Chapter 276

Chapter 276: The Woman Making Rapid Progress

Daoist Shouren couldn’t help but applaud his own cleverness.

If he had just blurted out that Lu Ye wanted two hundred thirty thousand spirit stones from the get-go, this bunch would have lost their minds.

After all, they had set their limit at two hundred thousand, so pulling out a surprise three hundred grand would definitely not sit well with them.

But once Daoist Shouren put on a little show…

Suddenly they were all in on it and even felt like they were getting a crazy bargain!

Completely forgetting that their bottom line was two hundred thousand.

So, can we call this negotiation a win?

“Three days. Lu Ye has given us three days to prepare the top-tier spirit stones. When the time comes, just hand them over to me, and I’ll pass them along to him.”

Daoist Shouren didn’t dare mention that Lu Ye was waiting at the Jiang family’s ruins.

He was worried this group might catch wind of Lu Ye’s whereabouts and create more chaos.

Yeah, that’s guarding the Great Dao for you.

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances.

All spirit stones in Daoist Shouren’s hands?

One family alone had already put up astronomical numbers, and now they want to combine the resources of multiple clans into one guy’s hands?

If the spirit stones were whisked away…

When Lu Ye comes back to eliminate them, they’d really be shouting for help with no one responding.

“Fellow Daoist, how about we let every sect send one representative with you to deliver them instead? It’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just crucial. In case of any bad intentions from others, we’d be in a real pickle.”

Wang Yi couldn’t help but chime in.

“Exactly! So many spirit stones are bound to stir up greed in others. We absolutely have to escort them; otherwise, it’s just too risky.”

“Did Lu Ye mention where we should meet him to hand over the stones?”

Everyone kept tossing suggestions back and forth, clearly unwilling to hand the spirit stones directly to Daoist Shouren; the risk was just too high.

Daoist Shouren immediately blew his top.

“So you guys don’t trust me, huh? Then forget this negotiation!”

“Brother, it’s not that we don’t trust you; it’s just that the amount is too staggering.”

“Calm down, brother.”

“Don’t worry, even if we go, we won’t blabber.”

“Relax, relax; this has to go off without a hitch. What if something goes wrong? What would we do then?”

Everyone quickly tried to placate him.

Daoist Shouren pondered a moment; alright, they had a point.

That amount was indeed outrageous.

We’re talking about a ridiculous total of sixty-four million top-tier spirit stones for thirty-two families, averaging two million each.

No power in the Fourth Heaven has ever boasted such an insane treasury.

If this word got out, who knows how many strong folks would go bonkers?

“Fine, one sect can accompany me, and aside from me, you all absolutely cannot speak in any circumstance. You must guarantee this!”

“Absolutely guaranteed, absolutely guaranteed!”

“So where do we take the spirit stones to meet Lu Ye?” someone asked.

Daoist Shouren locked eyes with the one who asked.

The guy felt the sweat starting to bead in response.

“What? Am I not allowed to ask?” he chuckled awkwardly.

“You don’t need to worry about the specifics; just follow my lead and you’ll know when the time comes.”

Daoist Shouren really wanted this negotiation to work; he had pushed himself to the limit on this.

Everyone fell silent.

“Alright, we’ll start gathering the spirit stones immediately!”

They all scattered, while Daoist Shouren stayed put, quietly waiting for three days to pass.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye was busy setting up formations.

He was all set, ready to bail no matter what happened.

“Lu Ye, you’re in for a surprise, ’cause I haven’t heard a peep about you at the Jiang family’s, so they can’t even target you,” Lin Chuyue said with a grin.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Lu Ye chuckled back.

“Definitely a good thing! There are just too many people around; after the slaughter, you’d be completely wiped out. Let them bleed a bit; you’ll get resources, too. Win-win!”

“Then let’s just sit tight!”

With the formation set, Lu Ye closed his eyes and dove into cultivation.

The path of cultivation was all about cultivating, cultivating, and more cultivating!

“Ding! Host, Bai Qiulan is about to cross her tribulation!”

Suddenly, the system’s surprised notification rang out.

Lu Ye didn’t even open his eyelids.

This quick?

Looks like Yue Hongling has been through quite a bit!

Bai Qiulan had indeed just reached the Return to One Realm.

The progress speed was nothing short of incredible; but considering that Chu Ling had embraced the Darkness Origin’s power, rocketing her cultivation, it was somewhat understandable.

At that moment, Yue Hongling was vacant-eyed, looking as though she were in a daze, occasionally trembling, with a frosty aura radiating from her every breath.

The old her was a bit crazy but quite lively.

But how long has it been?

Now she appeared completely lost, as if any sense of self had vanished.

Bai Qiulan sighed as she glimpsed Yue Hongling’s state.

Two Taiyin Bone Bugs had temporarily been suppressed by the power of Darkness Origin, and during this time, she trained like a madwoman.

The speed of her cultivation was downright terrifying.

Even Daoist Shangguan’s practice of the **Origins Devouring Heaven Sutra** couldn’t keep pace with her!

Can’t deny, the **Chaos Yin Divine Body** is indeed formidable.

But poor Yue Hongling.

The child’s gone and turned into a frozen mess.

Her cultivation level had passively risen due to the **Supreme Yin Femme Sutra**, now reaching the peak of the **Three-Life Realm**.

Bai Qiulan’s eyes reflected a hint of pity.

“Yin Qingcheng, this is all your fault!”

If it weren’t for Yin Qingcheng striking the **Primordial Morning Mist** upon Yue Hongling’s Dao, how could she have ended up this way?

If Yue Hongling weren’t in this dazed state, she would surely have reached the Return to One Realm by now, or even surpassed herself, strengthening the Fearless Dao even more.

But the current issue was…

Yue Hongling’s Dao was weakening; despite the **Supreme Yin Femme Sutra**, she just couldn’t keep up with Bai Qiulan.

However, she had one strategy.

Yue Hongling’s Dao’s decline was now unavoidable, a lost cause.

Once she ascended, who else would care for her?

Yue Hongling’s dismal state, with no one to look after her, what to do?

Bai Qiulan intended to take Yue Hongling with her on the ascent.

“Master will make sure you don’t suffer too much from now on,” Bai Qiulan gently ruffled Yue Hongling’s hair.

Yue Hongling still looked lost and silly.

On the other side…

Daoist Shangguan was still using the Transmitting Stone, communicating with Chu Ling.

“Chu Ling, Chu Ling, I’ve gathered a bunch of treasures infused with Sword Technique for you. When are you coming over, or should I send them to you?”

“Why are you ignoring me?”

“When you hear this, definitely remember to reply! I’m almost at the Return to One Realm and should be crossing my tribulation soon.”

“Let me tell you, when I crossed my **Three Lifetimes Tribulation**, I spent ages romancing Lu Ye! Haha, I was over the moon. Don’t forget to have fun with Lu Ye during your tribulation too; it’s a blast!”

“Oh right, don’t backstab during the **Three Lifetimes Tribulation**; otherwise, Lu Ye will get mad, and you don’t want to provoke him.”