A thick, harrowing silence fell over the crowd. The people's eyes were wide in shock, but none dared to
disturb the quiet while their minds were rushing to understand what they had just heard.
Even after Ricky's voice faded away, the people in the inn hall were still frozen in astonishment,
watching Ricky and Ashley with a dumbfounded expression.
Finally, after a long, tense silence, the onlookers began to react one after another.
They looked at Ricky with admiration and deep jealousy because they believed that most of what Ricky
had said was the truth.
Initially, both Ashley and Raylan had tried their best to invite Ricky to join them. Ricky said that he
would consider it but didn't outright agree with either of them, which indicated that Ricky wasn't
interested in the position of the holy son, nor was he interested in the abundant cultivation resources
they two could provide him if he joined them. That made it plain as day that material riches could never
sway Ricky.
However, whatever he had seen in the jade slip that Ashley gave him had instantly changed his mind.
Perhaps, beauty was the most attractive thing to a man like him. He could reject anything without a
care except for the allure of a woman—that was how everyone thought after hearing Ricky's
explanation.
Meanwhile, Raylan was at a loss. Just as Ricky had claimed earlier, it looked like this was an offer that
could not be countered by the water branch. Even if the water branch could boast of many talented and
beautiful girls in their faction, none of them could compare to Ashley.
At the same time, Raylan also felt slightly envious of Ricky. He and Ashley were rivals, and in the entire
Five-element Region, only Ashley could match him in strength. Despite that, he still admired her a great
deal.
If anything, Ashley should be his woman!
Therefore, at this moment, Raylan wanted nothing more but to kill Ricky.
"Boy, are you playing tricks again? Are you just saying that because you have a crush on Ashley?" the
Dragon Intent Grass asked, laughing in amusement. In contrast to the Dragon Intent Grass' light mood,
Tina and Amelia looked tremendously annoyed as they lounged inside the Massacring Zone in Ricky's
body.
After all, no woman could watch the man she loved pursuing other women. No matter how broad-
minded she was, she would undoubtedly feel upset.
"Dragon Intent Grass, beauty is indeed attractive to any man, and I am no exception in that regard.
However, I am not the kind of man who would lose his mind when facing beauties," answered Ricky
earnestly.
"Although I saw Wood Saint's message from Ashley, I wouldn't blindly believe her yet.
That is why I said those words in public. I need to see her sincerity."
The Dragon Intent Grass nodded and said, "So, that's how it is... But if you keep on acting like this, I
won't be surprised if you get in trouble. After all, Ashley could inadvertently fall in love with you!"
"Ha-ha! Stop joking around. I don't think I'm that charming," Ricky denied with a laugh.
Ashley was too stunned to respond at first.
She was about to unleash her murderous intent and attack Ricky because she thought that Ricky
offended her by saying those words. After all, she regarded herself above others and held her
reputation with great care. The fact that people thought of her as holy and pure brought her
tremendous satisfaction.
Of course, Ashley also liked geniuses and heroes, and she secretly thought of Ricky as her prince
charming. But still, she would never stand for it if Ricky had said that in public to mock her.
Ricky's words sounded like he had considered her as a mere object that he could use for trading and
bartering, which was insulting.
However, before she could say anything to reprimand Ricky, the man whispered to her,
"Girl, I didn't mean anything by what I just said. Please don't feel offended. You should know that the
Wood Saint asked you to keep me, and your master must have given the same order.
And to tell you the truth, I can't simply follow you blindly without the Wood Saint's presence. I have no
choice but to obey his words. Please don't get mad at me.
I only said those things to bind us together, which makes me more confident in our alliance."
Hearing Ricky's words, Ashley couldn't say anything more.
Although she was angry, she also understood that what he just said made sense.
As he had stated, Ashley desperately needed Ricky to go with her today no matter what it took. That
was for the sake of the Wood Saint and the Five-element Flag in Ricky's pocket.
Ashley valued her sect's interests a thousand times higher than herself.
The mere Five-element Flag was worthy of her efforts if she could make Ricky join her sect.
So, after hearing Ricky's words, she could do nothing but play along with him.
"I understand what you mean. I thought you were a man of justice, but now...
I can't help but wonder if the Wood Saint made a mistake in introducing you to the Five-element Sect,"
Ashley said coldly.
Although she was no longer furious with Ricky and didn't want to kill him, she didn't have a good
opinion of him anymore. She was disappointed that he wasn't that good that she thought he was.
However, she didn't realize that she was acting precisely as Ricky wanted.
At this time, Ricky turned to Tina, Amelia, and the Dragon Intent Grass and said, "See? We won't have
any trouble now. With her attitude towards me, do you think she could even fall in love with me? I think
not!"
"Oh, I get it. It seems that you have planned this from the very beginning," the Dragon Intent Grass said
as it let out a loud laugh.
"That's right! Even if she changes her opinion of me in the future, I would have left the Five-element
Sect by that time." Ricky gave them a self-satisfied smile.
Then he said to Ashley, "Ha-ha, it doesn't matter if I was mistaken or not. You don't need to concern
yourself with that." Ashley's insult didn't seem to have fazed him at all.
At this point, Raylan called their attention and asked coldly, "Ashley, is he telling the truth?"
"Yes, this is the best that the wood branch has to offer," Ashley replied with a nod without any trace of
hesitation.
Everyone was overcome by surprise once again after they heard her confirmation.
Perhaps, when they heard it from Ricky, there was a small part of them that refused to believe it. But
now that it came straight from Ashley's mouth, it sounded a hundred times more real and believable.
And since Ashley was covered in a veil, the onlookers could not see her expression, so they could only
judge her true attitude by her words.
"Ashley, I owe you a favor for this one," Ricky muttered to Ashley telepathically.
"There's no need for that. I hope you can join the wood branch. Don't waste your talent," Ashley
answered him coldly.
"Of course," was Ricky's reply.
At this moment, Raylan was seething with rage. He desperately wanted to kill Ricky, but he was no
match for him. What could he do? He could only bury his hatred deep in his heart.
"I'm sorry about this, Raylan, but I have to choose the wood branch instead of the water branch," Ricky
finally said.
As the dust settled down, the warriors around couldn't help but stare at Ricky enviously. They didn't
think badly of him for choosing the wood branch because of Ashley, for if they were him, they would
also make the same choice in a heartbeat.
"Come on then. Let's go," Ashley said shortly. She was in a bad mood. All she wanted was asking
Ricky to leave with her as soon as possible.
Ricky didn't mind her bad attitude at all. He smiled slightly and prepared to leave, but a voice stopped
him in his tracks.
"Since ancient times, it's natural for heroes to fall for beautiful women, but the enjoyment brought by
martial arts is infinite. Once you have become a powerful man, you can choose any woman you want."
Then, a man clothed in a white robe appeared.
He was a middle-aged man who had a lot of white hair, and his wise, meaningful look seemed to reflect
all the tribulations that he had experienced in his lifetime.
As soon as the man appeared, all the eyes abruptly gravitated towards him.
"It's the Nether Water Saint!" one of the crowd shouted out in surprise when he recognized the
newcomer.
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