Stubborn Ye Hongyao (No More Today)

"What is it? Fairy Ye, stop keeping me in suspense."

Shen Long frowned and said.

"The Essence Blood of a fourth-tier Red Fire Flood Dragon. You've been asking about its whereabouts, haven't you? I exchanged it with a friend."

Ye Hongyao said.

"The Essence Blood of a fourth-tier Red Fire Flood Dragon! Alright, I'll be right there."

Shen Long was somewhat surprised, but readily agreed.

He left the Golden Cicada Pavilion and walked more than a hundred steps to the gate of a vast manor. The plaque above the gate read "Hongyao Garden" in three large golden characters, and two Foundation Establishment Cultivator stood guard at the entrance.

A tall, slender man in a blue robe stepped forward. He quickly approached Shen Long, bowed, and said, "Junior Sun Lin greets Senior Shen. Aunt Ye has been waiting for a long time. Please follow me."

Shen Long nodded and followed Sun Lin inside. In a secluded Blue-tiled Courtyard Ye Hongyao.

Ye Hongyao sensed the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from Shen Long, a look of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, followed by a surge of joy.

"Junior Nephew Sun, you have nothing more to do here, you may leave!"

Ye Hongyao waved her hand, signaling Sun Lin to leave.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, this is the Essence Blood of a fourth-tier Red Fire Flood Dragon."

Ye Hongyao took out a Red Porcelain Bottle and handed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long pried open the bottle, and a pungent, bloody smell wafted out.

"Fairy Ye, did you go to find this on your own?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

"No, that's not it. I asked a friend to keep an eye out for me. Underground Auction a fourth-tier Red Fire Flood Dragon's Essence Blood at an underground auction in the Southern Border Cultivation World. A friend of mine happened to be there and got it for a high price. I traded it with him at a high price. Fellow Daoist Shen, this isn't a free gift. You have to bring something in exchange."

Ye Hongyao said earnestly.

It's true that she likes Shen Long, but they aren't dao companion. She can't just give herself to Shen Long for free; doing so would make her look down on by others.

Shen Long breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Ye Hongyao would give it to him for free; he would rather not have it.

"Five Golden Soul Pill! How about that?"

Shen Long took out a Golden Porcelain Bottle and handed it to Ye Hongyao.

"Make a deal!"

Ye Hongyao readily agreed and accepted the Golden Porcelain Bottle. She looked at Shen Long and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Shen, I didn't expect you to have advanced to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage in such a short time! Congratulations!"

"You flatter me, Fairy Ye. I have consumed quite a few pills to enhance my Law Power; otherwise, my cultivation speed would not be so fast."

Shen Long explained, then, as if remembering something, asked curiously, "Fairy Ye, did you come all the way to the North Sea Cultivation World specifically to find me?"

"If you were my sister's Husband, you would receive this treatment. I was in the North Sea Cultivation World North Sea Cultivation World on business when I heard that you were there as well."

Ye Hongyao explained.

Even if pursuing a man is easy, she still has her bottom line and won't cling to Shen Long.

Shen Long suddenly realized something, but he swallowed the words back down his throat.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, there are no outsiders here. Please speak freely! There's no need to be reserved."

Ye Hongyao said with a smile, picked up her teacup, and took a sip of the Spirit Tea.

"Fairy Ye, were you joking about what you said at my residence?"

Shen Long asked.

Having cultivated for many years, he had never encountered such a proactive female cultivator. Ye Hongyao's actions left Shen Long at a loss for how to respond.

"I'm speaking from the heart, Fellow Daoist Shen. In terms of family background, aptitude, and ability, I, Ye Hongyao, am not inferior. I'm not bragging, but in the entire Gan Yang Realm, there are very few female cultivators who are more outstanding than me in terms of family background, aptitude, and ability. Most of them are already married. I, Ye Hongyao, am worthy of you."

Ye Hongyao said seriously.

Shen Long was somewhat amused and exasperated, and asked in confusion, "I don't understand, why me? There are many male cultivators who are more outstanding than me in terms of family background and aptitude."

"As you said, there are indeed quite a few, but those guys are either entangled with multiple female cultivators or are incredibly arrogant. I look down on them. We are both Alchemist, and we share the same hobby."

Ye Hongyao explained.

Nothing happened between us, right? Isn't your change too sudden?

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

When Ye Hongyao first met Shen Long, he wasn't very enthusiastic. He could count the number of times he interacted with Ye Hongyao on one hand.

"My Ye Hongyao 'dao companion, must be a hero among men. You can be considered a hero among men. You weren't a hero among men before. Are you satisfied with this answer?"

Ye Hongyao said.

"In other words, you like me because I'm powerful, not because I am who I am."

Shen Long suddenly realized.

Does it make a difference?

Ye Hongyao disagreed.

"There's a huge difference, Fairy Ye. I have absolutely no romantic feelings for you."

Shen Long said seriously.

If you don't like someone, then make it clear to them; don't keep them hanging on.

"I believe you will change your mind about my romantic feelings for you."

Ye Hongyao looked confident.

Shen Long was speechless, his lips twitching slightly. He said, "Fairy Ye, let me be frank! We will not become dao companion."

"Who can predict the future? You have the right to refuse, and I have the right to like. I'm not clinging to you. You can associate with other female cultivators. I'm just pursuing my happiness. Success or failure isn't important; at least I tried."

Ye Hongyao disagreed.

"This······"

Shen Long was speechless.

"It's nothing. Just pretend you don't know I like you. Go about your business. If you meet a female cultivator you like, you can pursue her. I won't pester you. I have confidence in myself."

Ye Hongyao said.

"Fairy Ye, I know a few outstanding young men. Shall I introduce you to them?"

Shen Long said.

"I'm not interested. I'm only interested in you."

Ye Hongyao said earnestly.

"Why are you only interested in me? I'm not the only Nascent Soul Cultivator in the entire Gan Yang Realm!"

Shen Long smiled wryly.

"Because you rejected me, what you can't have is what's interesting."

Ye Hongyao said seriously, then, as if remembering something, she continued, "It's true I like you, but I'm not that stupid as to give myself to you unconditionally."

"Okay! Thanks a lot then."

Shen Long thanked him.

"It's nothing, just a small favor. I didn't lose anything. These are the materials I need to collect. If you have any, I can trade them with you."

Ye Hongyao took out a Golden Jade Slip and handed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long scanned the area with his divine sense, nodded, and took out more than a dozen materials to exchange for spiritual herbs with Ye Hongyao.

"You even have the Inner Core of a fourth-tier Snow Toad Beast! Such Demon Beast is extremely rare these days."

Ye Hongyao asked in surprise.

"I stumbled upon a fourth-tier Snow Toad Beast! I killed it."

Shen Long explained.

"By the way, just a heads-up, there have been frequent disappearances of Nascent Soul Cultivator lately, so please be extra careful when you go out."

Ye Hongyao reminded her.

Shen Long thanked him and agreed.

They discussed alchemy, exchanging ideas and gaining insights from each other.

Two hours later, Shen Long took his leave, Ye Hongyao sent Sun Lin Shen Long to see him off.

Back at the Golden Cicada Pavilion, Shen Long entered the Alchemy Room, sat on a Red Prayer Mat, and began to meditate and cultivate his mind.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes, took out the Dry Sun Cauldron and the alchemy materials, and began to refine pills.

He opened his mouth and spat out the Green Lotus True Flame, which landed at the bottom of the Dry Sun Cauldron. He then threw the Essence Blood of the fourth-tier Red Fire Flood Dragon and other materials into the cauldron and closed the lid.

Before long, a faint medicinal fragrance wafted out from the Dry Sun Cauldron.

With this batch of Blood Flood Dragon Pill, he no longer needs to search for fourth-tier Flood Dragon for a short period of time, allowing him to focus more on other things, such as strengthening his divine soul power.