"What do you wish for?"
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhan did not show the expected joy. Instead, his expression grew exceptionally solemn.
"If you have nothing you desire, you may leave now!" Ye Ming said, looking at the two pebbles in his hand, his head bowed. "I can guarantee you that no third person will ever know about our conversation today!"
No third person will know?
What did that mean?
"Mr. Ye! You... you really intend to let me go just like that?" Xu Zhan clenched his fists, as if struggling with something internally.
"President Xu, I've realized that you seem to have misunderstood something from beginning to end!" Ye Ming looked up, his smile appearing harmless. "I have no enmity with you, Elder Gu, or even the entire Ancient Martial Arts Association!"
"Before, you targeted me, but that was merely the work of the person behind the scenes. As for you..." Ye Ming paused intentionally here, then continued, "You simply lacked the power to resist."
"So, do you understand what I mean?"
In his last sentence, Ye Ming's tone was exceptionally serious.
This was something Xu Zhan could surely feel.
"Yes! We lacked the ability to resist!"
Perhaps recalling something, Xu Zhan's face was filled with helplessness.
Just like now, he could not resist anything.
Fortunately, the young man before him was different from the person behind the Ancient Martial Arts Association. He had not resorted to any forceful measures.
Before this, when he was a Martial God, when had he ever felt such helplessness?
But ever since he came into contact with the special group of immortal cultivators.
Everything seemed to have changed!
It turned out that the so-called Martial God was, in the eyes of some, not much different from an ant.
"Mr. Ye! You are also an immortal cultivator, aren't you?"
This was Xu Zhan's first question.
"You know the answer very well, don't you?" Ye Ming retorted.
"That's true!"
Xu Zhan shook his head, then took out something and handed it to Ye Ming. "Since you are also an immortal cultivator, could you perhaps give me your opinion!"
What he produced was actually a book.
To be precise, it was a cultivation technique.
Of course, it was a copied version.
"Alright!"
Ye Ming accepted the cultivation technique. Several large characters were imprinted on the cover, named... Immortal Dao Sacred Canon.
Upon seeing this name, Ye Ming was slightly taken aback.
This name... sounded quite formidable.
"Then let me see what exactly is written inside!"
Now, Ye Ming was somewhat curious.
But as Ye Ming flipped through a few pages, Xu Zhan could clearly see the other party's expression gradually become stiff, and his mouth twitched a couple of times.
"Mr. Ye! Is there something wrong with this cultivation technique?" Seeing this, Xu Zhan became somewhat flustered.
Ye Ming only flipped through the first few pages and had no intention of continuing. He looked at Xu Zhan, seemingly contemplating how to express his current mood.
"Well, President Xu, this cultivation technique... *cough*! How should I put it, uh... It is indeed an Immortal Dao cultivation technique!" Ye Ming said somewhat unnaturally.
"This..."
Hearing that tone, anyone would know there was a problem with the cultivation technique.
"Mr. Ye! Could you evaluate this cultivation technique?" Xu Zhan asked persistently.
After all!
This cultivation technique was one of the benefits given to them by the person behind the Ancient Martial Arts Association.
According to them, as long as they followed this cultivation technique, they could break through the shackles of Martial God and reach a whole new realm.
"Evaluate? This..."
Hearing that he was still being asked to evaluate, Ye Ming's expression became even more unnatural.
"Then... then, President Xu, how about I give you another one!" Ye Ming said, feeling somewhat insulted by the words "Immortal Dao Sacred Canon."
This was called a "Sacred Canon"?
Ye Ming roared internally.
"Mr. Ye, just tell me the truth, it's alright!"
At this point, how could Xu Zhan not see the problem?
"Alright!"
Ye Ming returned the cultivation technique to Xu Zhan and said gravely, "President Xu, you must be mentally prepared!"
"It's alright! I've probably already guessed," Xu Zhan's face only showed a bitter smile.
"This cultivation technique, it is indeed an Immortal Dao cultivation technique! However, it is of the lowest tier, barely qualifying as a first-tier Immortal Dao cultivation technique," Ye Ming said with some reluctance.
These words were Ye Ming's way of expressing himself indirectly, considering the other party's feelings.
To put it bluntly, this cultivation technique was... garbage.
It was unlikely anyone in that secluded land would use this technique to cultivate.
Although he had prepared himself mentally, when Xu Zhan truly learned the truth, the anger and unwillingness within him still broke through his defenses.
"Bastards!"
*Bang!*
With red eyes, Xu Zhan unleashed a surge of violent true qi, instantly turning the cultivation technique in his hand into ashes. The humiliation he felt made him seem utterly ridiculous.
Before, he and Gu Taiyi had speculated that those people would not give them good cultivation techniques.
But they had never imagined that the other party would actually try to fool them with such inferior techniques. How could he tolerate this?
How could he be reconciled?
And when he thought of how Gu Taiyi and the others were still cherishing it and diligently cultivating,
Xu Zhan's true qi in his chest suddenly became chaotic, his eyes filled with blood, and his aura gradually became unstable.
"This..."
Seeing this, Ye Ming knew it was bad.
Xu Zhan was showing symptoms of qi deviation.
It seemed that the inner humiliation and anger had caused Xu Zhan to gradually lose his reason.
"Calm!"
Without time to think, Ye Ming extended his index finger, and a white light entered Xu Zhan's brow, suppressing the raging true qi within him.
One minute later.
Xu Zhan finally calmed down.
"Thank you, Mr. Ye, for your timely intervention. Otherwise..." After regaining his senses, Xu Zhan clasped his fists in thanks to Ye Ming, a lingering fear evident.
That had been too dangerous just now.
"A small matter!"
Ye Ming waved his hand and advised, "President Xu, you must be more careful next time!"
This time, he had stepped in to suppress it, but what about next time?
"Yes!"
Xu Zhan deeply understood the terror of that moment.
"Continuing to cultivate with that cultivation technique will not have any negative impact on your bodies. However, breaking through to Martial God will be quite difficult!"
Ye Ming stated truthfully, "Even if you can use it to break through to Martial God, that will be the extent of it!"
This statement was already quite direct.
At this moment, Ye Ming took out an ancient book and handed it to Xu Zhan, smiling.
"If you trust me, I'll give you this cultivation technique!"