Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Hundred Flower Palace.
Hundred Flower Fairy, Ji Fanxin, sat gracefully before Zhang Ruochen, wearing a veil. Her soft hand gently held a pot of the famed Fairy’s Flowers wine over flames, cooking it. [1]
Fairy’s Flowers wine was made from the flower petals of a hundred types of Saint Flowers handpicked by Ji Fanxin herself, and could only be bought from the auction place of the Hundred Flower Palace at sky-high prices.
Being able to drink the wine was a dream of many of her male fans.
As for Fairy’s Flower wine that was personally cooked by Hundred Flowers Fairy, it would not be an exaggeration to say that some would even give up their lives.
Merely being served this cup would make Zhang Ruochen the object of many’s jealousies.
Fairy Extreme King and Qian Liwen stood behind Hundred Flower Fairy, seemingly relaxed. Yet their gazes seemed to be sharp and especially on guard against that black metallic figure behind Zhang Ruochen.
Bloop Bloop!
The wine started to boil.
As the fragrance of the wine diffused over the entire garden, it was as though hundreds of flowers had bloomed at once, giving people the illusion that they were seated in a sea of flowers.
Flower petals seemed to have really formed in the air. There was white, pink, crimson, lilac… Flowers of all colors and shapes seemed to be scattered in the air. It was truly Fairy’s Flowers.
Hundred Flower Fairy poured out a full cup and passed it to Zhang Ruochen, and told him, “Taste this.”
Apart from with Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan, Zhang Ruochen had not drunk much alcohol. Yet, Fairy’s Flowers wine that was personally cooked by Hundred Flowers Fairy was extremely attractive to him, and even just a whiff of the scent seemed enough to make one drunk.
A man must never disappoint the beautiful lady or the good wine.
Zhang Ruochen accepted the cup, and lightly sipped a little. Immediately, particles of light flew out from within his body, and it was as though his body had merged to become one with the sea of flowers around him, as if he could start floating.
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but exclaim, “Good wine!”
Fairy’s Flower wine was comparable to No Oath Broken wine of the Thousand Star Maiden, and some would even say it was better.
Both wines were amazing.
Both ladies were absurdly beautiful.
But while the Thousand Star Maiden only liked drinking, Hundred Flower Fairy knew how to brew it and cook it, so in the way of the wine, there were definitely significant differences.
“No matter how good the wine is, it is still just wine. How can it compare to your acts?” Hundred Flower Fairy asked.
Zhang Ruochen put down the wine cup and asked, “Fairy, what do you mean?”
Hundred Flower Fairy’s gorgeous eyes stared at the black metallic figure behind Zhang Ruochen, and said, “Even the leader of the Thousand Devil Field has capitulated to you. If this is not amazing, what is?”
Actually, Zhang Ruochen did not want many people to know of Xie Chengzi, thus that black armor that was given was actually used to cover up his presence.
Yet, Hundred Flower Fairy was able to identify him with just a glance.
Fairy Extreme King and Qian Liwen’s faces turned into those of shock, as they did not expect that a devilish figure like Xie Chengzi would turn into a mere guard of Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Great! As expected of the Divine Ancient Pluto Reflection Lotus. To hide from your eyes would not be something easy to do.”
“This time, it had nothing to do with my eyes. This was primarily because I possessed something that resonated with the evil Qi within Xie Chengzi’s body.”
Hundred Flower Fairy took out a maroon-colored iron ring. On the ring, there were some ancient inscriptions that emitted hair-standing evil Qi.
That evil Qi seemed to be from the same source as that from Xie Chengzi’s body.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “This is…?”
The black metallic figure standing behind Zhang Ruochen seemed to be enraged. “So it was you guys that took away my Ring of Bloodlust.”
Hundred Flower Fairy lightly said, “Do you still remember the mass grave site with over ten thousand bodies? This ring was found at the bottom of that, and was absorbing the blood and Saint Qi of those female bodies. Right now, it could at most be considered an incomplete weapon.”
The black metallic figure quickly bowed towards Zhang Ruochen and said, “Master, the Ring of Bloodlust is a treasure of the Evil Way. I collected countless materials to make it a reality. If it were to be completed, it would give us immense strength.”
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, and gestured for him to step down.
Zhang Ruochen certainly understood that the Ring of Bloodlust was amazing as well. Even though it was made using inhumane methods, it was definitely powerful. Thus, he probed, “Such an evil weapon like the Ring of Bloodlust seems to be useless if it remains in Fairy’s hands.”
“Indeed, I am not interested in it. If you want it, you only need to spend thirty million Saint Stones, and I will sell it to you,” Hundred Flower Fairy replied.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Thirty million Saint Stones is enough to purchase a Fifth-Yao Ten-thousand Pattern Saint Weapon. Fairy, given our friendship, do you really need to rip me off?”
“Do you mean that this Ring of Bloodlust could not compare to a Fifth-Yao Ten-thousand Pattern Saint Weapon?”
Hundred Flower Fairy stared at the black metallic figure.
The black metallic figure stepped up and said, “Master, I can pay up. We must purchase the Ring of Bloodlust.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned, and chided, “Know your place. Step down.”
Thirty million was not too difficult for Zhang Ruochen to pay up.
However, if he could bargain and save some money, why not?
However, through his reaction, Hundred Flower Fairy had certainly understood that the value of the Ring of Bloodlust was definitely way more than thirty million. It would be impossible to bargain any further.
His only hope was that she did not add to the price.
Zhang Ruochen quickly agreed. “Fine, it’s a deal for thirty million Saint Stones then.”
Before giving Hundred Flower Fairy a chance to add to the price, Zhang Ruochen raised his hand and, using spatial powers, grabbed the ring.
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen had moved, Fairy Extreme King mobilized his Saint Qi and his Saint Might rushed towards Zhang Ruochen.
“Stop,” Hundred Flower Fairy lightly declared.
Thud!
Zhang Ruochen threw a storage sack containing thirty million over right in front of Hundred Flower Fairy.
Hundred Flower Fairy did not even look at the storage sack, and stared at Zhang Ruochen, her beautiful eyes smiling. “What a move! Seems like you are the notorious Lin Yue. Instead of thirty million Saint Stones, give me one thousand drops of the Divine Spring!”
As she was a Divine Ancient Pluto Reflection Lotus, the Divine Spring was rather important to her.
“I knew you would eventually find out.”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “However, we had already decided on the price. So that is that.”
“Fine!”
Hundred Flower Fairy took out the Golden Dragon Carriage, and held it in her palms, “This Nine-dragon Carriage, do you want it back?”
“Of course,” said Zhang Ruochen.
Hundred Flower Fairy said, “Then use Divine Spring to exchange for it.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly, and retorted, “When I was at my lowest, Fairy lent a helping hand. I have always remembered this and was deeply grateful for that. As such, I firmly thought that Fairy was not so easily moved by benefits. Yet… Isn’t what Fairy is doing now trying to take advantage of me?”
“You don’t need to praise me so. I am not that much of a saint.”
Immediately after saying that, Hundred Flower Fairy replied, “Although, I would definitely not take advantage of you. You owed me one hundred and seventy-two million Saint Stones. Yet I will only request five thousand drops of the Divine Spring for you to retrieve this Nine-dragon Carriage. We know that in the market, every drop of the Divine Spring costs thirty thousand Saint Stones, so this is already a really good price.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “No, no. Although there is a market price, the reality is that no one will even sell it. Has Fairy seen anyone sell it herself? The one hundred and seventy-two million Saint Stones that I owed you will be returned in full now.”
Hundred Flower Fairy frowned lightly, and bargained, “Four thousand drops.”
Zhang Ruochen took out another storage sack and passed it to Hundred Flower Fairy while smiling. “A total of a hundred and eighty million Saint Stones. The extra 8 million Saint Stones are a present for Fairy’s extensive support back then.”
Hundred Flower Fairy was a little upset, and complained, “You collected so much Divine Spring. Is it really that difficult to sell me just four thousand drops?”
Zhang Ruochen’s smile disappeared, and he bitterly replied, “If I really had over a hundred thousand drops of the Divine Spring, given our relationship, I wouldn’t mind selling even ten thousand drops to you. However, truthfully speaking, I was only collecting it on behalf of someone else. The remaining Divine Spring does not even amount to ten thousand drops.”
Hundred Flower Fairy thoughtfully asked, “Someone else? Was it Thousand Star Maiden or Mo Xiaogu?”
Fairy Tianchu’s figure floated before Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, and he smiled, before shaking his head and replying, “I can’t tell anything about that. I hope you can understand.”
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen had been so sincere, Hundred Flower Fairy did not press the question, and returned the Golden Dragon Carriage to him, saying, “Now it is returned to its rightful owner.”
Receiving the Golden Dragon Carriage, Zhang Ruochen was delighted, and said, “To be frank, when you were riding on the Golden Dragon Carriage, you looked so majestic, like a beautiful empress riding out to survey her lands. Yet, I am quite confused, wouldn’t that reveal our cooperation? Are you not afraid of revenge by Heaven Field?”
Hundred Flower Fairy replied, “On the fourth level of the Truth Godly Palace’s Misty Sea, I came to understand the fact that as cultivators, we must follow our heart, and not always be restricted. Even a dragon that kept lying low in the abyss for too long would lose its edge, being accustomed to the life there and never flying in the nine skies again. The revenge by Heaven Field would naturally follow, but isn’t that also a challenge for me to overcome? Moreover, Thousand Pistil Field is a main member of the faction led by Demon God Field. We are not afraid of Heaven Field.”
“Fairy has already reached the fourth level?” Zhang Ruochen was surprised.
One must know that even Zhang Ruochen was still on the third level. Even then, his level of cultivation of the Way of Truth was already leaps and bounds ahead of 99 percent of the practitioners in the Truth Heavenly Domain.
As for the fourth level, it was perhaps something only the ten Godly Disciples could achieve.
Hundred Flower Fairy explained, “The last time I secluded myself for refinement, I managed to understand the third level of the Truth Godly Palace, and thus took a look at the Fourth level.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “It is still strange. Given Fairy’s cultivation, and your understanding of the Way of Truth, you could reach the eighth, or even the ninth level of the Ocean…why are you still stuck on the seventh?”
Hundred Flower Fairy stared at Zhang Ruochen, and countless flower petals appeared, surrounding them. The other figures disappeared.
Only then, Hundred Flower Fairy spoke. “Because of the Mysteries of Truth.”
Zhang Ruochen’s pupils shrunk.
Hundred Flower Fairy continued, “Although I said that as a cultivator, we must follow our heart, that doesn’t mean we are to push ourselves on a path of no return. When you were crossing the Ocean of Truth, you were too outstanding!”
….
TL note:
[1] Cooking wine would be strange to most of us, since generally, we would prefer alcohol served neat, straight up, or on the rocks, but traditionally wine in ancient China should be drunk warm, as it supposedly brings out the flavor more. Historically speaking, those ancient wines typically have very low alcohol content due to the primitive fermentation techniques, and warm wine would be absorbed faster than cold wine since it stimulates blood flow to the stomach etc, so the wine would feel stronger than it actually is. Of course, contextually the need to cook wine in this story is to bring out the atmosphere and serve as plot devices.
