Chapter 247: Jade Luo Flower (Part 1)

For the past two years, he had given Pan Sheng discounts on the magic tools he sold him. He had hoped Pan Sheng would help, and Pan Sheng was willing, so asking for a reward wasn't excessive. However, charging five hundred spirit stones just to introduce someone was a bit steep.

"Fellow Daoist Wang," Pan Sheng said, "I am a rogue cultivator, unlike you, who knows how to refine artifacts. Five hundred spirit stones isn't much for you. To be honest, I originally intended to acquire the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water to resell to you, but the item he wants in exchange is too difficult to find, and I've been looking for it for a long time without success."

Pan Sheng, as a rogue cultivator, had reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment solely by risking his life hunting demonic beasts. His current trip to Flying Phoenix Valley was also to attend a large-scale auction. After the auction, he would leave Flying Phoenix Valley and likely wouldn't see Wang Changsheng again, which was why he quoted such a high price.

Wang Changsheng replied, "I'll give you three hundred first. Once I meet him, negotiate, and confirm he possesses the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water, I'll give you the rest."

Pan Sheng considered it carefully and agreed.

A cup of tea later, Wang Changsheng and Pan Sheng appeared in a private room at a teahouse. Across from them sat a beautiful middle-aged woman in a blue palace dress, also at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.

Pan Sheng introduced them, "This is Fellow Daoist Wang Yang, and this is Madam Li Yue. Please take your time to discuss." After the introduction, Pan Sheng turned and left.

Wang Changsheng began, "Madam Li, Fellow Daoist Pan mentioned you have Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water. Would you be able to show it to me? That way, we can proceed with our discussion."

Li Yue nodded and took out a black gourd, handing it to Wang Changsheng. "This contains thirty catties of Profound Nether Cold Water," she said. "Of course, this is diluted spiritual water. I wish to exchange it for two Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers. The age must be exact or higher, not even one year less."

"Only thirty catties?" Wang Changsheng frowned. He pulled open the stopper, and a bone-chilling cold air surged from the black gourd.

"Madam Li," he said, "thirty catties of diluted Profound Nether Cold Water for two Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers? Do you take me for a fool?"

Wang Changsheng's face showed displeasure. Jade Luo Flowers were a specialty spiritual herb of the Flying Phoenix Mountain Range, scarce elsewhere. Due to over-harvesting, even Three-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers were rarely seen, let alone Four-Hundred-Year-Old ones. The value of two Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers far exceeded thirty catties of diluted Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water.

Li Yue smiled slightly. "Thirty catties of diluted Profound Nether Cold Water is indeed a bit little," she said. "However, I can reveal the source of the Profound Nether Cold Water. If Fellow Daoist Wang is strong enough, you might be able to obtain more of it."

Wang Changsheng was delighted inwardly but maintained a calm expression. "Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers are quite rare. It will take me a considerable amount of time to find them."

"Time is not an issue," Li Yue replied. "I've waited for Fellow Daoist Pan for over half a year, and he hasn't found them either. If he hadn't said that Fellow Daoist Wang was powerful, I wouldn't have bothered with him."

"Alright, it's settled then," Wang Changsheng said. "How do I contact you once I find the Jade Luo Flowers?"

"I am currently staying at the Arrival Phoenix Tower," Li Yue replied. "If Fellow Daoist Wang finds the Jade Luo Flowers, just tell the waiter you are my friend, and he will lead you to my room."

Wang Changsheng nodded. "Good, it's a deal."

As Wang Changsheng stepped out of the room, Pan Sheng approached him, eagerly asking, "Fellow Daoist Wang, I didn't deceive you, did I?"

"Here is the remaining portion of your reward," Wang Changsheng said. He took out a storage bag and tossed it to Pan Sheng. Pan Sheng swept his divine sense over it and thanked him.

Back at their residence, Wang Changsheng recounted the entire incident to Wang Ruyan.

"Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers are very rare now," Wang Ruyan said, her delicate brows slightly furrowed with worry. "Husband, how confident are you that you can find them? The Flying Phoenix Mountain Range is vast; aimlessly searching, you might not find a Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flower even in a year."

Wang Changsheng smiled confidently, patted the spirit beast bag at his waist, and the Twin-Pupil Rat emerged from it.

"Wife, have you forgotten?" Wang Changsheng asked. "I have a Twin-Pupil Rat. Its sense of smell is incredibly keen. Jade Luo Flowers over a hundred years old emit a unique fragrance. We can buy a Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flower and have it lead the way. Perhaps it can help us find the Four-Hundred-Year-Old ones."

Before this, Wang Changsheng had specifically trained the Twin-Pupil Rat to search for spiritual herbs. If Four-Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flowers existed in the Flying Phoenix Mountain Range, with the Twin-Pupil Rat's help, the chances of finding them were still quite high.

"Without further delay, let's set off now!" Wang Changsheng said. "We wouldn't want to miss the large-scale auction."

Wang Ruyan closed the shop, taking all their belongings, and Wang Changsheng also brought the Gold-Devouring Ants. After purchasing a Hundred-Year-Old Jade Luo Flower from a spiritual herb shop, they left Flying Phoenix Valley and flew towards the mountain range.

Qin Country was a nation supported by the Corpse Sect. The Five Sects of Qin Country had intricate ties with the Corpse Sect. The Underworld Corpse Sect was the leader of the Five Sects of Qin Country, and Song Wuya, at the eighth level of Core Formation, was its highest-cultivated member.

In the Underworld Corpse Hall, Song Wuya sat on the main seat, with three Core Formation cultivators seated on either side below him.

"Fellow Daoists," Song Wuya began, "by order of our superiors, we are to conquer Chu Country and Wei Country. Chu Country is backed by White Cloud Temple, and Wei Country by Taiyi Immortal Sect. We must take these two countries quickly, or we'll face trouble if our superiors intervene."

A beautiful middle-aged woman in a blood-red python robe frowned slightly, expressing doubt. "We've done so much preparatory work. As long as we're fast enough, conquering these two countries shouldn't be a problem. However, will Taiyi Immortal Sect and White Cloud Temple stand by and watch us take Chu and Wei? Occupying a few prefectures is fine, but if we annex both Chu and Wei, it will inevitably lead to the deaths of several Core Formation cultivators. Will our superiors agree if too many Core Formation cultivators die? Aren't we also supposed to guard against the demon race?"

"Our superiors have spoken," Song Wuya declared. "Go ahead and act boldly. The demon race is in disarray internally and hasn't invaded for thousands of years. If we take Wei and Chu, our superiors will protect us. If we fail to take them, we will not be lightly forgiven. To prevent reinforcements from other countries, besides our Qin Country, five other nations, including Golden Flame Country and Zhongshan Country, will also participate in the war. I have already arranged with them to send troops simultaneously next month. Fellow Daoists, this is our chance to grow and prosper, and also an opportunity for us to form our Nascent Souls. We must strive our best."

"Our five sects will advance and retreat together. Since it is an order from our superiors, we shall naturally obey."

"Chu Country borders our Qin Country. We will attack Chu Country first and conquer it as quickly as possible."

A great war was on the verge of breaking out.

In Wei Country, Peach Blossom Gorge, within a hidden valley, Wang Qingshan held a green flying sword, directing five green flying swords to attack a stone wall emitting a yellow glow. He had spent several years, going through various turns, finally finding the location depicted on the sheepskin scroll. To be honest, if the sheepskin scroll hadn't originally been a magic artifact, he wouldn't have spent so much time searching for it.

The power of the complete set of spiritual artifacts was indeed great. Not long after, the yellow light dissipated, and a cave entrance, just wide enough for one person to pass through, appeared before him.

"Finally, the restriction has been broken!"

Wang Qingshan's face showed joy. He released an ape puppet, controlling it to walk ahead, while he followed behind, holding his Azure Lotus Sword. The cave was somewhat dark and narrow, winding for over a hundred steps. Then, a stone chamber roughly ten zhang in size appeared before him, its entrance blocked by a faint golden light screen.

Upon seeing the golden light screen, Wang Qingshan instantly beamed with joy. The more restrictions there were, the more valuable the items inside. It seemed this was the secluded cultivation cave of a cultivator, at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He released a low-grade second-tier red leopard puppet, which his grand-uncle Wang Changfeng had given him for self-preservation. The red leopard opened its mouth and spat out a thick crimson fire pillar, which struck the golden light screen in a flash. The red leopard attacked six times consecutively, exhausting the spiritual energy within its fire spirit stones. The golden light screen's glow also dimmed, flickering on and off. Wang Qingshan controlled his Azure Lotus Mother-Child Swords and easily broke through the golden light screen.

Behind the golden light screen was a simple stone cave. On the wall hung a slightly yellowed scroll painting, depicting a middle-aged Daoist priest with a yellow wooden sword on his back, gazing into the distance. Below the scroll was a green offering table. On it sat an exquisite green incense burner and a green jade box. A talisman was affixed to the jade box. In front of the offering table lay a human skeleton.