

Perhaps once, in his role as a conciliator, he inadvertently resorted to moral bondage during negotiations, leading to the collapse of talks.

Each experience likely bore the scars of blood and tears.

Lu Ye glanced at the Emperor’s Banner.

Blurp, blurp, blurp…

Then at the Stone Sword, which was doing just fine; the sword body only faintly glowed red.

Lin Chuyue watched curiously from the side.

“Daoist Lin, what do you think?” Lu Ye asked Lin Chuyue.

Lin Chuyue hadn’t expected Lu Ye to throw this question at her; she fell into thought.

“Indeed, some people are innocent, but if we don’t clean them out, there’s still the chance of future repercussions.”

Lin Chuyue’s response was fairly reasonable.

Of course, there were innocents; the decisions made by the upper echelons of a sect had nothing to do with the disciples.

The disciples had no sway over their leaders.

But if you let these disciples stay, can you guarantee they won’t spend their lives trying to catch up to you?

Can you ensure they won’t surpass those around you or even your own descendants?

In his past life, Lu Ye hadn’t had children because he felt it was too unstable.

As an orphan, he naturally understood the plight of orphans.

Without a 100% guarantee that he wouldn’t fall, he wouldn’t have children.

After all, he had died numerous times along the way; who knew when he might actually bite the dust for good?

Luckily, everyone was a cultivator, and as long as they didn’t affect their comfort, not having children was still a choice. Whatever was inside could be expelled using True Essence.

And in this life, Lu Ye figured he wouldn’t want children either.

After all, when it came to women… if you get too close, that’s fine, but if you want to be my Dao Companion? Sorry, I’ve been castrated. Thanks!!!

“Daoist, they are truly sincere this time; they’ve admitted their mistakes and offered enough sincerity. Everyone rises from weakness; the weak really can’t influence the strong. The ones chasing Daoist were wrong; they met their deserved fate, and the others have realized their errors. Please be forgiving, Daoist.”

Daoist Shouren spoke sincerely, his words full of compassion but also helplessness.

Lu Ye looked over at Lin Chuyue.

“Daoist Lin, if I were attacked by a powerful ranged treasure, could you withstand it?”

Lu Ye asked.

Lin Chuyue pondered for a moment.

She seemed to be considering the most powerful treasures from various sects.

“I can!”

Lin Chuyue said confidently.

She also had precious treasures and being in the Heaven and Earth Realm meant that the power of other treasures from afar wouldn’t compare to her close-range defense.

“You plan to…”

“Yes, let’s give them another chance. I’ll help the Emperor’s Banner cool down first.”

Lin Chuyue nodded.

Fishing a little isn’t a problem.

She knew how brutal Lu Ye had been while killing in the first three Heavens; for him to make such a decision, it seemed that Daoist Shouren had stirred some sentiment in Lu Ye.

But hey, this was just what a normal person should do.

“Alright then, let’s fish a bit and see if they take the bait!”

Lu Ye smirked slightly sarcastically.

Will they or won’t they?