"Brother Tuoba, you are mistaken. This young man has not yet agreed to your request. His current status is a team member of my daughter's squad..."
"Furthermore, even if he truly becomes your disciple, he will still be under my daughter's command."
The one speaking was none other than Lu Liang.
Lu Liang's ability to claim Wu Tao as his own naturally relied on his daughter, Lu Yuehua.
As soon as Lu Liang spoke, others also suddenly realized that a peerless genius, without any issues, was right before them and had not yet pledged allegiance. How could they miss this opportunity?
"Brother Tuoba, your sword dao is, in essence, nothing extraordinary. Although you are known as the Sword Immortal, you are ultimately only a cultivator at the early Nascent Soul stage. I should be the one to take him as a disciple."
...
"No, no, no, my two elder brothers. I have observed this young man's combat style. His personality is cold and resilient, and my Law Enforcement Department is in need of people. He would be most suitable for my Law Enforcement Department."
...
"Brother Song is right. This young man's personality is indeed cold and resilient, but the department most suited for him is not the Law Enforcement Department, but my War Preparation Department."
"Hmph, this young man possesses the Innate Sword Body. The department most suited for him should be the Kill Division. Sending him elsewhere would only hinder his future achievements."
...
At this moment, a middle-aged woman who had remained silent spoke up: "You have been arguing for so long without reaching a conclusion. Why not let him choose for himself?"
This middle-aged woman exuded a stern demeanor, clad in a plain colored dress, her gaze sharp. Wu Tao, upon a single glance, felt an icy chill and found it difficult to meet her eyes.
The others were all taken aback.
"Haha, Sister Lian'er's suggestion is indeed excellent!"
The City Lord chuckled, then turned to the others, "What do you all think?"
"We defer to the City Lord's decision."
"We defer to the City Lord's decision."
"We defer to the City Lord's decision."
Tuoba Yang, in particular, laughed heartily, feeling confident of victory.
At this moment, save for Hong Tongtian, all eyes converged on Wu Tao.
This was an immense pressure. In the main hall of the City Lord's mansion, the air seemed to congeal. Wu Tao suddenly felt as if he were facing the heavens and earth, his spirit on the verge of collapse.
Ye Lian's words immediately reminded everyone. They had been arguing fiercely here, but they had not yet asked Wu Tao, the person concerned, for his own wishes.
Especially the Green-robed Sword Immortal, Tuoba Yang, who reacted instantly. He stopped arguing with the others, his benevolent expression turning towards Wu Tao.
Facing the competition from other cultivators of the same realm, he directly presented his conditions: "Young man, taking me as your final disciple will absolutely not be a loss for you. In the future, you will inherit my legacy, not only managing a department but also not needing to fear these old men..."
"Even if the City Lord... cough cough... Lord City Lord wants to move against you, he will have to discuss it with me beforehand. What other benefits can be given besides these?"
As Tuoba Yang's words fell, Wu Tao's breath, exhaling from his nose and mouth, grew heavy.
These few words alone were enough to sway anyone.
No one could refuse the allure of these promises, for power and status both existed in their entirety.
For male cultivators, besides the fundamental pursuit of cultivation, power and status were the two most important things.
Yet now, what Tuoba Yang said was equivalent to promising that if Wu Tao agreed to become his disciple, his power and status, left behind after his passing, would all be inherited by Wu Tao.
Such a temptation, even if it were not Wu Tao, but someone else, would have agreed immediately to avoid any unforeseen circumstances.
Wu Tao lowered his head, his breathing from his nose and mouth gradually becoming more robust, his face turning red, his eyes widening like two round balls.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wu Tao's breathing finally calmed down.
Taking a deep breath, Wu Tao slowly uttered his answer word by word.
"Senior's kindness is deeply appreciated, and I am unable to repay it. However, I also have a master..."
"When I became a disciple, I swore an oath to have only one master forever and ever. I must uphold my vow no matter what..."
Once Wu Tao made up his mind, his words were simple, direct, and decisive, giving a sense of a settled fact.
However, these words elicited different reactions from everyone who heard them.
Some Nascent Soul stage cultivators marveled at the young man's courage, remarking that he would not stop until he shocked the world, while others felt a tinge of disappointment in their hearts.
...
As for Hong Tongtian, upon hearing Wu Tao's words, he was first stunned, then inwardly sneered, cursing Wu Tao for his foolishness.
Such words clearly offended another enemy, and one that could threaten his life.
While outwardly rejecting Tuoba Yang's olive branch, the implicit meaning was an insult to him.
Regardless of what others thought, Tuoba Yang was completely stunned after hearing this.
His subsequent reaction was not the direct rage that others had expected. After a long sigh, he said, "A forced melon is not sweet," and returned to his seat.
...
Tuoba Yang's attempt to take a disciple failed, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the other Nascent Soul stage cultivators. This was because, among these cultivators, while some wished to take him as a disciple, others merely wanted to find a more reliable subordinate.
Of course, Wu Tao eventually remained in Lu Yuehua's Grade A Thirty-Six Squad.
This was because Lu Liang offered a treasure, convincing everyone in the main hall.
"The Royal Blood of the Golden Race!"
When he presented this drop of blood, thousands of times more golden than gold, several voices of astonishment suddenly rang out.
This was followed by the hissing sounds of others drawing sharp breaths.
All eyes were fixed on Lu Liang's hand.
Golden light emanated from his palm, enveloping a drop of blood that was entirely golden-yellow, the size of a teardrop. Within it flowed purple纹理, containing an incredibly powerful, profound, and unknowable spiritual energy.
As soon as this golden drop of blood appeared in Lu Liang's palm, it stunned several Nascent Soul stage cultivators in the hall, who cried out in unison.
While everyone was shocked, they finally understood why Lu Liang had been so calm and confident.
This was a drop of blood, but not the blood of an ordinary creature, nor the blood of a human cultivator. It was the blood of the Golden Race, the blood of a Golden Race king.
The Golden Race was a powerful race, no less than the Human Race, and one of the top ten strong races in the underground immortal cultivation world.
In this underground immortal cultivation world, from its beginning to the present, there were over a thousand recorded races with names.
As for races without names, they were as numerous as grains of sand, countless in number. Among them, many powerful races existed.
Many races not only survived in the underground immortal cultivation world but also, in a short period, unified the entire underground immortal cultivation world.
And among these races, the Golden Race was universally recognized as the strongest in combat power within the same realm.
The blood in Lu Liang's palm at this moment was the blood of a Golden Race king-level expert at the Purple Mansion stage.
Although it was merely a drop of blood, it contained the power of the laws within the body of that Purple Mansion stage Golden Race king-level expert.
For cultivators, the preciousness of this drop of blood was arguably greater than any immortal pill or spiritual medicine.
Upon seeing this drop of blood from a Purple Mansion stage Golden Race king-level expert, the other Nascent Soul stage cultivators exchanged glances, shook their heads, and sighed with regret.
"Heh heh, Brother Lu truly has great courage, to possess the blood of a Purple Mansion stage Golden Race king-level expert..."
"With such an immortal item in hand, it's no wonder you were not anxious. You had this planned all along. Even without the connection through Yuehua, this young man would likely have ended up with you."
Several Nascent Soul stage cultivators who had some interest in Wu Tao remarked with emotion.
For any race, the Purple Mansion stage was a chasm. Breaking through this chasm and advancing to the Purple Mansion stage, where one mastered the power of laws, could even be considered a true immortal.
Nascent Soul stage cultivators, upon breaking through this chasm and advancing to the Purple Mansion stage, began a partial 'daoification' within their bodies, possessing a vast amount of the power of laws.
The so-called Purple Mansion stage was merely a general term for the realm. Because of racial differences, the terminology varied, and with some异种 life forms, the names became even more numerous.
However, in any race, a Purple Mansion stage expert represented a king, a ruler, who commanded billions of their kind, struck awe into heaven and earth, and was invincible.
The Golden Race was a kingly race that had survived since the Primordial Era. Every member of the Golden Race possessed strength far exceeding other races!
Even in the Primordial Era, the Golden Race was a fearsome and powerful race. Now, they were a hegemonic-level race.
They were extremely powerful, possessing not only formidable influence in this era. Ten Golden Race king-level experts, each a top-tier cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage!
They were born with the ability to control gold power, and the Thunder Ancestor was rumored to be able to withstand the attacks of Dharma artifacts and treasures with their physical bodies without suffering any harm.
They were favored by the Great Dao of Metal, walking between heaven and earth. Their fists could pierce through everything, and in combat, they were invincible.
Possessing immense strength and incredibly powerful defense, although their speed was somewhat slow, their invincible defense and unparalleled offensive power almost concealed this minor flaw!
A Purple Mansion stage Golden Race king-level expert, an invincible existence, dominating all directions!
On Wu Tao's side, as soon as this golden drop of blood entered his sight, his mind was shaken. In that instant, he seemed to hear a earth-shattering roar, and boundless fighting power continuously impacted his mind.
"The blood of a Purple Mansion stage Golden Race king..."
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