I'm quitting!

Chapter 33 I've finished speaking. Who agrees? Who disagrees?

Dewdrops slid down the tips of bamboo leaves, falling onto the bluestone slab and shattering into tiny starlight, reflecting the faces of the five giants of the cultivation world, each with their own thoughts.

"Twenty thousand spirit stones? Five thousand cups?" Xuan Yanglie suddenly burst into laughter. "Since the Heavenly Zhou royal family is so generous, then I'll offer fifty thousand! The Heavenly Dao Palace will take eight thousand cups!"

Ye You's narrow eyes, which had been squinting, suddenly opened wide: "Sect Leader Xuan, when did your Heavenly Dao Palace learn to be a sucker?" Before he finished speaking, a stream of light flew out from his sleeve, "Two hundred-year-old Dragon Beard Grasses, Xiaoyao Sect, seven thousand cups."

Li Gui's black robe billowed violently, and a hoarse, low voice came from deep within the hood: "Heavenly Fiend Palace... 150,000 spirit stones... 9,000 cups..."

The female guard beside the snow-haired girl's expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Mi Lanfang gently stroked her jade cup: "Hundred Flowers Valley is offering 300,000 spirit stones. We want them all."

hum-

The two swords on Guo Jiang's back trembled slightly, ringing out. He stepped forward, his body radiating a sharp sword aura: "The Xuanjian Sect is willing to offer the mining rights to two spirit mines for six months as a stake, and we will accept it all."

Inside the tent, Lin Xiaofan stared in disbelief: "My milk tea stall... how did it turn into a celestial auction?"

Old Xian, on the other hand, was quite pleased with himself: "Isn't this great? I'll make a fortune and then I'll have all my crystal scales edged with gold."

Outside the tent, the snow-haired girl, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, her voice breaking through the clamor: "Eight hundred thousand."

The entire room fell silent.

Lin Xiaofan slapped his thigh, looking anxious: "We're doomed, we're doomed! At this rate, we'll have to sell 10,000 cups of milk tea until tomorrow!"

Have you come up with a solution?

"way…?"

Lin Xiaofan tapped his forehead in thought, and after a moment—

"Heh... step back, I'm about to show off."

He took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes.

The tent flap moved automatically without any wind, and a ray of starlight shone through, illuminating the astonished faces of the crowd.

Lin Xiaofan's voice carried three parts laughter and seven parts mystery:

"Please wait, everyone."

The curtain was lifted slightly, revealing half of a blurry face.

"The Tianzhou royal family made the first offer, and in keeping with their word, the five thousand cups should be granted... However, since you have all come from afar despite your busy schedules, how could I, Lin, treat you unfairly? Let's compromise for now—the royal family will take four thousand, and the remaining six thousand will be decided upon in response to your questions. Any objections?"

Outside the tent, no one responded for a moment.

Xuan Yanglie's eyes flashed with golden light, as if he were weighing the pros and cons. Ye You stroked his beard in contemplation, his eyes gleaming. Li Gui's black robes rippled slightly, and his corpse aura subtly receded. Mi Lanfang's finger seals shifted, still calculating. Guo Jiang's eyes swept across, observing their expressions. The snow-haired girl's lips curled slightly, as if she had expected this.

Finally, Xuan Yanglie spoke first: "I have no objection."

"I second that," Ye You said, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

"...Okay," Li Gui replied hoarsely.

"Hundred Flowers Valley has no objection."

"The Xuanjian Sect has no objection."

"I am willing to cooperate with your arrangements."

Inside the tent, Lin Xiaofan secretly breathed a sigh of relief: God, at least we've managed to keep these big shots calm.

His voice rose again, deliberately tinged with an air of profound mystery: "You are all enlightened beings, so tell me—what is the suffering of cultivation?"

Xuan Yanglie blurted out, "Immortality is difficult to attain, and the Great Dao is lonely!"

Ye You stroked his beard and sighed, "What the heart desires, it cannot be fulfilled."

A hoarse whisper came from beneath Li Gui's black robe: "Immortality... but the inner demons are hard to eradicate..."

Mi Lanfang's fingertips trembled slightly: "In seeking the Dao, one forgets emotions, and thus loses one's true self."

Guo Jiang lowered his eyes: "Holding the sword to protect the righteous path, I've been betrayed and abandoned by everyone."

The snow-haired girl murmured softly, "I sense heaven and earth, but I have not seen the truth."

A knowing glint flashed in Lin Xiaofan's eyes.

"You all have valid points; each of you shall receive one thousand."

He raised his hand and waved, and three ice crystal jade tablets floated in mid-air, heading towards the snow-haired girl, Xuan Yanglie, and Mi Lanfang respectively.

"The Tian Zhou royal family, the Heavenly Dao Palace, and the Hundred Flowers Valley, please come inside for a chat. As for the remaining three... we will definitely give them priority consideration when we promote our services to them in the future."

Dan Xuanzi seized the opportunity, cupped his hands and stepped forward: "Sect Leader Ye, Elder Li, Steward Guo, please come with me to get the milk tea first."

Lin Xiaofan retreated into the tent, and the curtain fell.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and let out a long sigh: "Phew... it's really hard to keep things balanced. It's easier to be a restaurant waiter."

[Heh, you're putting on a good act, but those three people, you decided on them from the beginning, right? What's your reasoning?]

Lin Xiaofan raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips: "You'll find out soon enough."

Outside the tent, Xuan Yanglie strode forward: "Gentlemen, I apologize for disturbing you."

The snow-haired girl smiled gently as she calmly stepped aside to let her pass. Mi Lanfang lightly stroked the jade tablet with her slender hand, remaining silent.

The curtain was lifted, and Xuan Yanglie stepped into the tent.

The sight before him caused his pupils to shrink sharply—

The Milky Way hangs down from the dome, starlight cascades like a waterfall; bamboo shadows sway on the four walls, outlined by points of light; the ground is covered with moonlight, and stepping on it cleanses the soul.

In the center of this celestial palace, a young man sat cross-legged, dressed in a sky-blue robe, with a handsome face and no trace of imposing aura, exuding an air of transcendence.

"This is..." Xuan Yanglie's heart trembled violently, "...the expert who guided Xianyunzi to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

He instinctively released his divine sense to investigate, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea.

"Back to basics?"

Xuan Yanglie pondered, his shock growing even greater. He had roamed the cultivation world for a long time and had seen all sorts of powerful figures, but he had never encountered such a profound realm before.

He put aside his arrogance and bowed respectfully, saying, "Xuan Yanglie of the Heavenly Dao Palace pays respects to Master Lin."

Just as Lin Xiaofan was about to speak, Xuan Yanglie suddenly raised his palm, his powerful yang energy coiling like a golden dragon: "Master, your cultivation is profound. May I offer you a single move?"

Lin Xiaofan stood frozen in place, her heart pounding like a drum.

"Don't answer! You'll die!" Old Xian's voice cried out in his mind.

Suppressing his panic, a flash of blue light appeared in Lin Xiaofan's eyes, and he calmly said, "Then let's decide the outcome in an instant."

"Excuse me!"

Xuan Yang's fierce palm struck out like lightning, its golden light stretching for thousands of feet, carrying the power to destroy mountains and shatter peaks as it crashed down. He unleashed almost his full strength, and wherever he passed, space itself twisted and deformed.

However, the moment the palm strike touched Lin Xiaofan's clothes, it was pulled away by an invisible force, and the energy was uncontrollably released—

boom!

His palm landed firmly on Lin Xiaofan's chest.

The expected cracking sound did not occur.

The boy remained motionless, not even the hem of his clothes fluttering.

Xuan Yanglie's pupils trembled, and he staggered back three steps. He stared intently at his palm, his face filled with disbelief.

Looking up again, the boy was slowly straightening his clothes, his expression unchanged, even with a hint of relaxed smile.

"Sect Leader Xuan, let's stop this sparring session when we've reached our limit," Lin Xiaofan sighed softly. "Your killing intent is too strong; it has become a demon within you."

Xuan Yanglie's fingertips curled as he knelt on one knee: "Master, please understand! My youngest son was tragically killed by a demonic cultivator. If this grudge is not avenged, I will never achieve my Great Dao!"

"The Great Dao?" Lin Xiaofan stared directly at him. "Your Dao... has it made any further progress?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of confusion appeared in Xuan Yanglie's eyes: "Please enlighten me, Master!"

Lin Xiaofan pondered for a moment: "Your Dao heart is steadfast and your Qi is fierce, but unfortunately..." He shook his head, "Your killing intent is condensed and cannot dissipate, it has become a shackle."

In the phrase.

Xuan Yanglie's forehead was beaded with sweat: "Please, Master, provide a solution!"

"solution…"

Lin Xiaofan was overjoyed: They've taken the bait!

He showed no sign of it on his face: "I do have a method that can break this dangerous situation, but... only one in ten will succeed."

"Not even one in ten survives?!" Xuan Yanglie looked troubled.

"Opportunity favors the destined." Lin Xiaofan's voice was soft, yet every word was like a needle. "If you cannot do it, then it is the will of Heaven, and you should not force it."

Xuan Yanglie gritted his teeth: "Please, Master, make your move!"

"Mm." Lin Xiaofan nodded slightly. "Close your eyes and clear your mind."

Xuan Yanglie sat cross-legged as instructed, the golden light around his body gradually receding, and his breathing becoming longer and more even.

Lin Xiaofan lightly tapped his fingertip, and the shadow beneath his feet slithered like a living snake, instantly enveloping Xuan Yanglie. Dark red energy waves overflowed from his acupoints, continuously being swallowed into the depths of the shadow.

Lin Xiaofan almost couldn't suppress his smile: Such intense killing intent is enough for me to condense a lot of killing essence.

As time passed, Xuan Yanglie's aura of pure Yang energy became three-tenths purer. He suddenly felt the heavy pressure in his heart dissipate, and he felt incredibly light from the inside out.

"This...this..." He opened his eyes, the golden light intensifying, "Master's divine power!"

"It's just a minor trick." Lin Xiaofan waved his hand, but was puzzled: How come it feels... really effective? Oh well, I've already gotten what I wanted anyway.

Xuan Yanglie kowtowed deeply: "The Heavenly Dao Palace will never forget your kindness, Master!"

He stepped out of the tent, and as the curtain fell, there was no longer a trace of doubt in his eyes, only fervent reverence.

"call--"

Lin Xiaofan instantly went limp, his clothes soaked with sweat, the sesame ball forced out, his whole body drenched: "It's sticky, the sesame ball is uncomfortable..."

You almost scared me to death!

The old salty's eerie blue light flashed rapidly.

That shield will only last a second at most; the slightest mishap will ruin it!

"What can I do?" Lin Xiaofan gasped for breath. "I've already put on this master persona, so I have to see it through to the end... Besides, in terms of the result, it was worth it."

He glanced at the "Abstract Shield" he had just exchanged for 800 Rebellion Points from the Rebellion Treasure Vault—

Generates an invisible protective shield that can be freely controlled to start and stop. When hit, it triggers a "brain drain aura," forcing the target to "surrender." The shield's duration is charged by 0.1 seconds per hour, with a maximum storage time of 1 second.

one second.

To be precise, it took him 0.2 seconds to catch Xuan Yanglie's full-force palm strike.

Practice perfect parries more often.

Old Xian jokingly teased.

Otherwise, if things go wrong, no one will be there to clean up your mess.

"Then I really appreciate your kind reminder," Lin Xiaofan said through gritted teeth.

You're welcome~

Suddenly, Maqiu jumped onto his shoulder, its little paws pointing outside the tent—Mi Lanfang's jade pendant was emitting a faint blue light.

Lin Xiaofan took a deep breath, pushed himself up, and straightened his clothes.

Within the shadow beneath his feet, dark red energy waves slowly swirled, gathering and solidifying in wisps, eventually blooming into a blood-red lotus flower.

The Star Shadow Military Manual is nearing its second breakthrough... I need to quickly finish dealing with the matters at hand.

"Valley Master Mi..." He tapped his fingertip lightly, and the blood lotus disappeared into the ground. "Please come in."