19: Lingzhi Peak Bai Lengchan

Remembering Lin Qingxue, Yao Delong felt a twinge of guilt.

That pink bellyband "gifted" by the System lucky draw a few days ago... cough, cough, Junior Sister must never find out!

He immediately began rummaging through his Storage Ring.

On his previous trips down the mountain to the market, he had taken note of the delicate trinkets that women favored.

Soon, a jade hairpin appeared in his hand, carved entirely from warm green jade and inlaid with several small but shimmering Starblue Stones at the tip.

The jade was lustrous, and the Starblue Stones reflected dreamlike specks of starlight under the light; it was exquisite yet elegant, perfectly matching Lin Qingxue's temperament.

Tucking the jade hairpin away, Yao Delong took a deep breath and walked toward the small courtyard where Lin Qingxue lived.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he heard Lin Qingxue's cold, indignant voice coming from inside.

"...Look more carefully! That pink one with white plum blossoms embroidered on it definitely went missing when it was being aired out that day!

To think such... such a filthy and disgusting thing would happen on Luoxia Peak!

If I catch that clothes thief, I'll definitely drag him to the Law Enforcement Hall and skin him alive!"

Several female Disciples chimed in, their voices also filled with anger.

Yao Delong's footsteps faltered, and his old face instantly felt awkward; he understood exactly what she meant the moment he heard the word 'pink'.

Steeling himself, he coughed twice and pushed open the courtyard gate.

"Cough, cough... Junior Sister Qingxue?"

In the courtyard, Lin Qingxue's face was frosty and her brows were furrowed as she directed several female Disciples to search for something.

Seeing Yao Delong enter, her cold eyes instantly became incredibly sharp, like two small icy swords piercing straight toward him!

"Senior Brother!?" Lin Qingxue's voice was cold enough to drop ice shards. "You've come at the right time!

Luoxia Peak has been unsettled lately; a thief has actually been stealing... stealing women's intimate garments!

As an elder of the Peak, do you know who did this?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "intimate garments," her eyes fixed on Yao Delong as if trying to see through him.

Delong felt a chill down his spine but forced himself to stay calm, squeezing out an expression of "shock and anger."

"Such a thing happened?! This is... simply outrageous! It ruins the reputation of our Luoxia Peak!

Don't worry, Junior Sister, I will definitely conduct a thorough investigation! I won't tolerate this!"

While speaking righteously, he hurriedly pulled the green jade Starblue hairpin from his sleeve.

"By the way, Junior Sister, I saw this by chance at the market when I went down the mountain today. I thought it suited your elegant temperament perfectly, so I bought it."

Yao Delong handed over the jade hairpin, his movements carrying a hint of ingratiation.

"A small token of my regard. Don't let that filthy thief ruin your health with anger."

Lin Qingxue's gaze fell upon the jade hairpin. The warm green jade and dreamlike Starblue Stones did indeed make her eyes light up slightly.

In particular, Yao Delong's comment about it "suiting her elegant temperament" caused the anger in her heart to dissipate quite a bit.

She took the jade hairpin, feeling the cool smoothness of the jade on her fingertips, and gently stroked the delicate patterns on the body of the pin.

The frost on her face melted away a few degrees.

"Hmph, I suppose you still have a bit of a conscience, Senior Brother." Lin Qingxue's tone softened as she carefully put the jade hairpin away.

"You wouldn't visit without a reason, Senior Brother. Tell me, what is it?"

Seeing that he had successfully diverted the topic, Yao Delong breathed a secret sigh of relief and hurriedly said:

"Junior Sister has a Wisdom Eye. I wish to refine a certain Medicinal Pill and need a rare Spirit Medicine called 'heavenly vein ganoderma'.

I've heard this medicine only grows in very special places, so Spirit Plant Peak is the most likely place to have a lead. I'm not familiar with Spirit Plant Peak, so I'd like to ask you to introduce me."

"heavenly vein ganoderma?" Hearing this, Lin Qingxue's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "I've heard Revered Master mention this before. It's an ancient variant.

It contains a trace of heavenly vein essence and is extremely rare. Spirit Plant Peak... might have it? Fine, for the sake of this hairpin, I'll go with you."

"Thank you, Junior Sister!" Yao Delong was overjoyed.

Lin Qingxue summoned her cold, shimmering Flying Sword and, carrying Yao Delong, turned into a streak of icy blue light.

They flew toward Spirit Plant Peak, which was shrouded in clouds and mist, brimming with Spiritual Qi like an otherworldly paradise.

Spirit Plant Peak, entrance to the medicinal garden.

The air was thick with a dense medicinal fragrance and a vigorous aura of life. Rare flowers and exotic herbs were everywhere,

and many spirit plants emitting precious light grew orderly in the spirit fields.

After the guard Disciples verified Lin Qingxue's identity token, they respectfully allowed them through.

Not long after the two entered the medicinal garden, a woman dressed in plain white palace attire, with a cold and ethereal aura like an ice mountain lotus, appeared ahead.

She looked to be only in her twenties, with skin whiter than snow and exquisitely perfect features.

However, her eyes were deep and distant, as if they held endless ages within them.

A faint chill radiated from her; just by standing there quietly,

the surrounding air seemed about to freeze. She was the Vice Peak Master of Spirit Plant Peak, Bai Lengchan!

[Ding! New target detected: Bai Lengchan]

[Age: 150 years old]

[Spiritual Power Affinity: 9 (Extraordinary Talent)]

[Cultivation: Mid-stage Soul Transformation]

[Favorability: 20 (Indifferent)]

Yao Delong's heart skipped a beat. Mid-stage Soul Transformation! This was a top-tier powerhouse even within the Yin Yang Sect!

He quickly restrained his aura and bowed respectfully: "Yao Delong of Luoxia Peak greets Peak Master Bai."

Lin Qingxue also bowed: "Qingxue greets Martial Aunt Bai."

Bai Lengchan's gaze was indifferent, sweeping over the two like two ice crystals.

She paused slightly on Lin Qingxue and nodded slightly in response.

When her gaze fell upon Yao Delong,

that indifference clearly contained a trace of subtle scrutiny and... an almost imperceptible hint of contempt.

"Niece Lin, for what matter have you come?" Her voice was clear and cold, like jade beads falling on a tray.

Lin Qingxue took a step forward and explained on his behalf:

"Reporting to Martial Aunt Bai, my Senior Brother Yao Delong wishes to refine a Medicinal Pill and needs a primary ingredient, 'heavenly vein ganoderma'.

Hearing that this medicine is rare, we have come specifically to Spirit Plant Peak to inquire."

"heavenly vein ganoderma?" Bai Lengchan's cold brows finally twitched slightly.

Her gaze focused once more on Yao Delong's withered face, carrying an unmasked scrutiny.

"You want the heavenly vein ganoderma? As far as I know, this item is not required for ordinary pills, and certainly not... a primary material for a foundation establishment pill."

How sharp was the Divine Sense of a Soul Transformation powerhouse? Yao Delong's aura of the Peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, seeking to establish his foundation, was as clear as lines on a palm to her.

Yao Delong's heart thumped, but he maintained a respectful expression.

"Peak Master is wise. The heavenly vein ganoderma I seek is not for a foundation establishment pill.

It is an auxiliary herb recorded in an ancient recipe... for nourishing the Origin and extending life."

He spoke half-truths; extending life was indeed true.

A flash of realization crossed Bai Lengchan's eyes, and she said indifferently, "Oh? Nourishing the Origin? Extending life?"

Her tone was flat, but the condescending undertone became even stronger.

"The heavenly vein ganoderma is indeed cultivated in this peak's medicinal garden. After the efforts of three generations of Peak Masters, only two have barely survived, both being treasures several centuries old."

Yao Delong was delighted! They really had it!

"May I ask Peak Master, can this disciple..."

"No." Bai Lengchan interrupted directly, her voice icy cold.

"The heavenly vein ganoderma is a spirit medicine infinitely close to the Heaven Rank. It cannot be exchanged except by those with outstanding merits or major contributions to the Sect.

The required contribution points..." Her red lips parted slightly as she spat out a few cold words, "4,000 points."

Four thousand contribution points? Yao Delong's heart went cold.

contribution points were extremely difficult to obtain; an ordinary Sect mission only gave a few or a few dozen points. This was simply an astronomical figure!

"Peak Revered Master, I wonder if... Spirit Stones could be used?"

Yao Delong asked through gritted teeth; he was not lacking in Spirit Stones now.

The corner of Bai Lengchan's mouth curled into an imperceptible arc, like melting snow, but it appeared even more mocking.

"Spirit Stones? How can such a treasure of heaven and earth be measured by vulgar objects?"

She looked at Yao Delong's instantly dimmed eyes as if watching an overconfident joke.