Chapter 61

Advancing to the Golden Core Realm, Hua Hua Changxi found her body becoming even lighter. Returning from the Nanshan hinterland to the Medicine Valley, she used the Lingbo Lingbo Weibu and arrived in a few minutes.

Not long after returning to the Medicine Valley, Guo Yu came looking for her.

"What, Seniors Zhuo Fan and Jiang Ye are leaving?"

"Yes, both seniors have things to attend to. They know that the healing medicine you refine is effective and want to buy some from you."

"Healing medicine is easy to handle. I have something to discuss with the seniors here too. They aren't busy right now, are they? I'll go find them right away."

Watching Hua Hua Changxi, who was rushing up Xishan, Guo Yu followed unhurriedly, sighing in his heart that ginger is indeed spicier when it's old.

Ever since they guessed that Hua Changxi wanted to use the influence of the Cao Gang, Weiyuan Escort Agency, and the Beggar Sect to obtain information, his master and the others had been waiting for her to speak up.

Who would have thought that during this time, other than treating Senior Yang Chuan, Hua Hua Changxi had no intention of talking to his master and the others.

Senior Zhuo Fan couldn't sit still, which was why he, his master, and Senior Jiang had come up with this method, the purpose of which was to force Hua Hua Changxi to speak up.

Hua Hua Changxi entered the stone cave and saw Zhuo Fan and Jiang Ye bidding farewell to You Lao and Yang Chuan.

Zhuo Fan looked at Yang Chuan: "Yang Chuan, just recover well here with You Lin. When Jiang Ye and I are done with our business, we will come to see you again."

Jiang Ye nodded in agreement: "Better to live a miserable life than to die. Take things in stride; you still have us."

Seeing Hua Hua Changxi arrive, You Lao took the initiative: "Hua Changxi, Zhuo Fan and Jiang Ye are leaving. They are people who roam the martial arts world, and getting injured is a common occurrence, so they want to buy more healing medicine from you."

Hua Hua Changxi smiled: "If Senior Zhuo and Senior Jiang have a need, I will naturally satisfy it." As she spoke, she walked toward Yang Chuan, who could already walk on the ground, and took his pulse.

"Senior Yang's injuries have greatly improved."

Yang Chuan gave Hua Hua Changxi a forced smile: "This old man's life is all thanks to you, little girl."

Hua Hua Changxi found a seat and sat down, shaking her head with a smile: "Although I put in some effort, it cannot compare to the importance the three seniors place on Senior Yang."

Hearing this, Yang Chuan's expression was moved. He looked at the three elders with gratitude and thankfulness. Although he said nothing, it was as if he had said everything.

The three elders also said nothing, just smiling back at Yang Chuan.

Looking at the eye contact between the four, Hua Hua Changxi was touched. Having such true friends is indeed a great blessing in life: "I have something I want to discuss with the four seniors."

You Lao and the other three exchanged quick glances and smiled: "What is it?"

Hua Hua Changxi looked at You Lao: "The rift valley in the Nanshan hinterland was found by you leading me there. How do you feel about that place?"

You Lao was stunned; what Hua Hua Changxi said had nothing to do with their expectations: "This old man doesn't understand what you mean. What do you mean by how I feel about it?"

Hua Hua Changxi took out a piece of fire spiritual stone: "This kind of stone is called a fire spiritual stone. Do you know what it is used for?"

You Lao looked at the other three, and even though they had some guesses, they still shook their heads.

Hua Hua Changxi: "Martial artists cultivate by taking medicinal pills to stimulate their body's potential and develop internal energy and gang energy."

"Cultivators cultivate by taking the power of heaven and earth for their own use. The most basic power of heaven and earth is the power of the five elements. The four seniors should know what the five elements are, right?"

Zhuo Fan snorted: "Who doesn't know the five elements? Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth."

Hua Hua Changxi smiled, stood up, and gave each of the four elders a fire spiritual stone. Seeing Guo Yu standing to the side, she gave him one too: "What is contained in this stone is the fire power among the five elements."

Hearing this, the expressions of the four elders changed, and their breathing became somewhat rapid.

Before this, they only knew that cultivators needed to take the power of heaven and earth for their own use, but they were clueless about what the power of heaven and earth was. Now they finally knew.

Zhuo Fan looked at Hua Hua Changxi with burning eyes: "Little girl, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Hua Hua Changxi looked at You Lao again: "Senior, below the rift valley is a fire spiritual mine."

You Lao still didn't quite understand what Hua Hua Changxi was trying to say: "So?"

Hua Hua Changxi stared: "A fire spiritual mine, don't you feel tempted?"

Once these words were out, You Lao, Zhuo Fan, Jiang Ye, Yang Chuan, and Guo Yu, who was in the background, understood Hua Hua Changxi's meaning and looked at each other in dismay.

You Lao probed: "You want to..."

Hua Hua Changxi: "The appearance of a single spiritual fruit made you fight for your lives, and now there is a fire spiritual mine in front of us; don't you want to claim it for yourselves?"

The eyelids of You Lao and the others jumped simultaneously. They knew this girl was ambitious, but they hadn't expected her to be this ambitious.

You Lao couldn't help but remind her: "The Nanshan Rift Valley is not far from the Medicine Valley."

The implication was that the imperial court would very likely discover it. Could it be that Hua Hua Changxi dared to compete with the imperial court for a fire spiritual mine?

Hua Hua Changxi understood You Lao's meaning: "Everything has a first-come, first-served basis, and I believe that just like the situation in the Nanshan Rift Valley, there must be others elsewhere. The imperial court cannot and has no way to occupy all the benefits."

You Lao looked at his three old friends. Hua Hua Changxi's goal was clear; she wanted to cooperate with them to occupy the fire spiritual mine.

A fire spiritual mine...

Knowing that this was a cultivation resource needed by cultivators, the four elders were all tempted.

Zhuo Fan exchanged glances with the three elders and looked at Hua Hua Changxi: "But we are not cultivators; the fire spiritual mine is useless to us."

Hua Hua Changxi: "What if... I could make you become cultivators?"

Zhuo Fan stood up with a "whoosh," and You Lao, Jiang Ye, Yang Chuan, and Guo Yu all held their breath.

"Are you telling the truth?"

"You're not lying to us, are you?"

"Can you really make us become cultivators?"

Zhuo Fan stared fixedly at Hua Hua Changxi, not missing a single expression of hers.

Hua Hua Changxi looked at the eager and nervous elders and smiled: "I have no need to lie to you, but what can you trade in return?"

The four elders immediately looked at each other.

After exchanging glances for a while, Zhuo Fan spoke: "Little girl, stop keeping us in suspense. Don't you just want to cooperate with us to occupy that fire spiritual mine? Tell us, how do you plan to cooperate?"

Hua Hua Changxi: "I want 60% of the fire spiritual mine and the spiritual plants and fruits around it. As for how you divide the remaining 40%, that's none of my business."

Zhuo Fan immediately shouted: "Little girl, you are too greedy..."

Hua Hua Changxi interrupted him directly: "For mortals to become cultivators is a heaven-defying opportunity. Senior Zhuo, don't be ungrateful after getting a bargain."

Zhuo Fan jumped: "To occupy the fire spiritual mine, we have to rely on us to guard it, us to mine it, and if anyone with no eyes wants to come and snatch it, we have to rely on us to drive them away. We have done so much work, and you want to take 60%? Who is really taking advantage of whom?"

Hua Hua Changxi's expression was indifferent: "Senior Zhuo, if you say it like that, it's meaningless. If you couldn't do these things, why do you think I would look for you to cooperate? Because of your hot temper?"

Zhuo Fan choked and began to blow his beard and stare.

Hua Hua Changxi looked at the three elders: "Whether I am taking advantage of you, you know in your hearts. I ask myself, I am being quite reasonable."

Zhuo Fan snorted angrily: "You call this reasonable? Little girl, you are thick-skinned. Do you think that if we want to become cultivators, only you can do it?"

Hua Changxi smiled at him: "Seniors can go find others, like the Sanqing Palace or Taisu Palace you mentioned before."

As she said this, her smile faded.

"Seniors should think clearly. If you go to those places and want to become cultivators, the price you pay will only be greater. You might even have to sell yourselves."

Zhuo Fan wanted to refute, but couldn't find a reason, because he knew that what Hua Changxi said was true; the Sanqing Palace and Taisu Palace were not places they could just rely on.

If someone else with slightly more power had discovered the fire spiritual mine today, they wouldn't have cooperated with them at all.

If they wanted to become cultivators, they would have to sign a contract of servitude, guard the fire spiritual mine for free, and then receive a small allowance every month.

Zhuo Fan looked at the three elders, signaling them with his eyes to step up; he couldn't fool this shrewd little girl.

You Lao and Jiang Ye looked helpless. Although Hua Hua Changxi wanted to occupy the fire spiritual mine, they wanted to become cultivators even more. Looking at the intensity of their needs, they were at a disadvantage.

You Lao sighed: "Fine, we agree."

Hua Hua Changxi suppressed the corners of her mouth from turning up: "There is one thing I must tell you in advance. I can help you shape your spiritual veins. Once you have spiritual veins, you can absorb the power of heaven and earth. However, you have to find the cultivation techniques yourselves."

Zhuo Fan shouted again: "Don't you have cultivation techniques? Otherwise, how do you cultivate?"

Hua Hua Changxi shook her head: "My cultivation technique cannot be passed on."

She had tried to record the bird breathing and meditation method before, but as soon as she had this thought, she would have a splitting headache. After several times, she knew that her cultivation technique could not be passed on randomly.

Zhuo Fan looked disbelieving: "Really?"

Hua Hua Changxi: "I am going to cooperate with you for a long time; I won't destroy the trust between us from the start. Once you become cultivators, you can verify it for yourselves."

"The four seniors are all capable people, and your influence is spread everywhere. If you can find a pomegranate, finding cultivation techniques shouldn't be difficult."

Jiang Ye suddenly spoke: "Little girl, can you tell us what that pomegranate is actually used for?"

Hua Hua Changxi smiled: "Once you seniors become cultivators, you will naturally know."

She wouldn't tell them that it was a Creation Pomegranate used to refine Creation Pills.

Creation Pills, once taken by mortals, can shape spiritual veins.

Creation-type spiritual fruits are extremely rare and not easy to grow; once they appear, they are targeted by heavenly thunder and directly annihilated. She hadn't expected the four elders to encounter one; their luck was truly good.

Zhuo Fan snorted: "Since we are already partners, what is there that can't be said? Hiding things like this is not straightforward at all."

Hua Changxi turned to look at him: "Senior Zhuo, how much money does the Weiyuan Escort Agency make every year, how many people do you have, and how many partners do you have? Would you tell me these things?"

"I am young, but I am not a fool. Although we have cooperation, we still need to keep our own boundaries. Don't you think?"

Zhuo Fan was blown away by her words, snorted, and stopped talking.

Hua Hua Changxi looked at the three elders: "Since the four seniors and I have reached a consensus, let's sign a contract."

The four elders found it somewhat funny; they hadn't expected Hua Hua Changxi to believe in this.

If a piece of paper could bind others, there wouldn't be so many deadbeats in the world.

Funny as it was, You Lao still glanced at Guo Yu, who immediately went into the stone room to get paper and pen.

You Lao signaled Guo Yu to give the paper and pen to Hua Hua Changxi.

Hua Hua Changxi didn't decline and began to write as she said: "Actually, when cultivators sign a contract, they need to take a heart-demon oath, but I don't know how, so I can only make do with a paper contract."

As she said this, she smiled and looked at the four elders.

"Cultivators are most afraid of developing heart demons. Once troubled by heart demons, at best, their cultivation will not advance, and at worst, they will suffer a backlash. The four seniors were able to become masters, so you should know the weight of a promise."

Hearing this, the expressions of the four elders suddenly became serious, and they put away their previous nonchalance.

Soon, Hua Hua Changxi wrote five copies of the contract, and she and the four elders all signed their names.

Guo Yu saw there was no copy for him and looked at Hua Hua Changxi anxiously: "What about mine?"

Hua Hua Changxi paused: "The four seniors are providing people and effort; what can you provide?"

Guo Yu looked at You Lao for help.

You Lao coughed lightly: "Hua Changxi..."

Hua Hua Changxi raised her hand to interrupt him: "There is no free lunch in the world. I am not a saint, and I don't do unpaid trades." As she spoke, she took out four wooden boxes the size of half a palm and handed them to the four elders.

"This is a fire-type Creation Pill. After opening the box, take it as soon as possible."

The Creation Pomegranate contained dense five-element energy. Hua Hua Changxi had used the pomegranate seeds that glowed with red light to refine the fire-type Creation Pills.

After the four elders took the Creation Pills, they would be able to shape fire-type spiritual roots.

After the four elders carefully took the wooden boxes, Hua Hua Changxi didn't look at Guo Yu's expectant eyes and quickly walked out of the stone cave.

One Creation Pomegranate had 600 seeds, which could refine 600 Creation Pills. Giving Guo Yu one wasn't impossible, but she couldn't start this precedent; she couldn't let the four elders think she was easy to talk to.

Everyone has relatives and friends. Once she opened this door, she would never have peace in the future.

Moreover, she also felt that one must have principles in doing things. Her principle was fair trade; wanting to freeload? No way!

Hua Hua Changxi walked toward the bottom of the mountain. When she was about to reach the entrance of the Medicine Valley, a familiar figure flying on a sword appeared in her sight.

Gu Gu Jinfan!

Hua Hua Changxi's expression changed drastically; she was surprised that Gu Gu Jinfan would come here and even more surprised that she could fly on a sword.

Watching Gu Gu Jinfan reach the entrance of the Medicine Valley, jump off the flying sword nimbly, and then beckon with her hand, the nearly two-meter-long flying sword turned into a stream of light and disappeared into her body with a "whoosh."

Afterward, Gu Gu Jinfan went up Xishan.

Hua Hua Changxi hid behind a giant rock, watching Gu Gu Jinfan walk toward the mountain, her expression very serious.

Gu Gu Jinfan is a cultivator!

Even though the opportunity of the red stone was taken by her, she still embarked on the path of cultivation.

"What is she doing here?"

Hua Hua Changxi followed carefully and soon discovered that Gu Gu Jinfan was heading toward the stone cliff halfway up the mountain.

"Is she here to find You Lao?"

Hua Hua Changxi suddenly thought of the Creation Pomegranate. Creation fruits are too rare; anyone who knows their efficacy will fight for them at the cost of their lives.

The "Commentary on the Hundred Herbs Classic" used the term "bloody storm" to describe the scenes whenever a Creation Fruit appeared.

Is Gu Gu Jinfan here for the Creation Pomegranate?

"Who is there?"

Guo Yu looked warily at Gu Gu Jinfan, who had appeared on the stone cliff without a sound.

The four elders in the stone cave, who were preparing to take the Creation Pills, heard the commotion and walked out one after another.

Gu Gu Jinfan saw Yang Chuan alive and well and exclaimed in surprise: "You're not dead?" Then, she quickly looked at the three elders and found that they didn't look like they were seriously injured either.

After Gu Gu Jinfan shouted the three words "You're not dead," the expressions of the four elders became serious.

"Who are you?"

Gu Gu Jinfan frowned, suppressed the fact that Yang Chuan was still alive, and asked directly: "Did you go to Mount Wuzhi Mountain in Qingzhou before and snatch a five-colored pomegranate?"

Hearing this, You Lao denied it without even thinking: "No, we haven't been to any Mount Wuzhi Mountain."

Gu Gu Jinfan: "... You cannot keep that five-colored pomegranate. Hand over the pomegranate, and I will block the pursuit of the Asura Sect for you."

The expressions of the four elders changed. When they were fighting for the pomegranate before, their biggest opponent was the Asura Sect.

Not knowing what Gu Gu Jinfan's background was, Jiang Ye exchanged glances with his three friends and denied it again: "This young lady, we don't know what pomegranate you are talking about."

Gu Gu Jinfan's expression sank: "If I weren't sure you had obtained that five-colored pomegranate, why would I have found my way here? Don't force me to take action."

Hearing this, the expressions of the four elders became ugly.

The little girl in front of them had such a big mouth, and she was also emitting an aura that made them feel a lot of pressure, which made them very uneasy.

Is she a cultivator?

You Lao glanced at Guo Yu, signaling him to go down the mountain to find Hua Hua Changxi.

In any case, the pomegranate was given to Hua Hua Changxi, and now someone suspected of being a cultivator had come to ask for it; that girl shouldn't stay out of it.

Guo Yu received You Lao's signal and wanted to go down the mountain, but before he had taken a few steps, a green light attacked him.

"Bang~"

The green light hit Guo Yu and sent him flying directly.

Fortunately, the direction of the green light's attack was not toward the cliff, or Guo Yu would definitely have been knocked off the stone cliff.

Seeing Guo Yu vomiting blood and falling to the ground, You Lao's expression changed. He exchanged glances with Jiang Ye and Zhuo Fan, and the three of them attacked Gu Gu Jinfan simultaneously.

Seeing the three elders attacking, Gu Gu Jinfan sneered. Clouds and mist condensed under her feet, and with a "whoosh," she hovered in mid-air.

"Bang, bang, bang~"

Three streaks of green light flew out. The three elders had no power to parry and were all hit by the green light, vomiting blood and falling to the ground.

Seeing this, Yang Chuan roared: "The pomegranate has already been taken away by someone."

Gu Gu Jinfan's expression changed: "Taken away by whom?"

Yang Chuan hesitated, not knowing whether to reveal Hua Hua Changxi.

Gu Gu Jinfan saw his hesitation, and green light condensed in her hand. The next moment, four streaks of green light flew out again, attacking the four elders.

"Pfft~"

The four elders were hit and vomited blood again.

Yang Chuan hurriedly shouted: "I'll tell you..."

Just at this moment, the air suddenly became scorching hot. Then, a fire lotus shot out and fiercely attacked Gu Gu Jinfan in mid-air.

Seeing the fire lotus, Gu Gu Jinfan's expression changed.

How could there be a cultivator here?!

In the gap of surprise, the fire lotus had already enveloped Gu Gu Jinfan. Seeing flames igniting on her body, Gu Gu Jinfan's heart was filled with monstrous waves.

She was already a Qi Sea Realm cultivator, yet she couldn't stop the burning of the fire lotus.

Knowing that a cultivator with strength above hers was hidden in the dark, Gu Gu Jinfan understood that she couldn't get the Creation Fruit, so she could only grit her teeth and use a teleportation talisman, flashing away from Xishan.