“We had an agreement long ago—once I helped you once, there would be no further ties between us. Why bring this up now? Are you trying to blackmail me?” the blue-robed woman asked coldly.
“Blackmail is such an ugly word. I would never stoop to such tactics against you, Sister Lan. I came mainly to warn you—Baohua has returned to the Sacred Realm and even clashed with Tianqi and Heyan, those two old fools,” Liu Ji said indifferently.
“Baohua is back? Is this true? She fought Tianqi and Heyan? Has she regained her former power?” The woman, clearly the Blue Waterfall Saint Ancestor, paled at the mention of Baohua, her expression betraying deep unease.
“Whether she’s regained her full strength, I can’t say for certain. But upon her return, she not only met Yuan Yan openly in the Demon Source Sea but also severely injured Tianqi and Heyan in battle before vanishing without a trace. Later, I sent someone to question Tianqi and Heyan directly. It seems Baohua has mastered the legendary Profound Heaven Spirit Domain using the Mystic Heaven Flower Tree,” the young woman replied gravely after a brief pause.
“Profound Heaven Spirit Domain! That’s a divine ability only True Immortals of the upper realm possess! How could Baohua achieve such a thing?” the blue-robed woman exclaimed in shock.
“This matter… When I was on good terms with Baohua, she once mentioned it. She said she’d obtained a fragmented manual on cultivating the Profound Heaven Spirit Domain, likely an ancient relic from the upper realm. She claimed to have some insights and believed that with the Mystic Heaven Flower Tree, she might achieve something. But I never imagined her ‘achievement’ would be mastering the complete Profound Heaven Spirit Domain. Though according to Tianqi and Heyan, it’s still at its lowest tier, it’s undeniably a genuine Spirit Domain,” Liu Ji sighed, her tone turning grave.
“That can’t be. If she’d truly regained her power and mastered the Profound Heaven Spirit Domain, why would she hide? With her temper and current abilities, she should’ve stormed your lair openly to reclaim her position as Ancestor. She must’ve only partially recovered and suffered heavy injuries in her fight with Tianqi and Heyan. Otherwise, she wouldn’t act like this!” The Blue Waterfall Saint Ancestor, seemingly well-acquainted with Baohua, spoke with certainty after a moment of contemplation.
“Heh, so you think the same as I do. That’s why we must seize this chance to find and eliminate her before she fully recovers. Otherwise, once Baohua regains her strength, neither of us will escape unscathed. As for the ‘benefits’ I mentioned, they’re no empty promise. If we kill Baohua, most of her treasures will be yours. I only want the Mystic Heaven Flower Tree and the manual for the Profound Heaven Spirit Domain. I’ve heard Baohua possesses many artifacts that aid in overcoming heavenly tribulations. With them, you’d have no trouble surviving your upcoming major tribulations,” Liu Ji finally revealed her true purpose.
“Hmph, since when have you been so generous? If Baohua hasn’t fully recovered, why involve me? With your multiple avatars, you could easily surround and kill her,” the blue-robed woman scoffed, unmoved.
“If I could do it alone, I wouldn’t be here. You know our three Ancestors are preoccupied with the impending calamity of the Demon Realm. Though I have six avatars, one was recently destroyed by Baohua herself. Another is in seclusion and won’t be usable for at least a century. Two more are leading armies in the Human Realm and can’t be recalled. Of the remaining three, one is my last resort and will never appear publicly. Another guards my lair, leaving only this one to seek your aid. Moreover, Baohua’s last known location was near the Blue Waterfall Lake. Who else in the region has the influence to match yours? With your forces, finding her is only a matter of time,” Liu Ji explained.
“Given the calamity’s urgency, I can’t stand idly by. If Baohua is hiding nearby, I can indeed find her. But aside from your earlier terms, I demand a copy of the Profound Heaven Spirit Domain manual,” the blue-robed woman said after a moment of deliberation, unable to resist the temptation of eliminating Baohua and securing the treasures.
“Agreed. It’s yours,” Liu Ji replied without hesitation, visibly pleased.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll summon my avatars and mobilize my forces immediately. By the way, the situation here seems odd. Could it be related to Baohua?” The Blue Waterfall Saint Ancestor glanced at the chaotic scene below, feigning casualness.
“Unlikely. Though the battle here ended before we arrived, the residual energy and the mines suggest a demonic beast emerged and fought someone. Strangely, both seemed at the Integration Stage, yet the beast was slain unusually quickly. Did you notice anything when you arrived first?” The young woman’s eyes flickered as she casually reached out, summoning a shard of magnetic beast crystal from the ground and scanning it with her divine sense.
“By the time I arrived, the culprit was gone. Perhaps a late-Integration expert passing by dealt with it. It’s the Bloodtooth Rice harvest season—powerful Demon Venerables visiting Blue Waterfall City isn’t unusual,” the woman replied after a pause.
“Perhaps. Speaking of Bloodtooth Rice, while you publicly ration it to common demons, you secretly sell large quantities to other factions for astronomical profits. A brilliant strategy,” Liu Ji chuckled.
“What choice do I have? The yield is limited, and I can’t afford to alienate major factions. This is the only way to maintain stability,” the blue-robed woman said dismissively.
“A wise approach. Otherwise, restricting the supply would only breed resentment among the other Ancestors. With a black market available, their grievances are mitigated. By the way, two of my disciples need Bloodtooth Rice to strengthen their bodies. Would you sell me a batch?” Liu Ji asked with a sly smile.
“Since you asked, I’ll gift you some,” the woman replied magnanimously.
“Many thanks, Sister. Let’s act separately now. I’ve brought capable subordinates waiting nearby,” Liu Ji said eagerly.
“Very well. I’ll return to Blue Waterfall City first,” the woman said indifferently before transforming into a blue streak and vanishing into the horizon.
Soon, only Liu Ji remained. Watching the blue light disappear, her smile faded into cold indifference. She examined the crystal shard again, frowning slightly as if deciphering something but hesitating to act.
After a few breaths, she crushed the shard into dust and muttered, “The Yin-Yang Great Five Elements True Light has resurfaced. If not for more pressing matters, I wouldn’t let its wielder escape so easily. But for now, it’s best to avoid complications.”
With that, she stepped onto golden mist and reappeared on her golden ship. Moments later, the vessel surged with runes and shot off as a golden beam.
Meanwhile, Han Li was already on his way back to Blue Waterfall City, idly twirling the first green stone he’d obtained with a faint smile. To avoid risks, he took a detour instead of retracing his steps.
After a while, he stored the stone and retrieved a black-and-white ore—the Demonic Gold. His smile widened.
This ore, mined by the green ape puppet, matched the quantity he’d seized from Wu You’s group, with nearly half containing the special crystal pearls. Examining them with his divine sense, his excitement was palpable.
With so much special Demonic Gold, refining its Earth Fiend Yin Qi could propel his cultivation near the peak of the late-Integration Stage, saving him millennia of arduous training!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage