181: Chapter 181 A Rope

He Long froze, momentarily unsure how to retort.

At this moment, another voice rang out.

"Hmph! Sounds nice, but in my view, this is just a fix, a backroom deal. The slots for the ruins have long been decided; people like us are just sacrifices for your power play."

Qi Mao stepped past He Long, his expression filled with indignation. At some point, a phone had appeared in his hand, its camera pointed at Li Yu and the others.

Li Yu asked, "Are you livestreaming?"

"That's right! I'm going to expose your shameless actions to the public! I want everyone to see your true colors!"

As Qi Mao spoke, his face wore a look of righteous fury, but Li Yu could clearly see the malice and provocation in his eyes.

Li Yu immediately understood.

If among these people, some were here for the ruins and some for the prize money, then someone like Qi Mao was here for fame.

To become famous.

Not only did he realize it, but Director Wang and President Wu also caught on, their brows furrowing.

The livestream was already active. Shutting it down now would only give people an excuse to criticize them and deepen the misunderstanding. The only way was to continue the stream and clarify everything within it.

There were over eighty thousand applicants for the Blood Refining Ruins slots, spanning several nearby cities. If this matter wasn't handled properly, both of them would be affected.

Li Yu smiled and said, "Livestreaming is good; it's a great way to boost popularity. But remember to turn on a beauty filter for me. Also, do you have any lipstick? I'll put some on. I haven't been sleeping well lately, so I might not look rosy enough."

"Huh?" Qi Mao was stunned.

The others were also dumbfounded, looking at Li Yu with confusion.

Bro, are you for real?

He's exposing you, and you want a beauty filter? And if that's not enough, you want lipstick too?

Do you want us to hire a makeup artist for you while we're at it?

No one voiced these questions; otherwise, Li Yu might have actually agreed.

"Why do you say that was an excuse?" Li Yu asked.

"How is it not? Me, He Long, and the others here—who among us isn't the strongest of the elites? Yet you chose the weakest ones. Only a fool would believe you!"

"The strongest?" Li Yu narrowed his eyes. "You just said, the strongest?"

"Of cou—" Qi Mao started to agree, but He Long hurriedly waved his hands in fear. "No, no, Chen Qing is the strongest; we are second to her."

"Hmph! At least you're not a complete idiot."

Li Yu gave a heavy hmph, sounding somewhat protective of his own.

You dare claim to be stronger than Chen Qing?

Careful, or I'll close the door and set Chen Qing on you!

Li Yu said expressionlessly, "I won't let people who might stab me in the back at any moment join my team. If you must have an answer, it's that I'm 'afraid of dying'."

"Just because of a piece of rope?"

"Just because of a piece of rope."

After saying that, seeing Qi Mao about to argue further, Li Yu raised his voice, almost addressing the livestream directly: "Of course, you don't have to believe me. So, I'll give you a chance."

"What chance?" Qi Mao asked.

He Long and the others who hadn't been selected perked up.

Li Yu said, "I'll pick one person from the three I've chosen to cultivate. You guys pick your 'strongest' and find a Breeder to evolve them once."

"At 3 PM, we'll have a match at the Guild. If you win, I'll pick three of you. If I win, the selection remains unchanged."

"Additionally, if you win, I'll reimburse the evolution costs. Conversely, if my pick wins, you pay the fees."

Qi Mao didn't agree immediately. Instead, he frowned, appearing hesitant.

He was from Ningyang City and had decent strength, so he had heard some rumors regarding beast cultivation.

Rumor had it that this young Senior Cultivator's skills were quite high. The Sky-Shattering Fire Dragon that had caused a sensation in Ningyang City was his creation.

But he couldn't refuse.

Now that the livestream was on, not even the President or the Director could stop it, and he himself didn't dare to shut it down casually—there were tens of thousands of viewers.

"Fine."

He Long stepped forward and said, "Then let it be me. Coincidentally, my father booked a Senior Cultivator for me in Ningyang City. I was originally planning to evolve before heading to the ruins."

"Very well, then it's you," Li Yu said.

The other elites had no objections. Since it had come to this, Qi Mao couldn't refuse either, so he nodded in agreement.

"Then who are you sending?" Qi Mao asked.

Li Yu looked at the three he had chosen: the fatty Feng Hou, the inconspicuous Chu Xiaolian, and the weathered man.

After looking them over, Li Yu pointed at the weathered man and said, "Uncle, you go."

"...I'm only twenty-nine."

"Close enough."

The weathered man fell silent for a moment and said, "I won't evolve. Find someone else. I'm sorry."

As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned.

Director Wang asked anxiously, "Wei Long, why? If you have any difficulties, you can tell me, and I'll help you find a way."

The others also looked at Wei Long in confusion, especially Feng Hou and Chu Xiaolian.

An evolution from a Senior Cultivator.

What a precious opportunity! Commoner Beast Tamers like them would never normally have such a chance.

Now that the opportunity was handed to him, he was actually refusing?

"It seems your picks aren't all that great. I can't see any loyalty, and their courage and strength are truly lacking," Qi Mao said snidely.

He Long cast a questioning look at Wei Long. This hesitant, timid appearance was like a different person from the one on the battle stage just now.

Li Yu assumed Wei Long didn't want to hog the benefits and said, "As my team members, I will give each of you a cultivation opportunity. You don't need to worry."

"That's not the reason. I want to... save the cultivation opportunity," Wei Long said.

This answer caught everyone by surprise.

"Save it? For whom?" Li Yu asked.

"My sister." Mentioning his sister, a smile appeared on Wei Long's weathered face, his eyes filled with doting affection, and his tone brightened significantly.

"My sister's talent is better than mine; she's an excellent Beast Tamer. Unfortunately, an accident happened two years ago. She and her beast were crippled, and her spirit was damaged, making it difficult to break through."

"I've heard of you. Your cultivation skills are very strong, and you can even evolve crippled beasts. I want to ask you to heal my sister's beast."

At this point, Wei Long's gaze became incredibly determined. "In return, I can give you my life."

"Maybe my strength isn't as good as the others, but when necessary, I can accept the price of death."

Everyone present widened their eyes, staring at Wei Long in silence.

Madman!

Risking his own life just to get an evolution for his sister's beast.

Isn't this doting a bit too much?

Li Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is it because of spiritual qi depletion syndrome?"

spiritual qi depletion syndrome?!

Director Wang's eyes snapped wide as he looked at Li Yu.

He remembered that Li Yu's mother had spiritual qi depletion syndrome and had been treated in the hospital for several years, right?

"How did you know?" Wei Long asked, looking surprised.

"Just now, the piece of rope."

Li Yu didn't elaborate. Through his High-Rank Spirit Probing Hand just now, he hadn't just determined if everyone was lying; he had also given everyone a free check-up. Wei Long's condition was very similar to his mother's, the difference being that he was only at the beginning and could still hold on.

But he wouldn't last many more days.

So, this weathered man named Wei Long had joined the ruin team selection to get close to him, offering his life in exchange for an evolution for his sister's beast.

Was it so that when he eventually collapsed or died in the ruins, his sister would have a way to survive?

He was a good man who doted on his sister.

Coincidentally...

Li Yu was too...