Chapter 227 - 226: Cultivation World: Rich Young Master’s Online Recruitment

While the mood on Chu Liangyu’s side was pleasant, Li Jingxuan, on the other hand, was utterly grim.

"I told you to protect her, and you rushed back just because of the Jade Spirit Grass?"

The smile on Chang Qing’s face slowly faded, replaced by a hint of guilt.

"My Lord, she entrusted this to me to bring back. She said it was compensation for deceiving you and that she no longer requires your protection. That’s... that’s why I returned."

Li Jingxuan was too furious to speak. He stormed out of the Demon Hall, carefully sensed the direction of his storage bag, and then departed on his sword.

After some searching, he learned that Chu Liangyu had been sold to Lan Yue Pavilion. In that instant, the Demonic Qi roiling within him began to leak out uncontrollably once more.

Frowning, he forcefully suppressed the Heart Demon that was starting to stir. Taking control of his Taichu Sword, he raced toward Lan Yue Pavilion at an unprecedented speed.

"Fellow Cultivator, it’s not that we won’t let her go. It’s just that any Female Cultivator who wishes to leave Lan Yue Pavilion must first get the Pavilion Master’s approval. The amount of Spirit Stones is irrelevant."

Wen Yan glanced at Chu Liangyu leaning against his shoulder and explained patiently, "She is my friend. I’m not sure how she ended up here. Please, speak with your Pavilion Master. I’m willing to pay any amount of Spirit Stones he asks for."

But the woman simply shook her head and said, "I’m sorry, but the Pavilion Master is not in the building at the moment. I can’t relay your message."

’Wen Yan finally understood. Lan Yue Pavilion has no intention of letting her go. The Pavilion Master being away is just an excuse.’

Wen Yan’s tone was no longer amicable; it turned cold. "The Wen Family is not to be trifled with. I am the next in line to be the Family Head. Are you certain your Pavilion Master wants to make an enemy of me?"

"If it comes to that, I don’t mind mobilizing the full power of my Wen Family."

It was a well-known fact that the Wen Family was a famous Pill Medicine Family. Of the five Ninth Grade Alchemists in the entire Cultivation World, the Wen Family claimed three.

Beyond their immense wealth, they associated with many of the great powers of the Cultivation World. To this day, many of those powerful figures owed the Wen Family favors for having elixirs refined.

This point was known to everyone in the Cultivation World, which was why very few people were willing to offend a member of the Wen Family.

"I’m truly sorry. It’s not that I won’t report it, but our Pavilion Master is genuinely not here."

The Female Cultivator’s expression didn’t so much as flicker as she repeated what was essentially the same line.

The commotion had drawn a crowd of Cultivators. Upon learning Wen Yan’s identity, gasps of surprise rippled through their ranks.

Wen Yan took this all in. He knew he couldn’t get Chu Liangyu out of here by himself.

So, his voice deepened with gravity. Amplifying his words with Spiritual Power, he announced, "Everyone! If anyone is willing to help me rescue my friend, my Wen Family promises to refine one elixir for you, free of charge—regardless of the grade!"

Such a promise meant the opportunity to have a Nine Grade Elixir refined, the highest grade of elixir in existence.

This was something countless Cultivators dreamed of, and now the opportunity was right in front of them. Naturally, they were unwilling to let it pass.

"Since Young Master Wen has made such an offer, I am willing to help."

The speaker was a Cultivator at Nascent Soul Great Perfection, nearing Divinity Transformation Cultivation. He immediately moved to stand protectively beside Wen Yan and Chu Liangyu.

Seeing this, others in the crowd began to stir, clearly tempted.

The expression of the Lan Yue Pavilion Female Cultivator, which had been static until now, finally shifted. It was not, however, a look of concern.

A faint, shallow smile appeared on her lips, showing no trace of panic. She raised her hand and made a gesture incomprehensible to the bystanders.

In the next instant, dozens of Cultivators—all at Nascent Soul Great Perfection and nearing Divinity Transformation Cultivation—appeared from behind the crowd.

At this, the Cultivator Wen Yan had just recruited began to hesitate.

’It was obvious. Protecting two Golden Core Stage weaklings, he stood no chance against a dozen or so Cultivators at Nascent Soul Great Perfection.’

After weighing his options for a moment, the man’s face became apologetic. He cupped his fist in a salute and said, "Young Master Wen, my cultivation is low. I’m afraid... I want to help, but I lack the strength."

"Fellow Cultivator, don’t be so quick to refuse," Wen Yan urged. "I have many Magic Treasures you can use freely. We still have a fighting chance."

Wen Yan desperately tried to persuade him. The man hesitated again for a moment, but thinking of the elixir he needed refined, he finally nodded. "Alright, then."

’His lifespan was almost at its end, and he still hadn’t found anyone to help refine a Lifespan Extension Pill. This time, he would just have to take a gamble.’

’If he failed, so be it. But if he didn’t even try, he wouldn’t have the slightest chance of survival.’

"Everything is in here. Fellow Cultivator, use whatever you need. Don’t hold back."

"Alright. I’ll do my best to hold them off. You two must use the time to run."

This time, Wen Yan said nothing more, simply tightening his supportive hold on Chu Liangyu.

Before the fight began, Wen Yan gave the Cultivator a Token as payment in advance.

With this item, the Cultivator would have proof when he later went to have his elixir refined.

Wen Yan wasn’t particularly worried about the possibility of him fleeing mid-battle.

’After all, offending his Wen Family was never a good idea. People weren’t that foolish.’

In addition to that first Cultivator, two more people joined their side. Wen Yan gave them a number of weapons as well, along with Tokens.

With the three of them blocking the way, aided by the interference of several high-grade treasures, the ten men were actually held at bay for the moment.

"Let’s go."

Seeing his chance, Wen Yan immediately started to flee with Chu Liangyu toward the exit of Lan Yue Pavilion.

However, they had still underestimated Lan Yue Pavilion’s power. Just as they were about to escape, another three or four Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators appeared and blocked their path.

In this situation, Wen Yan could only brace himself and fight.

He shifted Chu Liangyu onto his back and began forming hand seals. In the next instant, the faint outlines of an Array started to manifest, centered on his position.

As the speed of his hand seals quickened, the Array began to activate.

The opposing Cultivators exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others’ eyes.

’He’s only at the Golden Core Stage, yet he managed to set up an Array right under our noses!’

"Don’t let him complete the Array! Attack!"

Yet before they could act, a dense swarm of poisonous bees emerged from the array’s perimeter and descended upon them.

At first, they dismissed them, assuming they were mere illusions. But when they felt the sting of pain, they realized this was no simple Array—it contained actual, physical poisonous bees.

But they were Nascent Soul Cultivators, after all. After a brief panic, they quickly devised a counter-strategy.

The men began forming hand seals, converting their Spiritual Power into fireballs that they hurled at the dense swarm of bees.