Chapter 462: You must give me an explanation

Passing through layers of restrictions, the group finally arrived at the deepest part of the karst cave.

Here stood a white jade altar, and floating above it was a strange, black-and-white insect cocoon. The surface of the cocoon shell swirled with Yin and Yang Qi, at times transforming into swimming fish, at others condensing into a Taiji symbol.

The Holy Master's voice lowered unconsciously: "This is the Yin-Yang Gu. It has been dormant for three hundred years, and never..."

Before the words were finished, the long-silent cocoon suddenly began to tremble violently!

The black and white Qi swirled frantically, forming a massive Taiji pattern above the altar.

Even more shocking was that the cocoon shell began to crack open slowly, revealing a pair of crystal-clear insect wings!

Mabu gasped in disbelief: "This—how is this possible?! The Yin-Yang Gu has actually awakened?!"

Li Chen looked at this strange scene thoughtfully and asked softly: "May I touch it?"

There was no choice; the system mission required more than just looking, so Li Chen needed to touch it to see.

A flash of light crossed the Holy Master's eyes, and he said directly: "Since the Yin-Yang Gu has an affinity with you, Young Master, why not let me gift it to you?"

"What?!" Even the several Bai Miao elders couldn't help but gasp aloud.

The Yin-Yang Gu was their clan's treasure! How could it just be given away?

But a sharp glance from Mabu swept over them, and the clansmen immediately fell silent as cicadas in winter.

Mabu's heart was churning: No one had been able to tame the Yin-Yang Gu for hundreds of years; even if the Holy Master gifted it, this Young Master Li would...

His train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a crisp insect chirp.

They saw the Yin-Yang Gu, having completely broken out of its cocoon, turn into a stream of light and submerge directly into Li Chen's palm!

Even more magically, a faint Taiji mark immediately appeared on Li Chen's hand, spinning, and the Yin-Yang Gu was chirping excitedly.

"It—it acknowledged its master?!" Mabu's legs went soft, and he nearly knelt to the ground.

This divine Gu, which had slumbered in his clan for three hundred years, had actually initiated master-acknowledgment the very first time it saw Li Chen?!

And looking at it, it seemed to be begging Li Chen to keep it.

Seeing this, the Holy Master's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

He didn't find this surprising at all. Since Li Chen was an Emperor, he must possess the Purple Qi symbolizing the Human Emperor, which was exactly what Gu insects loved most.

If it cultivated by Li Chen's side, it would also be of immense benefit to the Gu insect.

This was enough to prove that Li Chen was indeed a dragon among men.

Standing to the side, Ma Hei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, secretly rejoicing in his persistence earlier.

Sure enough, in the face of true destiny, all rules were empty!

Next, the Holy Master clapped and cheered: "The Yin-Yang Gu has acknowledged its master; Young Master Li is truly a noble guest of our Holy Land! Ma Hei, Mabu, you two prepare a banquet of the highest standard. I will personally host Young Master Li to welcome him."

Ma Hei immediately agreed and turned to walk away quickly to make preparations.

Although Mabu was full of doubts, he could only follow and withdraw.

Li Chen knew the people of the Southern Frontier were warm and hospitable, and having now obtained their clan's treasure, it wouldn't be right to decline, so he nodded in agreement.

He was just still a bit curious: where had that girl Li Meng gone?

But with so many people around, he didn't ask further.

Under the Holy Master's personal guidance, Li Chen's group arrived at the Holy Hall.

This magnificent hall, built against the mountain, was crafted entirely from obsidian. Inside, seventy-two snake-coiled pillars were wrapped with living Golden Thread Snake Gu, radiating a faint pressure.

Not long after walking out, Mabu caught up to Ma Hei, grabbed his sleeve, and asked with a dark face: "You must give me an explanation!"

Ma Hei looked left and right, lowering his voice: "Even the Holy Master and I have this attitude; can't you see who Young Master Li is? His surname is Li!"

Mabu was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically. The Li surname of the Imperial Capital—that was most likely the Imperial Clan. To be able to make the Holy Master so courteous...

He slapped himself hard: "I am truly a fool!"

After speaking, he turned and ran, even more anxious than Ma Hei to prepare the banquet.

That evening's banquet was indeed extremely luxurious.

In the center of the Holy Hall sat a ten-zhang-long sandalwood table, filled with delicacies unique to the Southern Frontier: Golden-Winged Centipedes fried until crispy, Blood Jade Scorpions steamed until crystal clear, and soup made from "Spirit Silkworm Gu" fed on century-old Lingzhi.

Of course, there was no lack of delicacies in the eyes of ordinary people: rock sheep roasted until golden and dripping with oil, wild boar meat marinated in hundred-flower honey, and "Drunken Immortal Brew" aged for thirty years.

Daoist Yang Ci was initially resistant to this insect banquet, but after tasting one bite, his eyes lit up, and his chopsticks didn't stop.

Zhu Zhuying, sitting nearby, watched in a daze: "Daoist, didn't you just say these things..."

"Miss Zhu, it is I, the old Daoist, who had shallow knowledge!"

Daoist Yang Ci said while gorging himself.

"These are all treasures worth ten thousand gold! Look at this 'Heavenly Silkworm Nine Transformations Gu'; eating one is worth three years of bitter cultivation. This 'Blood Jade Scorpion' is even more..."

According to him, where in the world was there no beef or fine wine? These insects were rare; eating one meant one less, so being able to eat them was a stroke of luck. It was all because the Holy Master was giving face to His Majesty Li Chen.

If he had come by revealing his own identity, he probably wouldn't have received this treatment.

Just then, Li Meng, who had been missing for a long time, finally appeared at the hall entrance.

Blushing, she walked cautiously to Li Chen's side.

Seeing the beauty appear, Li Chen asked: "Where did you go just now?"

Li Meng took an exquisite silver bracelet from her bosom: "You—didn't you want this? I went to get it for you."

Li Chen smiled as he took the bracelet, deliberately scratching her palm lightly: "You made me wait so long; how should I punish you?"

Li Meng's ears turned completely red, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

At this moment, her peripheral vision suddenly caught the Holy Master on the main seat, and she said in surprise: "Papa? Why are you back?"

The hand holding the wine cup stiffened; the Holy Master was left crying and laughing inwardly: I've been here for a long time! And I've been sitting here the whole time; you girl haven't taken your eyes off Young Master Li since you walked in, and you only see your own father now?

But he didn't show it on his face, only coughing lightly: "Meng'er, why don't you come over and toast Young Master Li?"

Li Meng then woke up as if from a dream, hurriedly reaching for the wine pot, but her hand shook, and she spilled wine all over Li Chen.

She was so anxious she was about to cry, scrambling to wipe it off, but Li Chen grabbed her wrist: "No matter, I wanted to change clothes anyway; why don't you take me?"

As soon as these words were out, the whole hall was in an uproar.

The Holy Master nearly spat out his wine, and Ma Hei and Mabu were left dumbfounded.

Li Meng was so shy she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into, but under the knowing gazes of the crowd, she still nodded, blushing.

The atmosphere of the banquet became even more lively. The Holy Master watched the backs of his daughter and Li Chen as they left, rubbing his wine cup thoughtfully.

The Yin-Yang Gu had acknowledged its master, his beloved daughter was smitten, and His Majesty seemed to have accepted the bracelet.

These were all happy events for the Holy Master. He had been wondering how to develop the Witchcraft Holy Land; now, hadn't he already latched onto a ready-made powerful backer?

It was truly a case of "searching for it for a thousand miles, only to find it without any effort."

If he had known it was this simple, he would have wasted half a day going out to chat with that old fox, the Prince of Zhennan.

In the whole hall, only Chi Chuan had strong objections. Just as he was about to stand up, he was pressed down by Mabu beside him: "You sit down!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 463 =====