Yuanzi

"Mm..." With a sweep of his sleeve, the immortal sent several azure flower-shaped phantoms to support Xiao Hua and Jing Sheng by the arms. "This old man is Yuanzi, Ancestor Hu Ji. Entrusted by Hu Ji, I came today to take a look at the Toad Faced Toad..."

Jing Sheng was utterly overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly said with an ingratiating smile, "So it is Senior Yuanzi. With Senior acting today, we will surely succeed as swiftly as a horse reaches its destination."

"Hehe..." Yuanzi smiled faintly and came straight to the point. "Although Hu Ji has already made arrangements with you, he himself felt that he lacked complete confidence. Now that this old man has chosen to act..."

Before Yuanzi could finish, Jing Sheng glanced at Xiao Hua and immediately said, "We shall follow Senior's every instruction. We have no objections whatsoever."

"This junior has no objection either." Though Xiao Hua said so, he muttered inwardly, Chu Yu had only mentioned a dangerous place before, and Jing Sheng had never said anything about a Toad Faced Toad. Hearing this now, I can only think of that toad whose croak can scatter a person's soul. I was afraid even of that toad—how could I dare face a Toad Faced Toad that even Jing Sheng and Chu Yu together could not defeat?

"Haha, good!" Yuanzi laughed loudly. With a wave of his hand, two small purple bells fell before Xiao Hua and Jing Sheng. "Since you are both so sensible, this old man will not let you make the trip in vain. These are the Soul Suppressing Bells Hu Ji had me bring you."

"Senior Hu truly keeps his word!" Jing Sheng slipped in a small bit of flattery as he accepted the Soul Suppressing Bell.

"The Immortal Arts for using the Soul Suppressing Bell are within it. Study them yourselves!" Yuanzi continued. "The Toad Faced Toad is exceptionally good at recognizing treasures. It will not descend where there is no treasure. Since there is a Toad Faced Toad here, there must be treasure nearby. This old man wants the Toad Faced Toad and the treasure it guards. If there is anything else, it will be yours!"

"Agreed, agreed!" Jing Sheng hurriedly nodded.

Yuanzi looked at Xiao Hua and Jing Sheng, then said, "This old man will look around the area. Familiarize yourselves with the Soul Suppressing Bells first. When this old man returns, you will lead me there!"

Watching Yuanzi leave, Jing Sheng looked at Xiao Hua and said somewhat dejectedly, "I hope there will be more treasures within the Toad Faced Toad's cave!"

Xiao Hua shrugged. "There should be!"

Afterward, Xiao Hua and Jing Sheng each found a place. Jing Sheng examined the bell with Emanated Thought, while Xiao Hua directly sent the Soul Suppressing Bell into his space to inspect it. Once he saw its function, Xiao Hua was overjoyed. This item protected the soul from the Toad Faced Toad's attacks, precisely what Xiao Hua urgently needed at the moment. Unfortunately, Xiao Hua also knew that after this matter was over, the Soul Suppressing Bell would certainly have to be returned to Yuanzi.

Secretly lamenting the pity of it, Xiao Hua familiarized himself with the Immortal Arts for activating the Soul Suppressing Bell.

The ordinary Immortal Arts of the Immortal Realm resembled the spell arts of the mortal realm, but they were more complicated and employed Immortal Power with far greater precision. To Xiao Hua's Nascent Soul Body, this was truly nothing much. In no more than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, he could already activate it.

After putting away the Soul Suppressing Bell, Xiao Hua looked at Jing Sheng in the distance and calculated inwardly, Should Xiao take this opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Senior Yuanzi and see whether I can obtain some benefits?

Yet the thought vanished in a flash. Xiao Hua clearly knew that there were no free pills in this world. Even fasting pills came at a price.

Perhaps I can find a chance to probe Jing Sheng and see where the Immortal Market is.

After another incense stick's worth of time, Jing Sheng flew over. Looking around, he asked with some concern, "Senior Yuanzi has not returned yet?"

"If he had returned, Fellow Immortal Jing would naturally have seen him," Xiao Hua answered blandly.

Lowering his voice, Jing Sheng said, "To be honest with you, Fellow Immortal Chu, I am somewhat worried."

"What is there to worry about?" Xiao Hua asked in return.

"Previously, Jing discussed many details with Senior Hu Ji..." Jing Sheng said with a bitter smile. "Senior Yuanzi certainly will not ask Jing about them again. Jing fears something might go wrong after we enter. Oh, that place where you encountered danger last time—do you think Senior Yuanzi... can get through it?"

"If Chu cannot pass through, Senior Yuanzi certainly can!"

"Mm, I hope I am merely overthinking it." Jing Sheng gave Xiao Hua a meaningful look. Unfortunately, his gaze was blocked by his black robe, and Xiao Hua did not notice it.

"When will Fellow Immortal Jing go to the Immortal Market?" Xiao Hua looked into the distance and seemingly asked casually.

"Didn't we just go there last time?" Jing Sheng was startled and asked curiously, "Could it be that Fellow Immortal Chu has already used up his Residue Cleansing Pills?"

"No, no..." Xiao Hua hurriedly covered up. "Chu merely wishes to go again and look for something to his liking."

"Better wait until the matters here have been settled!" Jing Sheng said. "If we do not obtain any treasures, how can we trade with others for things? Oh, right, give Jing some of your Residue Cleansing Pills as well. I fear they may be useful after we enter."

"My apologies!" Without even thinking, Xiao Hua refused. "Chu does not have many Residue Cleansing Pills left. I fear I cannot spare any for Fellow Immortal Jing."

"Hehe..." Jing Sheng smiled and said no more. Hearing that laugh, Xiao Hua inexplicably felt guilty and no longer dared speak much with Jing Sheng.

Only after the time it took to eat a meal did Yuanzi return. He said nothing, directly having Jing Sheng and Xiao Hua lead him toward the dangerous place.

Five thousand li west of Jueyu Pool lay a region covered in marshes. The marshes, large and small, looked exceedingly alike, and there were no mountains or trees near them. Gray mist that disturbed one's clarity often drifted high in the air, making it easy to lose one's way. In particular, as Xiao Hua followed Jing Sheng over the marshes and occasionally extended his Heart God, he discovered in surprise that many Spatial Rifts of different shapes hung in the air above the marshes. These rifts were extremely hidden; a moment of carelessness could easily send someone falling into one.

As Jing Sheng flew past a mass of three-colored clouds and deftly turned downward in midair, Yuanzi laughed loudly. "So it is here. No wonder Hu Ji insisted that this old man seek you out..."

Yuanzi's figure flashed. With a series of muffled pops, he actually smashed through three or five Spatial Rifts in succession and charged toward a mountain only a thousand zhang high that had just appeared beneath the clouds.

"Senior, wait..." Jing Sheng shouted loudly and hurriedly activated his movement to chase after him. "There is a—"

Boom... Before Jing Sheng could finish, a thick greenwood more than several zhang across flew from Yuanzi's sleeve. Like an azure dragon sweeping across the heavens, amid the roar of trembling space, it struck a mountain-sized boulder several hundred zhang wide ahead. The boulder rang like metal. A small half of it shattered, and stones large and small sprayed in every direction. Then the remaining greater half of the boulder rolled violently in midair and slowly shifted aside. Boom, boom, boom! The moment the boulder moved, more than ten thick Spatial Rifts, like cleavers chopping down, appeared around it and slashed at both sides of the boulder!

Yuanzi's body tilted, transforming into a distorted phantom as he flew over the top of the boulder, brushing past an enormous Spatial Rift. Turning to look at Jing Sheng and Xiao Hua, he could not help shouting, "Hurry up..."

Jing Sheng stood somewhat dumbfounded. He had previously tested the boulder's hardness; even the Immortal Soldier he considered sharp could not cut away a single piece of rock. Yet who would have thought that Yuanzi could shatter the area around the boulder with merely one Immortal Art?

Seeing Jing Sheng staring blankly, Yuanzi was displeased. With a sweep of his sleeve, two green vines descended out of thin air around Jing Sheng's and Xiao Hua's waists. As the vines contracted, the two felt the wind suddenly howl around them, and their bodies had already crossed the boulder and arrived before the mountain.

"Thank you, Senior." Jing Sheng bowed knowingly. "There are Spatial Rifts around the boulder, while the boulder itself is incomparably hard. Previously, this junior and the others could only cling to the edge of the boulder and climb with utmost caution, fearing that we might touch a Spatial Rift and fall inside. Today, only because of Senior's divine might could this junior and the others come here so easily."

"Do not speak such useless words!" Yuanzi stood with his hands tucked into his sleeves, looking at the low mountain as he said indifferently, "Go quickly and lure out the Toad Faced Toad!"

"Yes, Senior!" Jing Sheng nodded, then looked at Xiao Hua and asked in a low voice, "Fellow Immortal Chu is prepared, yes?"

Prepared? An ominous feeling arose in Xiao Hua's heart.

"Yes!" Jing Sheng asked strangely. "Had we not already discussed this? Jing and the Fellow Immortals invited by Jing will lie in ambush outside, while you go lure out the Toad Faced Toad. When we engage it in battle, you will enter first to find where the treasures are. Of course, with Senior Yuanzi here this time, once you find traces of the treasures, you absolutely must not approach them. Senior Yuanzi must take them first!"

"I... I..." Xiao Hua hesitated somewhat.

Jing Sheng grew anxious. "Fellow Immortal Chu, could it be that your Mie Die Blood has not been prepared?"

At this point, the unease in Xiao Hua's heart completely disappeared. He gave Jing Sheng a thoughtful look. How could he not know that Jing Sheng had already discovered he was not the real Chu Yu?

Had Yuanzi not appeared, Xiao Hua might not have been unable to flick his sleeves and leave. Even if Hu Ji had come, Xiao Hua might have risked fleeing. After all, offending one Guiding Emissary and offending two immortals made little difference. But Yuanzi before him was different. Xiao Hua truly had no confidence that he could use light escape to flee before him.

After a moment of surprise, Xiao Hua took a crimson crystal vial from his Hundred-Gathering Bag and smiled. "How could Chu slight the matter Fellow Immortal Jing entrusted to me? However, since Chu has prepared the Mie Die Blood, should the share we agreed upon beforehand be adjusted somewhat?"

Jing Sheng was stunned, then flew into a rage. "Fellow Immortal Chu, how can you go back on your word? When did Jing ever—"

"Enough nonsense!" Yuanzi glanced at Xiao Hua and said blandly, "Go lure out the Toad Faced Toad. If you encounter any treasures, take them yourself first! But after taking them, let this old man inspect them first. If this old man does not want them, then you may take them away."

"Thank you, Senior!" Xiao Hua was overjoyed. After sweeping Jing Sheng a glance, he flew down.

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