398: Blood River Stone

Xu Sanyan knew he was overthinking things. No matter how crazy the Great Madam might be, it was impossible for her to try to seduce him; clearly, she had something to discuss.

The Great Madam's courtyard was also within the main residence, though it was a separate compound. Xu Sanyan rarely visited, having only been there a few times when he married Wang Mingxin.

The courtyard was filled with many flowers, many of which he couldn't even name. A path paved with bluestone wound through the flower beds; stepping onto it felt delightful, and it was extremely elegant.

A maid led the way ahead until they reached the middle of the courtyard, where the Great Madam was sitting on a bamboo chair, pruning flowers.

"You've come. Sit."

The Great Madam looked up and smiled, nodding in a very friendly manner before immediately continuing to prune.

After bringing him there, the maid turned and left without saying another word.

Xu Sanyan didn't disturb her, sitting quietly to the side watching the Great Madam work. In truth, there wasn't much to prune on that flower; perhaps this act was just to calm her mind and gather her scattered thoughts.

Some people habitually do something while thinking, and it seemed the Great Madam was that type of person.

The Great Madam stuck the small knife into the soil, turned around, and clapped her hands. With a gentle smile, she said, "I heard your cultivation has made progress again. That is truly something to celebrate."

Xu Sanyan said modestly, "Mother-in-law, you flatter me. It was merely luck, not worth mentioning."

The Great Madam chuckled and shook her head. "This is certainly not something achieved by luck. It must be that your talent is exceptional; there is no need to be humble."

Although she was his mother-in-law, Xu Sanyan still couldn't be bothered to make small talk with her. He asked directly, "Mother-in-law, do you have something you need? Feel free to speak plainly."

The Great Madam's hand paused. She hadn't expected him to be so impatient, so she stopped beating around the bush. "There really is one matter. After much thought, I believe you are the most suitable person to handle it."

"This old woman?"

Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, his gaze quickly sweeping over the Great Madam. The fleshy orbs on her chest were extremely eye-catching, and coupled with her water-like skin and voluptuous figure, it really couldn't be associated with the term 'this old woman'.

However, there was no issue with her referring to herself that way. Although the Great Madam looked young, her age was indeed not small, and she was Xu Sanyan's elder, so referring to herself as 'this old woman' was appropriate.

"Please, just say it directly."

Xu Sanyan didn't agree; he wanted to hear what the matter was first, and what he could gain from it.

If he were to help for free, Xu Sanyan certainly wouldn't do it, even if she was his nominal mother-in-law.

The Great Madam was well-versed in the ways of the world and would never ask him to help for nothing. She first took five Soul Crystals from her bosom and placed them on the table one by one. Seeing that Xu Sanyan had taken a bit of interest, she then spoke,

"I would like to trouble you to make a trip to the Li family and help me bring someone over."

Xu Sanyan frowned. "Bring someone?"

The Wang family and the Li family were neighbors, but the distance was not short. Normally, it would take three to five days to travel, and with the outside being even more dangerous now, it was unlikely he could return in seven or eight days.

Coupled with the many Ghost Beasts along the way, and having to bring a dead weight along, he feared there would be no peace on the journey.

After thinking it over, it wasn't that he couldn't do it; the key was...

Xu Sanyan glanced at the five Soul Crystals on the stone table,

Too few.

It wasn't worth it. For a mere five Soul Crystals, it was absolutely not worth him taking such a huge risk.

The Great Madam clearly knew how dangerous it was outside the city, so she explained, "This is only a portion. Once the person is brought back, there will be a generous reward."

The conversation between the two didn't sound like a dialogue between a mother-in-law and a son-in-law; it was more like a clearly priced transaction.

Xu Sanyan raised his eyelids. "Who is worth such great trouble for you, Mother-in-law? Why not have the Li family send someone to deliver them? Wouldn't that be more convenient?"

The Great Madam sighed and slowly shook her head. "It is my younger sister. She was born a bit simple-minded. Usually, it was fine for her to stay at the Li family, but today is different from the past..."

The Great Madam looked at the dense fog, deeply worried in her heart.

If the Li family encountered a crisis, her younger sister would certainly not survive without anyone to look after her. Bringing her to her side was the best method.

After much thought, the Great Madam believed only Xu Sanyan was the most suitable person to go. Firstly, his cultivation was high, and he had the ability to protect her younger sister from harm.

Secondly, he was also her son-in-law, so the relationship was closer.

Xu Sanyan was not interested in the emotional bond between the sisters; he only followed one principle: profit.

The Great Madam thinking she could make him risk his life with just an empty promise of 'a generous reward' was purely wishful thinking. Xu Sanyan declined, "The mountain roads are long, and Ghost Beasts run rampant. It is one thing for me to travel alone, but if I have to bring someone else, I fear..."

The words reached this point, and the meaning of refusal could not be more obvious. The Great Madam naturally understood. She sighed, "Soul Crystals are precious, and this old woman does not have many more in my hands. However, there is an item that might serve as a gift of gratitude."

Xu Sanyan didn't speak, looking up with curiosity. He saw the Great Madam flip her hand and take out a blood-red stone. The surface of the stone was smooth, shaped like a pebble, and it emitted a faint halo in the mist. At a glance, one could tell this item was extraordinary.

"What is this?" Xu Sanyan frowned.

He sensed a complex aura from this stone, carrying a strong scent of blood and Evil Qi; it did not seem like a good item.

"A blood river stone."

The Great Madam tossed the stone to him, letting him examine it closely.

Xu Sanyan gripped the stone. Aside from feeling a bit cold in his palm, there was no other sensation. This thing could serve as a way to cool off in the summer, at least.

"What use do I have for this thing?" Xu Sanyan asked, puzzled.

"One or two pieces are of course useless, but if there are many, they can guide Evil Qi into the body to temper the Physical Body, allowing one to advance further in the path of Body Refining."

The Great Madam knew that Xu Sanyan walked the path of the Physical Body, and for this, she had specifically put in the effort to prepare the blood river stone as a reward.

"But this item also has drawbacks. Evil Qi entering the body can easily erode the mind, so one must be vigilant at all times to guard against Qi Deviation." The Great Madam stated the pros and cons clearly, without any concealment.

Xu Sanyan held the blood river stone, knitting his brows in thought. He didn't know how effective this thing was, but it seemed it could be used elsewhere...

It just so happened that the Soul-Gathering Life-Preserving Grand Formation also borrowed turbid Qi to defile the Heavenly Dao. If he were to add this item into the Formation...

Xu Sanyan thought about it carefully, then shook his head and rejected the idea. With his current level of cultivation in the Dao of Formations, he was far from being able to modify the Grand Formation. Adding it recklessly would be like drawing a snake and adding feet. He had a clear understanding of his own capabilities.

He would consider it after he had fully mastered the Grand Formation in the future.

"How many of these can you provide?" Xu Sanyan raised his eyes.

The Great Madam extended one finger. "One hundred."

"One hundred..."

Xu Sanyan weighed it in his heart. He didn't know how effective this blood river stone was, but he estimated it certainly couldn't compare to tan milk. Coupled with the fact that using this thing carried a certain level of danger, its value wasn't particularly high.

One hundred was a bit too few.

"Five hundred."

"Good, deal." The Great Madam nodded immediately.

Damn it, I asked for too little...

"I want them now."

"Very well."

The Great Madam wasn't afraid that he would take the payment and not do the job, readily taking out a Storage Pouch and tossing it to him.