Chapter 1292: Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid

The sudden arrival of Li Zhihuo also caused Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Hongyou to stop in their tracks, though what came as a slight surprise was that this Li Zhihuo actually intended to lure Li Hongyou with the "Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid."

So when the hard approach didn't work, they've started with the soft one?

"Li Zhihuo, Guard Commander, you people really just won't give up." Li Li Fengyi said irritably.

Although Li Li Fengyi was only a minor Hundred-Guard in the Dragon Fang Guard, when it came to actual status and background, she was far above Li Zhihuo, so there was no need for her to be polite in her words.

Facing Li Li Fengyi's mockery, Li Zhihuo merely smiled faintly and said, "Hongyou, nothing in this world is more important than your own future. With this 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid,' when you break through to the Marquis Realm, you'll be able to forge a Nine-Pillar Marquis Platform. Such talent, even among our Dragon Blood Guard, is considered top-tier. I know you have deep grievances with Hongque, and in the future, if there's a chance, I will even arrange a fair duel for you, so you two can settle this grudge."

Beside Li Zhihuo, Li Hongque's face darkened, her gaze fixed hatefully on Li Hongyou, but in the end she didn't say anything, clearly Li Zhihuo had already smoothed things over on her end beforehand.

The news that Li Hongyou was about to break through to the Marquis Realm had already spread throughout the Five Guards, and once she truly succeeded, Li Hongyou's role in the Dragon Fang Guard would become extremely important.

An advancement to the Marquis Realm was no trivial matter.

This matter had even reached the ears of Li Li Jiluo, who was stationed in Tianlong City—the one with the highest status and strongest strength among the Dragon Blood Lineage in Tianlong City. Moreover, he had already been regarded as the next generation's Head of the Dragon Blood Lineage, and his fame was extremely resounding throughout the entire Outer Shenzhou.

Therefore, Li Li Jiluo indicated that the prodigies of the Dragon Blood Lineage should ideally be brought back into the fold.

With this person's instruction, even though Li Hongque was dissatisfied in her heart, she dared not say anything and could only cooperate.

And facing the temptations in Li Zhihuo's words, Li Hongyou's expression didn't change at all. Apart from glancing once at the "Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid" in Li Zhihuo's hand at the very beginning, she never paid it the slightest attention again.

"Li Zhihuo, your attempts to poach people are far too petty. Either give it away for free, or what's with this compensation in Dragon Essence at the end?" As the commotion here grew too loud, a cold laugh suddenly rang out.

The crowd parted, and they saw Li Foluo walking over with his people, his gaze fixed unkindly on Li Zhihuo.

He hadn't expected that this Li Zhihuo would actually, in broad daylight, directly try to lure their people with profit.

Li Zhihuo glanced at Li Foluo and said, "It's not that I'm being petty, it's just the rules. Besides, I never said I'd make Hongyou pay the full price—at that time, she'd only need to go through the motions."

Li Foluo said coldly, "I don't care about your little schemes, but luring our Dragon Fang Guard's people like this is a violation of the Five Guards' rules. Do you believe I'll report this directly to Lineage Head Li Li Jingzhe?"

Li Zhihuo's expression didn't change as he said, "Li Foluo, there's one thing you got wrong. Strictly speaking, Li Hongyou isn't considered one of your Dragon Fang Guard's people. She carries the blood of the Dragon Blood Lineage in her veins. Even if this matter were taken before the Lineage Head, we wouldn't be in the wrong."

Members of the other guards were also watching the show around them. They noticed that ever since Li Luo brought Li Hongyou to the Dragon Fang Guard, it seemed the entertainment had increased as well.

Li Zhihuo ignored Li Foluo, looked at Li Hongyou again, and said gently, "Hongyou, you are ultimately one of our Dragon Blood Lineage's people, and you should think about your own future. How about it? You're still young; there's no need to bury yourself over some past grievances."

Li Hongyou said flatly, "My future is to cause trouble for Li Hongque and her father."

Seeing Li Hongyou dare to draw the fire onto herself, Li Hongque could no longer hold back and sneered, "How dare you be so rude to your father and elder sister—truly an unfilial thing."

Li Hongyou said, "I'm staying right here in the Dragon Fang Guard, I'm not going anywhere. I love seeing that look on your face—treating me like a thorn in your eye, yet being completely powerless to do anything about it."

Hearing this, Li Hongque's fingers clenched tightly, the skin on the backs of her hands turning white from the grip, clearly furious in her heart.

"Enough, Li Zhihuo, you can leave now. Don't waste your efforts here." Li Foluo spoke up, wanting to end this farce.

Li Zhihuo's face was expressionless. He had actually known this would be the outcome, but since Li Li Jiluo had spoken, he naturally had to do something. With the lure having failed now, he at least had an excuse to report back.

"Since your obsession runs so deep, then there's nothing to be done. This 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid' was originally an excellent match for you. If you miss today's opportunity, perhaps you'll never obtain it again in the future." Li Zhihuo's voice also turned cold.

The implication carried a hint of threat, clearly Li Zhihuo had no intention of letting this item fall into Li Hongyou's hands.

The Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures their Dragon Blood Guard submitted to the treasury had a three-month priority exchange right, so as long as within this period, they exchanged it away at the price of thirty thousand Dragon Essence, then Li Hongyou could forget about getting her hands on it.

Li Foluo's gaze darkened as he said, "Li Zhihuo, this 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid' is a Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure suited for auxiliary-type compatibility. It won't be of much use to you people!"

Jiang Jiang Qinge beside them also had a slightly cold glint in her eyes. She had originally planned to wait until the Dragon Blood Guard's priority period passed, then find a way to scrape together a batch of Dragon Essence to exchange for this item for Li Hongyou. Recently, the Five Guards had plenty of high-level missions—although dangerous, the rewards were extremely high.

Perhaps she could even take out the "King Pearl" she had placed with Li Li Jingzhe and see if it could be exchanged for Dragon Essence to obtain this "Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid."

But from the looks of it now, Li Zhihuo had no intention of giving them this chance.

"Then I won't trouble you to worry about it."

Li Zhihuo said nonchalantly, "And since you care so much about your subordinate, why not generously fork out sixty thousand Dragon Essence right now and buy this thing in advance to give to Li Hongyou? Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Li Foluo was at a loss for words. His annual salary plus mission rewards came to only a few tens of thousands of Dragon Essence, and he himself purchased Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures and other cultivation materials every year, so he was essentially living paycheck to paycheck—there was no way he could suddenly produce sixty thousand Dragon Essence.

"Guard Commander need not be provoked by him. Although this 'Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid' is good, there's not much difference between a Nine-Pillar Marquis Platform and an Eight-Pillar Marquis Platform. I don't have that kind of ambition to pursue the extreme, so I only need to obtain a mid-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure to be content." Li Hongyou spoke up at this moment, soothing Li Foluo.

Li Foluo's face darkened. Li Hongyou's own talent was also extraordinary—her Lower Nine Grade Red Heart Vermilion Fruit compatibility was even a notch stronger than his had been back then. So if a flaw was left when breaking through to the Marquis Realm, it would also affect her foundation.

That would truly be a pity.

"It seems Guard Commander Li Foluo can't produce that amount of Dragon Essence. In that case, I can't be blamed for not giving you the chance." Seeing this, a mocking smile appeared at the corner of Li Zhihuo's mouth, and he was about to put away the "Jade Lotus True Spirit Liquid" in his hand.

However, just at this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from within the crowd.

"Wait, sixty thousand Dragon Essence, is that right?"

"Wrap it up for me, I'll take it."

The surrounding members of the Five Guards all wore stunned expressions, their gazes following the direction the voice came from, and then they saw Li Luo casually parting the crowd and walking into the scene.

"Li Luo? You've come out of seclusion?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Hongyou, and the others, upon seeing Li Luo appear, couldn't help but feel a pleasant surprise, since the latter hadn't shown his face for two months.

Li Luo smiled and nodded, then looked at Li Zhihuo and said, "Sixty thousand Dragon Essence—Guard Commander Li Zhihuo won't go back on his word, will he?"

Li Zhihuo looked at Li Luo, his brow furrowing slightly, then said flatly, "Li Luo, I have no interest in wasting words with you. As far as I know, you currently owe a mountain of Dragon Essence—where would you get sixty thousand Dragon Essence?"

"Could it be that you still want to run up a tab with our Dragon Blood Guard?"

Hearing these words, some people in the surroundings burst into laughter.

Li Foluo and the others were also somewhat puzzled, because they all knew that Li Luo's pockets at this moment were probably even cleaner and emptier than his face.

Sixty thousand Dragon Essence—where would he get it?

(Li Li Jiluo is the Grand Hall Master of the Golden Blood Hall of the Dragon Blood Lineage, and Li Foluo is the Guard Commander of the Dragon Fang Guard. The names are somewhat similar, so please don't confuse them.)