Chapter 1729: Everyone

Just as Yu Hongxi was processing her emotions towards Li Luo's current status and strength, Lu Sui chimed in and pointed to a graceful woman at the side, garbed in palatial robes. Her beauty was best described as elegant and dignified, and her bright eyes resembled the full moon. "Li Luo, this is the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Lingsu," he said.

Lu Sui then pointed towards a burly middle-aged man with a head full of white hair. He looked untamed and wild with his hair and beard standing on end, thunder source origin flickering violently through his eyes. "This is the head of the Qian family, Qian Yan."

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Greetings, Family Heads," said Li Luo with clasped hands.

"I've long heard of you, Federation Chief Li Luo. After meeting you in person, I am now certain that you are indeed a promising youth with unsurpassed talent." Zhang Lingsu and Qian Yan did not put on any airs. Instead, they treated him as a peer despite the difference in age.

The young man in front of them stood tall with a gentle smile, yet he exuded an oppressive aura that they could not ignore. Sighing in their hearts, they were reminded of the first time his name had entered their ears. It was when they had heard that Lu Qing'er was interested in him. Naturally, they sought to investigate him. That was back when Li Luo had only just arrived at the Dragon's Fang Lineage from the Xia Kingdom, long before he entered the Duke Stage. They had lost all interest in him due to his low cultivation level.

However, to their utter surprise, that unremarkable youth had become terrifyingly powerful in just a short ten years. He was so powerful that even elders like them feared him. Now that he had come to Golden Dragon Mountain, they had taken the time to personally greet him. Furthermore, not only had Li Luo's strength reached the peak, his background was similarly extraordinary.

Golden Dragon Mountain had always treated the Bloodline of Heavenly Emperor Li politely, but respect was a different matter altogether. Things were different now though—Li Jingzhe had become a Heavenly Emperor and Tantai Lan was a ninth-grade Transcendent. Those achievements had shaken the entire world, and even Golden Dragon Mountain had to treat their bloodline with extreme courtesy.

Li Luo cupped his fist politely in response as he glanced at the other people who had come to welcome him. There were several other familiar faces in the crowd, like Lu Ruyan from the Celestial Mirror Pagoda. Lu Shuanglu and Zhang Cuicheng, who he had encountered in the World's End River Region, were present.

When Lu Ruyan noticed Li Luo looking at her, her charming face turned unsightly and she averted her gaze, avoiding direct eye contact. When they met at the Celestial Mirror Pagoda, Li Luo was nowhere near her level. On their second meeting, however, he had far surpassed her. She herself had only just attempted to break into the King Stage, but she was still lacking that final bit. They were no longer comparable to each other.

"Ah, Li Luo, it has been a while. You're quite the impressive individual now," Lu Shuanglu happily said as she waved her hand. Even though her expression was filled with admiration towards him, she could not conceal the shock in her eyes.

"I have yet to thank you for the spirit liquids and purifying lights you provided me back then, Young Mistress Shuanglu," Li Luo said with a grin. He had a good impression of her as she had helped him out at the World's End River Region.

When she saw how courteous Li Luo was, her eyes shone, clearly pleased. "That was because of Qing'er's request. I was merely looking for an excuse to give it to you."

Lu Qing'er shot her a glance as she said, "Second Sister, there's no need to talk too much about the past."

Lu Shuanglu immediately quietened down. Lu Qing'er was completely different as she had perfectly inherited the Permafrost Sacred Seed. Not only that, she was the first individual to evolve it into a Genesis Seed since the founding of Golden Dragon Mountain. This achievement caused the three Heavenly Emperors of Golden Dragon Mountain to hold high hopes for her. On top of that, her emotions were now frozen and her every word and action inexplicably gave others a sense of deterrence, causing others to not dare to act rashly before her.

Seeing this, Li Luo turned his attention towards Zhang Cuicheng and nodded in acknowledgement. The genius of the Zhang family quickly returned the greeting. There was deep desire in his eyes as he looked at Li Luo. He longed to become a pinnacle expert one day.

Lu Sui cut to the chase and explained, "Li Luo, I think Uncle Taiyi has already explained the reason why we have invited you here. In order for Qing'er's acquired Genesis Seed to reach perfection, it must undergo a particular ceremony that Golden Dragon Mountain has been preparing for thousands of years. It requires the aid of our two other Sacred Seeds, the Zhang family's Lunar Sacred Seed and the Qian family's Thunder Sacred Seed. When the three Sacred Seeds converge, they will temper each other, and Qing'er can take the final step during the ceremony.

"However, the ceremony requires a host who can bear the humongous power of the Sacred Seeds. The host will have to guide the power of the seeds, preventing them from destroying each other.

"Normally speaking, the host would be one of the Heavenly Emperors of Golden Dragon Mountain. However, they are currently unable to enter the divine continents, so our original plan had to be scrapped. As we agonized over this problem, the Heavenly Emperors sent a message, saying that we could possibly perform the ceremony with your assistance."

He smiled before continuing, "So long as you help, regardless of whether it succeeds, Golden Dragon Mountain will compensate you with a single portion of upper ninth-grade—"

"Ahem." Before Lu Sui could finish speaking, Lu Taiyi coughed softly as he clarified, "It's three portions of upper ninth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights."

Lu Sui was taken aback by this. He then glanced suspiciously at Lu Taiyi. Hadn't they agreed beforehand that it would be one, at most two portions of upper ninth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights? How had it become three? Even Golden Dragon Mountain only had a few portions of such a treasure.

Lu Taiyi stroked his beard before pouting in Lu Qing'er's direction, indicating that it was Lu Sui's daughter who had suggested this. He had nothing to do with the decision.

Lu Qing'er calmly said, "Chieftain Zhen Linshuang of the Dragon Race was unwilling to let him go. She offered three portions of upper ninth-grade spirit liquids and purifying lights to get Li Luo to help her with something. We have no time to waste, so I had no choice but to raise the price."

Li Luo was about to speak up, but she directly addressed him. "Li Luo, if you don't wish to do this, you can leave now." He shrugged and remained silent.

Lu Sui shot a complicated look at Yu Hongxi. Hadn't Lu Qing'er's emotions been sealed? How could she just give away her family's treasures? Yu Hongxi rolled her eyes. To her, this was clearly the result of her sealing her emotions. Otherwise, the family wouldn't have anything left—Lu Qing'er would've given everything to Li Luo.

That said, as the leader of Golden Dragon Mountain, Lu Sui was ambitious and looked at the bigger picture. Thus, he accepted the higher price and smiled, saying, "Li Luo, you can spend the next two days resting here. Once the preparations are complete, we'll ask for your help."

Li Luo nodded. "I'll do as you say, Mountain Leader Lu Sui."