Volume 5: Flow of Rivers, Ancient Life - Chapter 144

Jinli was stunned for a long time upon seeing Honglanzui looking like this for the very first time.

Even though the bids had already soared extremely high, some bidders still refused to back down. The display of Honglanzui's first-tier cultivation realm pushed the atmosphere of the venue to its absolute peak.

"One tier of cultivation realm plus a Purple Jade Pearl!"

What?! That Purple Jade Pearl was none other than the ultimate legendary treasure of the Eastern Sea!

Jinli stared with profound shock at the bidder. It was a woman clad in dark purple fitted martial attire and wearing a mask, obscuring her features, yet her stature unmistakably revealed her gender.

Noticing that some competitors were clearly beginning to shrink back, just as Honglanzui was about to speak, Jinli took the initiative. "Second-tier cultivation realm."

Several people turned their heads back to look at the inconspicuous figure in the corner, immediately bursting into loud, derisive laughter.

"Little Immortal Lord, you certainly talk a big game. You should know that words spoken must be honored! Judging by the celestial glow around your body, you probably can't even reach the first tier, let alone the second."

"Precisely, hahahahaha."

"You'd better consult your own Immortal Lord clearly before making such decisions."

........

Countless voices of mockery and disbelief echoed through the air, leaving the West Sea Water Official on the stage in a rather awkward predicament.

Jinli exchanged a glance with him and subtly flashed a look.

Now was not the right time; she needed to secure this Soul-Soothe Herb first.

However, right at that moment, the West Sea Lord stepped onto the stage to take control of the situation. "I regret to inform everyone that this Soul-Soothe Herb already has an owner. Furthermore, the owner of the herb no longer wishes to sell it. Please forgive us for this inconvenience."

"What?! We traveled all this way, and now the Water Lord tells us it's already claimed? Aren't you deliberately making fools of us?"

"Indeed! Exactly who is the owner of this Soul-Soothe Herb? We kindly ask the Water Lord to invite them out so we may see them."

"Lord of the West Sea, this matter is of great consequence. Everyone here came specifically for this Soul-Soothe Herb, and we hope you will not let us down."

........

All sorts of remarks broke out—some complaining, some offering strategies, and others loudly demanding a fair explanation... In short, there was a bit of everything.

Jinli furrowed her brows slightly, and when she raised her eyes to scan the crowd once more, Honglanzui had already departed.

It seemed obtaining the Soul-Soothe Herb today was out of the question.

Jinli silently walked away.

Just as she emerged from the water palace and stepped onto the riverbank, she caught sight of Bai Wanting leading a group of people away. Vaguely, she spotted a brocade box clutched in Bai Wanting's hand.

Jinli was startled!

The Soul-Soothe Herb?

Jinli lifted her feet and followed behind them.

After trailing them for a while, Jinli realized that Bai Wanting and her companions seemed to be walking in circles, even lingering at certain spots along the way.

Cloaked in invisibility, Jinli followed closely behind and heard one of Bai Wanting's subordinates asking her, "Princess, are we really going to hand this Soul-Soothe Herb over to Fairy Xusu?"

Since when had Bai Wanting grown so close to Yousu Wen?

Could she have been manipulated by her?

It appeared as though Bai Wanting took orders from Yousu Wen, yet her expression showed utter defiance. How could a princess renowned for being arrogant, unreasonable, and willful ever humble herself to serve a mere fairy?

She had merely made a mistake and been banished down to the mortal realm to guard the River of Forgetting, not stripped of her royal title as a princess.

At this moment, Bai Wanting's eyes were filled with absolute disdain and contempt.

"Hand it over to her? On what grounds? A mere fairy who merely happens to hold favor before the Heavenly Lord dares to order this princess around. She even expects me to be at her beck and call—what an absolute pipe dream!"

With that, Bai Wanting clapped her hands with a supremely arrogant demeanor. "We'll take our time, circle around for a few days, and then simply find an excuse to say we failed to acquire the Soul-Soothe Herb."

Jinli wanted to laugh. How did the current Bai Wanting give off such a strong vibe of being "wise beneath a foolish exterior"?

Even though this method and excuse would probably not deceive Yousu Wen at all.

Leaning against a tree with her eyebrows slightly arched, Jinli watched our "astute" Princess Bai Wanting with amused interest.

She thought to herself: I just hope Yousu Wen doesn't come down here in person to drag her back by the collar.

Perhaps because she had spent too much time in the Sacred Celestial Realm, her words felt like a prophecy. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the reality materialized the very next second.

It was as if she possessed a premonition.

Yousu Wen wore a gentle expression, looking mild-mannered and docile, smiling brightly at Bai Wanting like an affectionate elder sister.

She called her "Sister" at every turn, yet she had not performed a single courtesy bow toward Bai Wanting.

One could only imagine how much Princess Baize, who had always placed immense importance on hierarchy and respect, must have been gritting her teeth in hidden rage at this very moment.

"You've worked hard, Sister. I'm sorry to trouble you with this trip on my behalf."

Bai Wanting was never someone who could conceal her inner thoughts, and at this instant, her displeasure began to show. "Fairy Xusu would do better to address me as Princess."

Yousu Wen easily accommodated her. "Very well, Princess Wanting. How fares the Soul-Soothe Herb? The Heavenly Lord has been pressing us quite urgently."

Bai Wanting was about to conjure up an excuse, but Yousu Wen seemed to pierce through her "scheme" at a single glance. Her phoenix-like eyes radiated shrewdness, and the arches of her eyebrows curved upward. "Princess Wanting is exceptionally capable; surely a trivial matter like this will not disappoint the Heavenly Lord."

Bai Wanting was momentarily choked for words, and Yousu Wen pressed her advantage while the iron was hot. "In consideration of your meritorious service, the Heavenly Lord wishes for you to return to Yujing as soon as possible."

"Really? The Heavenly Lord genuinely wants me to return?"

"Naturally."

Bai Wanting held an inexplicable obsession with returning to Yujing, murmuring that she would soon be able to see her Crown Prince Brother once again. Yousu Wen was exceptionally skilled at seizing opportunities.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been staying in Yujing recently. Who knows whether he might be awaiting the Princess's return?"

If one were to speak of Bai Wanting's fixation on Yujing, half of the reason was entirely for the sake of the Crown Prince.

Bai Wanting was already so utterly intoxicated by Yousu Wen's words that she completely forgot about her previous "astute" plan. Jinli pressed a hand to her forehead, thinking to herself that as expected, she would still have to intervene personally in the end.

She checked her Illusion-Changing Pearl to ensure it was still functioning, then readied her fingers to step forward.

Just as that brocade box materialized in Yousu Wen's hand, however, a sudden, fierce gale roared through the area. The tree leaves rustled violently, and colorful Chinese toon leaves fell like raindrops.

Abruptly, over a dozen figures clad in black appeared among the trees. Those individuals seemed thoroughly prepared, rushing straight toward the brocade box in Yousu Wen's grasp the moment they arrived.

Fine, then.

She would simply reap the fisherman's profits.

In the past, Jinli had not been such a "stoic and detached" person, but nowadays, her physical condition was growing increasingly frail, so it was best not to squander her cultivation realm carelessly.

Hiding in the shadows, Jinli observed the attacking formations and magic arts utilized by those assailants.

Wind-type magic?

And water-type as well?

Jinli even caught sight of the legendary "Wind Shadow Brake" mentioned only in ancient texts. She paused to reflect: wind-type sorcery had vanished completely since antiquity. Across the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, aside from the Wind God who manipulated wind, no one else possessed wind arts that could be weaponized for combat.

The only ones capable of using wind to kill and wage war were seemingly... the people of the Floating Jade Pavilion.

Legend had it that the ten elders of the Floating Jade Pavilion were peerless immortals of the highest caliber.

Apart from the elemental arts of the Five Elements, they even mastered certain peculiar and esoteric sorceries.

Since the ancient era down to the present day, no outsiders had ever mastered sorceries outside of the Five Elements.

A wave of shock rippled through Jinli's heart.

When on earth had the Floating Jade Pavilion made its reappearance?