Godmother, Snuff Bottle, Azure Flood Dragon Blood

I hope this senior can rekindle old flames.

Glancing at the direction where the white-haired elder had vanished, Lu Li tucked away the jade slip, shook his head, and turned to walk back into the cave dwelling hall.

Immediately, two gazes fell upon him.

It was Lady Red Furnace and Green Lotus.

The two stood up, preparing to depart as well.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Li. Your direct disciple has actually managed to gain the appreciation of the Scripture Protection Elder and be taught the Heavenly Demon Twenty-Three Swords. His future is boundless."

Lady Red Furnace's eyes were gentle as she smiled faintly.

"You flatter him, Lady. He is only at the Qi Refining stage; it is just some minor trifling, not worth praising."

Although Ghost Demon True Person spoke with humility, the proud smile on his face was undisguised.

"This is no minor trifling. By tomorrow, I fear the entire sect will know that this disciple of yours, Junior Brother Li, is about to rise and become a new star of the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect."

Lady Red Furnace continued to praise.

"This junior dare not accept such praise."

Upon hearing this, Lu Li quickly spoke up.

"Is that so? You were so arrogant just a moment ago; why are you being so humble now?"

Lady Red Furnace looked at him with a beaming smile.

The more she looked, the more intense the affection in her eyes became.

Suddenly, she sighed softly: "No wonder this concubine felt joy the moment I saw you. It turns out you bear a resemblance to my deceased son. How about it? Will you acknowledge this concubine as your foster mother?"

Hm?

Foster mother?

Lu Li was stunned on the spot, his heart tightening.

This Lady Red Furnace, suspected of being a Dao Alliance mole, wants to adopt him as her foster son—what kind of scheme is this?

"Ah... Master?"

Green Lotus's small mouth was slightly agape, her face full of surprise.

Her gaze darted repeatedly between Lu Li and Lady Red Furnace.

On the other side, Bai Jinfei and Second Senior Sister Meimei were both shocked, with even a hint of envy appearing in their eyes.

This was a pie falling from the sky!

True Lord Red Furnace is the Nascent Soul True Lord with the greatest hope of breaking through to Spirit Transformation. To be adopted as her foster son is like a heifer riding an eagle—soaring straight to the heavens!

Ghost Demon True Person, however, narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening slightly, though he did not voice a refusal.

He simply watched Lu Li quietly.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Lu Li pondered for a moment, then bowed and said: "This junior thanks the True Lord for her great kindness. However, this junior dare not accept."

"Oh? Why?"

Lady Red Furnace gave a light exclamation of surprise.

"A teacher for a day is a father for life!"

Lu Li straightened his back, his face solemn: "Although I, Lu Li, am an orphan without father or mother, my master has treated me with kindness as heavy as a mountain, akin to a second parent! Though I am a man of the demonic path, I know how to write the word 'gratitude.' Without repaying my master's kindness, I would not be able to close my eyes even in death! Therefore, I wish to serve by my master's side wholeheartedly. This junior truly cannot bear the True Lord's great kindness!"

These words came from the bottom of his heart, ringing with strength and conviction, moving everyone who heard them.

Immediately, Ghost Demon True Person revealed a satisfied smile.

Although he knew Lu Li was speaking falsehoods, sometimes even falsehoods are pleasant to hear.

On the other side, Bai Jinfei, Meimei, and Green Lotus were all quite surprised.

They never expected that Lu Li would actually refuse.

At this moment, Lady Red Furnace smiled faintly: "So that is how it is. Junior Brother Li, you have truly taken in a good disciple. Very well, since you are unwilling, this concubine will not force you."

"Thank you, True Lord."

Lu Li bowed in gratitude.

"However, since you are so loyal and righteous, this concubine would feel remiss if I did not reward you with something. Take this treasure as a gift."

As she spoke, Lady Red Furnace produced a white jade round bottle and handed it over.

It was a palm-sized bottle, as snow-white as mutton-fat jade, carved with flowers, birds, fish, and insects, looking quite exquisite.

"This... is a snuff bottle?"

Lu Li stared, dumbfounded.

"Correct." Lady Red Furnace nodded slightly and smiled: "Although this snuff bottle is merely a spiritual artifact, it can store mana and is a rare treasure."

"This..."

Lu Li hesitated, looking toward Ghost Demon True Person, unsure whether he should accept it.

"Since it is a gift from the True Lord, you should accept it."

Ghost Demon True Person laughed.

"Then many thanks to the True Lord."

Hearing this, Lu Li did not stand on ceremony, directly cupping his hands in thanks.

He then took the White Jade Snuff Bottle with both hands and tucked it into his storage ring.

"Very well, it is getting late, and This Concubine must return. Junior Brother Li, farewell." Lady Red Furnace turned her head and smiled lightly.

"I shall see the True Lord off."

Ghost Demon True Person spoke up immediately.

"It is only a few steps, Junior Brother Li is too kind." Lady Red Furnace gave a faint smile, turned gracefully, and walked toward the cave entrance.

Green Lotus blinked at Lu Li, casting an invitation: "Junior Brother Lu, remember to come find me when you have time!"

"I definitely will next time."

Lu Li returned her look.

Soon, Ghost Demon True Person and Lady Red Furnace exchanged pleasantries, seeing the guest all the way to the Demon Welcoming Platform.

Lu Li, Bai Jinfei, and Meimei naturally followed along.

"Junior Brother Li, farewell."

Lady Red Furnace spoke in a soft, gentle voice, nodding with a faint smile.

"Safe travels, True Lord."

Ghost Demon True Person cupped his hands in farewell.

"Very well."

Lady Red Furnace smiled slightly and prepared to take flight.

However, just then, she seemed to recall something. She turned around, extended a snowy-white hand, and tapped Lu Li on the forehead three times.

Immediately after, without saying a word, she swept her long sleeves, carried Green Lotus into the sky, and vanished beyond the sea of clouds.

?

What was the meaning of that?

Lu Li looked stunned, touching his forehead, completely bewildered.

Ghost Demon True Person was also somewhat surprised, but he said nothing, his figure flashing as he darted back into the cave.

Seeing this, the three of them quickly followed.

Back in the cave, Ghost Demon True Person sat upon the White Bone Throne, a trace of a smile on his face: "Today, Meimei, Jinfei, Lu Li, you all did very well."

Hearing this, the three of them stood respectfully, not daring to speak out of turn.

Ghost Demon True Person continued: "Meimei, you managed today's banquet with great care and order. Not a single mishap occurred, and you did not cause your master to lose face. You were very diligent, so I shall reward you with a magic treasure: the Mountain Sea Bright Moon Pearl."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his large robe, and twenty-four crystalline pearls shot out. They circled in mid-air, linked into a necklace, and landed in the hands of the Second Senior Sister, Meimei.

"Thank you, Master, for the reward!"

Meimei, usually as cold as frost, could not help but show excitement and joy upon receiving the treasure, bowing in thanks on the spot.

Clearly, this magic treasure was extraordinary.

"Jinfei, you provided both funds and effort, assisting Meimei in hosting the banquet. You handled the arrivals and departures without a single error, remaining neither servile nor overbearing, with proper etiquette. You did not cause your master to lose face, so I shall reward you with a damaged magic treasure: the Mountain-Splitting Halberd!"

As Ghost Demon True Person spoke, he flicked his hand again.

Hum.

A flash of silver light streaked by.

In front of Bai Jinfei appeared a short silver halberd, spinning incessantly with a hum, radiating a terrifying, sharp, cold light.

"Thank you, Master, for the treasure!"

Bai Jinfei was overjoyed, grabbing the silver halberd and playing with it, unable to put it down.

Although this Mountain-Splitting Halberd was a damaged magic treasure, its power was greater than any spiritual weapon!

"Lu Li."

At this moment, Ghost Demon True Person shifted his gaze to Lu Li.

"Yes!"

Lu Li immediately cupped his hands in response.

Beside him, Meimei and Bai Jinfei cast strange looks his way.

The greatest contribution today clearly belonged to their youngest junior brother.

The moment he appeared, he had crushed three powerful enemies and held the line for their master!

Otherwise, this banquet would have been as unsightly as could be, perhaps even becoming a joke for others to mock in the future.

With such a great contribution, I wonder what kind of reward I will receive?

"Lu Li, since you have obtained Lady Red Furnace's Flowing Gold Sword, you are not lacking in magic treasures. As your master, I shall bestow upon you a drop of Azure Flood Dragon Blood."

After Ghost Demon True Person finished speaking, a jet-black halo flickered behind his head.

Following that, a small, blood-red fish darted out, flashed in an instant, and swam before Lu Li, opening its mouth to spit out a cyan bead.

"Thank you, Master, for the reward."

Lu Li immediately expressed his gratitude, reaching out both hands to catch the cyan bead.

It was very light.

And cool to the touch.

The moment the cyan bead touched his hands, Lu Li felt a wave of chill, as if he were cupping a handful of icy well water.

Looking closely, the cyan bead was the size of a pigeon egg, surrounded by a hazy layer of cyan mist that gathered and dispersed, seemingly containing a cyan flood dragon coiling and roaring within.

Suddenly, two burning gazes were cast his way.

It was Meimei and Bai Jinfei.

The two of them stared at the cyan bead with faces full of longing, suddenly feeling that the magic treasures in their own hands were no longer appealing.

"Tsk tsk, Junior Brother, after you consume this drop of Azure Flood Dragon Blood, I fear your strength will increase once more, reaching the terrifying power of one flood dragon—that is, a physical strength of one hundred thousand catties!"

Bai Jinfei could not help but say with envy.

What? One hundred thousand catties?

Lu Li's expression brightened with joy, and without a second word, a flash of yellow light appeared on his hand as he tucked the cyan bead directly into his storage ring.