"Feels great! How long had it been since I'd experienced this feeling?" Ji Hao leaned against the young lady's generous bosom, enjoying the massage as melodious music drifted into his ears.
Wonderful Desire Nunnery differed from other pleasure houses. It was extremely refined and emphasized mutual affection; every young lady was like a Celestial Maiden.
Only those with "source" could summon companions, and Ji Hao happened to be a young man with plenty of "source."
"Still, the young ladies of Wonderful Desire Nunnery were quite good dancers."
Suddenly, Ji Hao sprang to his feet like a dying man bolting upright from his sickbed. "I should get the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword first. I can't go on like this!"
Relying on his "great perseverance," Ji Hao charged out of the encirclement of Wonderful Desire Nunnery's young ladies.
Under the reluctant gazes of the Celestial Maidens, he resolutely departed. They found it quite regrettable—after all, there were not many young men who were both so rich in source and so handsome.
After leaving Wonderful Desire Nunnery, Ji Hao headed straight for Dao One Stone Workshop.
He had already gathered all the intelligence on Holy City at Wonderful Desire Nunnery. Books always said that brothels and taverns were the best places to gather information.
How could he possibly indulge in mere beautiful women?
How could he!
Ji Hao wiped a streak of red from his neck and strode away.
Before long, he arrived at Dao One Stone Workshop. After entering, he did not linger and went straight toward Heaven-Grade Park, where the most astonishing treasures were kept.
Although not just anyone could enter Heaven-Grade Park, Ji Hao wore white robes, possessed handsome features, and exuded an air of nobility. At a glance, it was clear he had not been raised by any ordinary household. He was either a disciple of some Holy Land or a descendant of some great family, so they allowed him into Heaven-Grade Park without question.
Heaven-Grade Park was very quiet, with barely anyone around. Only an elderly Taoist nun sat cross-legged on a Prayer Mat. She was the person in charge here. Aside from her, there were merely two or three old men arguing over their choice of stones.
"The most important thing is that humanoid Immortality Elixir. Though incomplete, its most important roots remain. As long as we obtain it and place it beside the Divine Spring, we can definitely revive it!"
"The Immortality Elixir once held by Emperor Zun—Heavenly Emperor Ye also observed its revival and lived another lifetime because of it."
"All signs indicate that it is extraordinary."
It should have been scattered when the Ancient Heavenly Court collapsed. For some reason, only a pair of feet remained now.
In the original story, Ye Fan felt that the Divine Medicine would be difficult to revive. Since he was also desperately short on source at the time, he sold it. Later, the person who acquired it did not cultivate it, but instead did everything possible to drain its last wisp of vitality. Thus, even Ye Fan, after reaching the realm of Heavenly Emperor, had to pay a tremendous price to revive it.
"But things are different now. I'm here, so let me cherish you properly!"
The moment Ji Hao entered Heaven-Grade Park, he hurriedly began searching.
It was not because he wanted to return to Wonderful Desire Nunnery sooner to listen to music. He merely wanted to forge a vessel for the Sword Germ and obtain the Immortality Elixir sooner.
Yes, that was it!
"The stone containing that Divine Medicine is as tall as a person, yet it costs only three thousand jin of source!" Ji Hao carefully searched through the park while recalling the original story's description.
There was only one stone in the entire park that met those conditions, and Ji Hao quickly settled on it.
"This is the one!" Ji Hao directly tossed down three thousand jin of source.
This stone could be said to be the least valuable one in Heaven-Grade Park. No one had ever thought highly of it. It had even been moved to Tianyu Park simply because it looked better there.
After accepting the source, the stone workshop's Origin Arts master immediately smiled. "The rule of our Heaven-Grade Park is that once a stone is chosen, it must be cut open on the spot. Please make your move now."
"No rush. I want to choose another one!" Ji Hao grabbed the person-tall stone and walked toward the other side of the workshop.
A trace of surprise appeared on the Origin Arts master's face, but he promptly nodded and quietly followed behind Ji Hao.
Before long, Ji Hao stopped in front of the Nine-Aperture Stone Man.
This stone was only a little over a foot long, but it had nine apertures and looked remarkably like a Stone Person.
"Sir, are you going to touch this stone?" The Origin Arts master followed Ji Hao to the Nine-Aperture Stone Man and immediately cried out, "Many people deeply versed in Origin Arts have examined this Nine-Aperture Stone Man, but no one has dared touch it all these years."
"What? Someone is going to cut the Nine-Aperture Stone Man? This old man must take a good look!"
"Could we be about to see the Nine-Aperture Stone Man cut open today?"
"Is the Nine-Aperture Stone Man finally going to be opened today?"
At the Origin Arts master's cry, the three old men choosing stones in Heaven-Grade Park immediately hurried over.
Even the Taoist nun guarding the park opened her eyes and looked over.
Sure enough, someone as naturally gifted and mighty as me drew attention wherever he went! Ji Hao thought helplessly.
Without saying anything more, he directly threw down ninety thousand jin of source, indicating that he had bought the Nine-Aperture Stone Man.
"Good, good, good!" The most excited person was the Origin Arts master. He had guarded this place for decades, and at last he would see someone cut open the Nine-Aperture Stone Man. One of his long-held wishes would finally be fulfilled.
Ji Hao gave it no further thought and pointed directly at the Stone Man's brow.
He already knew where the treasure was, so naturally he would not put on an act. He pointed directly at the place where the great treasure lay.
Crack!
The Nine-Aperture Stone Man's head instantly turned to powder.
An intense killing intent spread through Tianyu Park as a cocoon-like object floated in the air.
Ji Hao grabbed it and suppressed it in his palm.
"Heavens, is this the Supreme Treasure contained within the Nine-Aperture Stone Man?"
"A metal cocoon?"
"Open it quickly and see what's inside!"
"Whatever was nurtured in the Nine-Aperture Stone Man's brow is definitely not ordinary!"
The other spectators immediately became excited and began egging him on.
Ji Hao exerted a little force. The dark-gold metal cocoon rapidly cracked apart, and then a streak of black sword light shot into the sky. A tiny sword, barely more than an inch long, appeared before everyone.
The little sword rang sharply. Earth-shaking killing intent spread forth, making everyone's souls tremble involuntarily.
The black sword, less than an inch long, was covered in many naturally formed Dragon Patterns. It was made from Dragon-Patterned Black Gold.
Five Elements Runes emerged around Ji Hao's fingers, firmly suppressing the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword in his palm and leaving it unable to move.
"Heavens, could this truly be a divine sword forged from the legendary Dragon-Pattern Black Sword?"
"The Dao and principles interwoven within it make it no weaker than a Great Ability Artifact."
"It's just a pity there's so little of it."
"The amount is too small!"
Ji Hao said nothing and directly put away the Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword.
"Young friend, Dao One Sacred Land is willing to offer one hundred and fifty thousand jin of source to buy back that Dragon-Pattern Black Gold Sword."
"No need. I still have use for this sword."
Then, with a wave of his hand, the Nine-Aperture Stone Man scattered with the wind, leaving behind only a dark red stone shaped like a heart.
When geese pass, they leave feathers; when beasts leave, they leave hides. Though the original story did not mention any value for it, who knew when it might come in handy?
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