Chapter 139: Considering an Investment

After a long while, Xia Daoming raised his head.

"If I say I want to leave, are you truly willing to let me go?"

"My, Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's, word is as good as gold. Since I said I would let you go, I will certainly let you go! However, since you want to leave, you must leave first thing tomorrow morning. Otherwise, once the family's transfer orders come down, I will no longer have the authority to let you go." Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying patted her chest, her voice resonant, though the earnest, expectant gaze she had been fixing on Xia Daoming dimmed somewhat.

Xia Daoming scrutinized Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying.

He still admired this woman's broad-mindedness.

If it were any other eighth-rank Great Wu Shi, once they arrived at Jin Guifeng, they would be like meat on the chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.

If Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying truly refused to let someone go, an eighth-rank Great Wu Shi would have no choice but to stay and work for her.

If they wanted to leave, they could, but they would have to leave their head behind.

"That works!" Xia Daoming said. His voice paused for a moment, then he added, "I'll stay!"

"Eh! What did you say?" Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying, who had already given up hope on Xia Daoming, was instantly stunned.

"Miss, Daoming says he will stay," Lu Huiyun reminded her.

"Are you truly willing to stay? You should know that even if we survive this calamity, I am ultimately only a third-layer Qi Refining cultivator. The hope of helping you become a Grandmaster in the future is still very slim."

Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying looked at Xia Daoming, her mood suddenly becoming complex; she seemed to feel a bit of guilt for "abducting" a pretty boy.

Lu Ye and his wife wore subtle expressions.

"Does Miss Ziying have so little confidence in herself?" Xia Daoming smiled.

"No, I have confidence in myself, but cultivating immortality requires background, opportunity, and resources. I am merely a woman from a side branch of the Jin Guifeng Lu Clan under a secular minor sect, and I grew up looking like this. Being able to step onto the path of immortality is already a tremendous stroke of fortune.

But wanting the family to pay special attention to you and spend resources on me, to cultivate me vigorously, is basically impossible. I can only rely on my own efforts to strive for it step by step.

Chaotic times produce heroes. This struggle between the Lu Clan and the Yan Clan is actually my opportunity. Perhaps I can use this chance to stand out, make the family's upper echelons truly notice me, and tilt resources in my direction.

As long as the family is willing to tilt resources toward me, I have the confidence to help you become a Martial Arts Grandmaster. It's just that the cultivation families' prejudice regarding bloodline and status is deep-rooted. It is very difficult to get them to tilt resources toward me!

If you choose to stay this time, you are gambling your life on this sliver of hope. So I must make it clear to you, lest the higher the hope, the greater the disappointment later, and you end up blaming me, Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying, for deceiving you!" Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying said.

Upon hearing this, Xia Daoming's gaze toward Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying changed.

This woman was truly not simple!

Her breadth of mind is as vast as her physique, but her thoughts are the complete opposite of her rugged exterior—delicate, calm, and she sees things very thoroughly.

She was only at the third layer of Qi Refining, young, and starting from a low position with no one paying her any attention. Perhaps it was worth considering an investment!

Perhaps she was a dark horse who would one day become the decision-maker for the Lu Clan!

The Lu Clan had some resources here. If she could become the decision-maker, the interests she could leverage should not be small.

Even if the investment failed, it didn't matter. After all, although this girl looked a bit rough, her heart was quite beautiful.

While Xia Daoming was turning these thoughts over in his mind, Lu Huiyun, who understood Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying best, couldn't help but speak up to defend her.

"If it weren't for the fact that Lu Chengtian is the direct grandson of the family head's lineage, and much of the cultivation resources allocated from the Great Sect were embezzled and diverted to him, while Miss Ziying couldn't get many cultivation resources at all, how could Lu Chengtian possibly be more powerful than Miss Ziying?

And that Elder Wei Shu, who has the most prejudice against bloodline and status, even judging people by their appearance—he dislikes Miss Ziying and actually said she damages the image of the Lu Clan as a cultivation family, sending her back to Jinxiu Valley early and not allowing her to continue staying at Jin Guifeng.

Otherwise, Miss Ziying has been clever and intelligent since childhood, with extraordinary comprehension. Once she continued to stay at Jin Guifeng, she would certainly have stood out quickly, thereby obtaining the vigorous cultivation of the Great Sect.

By now, she would definitely be at the mid-stage of Qi Refining."

"Do not discuss the Elder's affairs lightly. If there are ears next door and it reaches his ears, it will be troublesome," Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying reminded her hurriedly.

Xia Daoming curled his lip.

Lu Ye seemed to recall something, a trace of worry appearing on his face as he said, "Speaking of that Elder Wei Shu, he was slighted this time. If he makes things difficult for Jin Er later, it will be troublesome!"

Xia Daoming curled his lip again.

"There is no need to worry about this for now. The Clan Head just spoke, and Elder Wei Shu won't go so far as to trouble a child. However, once Jin Er truly has the talent for cultivation and can guide Qi into his body, with the narrow-mindedness of Elder Wei Shu and Chengtian, they certainly won't let Jin Er continue to stay at Jin Guifeng," Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying said.

"If we had known this, we shouldn't have let Jin Er cultivate immortality. It would have been better to just practice martial arts with Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong. As long as he can become a Martial Arts Grandmaster, that would also be very impressive!" Lu Ye said.

Xia Daoming glanced at Lu Ye.

What did he mean by "as long as"? What did he mean by "also very impressive"?

He realized his Xu Shixiong's tone had grown bolder!

"I also think so," Lu Huiyun nodded in agreement.

Xia Daoming was speechless, while Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying looked at Lu Ye and his wife with some surprise.

Since when did this couple feel so good about themselves!

Could it be that they thought their son was a martial arts genius, and that switching to martial arts would guarantee him becoming a Martial Arts Grandmaster?

"Speaking of Martial Arts Grandmasters, actually, I am not staying to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster!" Xia Daoming spoke up at this moment.

Since he had the heart to support Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying and make a small venture investment, and since he really had to go to Cold Star Valley, where there would be fighting, he figured it would be difficult to hide his identity as a Martial Arts Grandmaster. Thus, Xia Daoming decided to confess his identity.

Lu Ye and Lu Huiyun straightened their chests upon hearing this, a look of pride appearing on their faces.

"Not for the sake of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, then what are you staying for?" Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying looked at Xia Daoming, thoughtful, a flush appearing on her dark-skinned face without her realizing it.

Could it be that he is doing this for me? That's impossible!

But it's hard to say. Back then, my aunt's husband was so handsome and dashing, didn't he also end up with Aunt Huiyun!

But this won't do. I am a cultivator; immortals and mortals are different. What if one day I have hope for Foundation Establishment and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, while he becomes a mound of yellow earth? Wouldn't I be very lonely?

However, his martial arts talent is quite good, and in terms of looks, although he can't compare to Lu Ye back then, he's not bad either. Pui pui, am I, Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying, that kind of shallow person who judges by appearance?

Sigh, the most critical thing is that immortals and mortals are different. I am determined to follow the immortal path; how can I be influenced by worldly romance? It seems I can only let down his deep affection.

If he were also a cultivator, then I could truly consider it.

Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's mind was wandering, and just as she felt it was a pity to give up but unpalatable to consume, she suddenly felt a powerful fluctuation of internal energy.

Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's bell-like eyes widened instantly.

"You, you are a Martial Arts Grandmaster!"

"That's right, I am a Martial Arts Grandmaster, so I am staying for the sake of Xu Shixiong and his family," Xia Daoming said.

"A Martial Arts Grandmaster, staying for the sake of Lu Ye's family!" It took Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying a long time to recover, her mood complex and subtle.

But soon, Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's pair of bell-like eyes stared fixedly at Xia Daoming again, saying, "That's not right. Since you are a Martial Arts Grandmaster, what was your purpose in coming to Jin Guifeng in the first place?"

This woman was indeed rugged on the outside but delicate on the inside.

"You should still remember that during the day, the Clan Head once said that for the path of martial arts, the Great Grandmaster is the end, but the immortal path has no limits!"

"So I am not reconciled to stopping at the Great Grandmaster level. I still want to walk the immortal path. I came to Wanluo Xianshan to seek immortal fate, to find elixirs that can awaken spiritual roots and Qi Refining secret maps."

"It's just that I am new to the cultivation circle and unfamiliar with the world. It just so happened that Xu Shixiong and the others were coming to Wanluo Xianshan with you, so I begged them to let me follow." Xia

Daoming said.

"You actually still want to walk the immortal path!" Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's eyes widened again, her face full of shock and disbelief, but not long after, her expression turned to one of respectful awe.

"I, Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying, often boast of being a man among women. Even if I don't receive the family's attention, and even have my cultivation resources embezzled and diverted by Lu Chengtian, I do not lose heart, secretly swearing that I must achieve something in cultivation in the future and make everyone look at me with new eyes. But compared to you, my determination is still far behind."

"However, with your current cultivation base and your status in the family, it is very difficult to achieve something in cultivation in this lifetime!" Xia Daoming poured cold water on her.

"No matter how difficult, it can't be harder than you changing to the immortal path at your age! And before, I felt it was very difficult, with very little hope, but now that you are a Martial Arts Grandmaster, as long as you help me, my hope of performing meritorious service in Cold Star Valley this time, standing out, and being valued by the family's upper echelons will inevitably increase greatly."

"Once the family values me and cultivates me, my cultivation will inevitably improve rapidly. And once my cultivation improves rapidly, I will have the ability to turn around and help you, assisting you in switching to the immortal path. Of course, the difficulty is certainly great, but human effort can achieve anything. As long as you and I cooperate sincerely, the hope will certainly be much greater." Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying became more excited as she spoke, her eyes shining brightly.

Xia Daoming looked at Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying and had to admire that this woman's brain turned fast, and she was very clear about her situation, knowing how to seize opportunities.

He had only just started considering investing in her, and she was already thinking about actively pulling him to invest in her.

It's just, was she a bit too confident? Why did she think that once the family valued her, her cultivation would improve rapidly?

However, regardless of whether she was too confident, he would first invest a little to test the waters.

Thinking this, Xia Daoming stood up and said, "I'll go back to my room to get something first. Miss Ziying, please don't go away."

"Alright, you can just call me Ziying," Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying said.

"I'd better stay in the shadows; that should be more effective and catch people off guard. So, for now, I will still call you Miss." After Xia Daoming finished speaking, he turned and strode away.

Watching Xia Daoming's departing back, a look of admiration appeared in Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying's eyes.

"Aunt's husband, this Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong of yours is truly not simple! He became a Martial Arts Grandmaster at such a young age, yet he has absolutely no arrogance or conceit of a young person, remaining low-key and cautious everywhere. Not only that, his ambitions are very grand, and he values loyalty and affection; it is truly admirable!" Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying said.

Seeing Seeing Lu Ziying was born with an unusual appearance. When she was young, no girls in the clan were willing to play with her; only Lu Huiyun, this distant aunt, was willing to take her out to play.

So after she grew up, even though she became a noble and transcendent cultivator in the family, she remained very close to Lu Huiyun's family, and in private, they all addressed Lu Ye and his wife according to their seniority.

"Yes, this Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong of mine is truly not simple!" Lu Ye felt deeply the same.

On the other side, Xia Daoming went out and pretended to go into his room for a while, took out two three-hundred-year-old Phoenix-Crying Pills he had obtained from Lu Weiwen from his storage bag, and only then went out and returned to Lu Ye's room.

Thanks to book friends like RPG Defense, Autumn Divine Light, ricky007, Old Jian Ge, Ten Thousand Years of Waiting, and others for their tips.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 140 =====