I Can Only Cultivate In A Game
Chapter 243 - 243: Three Conditions

Two palace guards stepped forward to seize Xuan Qing. She kicked and struggled but was forced to her feet and led away, still struggling as her screams faded down the corridor.

The City Lord's advisor, Shen Yi, stepped forward. He spoke softly, carefully—"My lord, we must consider the urgency of the seals.

Fang Chen is the only person capable of entering the Ancient Grove. Without him, we are hopeless—"

Xuan Wenzhou slammed a fist onto the jade-topped podium. "What use is fixing the seals if I lose *my* daughter?!"

Lord Shen spread his hands placatingly. "With respect, six of the seven ingredients are accounted for. Only the Moonveil Thistle remains. Assassin Tarkos has returned with it already. But he refuses to submit it until Fang Chen is released."

Wenzhou's eyes flashed. "That damn assassin!"

Shen Yi nodded. "He says it's only fair. My Lord, please do not let your anger lead us to our doom,"

At that moment, the chamber doors swung open as three masters stepped forward—cultivators from various factions: Elder Min of the Earthward Legion, Lady Feiyan of the Serpent Orchid Sect, and Master Li Ru detailing the jade-infused waters of the Soul Pavilion.

In their palms, they held various exotic materials—bottled mists, infused crystals, burned starlight shaped into powders.

Elder Min spoke reverently, "My lord, we have returned with the Crystal-Petal Dew from the Moonlit Sakura, the Jasper Horn Shard, and the Phantom Jade Sliver. Only the herb... Moonveil Thistle remains on the list."

City Lord Xuan rubbed his temple and looked over at Shen Yi. "And Tarkos still demands Fang Chen's release?" he voiced with a low tone.

Shen nodded again. "Yes, but my Lord, do not forget... the ingredients are useless if we have no one to get to the seals and only Fang Chen can successfully do so."

Wenzhou gritted his teeth. The fate of his city and his daughter rested in his hands. After a moment of silence, he stood. "Very well."

He turned to an attendant.

"Bring Fang Chen."

Shen Yi lowered his voice, "Prince Li Jian, take the guard. Escort him up."

They proceeded to head towards the palace dungeon where Serika and Victor were currently held.

However, when they got there, Victor was nowhere to be found.

The guard and attendant rushed back to the main palace immediately.

"Fang Chen is gone!" They yelled.

Pandemonium immediately ensued as guards were sent to search for him everywhere.

They looked around the palace and its environs but to no avail.

In a hidden wing of the palace, Advisor Shen Yi and Tarkos met.

The Assassin stood his ground with an imposing look while wrapped in dark robes.

His tattoos, like threads of living shadow, were dimmed but visible even through his outer layers.

"Assassin Tarkos," Shen Yi said. "Tell me again."

Tarkos voiced quietly, "I will hand over the Moonveil Thistle only when Fang Chen is released. I am an assassin so I care not for its destruction but if this is a world level danger, I will eventually be affected as well. If Wenzhou cannot realize how much we need Fang Chen, then perhaps he doesn't deserve to be this City's ruler."

Shen Yi face contorted with anguish. "Do not sully my Lord's name with your foul mouth."

"Your anger means nothing. If Fang Chen decides not to help anymore, do you realise how doomed we all are?"

Shen Yi paused briefly but before be could respond loud alarms went off in the palace.

Tarkos and Shen Yi exchanged brief glanced before stepping inside asking about what was going on.

"Fang Chen vanished from his cell!" A guard yelled.

Shen Yi eyes widened in horror. "HE VANISHED?"

Panic was about to spread more when Tarkos cleared the air.

"Oh he will be back. He must have returned to his realm," Tarkos explained to them.

Truly just as he said... Victor had just logged out.

He still had classes to attend in the Awakened Academy after all.

His chest heaved with the residual breath of adrenaline as he pulled the helmet off his head.

Everything faded as he shoved his VR helmet under and got up for lectures today.

...

...

Today went by in a blur with the usual Academy activities.

The world was colored by late-afternoon light, and the familiar distraction of fellow students chattering about tomorrow's assignments felt trivial compared to the cosmic stakes he had just returned from.

By the time the final lecture bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Victor had only one thought: return to the Ascendant Realms.

Within minutes, his fingers blasted through the login sequence. The virtual world loaded in around him.

A soft system notification glowed in the corner of his field of vision:

<[ Welcome Back, Fang Chen ]>

<[ Time spent offline: 10 hours ]>

<[ In-game elapsed time: 5 days, 14 hours ]>

As Victor's avatar materialized back in Ascendant Realms, the unmistakable weight of thick iron shackles greeted him.

He was back in the City Lord's dungeon, where he'd been thrown into over a week ago for allegedly kidnapping the City Lord's daughter, Xuan Qing.

But something was off.

Instead of silence or solitude, a group of heavily armed guards were standing outside his cell, tense and clearly on edge. They flinched the moment Victor materialized and stood.

"He's back!" one of them called out.

The moment the cell door creaked open, two guards stepped forward, and without even waiting for a command, they firmly but cautiously escorted him out.

Victor face remained impassive as they escorted him through the palace halls.

Within minutes, he stood in the great chamber of the City Lord's palace.

Seated upon a stone dais, City Lord Xuan Wenzhou looked visibly worn. His stern features were lined with anxiety.

Beside him stood his trusted advisor, Shen Yi, clad in silk robes.

"Fang Chen," Shen Yi began with a polite but clipped tone, "we are grateful you've returned. We've completed the preparations. The ingredients for reinforcing the ancient grove's seal are ready. The formation diagrams have been drawn. All we need is you."

Victor didn't respond immediately. He folded his arms, and tilted his chin slightly as his white hair cascaded down his shoulders.

"Oh? I thought I was to remain imprisoned. Something about kidnapping the City Lord's precious daughter, wasn't it?"

The silence was deafening.

The City Lord's brow twitched, but Shen Yi quickly interjected, "That… was a misunderstanding. In light of your indispensable role, the Lord is willing to overlook—"

Victor scoffed. "Overlook it? I sat in a cell like a criminal and now I'm suddenly your savior again? No thanks."

Tension spiked. Several guards stepped forward instinctively, only to freeze when Tarkos was leaning casually against a pillar by the side with an amused grin.

He clicked his tongue. "I warned you folks," he muttered while flexing a knife between his fingers.

Victor's gaze was sharp. "Find someone else. I'm not fixing anything."

Advisor Shen tried appealing again. "You're the only one who can enter the grove. Without the seal restored, the corrupt immortals will escape and Blueflame city will fall into ruin."

"Then start evacuating," Victor said coldly.

Finally, the City Lord stood. A moment of silence passed before he bowed his head slightly.

This gesture sent a wave of stunned whispers rippling through the chamber. Even the palace guards looked as if they were witnessing a miracle.

"I was wrong," the City Lord said with a remorseful tone. "I let fear override my judgment. My daughter vanished, and I acted out of panic. For that, I apologize."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Now that's new."

"She's all I have left," the City Lord continued. "But she explained that she orchestrated leaving the palace. She chose to go with you. And perhaps… perhaps I've caged her too long."

Victor stepped forward slowly. "No 'perhaps' about it. You lock her up, smother her with rules, and then act shocked when she tries to escape. What you've built isn't a home—it's a prison. That's not fatherhood. That's control."

Tarkos whistled under his breath. "This is more interesting than watching maidens dance."

The City Lord clenched his fists… but did not raise his head. "What will it take… for you to fix the seal?"

Victor smiled faintly. "Three conditions."

Shen Yi looked up. "Name them."

"One: I want access to your restricted alchemy records. All of them."

The City Lord nodded.

"Two: I want a key to the western vault. I hear you keep rare artifacts there."

Another nod.

"And three," Victor said with a smirk, "I want Xuan Qing out of that damn room. She's not a bird. Stop treating her like one. She walks free."

The chamber went still.

"That's non-negotiable," Victor added.

The City Lord slowly lifted his head and looked him in the eyes. "Agreed."

A chime sounded in Victor's interface.

[DING!]

<[ —Congratulations! You have completed the hidden achievement: "Reprimand a Ruler"! ]>

+120,000 Wisps Of Qi

+4 Random Treasure Chests

+City Influence: +100

Another notification followed.

—Quest Update: "Ancient Grove's Salvation"

Status: Reactivated

Victor turned while brushing off the moment like dust from his shoulder. "Fine. Let's save your city."

As he left the chamber, Tarkos nudged him. "Damn. You made the City Lord bow. That's gotta be a record."

Victor grinned. "He should've brought snacks with the apology."

###########

A video on Amara and Victor's dynamic:

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSB7USfKQ/