txolops Chapter 277 Master's Gift
Chapter 277 Master's Gift
Thinking of this, he revealed a perfectly measured look of "embarrassment" and "shame" on his face, and honestly replied, "Senior, the Xuan Turtle and the Zhiyang Bird in my possession were greatly exhausted and injured while helping me escape from the Ghostly Resentment Land. Their energy has not yet recovered, and their strength has been greatly diminished. The Qianlan Ice Flame in the inner hall is incredibly powerful, and I am worried that they... will not be able to withstand such extreme cold, and may instead hinder your important matters."
"Hmph!" The Extreme Yin Ancestor snorted coldly, his gaze like a knife scraping against Luo Ming, his tone carrying an undeniable pressure, "Boy, do you know what treasures are hidden in that Void Heaven Cauldron? Any one of them would be worth several times more than your two spirit beasts! Now is the time for you to contribute, how dare you make excuses?"
Luo Ming was seething with hatred for Ji Yin, cursing the old ghost for always trying to sow discord within him. However, his face remained expressionless. He simply turned his gaze to the bearded man and said "sincerely," "Senior, it's not that I'm unwilling to help. It's just that those two spirit beasts are indeed in poor condition. However… I do have two spirit insects that might be of some use in the inner hall."
"Oh? What kind of spirit insect?" The bearded man raised an eyebrow.
"They are two... peak level four snow silkworms," Luo Ming said.
"Snow Silkworm?" The bearded man frowned, his face full of disbelief. "Aren't those things supposed to only grow to level two at most? You actually have a level four peak Snow Silkworm?"
Luo Ming quickly explained, "Senior, you are wise. These two snow silkworms of mine are indeed different from ordinary ones. Their size is much larger than that of their kind. I am not quite sure of the specific reason for the mutation. But they do have the strength of the peak of level four and have extremely strong resistance to cold."
He knew these old guys wouldn't believe it until they saw the snow silkworms. With a slight thought, he released the restriction on the spirit beast bag containing the two snow silkworms, allowing these old guys to see what was inside.
The two "snow silkworms," each over ten feet long, translucent like ice crystals and radiating a chilling aura, were nestled obediently inside two ice cocoons, fast asleep.
Qingyi Jushi's eyes lit up as he carefully examined the two enormous snow silkworms. He clapped his hands and laughed, "Indeed, they have undergone an extraordinary mutation! Their aura is dense and their cold power is contained within. Judging from their appearance, they are definitely not ordinary! Perhaps, they can really play an unexpected and miraculous role in dealing with the coldness of the Qianlan Ice Flame!"
Add to that the Blood Jade Spider in Han Xiaoyou's possession, and Brother Wu's mutated fire python... Haha, our chances of obtaining this treasure have greatly increased!
The Old Ancestor of Extreme Yin also took a closer look, sensing the pure, icy aura emanating from the two snow silkworms. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then the forced "amiability" on his face became more genuine. He even nodded slightly to Luo Ming, and his tone softened: "If these insects can truly withstand the residual power of the Dry Blue Ice Flame, they will indeed be a great help. Young friend Luo, I underestimated you earlier."
Looking at Ji Yin's behavior of being arrogant at first and obsequious at the next, changing his attitude as easily as flipping a book, Luo Ming sneered inwardly: "As expected of a Nascent Soul cultivator, he only cares about practical benefits. Once someone has value to him, he can temporarily put aside his grudges and put on a friendly facade."
Just then, the bearded man's thick fingers first pointed at Han Li, whose face clearly said "it's none of my business," then poked Luo Ming. His copper bell eyes widened, and he said to Ji Yin and Qing Yi in a booming voice, "Since my 'disciple' has this strange insect called the mutated snow silkworm, he can contribute to the cauldron's capture."
But as you all saw, he was severely injured in the Ghostly Land and hasn't recovered yet. This Ice and Fire Path is no joke; if he goes in in this state and accidentally perishes, our plans will all fall through.”
He paused, then a genuine, unpretentious smile, characteristic of body cultivators, appeared on his face as he said in a carefree manner:
"How about this? You two old folks must have a lot of good stuff hidden away. Since we're going to need his spirit insects for help, we can't just let him go through the Ice and Fire Path naked, can we? Take out some treasures and arm him, consider it advance 'reward,' and make sure he makes it to the inner hall unscathed, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, the smiles on the faces of the Extreme Yin Ancestor and Qingyi Hermit, who had just been beaming with joy at the prospect of obtaining the treasure, froze instantly, and their lips twitched involuntarily.
Meanwhile, Luo Ming was overjoyed and almost couldn't help but bow deeply to the bearded man! This cheap master of his was quite protective of his own when it mattered!
Although he knew that Manhuzi's actions were mostly to ensure the integrity of the "tools for taking the cauldron," he was naturally happy to see Ji Yin and Qing Yi's bamboo bar break and benefit himself. He even began to look forward to seeing what good things these two Nascent Soul old monsters could pull out.
Seeing that Ji Yin and Qing Yi had been outmaneuvered and were now reluctantly making their way through, Manhuzi felt a surge of satisfaction. He had been somewhat frustrated earlier, having been forced by Ji Yin to hand over the precious "Yellow Phosphorus Armor" to Han Li, and now he could finally get his revenge.
He grinned widely, revealing a set of white teeth, but his eyes held an undisguised threat as he coldly snorted:
"What? You two old geezers, are you looking down on me, or do you think my disciple's spirit insects aren't worth much? Let me tell you, don't try to play the poor card with me! I know exactly what you have in stock! If you dare to try and fool me with some junk, don't blame my fists for being ruthless!"
As he spoke, he shook his fist, which was as big as a sand bowl, in a show of defiance. A pale golden luster flowed over it, and there was a faint sound of wind and thunder.
The Old Ancestor of Extreme Yin's eyes twitched, quite wary of the barbarian's reckless behavior. This barbarian was powerful and thick-skinned; if they really fought, even if he and Qing Yi joined forces, they might not be able to gain the upper hand. Moreover, they needed this man to deal with Wan Tianming while they retrieved the treasure.
His eyes darted around, a plan forming in his mind. He forced a smile and turned the tables on Luo, saying, "You scoundrel, you keep saying that Luo is your disciple, but along the way, apart from ordering him around, I haven't seen you give this 'disciple' a single benefit."
Now look what's happened! You're forcing us two outsiders to bleed, while you, as the master, don't contribute a single penny? This is... a bit unreasonable, isn't it? If word gets out, people will think you, Bearded Man, only know how to take advantage of your disciples!
Qingyi Jushi was quick-witted and immediately understood Jiyin's intention. He stroked his beard and smiled as he replied, "What you say is absolutely right, Jiyou. Brother Man, your fiery and straightforward temper is a good thing, but you can't be too harsh on your disciples."
"Look at young friend Luo, his cultivation is so advanced at such a young age, it's truly remarkable. Following you, he'll likely be constantly fighting or being hunted down; how can he possibly cultivate in peace? Why not wait until the matters of the Void Heaven Palace are settled, and then let him come with me to Nanhe Island? The spiritual energy there is abundant, the scenery is beautiful, it's perfect for quiet cultivation and enlightenment, ensuring his carefree journey and smooth path to enlightenment."
His words were half a sarcastic remark to the bearded man, and half a sincere attempt to recruit him. This was not only because the other party had received the same inheritance as him, but more importantly, because Luo Ming's potential had also greatly impressed him.
"Bullshit!" The bearded man's face turned red from the back-and-forth banter between the two men. His copper-bell eyes widened as he glared at them fiercely. He knew that if he didn't blew himself out today, these two old guys would probably really make him out to be a "stingy master." Moreover, the fact that Qing Yi dared to poach his men right in front of him made him even angrier.
He took a couple of deep breaths, seemingly making a difficult decision. Finally, with a pained expression, he reached into his storage pouch, rummaged around for a moment, and pulled out a palm-sized box carved entirely of warm jade. Holding the jade box, he hesitated for a long time before handing it to Luo Ming as if cutting off a piece of his own flesh, saying in a muffled voice:
"I've already given the Yellow Phosphorus Armor to Han boy, and I don't have any suitable protective armor for you right now. This box contains a 'Royal Essence Pill.' Take it and take it quickly to heal your injuries! Don't look so sickly and embarrass me!"
"The Imperial Essence Pill!" Ancestor Jiyin and Qingyi Jushi exclaimed almost simultaneously, their faces filled with disbelief and shock, and their gazes toward the jade box instantly became intensely intense.
Qingyi Jushi couldn't help but explain to Luo Ming with undisguised envy in his voice, "Young Luo, you've struck gold! This Huangyuan Pill is made primarily from the demon core of a turtle-type demon beast of level seven or above, which is skilled in healing and recovery, and supplemented with dozens of rare spiritual herbs!"
Its medicinal power is so strong that it can restore most of a Nascent Soul cultivator's vital energy and injuries in a short time! For you, not only will it heal your injuries and depleted mana in a very short time, but its medicinal power can also deeply nourish your physical body, strengthen your qi and blood, and greatly benefit body-refining cultivators! This pill... is a life-saving wonder even for Nascent Soul cultivators!
Upon hearing that the "Royal Essence Pill" possessed such miraculous effects, Luo Ming was overjoyed. He quickly took the jade box with both hands, finding it warm and smooth to the touch. He carefully opened it a crack, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance, seemingly brimming with boundless vitality, immediately filled the air, invigorating his spirits.
He quickly closed the lid, bowed deeply to the bearded man, and said sincerely, "Thank you for your generous gift, Master! This elixir is a timely help for me!"
At this moment, Luo Ming's impression of Barbarian Beard skyrocketed! Although this old demon had a fiery temper and acted domineeringly, he was truly generous to his own people, offering treasures of this caliber! Compared to the insidious schemes of Ji Yin, Mu Tengzi, and others, Barbarian Beard's straightforward style made him feel much more at ease.
Seeing Luo Ming's respectful attitude, even addressing him as "Master," the bearded man's expression softened considerably. He then glared fiercely at Ji Yin and Qing Yi, and said in a gruff voice:
"I've already given you my 'apprenticeship gift,' now it's your turn! If what you bring out is less valuable than my 'Imperial Essence Pill,' hmph..." The threatening words were left unsaid, but the cracking fists said it all.