Super Invincible Immortal Doctor
Chapter 1660 - 1661: Surplus Value

Chapter 1660: Chapter 1661: Surplus Value

"Some say that desire is the root of all evil. I don’t disagree with that statement, but it’s far from comprehensive."

The Great Elder spoke slowly, finally stepping across the threshold into the loft—a place within the Luo Clan that few had the privilege to enter.

"Desire is a root, but not merely the root of evil. Greed is desire, love is desire, hatred is desire, and camaraderie is also desire. Ultimately, desire is nothing more than the pursuit of something. Only by pursuing, can one have the motivation to move forward."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much. I’m just curious—what caused Lady Saintess to even give up the desire to live."

Boom!

As the words fell, the Luo Clan Great Elder abruptly made a move, and Xu Nanzhi was instantly enveloped by powerful mana, her body suspended in mid-air.

Xu Nanzhi furrowed her brow and attempted to resist, but in the face of techniques close to those of an Immortal, any form of resistance seemed utterly futile.

As her body lost control, golden light flickered across Xu Nanzhi’s chest, and a razor-sharp Qi Blade was forcibly drawn out by the mana of the Luo Clan Elder.

"A blade hanging by a thread... Lady Saintess has concealed this Qi Blade atop her Nascent Soul, indicating that she has been prepared to die at any time, hasn’t she?"

Seeing her final safeguard exposed, Xu Nanzhi dropped her pretense entirely, her expression fierce as she retorted, "I cannot choose my destiny, but am I not allowed to have control over my own life?"

"You are not."

The Great Elder replied softly, with a wave of his hand. The Qi Blade instantly shot out and smashed into a nearby beam, causing it to shatter on the spot.

Expressionless, the Luo Clan Great Elder coldly eyed Xu Nanzhi and said calmly, "From the moment you inherited the Luo Clan Divine Bone, your life no longer belonged to you. It became the property of the entire Luo Clan."

"You wish!"

Xu Nanzhi spoke bluntly, without the slightest courtesy.

The Luo Clan Great Elder laughed lightly, though he paid no mind to the verbal defiance, continuing to speak at his own pace.

"I’m just curious—someone who can even abandon their life, why didn’t you simply end it yourself? Instead, you hid this Qi Blade atop your Nascent Soul. Are you still secretly hoping someone might come to save you?"

Xu Nanzhi remained silent, offering no response whatsoever.

Yet as his gaze swept over her, the Luo Clan Great Elder already had his answer and continued, "I see now. You do not completely lack the will to survive. You keep your life intact out of your own desire."

"You keep babbling about desire—aren’t you annoying! Can I not just stay undecided for now?"

"Sure, but I don’t believe you."

The Luo Clan Elder smiled as he spoke, gazing at Xu Nanzhi before him. "If I’m not mistaken, the reason you haven’t chosen death is because of him, isn’t it?"

Xu Nanzhi froze at his words, neither confirming nor denying them.

"As expected, Lady Saintess harbors desires after all. You may not care about your own life or death, but you care deeply about the life of that outsider. You’re planning to use your own death to save his life, are you not?"

Having her inner thoughts exposed, Xu Nanzhi took a deep breath and admitted outright, "So what if I am?"

"He’s most likely already dead."

"Impossible!"

"Perhaps. But even if he isn’t dead, reaching here would surely be no easy feat."

Xu Nanzhi squinted, clearly not trusting the words of the man before her.

"Why have you sought me out? What do you want?"

"I simply wish to make a deal with Lady Saintess."

"Speak."

Xu Nanzhi practically spat the word out through clenched teeth. She had no desire for further entanglement with the Luo Clan.

Yet knowing that Su Chengyu was currently in the Luo Clan’s Blessed Realm and quite possibly in danger, she had no other choice.

She could not end things here; there were still matters she had to resolve.

"I understand that Lady Saintess has long regarded her own life as unimportant. What you care about is the one who ventured into our Luo Clan’s Blessed Realm for your sake. To be frank, whether he lives or dies is of little significance to the Luo Clan."

"Really? Do you even believe the nonsense you’re spouting?"

Xu Nanzhi scoffed coldly, clearly not entirely trusting his words.

"I admit that his survival would pose an ongoing threat to the Luo Clan. But compared to our current predicament, he truly isn’t that crucial."

"You say he might already be dead?"

"Our Elder, who guards the Qingqiu Fox Clan’s Blessed Realm, recently returned gravely injured. According to him, the man named Su Chengyu intruded into the heart of the Qingqiu Fox Clan’s territory, where those from the Demonic Path had already laid their traps."

"The Demonic Path set traps within your territory?"

Seizing on the critical detail in his statement, Xu Nanzhi turned to look at the source of the distant disturbance. "And that commotion outside—does it also bear traces of the Demonic Path’s handiwork?"

"Lady Saintess, as perceptive as ever."

"Get to the point."

"I cannot guarantee whether he is alive or dead. But if Lady Saintess agrees to cooperate with us, I can at least assure you that the Luo Clan will avenge him."

"Eradicate the Demonic Path? Just the Luo Clan alone?"

Xu Nanzhi sneered.

She was no longer the ordinary woman who once lived in Lin Jiang with a limited worldview.

The world she saw and the knowledge she possessed now rivaled that of any cultivator standing atop the peaks.

She understood fully that the Demonic Path, which had not been thoroughly eradicated even a century ago, could never be handled by the Luo Clan alone.

"Perhaps not now, but the future is another matter. With Lady Saintess’s cooperation, the Luo Clan will surely rebuild its former glory. Among the Nine Ancient Tribes, we of the Luo Clan may have declined the fastest; yet likewise, we are now the closest to securing the continuation of our bloodline."

"These empty promises—I will not believe them."

The Luo Clan Elder seemed unsurprised, remaining calm as he replied, "Then, Lady Saintess, I offer you my personal guarantee: if you cooperate with us, no matter the circumstances, I will ensure Su Chengyu is given a chance to survive."

"Hah! First, you claim he’s dead. Now, you say you’ll secure his life. Do you take your own words as nothing more than absurd ramblings?"

Faced with her sneer, the Great Elder simply shook his head. "I said it before—believing him dead suits me. But Lady Saintess hopes for him to live, doesn’t she? He is the root of Lady Saintess’s desires, and the sole reason you would compromise before me. Naturally, I will use this to offer a trade."

"You really know how to take advantage. What makes you think I’d ever agree to such a ridiculous deal?"

"Not whether you would agree, but rather that I trust Lady Saintess will not refuse. Isn’t that so?"

Xu Nanzhi narrowed her eyes and remained quiet. The Luo Clan Great Elder proceeded, "In your heart, your own life has long ceased to matter. Yet I have given this ’worthless’ life a new purpose. I trust you will not reject it."

"And if I insist..."

Suddenly, tremendous force clasped around Xu Nanzhi’s throat, cutting off her voice in an instant. The Luo Clan Elder stared at her coldly, his tone calm.

"Do you truly believe you still have the right to refuse? Surrender willingly, or I’ll find another way to extract the remaining value of your life."