Chapter 2185 - 2183: The Yan Family’s Terms

"Naturally, I want it." Yan Hong's expression was sincere. For someone like him, who had just entered the Path, this treasure was almost like a divine object; he had always wanted a giant ant, but unfortunately, he couldn't fulfill his wish.

Now the giant ant was in his hand, and it would only take a thought to make it his own.

Yet he continued to hold it out for Lu Ye to take back: "Brother Lu, though I am a descendant of the Yan family, I cannot represent the Yan family. If you trust me, I'll invite someone to discuss this matter with you. Rest assured, Brother Lu, the Yan family will not treat you unfairly."

Compared to Zhou Gu and Sun Yun previously, Yan Hong's attitude at the moment was undoubtedly much more sincere, which made him feel increasingly that handing the giant ant over to the Yan family was a good choice.

Lu Ye nodded and accepted the giant ant: "Then thank you, Brother Yan."

Yan Hong said: "You've saved my life; it is I who should be thanking you."

On that day, Pei Dan suddenly attacked him. If it weren't for Lu Ye using the power of the giant ant, he would have surely died. His gratitude for a life-saving action was genuine.

The two thanked each other repeatedly, exchanged smiles, and their relationship grew closer.

"Brother Lu, might there be any vacant rooms here?" Yan Hong suddenly asked.

Lu Ye nodded: "Naturally, there are."

Yan Hong said: "My injuries are serious, making it inconvenient to move. If that's the case, I'll stay here and bother Brother Lu for a while."

The talk of serious injuries making it inconvenient was pure fiction; having entered the Path, unless one's Dao foundation was harmed, even severe injuries could slowly recover over time. Yan Hong's intention to stay was clearly out of consideration for Lu Ye.

While Zhou Gu and Sun Yun had been driven away, the human race's battle alliance wasn't only comprised of the Four Preeminent Noble Families. There were other families beneath them, and it wouldn't be surprising if people similar to Zhou Gu and Sun Yun showed up.

His presence was a deterrent, ensuring that those family heirs wouldn't dare to be presumptuous again.

Although he didn't say it, Lu Ye was fully aware.

Thus, Yan Hong stayed in the pavilion to heal.

The Yan family was very efficient, sending a powerful member to Blue Water by the third day.

In the living room on the first floor, Lu Ye was introduced to the Yan family's visitor by Yan Hong. According to the introduction, this was his uncle, named Yan Yong, undoubtedly a Dao Fusion cultivator.

"Yan Hong has told me about your situation. If you don't mind, you may call me Uncle Yong, as Yan Hong does."

"Uncle Yong!" Lu Ye promptly followed suit.

Yan Yong nodded, ready to continue speaking when he suddenly turned his head to look back.

A tall figure entered.

Yan Yong was taken aback: "Governor Zi?"

He had heard about the incident a few days ago, and informed the Governor's Residence before entering Blue Water, thinking everything would go smoothly. Yet, he didn't understand why Zi Ying showed up.

"Greetings, my lord!" Lu Ye and Yan Hong quickly saluted, equally puzzled about why Zi Ying had come.

She couldn't possibly be interested in the giant ant; Zi Ying lacked a Dao companion and offspring, rendering the giant ant valueless to her.

"Why do you all seem unwelcome to this governor?" Zi Ying raised her eyebrows.

"I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare," Yan Yong, despite being a Dao Fusion in the Yan family, dared not act arrogantly before Zi Ying, cautiously inquiring, "Governor Zi has come for..."

Zi Ying replied, "I had long heard of the giant ant's fame but had never seen it, so I just came to have a look. You may continue your discussion; don't mind me."

As she spoke, she looked at Lu Ye and extended a hand.

Upon seeing this, Lu Ye hurriedly retrieved the giant ant and handed it to Zi Ying, who immediately sat aside, playing with it leisurely.

Yan Yong glanced at Zi Ying, had a vague guess, chuckled bitterly, and also took a seat.

It seemed this Governor Zi Ying truly matched her reputation for protectiveness. As long as Lu Ye was in Blue Water, he was under her jurisdiction, not to mention the significant achievement of defending Blue Water against the enemy.

Her visit was evidently to prevent Lu Ye from suffering any loss.

Jyang Yuning soon came over with tea, then retreated like a startled rabbit.

Taking a casual sip, Yan Yong finally began: "Good Nephew Lu, our Yan family has always been clear about grudges and gratitude. Recently, this Yan Hong boy owes you a life-saving favor, and the Yan family will surely repay!"

Beside him, Zi Ying continued to toy with the giant ant casually, while speaking indifferently: "Aren't we to discuss the giant ant first? Discuss the giant ant first; the life-saving favor is a lesser matter, discuss it later."

Yan Yong spoke seriously: "Life-saving favor is no small matter, especially when the one saved is Yan Hong boy."

Zi Ying replied: "The news about the giant ant has spread far and wide. Even though the Yan family is vast and prosperous, if you don't act quickly, it might stir many tides in your life."

Yan Yong's face froze: "Governor Zi, what do you mean by..."

Zi Ying smiled slightly, raised her hand and pointed to the sky outside: "There are now two Dao Fusions waiting outside for my permission to enter Blue Water, and there may be more coming later."

Yan Yong was shocked, although he knew this situation might occur, he didn't expect it to happen so quickly. Now it was hard to discuss anything else. He was naturally not afraid of competition from other families, but just as Zi Ying said, if people from other families came, it might cause some disturbances.

Quickly turning to Lu Ye: "Good nephew, leave the giant ant to the Yan family, and we can offer you four benefits."

He raised a finger: "Firstly, before my good nephew ascends to Dao Fusion, the Yan family will provide Dao Bones, one hundred and fifty pieces per month."

A hundred and fifty a month is not a lot, but it is not too little either. Based on the refining efficiency of a 9th Dao cultivator, it is mostly just enough.

"Secondly, our home planet's Dao Runes Pavilion has a recommendation quota, and we can recommend my good nephew to enter it for a visit!"

These two conditions are similar to what Zhou Gu and Sun Yun offered, but they are merely juniors from two families, their word carries no substantial weight. However, as a Dao Fusion cultivator, Yan Yong's words carry much more weight. Especially with Zi Ying nearby, since he said it, it wouldn't count for nothing.

"Thirdly, the Yan family can provide my good nephew with a top-grade Dao artifact."

"Fourthly, if my good nephew is willing, you can join our Hall of Family Generals, enjoying the Yan family's family general benefits. If you're unwilling to enter the battlefield, you can also return to the home planet to live."

Zi Ying, listening on the side, clicked her tongue critically: "Calling it a benefit while trying to recruit someone, Yan Yong, you're thick-skinned."

Yan Yong's expression remained unchanged: "Governor Zi should know the strict criteria of our Yan family for recruiting Family Generals. Among the Banlan 9th Dao cultivators, ordinary ones cannot even catch our interest."

Zi Ying said lightly: "Indeed, there are many Banlan 9th Dao cultivators, but how many of them can kill a Dao Fusion?"

Yan Yong felt a headache, already knowing that Zi Ying's coming here was no good. He had already inquired before coming, Lu Ye had only recently fallen into Banlan. He didn't know much about this stellar space, and his previous achievements indeed made the Yan family want to recruit him.

But speaking for a 9th Dao with no foundation or background, becoming a Family General for the Yan family is indeed a great deal.

Zi Ying commented again: "The Dao Runes Pavilion of the home planet is indeed excellent. Ordinary cultivators must spend a large amount of battle merit to enter, but as I recall, your Four Great Noble Families each have their own Dao Runes Pavilion?"

Yan Yong's face changed: "Governor Zi, you must know that the Dao Runes Pavillions of the Four Great Noble Families are secrets not passed on to outsiders. They are the foundation for us Four Families. No outsider has ever entered them, even Family Generals must achieve unheard-of merits to receive such a reward."

Zi Ying immediately clicked her tongue: "Just now you said how the Yan family knows gratitude and repays kindness tenfold, returning the favor of a drop of water with a fountain in return..."

"I..." Yan Yong was speechless, he hadn't said that much, he just mentioned repaying gratitude, feeling for a moment the urge to sew Zi Ying's mouth shut.

Finally understanding why Zi Ying wanted him to discuss the giant ant issue first just now, saying that saving his life was just a small matter, waiting for him here.

He was puzzled, he hadn't heard of any relationship between Lu Ye and Zi Ying, as the Blue Water Governor, why was she so invested in an alliance guard under her command? If it were just for protective reasons, isn't it a bit too much?

"Uncle Yong, transfer my recent opportunity to enter the Dao Runes Pavilion to Brother Lu." Yan Hong suddenly spoke.

Yan Yong shook his head: "No, if you don't enter the family's Dao Runes Pavilion, how will you..." Just as he spoke halfway, he suddenly realized, if Yan Hong got the giant ant, he wouldn't enter the Dao Runes Pavilion in the short term.

Just like Huang Zhihuan from the Huang family, who stayed in the Enter the Path state for hundreds of years, it's not that he couldn't ascend to Dao Fusion, with his talent, he probably would have ascended long ago, but he had other tasks to keep his Beginner physique.

"Have you decided?" Yan Yong asked.

Yan Hong nodded.

"Even if you have decided, over there in the family..." Yan Yong showed a look of difficulty.

Yan Hong said: "I'll speak to them myself later."

With the giant ant, Yan Hong would no longer be an ordinary Enter the Path cultivator, his status and voice in the clan would dramatically increase, having the qualification to negotiate with the clan's elders.

After pondering for a moment, Yan Yong then looked at Lu Ye: "Our Yan family's Dao Runes Pavilion can also be opened to you once!"

Lu Ye didn't know what this condition meant, but just from the previous dialogue, he could feel that the Yan family made a significant concession on this matter.

"That's more like it!" Zi Ying nodded slightly on the side.

Lu Ye immediately understood, regardless of why Zi Ying came to support him this time, since she showed her stance, it indicated that the Yan family's conditions were very sincere, and likely there wasn't any room for further negotiation.

From the beginning, it was a confrontation between Yan Yong and Zi Ying. Only now did Lu Ye get a chance to speak: "Uncle Yong, everything seems fine, it's just one thing I'd like to clarify."

Yan Yong said: "Go ahead."

"What if I can never manage to ascend to Dao Fusion? Will the Yan family continue to provide me with Dao Bones?" This matter needed to be clarified, he thought it might not be a short-term matter for him to ascend to Dao Fusion.

Yan Yong nodded: "Ascending to Dao Fusion is indeed not easy, but you, Good Nephew, being able to cut down a Dao Fusion with a Beginner physique, clearly possesses extraordinary talent. Once you've explored the Dao Runes Pavilion, your path should be clearer. In all my years, I've never met anyone like you, no need to worry. Before you step into Dao Fusion, my Yan family's supply of Dao Bones to you will not be cut off."

Lu Ye actually wanted more Dao Bones from the Yan family. One hundred and fifty pieces a month seemed a bit too little for him.

But considering the normal refining efficiency of a 9th Dao cultivator, asking for more would be hard to justify, potentially painting him as greedy, so after some thought, he didn't bring it up.