After some discussion, everyone decided they had to send someone to infiltrate Jialing Pass and investigate.
But Jialing Pass was undoubtedly a den of dragons and tigers. Angel God Qian Renxue was stationed there, and anyone whose cover was blown would be nine-tenths dead.
When everyone was at a loss over whom to send, Ma Hongjun suddenly stepped forward.
"I'll go!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he changed his mind. "No, let Xiangxiang go instead. Her Martial Soul is a Sharp-Tailed Swift, the fastest in the world. She's the most suited to this kind of reconnaissance mission."
Everyone was taken aback.
Dai Mubai and the others looked at Ma Hongjun differently. They hadn't expected the fatty to show such courage at a crucial moment.
"Fatty, it's too dangerous!" Oscar urged.
Ma Hongjun waved him off, his expression resolute. "For the future of the continent, someone's bound to have to make a sacrifice!"
In the end, thanks to Ma Hongjun's "enthusiastic recommendation," everyone agreed to send Bai Chenxiang to investigate.
With her graceful figure and a pair of long, shapely legs, Bai Chenxiang accepted the order and departed, turning into a streak of light that vanished over the horizon.
Only after she had left did Dai Mubai move closer to Ma Hongjun and ask, puzzled, "Fatty, what are you up to? You're not the type to sacrifice yourself for others."
The righteous indignation on Ma Hongjun's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a trace of spite and vindictive satisfaction.
"Hmph, that woman acts so aloof every day just because she's got a pretty face. She dared to reject me, Ma Hongjun. I can't even get so much as a touch?"
"Well, this mission's the perfect excuse to send her to her death—or make her realize that without my protection, she's nothing!"
Only then did everyone understand.
Nearby, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong frowned slightly, a trace of disapproval flashing in their eyes.
They felt Ma Hongjun had gone too far.
However, before they could say anything—
Rumble!
Golden light reappeared in the heavens!
That vast, majestic voice once again echoed across the entire continent.
[Heavenly Vault Rare Treasures List: The ninth place is about to be revealed!]
In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to it.
What would the ninth-place treasure be?
Meanwhile.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, at the Lake of Life.
The lake's waters were as green as jade, radiating an overwhelming aura of life. Ancient trees towered around it, and all was silent.
A figure in a silver gown stood quietly by the lakeshore. Her long silver hair fell to her ankles, and her amethyst eyes gazed up at the dazzling Golden List in the heavens, deep and carrying a faint hint of anticipation.
She was Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King, who had slept for ten thousand years and only recently awakened.
"My lord."
A crisp beast's cry rang out, and a small, multicolored figure darted out of the woods, affectionately rubbing against Gu Yuena's leg.
The little beast was covered head to toe in golden fur and looked like a qilin. A vertical eye sat on its forehead. It was the auspicious beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion, bearer of the power of destiny.
Gu Yuena lowered her head and reached out a delicate finger, gently tapping the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's smooth forehead. A faint smile curved her lips.
"You little thing, come to watch the excitement too?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion chirped happily twice and nudged her palm with its head.
Gu Yuena turned her gaze back to the Golden List, her tone teasing.
Inside Jialing Pass, in Spirit Hall.
The courtyard, shrouded by an invisible sword intent, was completely cut off from the clamor outside.
Qian Renxue had changed out of her elaborate, heavy divine battle dress and into a neat golden outfit that perfectly outlined her figure and its golden proportions.
In her hand was the broken blade of the Angel Holy Sword that Qian Ye had casually handed her.
No Soul Skills, no divine power.
There was only the simplest, most tedious action—swinging a sword.
One swing, then another.
Sweat slid down her smooth forehead and dampened the golden hair at her temples, but her golden eyes grew brighter, brimming with focus and determination.
Beside the courtyard's stone table, Qian Ye remained as unruffled as ever.
He leisurely sipped his tea, as though the Angel God sweating through her arduous training was no different from the scenery outside the window.
After an unknown number of swings, Qian Renxue's movements gradually shifted from clumsy to fluid and harmonious.
Suddenly, she stopped.
Just as she swung the sword, she'd sensed something entirely different.
It wasn't divine power or Soul Power, but a razor-sharp force in its purest form—a kind of "intent" that seemed capable of cutting through everything in the world.
"Is this... sword intent?"
Qian Renxue murmured to herself, her eyes erupting with indescribable delight.
Just by practicing the basic sword swing, she'd actually grasped a hint of this profound and mysterious state!
This senior really was unfathomably deep!
Her gaze fell on the broken sword in her hand, and her heart shook even more.
Before, she'd thought the senior was a little stingy, giving her nothing but a broken sword.
Only now did she understand that this seemingly ruined blade contained a certain Dao resonance beyond her comprehension. With every swing, it guided her imperceptibly, letting her touch the very origin of the sword path.
Who said this sword was no good?
This sword was incredible!
Qian Renxue was filled with gratitude and relief. Her grip on the broken sword tightened, and the reverence in her gaze toward Qian Ye deepened.
Just then, the complete, gleaming Angel Holy Sword she'd casually tossed aside suddenly let out a plaintive hum.
It was a true Divine Artifact!
The very symbol of the Angel Godhood!
And now, its own master had cast it aside!
"Hmm—"
The Angel Holy Sword turned into a streak of golden light and flew to Qian Ye's table of its own accord. Its hilt gently nudged his sleeve, and the light on its blade flickered as if it were complaining—or asking for comfort.
Qian Ye glanced at it, amused.
"What is it? Lost your place in her heart?"
Just then, the Golden List, silent for a brief moment in the heavens, burst forth with ten thousand rays of light once more.
A line of majestic golden characters slowly appeared.
[Heavenly Vault Rare Treasures List, ninth place: Lovesick Heartbreak Red!]
In the courtyard, Qian Renxue and the complaining Angel Holy Sword both froze and looked up in unison.
Qian Ye's hand, holding his teacup, paused in midair as well.
For the first time, a trace of surprise—and recollection—appeared in his eyes.
"Lovesick Heartbreak Red..."
He murmured the name, his thoughts seeming to travel through endless years, back to a time tens of thousands of years ago.
Back then, for someone, he'd also plucked this Immortal Herb with his own hands.
Qian Renxue keenly caught the fleeting shift in Qian Ye's expression.
Her curiosity grew.
Who exactly was this senior?
What had he been through?
Why would he react so strongly to an Immortal Herb?
On the Heavenly Vault Golden List, the images shifted as it began to introduce this extraordinary Immortal Herb.
[Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the king of flowers, represents the purest, most unwavering love in the world.]
[The conditions for plucking it are just as exacting.]
[When plucking it, your heart must be filled with love, your thoughts fixed on your beloved, without a single distracting thought. Then, use a sharp instrument to cut your skin and let your blood fall upon the petals.]
[If your heart is sincere and your feelings reach the heavens, the flower will fall of its own accord. If even the slightest part is false, and you try to pluck it by force, the plucker will bleed to death and become fertilizer for the flower.]
Before you continue