118: You wouldn't want anything you cherish to go wrong, would you?

"Alright, Wuyou, look at yourself, then look at your Junior Martial Brother. You don't look like a Senior Brother at all."

"I am punishing you with secluded Cultivation; you are not allowed to leave until you break through to the Divine Power Realm."

Xu Tianfeng looked at Dai Wuyou, his tone full of disappointment.

Hearing this, Dai Wuyou froze in place, and only after a long while did he howl like a slaughtered pig.

"Revered Master, please no! What about Second Martial Sister? She's only at the Late Stage of the Nascent Soul realm."

However, as Dai Wuyou's words fell, he felt a cold gaze land on him. He looked at his Second Martial Sister, Wang Yinrou, whose eyes no longer held their previous gentleness.

"Can you compare yourself to your Second Martial Sister? By the time you Cultivate to the Divine Power Realm, she will likely have already reached the Void Refining Realm."

Xu Tianfeng snorted coldly.

Wang Yinrou had excellent talent and possessed a Top-Grade Spiritual Root. Moreover, she was very mature, so Xu Tianfeng wasn't worried about her.

At this moment, Qin Wangnian stepped forward to act as a peacemaker.

"Alright, alright. Revered Master is doing this for your own good, Third Junior Brother, so you should Cultivate well."

Hearing this, Dai Wuyou could only agree with a long face.

Just as they were planning to return to the Sect, a figure suddenly appeared before them.

Upon seeing that figure, Xu Tianfeng's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly bowed to Gu Jixiao, speaking with utmost respect.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Qin Wangnian and the others also recognized Gu Jixiao's identity. Their hearts grew even more shocked as they hurriedly followed their Revered Master's example and respectfully addressed Gu Jixiao as "Your Majesty."

Without exception, everyone was extremely shocked; they clearly hadn't expected Gu Jixiao to appear before them.

One must know that the events occurring in the Ancient Heavenly Dynasty during this time had shocked them one after another. Even now, the shock in their hearts had not yet dissipated.

But among them, the one most shocked and fearful was none other than Lu Zifeng.

"He actually came here? What exactly happened? Or rather, is he here for me?"

Lu Zifeng thought to himself, his heart heavy with concern.

After all, the talent he had displayed was truly too inconceivable.

Cultivating from a Mortal to the Divine Power Realm in less than half a year—anyone who saw it would call it terrifying.

Even in the long history of the Heavenly Saint Continent, such a terrifying existence had never appeared.

In the next moment, Gu Jixiao's words confirmed Lu Zifeng's suspicion.

"Rise. I have come this time for Lu Zifeng."

As Gu Jixiao's words fell, Xu Tianfeng's brow furrowed. Despite the fear of Gu Jixiao in his heart, he instinctively shielded Lu Zifeng behind him.

Qin Wangnian and the others also did the same.

Seeing their extremely nervous appearance, Gu Jixiao couldn't help but chuckle.

"What? Am I really that terrifying?"

"I wouldn't dare. I am merely curious: what extraordinary quality does my Disciple possess that would cause Your Majesty to come in person?"

Xu Tianfeng asked with a solemn expression.

Gu Jixiao was a Peak Great Emperor; this was no secret within the Heavenly Saint Continent.

Therefore, Xu Tianfeng was extremely curious as to why his Disciple could draw Your Majesty here in person.

"Naturally, it is his talent. Lu Zifeng, your talent has caught my attention, so I wish to recruit you into my Imperial Guard Army. I wonder if you are willing?"

Gu Jixiao looked at Lu Zifeng and spoke in a calm tone.

After he spoke, Xu Tianfeng and the others were all stunned.

They clearly hadn't expected Gu Jixiao to say such a thing.

You, a Peak Great Emperor, came specifically to recruit a mere Early Stage Divine Power Realm cultivator into the Imperial Guard Army? Does that make sense?

Sensing their doubt, Gu Jixiao felt nothing and looked at Lu Zifeng, asking again.

"So, are you willing?"

Lu Zifeng's heart was heavy. He clearly hadn't expected Gu Jixiao's intention to be this.

However, he did not let his guard down and was about to refuse almost without hesitation.

Just as he was about to refuse, a voice appeared in his mind.

"Lu Zifeng, I know you have a great secret. You can try refusing me, but I'm not sure what the consequences will be."

"You also don't want anything you cherish to come to harm, right?"

It was Gu Jixiao sending a sound transmission to Lu Zifeng.

What a joke. How could something he set his sights on slip through his fingers? If Lu Zifeng refused him, would he still have any dignity as an Emperor Lord?

Facing Gu Jixiao's blatant threat, Lu Zifeng cursed inwardly. He hadn't expected such a powerful existence like Gu Jixiao to actually threaten him.

So, after some teeth-gritting, Lu Zifeng looked at Gu Jixiao and asked.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what benefits there are to joining the Imperial Guard Army?"

Even if he had to join Gu Jixiao's Imperial Guard Army, he absolutely couldn't miss out on benefits; he couldn't work for Gu Jixiao for free.

Hearing this, Gu Jixiao showed a look of satisfaction.

"Good. You have made the right choice. Don't worry, the benefits of joining my Imperial Guard Army will certainly not be lacking."

"Every year, you will receive one portion of Top-Grade Spiritual Liquid, and as your strength increases, the amount of spiritual liquid you receive will also rise."

The so-called Imperial Guard Army was a team established by Gu Jixiao specifically to protect the safety of the Imperial family. Those who could join were all individuals of extraordinary strength or great talent.

Therefore, while there weren't many members in the Imperial Guard Army, they were definitely elites.

Seeing this, Lu Zifeng could only agree.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to join the Imperial Guard Army, but I ask Your Majesty to give me some time to handle my affairs."

"Very well. I will give you one day. I will come to take you away in one day's time."

After saying that, Gu Jixiao's figure flickered and vanished.

Once Gu Jixiao had left, Lu Zifeng and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at their backs, they were already soaked with cold sweat from the tension.

"Junior Martial Brother, are you really going to leave us and go to that Imperial Guard Army?"

Wang Yinrou's tone was full of confusion regarding Lu Zifeng's decision.

Although they hadn't been together for very long, in their hearts, Lu Zifeng had already become a family member they could not give up.

Hearing this, Lu Zifeng gave a bitter smile and was about to say something, but he was interrupted by Xu Tianfeng.

"Can't you all see? His Majesty is determined to have Zifeng. If Zifeng didn't agree, I'm afraid our entire Evergreen Sect would have been destroyed."

Dai Wuyou and the others showed expressions of shock upon hearing their Revered Master's words.

"Revered Master, that can't be right? Although His Majesty is very powerful, he wouldn't go as far as to wipe out our Evergreen Sect because of Junior Martial Brother, would he?"

But Xu Tianfeng shook his head: "Your Junior Martial Brother's talent is likely unprecedented, even when looking at the entire Heavenly Saint Continent."

"His Majesty likely wants to take your Junior Martial Brother under his wing for exactly this reason."

"Although I don't know His Majesty very well, I know that based on his style of doing things, if your Junior Martial Brother hadn't agreed, His Majesty would probably have nipped him in the bud."

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