Yu Ci could palpably feel the wrath of the Golden Elixir cultivator, yet, this could not entirely deter him. Even if he was blind to his surroundings, even if he was without a solid footing, he could still vibrate his throat and articulate clearly, "Taoist Yu, name your price!"
The bloody sunset suddenly dissipated, as if a weight of ten thousand pounds had been lifted all at once. The abrupt shift from heaviness to lightness caused Yu Ci to sway slightly. But it was only a slight sway, and he continued to stand outside the pavilion, his gaze refocused on the Old Daoist's face as if he had merely been momentarily distracted.
From beginning to end, his gaze never fell on Jin Huan. As for Steward Lu, who was already pressing close to him and was nearly about to make a move, he was completely ignored by Yu Ci.
He hadn't reached his limit yet!
Given Jin Huan's level of cultivation, he should have been able to exert absolute suppression on Yu Ci, but that was based on a comprehensive disparity in spirit and physical body. Now, although Yu Ci was still at a considerable distance from Jin Huan's peak Golden Elixir stage, what pervaded his body was the pure and authentic "Primordial Qi". It might not match Jin Huan's prowess, but there was no qualitative difference!
He had no idea what Jin Huan's expression was like at the moment, but the Old Daoist in front of him seemed thoughtful. After a pause, the Old Daoist spoke, "The 'Yi Wood Spiritual Energy Soup' is a unique recipe of my Lichen Sect, specifically used in the White Sun Mansion to refine medicinal grass. All Fish Dragon Grass obtained from this soup should belong to the White Sun Mansion. If others bring it for trade, our sect does not accept it!"
This response truly gave face to the White Sun Mansion. Not mentioning Jin Huan, Lu Yang outside the pavilion showed a slight smile. He took one step forward, and the two young men also reacted, rubbing their hands together, preparing to give this insolent Taoist an unforgettable lesson.
However, Yu Ci remained unmoved. He took out a prepared stone box, held it up with one hand, and extended it forward. Lu Yang was about to grab him, but he didn't expect Yu Ci to make such a move. It seemed as if he was going to snatch something from someone else, which left Lu Yang momentarily stunned.
In this brief moment, Yu Ci spoke again, "These thirteen stalks of Fish Dragon Grass were painstakingly dug out by me from the depths of the Sky Rift Valley. They are naturally nurtured, what does it have to do with the White Sun Mansion?"
"Oh?" The Old Daoist's white eyebrows twitched, genuinely surprised, "Not catalyzed, but naturally generated?"
Yu Ci cracked a smile, "Guaranteed genuine!"
The seemingly cloudy old eyes of the Old Daoist swept over, he nodded slightly, not caring about Jin Huan's expression, and said, "If it is indeed naturally nurtured, you can certainly name your price... Let me see it!"
Yu Ci stepped forward, it was only then that he realized, resisting the wrath of a Golden Elixir cultivator was not as easy as he had imagined. His strength had been almost entirely drained in that instant, and he was nearly faint. Stepping on the gravel path under his feet felt as if he was stepping on cotton, unable to find solid ground.
His secrets were no mystery to the two young men behind him, who were eagerly anticipating his embarrassment. Yet, Yu Ci remained unperturbed. He took a deep breath and walked past Lu Yang. Lu Yang could easily take his life with a mere wave of his hand, yet that lethal strike never came.
Entering the pavilion, Yu Ci still remembered to nod at Jin Huan standing nearby, just as he did on the mountain path and when entering the observatory. Jin Huan gave him a cold glance and remained silent, not responding nor revealing any expression. However, the temperature around the small pavilion seemed to rise.
After a brief laugh, Yu Ci paid his respects to the Old Daoist and placed the Stone Box on the table, alongside two other boxes.
As the box opened, Yu Ci clearly felt the piercing gaze of four golden snake-like eyes. He then peered into the box himself. The next moment, the air in the pavilion froze.
The Stone Box was empty.
There was no trace of the thirteen stalks of Fish Dragon Grass that Yu Ci had mentioned, not even a single weed! At that moment, Yu Ci's mind was as blank as the box.
"Heh!"
That was Jin Huan laughing. With just that one laugh, the temperature inside and outside the pavilion rose another notch. In Yu Ci's eyes, the air around him seemed distorted by the heat. Perhaps at any moment, the opponent would strike, twisting off his head.
Yu Ci suddenly snapped back to reality. He had no idea why the Fish Dragon Grass in the Stone Box had disappeared, nor did he anticipate that he would find himself in such a dire situation. However, none of this stopped his mind from working. Regret or considering the consequences was pointless now. He turned his gaze to Jin Huan, staring at this hero who had controlled Sheer Cliff City for over a hundred years, and calculated:
If he suddenly drew his sword, could he manage to leave a mark on this man's face before he died?
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Just then, someone exclaimed in his ear, "Tao Worm!"
Yu Ci quickly turned his head to see the Old Daoist slowly standing up, his eyes fixed on the Stone Box. His intense focus drew everyone's gaze to the box.
The temperature in the pavilion dropped sharply.
Yu Ci's gaze fell on the Stone Box. He saw a worm as thin as a hair hiding in the corner where the box's bottom met its side. It was wriggling slowly, emerging from the shadows like a slender earthworm.
The worm seemed to enjoy the attention it was getting, or perhaps it found the small box too confining. After shaking its indistinguishable head and tail, it caught a gentle breeze that had just blown into the pavilion and started floating, moving in the void.
"Fish-Dragon!" The Old Daoist squeezed out two more words from between his snow-white beard-covered lips, but they were different from before.
The moment the Old Daoist spoke again, Jin Huan's gaze shifted and settled on his face. The intensity in his eyes was no less than when he had confronted Yu Ci.
The Old Daoist seemed completely oblivious to his surroundings, his gaze fixed on the floating insect. After a long moment, he turned to Yu Ci, asking, "Junior, is this Fish-Dragon for sale?"
Suppressing his excitement over his unexpected fortune and the absurdity of the Medicinal Grass turning into an insect, Yu Ci steadied himself and nodded, "Of course it is for sale, but at what price?"
The Old Daoist extended three fingers with a smile, "Three hundred merits!"
A surge of unprecedented relief washed over Yu Ci, but before he could respond, a cry erupted from outside the pavilion.
The one who shouted was Jin Chuan, a pampered young man who was understandably irate in the face of such a sudden turn of events, "How is it possible that this insect is worth more than what I've painstakingly accumulated over the past decade at White Sun Mansion? Don't tell me you..."
Before he could finish accusing the Old Daoist of favoritism, Jin Huan shot him a cold look, cutting him off.
"Is this how you speak to an Immortal Elder? Kneel!"
Jin Chuan, who feared his uncle the most, immediately fell to his knees. Lu Yang quickly moved aside, while Kuang Yan Qi also stepped back, neither daring to intercede for the moment.
Jin Huan had no intention of wasting his energy on this side issue. As soon as Jin Chuan knelt, he dismissed the young man and refocused his attention, speaking in a deep voice, "Elder Yu, I have always admired your keen insight. However, this matter pertains to the exclusive rights between my White Sun Mansion and your sect, I must seek clarification!"
Although he said he wanted to "ask", his posture suggested he intended to "interrogate".
The Old Daoist was unfazed, "Of course, Master Jin deserves an explanation."
He then turned to Yu Ci, smiling, "It's been a long time since I've seen a young man who could handle a 'Fish-Dragon'. Even if you did it by fluke, it's no small feat... Please, have a seat."
Yu Ci had already adjusted his mood. Watching the verbal duel between the Old Daoist and Jin Huan, he found it quite interesting. When the Old Daoist invited him to sit, he didn't hesitate. After a polite gesture, he sat on the stone bench at the table, naturally turning half his body to face the Old Daoist, giving his back to Master Jin.
The people outside the pavilion, including Lu Yang, were taken aback.
Yu Ci didn't care. His principle in life was: if you've offended someone and there's no way to make amends, then you might as well offend them to the end. After all, backing down now wouldn't make Master Jin spare him.
After taking his seat, he bowed again, "Please enlighten me, Taoist Yu."
He had preempted Jin Huan's words, causing a hot flush to spread across Yu Ci's back. But he didn't care, seemingly having forgotten about the Golden Elixir cultivator behind him who could kill him with a wave of his hand.
The Old Daoist, upon observing his demeanor, allowed a glimmer of amusement to ripple across his age-clouded eyes before he stroked his beard and chuckled, "Master Jin, when the Sect's Mountain Gate entrusted you with the 'Yi Wood Spiritual Energy Soup', the matter of the Fish-Dragon was mentioned. Perhaps, after so many years, the memory has blurred?"
His words, though seemingly offering Jin Huan a way out, carried a subtle undertone of sarcasm.
Jin Huan, however, remained unflustered, simply replying, "Perhaps my memory has faltered due to the weight of numerous affairs. It would be beneficial if you could refresh my memory, elder brother."
The Old Daoist cast him a glance, sighed faintly, and remarked, "Very well, I shall recount it once more."
Perhaps Yu Ci had misunderstood, but in the Old Daoist's tone, there seemed to be a hint of regret and... pity towards Master Jin?
The Old Daoist's intentions were unfathomable. He began his tale from the beginning, striving for completeness:
"To understand the Fish-Dragon, we must first return to the Shrimp Whisker Grass. All things in heaven and earth are born of Qi, each with its unique nature. The Sky Rift Valley, a conduit between two realms, is a place where various Qis clash, giving the flora and fauna within extraordinary properties. The Shrimp Whisker Grass is an example. This plant, with its peculiar roots, struggles to absorb earth Qi for sustenance and must parasitize on trees. However, once matured, its unique roots become especially sensitive to its kind, often absorbing their life Qi for nourishment. After absorbing enough, the Shrimp Whisker Grass undergoes a metamorphosis, transforming into Fish Dragon Grass, thus greatly increasing its value.
"After the Fish Dragon Grass takes form, influenced by its innate nature, it continues to consume its kind's life Qi, slowly altering its properties. When it metamorphoses once again, it transcends the realm of vegetation and becomes a creature of flesh and blood... This is an unparalleled evolution, akin to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, yet far surpassing it. At this point, the Fish Dragon Grass becomes the Fish-Dragon, breaking free from the limitations of vegetation, roaming between heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of all things, naturally born, with an endless lifespan. Although its power is not great, it is still a rare Spiritual Artifact in the world!
People's gazes converged in the void, focusing on the insect that was still joyfully wriggling. Those present were all individuals of keen sight, able to discern that despite the insect's slender, hair-like size, its intricate scale patterns radiated the luster of life. It was inconceivable that this was transformed from thirteen stalks of Medicinal Grass.
"In legends, when this Fish-Dragon has devoured enough of its kind and found a certain opportunity, it could potentially leap through the Dragon Gate, transforming into the Body of the Heavenly Dragon, soaring through the clouds and roaming the four seas... Of course, that is merely a legend."
The Old Daoist spoke unhurriedly, his words carrying an infectious quality that penetrated the heart. Yu Ci found himself unconsciously lost in thought, imagining the miraculous process of vegetation transforming into flesh and blood, and then ascending to become a true dragon.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e