Chapter 5069 — An Invitation
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Once the two sides were seated in the conference room, Xue Jianming said with a touch of arrogance, "Our sect intends to select a few disciples to bring back with us this time. Any cultivator in your mortal world whose aptitude is sufficient may return with me to the Tai Gu Alliance."
"Select disciples?" Qiu Lingshan was briefly stunned. She had assumed it was more bad news; never had she expected the man to be recruiting disciples for the Tai Gu Alliance, and her heart immediately eased.
Strictly speaking, this was no bad thing. Even if the Tai Gu Alliance could not compare with Cloud Terrace Island, it was still far superior to the mortal world. If such an opportunity truly existed, many mortal-world cultivators would surely rejoice.
"Indeed. Of course, our selection is exceedingly strict. Cultivators of ordinary aptitude do not even enter our consideration. But you, Miss Song, naturally meet the requirements. If you return with me, I believe it will not be long before you advance to the Foundation Establishment stage—and it is not even impossible that you might reach my level." Xue Jianming wore an expression that said, I am looking out for you.
In his mind, such an opportunity was a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of fortune for a mortal-world cultivator. After all, the Tai Gu Passage would not open again for another thousand years. Miss this chance, and these people could only go on struggling bitterly in the thin spiritual energy of the mortal world, never to advance a single inch until death.
No one but a fool could fail to see which choice to make between the mortal world and the Tai Gu Alliance—and this striking beauty in her close-fitting attire, who made his mouth water, was clearly no fool.
Yet Qiu Lingshan's reaction left him utterly dumfounded. Without the slightest hesitation, without even stopping to think, she said, "I appreciate your kindness, Your Excellency, but I have never had any intention of leaving the mortal world."
If she had truly harbored such a notion, why, she could have followed Wei Zhao to Cloud Terrace Island long ago—what would she want with the Tai Gu Alliance?
"What?" Xue Jianming thought he had misheard. Only after studying Qiu Lingshan's earnest expression did he grasp it, and he frowned. "Miss Song, you may not yet understand the gulf between the Tai Gu Alliance and the mortal world. Put it to you plainly: given the spiritual energy and resources of the mortal world, the peak of the Heaven Grade is the limit of what you can attain. No matter how exceptional your aptitude, it is all for naught. But if you come with me to the Tai Gu Alliance, with the density of spiritual energy and the cultivation resources there, advancing to a higher level will be a matter of course. Think carefully on that gulf before you answer."
In his mind, any cultivator would surely do everything in their power to raise their strength and realm—many had even brought themselves to strike down their closest loved ones for it. Qiu Lingshan could not possibly remain unmoved, unless she had water on the brain.
"No need. I have thought it through very clearly. Thank you." Qiu Lingshan declined once more, decisively.
Seeing that Qiu Lingshan was a beauty rarely met in a lifetime, Xue Jianming had deliberately lowered his posture. But now that she had refused him to his face, his expression darkened at once, and he said with some irritation, "Miss Song, my sect ranks among the foremost even within the Tai Gu Alliance. With my protection, you would enjoy a cultivation environment second to none. No one else could offer you such terms. This concerns your entire future—you would do well not to make your decision so casually, or you may live to regret it for the rest of your life."
It was only because he coveted Qiu Lingshan that he exercised such patience. Had anyone else dared refuse his invitation to his face, Xue Jianming would long since have exploded. (To be continued.)