Chapter 214: Cao Meng Rong's

A quarter of an hour later, inside the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat, Yan Taibai was holding a translucent, egg-shaped stone in his hand, examining it. This stone was somewhat peculiar; its exterior was crystalline and transparent, but inside, a flame-like golden light flickered uncertainly, emitting a strange radiance.

It was precisely one of the materials for refining the Sanyan Fan: the Golden Flame Stone.

It was also a top-tier fire-attribute crafting material in the cultivation world; the value of this piece alone was such that even for an Ancient Treasure, not everyone would be willing to trade it, which gives an idea of its preciousness.

And this Golden Flame Stone, naturally, had been obtained from the group of people from the Nine Immortals Palace just a moment ago.

Besides the Golden Flame Stone, Yan Taibai had also obtained an Ancient Treasure: a crystalline, snow-white bead—the Snow Crystal Bead of the Nine Immortals Palace. This had left the two beauties, Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe and the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping of the Tutu Tribe, filled with envy.

The two women even suspected for a moment that Yan Taibai had known the group from the Nine Immortals Palace possessed these two treasures, which was why he had struck to kill without a second word.

Only Xin Ruyin was certain that Yan Taibai had absolutely known.

It was just unclear how he had known.

But that was no longer important; what mattered was that the materials and the Ancient Treasure were in hand. Everything else was unimportant; they only needed to head toward the Dajin Cultivation World.

……

Liao Zhou in Da Jin; among the one hundred and eight prefectures of Da Jin, if one were to speak of surface area, its vastness could easily place it in the top ten.

However, although the area was sufficiently large, the climate and environment were in a region of bitter cold, shrouded in accumulated snow, with a sparse population, and its level of prosperity ranked at the very bottom among all the prefectures.

The Shun Jiang within the borders of Liao Zhou was the second-largest river in this prefecture, and also one of the few rivers that would not freeze during the flood season. Therefore, every year at this time, whether they were merchants selling goods or travelers with urgent business, they would all take boats down the river, as this speed surpassed that of carriages and horses on the road.

Consequently, every stretch of the waterway had official Da Jin boats patrolling along the river.

Nevertheless, despite the large number of passenger ships and the great length of this river, there were naturally many desperate outlaws who, disregarding the risk of beheading and the extermination of their families, would take the risk to rob passing ships.

Thus, some of the larger ships could not avoid hiring some nimble-footed, martial-arts-savvy bodyguards to station on the ships for protection.

On this day, a spirit boat, a divine vessel that looked as if it were carved from white jade, appeared on the river.

The reason it was called a spirit boat and divine vessel was mainly because there were two peerlessly beautiful fairies on board. As for just how good-looking these two fairies were, Wang Tie Qiang could guarantee that in his entire life, he had never seen women more beautiful than these two.

Especially since the two fairies were truly cultivators just like their young mistress, this further confirmed their status as fairies; they were indeed genuine and lived up to the name.

Originally, he had thought their young mistress was beautiful and good-looking enough, but compared to the two fairies, there was simply no comparison.

However, what Wang Tie Qiang did not understand was why the two fairies would bring their young mistress into that spirit boat and divine vessel; he did not know how many people were envious of that.

Although cultivators were not considered rare immortals in the eyes of Da Jin mortals, high-level cultivators like those on the spirit boat and divine vessel were still extremely rare.

Especially with such beautiful and peerless fairies in the boat.

……

Inside the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat: "Thank you for your guidance, Master. Meng Rong understands."

Cao Meng Rong bowed to the young man before her, thanking him respectfully.

"You just need to cultivate well. With the pills and techniques I have given you, there is still some hope for Foundation Establishment in the future."

Yan Taibai nodded slightly and exhorted.

"Meng Rong understands. Thank you, Master."

Cao Meng Rong said respectfully again.

"Hm! You may return! We are also about to leave this place. This time was merely a coincidence of fate; I felt that you and I were fated, which is why I took you as a disciple. If we meet again in the future, I will bestow a fortuitous encounter upon you."

Yan Taibai said with a light laugh.

The reason he had taken Cao Meng Rong as a disciple was purely because he felt this girl had a good temperament, and coupled with his good mood from obtaining the Golden Flame Stone and the Snow Crystal Bead, he had taken her in.

As for the issue of Cao Meng Rong's Spirit Root aptitude, he did not care; in any case, Xin Ruyin was much the same.

It was just that Xin Ruyin's talent and attainments in formations were rare in ten thousand years, something even a Heavenly Spirit Root could not compare to.

In this point, Cao Meng Rong could not compare.

"Yes, this disciple takes her leave. Master, please take care." Hearing Yan Taibai's words, Cao Meng Rong's originally happy mood instantly plummeted to the bottom, but she did not show it on the surface. She still bowed respectfully to Yan Taibai and respectfully took her leave, departing the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat.

"Fellow Daoist Taibai, this disciple of yours has a good temperament, but her Spirit Root aptitude is not very good. Even with you as her master, the probability of her condensing a Nascent Soul in the future is not high."

Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe also came out after Cao Meng Rong left and spoke with a light opening of her lips.

"Condensing a Nascent Soul, advancing to the Nascent Soul Stage—I have never dared to hope she could reach that step. After all, she is not like Ruyin, who possesses formation attainments rare in ten thousand years. With her Spirit Root aptitude, wanting to condense a Nascent Soul—unless she obtains a heaven-defying fortuitous encounter, otherwise, there is no need to even think about it. However, I have let the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant follow her, which can be considered giving her a bit more hope. If in the future she cannot condense a Nascent Soul and advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, merging with the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant might also be considered condensing a Nascent Soul. It is just that I don't know if, by then, she will still be herself, or if she will be willing to merge with the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant."

Yan Taibai laughed lightly, almost stating Cao Meng Rong's future.

He had not expected that although Cao Meng Rong's Spirit Root aptitude was poor, she possessed a special constitution. However, this constitution was not only rare, but it also provided no help to cultivation; instead, it was suitable as a host for a special 'spirit object' like the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant.

If the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant were to merge with her, she would directly advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, and would no longer be restricted by Spirit Root aptitude or the drawback that a Five Elements Spirit Infant cannot advance.

It was just that who she would be by then was not certain.

Moreover, whether Cao Meng Rong would be willing was also not certain.

If Cao Meng Rong were unwilling, the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant could not force a merger. Most importantly, it could not be done now; it would require Cao Meng Rong to reach the Golden Core Late Stage Great Perfection.

That is to say, the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant must protect and help Cao Meng Rong advance to the Golden Core Late Stage Great Perfection before it could merge with her and advance to the Nascent Soul Stage.

If she were at the Nascent Soul Stage, it would be even better; then the dual-infant merger would directly result in a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage. The prerequisite is that the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant reaches the Nascent Soul Mid Stage Great Perfection, which is not a difficult matter for the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant.

Therefore, for Cao Meng Rong, this was indeed a heaven-sent fortuitous encounter, but it was also possible that she would be swallowed whole by the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant.

It all depended on how the two would choose in the future.

Yan Taibai would not interfere with this, but for now, Cao Meng Rong was unaware of all this.

At the very least, Yan Taibai would wait until after she reached Foundation Establishment before telling Cao Meng Rong.

However, the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant was indeed staying with Cao Meng Rong, precisely to avoid this 'host'—rare in ten thousand years—from losing her life.

As for the matters concerning Yan Taibai and the Supreme Wood Spirit Infant, Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe, the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping of the Tutu Tribe, and Xin Ruyin were all aware.

Yan Taibai had not hidden it from the three women.

"For this girl, this is indeed a heaven-defying fortuitous encounter. As for whether she can grasp it, that depends on the girl herself."

The Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping nodded her head slightly, agreeing.

If such a fortuitous encounter had fallen upon her, she also would not have known how to choose.

"Indeed! Such a fortuitous encounter—if it were this little sister, I truly would not know how to choose."

Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe rarely echoed the words of the Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping. "Alright, let us go! Whether it is a blessing or a curse depends on her own fate and fortune."

Yan Taibai shook his head and said indifferently.

This could also be considered giving Cao Meng Rong a "ring grandfather," except that this "ring grandfather" also wanted to seize Cao Meng Rong's body.

Given Cao Meng Rong's temperament, wanting to take it down was truly not an easy matter.

……

"Master, take care!"

Watching the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat fly into the clouds and disappear in the blink of an eye, Cao Meng Rong, at the bow of the ship, bowed respectfully toward the direction of the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat and said in a reverent voice.

……

Guan Ning Fu was located at the westernmost end of Liao Zhou, so even for the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat, it took several days to reach the Xue Ling Shan Mai.

The entire Xue Ling Shan Mai stretched for ten thousand miles and could be considered one of the few major mountain ranges within the borders of Liao Zhou.

Moreover, it was said that demons and ghosts haunted the depths of this mountain range; not to mention mortals, even cultivators with not-insignificant cultivation levels would sometimes disappear in the mountains for no reason.

"The reason why so many mortals and cultivators go missing in this Xue Ling Shan Mai is mainly because there are several ten-thousand-year corpse kings inside. Among them, the most formidable one, Xuanye Wang, if he is in his Tomb Mansion, possesses strength and divine abilities no weaker than a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage. Precisely because of this, even though the Righteous Path of the Dajin Cultivation World knows that Xuanye Wang is committing evil in this Xue Ling Shan Mai, they have not interfered much. They have always turned a blind eye. Now that it happens to be the Ginseng King Assembly, we can go and take a look; perhaps we might be able to auction off some good things."

After getting off the Heavenly Moon Divine Boat, Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping, who was quite knowledgeable about the Dajin Cultivation World, introduced the information she knew in an unhurried manner.

"So that's how it is."

Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe nodded her head slightly and cast her gaze toward Yan Taibai.

She was very clear about the important reason why Yan Taibai came here.

"Then let's take a look at the Ginseng King Assembly first! We might really encounter good things."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai chuckled. He remembered there were indeed good things, and since he had come, he naturally had to join in the fun.

Otherwise, wouldn't it have been a wasted trip?

As for the baleful aura on his body, it was more than a hundred times stronger than that of cultivators of the same rank. If not for relying on the "White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash" to suppress it, and having let his Life-Bound Magical Treasure, the Luxian Juetian Sword, leave, he would have long since been unable to contain it.

Now it had reached the point where it must be resolved, so he had to come here first. As for the Small Extreme Palace on Beiming Island, there was no rush for the moment.

Solving the baleful aura first was the most important thing.

However, he would take a look at this Ginseng King Assembly for now; after all, there were good things, especially for the Tihun Beast, they were even better things.

The Ginseng King Assembly held by the three great families of Jiang Ning was not in the depths of the mountain range, but was held on a tall mountain peak on the outermost edge, close to the direction of the small town.

When Yan Taibai, Xin Ruyin, Le Shennü of the Mulan Tribe, and Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping arrived, a large area of exceptionally magnificent pavilions and halls appeared on the summit within their line of sight.

"Brother Yan, something is wrong. This Ginseng King Assembly is not right. Is there a corpse king underground?"

Suddenly, Le Shennü, who was already a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage, naturally discovered the corpse king hidden underground at the first moment.

"Correct, it is indeed not right, but it has little to do with us, so there is no need to interfere."

Yan Taibai said in a flat tone, not caring at all.

"Mm! Brother Yan is absolutely right." Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping hurriedly nodded in agreement.

This angered Le Shennü into a cold snort, and she turned her face away, no longer saying anything.

At the same time, in a secret chamber more than twenty zhang deep underground, the lid of a pitch-black coffin suddenly moved. Subsequently, a hand as white as jade was seen stretching out from the gap. With a gentle push of the lid, a man in a yellow robe with a jade crown suddenly sat up from inside.

This man was in his thirties, with a refined appearance, and a look of fear appeared on his face. "Why did I suddenly feel a palpitation of the heart? Could it be that someone is spying on me?" The man muttered to himself. After hesitating for a moment, he carefully released his divine sense and searched the entire mountain peak from top to bottom, especially the many cultivators in the manor, which he examined extremely carefully.

Yet he did not know that he had already been held in hatred by Le Shennü, a Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage.

Le Shennü had already decided that as long as she did not obtain any useful good things at the Ginseng King Assembly, she would take him as her first target.

A mere corpse king of the Nascent Soul Stage was, to the current Le Shennü, just a matter of waving her hand; there was absolutely no need to worry about anything.

Moreover, this could also be considered doing a good deed.

……

Just as this corpse king was feeling palpitations and wondering if some old monster was passing by, Yan Taibai, Xin Ruyin, Le Shennü, and Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping had already entered a huge plaza, where cultivators in various attires were densely packed, numbering at least several hundred.

Furthermore, these cultivators were divided into several groups, gathered in several temporarily partitioned areas, either discussing or trading items.

And all around the plaza were stalls of various sizes, some placed on tables, some placed directly on the ground—a scene of great bustle.

"Let's split up and look around!"

Seeing this scene, Yan Taibai smiled knowingly and spoke.

This also allowed Xin Ruyin, Le Shennü, and Tianlan Saintess Lin Yinping to breathe a sigh of relief, and they all agreed in unison.

"Mm, Brother Yan is right."

Subsequently, the three women parted ways with Yan Taibai.

After all, girls being accustomed to shopping was a principle that held true in any world.

As for Yan Taibai, he went to the Tianji Mansion area; Yan Taibai was still quite interested in this Tianji Mansion.

"Give me a Tianji Mansion."

Yan Taibai took out a Spirit Stone and handed it to the middle-aged woman in charge of renting out the Tianji Mansion, saying.

And the other party skillfully gave him a low-grade Tianji Mansion.

After obtaining the Tianji Mansion, Yan Taibai found a place and threw the Tianji Mansion onto an empty plot of land. With a flash of white light and a muffled "Boom—" sound, a house several zhang in size appeared before his eyes.

Seeing this, Yan Taibai immediately entered it.

At this moment, however, Xin Ruyin encountered a strange person with pointed ears and monkey cheeks.

"Does the fellow Daoist have some business?"

Xin Ruyin frowned slightly and said.

(End of this chapter)