Chapter 1024: Huangfu Rong's Scheme

The entire Golden Dragon Pavilion was reserved by Huangfu Rong. Wang Qingling and her two companions, accompanied by two honored retainers, arrived on the fifth floor. The fifth floor was elegantly furnished, and Huangfu Rong and ten other Core Formation cultivators were seated together, chatting. Upon seeing Wang Qingling and her companions, Huangfu Rong and the others stood up almost simultaneously.

"Fairy Wang, you've finally arrived!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, we were just talking about you!"

Huangfu Rong and the others greeted Wang Qingling and her companions warmly.

Wang Qingling, Wang Qiuming, Wang Mengbin exchanged glances. They had attended similar gatherings before, but the attendees' backgrounds were usually more mixed. The ten Core Formation cultivators present, including Huangfu Rong, were either from prominent cultivation families or major immortal sects, each with a heritage spanning thousands of years and deep foundations. Previously, when they arrived late to gatherings, not everyone would stand up to greet them. This detail highlighted the cultivation world's emphasis on strength.

Wang Qingling and her companions did not dare to be negligent; they quickly and sincerely greeted everyone else. They knew full well that this respect was not for them, but for Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. As representatives of the Wang family, they had to be careful in their conduct so as not to bring shame to their clan.

Wang Qingling sat down near Huangfu Rong and began conversing with the others. Soon after, a team of green-robed attendants brought up exquisite dishes and fine wine, placed them on the table, and then left.

Huangfu Rong raised his wine cup and said solemnly, "Fairy Wang, Senior Wang's divine abilities are truly a model for cultivators of our generation. On behalf of everyone here, I propose a toast to you." He drained his cup in one go. Wang Qingling and her companions did not dare to be negligent and promptly returned the toast.

They continued to drink and chat, discussing cultivation matters with laughter and ease. During the conversation, Huangfu Rong and the others frequently expressed goodwill towards Wang Qingling and her companions. Huangfu Rong even expressed hope that Wang Qingling would visit the Huangfu family as a guest after the war concluded.

Wang Qingling smiled slightly and politely said, "If the opportunity arises in the future, we will certainly pay you a visit in person. We hope you won't find it too much trouble."

"We are fighting side by side in this bloody battle. Fairy Wang, we would be delighted if you were willing to visit. Alas, who knows when this great war will end, or if we will even survive until then."

Since the start of the conflict, more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators had fallen, not to mention Core Formation cultivators.

"With Senior Wang, Senior Wang, and Senior Li, I believe defeating the enemy is only a matter of time."

"Indeed, Senior Wang and Senior Wang achieved such great success in their first battle. I believe they will achieve even greater results next time."

The others readily agreed. To be honest, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's performance had exceeded their expectations. Achieving such a significant victory in their first battle meant that, regardless of the war's outcome, the Azure Lotus Immortal Couple would surely become renowned throughout the South Sea.

Wang Qingling smiled and said, "You flatter us, Fellow Daoists. If not for the assistance of Senior Li and the others, my Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt would not have achieved such great results. They always say we must unite and cooperate to defeat the foreign tribes. By the way, I have a question I'd like to ask you all. I have a spiritual beast egg that has been stored for a very long time. I've tried many methods, including soaking it in spirit liquid and even in the Spirit Eye Spring, but it still won't hatch. Do any of you Fellow Daoists have other suggestions?"

Wang Qingling shifted her tone and changed the topic. Wang Changsheng had given her a spiritual beast egg, and Wang Qingling had spent considerable effort on it over the years, yet it wouldn't hatch. She felt somewhat guilty and had been constantly trying to find a way to hatch it, always seeking advice from others whenever she had the chance. The Core Formation cultivators present were either from prominent cultivation families or major immortal sects, all backed by Nascent Soul cultivators and with heritages spanning thousands of years. Perhaps they would have a solution.

Huangfu Rong pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps it has been stored for too long and lacks spiritual energy. It might need to be soaked in a more potent spirit liquid, such as ten-thousand-year spirit milk."

Wang Qingling gave a wry smile and shook her head, saying, "Ten-thousand-year spirit milk? Fellow Daoist Huangfu, do you think we can acquire ten-thousand-year spirit milk? Even if we had it, who would be willing to use it just to soak an egg?"

The other Core Formation cultivators expressed strong agreement. Ten-thousand-year spirit milk was exceedingly rare; no one would use it to hatch a spiritual beast egg, especially when it was unknown how long it would take for the beast to mature. Without ten-thousand-year spirit milk, other cultivators offered various suggestions, which Wang Qingling quietly noted down.

An hour later, the banquet concluded, and the cultivators gradually departed. Huangfu Rong asked Wang Qingling, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Mengbin to stay.

"Fellow Daoist Huangfu, you've kept us back. Surely you're not going to sell us ten-thousand-year spirit milk, are you?" Wang Qiuming joked with a laugh.

"Fairy Wang, our Huangfu family possesses a type of Heavenly Mulberry Divine Water. It is highly beneficial for hatching spiritual beasts that have been stored for too long. However, Heavenly Mulberry Divine Water is concocted from various rare materials. If you agree to a condition of mine, I could provide you with a bottle." Huangfu Rong spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on Wang Qingling with a serious expression.

"What is it? Please tell me."

"Sell me your ice-attribute flood dragon. I guarantee you'll be satisfied with the price." Huangfu Rong's expression was solemn, not as if he were joking.

Wang Qingling looked hesitant. Her Icewind Flood Dragon had eaten and slept with her, grown up with her since childhood, kept her company, and saved her from danger multiple times. How could she possibly sell it?

"I'm sorry, Little White isn't merchandise. I treat it as family. Would you sell your younger siblings?"

Huangfu Rong gave a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "Of course not. Fairy Wang, Heavenly Mulberry Divine Water primarily uses the essence of a ten-thousand-year-old Heavenly Mulberry Divine Tree as its main ingredient, supplemented by various thousand-year-old spirit herbs. It has the power to regenerate flesh from bones and is far beyond what ordinary spirit water can compare to."

"So what? I will not sell Little White. Don't even think about it. I consider it my younger sibling, and anyone who tries to take it from me will have to deal with me." By the end of her speech, Wang Qingling's expression had turned cold.

"Fellow Daoist Huangfu, let's end our discussion here. We shall meet again another day. As for what you just said, I shall pretend I didn't hear it."

Wang Qingling, accompanied by Wang Qiuming and Wang Mengbin, then left. Huangfu Rong let out a soft sigh, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Seventh Brother, I told you she wouldn't sell it to you, but you wouldn't believe me. Who would be willing to sell a spiritual beast they raised themselves? I certainly wouldn't." A bell-like female voice suddenly rang out as a red-dressed maiden with a slightly chubby, childlike face descended from the sixth floor. This was Huangfu Ying, Huangfu Rong's cousin, a Core Formation Layer Six cultivator.

Huangfu Rong sighed and said, "I had originally intended to offer a high price. Her clan uncle's divine abilities are too formidable; we cannot seize it by force, only by wit. But it seems even that won't work now. It looks like I'll have to report this to the patriarch and let him decide. If we could acquire her Icewind Flood Dragon, our Huangfu family might even obtain that certain item." By the end, his eyes gleamed with longing.