Bearing the blue sky

Chapter 201 Guan Julang and Su Feibai's Invitation

"Peace brings wealth?" Su Feibai was the first to sneer. "Yan Liyuan, have you gone mad from reading too much? With a spiritual object right in front of you, you're talking to me about making money through peace?"

Yan Liyuan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Brother Su, the octagonal tree only bears four fruits. There are eight of us, plus this Brother Zhu, making nine in total. If we keep fighting, we'll likely end up hurting each other, and no one will benefit."

"Brother Yan, what do you mean?" A scholar looked at him with great interest.

"Equally split."

Yan Liyuan smiled and said, "Four fruits for nine people are naturally not enough to be divided equally, but we can discuss and come up with a distribution method that everyone can accept."

"Those who receive the fruit will compensate those who did not receive the fruit with something else."

"These star anise fruits are of great use to us who study Confucianism and Taoism, but they are not so important to you, Miss Guan and Brother Su."

Yan Liyuan glanced at everyone present and continued, "Although the star anise fruit is good, its main function is to enhance literary energy and nourish the spirit. It is a treasure for Confucianists, Taoists, and immortals, but its effect is greatly reduced for martial artists, thieves, immortals, and so on."

Guan Julang curled his lip: "So you mean we martial artists should go home empty-handed? That won't do, I'm not happy about it."

"Of course not." Yan Liyuan shook his head: "That's why compensation is needed. Those who received the fruit should give something of equal value to those who didn't. That way, no one loses out."

A short, stout man stroked his chin, squinted, and asked, "What are the standards for compensation? Who decides?"

Yan Liyuan smiled and said, "We can discuss and decide together, or we can invite a highly respected person to make the judgment."

All eyes turned to an old man.

The old man had kept his eyes closed, as if he were asleep, but he slowly opened them now, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"I won't make a judgment." His voice was hoarse and indifferent: "If you want to take it, then take it; if you want to make peace, then make peace. Don't drag me into this."

After saying that, he closed his eyes again.

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhu Ge looked at the wooden Taoist with some curiosity.

This person is probably not from the "Ranking of the State", but his aura is obscure, so he is undoubtedly a third-realm being.

At this moment, the scholar-like young man spoke up: "Since Daoist Mu is unwilling, then let's do as Brother Yan said, each relying on their own abilities. Those who succeed will compensate those who fail. The amount of compensation can be negotiated between the two parties. If they can't reach an agreement, then we'll find someone to mediate."

"That's more like it," the short, stout man nodded.

"I have another question," the woman in black suddenly spoke, her gaze falling on Zhu Ge. "What is this Brother Zhu's background? What gives him the right to participate in the distribution?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's attention once again focused on Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge remained expressionless and said calmly, "I can fight."

"Can you fight?" The woman in black chuckled. "Who here can't fight? But we haven't heard that the 'List of the State' has gained an assassin."

Judging from the woman in black's words, she didn't seem to be an assassin, but rather a member of the Daoist thief class.

"Then let's give it a try." Zhu Ge stood up and dusted off his robes. "It's one-on-one. If I lose, I'll turn around and leave. If you lose, don't ask any more questions like that."

"Oh?" The woman in black's eyes narrowed, her heart pounding in her chest, sensing the aura emanating from it; it was indeed blood energy.

The Three Realms of Thieves!

She stuck out her tender pink tongue and licked her lips, her gaze sweeping over Zhu Ge's neck, heart, armpits, genitals, and other vital areas.

"Alright," Yan Liyuan said promptly. "I can vouch for Brother Zhu's strength, and he is not an assassin, but a legitimate body-refining martial artist."

As he spoke, he looked at Zhu Ge.

Last time, Zhu Ge said that he belonged to no sect or school and that he had mastered the method of concealing his aura on his own.

This time, the first thing he said was "True Lord".

Either Zhu Ge was lying to them last time.

Either Zhu Ge wasn't lying to them, and he really was a rogue cultivator, but he met "True Lord" under other circumstances.

For Zhu Ge to catch the True Lord's attention and lead to a conversation, he must have something special about him.

This made Yan Liyuan's gaze towards Zhu Ge even gentler.

"If you don't believe me, come and try it." Singer Zhu held the Purgatory Star Staff, his tone calm.

However, the martial arts heart in his chest began to beat, producing a deafening thunderous sound on the field.

So everyone looked away.

Just by looking at Zhu Ge's martial arts spirit, one can tell that Zhu Ge must also be a prodigy.

Such a prodigy is indeed qualified to be one of them.

Zhu Ge was actually out of options.

Since he lacks divine consciousness, he can only prove his strength through his martial arts heart.

He didn't want it to be like this either.

After all, for those present, the strength of their spiritual sense was generally enough to judge their approximate level.

Those with strong spiritual consciousness will have stronger internal power when they break through.

Conversely, it won't be as strong.

However, using the voice of the Martial Heart to demonstrate strength is not bad, it's just a bit troublesome.

"Brother Zhu." Yan Liyuan flew over and landed beside Zhu Ge, bowing respectfully. "It's been a few days, and you seem to have acquired a more scholarly air about you?"

Although his tone was questioning, Yan Liyuan's smile contained a sense of certainty.

Zhu Ge didn't hide anything, clasping his hands in a fist and saying, "That's true. Brother Yan, may I ask you something?"

In fact, he thought that Yan Liyuan in front of him was indeed a good person, a gentleman.

If it weren't for Yan Liyuan last time, Zhu Ge would probably have snatched Guan Julang's Yuan-level spring.

When Guan Julang is surrounded, he will likely be seriously injured, if not killed.

But because of Yan Liyuan's appearance, Guan Julang was unharmed, and Zhu Ge and Su Feibai were also persuaded to leave.

Of course, for Zhu Ge, Guan Julang's Yuan-level spring was still very tempting.

"Hey, you little brat, I'll give you a Yuan-level spring, how about you help me out later?" Guan Julang called out to Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge glanced at her.

This girl is great; she's beautiful, comes from a good family, and is supposedly a senior female student.

Unfortunately, it has a mouth but no brain.

"That won't do." Zhu Ge shook her head: "I can help you if I don't manage to get it, but if I do, then forget it."

"Wow!?" Guan Julang rubbed his chin. "You little thing, you're pretty tough, huh?"

Zhu Ge sighed helplessly.

This girl is really sick!

Su Feibai then said, "Brother Zhu, we've been friends for a while now. If you ever have the chance, how about helping me assassinate someone?"

To assassinate someone?

Zhu Ge shook her head: "I'm not an assassin, I don't do that kind of thing."

Assassins have always been infamous.

No one wants a hidden enemy to appear in the shadows at any moment.

"I'll offer three Yuan-level spiritual items," Su Feibai said, extending his fingers.

"That won't do either." Zhu Ge shook his head: "My martial arts heart won't allow me to do such a thing."

If Zhu Ge takes this job, he might be surrounded and eliminated in the future.

Moreover, since he revealed his name as Zhu Ge here, it might implicate the Six Paths Palace.

It's not worth doing this kind of thing.