Chapter 276: The Woman with Rapid Progress

Taoist Master Shouren couldn't help but applaud his own cleverness.

If he had mentioned right from the start that Lu Ye demanded 2.3 million spirit stones, these people would surely have exploded in anger.

After all, they had previously stated that their absolute limit was 2 million. An extra 300,000 out of nowhere would naturally displease them.

But after Taoist Master Shouren put on his little performance,

they suddenly became willing, even feeling like they had scored a huge bargain.

Completely forgetting that their original bottom line was 2 million.

So, this negotiation should succeed now, right?

"Three days. Lu Ye has given us three days to gather the Supreme Spirit Stones. Once ready, you can hand them to me, and I'll deliver them to him."

Taoist Master Shouren didn’t even dare mention that Lu Ye was waiting at the ruins of the Jiang family.

Afraid that if these people learned Lu Ye’s whereabouts, they might stir up trouble.

Well, that’s just how the Guardian Path is.

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but exchange uneasy glances.

Hand over all the spirit stones to Taoist Master Shouren?

The amount from just one faction was already astronomical. Gathering so many stones into one person’s hands...

If the stones were taken away...

And then Lu Ye came to kill them—truly, they’d have no one to turn to for help.

"Fellow Daoist, perhaps each sect should send a representative to accompany you when delivering the stones. It’s not that we distrust you, but the stakes are too high. If someone with ill intent causes trouble, it would be disastrous."

Wang Yi couldn’t help but speak up.

"Indeed, such a vast amount of stones would surely tempt greed. We must escort them—otherwise, we simply can’t rest easy."

"Where exactly are these stones to be handed over to Lu Ye? Has he specified a location?"

One after another, they voiced their reluctance to entrust the stones directly to Taoist Master Shouren—the risk was far too great.

Taoist Master Shouren flew into a rage.

"So, none of you trust me? Fine! Find someone else to handle the negotiations!"

"Brother, it’s not about distrust—it’s just too many stones."

"Brother, calm down."

"Even if we go along, we won’t interfere."

"Please, we simply can’t afford any mishaps. If something goes wrong, what would we do?"

They all pleaded and reasoned with him.

Taoist Master Shouren pondered for a moment and realized there was some logic to their concerns.

The amount of spirit stones was indeed staggering.

The amount was beyond imagination—an average of two million per sect, totaling thirty-two sects, which would amount to sixty-four million Supreme Spirit Stones.

The entire Fourth Heaven had likely never seen any faction possess such a terrifying sum of spirit stones.

If this news were to spread, who knew how many powerhouses would go mad with greed.

"Then one representative from each sect may follow me. Aside from me, no one else is allowed to speak under any circumstances—you must guarantee this!"

"Absolutely guaranteed, absolutely guaranteed!"

"After gathering the spirit stones, where should we deliver them to Lu Ye?" someone asked.

Taoist Master Shouren fixed his gaze on the questioning Grandmaster.

The Grandmaster felt a slight chill under his stare.

"What? Should I not have asked?" he said with an awkward laugh.

"There’s no need to ask about the exact location. Just follow when the time comes, and you’ll naturally know."

Taoist Master Shouren truly wanted this negotiation to succeed—he had already done everything he possibly could.

The crowd fell silent.

"Fine, we’ll go gather the spirit stones immediately!"

The group dispersed, but Taoist Master Shouren remained seated, quietly waiting for the three days to pass.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye was setting up an array.

He had prepared for any scenario—no matter what happened, he could leave at any time.

"Lu Ye, this time you’re going to miscalculate. I didn’t hear any news about you at the Jiang family, so they can’t target you even if they wanted to," Lin Chuyue said with a laugh.

"Isn’t that a good thing?" Lu Ye chuckled as well.

"It really is. There are just too many people—killing them all would be exhausting. Letting them bleed a little while you gain resources is indeed a great outcome!"

"Then let’s just wait peacefully."

Once the array was complete, Lu Ye closed his eyes and began cultivating.

The path of cultivation was simply cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate some more!

*Ding!* "Host, Bai Qiulan is almost ready to undergo her tribulation!"

Suddenly, the system’s surprised notification rang out.

Lu Ye didn’t even open his eyes.

So soon?

It seemed Yue Hongling had suffered quite a bit!

Bai Qiulan had indeed just reached the Unity Realm.

Her progress was undeniably fast, but considering Chu Ling had embraced the power of the Source of Darkness, causing her realm to skyrocket, this was still acceptable.

At this moment, Yue Hongling’s gaze was vacant, her mind in a daze, her body trembling occasionally, and her breath exhaling waves of cold air.

She used to be lively, albeit a bit eccentric.

But how much time had passed since then?

Now she had become utterly witless, as if devoid of any consciousness of her own.

Bai Qiulan gazed at Yue Hongling's state and sighed softly.

The two Lunar Marrow Worms were temporarily suppressed by the power of the dark origin, allowing her to cultivate frantically during this period.

Her cultivation speed was nothing short of terrifying.

Even Shangguan Huanling, who cultivated the *Primordial Heaven-Devouring Scripture*, couldn't match her progress.

It had to be said—the Chaos Lunar Divine Physique was truly formidable.

Of course, Yue Hongling suffered for it.

The poor girl had been frozen into stupor.

Due to the *Extreme Yin Enchantress Scripture*, Yue Hongling's realm had passively risen, reaching the peak of the TriLife Realm.

Bai Qiulan's eyes were filled with pity.

"Yin Qingcheng, this is all your fault!"

If Yin Qingcheng hadn't struck Yue Hongling's Great Dao with the *Primordial Morning Mist*, how could Yue Hongling have ended up in such a witless state?

If Yue Hongling hadn't lost her mind, she would surely have broken through to the Unity Realm like Bai Qiulan—perhaps even surpassing herself and strengthening her Fearless Dao further.

But now, the problem was...

Yue Hongling's Great Dao was weakening. Despite the *Extreme Yin Enchantress Scripture*, her cultivation speed still couldn't catch up to Bai Qiulan's.

However, Bai Qiulan had a solution.

The decline of Yue Hongling's Great Dao was inevitable—irreversible.

Once Bai Qiulan ascended, who would take care of her?

What would become of Yue Hongling, left alone in such a pitiful state?

She would take Yue Hongling with her when she ascended.

"Master won't let you suffer too much in the future," Bai Qiulan murmured, gently stroking Yue Hongling's hair.

Yue Hongling remained in her dazed, vacant state.

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

Shangguan Huanling held a communication stone, still sending messages to Chu Ling.

"Chu Ling, Chu Ling! I've collected so many treasures imbued with sword Dao for you. When will you come to see me? Or I can deliver them to you if you prefer."

"Why aren't you responding to me?"

"If you hear this, make sure to reply! I'm about to reach the Unity Realm and face my tribulation."

"Let me tell you—when I underwent the *TriLife Tribulation*, I spent three whole lifetimes dating Lu Ye. Hehehe, I was overjoyed! Don’t forget to date Lu Ye during your *TriLife Tribulation* too—it’s so much fun!"

"Oh, and remember—no backstabbing during the *TriLife Tribulation*, alright? Otherwise, Lu Ye will get angry. Don’t make him mad."