Chapter 1886: Gold Flame Marquis

Volume 10: Battle in the Demon Realm

“This senior’s residence seems quite unique!” Han Li remarked, looking at the newly gleaming island with a hint of surprise.

“Hehe, it’s just his eccentric habit,” Qing Yuanzi replied with a slight twitch of his lips, a strange smile subtly appearing. “When Little Friend Han meets him in person, you’ll naturally understand why.”

“I see, now I’m even more curious!” Han Li said, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face after hearing this.

At this moment, without a word, Qing Yuanzi flicked his long sleeve towards the white light barrier in front of them.

Immediately, a burst of golden light surged forth, condensing into a colossal golden sword over ten zhang long right before him. Without hesitation, he swung it towards the light barrier.

With a *boom*!

The white light barrier rippled, its surface flickering with light, appearing on the verge of collapse.

Almost simultaneously with the light barrier’s anomaly, several enraged roars immediately echoed from the island.

“Who dares to attack our Golden Flame Island so audaciously!”

“Don’t you know this is Lord Golden Flame’s residence?”

In an instant, figures flashed within the light barrier, and several streaks of light shot out. After a few blinks, four guards clad in golden armor abruptly appeared before Qing Yuanzi and Han Li, glaring at them furiously.

“Eh, it’s Lord Qing!”

However, upon clearly seeing Qing Yuanzi’s face, the four golden-armored guards were startled and immediately bowed without hesitation.

Evidently, these guards recognized Qing Yuanzi, and their previous anger vanished.

Han Li’s gaze swept over the four rough-looking armored guards, discerning that all four possessed Spirit Refinement stage cultivation. However, a faint savage aura emanated from within them, indicating they were clearly not ordinary individuals.

“Marquis Golden Flame, I, Jiang, have come to visit. Why don’t you come out and meet me?” Qing Yuanzi completely ignored the four golden-armored guards and directly called out loudly towards the golden palace.

It was unclear what secret art Qing Yuanzi employed; though his voice wasn’t particularly loud, it immediately reverberated throughout the sky above the island.

With a rumble, his words could be heard repeatedly in every corner of the entire palace.

“Qing Yuanzi, since you’ve arrived, just come in. Do you expect me, this Marquis, to personally come out and greet you?” After a moment, a faint male voice also emerged from the golden palace. Though the distance was great, it was remarkably clear to Han Li and the others.

“Hehe, if that’s the case, then I won’t stand on ceremony! Lead the way!” Qing Yuanzi chuckled upon hearing this and instructed the four armored guards with a faint smile.

“Yes, Senior, please follow us!” The four golden-armored guards immediately felt relieved upon hearing the message from the person inside the palace. One of them quickly and respectfully replied.

Thus, led by the four armored guards, Han Li and Qing Yuanzi immediately passed through the parted light barrier and descended directly towards the palace on the island.

A short while later, Qing Yuanzi sat casually in an exceptionally spacious hall.

Han Li sat respectfully beside him.

At the head seat of the hall, a middle-aged man wearing a golden dragon crown and a golden robe sat with a calm expression.

“Fellow Daoist Jiang, this fellow Daoist actually possesses mid-Body Integration stage cultivation. Could it be that knowing your end is nigh, you’ve taken him as your direct disciple? To reach such a realm at such a young age, he truly is capable of inheriting your mantle. However, the last time I visited Old Monster Yan, I heard him say that the disciple you took in was a female!” The man in the golden crown suddenly spoke.

This man had a face like white jade, a half-foot long black beard, and an elegant demeanor.

He was none other than the master of this place, a Mahayana-stage being named “Marquis Golden Flame,” similar to Qing Yuanzi.

Han Li looked at the man, who was adorned from head to toe with various golden, glittering ornaments. He couldn’t help but feel a bit speechless, finally understanding what Qing Yuanzi had meant earlier.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, you’ve mistaken him,” Qing Yuanzi explained candidly with a smile. “Little Friend Han is not my disciple; he’s merely an old acquaintance. You should recall a few centuries ago, when some juniors brought their subordinates and suddenly entered this place, drawing the pursuit of the Floating Race. That’s when I came to know Little Friend Han. As for the disciple I took in, she has since become my adopted daughter. Although her aptitude is exceptional, she’s currently only at the Spirit Refinement stage.”

“Centuries ago! Oh, those outsiders who lured away the Nether Lightning Beasts to steal Nether River Milk! Eh, I recall that the leading individuals were all captured and taken away by the Floating Race, weren’t they? Since Little Friend Han was involved, yet managed to escape unharmed, did you intervene to save him?” The golden-crowned man’s face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this.

“While not entirely accurate, your words hold some truth,” Qing Yuanzi said calmly. “It’s true that I arranged for Little Friend Han to safely leave the Nether River region. However, Fellow Daoist, don’t misunderstand. I did so partly because Little Friend Han is of my own race, and partly because I needed him to handle some matters in the outside world, which is why I intervened.”

“I see! However, Fellow Daoist Qing, it’s been over a thousand years since you last visited my place. Now you come knocking, bringing this young fellow Daoist of your race. I doubt it’s merely for a simple visit, is it?” Marquis Golden Flame narrowed his eyes, scrutinized Han Li, and then his face suddenly turned serious.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, you’ve guessed correctly,” Qing Yuanzi admitted frankly with a chuckle. “This time, I indeed came for a matter that requires discussion with you.”

“Hmph, I knew it,” Marquis Golden Flame said expressionlessly. “Although you and I have been slightly closer than the others, it’s not to the extent that you’d rush here to visit immediately after emerging from seclusion. What is it? Speak your mind, and let’s hear it first.”

“Brother Jin, you’ve spoken wrongly,” Qing Yuanzi said, his expression sinking and his voice tinged with dissatisfaction. “I didn’t come to ask for a favor this time, but to propose a mutually beneficial transaction. If you’re even slightly dissatisfied, I will certainly not insist.”

“Haha, those were just jokes earlier.

Given the years of friendship between Fellow Daoist Qing and me, as long as it’s not too difficult, how could I possibly refuse?” Marquis Golden Flame glanced deeply at Qing Yuanzi before breaking into another smile.

“Since Fellow Daoist Jin has said so, I’ll speak plainly,” Qing Yuanzi said. “I recall that during my last visit, Brother Jin was particularly interested in my ‘Nine-Eyed Orb’ and offered to exchange some treasures for it. However, at that time, I, Jiang, also needed that orb to refine some treasures, so I temporarily didn’t agree. This time, I’ve brought the orb with me, intending to exchange it with you for some items I need. What do you think, Brother Jin?” After speaking, Qing Yuanzi flicked his long sleeve towards a nearby table.

Immediately, after a flash of golden light, a vibrant green jade box appeared there.

“The Nine-Eyed Orb!”

Upon hearing Qing Yuanzi’s words, the previously composed Marquis Golden Flame’s pupils contracted. His gaze fell directly onto the jade box on the table, and it seemed to take a great effort for him to reluctantly tear his eyes away.

“Since Fellow Daoist Jiang has brought out this treasure, I have nothing more to say,” Marquis Golden Flame said, clearly valuing the item in the box immensely, as he immediately countered without a moment’s thought. “What do you wish to exchange for from me? As long as it’s not those few items I absolutely cannot part with, other treasures are negotiable.”

Han Li, witnessing this scene from the side, also felt a surge of joy.

Judging by the current situation, there was a very strong possibility of acquiring the Nether River Milk from him.

“Three bottles of Nether River Milk and a piece of Xirang Soil...” Qing Yuanzi said with a faint smile.

“Impossible! Even if the Nine-Eyed Orb is incredibly wondrous for artifact refining, it’s far from enough to exchange for all these items at once,” the golden-crowned man exclaimed, shaking his head like a rattling drum as soon as Qing Yuanzi finished speaking. “Not to mention the Nether River Milk, that Xirang Soil is an ultimate material for refining earth-attribute treasures. There are almost no other earth-attribute materials in the world that can compare to it. Moreover, although I obtained a small amount of this soil, I intend to use it to refine a protective treasure for my next Heavenly Tribulation. How could I easily exchange it with others!”

“I naturally know what Fellow Daoist says,” Qing Yuanzi replied, unfazed by Marquis Golden Flame’s refusal. Instead, he smiled confidently, flicked his long sleeve again, and three more strange, prismatic artifacts appeared on the table.

These three fist-sized, spearhead-like objects glowed with brilliant golden light, resembling slightly smaller golden spearheads.

Their surfaces were densely covered with intricate and mysterious crimson runes.

Marquis Golden Flame paused slightly upon seeing these three items, scrutinizing them for a few moments, seemingly unable to immediately discern their nature. He then instantly raised his hand and made a grabbing motion in the air.

With a *whoosh*, one of the artifacts immediately flew up and was drawn into the golden-crowned man’s hand. He then lowered his head and examined it meticulously, turning it over and over.

“Could this be…”

Meanwhile, Han Li looked at the remaining two golden artifacts on the table, sensing an extremely familiar aura from them, and his heart filled with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

After examining the golden artifact in his hand for a while longer, Marquis Golden Flame’s expression gradually began to change, showing a hint of emotion.

“This Marquis isn’t entirely certain, but it appears to be the legendary Vajra Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning!” Marquis Golden Flame finally looked up, asking Qing Yuanzi with a hint of uncertainty.

“Excellent eyesight!” Qing Yuanzi replied with a faint, knowing smile. “Years ago, I acquired some bamboo leaves from the Golden Lightning Bamboo, then combined them with numerous other lightning-attribute materials, and with the aid of heavenly lightning... it took me several centuries to refine only six or seven of these. Now, I, Jiang, have brought out half that quantity, which shows my sincerity. Brother Jin, your next Great Heavenly Tribulation won’t be too far off, will it? The Heavenly Gang Demon-Slaying Lightning is an excellent weapon against those Outer Realm Fiends. During a Great Heavenly Tribulation, Outer Realm Fiends are almost impossible to guard against, and ordinary treasures have minimal effect on them. If you possess this lightning, wouldn’t it be a hundred times more effective than any treasure you might refine to protect your mind? If I hadn’t refined a sufficient quantity for my own use, I would never have brought them out for exchange.”