Chapter 417: The Demon Emperor's Conditions

Lu Xun's gaze tightened: "Is that really true?"

"Indeed."

Zixiao said firmly: "Of course, if you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

"Now it's troublesome."

"If it were only the Eight Realms, Lu Xun could still think of a way."

"If it's the Nine Realms, and the other party is unwilling, Lu Xun has no way at all."

"All his current means combined still can't challenge the Nine Realms."

"Lord Zixiao, if you step forward, can you get her pollen? I can pay for whatever is needed."

Lu Xun asked.

"I'm afraid it's difficult; although we're both flower demons, she's a Blood-stained One, and we have little overlap."

Zixiao said.

"Blood-stained Ones?"

"It means that during growth, they feed on the flesh and blood of other living beings to grow—Blood Tang, Blood Tang—don't you think the 'blood' in her name is just for show?"

As they spoke, Zixiao lightly moved both hands, and a water mist appeared before her.

On that water mist, an image gradually appeared.

It was a flower.

It bloomed gorgeously.

But as the image panned down, Lu Xun saw that beneath the flower lay layers upon layers of dry bones, he couldn't tell how thick.

"This is what a Blood-stained One is—a flower demon clan. Pure-hearted Ones like me and Ahui are few."

Zixiao sighed.

Lu Xun understood.

"But I can try to help."

Zixiao's tone shifted, and she said.

"Thank you, I'll cover all your expenses, Your Excellency; once it's done, I will surely repay you handsomely."

Lu Xun cupped his fists.

"Forget the thanks—just consider it repaying a favor to Ahui. I'm going to find her now; if you believe me, wait here for me."

"Okay."

"Cai'er, entertain him for a bit."

"All right, Older Sister Zixiao."

After giving instructions to Cai'er, Zixiao left the flower valley.

"It should be the Six Realms, though there's a chance it's the Seven Realms."

Lu Xun guessed, watching her retreating back.

"Zixiao's strength surpasses that of Master's Wife Ahui."

"At least the Six Realms."

"Ahui, like Fei Tai'a, is likely hindered by emotion, causing her strength to stagnate or decline."

"Otherwise, both Fei Tai'a and Ahui should have broken through the Six Realms long ago."

Cai'er fluttered her wings lightly, hovering before Lu Xun, tilting her head with a sweet smile as she asked:

"Guest, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you."

"What do you have?"

"Plenty!" Cai'er counted on her fingers: "Clear mountain spring, morning dew condensed into flower dew, spirit fruit fermented into sweet juice, and mist extracted from clouds..."

"Then flower dew," Lu Xun mused.

"Sure, wait a moment."

Cai'er turned and whooshed into the hazy mist.

Not long after, she returned, struggling to hold a jade vase several times her size, which wobbled as she set it before Lu Xun.

"Come, try it!"

Cai'er carefully filled a cup to the brim with crystal-clear flower dew for Lu Xun, her eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Xun lifted the jade cup, took a sip, and instantly fragrance filled his mouth—a refreshing sweetness that warmed his heart, as if he stood amidst a sea of flowers.

"How is it? This is a precious treasure condensed from Elder Sister Zixiao's true form—we usually don't dare to drink it!"

Cai'er rested her chin on her hands, eyes sparkling as she awaited his verdict.

"Indeed, exquisite," Lu Xun praised. "Jade nectar, nothing more."

"Hehe, of course!"

Cai'er looked very happy.

"In this flower valley, are there only you and Lord Zixiao?"

"Of course not; there are many clansfolk, but they haven't yet awakened their spirits, and few like me have taken human form."

"Spirit awakening? The birth of spiritual wisdom?"

"Um, before spirit awakening, we are merely demon flowers, not flower demons."

Lu Xun and Cai'er began chatting.

Soon, Lu Xun learned a great deal about the flower valley from her.

"No wonder Zixiao doesn't let her talk to strangers..."

Lu Xun watched the lively, chattering Cai'er and found it amusing.

Zi Qiang's approach is correct.

Cai Er's thoughts are too simple; she hadn't even chatted a few sentences before directly revealing Zi Qiang's background.

Now she, in terms of intelligence, should be equivalent to a child of only a few years old.

That's also normal; she hasn't been in her human form for long.

On Yao Xing, the difficulty for plants to become demons is much greater than for animals.

Animals inherently possess spiritual awareness and a certain degree of wisdom.

"Why don't the plants on Lan Xing become demons? Is it because the heavenly laws differ?"

Lu Xun couldn't help but think.

On Lan Xing, even if some plants are given ample dark energy, they won't become demons but will turn into spiritual plants and medicinal herbs.

This should be due to the difference in heavenly laws.

Moreover, not all plants can become spiritual plants or medicinal herbs.

The vast majority of plants are ordinary plants.

Likewise, not all plants can become demons.

The same applies to animals.

"Wow, guest, your story is wonderful to hear; could you tell me another?"

As they chatted, Cai Er began to pester Lu Xun for stories.

She didn't know where she heard it, but human stories are wonderful to listen to.

Lu Xun casually told one, and she became engrossed in listening.

So, Lu Xun continued to tell her stories.

Cai Er ate while taking out a leaf and drawing on it.

"I'll record it, so I can tell it to others later."

Seeing Lu Xun looking, Cai Er smiled and explained.

"Alright."

This little flower demon made Lu Xun find it interesting, so he told her stories for quite a while.

After most of the day.

Lu Xun sensed the movement and stopped.

"Zi Qiang Elder Sister has returned."

Cai Er hastily put away the leaf, flew over to help Zi Qiang take off the cloak behind her.

"Lady Zi Qiang, how is it?"

Lu Xun stood up.

"A bit troublesome."

Zi Qiang frowned: "I asked a senior to help introduce me before I could meet her; the Blood Tang Demon Emperor is willing to give pollen, but the conditions she set are very harsh."

"What conditions?"

Lu Xun asked.

Zi Qiang looked at Lu Xun: "She wants a kind of elixir to make up for the deficiency in her bloodline; if you can find an alchemy master, there might be a chance."

"Elixir?"

"This is Lu Xun's area of expertise."

"What elixir?"

"Nine-turn Mystic Flower Nirvana Pill; this is an elixir that can elevate a flower demon's bloodline, but unfortunately, in the field of alchemy, no demon is skilled."

"Nine-turn Mystic Flower Nirvana Pill!"

"An elixir with the two characters 'Nine-turn' added is not simple at first hearing."

"Such elixirs are usually ninth-grade; even if not, they are extremely rare."

"Lu Xun has never heard of this elixir, nor has he seen it in Bai Ling's alchemy book."

"If you only need pollen, a seven-turn version would suffice; she can provide the ingredients and formula, you just need to find an alchemist, but this elixir is clearly needed by demons, so human alchemists may not be willing to refine it."

Zi Qiang added.

After a moment of thought, Lu Xun said: "Agree to her; I'll figure out a way."

"Are you sure? She needs fifty thousand cubic units of dark energy as a deposit, otherwise she won't give me the ingredients and formula; I don't have that much dark energy."

Zi Qiang said.

"Fifty thousand cubic units!"

"Good fellow!"

"I'll pay!"

Lu Xun gritted his teeth and decided to pay.

"There's no way around it; this love poison must be cured, otherwise Ran Bing won't be able to endure for long."

"Anyway, once it's refined, those dark energies will eventually return."

"Okay."

Zi Qiang was somewhat surprised.

"Fifty thousand cubic units of dark energy, and Lu Xun can actually produce that amount."

"This made her curious about who Lu Xun really is; just coming alone to Yao Xing is surprising enough, yet he's also so wealthy."