Liu Yi had stressed "at all costs" twice. Looking at the pretty and charming face of Liu Yi, Lu Li seemed to understand something between the lines.
As long as it was what he wanted, he could even marry the most beautiful lady of the Liu Family that was sitting right in front of him. He would become the most respected son-in-law.
The Liu Family would bestow him with endless resources for him to enhance his powers. If the Liu Family could survive this calamity, he could become an upstart of the Wu Ling County, and he could have his ways in the county.
But the problem was… could he say yes?
He had more important things to do. He had to join a Fifth-rank Royal Family to become their Guest Warrior. He had to use the Teleportation Formation of the Fifth-rank Royal Families to get to Central Plains and ask for help from the Lu Family to save his parents.
He was the offspring of one of the Top 10 strongest Bloodlines of Central Plains. How could he just randomly join the other Families" Internal Clan or External Clan? Lu Ying had made this very clear to him. No matter which family he joined, he only could be a Guest Warrior. He could not join in the Internal Clan or the External Clan.
So, Lu Li smiled apologetically and said, "Lady Yi. I am sorry. I can promise you that I will do my best if something should happen to the Liu Family. But I have my troubles. I cannot join the Internal Clan or External Clan of any family. I am sorry."
Liu Yi"s eyes dimmed. She pressed on and was unwilling to let it go, "You really can"t?"
"No," Lu Li answered with certainty. He thought about it and said, "How about you put in some nice words for me at the family and give me some resources? I can write down a blood oath that as long as I live, I will do my best to help the Liu Family."
"Ha-ha."
Liu Yi sat back and shook her head. "Lu Li. You are so simple-minded. Even if I believe you, even… if I swear on my life that you will, it"s still useless. No family will waste resources on a Guest Warrior. No one believes in oaths."
Having said this, there was not much left to say. Lu Li bowed and said, "Lady Yi. Thank you very much for the treat. I will go back now. Turn in early yourself."
Lu Li left. Liu Yi was still sitting in the pavilion, depressed. For the first time, she doubted her own charm. It was okay that those big potatoes turned their noses at her, but how could it be like this with Lu Li, a b.u.mpkin?
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
After a moment, an elder quietly approached. Seeing the disappointment in Liu Yi"s eyes, he asked in surprise, "Have you failed?"
Liu Yi looked up to Patriarch Seven and put on a bitter smile. "Grandpa Seven, Lu Li has his troubles. He cannot join the External Clan or Internal Clan of any Family. But he said he would help out if Liu Family encountered disasters…"
"Bullsh*t!"
Patriarch Seven interrupted. He said in a cold voice, "This ungrateful soul. Mind him no more. Let him be. Also… pa.s.s my order along. None of the high rank Xuan Artifacts or pellets can be traded to him, not even if he has contribution points. If he wants something of lower ranks, he must pay twice the price."
With that said, Patriarch Seven turned around and left. For him, a genius that could not be used by the Liu Family was the same thing as a good-for-nothing. Liu Family could not waste a large amount of resources to train an ungrateful soul who might come back and hurt the Liu Family.
"Grandpa Seven…"
Liu Yi wanted to persuade him, but Patriarch Seven already left in big strides. He had no intention of listening to what she had to say.
"Should I try it one more time?"
Liu Yi looked up towards the Guest Clan. She did not like Lu Li, nor did she dislike him. If she could give herself to Lu Li, that would be nice. At least, she wouldn"t have to worry that someday, her family would send her away to some big shots for them to toy with.
Since Lu Li was somewhat fascinated when he looked at her, it meant that he was tempted by her. If she could forgo her status and her demure nature, she might be able to lie in the same bed with him. Based on her knowledge of Lu Li, there was no way that he would be irresponsible.
"Never mind!"
In the end, Liu Yi shook her head and denied such a notion. She had her pride. She was not a woman of loose morals. Now that Lu Li had turned her down, how could she be so shameless as to be willing to become a wife to him?
Lu Li went back to his own yard. Lu Ling noticed that he was a bit drunk, so she asked with a smile, "What happened? The ladies of the Liu Family tried to get you drunk? You didn"t do anything disgraceful, did you?"
Lu Li scratched his head in embarra.s.sment and replied, "Sis, what are you saying? How can I do anything disgraceful?"
"Ha-ha-ha!"
Lu Ling laughed and said in a mocking tone, "My brother has grown up. Go back to your cultivation now. The situation of the Wu Ling County can change at any minute now. You must get strong. Otherwise, how will you bring me and run for our lives?"
"Run for our lives?"
Lu Li was surprised. He thought about what Liu Yi said and asked after a while, "Sis, if the Zhao Family really destroyed the Liu Family, where would we go?"
"Heaven Martial City!"
Lu Ling said, pointing to the south, "If it really comes down to this, we will go directly to the capital of the Heaven Martial Kingdom. Then we will figure out a way to join the Zi Family and become their Guest Warrior."
There were three kingdoms on the Northern Desert, the Heaven Martial Kingdom, Heaven Frigid Kingdom and the Heaven Cold Kingdom. The Wu Ling County belonged to the Heaven Martial Kingdom.
But the people of the Northern Desert did not have a strong sense of belonging to the three kingdoms. Usually, they would just say that they were the people of the Northern Desert, rather than the people of the Heaven Martial Kingdom, or Heaven Frigid Kingdom.
There was as reason for this!
The changes of the kingdoms on the Northern Desert were too fast. The longest-established one of the three kingdoms had a history of merely 80 years, and the newest one was only established 15 years ago.
There were too many warriors on the Northern Desert. The emergence of any one powerhouse usually signaled the rise of a Big Family. When that happened, territorial wars and fight over mine lodes would follow.
There were only that many lands in the Northern Desert. Most of the lands and resources were in the hands of the Royal Families. Inevitably, there would be wars. Once a family won, it could become a new Royal Family. A new kingdom would be built up, and the names would be changed as well.
In the short span of time of several hundred years, more than 30 kingdoms had appeared on the Northern Desert. Therefore, the people of the Northern Desert had a rather weak notion of kingdoms. They didn"t care what kingdom stood tall. They were the people of the Northern Desert.
As far as Lu Li and Lu Ling were concerned, there was no difference between the Heaven Martial Kingdom, the Heaven Frigid Kingdom and the Heaven Cold Kingdom. It was the same for them to join any Royal Family of any kingdom as long as they could be transported to Central Plains.
The capital city of Heaven Martial Kingdom was closest to the Wu Ling County. Hence, Lu Ling asked Lu Li to flee to that direction with her if something happened.
"Cultivate, cultivate!"
On the thought of going to the Heaven Martial City across several thousand miles, Lu Li"s mind was weighed down by anxiety. The battle over at the Ice Abyss could come to an end soon. The war in Wu Ling County was about to begin. If the Zhao Family won, merciless chase upon Lu Li would await.
"I have to perceive the Rolling Thunder Xuan Skill completely within half a month, and I have to figure out a way to condense the Spirit Sea. If I can make it to the Spirit Sea Realm and have the Rolling Thunder Skill, my combat ability will be greatly enhanced. My chance of survival will be greater as well."
After sorting things out, Lu Li went back to his room and started cultivating. Instead of cultivating the Rolling Thunder Xuan Skill, he focused his mind on the last part of his energy channel. He planned to consider about the rest after he opened up all his energy channels and reached the peak of the Xuan Wu Realm.