A Mortal's Start in the Spirit Beast Mountain

Chapter 269 Yuan Yao's Request

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Luo Ming sneered inwardly, thinking to himself that this old ghost was truly adept at making up stories without batting an eye, his sincerity palpable. He genuinely knew nothing of what had transpired above the abyss, and his explanation was flawless, leaving no room for criticism.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you flatter me. That Yin Qi Abyss was treacherous, and unexpected events occurred. How could I blame you? I was lucky to escape; how could I dare to ask for help? I am glad that Fellow Daoist Xiao is unharmed." Luo Ming also replied telepathically, his tone "sincere," appearing completely understanding and without any reservations.

The two exchanged insincere "comforts" to each other, as if they were truly close friends who had fought side by side and shared life and death.

Suddenly, Xuan Gu changed the subject, lowering his voice and adding a touch of mystery: "Brother Luo, you've suffered considerable losses in this ordeal and must be in dire need of an opportunity to recover. I wonder... if Brother Luo has ever heard of the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng?"

Luo Ming's heart skipped a beat, a surge of joy welling up within him. He had been worrying about how to discreetly follow Xuan Gu and seize this legendary treasure of heaven and earth, but unexpectedly, the other party had brought it up on their own initiative!

But then, a doubt surfaced in his mind. He clearly remembered that in the original story, Xuan Gu used the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng as bait, his real aim being to have another primordial spirit within him possess Han Li's body. Now, Xuan Gu knew that he and Han Li knew each other, and might even have a close relationship, yet he still wanted to drag him along? Did he think he was absolutely certain he could deal with both him and Han Li at the same time?

Just as Luo Ming and Xuan Gu were quietly finalizing their agreement to continue searching for the Nine-Bend Spirit Ginseng using their divine senses, a slender figure shrouded in a black robe hesitated slightly before walking to the corner where he was meditating. The newcomer was none other than Yuan Yao, who had just come out with him.

She seemed a little hesitant, stopping a few steps in front of Luo Ming. After a moment's hesitation, she tossed a warm, smooth jade bottle over with a flick of her wrist.

Luo Ming reached out and caught it. It was slightly cool to the touch, but a sense of doubt arose in his heart. He clearly remembered that after meeting up with Han Li, although they had traveled together for a while, he had hardly spoken to this woman. In fact, the way she looked at him always carried a scrutinizing and barely perceptible wariness, as if she were looking at some dangerous person. This sudden gift of medicine was truly strange.

"What do you mean by this, fellow Daoist?" Luo Ming raised his eyes and looked at the face hidden under the black robe, whose features were still discernible, and asked directly.

Yuan Yao seemed a little embarrassed. She coughed lightly and said in a low voice, "Seeing that Fellow Daoist Luo's magic power is severely depleted and his aura is unstable, these two 'Qingyang Rejuvenation Pills' are a small token of my gratitude for your indirect help in the Ghostly Resentment Land earlier." Her words were vague, but she was clearly referring to Luo Ming's help in exterminating the Yin spirits.

Luo Ming uncorked the bottle and examined it briefly. Inside were two pills the size of longan, emerald green and lustrous, brimming with medicinal energy. It was clear at a glance that they were top-grade pills for restoring magical power and healing internal injuries, far from ordinary. In this Void Heaven Palace, they were even more essential for saving one's life.

A playful smile appeared on his face: "My small favor is not worth the value of these two precious pills. Is there anything else, fellow Daoist?"

When Yuan Yao heard him reveal her purpose, her delicate body seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly. Then, she tried her best to appear pitiful, and her voice softened considerably: "Well... I do have a favor to ask. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Luo could... give me a ride on the Ice and Fire Path ahead?"

Her voice was pleading, "As you can see, my powerful magic weapons were severely damaged in the Ghostly Resentment Land, greatly reducing my strength. Venturing into the Ice and Fire Path alone is extremely dangerous..."

Looking at her deliberately feigned pitiful appearance, Luo Ming couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. He had been looking for a suitable excuse to touch those "things" on her that he was eyeing, but unexpectedly, she had delivered herself to his doorstep. This was simply a godsend.

He showed no sign of it on his face, but instead frowned deeply, revealing an extremely troubled expression. He said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, your plan is a bit too shrewd. What a dangerous place the Ice and Fire Path is! You think you can get me, Luo, to be distracted and protect you in such a perilous situation with just two pills? The price is rather disproportionate, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's deliberately pitiful expression was quickly replaced by a hint of urgency. She had personally witnessed Luo Ming's abilities; that eerie black banner and that blazing spirit bird were not things that ordinary cultivators could possess.

With this person's help, her chances of traversing the Ice and Fire Path would more than double! This would give her the confidence to obtain the Soul-Nourishing Wood to save her sisters' lives. Moreover, this person's ability to escape from the combined attack of two Ghost Kings demonstrates an unimaginable capacity for self-preservation.

Her eyes reddened slightly, on the verge of tears, and her voice became even more sorrowful: "Then... what does Fellow Daoist Luo want? As long as it is within my ability, as long as it is not... not too excessive, Yuan Yao will do her best to satisfy you." She tried to move him with her gentle demeanor.

Luo Ming's face remained calm and composed, as if completely unaffected by the other party's demeanor. He looked directly into Yuan Yao's eyes, which were faintly visible beneath her black robe, and slowly revealed his purpose: "I am quite interested in those 'trinkets' that Fellow Daoist Yuan obtained from the young master of the Qingyang Sect. If you are willing to part with them and protect you safely through the Ice and Fire Path, it is not impossible to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao was struck dumb, her delicate body trembling violently. She subconsciously took half a step back, her voice filled with barely concealed panic: "You... I don't know what you're talking about! Since you're unwilling to help, then so be it!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she forced herself to remain calm, gave a cold snort, and reached out to snatch the jade bottle back from Luo Ming's hand.

With a flick of his wrist, Luo Ming's jade bottle vanished, calmly stored away. A half-smile played on his lips as he looked at the somewhat exasperated Yuan Yao, and he said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, why the rush? Even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains. Since this elixir is a token of my gratitude, I, Luo, will accept it without hesitation. As for the matter of the Ice and Fire Dao, you may wish to reconsider. My conditions remain unchanged."

Seeing Luo Ming's shameless attitude of "I'll take the stuff, you decide on the terms," ​​Yuan Yao was both angry and anxious, but she was too weak to do anything about it. She could only stomp her foot in frustration, turn around and leave quickly, her black robe fluttering, clearly indicating that she was still upset.

Walking to a secluded corner far from the crowd, Yuan Yao leaned against a cold rock, her chest still rising and falling slightly, unable to calm down.

"How did he know my identity and about the young master of the Qingyang Sect?" This thought swirled in her mind, filled with doubt and uncertainty. "Could he be colluding with the Qingyang Sect? Is he specifically targeting me?"

But upon closer reflection, it didn't seem right.

"If this person is truly from the Qingyang Sect, when he first encountered the Crying Soul Beast in the Ghostly Land, given his strength and the strangeness of that demon banner, he could have simply taken it by force. Why wait until now and propose some kind of 'exchange'? This person... although unpredictable in his actions, does not seem to be a completely unscrupulous and unscrupulous demon."

This assessment brought her some relief, but it was quickly followed by deeper inner conflict and weighing of options. "Could it be... that I really should hand those items over to him in exchange for the protection of the Ice and Fire Path?"

The items she received from the young master of the Qingyang Sect were of great help to her, far more than just material possessions. Take the Soul-Crying Beast, for example; it aided her considerably in this land of vengeance. However, the Ice and Fire Path was infamous, and with her current damaged magical artifacts, venturing alone would be a near-certain death. Luo Ming's strength and that strange spirit bird were the most likely guarantees she could currently see.

For a moment, she was torn between hope and loss, unable to make a decision.

While Yuan Yao was struggling with her thoughts alone in the distance, time quietly passed.

About a day later, in the center of this spiritually vibrant area, the ground array patterns suddenly lit up, and a new teleportation array, similar to the one used to enter the Ghostly Land, slowly rose from the light.

Having experienced the Ghostly Land before, the cultivators were no longer as surprised as they had been at first, but their eyes still held a mixture of curiosity and wariness as they whispered among themselves about where the newly appeared teleportation array would lead.

At this moment, the two Star Palace elders who had been sitting cross-legged high up, seemingly detached from worldly affairs, finally rose again. One of the white-bearded elders glanced at everyone, his voice calm yet clear, reaching each person's ears:

"Beyond this formation lies a secluded space, rich in spiritual energy, nurturing many rare and exotic herbs and flowers. Those who pass the first trial, 'Land of Ghostly Grievances,' may enter to harvest them. This is limited to one day. After one day, the portal will close."

He paused briefly, then continued, "After you have finished harvesting, you have two choices. First, you can stay where you are and wait for the day the Void Heaven Palace closes. We will then safely escort you out of the outer palace. Second..."

As soon as the words were spoken, a low murmur arose among the crowd. Compared to the treacherous and unpredictable Ghostly Land, being able to safely harvest spiritual herbs was undoubtedly a tremendous advantage! Many cultivators' eyes instantly lit up with eager light, and their previous fatigue and vigilance were greatly diminished.

"There's no time to lose. Those who wish to enter to gather herbs may do so on their own," another elder announced succinctly.

The cultivators, who had been unable to contain themselves any longer, immediately surged towards the small teleportation array, fearing that if they were even a step too late, the spiritual herbs would be all taken by others. The scene instantly became somewhat chaotic.

Luo Ming exchanged a knowing glance with Xuan Gu in the distance, and then followed the crowd, walking slowly toward the teleportation array.

Just as Luo Ming was about to step into the formation, he keenly sensed a cold and persistent gaze, like a venomous snake, constantly coiling around his back.

Without turning around, he knew where the gaze came from—it was from the gloomy-faced Ancestor Jiyin on the high platform.

At this moment, the old monster's gaze, filled with undisguised malice and greed, swept back and forth between his and Han Li's backs. Finally, like a hawk locking onto its prey, his gaze fixed firmly on Han Li, and a cold smile seemed to curl at the corner of his mouth.

Three streaks of light, each a different color, pierced the sky as they sped through this space, which seemed to have been created out of nowhere and was so rich in spiritual energy that it resembled a blessed land. These were Luo Ming, Han Li, and Xuan Gu.

Beneath their feet stretched a range of verdant mountains, shrouded in mist, with exotic flowers and rare herbs everywhere. However, none of the three were in the mood to appreciate this rare beauty. They maintained a tacit silence and flew in the direction indicated by the Xuan Bone.