Chapter 142 – The Hundred Blossoms Sacred Body
In He Shaogang's plan, he first intended to quietly inflate the price of the Iceheart Fruit, forcing the remnants of Qinglu Sect to spend more spirit stones. Then, once the Iceheart Fruit landed in their hands, he would use a special spirit bug to track its whereabouts—thus locating the Qinglu Sect remnants.
As for tampering with the Iceheart Fruit directly, that was out of the question. Any treasure entering the Immortal City Grand Auction would undergo a thorough inspection. If there were any issues, the item would be rejected outright.
But He Shaogang had already prepared for this contingency: he had bred a special type of spirit bug that could be bound to the aura of the Iceheart Fruit. Once the link was established, the bug could sense the fruit's location, even through a storage pouch. When the target finally took the fruit out, the spirit bug's reaction would intensify, allowing for swift pinpointing of the enemy's location.
It was a foolproof plan.
Yet unexpectedly, the remnants of Qinglu Sect had given up on bidding for the Iceheart Fruit. If they didn't acquire it, the plan would be rendered useless.
Breeding the special spirit bug had come at an enormous cost—no less than the Iceheart Fruit itself. Fenghua Sect was only willing to spend that much to eliminate the Qinglu Sect survivors.
And now...
"Twenty million, third call—sold!"
With the auctioneer's final shout and no further bids, the hammer fell. The Iceheart Fruit returned to He Shaogang's hands.
This meant He Shaogang not only had to swallow the hefty commission but also lose the highly valuable spirit bug. Its short lifespan left no room for a second attempt.
In another private box—
"We're really giving up on that Iceheart Fruit?" asked the Golden Core Elder of Qinglu Sect, glancing at Yuan Niya. That fruit could suppress Elder Zhuo's Heartfire.
"There's something suspicious about it. It could be bait from Fenghua Sect to lure us out," Yuan Niya replied with a frown. Before, they had no choice—so she hadn't thought much about it. But now that she had found another way to cure her master's Heartfire, she was far more cautious.
She had sensed something odd about the Iceheart Fruit's sudden appearance and the person bidding against them. The price had far exceeded the fruit's actual worth, yet the bidder refused to give up—almost as if they knew Qinglu Sect had to win.
"Hmm... that's very possible," the Golden Core Elder murmured after a moment's thought, his gaze sharpening. But now that they had given up on the Iceheart Fruit, the only option left was the other path. Could it really work?
A Nascent Soul cultivator wasn't someone one could just approach casually. If they couldn't even get a word in, there'd be nothing more to discuss.
Yuan Niya had already made up her mind. She immediately summoned an auction attendant and handed over a jade pendant, asking the attendant to deliver it to the Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hundred Blossoms Sect.
"Honored guest, I'm afraid that's against protocol," the auction attendant replied, clearly troubled. While the auction house didn't strictly forbid one guest from gifting another, this was a Nascent Soul cultivator. If something went wrong and offended such a person, the consequences could be dire.
"Don't worry. Just give it to the lady from the Hundred Blossoms Sect—she'll definitely be pleased," Yuan Niya said with full confidence.
This was her only chance to reach the Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hundred Blossoms Sect. Outside the auction house, she wouldn't even have the opportunity to get close.
"Whether it works or not, just go ask." As she spoke, she slipped a few glittering high-grade spirit stones into the attendant's hand.
"Alright... alright then."
Glancing at the spirit stones in his hand, the auction attendant finally nodded.
However, he didn't head straight for the Hundred Blossoms Sect cultivator's private box. Instead, he first went to report to the City Lord of Immortal City.
"What's the background of the guest in that private box?" Yun Chen asked, looking at the jade pendant passed to him by his subordinate. As a Nascent Soul cultivator himself, his powerful spiritual sense swept over it—it was just an ordinary pendant.
"They're likely from Qinglu Sect," the attendant replied.
Yuan Niya had tried to disguise her identity, but that was laughably ineffective under Immortal City's scrutiny. Still, as a neutral party, the city didn't interfere in sect rivalries—as long as business wasn't disrupted, they didn't care who came.
"Desperate, are they? Hoping to seek help from Fairy Mei of the Hundred Blossoms Sect?" Yun Chen mused. He was well aware of Qinglu Sect's current predicament. But trying to enlist help from a completely unrelated sect? Hundred Blossoms Sect was neutral and didn't involve itself in inter-sect conflicts.
Besides, if you were going to ask for help, shouldn't you offer something worthwhile? This pendant was plain—what kind of gift was that?
"Should I return it, Lord City Master?" the attendant asked.
"No, go ahead and deliver it to Fairy Mei," Yun Chen said after a pause, waving his hand. He did have some dealings with Qinglu Sect's Nascent Soul patriarch—mainly financial ones, but still, ties were ties.
Moreover, since Fenghua Sect had arrived, they'd started throwing their weight around. With two Nascent Soul cultivators stationed in the sect, their power already exceeded many local sects.
As a neutral force, Yuntian Immortal City preferred a balanced cultivation world—not one dominated by a single sect. Helping Qinglu Sect just a little might subtly curb Fenghua Sect's growing influence.
"Yes, sir!"
The attendant bowed and withdrew.
In the grandest private box atop the auction house, Mei Qiuyuan of the Hundred Blossoms Sect sat calmly, watching the fierce bidding below. She had traveled a long way for one purpose: Moonlight Purity Water.
Of course, she didn't need it to heal her Nascent Soul. She needed it to craft a fourth-tier Moonlight Fragrance Elixir. The Hundred Blossoms Sect cultivated through the Dao of Scents, and every disciple was a skilled perfumer.
Although perfuming was a niche art, the fragrances they concocted had many unique effects. When combined with the sect's special techniques, these effects could be maximized.
To disciples of the Hundred Blossoms Sect, fragrance elixirs were like potent pills that boosted cultivation. Mei Qiuyuan was preparing to craft a fourth-tier elixir and break through to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul.
Knock knock knock!
Just as Mei Qiuyuan's thoughts were drifting, someone knocked gently at her door.
Her spiritual sense swept out. Sensing that it was an auction attendant, she waved her hand to open the door, slightly puzzled. What business would the auction house have with her now?
"Greetings, Fairy Mei!" The attendant bowed respectfully and held out the jade pendant from Yuan Niya, explaining its origin and intent.
Mei Qiuyuan looked at the pendant in the attendant's hands, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. The pendant was so ordinary—it was just a basic jade trinket. What was this supposed to mean?
An insult?
"Eh?"
Suddenly, Mei Qiuyuan's nose twitched slightly—she had caught a faint, unfamiliar scent emanating from the jade pendant. As a disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect, and a Nascent Soul stage cultivator at that, her sensitivity to fragrances was extremely keen.
From that delicate scent, she sensed far more than just fragrance.
"Bring me the person who delivered this jade pendant," Mei Qiuyuan said as she beckoned, drawing the pendant into her fair, smooth hand. She then turned to the auction house attendant.
"Yes, right away!"
The attendant suppressed his inner astonishment as he exited the private room. He never expected that such an ordinary-looking jade pendant would not only be accepted by a Nascent Soul cultivator—but would also prompt her to demand a meeting with its sender.
"Elder, please go back and make the necessary arrangements," Yuan Niya said to the nearby Golden Core elder, unable to hide her excitement upon learning that the Nascent Soul fairy from the Hundred Flowers Sect wanted to see her.
"Understood!"
The elder, also visibly excited, quickly composed himself and left the auction house to prepare for the reception of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Greetings, True Lord!"
Yuan Niya followed the auction house attendant into Mei Qiuyuan's private room and respectfully bowed.
"Where did you get this jade pendant?"
After signaling for the attendant to leave, Mei Qiuyuan asked the question directly. She could tell that the pendant didn't originally belong to this young girl—and what's more, she detected that same mysterious fragrance lingering on her as well.
"Reporting to the True Lord…"
Yuan Niya promptly recited the explanation she had long since prepared.
"Is that true?!"
As she listened, Mei Qiuyuan suddenly stood up, her beautiful eyes flashing with an intimidating aura—a true manifestation of a Nascent Soul cultivator's presence. For her to lose composure like this spoke volumes about her inner turmoil.
"Absolutely true!"
Yuan Niya answered with full confidence.
"Good. Good. Very good!"
Mei Qiuyuan began pacing back and forth in the private room, visibly agitated. She felt an overwhelming urge to go meet this Chu Feifei girl right away.
If what the girl had said was accurate, then Chu Feifei might very well possess the legendary Sacred Physique of Hundred Flowers—the same rare constitution as the founder of the Hundred Flowers Sect.
This would mean Chu Feifei could cultivate the sect's ancestral inheritance, a unique path of cultivation that absolutely required this particular physique. For years, no one had been able to inherit it, and that had caused the once-mighty Hundred Flowers Sect to fade into mediocrity.
But now, with Chu Feifei's emergence, the sect might finally have a chance to return to its former glory.
However, the auction for the Moonlight Purification Water was just about to begin, and it was clear this young girl had approached her not just to deliver the jade pendant, but with a request in mind.
Though she hadn't met Chu Feifei yet, Mei Qiuyuan had already resolved to take her in as a personal disciple. If the girl wasn't lying, then no one—absolutely no one—would be allowed to take Chu Feifei from her.
"Speak. What do you want?"
Mei Qiuyuan looked at the young girl before her. With a mid-grade Fire Spirit Root, she was quite a decent prodigy in her own right. If she wished to become her disciple, Mei Qiuyuan wouldn't object—and might even grant her personal disciple status.
"I beg of you, True Lord—please save my master."
Yuan Niya described her master Zhuo Suzhu's current condition and then looked at Mei Qiuyuan with hopeful eyes.
"Corroded by Heartfire, is it? That's not a big issue." Mei Qiuyuan nodded after listening. Her cultivation path revolved around the art of fragrance, making her especially adept at resolving such problems—especially when the afflicted was merely at the peak of the Golden Core stage. That made it even easier.
"You've cultivated the Heartfire Art as well, yet remain completely unaffected. That's all thanks to your friend Chu Feifei, isn't it?"
Mei Qiuyuan examined Yuan Niya. In front of a Nascent Soul cultivator, no secrets could remain hidden.
"You see through everything, True Lord."
Yuan Niya was so overjoyed to hear that her master's Heartfire could be cured that she nearly burst into cheers. But mindful of her conduct before a True Lord, she restrained her excitement with effort.
"Sit down. Once the auction ends, take me to your friend." Mei Qiuyuan gestured for Yuan Niya to take a seat. The bidding for the Moonlight Purification Water had already begun.
"Yes, ma'am."
Yuan Niya carefully seated herself on a nearby cushion—only to suddenly feel spiritual energy pouring into her from it. It turned out the cushion was connected to a Tier 4 spiritual vein.
"All right. Let's go."
Just as Yuan Niya was still stunned by the surging spiritual energy from the cushion, Mei Qiuyuan's voice rang out again. She had just won the final auction item.
"Ah! Yes!"
Startled, Yuan Niya quickly followed Mei Qiuyuan.
Meanwhile, the entire auction house had fallen into a stunned silence. Especially those other Nascent Soul cultivators—their eyes brimmed with disbelief. During the bidding for the Moonlight Purification Water, they had clearly sensed the overwhelming aggression from the Hundred Flowers Sect fairy. "Cutthroat" would be putting it mildly.
Even a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Windflower Sect had tried to compete, but in the face of absolute wealth, any resistance was futile. The resources of the Hundred Flowers Sect far outstripped those of Windflower.
"Fairy Mei, leaving so soon?" Yun Chen, who had just finalized the transaction with Mei Qiuyuan, couldn't help but ask as he saw her about to leave.
He had hoped to host a Nascent Soul-level conference while she was in town.
"I've got some matters to attend to. Please excuse me." Mei Qiuyuan smiled and politely declined. With that, she took Yuan Niya and swiftly departed the Immortal City.
Yun Chen watched them leave, thoughtful. It was clear Fairy Mei's urgency had something to do with that young girl. Just a simple jade pendant… Could it really possess such power? Enough to stir a Nascent Soul cultivator into action?
Being carried by a Nascent Soul cultivator, Yuan Niya traversed thousands of miles in a blink and soon arrived at a secluded mountain estate. She hadn't taken Mei Qiuyuan to the real hiding place of the Qinglu Sect. Though this True Lord didn't seem like a bad person, some caution was still necessary.
Yuan Niya couldn't possibly gamble her sect's safety on a stranger's whim.
That was why she had earlier asked the Golden Core elder to leave first—to bring both Chu Feifei and the unconscious Zhuo Suzhu to this estate in advance.
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