Wang Mao saw that Mu Jinyu had stopped, his murderous intent subsiding, and he immediately heaved a sigh of relief. Then he nervously explained, "It's a seed. I'm not sure what kind of seed, but when I hold it in my hand for cultivation, I can draw quite a bit of Spiritual Energy from it…"
"Oh?" Mu Jinyu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, showing a slight interest. He asked, "If you think this seed is extraordinary, why don't you plant it instead of absorbing its Spiritual Energy?"
Wang Mao laughed awkwardly and explained, "I have tried to plant it, but whether I bury it in soil or soak it in water, it will not sprout. In the end, I thought it might be a dead seed, so I just…"
"Alright." Mu Jinyu understood what Wang Mao meant, nodded slightly, and said, "Do you have that seed on you? If you do, take it out and show it to me."
"I do have it…" Wang Mao hurriedly spoke in a sycophantic tone, then took a small box made of special alloy from his pocket, opened it, and revealed a black and plump seed inside.
At a glance, one might think it was an elixir.
But Mu Jinyu knew it was not a finished elixir. Although it emitted an aura of Spiritual Power, there was an overwhelming presence of vitality as well.
And elixirs could never have this kind of vigor.
'What on earth is this?'
Mu Jinyu couldn't see anything special about the seed, though it was emitting a scent of Spiritual Power. It was likely a seed of Spiritual Medicine, but the problem was, ordinary-grade Spiritual Medicines were of no use to him!
'Well, let's keep it for now. Perhaps its use will be discovered later.'
Thinking this, Mu Jinyu raised his hand, and the seed in the metal box immediately flew up and landed in Mu Jinyu's hand.
Having obtained the seed, Mu Jinyu didn't pay too much attention to it; he directly stuffed it into his pocket, planning to store it with the Shennong Cauldron after Jian Ruyan was done playing with it.
"That…"
Seeing that Mu Jinyu had accepted the seed he had offered, Wang Mao internally heaved a sigh of relief and his expression relaxed a lot. Then he cautiously asked, "Can we leave now?"
He always remembered, Mu Jinyu had just said that as long as they showed their value for survival, he could spare them.
Now that he had offered this exotic species and Mu Jinyu had accepted it, his life should be spared by the rules.
But he knew that whether his life could be spared still depended on Mu Jinyu's attitude, so he became somewhat edgy again.
"You may." Mu Jinyu nodded expressionlessly and looked toward the three Dan Pavilion Elders, "What about their value?"
"Uh…"
Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, a feeling of foreboding rose in Wang Mao's heart.
Did Mu Jinyu mean that the exotic species that he had just shown was only enough to save his own life, but not sufficient to include the remaining elders of Dan Pavilion?
If he wanted to take them along, each of them had to demonstrate a value that would satisfy Mu Jinyu for survival...
But where would he get more exotic treasures or species for Mu Jinyu now?!
With a grim expression, Wang Mao turned to look at the three Dan Pavilion Elders beside him and could see the anxiety and eagerness in their eyes.
While they couldn't speak, they communicated with their eyes, telling Wang Mao that they too wanted to live and urging him to offer treasures to redeem their lives!
'Sigh…'
Letting out a long sigh in his heart, Wang Mao shifted his gaze away in shame, unable to meet the eyes of the three elders.
Upon seeing Wang Mao's dodging action, a sinking feeling uncontrollably filled the hearts of the three elders, and a sense of doom swiftly took over their minds.
Their Pavilion Master was likely going to abandon them!
As expected.
After avoiding eye contact with the three elders, Wang Mao, hanging his head, said, "Dragon Master, I in Dan Pavilion have nothing else that you would want…"
"Oh, is that so?"
Mu Jinyu responded to Wang Mao's words without surprise, glanced at the three Dan Pavilion Elders whose faces were ashen, withdrew his gaze, and said with a light chuckle, "Then deal with them, and you can go."
"Boom!!"
Upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, Wang Mao felt as if a bomb had exploded in his mind, turning his face deathly pale.
"This... this..."
Wang Mao dared not look at the faces of the three elders, and stammering, he asked Mu Jinyu, "Why must it be this way?"
Mu Jinyu said indifferently, "Prove your stance!"
"I let you leave, but who knows if you'll turn around and plot against me?"
"I know there are more people from Dan Pavilion here with you. Kill them to prove your stance to me. I will record it and send it to everyone in Dan Pavilion."
After hearing Mu Jinyu's words, Wang Mao's face immediately turned ashen!
Sending a video of him personally assassinating a loyal elder to the core and lower ranks of Dan Pavilion, exposing his true character—what would his fate be?
Naturally, it would be total abandonment!
Wang Mao understood that Mu Jinyu was preventing any potential resurgence, guarding against any malicious intentions he might harbor to harm Dragon King Hall in the future!
"Fine!"
Though incredibly distressed and reluctant, Wang Mao was a person of resolve, otherwise he wouldn't have been the master of Dan Pavilion. He thought that even if Dan Pavilion fell apart, as long as he lived, he could still rise again elsewhere! Thus, he agreed outright!
With a ghastly pale face, Wang Mao stiffly turned his neck, his gaze reluctantly and helplessly shifting to the three elders!
The three elders stared straight back at Wang Mao, their expressions defeated.
Wang Mao exchanged glances with them for a moment, but saw no understanding or acceptance in their eyes, only resentment, despair, and murderous intent...
Wang Mao's heart trembled, knowing that after this incident, even if Mu Jinyu spared them, they would never forgive him!
Wang Mao felt deep sorrow!
Why couldn't they understand him?
If he could just survive, he could later avenge them, rise again; what good would it do for them to take his place and be the sole survivor?
Truly foolish and selfish people!
"You may leave now!"
Furious and embarrassed, Wang Mao loudly scolded, then prepared to strike down the three Dan Pavilion elders who had served him for many years!
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu gave a faint smile and smoothly lifted the oppressive force on the three elders.
Suddenly, the three elders, previously unable to move, felt the heavy pressure on them lift, and as if a great weight had been lifted off their shoulders, they looked around in astonishment. Just then, they saw Wang Mao rushing forward to strike them down!
"Go to hell, you old fool!"
The three yelled in anger and did not hesitate to fight back, launching a fierce attack on Wang Mao!
"Huh? You dare fight back?!"
Wang Mao had thought he could easily handle the three elders, signaling his allegiance to Mu Jinyu, but unexpectedly, they suddenly regained their freedom of movement. He was caught off guard, unable to ponder the implications, and immediately tangled in combat with them!
"Crackle and pop!!"
The fight was extremely intense!
Wang Mao was not lightly wounded and his rage boiled intensely, wishing he could scold them bloodily as he often did in normal times!
Why wouldn't they just obediently die?
Why must they stubbornly resist?!