"Of course."
With almost no hesitation, Xu Taiping took out the water lily and offered it to the two of them with both hands.
"You may take this away today, seniors."
Faced with Xu Taiping's readiness, Heavenly Lord Xuanbei and Lord Fengzhu instead found themselves at a loss for how to react.
Finally, after a moment of stunned silence, Heavenly Lord Xuanbei said solemnly:
"The two of us have always stood by our word. Since we promised to take this only after your realm breakthrough, we will never change that."
Daoist Fengzhu took the water lily from Xu Taiping's hands, then said expressionlessly:
"Precisely. We only need to examine it to confirm."
Xu Taiping smiled.
"I have no objections to whatever you two seniors decide."
Having taken the water lily, Heavenly Lord Xuanbei and Daoist Fengzhu seemed not to have heard Xu Taiping at all. Their eyes and attention were entirely fixed on the flower.
Ninth Madam came up to Xu Taiping with a beaming smile.
"Xu Taiping, don't waste any more breath. These two are each more stubborn than the other."
"Once they have made up their minds, they will never change them."
Xu Taiping smiled.
Ninth Madam suddenly turned solemn and asked Xu Taiping:
"Xu Taiping, I heard that not only were the ancient objects and netherworld artifacts in the God-Burying Mound ruins swept clean, but several mountains of exceptionally fine Soulfire Stone were dug up and taken away outright."
At this point, Ninth Madam paused, her eyes full of suspicion as she asked:
"Don't tell me that was your handiwork, you rascal?"
Xu Taiping met Ninth Madam's crafty gaze and said with a smile:
"Ninth Madam, I did indeed obtain a batch of fine Soulfire Stone this time."
He did not conceal it, but neither did he