Zhang Lexuan spoke softly, his voice more gentle and beautiful than in memory, like a pearl falling on a plate, with a hint of muteness that had just awakened, but it went straight to the bottom of people's hearts.
"How do you feel, Sister Grandmaster?" Lin Ciyan stood up and patted his robe casually, with his signature, slightly casual but extremely reassuring smile on his face.
"Look at this aura, it's stable."
"Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, its reputation is well-deserved, this wave of blood will make a profit."
Zhang Lexuan also slowly stood up and moved his limbs slightly.
She carefully felt the earth-shaking yet majestic power within her body, as well as the sense of clarity that came from breaking free from some invisible shackles and the road ahead suddenly became clear.
She looked at Lin Ciyan again, her eyes were complicated and unspeakable, with gratitude, shock, tenderness, and a kind of closeness and dependence that became clearer and stronger after settling, all intertwined.
"It's more than just 'stable'..." She took a deep breath, and the rich and pure energy of heaven and earth in Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well poured in, making her whole body clear.
"Soul Power has made a leap in quality and quantity. The strength of the meridians, bones, and internal organs has been greatly improved, and the mental power has become more condensed and sharp. The most important thing is..."
She paused, with an incredible tremor in her voice, "I feel that the road to a higher level has never been so clear and broad."
"Ci Yan, this opportunity... is too great."
She took two steps forward and came to Lin Ciyan. The distance was so close that she could clearly feel the warmth and breath emanating from each other's bodies.
Lin Ciyan habitually wanted to use jokes to dilute the overly formal and strong atmosphere, and scratched his head. "Sister Lexuan, with our relationship, how can we pass by Baoshan and return empty-handed?"
"You've become stronger, and I'll lie flat in the future... Well, I'll go out to practice in the future, and my waist will be harder!"
But this time, Zhang Lexuan was not led astray by him.
She just looked at him quietly, her beautiful eyes that seemed to be filled with purple stars, unblinking, trying to carve his appearance into his heart.
Then, she did something that even Lin Ciyan was slightly stunned.
She raised her hand naturally, and her fingertips gently brushed Lin Ciyan's shoulder.
There was a piece of almost invisible ice crystal debris smaller than a grain of rice, perhaps splashed down when the energy vortex dissipated.
Her movements were extremely natural, with a natural intimacy and care. The warm touch of her fingertips passed through the fabric and gently brushed his shoulder.
"Have you been feeling the ice and fire energy here just now?" She withdrew her hand as if nothing had happened, and turned her gaze to the red and white spring eyes, with wonder and understanding flashing in her eyes.
"It was dangerous, but... you did it."
She clearly felt the remaining, exquisitely balanced artistic conception, as well as the vague temperament of Lin Ciyan that had a unique coexistence of affinity and alienation towards the power of ice and fire.
"It's a small test of my skills, and I've gained a little bit, but I'm still far from being able to truly master it." Lin Ciyan came back to his senses from that slight startling moment.
"This place where yin and yang meet, is indeed a treasured place for enlightenment."
"By the way, Sister Grandmaster, now that we have achieved success, shouldn't we get down to business?"
His eyes turned to Aromatic Silk Beauty and other Immortal Herb who had been quietly "waiting and watching" not far away.
"Fragrant Silk Luo," Lin Ciyan spoke loudly, his tone regaining the composure and calmness that should be expected in a negotiation, "The agreement has been made. My senior sister has absorbed it and is in excellent condition."
"So, can the 'knowledge exchange' we discussed before continue?"
The petals of Aromatic Silk Beauty sway gently, emitting gentle and affirmative fluctuations of thoughts.
Almost at the same time--
[Beep! It is detected that the key plot node 'Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Knowledge Exchange' is about to be triggered.]
[Trigger side quest (optional): 'The weight of knowledge']
[Goal: Obtain the reading/copying rights to the complete book of <Mysterious Heaven Skill> and the legacy of Tang San from Immortal Herb.]
[Successful reward: Slacking Value+3000, 'Pharmacological Knowledge (Intermediate)' unlocked, <Mysterious Heaven Skill> analysis data (may trigger subsequent hidden tasks).]
[Failure penalty: None (but you will miss important information, system rewards and potentially huge benefits).]
[Tip: Immortal Herbs have complicated feelings about Tang San, and be wary of possible back-up tactics. The transaction must be fair, or show sufficient value/deterrence. It is recommended that the host maintains the 'Relaxation Domain' mentality and utilizes the 'Versailles' specialty.]
The system's task reminder sounds in time.
Lin Ciyan felt something in his heart and his eyes brightened slightly.
3000 Slacking Value, intermediate pharmacological knowledge, and analytical information... this wave of rewards is available.
It seems that <Mysterious Heaven Skill> and the herbal classics are more important than I thought, and they may contain the core password of the Tang San layout.
Fair deal?
We just gave them Diluted Life Essence and Starlight Soil, showing enough potential and "cooperative" attitude (at least not hard grabbing), the chips should be enough.
However, it is necessary to be wary of back-up tactics. I would be surprised if there is nothing left of that old coin Tang San.
He turned his head and looked at Zhang Lexuan, giving him a "look at me" look.
Zhang Lexuan understood, nodded slightly, and stood quietly half a step behind him.
Aromatic Silk Beauty swaying pale pink petals.
The fragrant aroma spreads out before the negotiation begins, with a sense of comfort and provocation.
"Human, your senior sister has been created. You and I have agreed that it's time to continue." Its thoughts were peaceful, but it carried a prudence that was unique to Plant-type Soul Beast for a hundred thousand years and had been accumulated over the years.
"We do have the entire article <Mysterious Heaven Skill>, as well as the Flora Identification Records left by that person."
"But, what can you give?"
The atmosphere of the negotiation quietly changed when Lin Ciyan walked three feet in front of Aromatic Silk Beauty.
Although the Infernal Delicate Apricot, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Aromatic Silk Beauty and other Immortal Herb around them did not "speak" directly, the mental force fields they emitted were faintly intertwined, forming an invisible and pressure-filled evaluation network.
Zhang Lexuan stood quietly behind Lin Ciyan, his aura as calm as an abyss. The purple Soul Power contained no inner meaning, but it perfectly offset part of the natural pressure from Immortal Herb, opening up a calm space for Lin Ciyan.
Lin Ciyan's expression remained unchanged, even with a lazy smile, as if he was not negotiating with a group of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in front of him, but haggling at the vegetable market.
"Quick." He stretched out two fingers, "I have two main things here, which may be able to catch your eyes."
"One is the remaining 'Diluted Life Essence' and 'Starlight Soil' from the previous transaction."
"Although the amount is not much, it is enough for one of you to make another small attempt, or to nourish a rare sub-strain."
He paused and observed the slight trembling of Fragrant Silk Luo petals, "Secondly... it's a promise."
"Promise?" There was a hint of doubt and disapproval in Fragrant Silk Luo's thoughts.
Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, especially beings like them who are "captive" here and have seen the gods' methods, they are instinctively very wary of human beings' frivolous promises.
"A promise about 'possible asylum in the future'." Lin Ciyan's tone was still relaxed, but his eyes were a bit sharper.
"You are trapped here, restricted by the poison formation, and even more restricted by the potential will of the person who left the classics."
"Although it seems to be safe and sound, it is actually out of control, just like... the best growing plants in the medicine garden, you can just pick them when the time is right."
As soon as these words came out, the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well atmosphere suddenly condensed!