Xu Mu's Solution

Xu Mu looked down at Luo Fengchan. "Senior, I hope you can understand. If this cultivation technique was something we found, we'd definitely give it to you. The problem is, my master exchanged a Heaven-grade technique for it. None of us are philanthropists."

Luo Fengchan took a deep breath. She felt Xu Mu had a point—it was, after all, a Heaven-grade technique. No one would be that generous.

Luo Fengchan clenched and unclenched her fists repeatedly, realizing her qi had already recovered by a third. So, she turned to Xu Mu and said, "Let's set aside the matter of the technique for now. Let's first settle the issue of you insulting me earlier."

Just then, ice spikes materialized around Xu Mu, trapping him airtight.

"Senior, why must you do this? I was just starting to change my opinion of you."

Xu Mu said helplessly, "You're still inside my formation. Aren't you afraid of falling for it again?"

"My qi is now within my body. Tell me, do I trust my qi or you?"

Luo Fengchan stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze proud. "Xu Mu, kneel down now, kowtow three times, and we'll call it even. Otherwise, you'll suffer plenty of physical pain."

"Now I finally understand why no one wants you. With a personality like yours, if I were them, I wouldn't want you either,"

Xu Mu couldn't help but laugh.

"Xu Mu! Do you really think I don't dare to kill you?"

A blue glow appeared on Luo Fengchan's fist as she swung it toward Xu Mu. "Since you won't kneel, I'll make you lie down first!"

As she swung her fist, the ice surrounding Xu Mu automatically dispersed.

Bang!

Xu Mu caught Luo Fengchan's fist with one hand.

Luo Fengchan's eyes widened in disbelief. She could feel the qi she had just gathered rapidly dissipating again.

Xu Mu repeated his earlier move exactly, lifting Luo Fengchan with one hand, tearing open her athletic pants again, pinning her to the ground, then pulling back the waistband's elastic and snapping it.

The act itself wasn't painful, but it was immensely humiliating.

"Xu Mu!"

"Shout again!"

Xu Mu snorted coldly.

Smack!

Another snap.

Luo Fengchan struggled frantically, but her qi had completely vanished, leaving her no match for Xu Mu.

"Xu Mu, just kill me. A warrior would rather die than be humiliated!"

Luo Fengchan had given up, tears of shame streaming down her face.

Trapped in this formation, unable to escape, and unable to take the technique, she might as well be dead.

"Senior, if you don't attack me and treat me with a bit more respect, everything can be negotiated."

Xu Mu released Luo Fengchan and sat on the ground nearby.

Seeing Xu Mu move away, Luo Fengchan quickly took a new pair of athletic pants from her spatial ring. "What's your proposal?"

Xu Mu crossed his arms and said casually, "Will you still attack me?"

"As long as you come up with a solution that lets me take the technique away, I swear I'll never attack you again."

Luo Fengchan raised her hand and vowed. "I'll even treat you like a younger brother. If you ever need help in the future, you can count on me."

Compared to a Heaven-grade technique, what was a little humiliation?

Besides, there was no one else around. Even if Xu Mu shamelessly spread the word, she could just deny it completely.

"Does your sect have any other Heaven-grade techniques?"

Xu Mu looked at Luo Fengchan and asked.

"We have one more, but we certainly won't trade it. Qian Shui Yuan was originally lost to us. If we exchange it for another technique, we'd essentially lose that one too. What would be the point of the exchange?"

Luo Fengchan sat cross-legged on the ground, drawing circles in the dirt with her finger.

"Out of consideration for my sister, I'm willing to make one more concession. This is the last time. If you still won't accept, then there's no point in further discussion."

Xu Mu felt that Luo Fengchan was becoming a hassle. He couldn't just kill her, and they would inevitably meet again in the future.

"What is it?"

"I'm willing to give you Qian Shui Yuan for free, without asking for any technique in return. But you must agree to one thing: whether it's Qian Shui Yuan or your sect's current Heaven-grade technique, I get twenty slots for cultivation."

Xu Mu looked at Luo Fengchan and explained, "Simply put, I can let anyone I choose cultivate either Qian Shui Yuan or the Heaven-grade technique within your sect."

"I understand what you mean. You're saying you have twenty slots for cultivation."

Luo Fengchan said calmly, "And what happens after the slots are used up?"

"After that, the technique is truly yours. Even if I want to cultivate it myself, you can refuse."

Xu Mu clarified.

Luo Fengchan thought it over carefully and realized Xu Mu's proposal was indeed the best option.

Heaven-grade techniques required exceptional talent; not just anyone could master them.

"I can agree to your terms, but I have a few additional conditions."

Luo Fengchan held up one finger. "First, cultivation can only take place within our Han Xian Sect. The technique cannot be taken out."

"That's only fair. I'll leave the technique in your care. If anyone from our side wants to cultivate it, they'll travel there in groups."

Xu Mu nodded.

"Second, after you cultivate our technique, you must not become an enemy of our Cold Immortal Sect. Even if there is a conflict and you fight against us, you are not allowed to use our techniques. Otherwise, you will have to come and help us."

Luo Fengchan continued speaking to Xu Mu.

"Alright, I agree."

Xu Mu felt that with Xu Ningbing as a connection, it would be unlikely for him to oppose the Cold Immortal Sect in the future.

"Third! We must find a neutral third party to guarantee this. No one can go back on their word—for example, using up your twenty slots and then pestering me endlessly."

Luo Fengchan was mainly wary of Xu Mu’s master. What if she came causing trouble at the sect later?

Xu Mu, on the other hand, feared that the Cold Immortal Sect might refuse to hand over the technique afterward. Even if she hadn’t brought up this third point, he would have suggested it himself.

"Alright, tomorrow we’ll go find Wei Jingzhi and ask him to witness this."

Xu Mu said after a moment of thought.

"With Senior Wei as our witness, I feel reassured."

Luo Fengchan nodded to herself.

Xu Mu canceled the illusion array, and the two of them reappeared in the bedroom.

Ye Tong hadn’t gone to sleep yet. She sat up from the bed and asked, "Honey, is everything settled?"

"Yeah, it’s all done."

Xu Mu nodded, then said to Luo Fengchan, "You can leave now."

"It’s already past midnight. How can you let such a young child go home alone?"

Ye Tong, still in her pajamas, got out of bed and took Luo Fengchan’s hand. "Sister, don’t go tonight. Stay here and rest."

"I’m not a little kid!"

Luo Fengchan looked up at Ye Tong.

"Alright, alright, you’re a little grown-up right now. But even so, you can’t be walking around at night."

Ye Tong led Luo Fengchan to the bedside. "Tonight, you’ll sleep with me."

"Honey, if she sleeps with you, where will I sleep?"

Xu Mu walked over and asked.

"You’ll sleep on your side. There’s plenty of space—it’s not like we can’t fit."

After saying this, Ye Tong smiled at Luo Fengchan. "Sister, how about you sleep in the middle with us?"