Chapter 1431: Chapter 1431

"Such a young Nine-star Martial Master, of course, fits the requirements."

Li Long nodded repeatedly, his heart stirring with shock and awe; what is going on with this Dark Group faction, that so many defying genius have emerged?

"Ah ah ah! Does this mean that Tang Ming can avoid going to the Dragon Group?"

Li Xiaoli reacted and immediately screamed.

Su Xiaoxi and Liu Mengting found it hard to believe, mainly because the turn of events was too significant for them to accept.

"Wu Xiaoyu, are you really... But I can’t let you go to the Dragon Group for me."

Tang Ming shook his head quickly, not wanting to owe Wu Xiaoyu a favor.

"Entering the Dragon Group for cultivation is a chance that every Nine-star Martial Master dreams of. You may not want to go, but that doesn’t mean I don’t."

Wu Xiaoyu smiled, looking at Tang Ming with a complex expression, "Before I go to the Dragon Group, can you promise me one condition?"

Tang Ming grew curious, pondering deeply; it was because he had many concerns that he didn’t want to go to the Dragon Group for cultivation, but for others, going there was undeniably a good thing.

"Help treat my grandfather; he is now gravely ill in bed. I know if you lend a hand, you can surely save him."

Wu Xiaoyu pleaded, looking at Tang Ming earnestly.

"Alright, I promise you."

Tang Ming nodded without hesitation.

"Damn it, how did this happen?"

Li Long scratched his head in confusion, then waved his hand in the air, setting up a barrier to isolate the three from outsiders.

Suddenly unable to hear the surrounding people’s voices, Tang Ming and Wu Xiaoyu grew suspicious.

"Don’t be surprised; this is a barrier that can isolate a certain range."

Li Long explained briefly, looking at Tang Ming and Wu Xiaoyu helplessly, "This Ming Group is too monstrous; to have birthed two Nine-star Martial Masters, you need to decide who is coming with me to the Dragon Group. I can only take one."

"Of course, I’m going; he doesn’t want to leave."

Wu Xiaoyu glanced at Tang Ming, firmly stating.

"Listen to me first."

Li Long interrupted Tang Ming, saying solemnly, "The reason I must take Tang Ming to the Ming Group is that his existence is already affecting the power balance between the Ming Group and Dark Group factions. If I hadn’t shown up in time, the Ming Group would already be wiped out, and that’s an outcome the higher-ups don’t wish to see."

Tang Ming and Wu Xiaoyu looked at Li Long in confusion.

"Simply put, the existence of a Nine-star Martial Master severely disrupts the balance between the Ming Group and Dark Group factions. Therefore, the higher-ups have ordered me to take one Nine-star Martial Master back. Although they didn’t specify, they meant you, Tang Ming."

Li Long furrowed his brows, looking at Tang Ming helplessly, "The reason I refused someone’s plea and insist on taking you is because I have another half of my task that hasn’t been disclosed."

Tang Ming felt a growing sense of foreboding.

"Maintain balance; if you refuse to go to the Dragon Group, the higher-ups intend for me to abolish your cultivation."

Li Long’s eyes flashed coldly, "Now that the Dark Group has produced two Nine-star Martial Masters, even if one of you goes with me to the Dragon Group, the one who stays will have their cultivation abolished."

Tang Ming’s expression changed; he never imagined the higher-ups could be so ruthless.

"This, won’t this harm Tang Ming? Then I won’t go to the Dragon Group."

Wu Xiaoyu shook his head immediately; he originally intended to help Tang Ming, but instead, the situation became more complex.

"I’m very troubled now; since your Nine-star power has been exposed, the one who stays will have their cultivation abolished."

Li Long glanced between Tang Ming and Wu Xiaoyu in contemplation, "Discuss amongst yourselves who will go with me, and whose cultivation will be abolished."

With those words, Li Long stepped aside, leaving Wu Xiaoyu and Tang Ming to converse privately.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t expect things to turn out ."

Wu Xiaoyu looked at Tang Ming apologetically, "I know you don’t want to go to the Dragon Group. I intended to go for you, but I didn’t realize there was this restriction."

"It’s not your fault; I didn’t expect the higher-ups to be this ruthless. As of now, I must let you go to the Dragon Group."

Tang Ming laughed bitterly.

Wu Xiaoyu looked at Tang Ming with concern.

"Don’t worry; my cultivation has been abolished before. As long as I can stay in the city, it’s worth it, even if my cultivation is abolished."

Tang Ming smiled gratefully at Wu Xiaoyu, "Regardless, by going to the Dragon Group for me, you’ve helped me tremendously."

"Haha, no matter about helping or not, I’m going to the Dragon Group for you, and you help heal my grandfather; we owe each other nothing, just take care."

Wu Xiaoyu smiled without a care, looking at Tang Ming.

Tang Ming opened his mouth, knowing that this time he really owed Wu Xiaoyu, but since Wu Xiaoyu spoke so decisively, he couldn’t say more, only keeping this favor in mind.

"How did your cultivation progress so quickly?"

Tang Ming looked at Wu Xiaoyu in confusion. No wonder, when he met Wu Xiaoyu at university, he couldn’t discern Wu Xiaoyu’s strength.

Back then, Tang Ming thought Wu Xiaoyu’s cultivation was gone, never realizing that his cultivation had elevated to the same level as his.

"I don’t know what happened; after you helped heal me, my body seemed to contain a peculiar energy, and my cultivation started advancing rapidly."

Wu Xiaoyu looked at his hands in confusion, "Because my cultivation kept improving, my memory could restore."

Tang Ming realized; back then, to treat Wu Xiaoyu, he exerted true effort, transferring his Mutated Dust Gu into Wu Xiaoyu’s body.

You should know that those Mutated Dust Gu separated from his Nine-star Martial Master body—after entering Wu Xiaoyu’s body, they would quickly evolve Wu Xiaoyu’s body to endure the nine-star Mutated Dust Gu.

"Though I don’t know how it happened, I know for sure; it’s you that made me this way. So now I’m going to the Dragon Group in return for this cultivation bond."

Wu Xiaoyu lowered his hands, looking at Tang Ming calmly.

"Helping heal you was what I should have done; in the end, I owe you."

Tang Ming laughed bitterly, remembering the favor from Wu Xiaoyu.

"Let’s not talk about this; think about how you can preserve your cultivation."

Wu Xiaoyu’s lips curved slightly; her purpose was to make Tang Ming indebted to her, so no matter what, Tang Ming would always remember her.

Then, Tang Ming walked over to Li Long, and the two spoke quietly.

Outside the barrier, people anxiously waited, wondering how the conversation among Tang Ming, Wu Xiaoyu, and Li Long was going.

Wu Dao’s feelings were the most complex; he never imagined that Wu Xiaoyu had now risen to Nine-star Martial Master, no wonder he couldn’t withstand Wu Xiaoyu’s single strike initially.