Chapter 498: Chapter Nine: Spiritual Plant Leads, A Hand

Li Jia's eldest brother glanced sideways, his eyes sweeping over Feng Feng Xianzi and He Lu Qilang beside him.

They came today merely to feel the waters.

Don't be fooled by their current arrogance—they've prepared a whole set of rhetoric; if this man or any other cultivator showed unusual ability, they could easily retreat by self-slandering and manipulating words, covering up their earlier actions.

Seeing Brother Qian Chen merely smile faintly and ignore his earlier words, Li Jia's eldest brother felt somewhat reassured.

He knew the background of this master-disciple pair—they were local cultivators with no notable origins.

Thus, after a single glance, he spoke in a cold, sinister tone: "Feng Feng Xianzi, what is your relationship with the owner of this place? Can you speak for him?"

Feng Feng Xianzi replied calmly: "We have some acquaintance."

Li Jia's eldest brother's face darkened; he smiled ambiguously, eyes gleaming with malice. He stared deeply at Feng Feng Xianzi, his body wreathed in rolling crimson flame-essence, dancing like firelight—impressively imposing.

The oppressive aura of this demonic essence pressed toward Feng Feng Xianzi. Brother Qian Chen watched clearly: this man intended to use this posture to warn Feng Feng Xianzi and his disciple not to interfere, even attempting to drive a wedge between them.

Thus, whether Brother Qian Chen or Feng Feng Xianzi showed the slightest hesitation, he could concentrate all pressure on Brother Qian Chen.

But Brother Qian Chen knew well: Feng Feng Xianzi's origins were anything but ordinary—he was a Core Formation cultivator whose Golden Core was on the verge of collapse, grievously wounded. What did these two Li brothers think they could accomplish by standing before him like this?

He coughed softly and cut straight to the point: "What brings you here?"

Feng Feng Xianzi's expression shifted slightly; he glanced at Brother Qian Chen, then fell silent, understanding.

Seeing Feng Feng Xianzi's silence, the two Li brothers assumed their scheme had worked, having frightened off Feng Feng Xianzi. Li Jia's second brother stepped forward to play the good cop, offering a perfunctory bow in all four directions with a hollow smile: "We heard you're offering a hefty reward for rare spiritual plants. We've long lived overseas and have some connections—we've spent considerable effort obtaining the information you seek. Today we've come to claim the reward!"

"Oh?" Brother Qian Chen was genuinely surprised, his interest piqued.

He'd assumed these two had come merely to amuse themselves, considering how to extract a few drops of oil from them—but now they'd mentioned the very thing he cared about.

"Please speak," Brother Qian Chen summoned two clouds of qi, inviting them to sit.

The Li brothers glanced at the clouds but did not sit, exchanging a look—both hiding a faint sneer.

They stood in a fixed position: the spot they'd calculated as the weakest point of the islet's formation. How could they sit blindly on someone else's arranged traps?

Li Jia's eldest brother snorted coldly: "We paid a heavy price to learn that on Xuanhe Island grows a thousand-year Yunyan Tree—its fire age nearly ten thousand years! Its misty blossoms drift like clouds and fog, formed from the essence of pure spiritual energy. Beneath its boughs, one breathes without contamination, refining purest magic power."

"Such a spiritual plant is exceedingly rare—few in the overseas realms can rival it. Surely it's worth your reward?"

Behind Brother Qian Chen, He Lu Qilang sneered: "That Yunyan Tree is the treasured guardian of Qingyu Sect—who in the overseas realms doesn't know? That tree is their lifeline. Whoever touches it will face a fight to the death from Yunhe True Person. Qingyu Sect alone has three Yin Spirit cultivators. Why bring it up? What's your intent?"

Qingyu Sect raises cranes for cultivation; their scriptures—*The Contained Dan and Starlight Formula*, *The Condensed Purple Mist Technique*, *The Soaring Light and Shadow Method*—all require cultivation in harmony with spiritual cranes.

The Yunyan Tree is specifically used by the Qingyu Sect to nurture their Frost-Feathered Cranes, aiding in egg hatching and refining the juvenile cranes' innate potential. Half of the Qingyu cultivators' strength lies in their soul cranes; their highest achievement is ascending to higher realms riding atop a crane.

Thus, they revere that Yunyan Tree above all else. Anyone who dares covet it will face the sect's full wrath.

Feng Feng Xianzi, knowing Brother Qian Chen was unfamiliar with overseas cultivation lore, whispered the explanation to him.

But Brother Qian Chen's thoughts differed from his expectation.

"So it's already owned? That complicates things. Though Qingyu Sect has only three Yin Spirit cultivators, I still can't resort to outright theft…"

"Besides, Qingyu Sect has no evil reputation—they're purely devoted to quiet cultivation. I can't use the same tactics I employed against Jin Sha Sect. Such specialized spiritual plants demand too great a price to acquire! Sigh—if only it belonged to a demonic sect!"

As this unwholesome thought flashed through his mind, Brother Qian Chen glanced at the Li brothers and sighed inwardly: "Perhaps if everyone overseas were like them…"

The Li brothers felt a chill creep over them at his strange expression.

Li Jia's eldest brother suddenly frowned: "What? You plan to break your word?"

Brother Qian Chen gathered his thoughts, suppressing the fleeting thought in his mind.

Though the Yunyan Tree's essence—condensing mist, transforming pure spirit—suited Daoist methods perfectly, and within mere breaths he'd already conceived several suitable talisman seals for this spiritual root,

acquiring it involved too many complications and costs—perhaps even requiring him to craft a five-transformation elixir specifically for Qingyu Sect. No matter how appealing it was, he must rank this spiritual root last!

Brother Qian Chen had no intention of breaking his word. He glanced at the Gold and Silver Children; though still sulking, they dared not defy him. They returned to the cave and soon emerged, carrying a full tray of Sun-Moon Qi-Condensing Pills.

Brother Qian Chen instantly realized the two children had learned cunning from Ear God—they were deliberately flaunting their wealth to stoke greed in these two! Such behavior was practically begging them to die.

The Gold Child counted fifty pills into a jade vial and handed it to Brother Qian Chen.

Brother Qian Chen tossed it casually to the Li brothers: "Though this is common knowledge, since I hadn't heard it before, the reward remains unchanged."

Li Jia's eldest brother watched his brother take the vial, preparing to turn hostile—what good could such pills be? But Li Jia's second brother opened the vial, sniffed, and felt pure spiritual energy flood his body, spreading through every limb and organ. He subtly circulated true qi—and felt his cultivation advance by an infinitesimal amount.

Realizing Brother Qian Chen's pills were no ordinary fare, Li Jia's second brother's expression changed drastically. His lips trembled as he whispered to his brother.

Li Jia's eldest brother's eyes flickered with greed. After a moment's hesitation, he changed his tone entirely, abandoning his thuggish demeanor, bowing with a smile: "Generous! I have news of several more spiritual plants—do you still accept rewards?"

"Yes."

Brother Qian Chen sat calmly on the cloud-bed, sipped tea offered by the Gold and Silver Children, and replied: "Why not?"

He Lu Qilang grew anxious, whispering to Brother Qian Chen: "Master, don't indulge these people. They prey on the weak and bully the strong. If you'd shown your strength as before, they'd have retreated. If you persist in seeking peace… it will never end!"

"What's to fear?" Brother Qian Chen replied. "I'm worried things aren't dramatic enough!"

Thus, Li Jia's eldest brother named several more spiritual plant locations, his eyes fixed on Brother Qian Chen, as if trying to read his expression.

"... On Kunling Island grows a Shenlou Tree, said to open a realm both real and illusory!"

"... On Tan Wuchen Island grows a Shikong Grass—ingesting it grants a pure spirit body, light and agile, allowing flight without any artifact or spell!"

"... Konghai Temple is said to cultivate a Jianglong Tree..."

"... The Four Seas Trading Guild acquired a Jieyang Vine several years ago..."

"... Changming Sect possesses a Gourd Heavenly Heavenly Linggen, said to have sprouted from a gourd fallen from Heaven..."

The Li brothers, seasoned cultivation sect outlaws for years, truly unearthed numerous spiritual plant leads unknown to Feng Feng Xianzi's disciples. Of course, every plant they mentioned was already owned—and their owners were no ordinary powers, so there was no need to conceal their treasures.

"... Shenxiao Sect has a grove of thunder-struck peach trees, even cultivating several mature stands of Jin Lei Bamboo!"

"... Shaoclear Sword Sect's mountain gate houses a Qinghua Divine Tree!"

Hearing this, Brother Qian Chen looked up—good heavens! Even Shaoclear was dragged in!

Shaoclear was truly Shaoclear—a direct Daoist lineage with immense wealth. The Qinghua Divine Tree was a branch of the Jianmu Tree. Brother Qian Chen had heard of it even when he was a bead.

It was planted by the Shaoclear Patriarch himself after plucking a branch from Jianmu in Heaven, now planted in the Eastern Sea of the Earth Immortal Realm—over one hundred thousand years old!

This divine tree had long attained sentience, now one of the most powerful Primordial Spirits in the Earth Immortal Realm.

If Brother Qian Chen visited in his true identity, he might even beg a branch from the Divine Tree Ancestor—enough to forge his wood-based magic treasure!

"Why beg for such a favor over one spiritual root? Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay!"

Thus, Brother Qian Chen would rather craft a five-transformation elixir to trade with Qingyu Sect for the Yunyan Tree.

The Li brothers racked their brains, listing over a dozen spiritual root locations—finally exhausting the entire tray of Sun-Moon Qi-Condensing Pills. Li Jia's eldest brother watched Brother Qian Chen's serene expression and whispered to his brother: "Either he's seeking peace... or he truly has depth."

Li Jia's second brother also grimly replied: "Brother, we've gained enough today. Shouldn't we cut our losses?"

Li Jia's eldest brother nodded: "This man is strange. We must probe deeper when we return."

Brother Qian Chen tapped his fingers on the cloud-bed, thinking: "Not enough! Still insufficient. This 'buying bones to attract horses' tactic is still too weak. After today's news spreads among overseas cultivators, those with plant information will know I pay—but if these two live to leave, more fraudsters will come..."

"I've already endured one round of this nonsense. Do I have the patience to deal with every con artist? Besides, today's affair won't reach the ears of high-level cultivators..."

"I need them to help me a little more."

"I want the bones, the authority, the fame—all of it!"

Sensing their desire to retreat through his spiritual sense, Brother Qian Chen realized he'd fished poorly.

"This hook is too straight! These brothers are more cautious than I thought. No matter—I'll hard-fish today's catch!"

Brother Qian Chen subtly stirred the greed of the surrounding cultivators, conjuring a Formless Yin Demon, flicking it into the swirling thoughts of the two brothers.

The two, who had just begun to retreat, suddenly felt their greed flare fiercely, their one thread of spiritual clarity smothered.

Li Jia's eldest brother suddenly looked up, a cruel smile curling his lips: "... On Liupo Mountain in the Eastern Sea grows a Kui Lei Tree—fifteen hundred zhang tall, two hundred men's arms wide. Its rustling leaves sound like thunder, perpetually shrouded in countless lightning. When the thunder ceases, storms follow; its glow rivals sun and moon..."

Hearing this nonsense, the surrounding cultivators exchanged glances—none had ever heard of Liupo Mountain, let alone the Kui Lei Tree!

Someone finally realized: the Li brothers had run out of real leads and were now making things up!

Li Jia's second brother still retained a sliver of clarity, wondering why his brother didn't follow their agreed plan to withdraw. But seeing the second tray of spiritual pills brought forth by the Gold and Silver Children, his mind was swiftly drowned again by the demon's greed.

Brother Qian Chen sat quietly on the cloud-bed, fingers tapping the table before him, producing low, hollow knocks.

Li Jia's second brother smirked: "What? My brother just named another spiritual tree—why not deliver the reward?"

His expression was utterly confident, as if past events had emboldened him. The onlookers, unaware of the brothers' earlier intent to leave, only saw Brother Qian Chen as weak—further fueling their greed, completely oblivious to the brothers' prior desire to depart.

But a fish hooked still tries to escape, ignoring the angler's skill—so it was caught, firmly on the hook?

Brother Qian Chen remained calm: "I've never heard of the Kui Lei Tree, nor know where Liupo Mountain is. Can you swear a Heart Demon Oath to prove your words?"

Li Jia's eldest brother snarled: "Demand we swear a Heart Demon Oath? Who do you think you are? You hear our news and now renounce your word?"

"The Kui Lei Tree's location is known only to us two. That's why you've never heard of it. This information is more valuable than all the others combined! I recall your reward promised five thousand Three Mountains Talismans—or an elixir aiding Core Formation—for any spiritual plant!"

"The Kui Lei Tree is ready for harvest—no one else knows its location. To you, it's already within reach. Isn't that a ready-made spiritual root?"

Li Jia's second brother chimed in: "Hand over the promised elixir, and we won't trouble you. If you refuse..."

As he spoke, his protective Xiao Xie Xuan Yin Frost-Essence suddenly dispelled the greed within him, snapping him awake from the Formless Yin Demon's control.

Li Jia's second brother paused, bewildered: "What am I doing?"

But his body immediately obeyed the demon's will, continuing: "... then don't blame us for turning ruthless!"

Opposite him, Brother Qian Chen's eyes flashed coldly. A voice echoed in Li Jia's second brother's mind: "Xiao Xie Xuan Yin Frost-Essence—truly one of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends. You broke free of my Formless Yin Demon."

Li Jia's second brother watched his brother, now completely mindless, controlled by demonic thought. He felt powerless—even to move a finger. His soul split: one part a puppet in Brother Qian Chen's hands, performing as commanded; the other, fully aware, watching helplessly.

A terror deeper than soul pierced him!

He stared at Brother Qian Chen in horror, his heart and liver trembling, silently pleading: "Senior! Esteemed Master of the Demon Path! We meant no offense!"

"We didn't know your identity! Please spare us! Spare us!"

Li Jia's second brother screamed silently within.

Brother Qian Chen's voice was calm: "I'm sorry. In the overseas realms, I'm a stranger. Finding even one suitable spiritual root is difficult—I must borrow your brothers' lives. Please don't be stingy."

Li Jia's second brother watched his "own" body roar: "You fool!"

He pleaded inwardly: "I'm the fool! Master, I'll join the Demon Path—I'll serve your holy sect!"

The "Li Jia's eldest brother" coldly said: "Hmph! Who dares offend the Li brothers today?"

As Li Jia's second brother's eyes widened in utter despair, he saw Brother Qian Chen finally "reach his limit"—flicking a finger, a blade of light slashed a hundred zhang wide. In that instant, Li Jia's second brother shattered the Formless Yin Demon's restraint and screamed: "No! You..."

But he ultimately failed to explain clearly, uttering only two words before being split in two by the sword light, along with the Li family's eldest son behind him.

He Lu Qilang sighed from behind Brother Qian Chen: "Master has yielded at every step, yet you still do not know when to die—truly…"

The final wisp of the Li family's second son's soul revealed a cold sneer; his severed corpse collapsed upon the reef, eyes wide with unquenched fury!

He Lu Qilang felt no sympathy whatsoever for the two. Though his thoughts were complex, he was still far too young to comprehend how foul the ways of the mortal world could be.

When He Lu Qilang had searched the two men's Qiankun bags and returned them to Brother Qian Chen, he saw only Brother Qian Chen gazing at the sea, murmuring softly: "My fishing skills have declined again."

He Lu Qilang deeply agreed, secretly chuckling: "It seems everyone has their weak points. The elder's alchemical arts are beyond mortal comprehension, but fishing? He's worse than our six-year-old boys!"

He comforted him: "We cultivators regard fishing as a trivial skill! With Master's abilities, even lifting the sky and boiling the sea is not beyond reach—why fret over a single fish?"

Brother Qian Chen nodded slightly: "Indeed. I thought the fish beyond the seas were more straightforward, but they're even craftier than those of the Central Lands. After several Shitan, I thought I'd truly hooked one—only for it to nearly slip away the moment I missed the set! Clearly, fishing beyond the seas demands far more patience than in the Central Lands."

Feng Feng Xianzi sidled up, grinning: "Today we scattered so much bait and switched to larger hooks, scaring off the small fish—tomorrow, the big ones will come biting! And these little fish don't carry much meat anyway; let them go."

Brother Qian Chen nodded slightly: "Friend, you have a benevolent heart."