Chapter 335: Wanling Flower

Li Yuanjiao held the magic mirror for a while, unable to make sense of it. He assumed the person was a descendant of a Golden Core immortal, and the mirror was a treasure. Gritting his teeth, he handed the mirror to Li Qinghong and whispered, "I'll go down and check. You hold this mirror and observe. If anything happens, immediately activate the Profound Lunar Light."

"Alright," Li Qinghong replied. She slung her spear behind her back, took the magic mirror, and felt a wave of coolness. The mirror emanated a flowing white light, appearing quite mystical. "What a fine mirror," she murmured, holding it. She felt completely refreshed, her senses sharp. Her spear, which occasionally emitted white light from her back, quickly suppressed its glow and remained silent.

Meanwhile, Li Yuanjiao arrived at the foot of the mountain. Inside the hall, Li Yuanping was engaged in a lively conversation with Wang Xun. Just as Li Yuanjiao reached the courtyard entrance, he heard a hearty laugh. "Brother Yuanping, you jest," Wang Xun said. "Our Wang clan's worldly affairs are limited to Yinghua Commandery, with no more than two hundred thousand members. The rest, once they attain enlightenment, enter our clan's grotto-heaven, remaining untainted by worldly concerns, so there are naturally no entanglements. After all, my elder is one of the Three Golden, and even within the Buddhist sects, there's constant strife. Various factions are too busy currying favor to dare involve themselves with us. We've managed to live like this for centuries."

Li Yuanjiao gently knocked on the door and pushed it open. Wang Xun looked up, his gaze immediately fixed on the Green Edge sword at Li Yuanjiao's waist, unable to tear his eyes away. Li Yuanping smiled and introduced, "Senior, this is my elder brother, Li Yuanjiao." "Greetings, fellow Daoist!" Wang Xun greeted.

The two exchanged polite greetings. Wang Xun examined Li Yuanjiao carefully, then smiled, "Your brother truly has an impressive bearing." Li Yuanjiao replied courteously and took a seat, asking, "I understand your purpose, Senior. This spiritual sword of ours still contains a sword intent left by an elder, sealed for many years and never used. If you wish to borrow this sword to complete your Dao, do you intend to take the sword itself or its intent? And will it damage this sword intent?" Li Yuanjiao had already considered this, and his words immediately hit the crucial point.

"Fellow Daoist..." Wang Xun said with a wry smile. He replied, "Our Wang clan has many Foundation Establishment magical artifacts, most of them swords. I've traveled far to seek this sword, so naturally, what I'm interested in is its sword intent." As for whether it would damage the sword intent... Wang Xun paused, pondered for a moment, and answered, "I'd need to examine the sword first."

Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly, unbuckled the sword from his waist, drew it from its sheath, and held it solemnly. "Please take a look, fellow Daoist," he said in a deep voice. The young man was overjoyed. He carefully took the sword, observing its greenish-white blade. The two characters 'Qing Chi' (Green Ruler) in seal script on it were quite beautiful. Wang Xun couldn't help but praise, "Four feet and five inches long, forged from seven feet of Azure Nether Copper. Though the material is common, the craftsmanship is rather excellent. Furthermore, it has been nourished by sword intent for many years, making it a fine piece. The sword intent sealed within is as clear as water and as bright as the moon, having been nurtured for a full decade. If this sword were unleashed... ordinary cultivators who have just entered the Dao would not be able to withstand a single strike."

The Li Yuanjiao brothers listened intently. Wang Xun replied, "I will only take a sliver. Based on my attainments in the way of the sword, it would at most weaken the sword intent by twenty percent." He gave an awkward smile and quickly added, "I would never let your esteemed family suffer a loss in vain. I can offer external items as compensation!"

The two brothers exchanged glances. Li Yuanjiao asked, "Under the Jiangnan Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, what power would this sword intent retain?" "Hmm," Wang Xun mused for a moment, then replied, "This sword intent is potent. Even if I extract a sliver, once this sword is unleashed, an early Foundation Establishment cultivator would die instantly. A mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator might barely escape with their life, and a late Foundation Establishment cultivator would suffer greatly if caught off guard."

No sooner had Wang Xun finished speaking than he noticed the brothers' hesitation. He promptly continued, "Our family's cultivation requires us to avoid worldly entanglements. We cannot owe favors, nor can we intervene for others. Killing artifacts like talismans and magical weapons are also out of the question. However, compensating with spiritual objects, precious medicinal herbs, or elixirs is acceptable." "Fellow Daoist, please use this sword to complete your Dao!"

Wang Xun had made his intentions clear, and they couldn't afford to offend him. Li Yuanjiao could only wave his hand and respond. Wang Xun was immediately overjoyed, yet he remained composed, solemnly stating, "What compensation do you two require? Please, do not speak courteously; that would truly put me in a difficult position!" He stared intently at them, extremely cautious, fearing that once he took the sword qi, they would make exorbitant demands. It seemed he wouldn't take the sword unless they named their conditions.

"Please allow my brother and me to discuss it," Li Yuanjiao replied. "Naturally," Wang Xun nodded, beginning to examine the sword. The two brothers stepped out, stopping just outside the hall. Both Li Yuanping and his elder brother Li Yuanjiao spoke simultaneously: "Suiyuan Pill!" "Spiritual Root!"

Both were startled, then burst into a helpless laugh. Li Yuanping was thinking of acquiring a Suiyuan Pill for his elder brother and sister to help them break through to Foundation Establishment, while Li Yuanjiao was hoping to request a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, like the Serpent-Dragon Treasure Tree, which could reverse the family's annual financial losses. The brothers, one focused on the family for his brother, the other on cultivation for the family, exchanged knowing smiles. Li Yuanping quickly said, "I can manage the family's financial struggles by being frugal. But Big Brother and Sister's breakthrough is the most crucial! Although the Suiyuan Pill only increases the chance of Foundation Establishment by half a percent, it's still incredibly rare. Moreover, the Wang clan are descendants of Golden Core immortals; who knows, they might even have more powerful elixirs..."

Li Yuanjiao pondered for a moment, then hesitated, "I also feel that the items Senior Wang Xun possesses are extraordinary... While the Suiyuan Pill is precious, using the Wang clan's favor to acquire it would be too wasteful. If he has a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, it wouldn't be an ordinary one; it could sustain our family for hundreds or thousands of years without decline..." After all, Wang Xun had promised spiritual objects and precious medicinal herbs. They had seen many spiritual objects, but had never encountered any truly precious medicinal herbs. Naturally, they wouldn't choose that. The best option would be a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, as one such plant could continuously produce spiritual items.

The brothers discussed it and found themselves in a dilemma. Li Yuanping chuckled, "Now that such an opportunity is before us, it makes one hesitate." Li Yuanjiao thought for a moment and replied, "How about this: let's first ask the Senior. Perhaps he has a Foundation Establishment elixir superior to the Suiyuan Pill, or perhaps he doesn't have a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root on hand. We can compare the options and then make our choice." "Good idea!"

The two entered the courtyard and subtly conveyed their thoughts to Wang Xun. The young man nodded with a sense of relief. "A spiritual root... I do indeed have one. I obtained it accidentally in a grotto-heaven." He touched his waist pouch, took out a reddish-yellow, almond-sized fruit kernel, and softly said, "This item is called the Wanling Flower. A thousand years ago, it was the protective treasure of the Wanling Upper Sect in Jiangbei. Later, as spiritual energy waned, it could no longer survive in Jiangbei. Only a few plants remain in our family's grotto-heaven. This spiritual root blooms once every three years, with the flowers withering in three days, and fruits only once every three hundred years. It's extremely delicate; if spiritual energy is insufficient, it requires daily watering with spiritual spring water. The flowers it produces are a type of spiritual object, considered Foundation Establishment grade according to Jiangnan's terminology, capable of dispelling worries and prolonging life."