Chapter 1268: Three-Three Flower

Everyone held their breath, suddenly remembering there was still a powerful figure among them.

As soon as he spoke, an unusual silence fell over the area. Almost everyone felt displeased, but the combat power he had just displayed was indeed a cut above theirs. Realizing this, the group felt incredibly stifled.

However, as arrogant individuals from their respective tribes, they weren't about to accept their fate so easily.

Duan Tiande was the first to speak: "While your cultivation is indeed superior to ours, there are so many masters here. Even you wouldn't be able to defeat all of us combined. For you to try and monopolize this Yuanling Dew alone is simply too greedy."

Having witnessed Zu'an saving Qiao Heng, he knew their positions were fundamentally opposed, so he wasn't afraid of offending him.

With someone taking the lead, the others quickly chimed in, clearly all wanting a share.

"Is that so? You're welcome to try," Zu'an said indifferently.

The crowd fell silent.

While everyone believed they could overcome him by joining forces, anyone who moved first would undoubtedly suffer a terrible fate. Even if they succeeded in forcing him to back down, they wouldn't have the strength to claim a share themselves. No one was foolish enough to risk that.

However, maintaining this silence wasn't a solution either. A few individuals secretly exchanged glances, their calm exteriors belying the stormy calculations beneath.

At that moment, Qiao Heng spoke up: "That gentleman didn't compete with us for the spiritual herbs earlier. Now, in return for his courtesy, it's only right that we don't contend with him for this Yuanling Dew."

Duan Tiande raised an eyebrow: "Is it *because* he didn't snatch the spiritual herbs that you want to return the favor? Wasn't it clearly because he saved you earlier?"

Qiao Heng's expression shifted. Before he could retort, Ma Huang, standing nearby, interjected sardonically, "Indeed. How can the value of those spiritual herbs compare to this Yuanling Dew? If this gentleman is willing, I'd be happy to trade the spiritual herb I just acquired for this Yuanling Dew."

He had successfully seized a Silver Thread Flower earlier, which gave him the standing to make such a statement.

Others quickly agreed, "That's right. The only reason he didn't seize them earlier was because those spiritual herbs were useless to him, not because he genuinely intended to give them to us."

Listening to the incessant chatter, Zu'an frowned, about to speak, when Princess Solun preempted him, saying, "It's not just about letting go of the spiritual herbs. Back in the Misty Forest, it was entirely thanks to them that we made it out safely. Without them, we would likely have perished there long ago."

Princess Changning was filled with regret, wondering why she was always a step behind. She quickly chimed in, "That's right. They saved our lives; it's perfectly reasonable to let him have this Yuanling Dew."

Seeing these two speak up in his favor, the others immediately lost their resolve. They had initially planned to win through numerical superiority, but with three people from their own side now backing him, what was the point of fighting?

Seeing their spirits deflate, Zu'an nodded to those who had spoken on his behalf, then asked Yan Xuehen, "How should this be stored?"

Yan Xuehen produced a pristine jade bottle. She knelt gently beside the pool of Yuanling Dew, performed a hand seal, and the dew seemed to be drawn by an unseen force, automatically flowing into the bottle. "The biggest concern with Yuanling Dew is that it might solidify prematurely, which would render it useless," she explained.

As she spoke, she drew various runes onto the jade bottle, clearly intended to prevent it from solidifying.

Witnessing her astonishing technique, the others marveled. They thought, "Even this woman, who seems to possess the weakest aura, has such extraordinary insight. Just who are these people?"

Yan Xuehen handed the filled jade bottle to Zu'an, but he didn't take it. "You and Sister Yun should each take half," he said. "Yanluo and I don't have a use for it right now."

Yu Yanluo nodded. As someone from the Yuanshi noble family, she had actually seen such an item before, but at her current stage, it indeed held little practical use for her.

Not to mention the two Grandmasters who had already imparted their unique skills to Zu'an, simply using this as a gift to secure their friendship was a worthwhile exchange.

Yan Xuehen was taken aback. "For us?" she echoed.

This was an item so precious that even Emperor Zhao Hao had searched the world for it, yet had failed to find enough Yuanling Dew for many years. And now, it was being given to them so casually.

Yun Jianyue's expression also seemed a little odd, her thoughts unknown.

The demon experts nearby were so incensed they nearly spat blood. They had fought and struggled for it, only for this guy to turn around and use it to impress women.

And he certainly spared no expense when it came to wooing women!

If this Yuanling Dew were put up for auction, every courtesan in the world would line up for his favor, and he could even pick and choose princesses from minor kingdoms. Yet, he was just giving it away to the two women beside him?

Duan Tiande's Rage points: 666,666,666...

Ma Huang's Rage points: 666,666,666...

Kong Nanjin's Rage points: 666,666,666...

She was clearly furious. She had just spoken up for him, yet he hadn't even considered giving her a share.

Princess Solun, however, was quite composed. Her relationship with him wasn't that close, and receiving a single Soul Severing Nether Grass had already been an unexpected bonus. She certainly wouldn't dare to ask for anything more.

At this point, the others began to disperse, muttering that staying with this man meant anything good they found would be seized by him anyway. It was better to rely on their own fortunes.

Princess Solun smiled and nodded at Zu'an, then chose a direction to search in herself. She reasoned there was no need to intrude on a couple.

After they left, Yan Xuehen finally came to her senses, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Thank you very much, then," she murmured.

As a Grandmaster, she genuinely had a greater need for it. However, now that he had given her such a precious divine item, she was unsure how to repay him.

She could only turn to Yun Jianyue and say, "The Yuanling Dew has been sealed. If we try to divide it now, it might solidify and lose its effectiveness..."

Yun Jianyue was well aware of this. "Ice Woman," she said, "you can keep it for now. I'll ask for it when I need to use it. Just don't go using it in secret."

After saying it, she herself found it odd. In the past, she would have rather destroyed such a precious item on the spot than trust it with her. Yet now, she genuinely believed her.

Yan Xuehen responded with a dismissive hum.

The group continued their exploration deeper inside, eventually arriving in a vast, empty hall.

At that moment, they saw figures of other demon experts entering from several different cave entrances.

It was strange; everyone had tried to choose different paths in their treasure hunt, relying on their individual fortunes, yet unexpectedly, they all ended up converging here.

Yun Jianyue's expression turned serious. "It seems this place is laid out specifically to draw everyone here," she warned. "Everyone be careful."

Just then, a vast surge of life essence emanated from the center of the grand hall, dispersing outwards. Its potency far surpassed even the Yuanling Dew they had just encountered.

"This is..."

Everyone was restless and rushed towards the center.

In the center of the hall, they saw a pool, and in its very middle, a solitary, unopened flower bud stood.

The flower was peculiar: it had no leaves, only three petals, and hadn't even bloomed, yet it somehow conveyed an impression of vibrant, flourishing blossoms.

The rich life essence emanated directly from this flower.

"Could this be the legendary..." Yan Xuehen, usually calm and composed, showed a rare moment of agitation.

Beside her, Yun Jianyue's body trembled. "Yes," she confirmed, "this must be the Three-Three Flower, said to exist only in legends!"

Zu'an and Yu Yanluo were somewhat surprised, having never seen the two women so flustered. They quickly asked what the Three-Three Flower was.

Yan Xuehen took a deep breath, composing herself slightly. "The Three-Three Flower, also known as the Three Lives, Three Worlds Flower," she explained, "is fabled to keep lovers together through three lifetimes. While it sounds like a flower of love, it is actually an immortal spiritual herb. Legend has it that it blooms three times in its life, and each bloom allows its owner to relive a lifetime. I always thought it was just a myth, but I never imagined it truly existed!"

Zu'an was momentarily stunned. An elixir of immortality, something even Emperor Qin Shihuang couldn't obtain, actually existed?

At that moment, the other demon experts let out shouts and surged forward. Even without an explanation, they could tell this spiritual herb was extraordinary, and everyone wanted to seize it immediately. At this point, no one would back down.

"Brother Shen!"

"Hmm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, he encountered acquaintances. They would either greet each other or nod.

But regardless of who it was,

Everyone's face was devoid of extra expression, as if they were indifferent to everything.

Shen Changqing was accustomed to this.

This was because he was in the Demon Suppressing Division, an organization responsible for maintaining the stability of the Great Qin Empire. Its primary duty was to slay demons and monsters, though it also had other minor tasks.

In short,

Every individual in the Demon Suppressing Division had blood on their hands.

When one becomes accustomed to life and death, they tend to grow indifferent to many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing found it somewhat difficult to adapt, but over time, he grew accustomed to it.

The Demon Suppressing Division was vast.

Those who could remain in the Demon Suppressing Division were either powerful masters or individuals with the potential to become such.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

The Demon Suppressing Division was divided into two official ranks: Guardian Envoys and Exorcist Envoys.

Anyone who joined the Demon Suppressing Division began as an Exorcist Envoy, the lowest rank.

From there, they could gradually advance, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Guardian Envoy.

Shen Changqing's previous identity had been that of an apprentice Exorcist Envoy within the Division, the lowest possible rank among them.

With the memories of his past self,

he was intimately familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppressing Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop before a certain pavilion.

Unlike the other austere and grim areas of the Demon Suppressing Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, offering a unique sense of tranquility amidst the Division's bloody atmosphere.

The pavilion's main door was open at the time, with people occasionally entering and exiting.

After only a brief hesitation, Shen Changqing stepped inside.

As he entered the pavilion,

the atmosphere abruptly shifted.

A mix of ink and a faint, bloody scent assailed him, causing his brow to furrow instinctively before quickly relaxing.

The pervasive scent of blood on everyone within the Demon Suppressing Division was virtually impossible to wash away.