Chapter 999: Are there any girls

The roar exploded like thunder, and Gu Taiyuan felt as if struck by lightning!

This was no illusion—he had truly been dragged out!

How was this possible?!

He had been hiding within the Gu family’s secret treasure, yet he was so easily detected and pulled out without any resistance. This was utterly terrifying!

Gu Taiyuan shuddered violently and scrambled to his feet in panic!

But before he could fully rise—

As if death itself had willed it, his eyes locked directly onto the skeletal face before him!

The skeleton appeared calm, its expression unreadable, merely observing him with an ordinary gaze. Yet to Gu Taiyuan, it felt like staring into the eyes of the Grim Reaper!

That single glance froze him in place, his body completely paralyzed!

The horrifying memory of that single finger shattering the void resurfaced, and Gu Taiyuan’s face turned deathly pale!

“You’ve been watching for quite a while. Had enough?”

The voice echoed again, sending tremors through his entire body!

So, he had been sensed from the very beginning. This person’s cultivation was undeniably monstrous—an existence beyond any hope of resistance or escape!!!

“Thud! Thud! Thud!”

He stumbled backward, the once-revered Gu family elder now tripping over himself in terror!

One hand braced behind him, his eyes filled with sheer dread!

In that instant, Gu Taiyuan felt as though he were trapped in eternal ice, the world around him fading away. His vision held nothing but that deathly skeletal visage!

If the demonic creatures earlier had been fearsome, the skeleton now looming over him extinguished even the faintest spark of defiance. Against such a being, his cultivation was utterly insignificant—he wouldn’t survive a single finger strike!

After living for millennia, he knew better than to delude himself.

The next moment, the once-celebrated sage dropped to his knees without hesitation, begging for mercy!

“Elder! Venerable Elder!”

“I meant no disrespect, no malice—I’m a good man! I beg you, spare my life!”

Watching Gu Taiyuan kowtow like a frantic pestle, Dan Chenzi was stunned.

He never imagined the Gu family elder he once respected would stoop so low.

After a moment of reflection, he realized Gu Taiyuan must have used ancient clan techniques to hide nearby—yet even such methods were effortlessly seen through by this elder.

Such power surpassed his understanding.

Gu Taiyuan was despicable, abandoning humanity in its hour of need, unworthy of his title as a renowned sage. But his experience was vast, and for him to discard all pride and beg now…

It could only mean he had witnessed the elder’s terrifying display firsthand.

That single finger annihilating the demon was no illusion!

This elder’s strength was beyond comprehension!

With this realization, Dan Chenzi’s reverence deepened. Even his hatred for Gu Taiyuan couldn’t override his caution.

Bowing respectfully to Lu Benwei, he spoke with utmost deference.

“Venerable Elder!”

“This man fled in cowardice and spied from the shadows—a dishonorable, ungrateful wretch. I leave his fate to your judgment!”

At these words, Gu Taiyuan’s face twisted in panic!

Desperately, he cast pleading glances at the others, hoping to curry favor.

Ao Qing couldn’t be bothered, dismissing him with a casual remark.

“Doesn’t look like a good guy. Just kill him.”

The offhand tone, identical to before, reignited Gu Taiyuan’s terror. He kowtowed frantically!

“My lords! Honorable lords…!”

“I swear I’m innocent! This was all a misunderstanding—I’d never dare offend! Name your price, and I’ll give everything I have!”

Without hesitation, he produced his sacred storage ring, heart bleeding as he offered it with both hands.

Inside were his accumulations over millennia: seven or eight saint-grade treasures, over a hundred saint-tier heavenly materials—a hoard even major sects would envy!

For survival, Gu Taiyuan acted ruthlessly. He knew ordinary treasures wouldn’t move such an elder; only a king’s ransom might buy a sliver of hope.

Dan Chenzi’s expression tightened at the sight.

For all his vileness, Gu Taiyuan was decisive, a master of assessing situations. His understanding of sacrifice was unparalleled.

With such an offering, even this elder might show mercy.

The cunning of this worm was infuriating!

As the skeletal hand picked up the ring, Gu Taiyuan’s hope surged, his eyes trembling with anticipation.

Surely, among these treasures, something would catch the elder’s eye. This was his life’s wealth—it had to count for something!

Yet, after a mere breath, the ring was tossed aside like garbage.

Gu Taiyuan was dumbstruck.

Dan Chenzi gaped in disbelief.

“What kind of trash is this? You dare waste my time with this junk? Might as well kill you now!”

The irritated words left both men wide-eyed.

Had they heard right…?

This was a Gu family elder’s lifetime of treasures—a ancient clan’s vault!

Not to mention the treasures and rare materials inside, even the ring itself was an extremely rare top-tier sacred artifact—so rare that there might not even be one in an entire realm. If such an item were to surface, it would undoubtedly spark a bloodbath, with countless ancient monsters fighting tooth and nail to claim it!

And yet, such a treasure was now being treated as worthless scrap!?

Dan Chenzi smacked his lips, utterly speechless, his mouth dry as dust. Considering the unfathomable cultivation of this lord before him, he couldn’t even muster a rebuttal.

All he could do was mutter to himself—how naive he still was.

As for Gu Taiyuan, who had initially held some confidence, he was now completely dumbstruck, kneeling on the ground with wide eyes, as if struck by a sudden blow, unable to process what was happening.

The skeletal finger stretched toward him, the despair of impending death creeping closer.

Gu Taiyuan jolted awake, his heart leaping into his throat.

Without hesitation, he began pleading frantically, casting aside all dignity as a patriarch of an ancient clan or any pretense of seniority.

"G-G-Great Lord!"

"Hold your hand! My Gu family is an ancient clan with profound heritage! Our clan... our clan possesses countless secret treasures! If the Great Lord desires them, we will offer everything willingly! Please, spare me!"

Even though it defied belief, Gu Taiyuan knew his sacred ring must have been too insignificant to impress this being. His only hope was to leverage the prestige of his ancient clan and offer even greater treasures to sway him.

In his desperate plea, the skeletal finger finally paused.

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Taiyuan kowtowed again, begging not just the skeleton but even the silly-looking dog and the dopey bear beside him.

"Great Lord! All you esteemed lords!"

"Spare my life, and I swear our clan will offer everything we possess!"

His demeanor was as sincere as could be, the very picture of a man who knew how to play his cards right.

Ao Qing lazily glanced at him and asked,

"Got any girls?"

Gu Taiyuan froze for a moment, eyes widening in disbelief, but he quickly snapped back to reality and forced an ingratiating smile, his face resembling a dyed chrysanthemum in full bloom.

"Yes, yes, yes! Whatever the Great Lord desires, we have it all!"

With this confirmation, Ao Qing finally felt a flicker of pride and turned to Lu Benwei with eager anticipation.

"Big Bro! They’ve got girls!"

Lu Benwei’s face instantly lit up with joy, his spirits soaring.

"Girls?!"

"Excellent! Then let’s go with him! Qing, your intel is on point as always!"

Immediately, Ao Qing beamed with pride, while the centipede, the bear, and the Spirit King all cheered in unison, the tense atmosphere dissolving into lively excitement.

Watching this unexpected turn of events, Gu Taiyuan and Dan Chenzi were utterly baffled.

Despite their previous wariness, the two exchanged a glance—strangely synchronized in their confusion, yet completely unable to comprehend the situation.

These mysterious powerhouses, who had just been terrifyingly formidable, were now jumping around like excitable teenagers, utterly lacking in sophistication or worldly experience. It made no sense to them.

That skeleton had obliterated a demonic entity with a single finger—his cultivation far surpassed that of ordinary saints, reaching a realm where worldly possessions meant nothing. Even if Gu Taiyuan’s sacred ring was deemed worthless, they could grudgingly accept it as a matter of perspective.

But now, the mere mention of "girls" had sent these experts into a frenzy, as if feminine charms outweighed the treasures mortals would kill for.

Was this logical?

Could beings of such unfathomable power really be so... shallow?

They couldn’t fathom it.

But with the situation settled and Gu Taiyuan’s life spared, Dan Chenzi, though resentful, dared not utter a word of protest.

Gu Taiyuan, meanwhile, wore an even more sycophantic smile as he cautiously rose to his feet, bowing with exaggerated deference.

"Great Lord, if there’s nothing else, shall we proceed to my humble abode? I assure you, everything will be to your satisfaction."

At this, Lu Benwei’s tone softened considerably.

"Not bad, punk. You’ve got some manners. I like that..."

The dog and the centipede chimed in, pushing the jovial atmosphere to new heights.

"This punk’s got potential!"

"Yeah, yeah, almost one-ten-thousandth as good as us brothers! Though compared to Big Bro’s one-ten-thousandth, he’s still a billion miles short!"

Lu Benwei basked in the praise, hands in his pockets, striking a pose with his stylish bean shoes gleaming ostentatiously.

"Keep going, don’t stop..."

"Hahaha..."

Amid the laughter, the group was practically vibrating with excitement, ready to follow Gu Taiyuan, their demeanor now shockingly amiable.

Their sudden friendliness left Gu Taiyuan even more bewildered, and he bowed repeatedly, half in gratitude, half in terror.

Just as the mood peaked, Dan Chenzi hesitantly stepped forward.

After a few tense breaths, he mustered his courage and spoke to Lu Benwei.

"Great Lord... Recently, powerful auras have been emerging from the depths of the demonic realm. It seems something formidable has awakened. The two demonic entities we faced earlier were already beyond our ability to handle..."

"Your Excellency possesses profound cultivation. To encounter you today is truly my fortune, as well as a blessing for all humanity. I dare to make a bold request—I hope Your Excellency will consider the innocent lives at stake and investigate the demonic realm. I will gladly serve you in any capacity!"

The words were perfectly measured and spoken with utmost respect.

This exalted figure had once drawn his blade to aid them—surely he wouldn't refuse. A mere investigation would likely require no effort from someone of his stature.

Yet as Dan Chenzi waited expectantly, he was met with a blunt refusal.

"I won't go."

Dan Chenzi looked up in surprise, his eyes widening.

"Your Excellency..."

Lu Benwei didn't even bother glancing his way, muttering dismissively.

"What demonic realm? Women are far more important!"

Dan Chenzi pressed his lips together, rendered speechless.

Upon reflection, it made sense. That this senior had intervened at all was already an act of boundless benevolence—far surpassing Gu Taiyuan, who shared the same human lineage.

How could he shamelessly ask for more when such a great debt remained unpaid?

Understanding this, Dan Chenzi bowed deeply in reverence.

As spatial ripples shimmered before him, a trace of regret lingered in his heart. His gaze remained fixed on the black-robed figure, eyes filled with complex emotions.

Just as the figures stepped into the void, Lu Benwei's leisurely voice drifted from afar.

"Relax. That measly demonic aura won’t amount to anything. Someone will deal with it eventually."

Dan Chenzi broke into a sweat at the words.

The demonic race he viewed as overwhelmingly powerful were, in this senior’s eyes, nothing more than a trivial nuisance—a disparity beyond comprehension.

Yet as he pondered the words, hope swelled within him.

It was as if fate itself had already decreed the outcome.

This senior seemed privy to hidden truths, aware of what the future held...

Recalling Lu Benwei’s earlier remarks and actions, Dan Chenzi grew even more awed by his unfathomable depth. Even the flippant remarks about women now seemed laden with profound meaning.

He opened his mouth to inquire further—but the figure had already vanished.

Dan Chenzi dropped to his knees in a final reverent bow, etching that skeletal visage deep into his memory.