Ye Xu maintained an inscrutable demeanor, his expression deep and unfathomable, causing Qi Hongchou to become visibly excited.
She had never mentioned a word about the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus, yet Ye Xu was able to discern her purpose. This was undoubtedly a revelation of heavenly secrets, marking him as a reclusive master!
"You... Senior, do you know the whereabouts of the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus?"
Qi Hongchou changed her address, her breath becoming rapid, her eyes filled with urgency.
Ye Xian'er blinked, even more respectfully saying, "Senior, my master and I have been searching for the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus. Please, could you inform us?"
The fish had taken the bait.
Ye Xu chuckled inwardly.
"There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world," Ye Xu said calmly. "The rules here are simple: as long as you have something that moves me, I can provide you with the information you desire.
If you want to know the whereabouts of the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus, it depends on how sincere you are."
"Senior, this is a Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure. I wonder if it can catch your eye?"
Qi Hongchou flipped her palm, revealing a small, jade-like translucent sword in her hand, only two inches long, with a serene glow and a faint sword hum.
Qi Hongchou presented it with both hands.
At this point.
Qi Hongchou no longer held any contempt for the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, only reverence.
To be able to reveal the identities of master and disciple in one fell swoop and discern their purpose, this was no ordinary person. Such means, even a Saint might not possess.
This was encountering a true master.
[Ding! A Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure detected, can be exchanged for thirty Heavenly Secrets Points.]
The moment Ye Xu received the small jade sword, information automatically appeared in his mind.
"System, how many Heavenly Secrets Points are needed to inquire about the whereabouts of the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus?" Ye Xu asked in his heart.
[Twenty points.]
"Proceed with the inquiry immediately."
With Ye Xu's command, clear clues surfaced in his mind.
[The Ninth Grade Golden Lotus, a Peak-Grade Medicine King, grows twelve hundred miles southeast of Linglong City, within Canglan Marsh.
Within the marsh, there is an Ink Flood Dragon of the Dao Palace - Seven Stars Realm guarding it. This Ink Flood Dragon has a fatal acupoint, which is a white dragon scale on its abdomen.
Additionally, Du Jue, the senior disciple of the second elder of the Heavenly Heart Sect, is secretly following Qi Hongchou with ulterior motives, having reached the Dao Palace - Eight Stars.]
Various pieces of information surfaced in his mind.
Even the person tracking Qi Hongchou was deduced.
However, Ye Xu didn't respond immediately. Instead, he played with the small jade sword and said, "The Ninth Grade Golden Lotus is a Peak-Grade Medicine King. Although a Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure is valuable, it seems to fall short."
Qi Hongchou's face turned pale.
She gritted her teeth and handed over the Qiankun Ring, wiping away the Divine Sense Imprint, saying, "Senior, I have no intention of deceiving you. This Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure is the most valuable item I possess.
If it's not enough, then I'll add this Qiankun Ring.
If it still doesn't satisfy you, then I'm powerless."
"Master, that's your entire fortune!" Ye Xian'er felt distressed. Losing the Peak-Grade Spirit Treasure would greatly diminish Qi Hongchou's strength.
Once the Qiankun Ring was gone, she would be left with nothing.
"As long as we can find the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus to save Master, even if it costs her life, what does it matter?" Qi Hongchou said firmly.
Ye Xu accepted the Qiankun Ring.
The ring was now ownerless and easily opened.
Qi Hongchou indeed hadn't lied; the most valuable item inside the Qiankun Ring was a High-Grade Spirit Treasure.
"System, how many Heavenly Secrets Points can be exchanged in total?"
"Twenty points."
Ye Xu nodded.
Twenty Heavenly Secrets Points—better than nothing.
A few moments later, Ye Xu looked at Qi Hongchou and said, "What you seek is in the southeast of Linglong City, within Canglan Marsh.
However, there's an Ink Flood Dragon of the Dao Palace - Seven Stars Realm guarding it."
"Dao Palace - Seven Stars Realm?"
Qi Hongchou's face turned ashen. She was only at the Dao Palace - Six Stars Realm, and her strongest Spirit Treasure had been given to Ye Xu in exchange. Facing an Ink Flood Dragon of the Dao Palace - Seven Stars Realm, she was no match.
"The Ink Flood Dragon has a white dragon scale on its abdomen, which is its fatal acupoint."
Qi Hongchou's eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Senior." Qi Hongchou bowed deeply, filled with gratitude.
This senior was truly a good person.
Not only did he reveal the whereabouts of the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus, but he also told her how to slay the Ink Flood Dragon and obtain the Medicine King. Her efforts were truly worth it!
"Seeing your sincerity and filial piety, I'll give you another piece of information for free," Ye Xu said with a smile. "Du Jue is tracking you."
"Du Jue?"
Qi Hongchou's pupils shrank; she was not unfamiliar with that name.
In the Heavenly Heart Sect, Du Jue was a formidable figure.
Qi Qingsi and the second elder had always been at odds, so Du Jue following her was self-explanatory.
"Thank you, Senior, for informing me."
At this moment, she realized how mysterious and powerful Ye Xu was.
Thankfully, Xian'er hadn't listened to her and entered the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
Otherwise, who knows how long it would have taken to find the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus.
"Xian'er, stay here. Once I obtain the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus, I'll return to reunite with you," Qi Hongchou instructed.
"Understood, Master."
Ye Xian'er was clever and quick-witted. With her cultivation, going along would only cause trouble, so it was better to stay at the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
As Qi Hongchou left the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the oppressive force on her dissipated completely.
"The senior is truly a divine being."
With a sigh, she transformed into a stream of light and flew southeast.
"Senior, will Master be alright?" Ye Xian'er asked worriedly.
"She'll be fine."
Ye Xu shook his head.
Hearing this, Ye Xian'er's worries vanished.
In Ye Xian'er's eyes, Ye Xu was already a god-like figure.
If he said it would be fine, then it definitely would be.
"Senior, may I know your name?" Ye Xian'er asked sweetly, pouring tea for Ye Xu, her eyes full of mischief.
"Ye Xu. Massage my shoulders."
With that, Ye Xu lay back on the Grandmaster's Chair, enjoying Ye Xian'er's service.
***
Eight hundred miles of Canglan Marsh, with endless green waves and rolling tides.
Two incense sticks later, Qi Hongchou arrived at the marsh.
Her Divine Thought moved, covering an area of thirty miles. Moments later, she sensed a region of pure and majestic spiritual energy and immediately flew towards it.
At the center of the marsh was a small island.
Spiritual energy condensed into mist, and a golden lotus over six feet tall, with petals like a lotus throne, absorbed spiritual brilliance, radiating golden light, magnificent and beautiful.
"The Ninth Grade Golden Lotus!"
Qi Hongchou was overjoyed.
Roar!
A roar came from the depths of the island, and a thirty-meter-long Ink Flood Dragon, its body like ink and adorned with dragon horns, glared menacingly at the intruder.
The roar seemed to be a warning.
Clang!
With a thought, Qi Hongchou released a sliver of sword light from her fingertips. The sword energy expanded with the wind, slicing the lake surface and striking towards the Ink Flood Dragon.
One Dao Palace after another manifested behind her, a total of six Dao Palaces appearing.
The Ink Flood Dragon opened its mouth, unleashing thunder that shattered the sword light.
Swish!
At that moment, Qi Hongchou vanished from the Ink Flood Dragon's sight.
The Ink Flood Dragon instinctively sensed danger.
Its body shook, releasing a surge of thunder, transforming its surroundings into a vast sea of lightning, almost enveloping the entire island. The marsh boiled, and the lake water evaporated.
At this time, six Dao Palaces broke through the sea of lightning, with Qi Hongchou wielding a sword, her aura fierce, charging towards the Ink Flood Dragon.
The Ink Flood Dragon manipulated the thunder, meeting Qi Hongchou head-on.
Swish!
Suddenly, the Ink Flood Dragon's massive body froze in place.
A sliver of green light, at some point, had pierced through that white scale.
The Ink Flood Dragon was killed in one strike.
Seeing this, Qi Hongchou held Ye Xu in even greater awe.
Without Ye Xu's guidance, she couldn't have slain the Ink Flood Dragon.
After all, the gap of even a small realm couldn't be ignored.
Qi Hongchou's face lit up with joy as she gathered her magic power and uprooted the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus.
"Hahaha..."
At that moment, wild and unruly laughter echoed between heaven and earth.
The waves surged violently, one after another.
A man in a black robe strode confidently, stepping on the waves.
"Qi Hongchou, I didn't expect you to actually find the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus and even slay the Ink Flood Dragon of the Dao Palace - Seven Stars Realm with one strike. Truly remarkable," the black-robed man sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"The senior truly foresaw everything!"
Qi Hongchou had anticipated this, and seeing Du Jue's arrival, she remained unflustered.
"Senior? Which senior?"
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Du Jue frowned.
Under normal circumstances, Qi Hongchou would never be so calm upon seeing him.
Did she already know he was tracking her?
"Hmph!"
Du Jue snorted coldly, his eyes burning. "Junior sister, you should hand over the Ninth Grade Golden Lotus. With it, Master can advance further.
Hand it over!"
Du Jue's aura trembled, his magic power transforming into a giant hand that covered the sky, enveloping an area of three hundred meters.
However, as his divine power descended, Qi Hongchou suddenly burst into a puff of green smoke and disappeared.
"Yin-Yang Heavenly Heart Technique?"
Du Jue's eyes turned cold.
This was a secret escape technique of the Heavenly Heart Sect, requiring the extraction of a portion of magic power and essence blood to create a substitute.
However, this required time.
For Qi Hongchou to execute this technique meant she had long suspected he was tracking her.
"Junior sister, you can't escape!"
Du Jue's Divine Thought moved, immediately locking onto the lingering aura of Qi Hongchou. He collected the Ink Flood Dragon's corpse and swiftly pursued Qi Hongchou.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan