Chapter 233: You Need to Give a Better Offer 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Moreover, because the willow tree cultivated through proper means, the essence energy in its body was pure, and it was a rare orthodox demonic cultivator.
The last thing that made Jing Ming curious was the herbs planted in the courtyard.
Each of these medicinal herbs was cultivated very well. There were many medicinal herbs that were very difficult to come across in the Lower Realm.
Although Jing Ming didn’t care about these herbs, to other cultivators, every herb here was a treasure.
When Jing Ming was casually walking around the yard, Lu Yuan acted as if he couldn’t see him and said to himself, “Now that I’ve obtained the Core Formation Stage cultivation technique and these medicinal herbs, I should have a chance to reach the Nascent Soul Stage as long as I cultivate steadily for a few hundred years.”
As he spoke, Lu Yuan began to cast the Cloud and Rain Technique on the surrounding medicinal herbs as usual.
Pure spiritual rain watered the medicinal plants.
Jing Ming’s pupils contracted as he was astonished by Lu Yuan’s precise control over the rain.
This level of control was not something every Core Formation Stage cultivator could achieve.
As a cultivator from the Upper Realm, Jing Ming knew very well how important elementary divine abilities like Item Manipulation were to a cultivator.
Many powerful divine abilities relied on Item Manipulation to be used.
Just this move alone made him realize how extraordinary Lu Yuan was.
During this process, Lu Yuan completely displayed his cultivation in front of Jing Ming.
Jing Ming estimated that Lu Yuan had Level 2 cultivation and a three-patterned golden core formed through the way of the heavens.
Such cultivation was absolutely incredible in the Lower Realm.
Even in the Upper Realm, Lu Yuan would be considered a genius.
As long as he continued to cultivate normally and did not die prematurely, the chances of him reaching the Apotheosis Stage were still very high.
Some of Jing Ming’s preconceptions had been affirmed while some were rejected.
First of all, Jing Ming affirmed that Lu Yuan was indeed not an ordinary person.
An ordinary person would never have a three-patterned golden core formed through the way of the heavens.
Secondly, Lu Yuan was most likely not the Lord of this world.
This was because a Lord of a small world would definitely have more than just a three-patterned golden core formed through the way of the heavens.
Lastly, Lu Yuan was really steady.
The seemingly ordinary little courtyard actually hid so many arrays.
Thankfully, Jing Ming was an Apotheosis Stage cultivator.
If other Core Formation Stage cultivators were to enter, they might not even be able to meet Lu Yuan before being caught in these arrays.
Lu Yuan would then have the option of fighting or leaving the intruders.
In short, it was clear that Lu Yuan was talented, but he was not talented enough to threaten the Upper Realm.
He had cultivation, but his cultivation was not high .
After confirming this, Jing Ming’s wariness towards him was greatly reduced.
The person in front of him was just a rather talented cultivator from the Lower Realm.
A three-patterned golden core formed through the way of the heavens was very rare in the Lower Realm, but not so in the Upper Realm.
Such talent would enable him to enter the Upper Realm, but he would be stuck at the threshold and not be highly valued in the Upper Realm.
If Lu Yuan had a four-patterned golden core, Jing Ming might have tried to rope him in.
However, because of Xu Wan’er, Jing Ming did not really want to bring Lu Yuan to the Upper Realm.
Jing Ming still felt that Lu Yuan wasn’t good enough for her.
Thinking of this, Jing Ming decided to lay his cards on the table.
Thus, just as Lu Yuan finished casting the Cloud and Rain Technique, Jing Ming took the initiative to reveal himself.
Lu Yuan, who had just stood up, seemed to be shocked. He asked, “Who are you?”
As soon as he finished speaking, all the arrays in the entire courtyard were activated.
Endless Sword Qi emerged from the walls of the courtyard and many green flames began to rise from the ground.
However, Jing Ming was unperturbed when faced with these arrays.
He looked at Lu Yuan and said calmly, “I am Jing Ming from the Spirit Sword Sect. Today, I came to see you because I have something to say to you.”
Lu Yuan looked at Jing Ming as if he was trying to determine if the other party was hostile.
When he sensed Jing Ming’s cultivation, his eyes narrowed.
This was because Jing Ming was not hiding his cultivation. His aura was obviously at the Apotheosis Stage.
A Core Formation Stage cultivator was helpless when faced against an Apotheosis Stage cultivator.
Lu Yuan had no intention of resisting at all.
He looked at Jing Ming and said respectfully, “I am Lu Yuan, a disciple of the Qingyun Sect of the Lower Realm. Greetings, Exalted Celestial Jing Ming.”
Jing Ming’s attitude softened a lot when he saw Lu Yuan’s respectful attitude.
After all, a polite junior would still leave a good impression on most people.
Jing Ming waved his hand, gesturing to Lu Yuan to relax.
He then said, “Lu Yuan, I came to see you today because of the female cultivator you saved many years ago, Her name is Xu Wan’er.”
Under Lu Yuan’s stunned gaze, Jing Ming sat on the stone chair beside him.
Jing Ming continued, “Wan’er is descended from a bloodline I left behind in the Lower Realm in my early years. 1 came across her by chance. I already know about the relationship between you and Wan’er. I’m also very grateful for your kindness towards her many years ago. However, Wan’er is destined to ascend to the Upper Realm with me. Since you’ve decided to stay in the Lower Realm, I won’t force you to leave with us.”
He revealed his intention, saying, “Since Wan’er and you seem to have had a special relationship before, I hope you can write a letter to convince her to leave for the Upper Realm with me peacefully.”
He assured Lu Yuan, “You don’t have to worry. I won’t coerce you by force. As long as you can fulfill my request, I can give you a cultivation technique that can allow you to cultivate to the Apotheosis Stage.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up.
Jing Ming would actually give him a cultivation technique that would allow him to cultivate to the Apotheosis Stage? It sounded too good to be true.
However, Lu Yuan was proficient in the art of haggling.
He appeared to be in a dilemma as he said, “Exalted Celestial, although Wan’er is indebted to me, I’ve never treated her as an outsider. She will decide for herself what she wants to do and what she needs. I can’t make such decisions for her.”
Hearing this, Jing Ming’s eyes twitched slightly.
This was because Lu Yuan’s words were nonsense.
Wan’er would, of course, make her own decision.
However, Jing Ming knew that if Lu Yuan chose to stay in the Lower Realm, there was a high chance that Wan’er would choose to stay as well since she was close to him.
In Jing Ming’s eyes, her doing so would be throwing her life away.
Whatever they planned to do in the Lower Realm could also be done in the Upper Realm.
What could not be done in the Lower Realm could still be done in the Upper Realm.
Staying in the Lower Realm was a waste of time.
Lu Yuan ignored Jing Ming’s expression that was gradually turning darker and continued to mumble, “Wan’er and I have been together for many years. We have a deep bond. 1 have long treated her as family…”
“So, are you turning me down?” Jing Ming asked calmly.
To his surprise, Lu Yuan burst into laughter all of a sudden.
He said, “Exalted Celestial Jing Ming, you’ve misunderstood. What 1 mean is you need to give me a better offer.”
Jing Ming was speechless.
For a moment, he felt that he was not talking to a cultivator, but to a commoner.
Lu Yuan actually demanded more from an Apotheosis Stage sword cultivator.
How dare he do so?
Lu Yuan proved that not only did he have the guts, he also knew very well what he wanted.
He offered, “Exalted Celestial, I still need a method to refine magic items. As long as you can offer me such a method, I’ll try my best to make Wan’er go to the Upper Realm with you willingly.”
“Sure,” Jing Ming agreed to Lu Yuan’s request without hesitation.
Two jade slips flew out of his storage bag.
“These are what you want. I hope that the letter can be delivered to Wan’er as soon as possible.”
Lu Yuan took the two jade slips and, like an honest businessman, said solemnly, “Sir, don’t worry. I, Lu Yuan, am a man of my word.”
He thought to himself, “I wouldn’t dare defy you, would I?”
After completing the transaction, Jing Ming disappeared from Lu Yuan’s sight.
After confirming that there was no trace of Jing Ming’s aura in the courtyard, Lu Yuan broke out in cold sweat.
Previously, when Lu Yuan sensed the arrival of Jing Ming in the academy, he was already so frightened that his heart trembled.
Fortunately, his acting skills were outstanding and he did not reveal any flaws up till now.
Lu Yuan looked at the jade slips in his hand and could only apologize internally, “I’m sorry, Wan’er. I had no other choice. Your patriarch is at the Apotheosis Stage. If 1 refused, he might have destroyed me. Therefore, it’s not that I want you to go to the Upper Realm, but you have no choice..”