Chapter 193 - 178: Guest of Honor

"Samadhi True Fire," muttered the Golden-Winged Dapeng in a low voice.

He had heard of this Great Divine Power, famous throughout the Three Realms, and knew its characteristic of burning everything was troublesome for anyone encountering it.

"My, my, it looks like the big black bear is going to turn into a roast this time," he suddenly said, taking delight in the disaster, yet he was extremely curious and itched to rush over and see the situation for himself.

"I advise you to curb your curiosity. Haven’t I told you? He took all of Old Ox’s crew with him, a Demon King who can battle with the Buddhist Sect, carrying a Cave Heaven Treasure. You think it’s just one person there? It’s likely a whole group," advised the Jade-Faced Fox.

"A Cave Heaven Treasure, such luxury to carry around!" exclaimed the Golden-Winged Dapeng.

A Cave Heaven Treasure was not something ordinary people could possess. While the rest was manageable, the method of refining it was extremely difficult, and many treasures were also created by chance.

If one cannot master the Spatial Runes related to space, it’s fundamentally impossible to craft a Cave Heaven Treasure.

The Golden-Winged Dapeng tribe had always wanted to craft such a treasure, but they had been failing for many years.

It wasn’t really their fault, since most Spatial Runes in this world only exist in innate treasures, which are naturally born with such powerful runes.

If Lin Fang hadn’t taken advantage of the opportunity provided by the Journey to the West, it would have taken him hundreds of years to encounter treasures as the Purple Gold Red Gourd or the Mutton-fat Jade Bottle, not to mention understanding the Spatial Runes contained within them.

Thinking this, a great greed arose in his heart as he considered whether to inform his clan to kill Lin Fang and seize his Cave Heaven Treasure.

But the Jade-Faced Fox saw through his intentions and said, "If you consider it, you better think carefully about the consequences of offending someone like Lin Fang."

At these words, the Golden-Winged Dapeng instantly sobered up.

After carefully calculating Lin Fang’s strength, he knew Lin Fang possessed a Cave Heaven Treasure, could perfectly hide his own aura, and would be incredibly difficult to pursue and kill. If isolated, death was nearly certain.

And he could always summon numerous Demon Kings to join the fight. If they failed to kill him, his own race probably wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully.

Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine, and the greed that had just arisen was swiftly extinguished.

"Forget it, he’s too much to handle," he hastily shook his head and said.

"You’re being sensible now. That fellow is full of tricks, knowing the Art of Transformation, and even capable of concealing the heavenly secrets and severing cause and effect. What’s more terrifying is that his Cave Heaven contains many experts; underestimating him would cost a tremendous price," said the Jade-Faced Fox.

While the two were discussing, the Scholar had already entered Lady Yi Yi’s boudoir.

He took a careful look around the room, noting its elegant arrangement without a hint of extravagance.

It was clear that this girl named Liu Yiyi had a particular fondness for plain items; on the furthest table there lay a guqin, next to which a beautiful woman with a stern and inviolable air sat by.

"You have come!" said Liu Yiyi, her voice tinged with a hint of anxiousness.

Hearing this, Scholar Lu Wenchang formally greeted Liu Yiyi, "Lu Wenchang pays respects to Miss Yi Yi!"

Observing the well-mannered Lu Wenchang, Liu Yiyi grew curious. She had never seen such a Monster before, and if not for the faint Demon Qi on him, she would have thought a Human Clan Scholar had walked in.

"What’s with this outfit you’re wearing? It’s quite rare to see someone dressed like you here in Luzhou in the North."

"To be honest, I studied in Dongsheng Shenzhou, and this outfit is what we wear there, a Confucian robe," Lu Wenchang replied to the woman, somewhat embarrassed, but managed to calm himself and continued.

"A Confucian robe? I’ve heard that there’s a school called Confucianism in Dongsheng Shenzhou. Could it be that this robe is what the disciples of Confucianism wear?"

"The lady is indeed insightful."

Lu Wenchang’s words greatly piqued Liu Yiyi’s curiosity about Dongsheng Shenzhou. She walked over to Lu Wenchang and requested the scholar to share more, hoping to broaden her horizons.

A refreshing fragrance entered Lu Wenchang’s nostrils; he knew it emanated from Liu Yiyi. As a result, his cheeks flushed somewhat, but he still detailed his experiences and sights in Dongsheng Shenzhou meticulously.

Liu Yiyi listened with eyes sparkling. She had never traveled far from Nine Tails City since she was born, let alone lived across the ocean on another continent.

Thus, she was extremely curious about the customs and culture of Dongsheng Shenzhou and kept asking questions incessantly.

Lu Wenchang did not show any signs of impatience and answered all her questions. Their discussion even kindled a feeling of regret that they hadn’t met earlier in their conversation.

Unconsciously, Liu Yiyi had already sat beside Lu Wenchang. The dense fragrance was overwhelming, causing the scholar’s cheeks to turn even more rosy.

Liu Yiyi seeing this couldn’t help but chuckle, "You, a man, are so afraid of me? Could it be that you think I will devour you?"

After saying this, her face also turned red.

Normally dignified, she had never spoken such words before. Today, however, they slipped out unexpectedly, making her feel embarrassed.

Luckily, she was facing an oblivious man, busied only with his embarrassment and not noticing Liu Yiyi’s changing expression.

"Lady Yi Yi has misunderstood. I dare not be disrespectful in any manner," Lu Wenchang whispered.

"If you don’t mean to be disrespectful, why did you reply to that couplet? Isn’t that saying one thing but meaning another?"

"Not to hide from you, lady, but it wasn’t me who responded to the couplet. It was a friend nearby, but he did not wish to come forward, so he pushed me to take his place," Lu Wenchang said with a bitter smile.

Liu Yiyi gasped upon hearing this; she couldn’t believe someone would pass off such an opportunity and was even more surprised that the man before her did not hide the truth and spoke candidly to her.

"Could it be that this concubine is so displeasing to the eye that both you and your friend would shun her?" Liu Yiyi said softly, her words tinged with a hint of resentment.

She always held herself in high regard; although unfortunately fallen into hardship, she believed herself to be a beauty among the women in Qianjin Building. Now, however, such a scenario made her question if she lacked any charm at all.

"Please don’t misunderstand, lady. My straightforwardness is but a teaching of the saints, who advocate sincerity; as for my friend, he is a true practitioner of cultivation, probably not concerned with worldly matters like this."

Though they had not known each other for long, the scholar could feel Lin Fang’s committement to Daoism, an innate talent unique to their race, capable of discerning the true nature of people and adept at listening to the voices of all things.

Liu Yiyi, seeing his uneasy expression, suddenly felt a surge of happiness, resting her chin on her hand as she wistfully said, "If only I had been born in Dongsheng Shenzhou, I wouldn’t have to suffer so much."