Volume Five: Emerging Brilliance - Chapter Twenty-One: Secrets Behind the Scenes

Listening to Ruyan's explanation, Li Chengzhu and Yuanmu exchanged a glance, unable to conceal the shock in their hearts.

For the past five thousand years, there had not been a single record of any spirit beast ascending to immortality. Coincidentally, the Heavenly Covering and Earthly Supporting Great Formation had been laid down by the Immortal Emperor exactly five thousand years ago. Could this have been intentional on the part of the Immortal Emperor? But for what reason?

"Why don't you all just walk out? As far as I know, the outside world is much more vibrant." Li Chengzhu beat around the bush for a while, subtly hinting at his deduction that one could cultivate simply by walking out of the great formation.

A bitter smile hung on Shui Ruyan's delicate cheeks. "Some spirit beasts have walked out before. According to the records left by our predecessors, the outside world is indeed different from here. There are countless cultivation resources out there, but also immortal elders who eat people without spitting out the bones!" By the end of her sentence, Shui Ruyan was grinding her teeth, her eyelashes lowered so that her expression could no longer be seen.

Boss Li and Yuanmu wore awkward expressions. The methods immortals used to deal with spirit beasts were no secret, nor were they considered taboo. Everyone held the mindset of "those who are not of our race must have different hearts," and no one cared anyway.

"Furthermore, in this region, our kinsmen can help each other, and when necessary, the Holy Beast can also fend off external enemies. Although the price is a bit high, it is still much better than being exterminated by spirit beasts of other clans the moment we step outside."

Damn it, they even divide territory here?

"Ahem, that giant snake helps you? What price does it exact?" Li Chengzhu changed the subject, lest he be despised by this young lady any longer and the two immortal elders lose all their face. Damn it, I wasn't the one who did those things; why should I carry this baggage?

"Well... when the Holy Beast is in a good mood, it helps us ward off external enemies, but every time the task is completed, it must..." Shui Ruyan's fragile body couldn't help but shiver, as if she had recalled something terrifying.

"Must what?" Li Chengzhu asked doubtfully.

"It must have a Holy Maiden as the price of sacrifice." Shui Ruyan gritted her teeth and spat out these words, beads of sweat breaking out on her brow.

"Beast!" Li Chengzhu clenched his fists tightly, a fiery rage in his eyes, his face full of righteousness and holiness. "Are those Holy Maidens all beauties like you?"

A blush appeared on Shui Ruyan's face. This immortal elder really had... no filter.

Yuanmu shook his head from the side. Such a serious matter, when described by this brat, turned into a transaction of power and sex, thoroughly lewd.

"The elder sisters are much prettier than Ruyan." Shui Ruyan's voice was as soft and inaudible as a mosquito's. It was the first time a male had praised her to her face. Every woman loved beauty, whether human or beast, old or young. Hearing such blatant praise, how could she not be happy?

"Ah." Boss Li wiped his mouth, his blood boiling. "For the sake of your elder sisters, I've decided to chop off the nine heads of that giant snake and use them as your chamber pots, how about that?"

"What is a chamber pot?" Shui Ruyan froze, raising her head just in time to meet Li Chengzhu's lewd smile. Although she didn't understand what he was talking about, she could tell from his gaze that it was definitely nothing good. Lowering her little head, she gently spat a soft reproach from her crimson lips.

"Um, is the thing your Holy Beast guarding... this thing?" After finishing his compliment, Li Chengzhu flipped his hand and pulled a Profound Ice Fruit out of his storage ring.

"Ah, yes, that's it! This is our holy fruit. There are other sacred treasures in the Bibo Lake, all guarded by the Holy Beast." Shui Ruyan nodded her little head like a chick pecking at rice, her eyes glowing with an intense fervor that startled Li Chengzhu. That gaze was practically identical to that of a ten-thousand-year-old seductress seeing a naked man.

Yuanmu curled his lips from the side. *Young lady, oh young lady, who knows how many years you've lived yet you have zero worldly experience. After being flattered relentlessly by this brat, you've practically given away the family fortune, sigh.*

"I'll give it to you!" Unable to endure Shui Ruyan's gaze any longer, Li Chengzhu reached out and handed the Profound Ice Fruit over.

"You're giving it to me?" Shui Ruyan's mouth parted slightly, disbelief filling her eyes as she stared blankly at the man before her. A holy fruit! Even the Holy Mother could only harvest ten every hundred years, right? To harvest more in the future, they would have to trade the life of a Holy Maiden—one Holy Maiden for just one holy fruit. This glowing red fruit in front of her was equivalent to her own life!

The holy fruit could not only enhance cultivation but also prompt the brothers and sisters of her clan to evolve into human form. Yet this person before her was casually giving her one. Having lived for so long, the amount of holy fruit she had consumed probably didn't even add up to half a fruit.

Watching Shui Ruyan stare straight at the Profound Ice Fruit in her hands before suddenly bursting into tears, teardrops falling like pear blossoms in the rain, Boss Li felt a tightness in his chest and instantly panicked. He had originally wanted to coax some useful information out of her; why was this young lady so fragile to stimulation? Wasn't it just a Profound Ice Fruit? He still had plenty more in his pockets.

Before Li Chengzhu could think of words of comfort, the young lady who had just been crying like a pear blossom in the rain quickly reached out her small hand, snatched the Profound Ice Fruit, cupped it in her palms like a precious treasure, lowered her head shyly, and softly murmured, "Thank you, Immortal Elder."

"Ah, yes..." Li Chengzhu muttered for a long time without thinking of what to say. This young lady's mind was truly... unpredictable.

"With this holy fruit, many of our sisters will definitely be able to evolve into human forms." Shui Ruyan raised her head, looking happily at Boss Li, her flawless, delicate face brimming with joy.

Damn it, she was using my property to win favor for herself.

"Could you... please invite the two immortal elders to come with me to see the Holy Mother?" Shui Ruyan looked timidly between Li Chengzhu and Yuanmu.

"This?" Li Chengzhu cast his gaze toward Yuanmu. This fellow had lived long enough; he might as well let him handle it. Although he wanted to go and eradicate the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent, if Shui Ruyan's kinsmen suddenly rushed out to protect the Holy Beast halfway through, they would be surrounded by enemies on all sides. Subconsciously, he still hoped to go and meet this so-called Holy Mother. From Shui Ruyan's words, it was clear that apart from awe, they even held a bit of hatred toward the Holy Beast. However, beating up someone else's Holy Beast on their doorstep required at least working things out with them first.

Moreover, he had his eyes on their holy fruit and those unknown sacred treasures in the lake. Wiping out the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent was imperative.

"Well, we can go take a look. Anyway, according to what she said, no one in their clan has attained immortality yet. Even if a fight breaks out, we aren't afraid." Yuanmu communicated calmly with Li Chengzhu via divine sense.

"Very well." Receiving Yuanmu's signal, Li Chengzhu nodded. "You know, we're quite busy. There are still many things left undone. However, travel is exhausting, so resting for a bit won't hurt."

Yuanmu curled his lips fiercely at the side. *This brat, he speaks better than he sings. This young lady is surely going to be endlessly grateful now.*

Sure enough, upon hearing Li Chengzhu's agreement, Shui Ruyan smiled happily. "It won't delay you for long! The Holy Mother will definitely be very glad that the two immortal elders are coming to visit. When I set out, the Holy Mother specifically instructed me to invite both of you. Now I've finally fulfilled the mission entrusted to me."

"Oh?" Li Chengzhu rolled his eyes and smiled amiably, "How did your Holy Mother know the two of us were coming?"

"It seems the Holy Mother and the Holy Beast can communicate with each other, though I don't know the exact method. Every time we need to harvest the holy fruit, the Holy Mother notifies the Holy Beast first, and only after the sacrifice can we gather the fruit." Under the slow and steady guidance of Boss Li, this pure beauty had practically spilled every secret of her family's foundation.

Immortal Yuanmu stood aside, smiling as he watched the two people flying in front. This man and woman chatted casually, seemingly about trivial matters, but they often managed to draw out useful information.

How could someone as worldly-inexperienced as Shui Ruyan know the malice of human hearts? She had nearly revealed the color of her underwear. Boss Li showered her with the utmost praise, using the most common compliments of peerless beauty and fish-drowning charms to make Shui Ruyan's face flush with excitement. As a Holy Maiden, not only was her body pure and flawless, but her thoughts were as clean as a blank sheet of paper. A Holy Maiden was simply a pretty girl being raised for sacrifice, and her very first time stepping outside was meant to be her demise. Li Chengzhu gradually understood the status of the Holy Maidens within Shui Ruyan's tribe.

Damn it, the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent certainly knew how to enjoy itself. A single Profound Ice Fruit could buy a slightly cultivated beauty. If Li Chengzhu were a spirit beast, he would have done it too; how could the energy of an unrefined Profound Ice Fruit compare to a living spirit beast? If not for his good fortune this time in running into Li Chengzhu and preventing a flower-like maiden from ending up in a snake's belly, Shui Ruyan would probably already be dinner in the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent's stomach.

Screw that motherfucker.

Beauties were meant to be cherished, not eaten. Li Chengzhu felt a surge of indignation.

As for Shui Ruyan's tribe, Li Chengzhu had dug that out as well—these spirit beasts actually belonged to the Jade Rabbit clan.

Good grief, raising a giant snake in a rabbit warren was practically feeding oneself to the enemy's stomach. He really had no idea what that bitch of a Holy Mother was thinking. No wonder Yuanmu's gaze toward him had been so filthy; human-rabbit romance must have seemed completely incomprehensible to Yuanmu.

A rabbit was a rabbit; at least it was a rabbit pure to the extreme, and drop-dead gorgeous at that. Flirting and bantering to soothe his lonely soul—what was wrong with that?

What he was really yearning for were those immortal fruits. If possible, a tribe that had managed to live within the Immortal Forbidden Land for nearly five thousand years surely possessed a few treasures and collections, right?

When passing by that lake, Shui Ruyan's body still trembled slightly, her eyes glancing apprehensively at the lake's surface, fearing the Holy Beast might suddenly strike.

Whether the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent hadn't returned yet or for some other reason, the lake remained as calm as still water, tempting Li Chengzhu to simply go up, pluck the Profound Ice Fruit, and run.

However, doing so would mean facing not only the formidable immortal beast that was the Nine-Headed Fiend Serpent, but also the hostility of the Jade Rabbit clan. It was simply not cost-effective. Boss Li could only suppress the expectation in his heart, gently pinch Shui Ruyan's smooth and tender hand to offer her some comfort, and follow her as she flew toward the rabbit warren.