Chapter 284: You Two, Don't Push Your Luck

Meng Jingzhou, seeing this, stopped feigning illness and groaning, and abruptly rose from the stretcher.

Master Liu and Master Gao were not wearing their grease-stained barbecue restaurant uniforms, nor did they have the simple, honest smiles they wore when greeting customers. They were dressed in formal attire, their expressions solemn, as if recalling the glorious years of the Immortal Cult. When they looked at Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, the two felt an intense chill, and a shiver ran down their spines.

"Gentlemen, please come with us. We need your help with something."

Masters Liu and Gao had already investigated. After Lu Yang and Yun Zhi returned, Yun Zhi had left the Dao Seeking Sect for some unknown reason, presenting a golden opportunity to act against Lu Yang. If not now, then when? The area was too crowded and conspicuous for their plans; they needed to invite Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou to the Immortal Cult's main stronghold—the "Come Again Barbecue Restaurant"!

Previously, the Come Again Barbecue Restaurant was just a small establishment barely holding its own on the commercial street, surrounded by enemies, with mighty Integration stage cultivators eyeing them menacingly, placing them in a precarious situation. However, following the guidance of the Cult Master and the Immortal, and through the meticulous planning and step-by-step winning strategy of the Immortal Cult's high-ranking members, the barbecue restaurant had transformed into the Immortal Cult's demonic lair. Meanwhile, the Dao Seeking Sect remained completely unaware of the Come Again Barbecue Restaurant's silent expansion and consolidation of power on the commercial street.

"Then let's go," Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou responded, not losing their composure. Flanked by two Integration stage cultivators, they had no strength left to resist. Even if they didn't want to go, they would likely be forced, so it was better to walk on their own.

"This way, please." Master Gao gestured, inviting the two into the barbecue restaurant. Standing at the entrance, Lu Yang found the interior pitch black, with only two faint figures discernible swaying in the darkness. As they stepped inside, Masters Liu and Gao remained standing quietly at the entrance, like two iron statues on guard.

Upon entering the restaurant, Lu Yang immediately felt cut off from the outside world. He couldn't hear any external sounds or see anything beyond the building. Unbeknownst to him, it wasn't just sound and sight; the Cult Master had long ago set up a formidable formation in the restaurant that even blocked divine sense.

Light, originating from an unknown source, gradually filled the barbecue restaurant, revealing the true identities of the two dark figures: the Cult Master and the Immortal. Both were also dressed in formal attire, seemingly determined to undertake a significant endeavor.

"Please, have a seat," the Cult Master invited them.

"Speak. What is it?" Lu Yang asked indifferently, unable to discern the Cult Master's intentions. However, Lu Yang wasn't afraid of him; the Immortal was sitting right beside him. As the controller of the Immortal lineage, the Immortal Fairy could completely control the Immortal, who was the source of the Immortal Cult. With this connection, the Cult Master couldn't possibly cause any trouble.

"It's nothing major," the Cult Master began. "We just need a small favor from Fellow Daoist Lu Yang. Given your status in the Dao Seeking Sect, it's merely a matter of a few words from you. Look, I heard you two recently formed your Golden Cores, so I've specially prepared a humble gift, a token of our sincerity. Please do us the honor of accepting it." The Cult Master silently pushed two gift boxes towards Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

The Cult Master opened the gift boxes, revealing their contents: valuable Foundation Reinforcement Pills, worth a thousand gold, capable of consolidating Golden Core cultivation. Any remaining medicinal energy would transform into foundational strength, aiding future breakthroughs without leaving any residue that might impede progress later. There was also a protective magic artifact, capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from an Integration stage cultivator, a book titled "Golden Core Stage Cultivation Insights," and five small bottles containing Five Elements materials like True Fire, Purified Water, and Breathing Earth, which could be used to refine evolving Five Elements artifacts. Besides these, there were various other precious items, each beyond the means of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator.

Neither of them accepted the "humble gift." Lu Yang was direct: "Cult Master, we're old acquaintances. Let's not beat around the bush. Just tell us."

The Cult Master slowly articulated the plan he had long harbored in his heart: "Specifically, it's about recruiting rogue cultivators to join us, expanding our operational scope, enhancing our influence over the Great Xia Dynasty, and making it so the world cannot do without us! Once this is accomplished, we will not treat you unfairly; there will be another generous gift for you! Perhaps you two are unaware, but our influence is quietly spreading and has already reached the entire commercial street. The Dao Seeking Sect knows nothing about it."

Lu Yang frowned. The Cult Master's words implicitly meant that the entire commercial street was under their control, and if they didn't agree, they might not be able to leave. But he still didn't relent: "What if we don't help with your small favor?"

"Not help?" The Cult Master slowly rose, like a mountain deity awakening from a long slumber, exerting immense pressure on the two. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at them as he menacingly threatened, "I've been very polite to you two. All we want is to open a branch of our barbecue restaurant outside. If you push your luck, then don't blame me if I have to kneel and beg you!"

The Cult Master felt he had already done everything perfectly. He had instructed Masters Liu and Gao not to wear their uniforms but to dress formally when inviting the two over, and to wear smiles. Considering it was June and the height of summer, he had specifically told Masters Liu and Gao to cast cooling spells when they met Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, to ensure they wouldn't feel hot. For safety, to prevent competitors from eavesdropping, he had even set up a peerless formation to block external detection. He had cleaned the barbecue restaurant until it was spotless, without a trace of grease. The two protective magic artifacts were forged by him using all his spare time from managing the slaughterhouse. The "Golden Core Stage Cultivation Insights" had been compiled by the Immortal, based on the collective memories of all Immortal Cult members, and personally handwritten. The Five Elements materials were acquired by him going door-to-door, persuading commercial street owners to sell them. Opening a branch outside was just a matter of a few words, yet these two weren't satisfied?

The Cult Master steeled his heart. A true man knows when to yield. For the barbecue restaurant's ten-thousand-year grand plan, he would stoop to kneeling if necessary!

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou quickly stopped the Cult Master, completely bewildered by this sudden turn of events: "You want to open a barbecue restaurant branch?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then why did you just say you wanted to recruit rogue cultivators to join you?"

"To recruit staff, of course. None of us can leave the Dao Seeking Sect to open branches outside; we have to hire staff."

"And 'expanding your operational scope'?"

"Opening barbecue restaurants outside the Dao Seeking Sect."

"And 'enhancing your influence over the Great Xia Dynasty'?"

"Becoming a major taxpayer."

"And 'making it so the world cannot do without you'?"

"Making people visit our restaurant more often."

Meng Jingzhou looked at the Cult Master suspiciously: "You also just said your influence had spread throughout the entire commercial street, and the Dao Seeking Sect was completely unaware?"

"We understated our profits and paid less in management fees."

The Immortal added from the side: "There's also another meaning: that our barbecue restaurant's profits within the Dao Seeking Sect have reached saturation, and we need to open branches outside to expand into new markets."

Lu Yang: "..."Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Did they really need to make opening a barbecue restaurant branch so complicated?!