Chapter 661: Fiery Immortal Lotus

"Fine, we have a deal."

Chu Yu stepped out from the crowd and said to the female leader, "Alright, everyone put your weapons away, and you, treat their wounds."

"Yes, Princess."

The female leader nodded and busied herself with the others in treating the seven people's arrow wounds.

Fortunately, Yin Qi had held back; the arrowheads had not damaged their bones, and after treatment by the mages, the wounds healed on the spot.

However, it would likely take a few more days to fully recover.

Chu Yu's bright eyes darted about, her demeanor dignified, and she asked with a reserved smile, "I am Chu Yu, Third Princess of the Chu Kingdom. May I ask how to address you, Young Master?"

Yin Qi cupped his hands and said, "Yin Qi, a man from the wilderness."

Chen Nan also stated his name: "Chen Nan, also a man from the wilderness."

"So it is Young Master Yin. I see Young Master Yin has high martial arts skills and an extraordinary bearing; you do not look like a man from the wilderness. As for someone else, he is indeed a man from the wilderness."

Chu Yu's expression toward Yin Qi was one way, but her face changed immediately when she looked at Chen Nan.

She was clever and sharp; recalling the earlier incident, if it hadn't been for this person's big mouth, she and Yin Qi could have pretended not to know, but now it had become common knowledge.

Chen Nan said unhappily, "You little girl, can't you tell I was being modest? I was just saying Brother Yin..."

"You're still talking."

Chu Yu interrupted him immediately, her fists clenched tight, teeth gritting.

"Ahem."

Yin Qi coughed lightly: "Brother Chen, you misunderstood. I only caught a glimpse of a figure in the water pool; I didn't see clearly. After all, it was so far away, and the water surface reflected the sunlight, so it was impossible to see clearly."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yu hurriedly raised her voice: "Did you hear that, you dead scoundrel? Yin Qi didn't see clearly."

Although the words were spoken to Chen Nan, they were actually meant for the guards as well.

"Hehe!"

Chen Nan naturally understood Yin Qi's intention, but he just wanted to irritate Chu Yu, so he let out an inexplicable laugh.

Chu Yu was itching with hatred.

If Yin Qi weren't standing right there, she would have wanted to kill someone.

Yin Qi changed the subject: "Princess Yu, where is the Fiery Immortal Lotus you mentioned, and how much further is it?"

Chu Yu glared at Chen Nan, then withdrew her gaze and said, "It's not very far from here. Originally, it would have taken us six or seven days to bypass the powerful Magic Beasts, but with you here, we can reach it in two days at most."

Yin Qi nodded.

After the wounds were treated, the group did not linger and set off.

Two days later, the group arrived at their destination. A Volcano appeared before them, the crater wreathed in layers of smoke and clouds, as if the flames could erupt at any moment.

Seeing this, everyone was secretly shocked.

Once the volcano erupted, if they were too close, they would have no chance to escape with their lives.

An Apprentice Mage hesitated and asked, "Your Highness, is there really a Fiery Immortal Lotus in this crater?"

Chu Yu was a bit displeased and snorted: "Of course there is. Do you think I would lie to you? This is what my master told me. It wasn't mature back then, so it wasn't picked. Now, calculating the time, it should be within these few days."

A female guard reminded her: "Your Highness, I have heard that all Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure are guarded by Spirit Beasts. I wonder if this Immortal Lotus..."

Chu Yu said nonchalantly: "It's fine, my master said it's just a small snake. Even if you can't handle it, isn't there Young Master Yin? Right?"

She turned to look at Yin Qi, her face brimming with a pure smile.

Yin Qi chuckled: "Princess Yu, the Fiery Immortal Lotus is an Immortal Medicine; how could an ordinary Spirit Beast protect it? If I am not mistaken, your so-called 'small snake' is at least a Fifth-tier Demonic Beast, and it might even be in the transformation stage of becoming a Dragon."

"Fifth-tier Demonic Beast!"

Chen Nan and the others were startled, looks of fear flashing in their eyes.

Thinking about it carefully, what Yin Qi said was not without reason.

Such an Immortal Medicine growing here would surely attract a constant stream of Demonic Beasts from the surroundings. The one that could ultimately remain to guard the Fiery Immortal Lotus would naturally be the strongest among the Demonic Beasts. A Fifth-tier Demonic Beast was entirely possible.

"Ah!"

Chu Yu was also stunned.

However, she did not want to retreat, gritting her teeth and saying: "Even if it is Fifth Tier, it is not as if we have no way to deal with it. This time I brought the Chu Kingdom's treasure used to Suppress the nation, the Houyi Bow. If the Houyi Bow is handed to you to use, it is not impossible to kill the small snake."

"Houyi Bow!"

Chen Nan exclaimed.

This was the weapon once belonging to his father, Chen Zhan; he had not expected to encounter it again after ten thousand years.

He turned to look at Chu Yu; she had a long parcel strapped to her back.

Presumably, that was the Houyi Bow inside.

Chu Yu ignored Chen Nan, instead taking the parcel from her back, her gaze fixed on Yin Qi as she said: "The Houyi Bow will be handed to Brother Yin to use; Brother Yin won't try to keep it for himself, will you?"

Please... collect... 6... 9... book... site...!

"Eek!"

Chen Nan and the others all shuddered, goosebumps rising all over their bodies.

Yin Qi laughed in spite of himself: "You had better call me Young Master Yin, or just Yin Qi is fine. Rest assured, although the Houyi Bow is an Immortal Treasure, it hasn't reached the point where it would make me greedy. Moreover, as far as I know, this Houyi Bow can only be used once a year. Even if I kept it for myself, it wouldn't be of much use, and I would instead be hunted down by the experts of your Chu Kingdom."

"Hee hee, I knew you were a good person who keeps his promises."

Chu Yu also breathed a sigh of relief.

She was not afraid of Yin Qi being powerful; she was only afraid that Yin Qi would have no reverence for the Chu Kingdom.

"Give the Houyi Bow to me. You all stay here and do not approach. Once I start fighting the opponent, it will be very easy to implicate you."

"Mm-hmm, here you go."

Taking the parcel from Chu Yu's hand, inside was an ancient-looking long box.

Opening the box, it was a long bow shimmering with a dark, glossy luster.

Picking up the Houyi Bow, Yin Qi felt a sense of ancient, heavy weight, no less than a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

The Houyi Bow, legend has it, was refined from a Spiritual Root after the Opening Heaven and Earth; if its seal were completely undone, its power would be unimaginably vast, and later its essence soul reincarnated as Chen Nan's daughter, Yiyi.

"I am going."

Yin Qi nodded toward Chen Nan and Chu Yu, then walked toward the Volcano.

The closer he got to the Volcano, the higher the air temperature became.

Very soon, Yin Qi arrived at the Volcano; bursts of smoke drifted out from the crater, the air was incomparably scorching, the Volcano was like a baking oven, and at the same time, a rich, fragrant aroma wafted out from the smoke.

"It is truly worthy of being an Immortal Medicine, such a tempting fragrance."

Yin Qi's eyes lit up.

His gaze was burning as he looked down to see the Fiery Immortal Lotus rooted on a cliff three zhang below the Volcano crater.

The entire plant was about half a meter tall, its whole body fiery red and shining.

Nine crystal-clear red leaves grew on the stem, and the Top was a flower shaped like a lotus.

But it was a hundred times more vibrant than a lotus; the fiery red petals were fresh and dripping, as dazzling and eye-catching as if carved from jade.

Not far from the Fiery Immortal Lotus was a huge cave entrance, and in the cave, two blood-red points were shining brilliantly; looking closely, they were actually two crimson eyes as large as washbasins.

As for the snake head, it was the size of a house, looking ferocious and terrifying.

In an instant, their eyes met.

The giant snake's eyes were crimson, revealing a cold killing intent.

It had guarded this place for a thousand years, just to wait for the Fiery Immortal Lotus to mature so that it could swallow it and transform into a True Dragon.

Anyone who came here was its mortal enemy. (End of chapter)