156: Chapter 156 News of the Fountain of Life
Tsk tsk tsk!
A meeting gift of three drops of ten thousand year stone milk, worth at least three million Spirit Stones, and it's practically priceless on the market, making the premium even more outrageous. This is truly a grand gesture!
Who exactly is this adoptive father she mentioned?
To be so willing to spend such a fortune, could it be some old Void Refining monster?
Immediately, Ning Yuan inquired directly, "Who is your adoptive father?"
"My adoptive father is the Ninth Elder of the Rakshasa Alliance, Yu Congwen!" Yu Wanqiu introduced with great seriousness, a look of respect on her face.
"As expected, there's a problem!"
Upon hearing that name, Tao Yao's expression instantly changed, her beautiful eyes flashing with murderous intent. Just as she was about to make a move, she was interrupted by a gentle voice.
"Fellow Daoist, please hold your hand. I bear no ill intent!"
Yu Wanqiu took out a communication talisman from her bosom; the voice just now had come from it, and its owner was naturally Yu Congwen.
"Hmph, you say you bear no ill intent? We just killed your men, and now you come knocking. Who would believe such words?" Tao Yao said coldly, subtly positioning herself in front of Ning Yuan. One could never be too cautious when dealing with Yu Congwen.
Even Ning Yuan and the others wore expressions of high alert, even scanning their surroundings to avoid a surprise attack.
"Zhang Yuan and Piao Sang are dead and gone. I have no need to avenge those two. The reason I sent Wanqiu here is actually for another important matter!" came Yu Congwen's voice from the communication talisman.
Tao Yao retorted, "Just because you say it, I should believe it? If that were the case, I would have died long ago in some godforsaken place, how could I have survived until now?"
"Then, Fellow Daoist, what would it take for you to believe me?"
"Nothing could make me believe you. Just give up on that idea!"
"..." Hearing this, no sound immediately came from the communication talisman, as if Yu Congwen was pondering how to gain Tao Yao's trust.
"Since Fellow Daoist is so distrustful of me, I shall speak frankly! Wanqiu, tell them the matter!" Yu Congwen's voice sounded again.
"Yes, Father!" Yu Wanqiu answered respectfully. She then took out a Jade Slip, pressed it to her forehead, seemingly inscribing some information onto it.
Ning Yuan and the others did not stop her, silently watching Yu Wanqiu's actions, curious to see what trick she was up to.
After three to five breaths, Yu Wanqiu removed the Jade Slip from her forehead and threw it forcefully. It traced an arc through the air and was caught by Tao Yao.
After checking it and finding nothing amiss, Tao Yao then released her Divine Sense to examine its contents. In but an instant, her expression changed drastically, clearly shocked by what she found.
This made Ning Yuan extremely curious. What could have caused such a reaction in Tao Yao? Just as he was about to ask, Yu Congwen's voice sounded once more.
"Fellow Daoist, are you willing to make a trip now?"
"Yes!" Tao Yao agreed without hesitation, causing Ning Yuan to stare at her wide-eyed, wondering if she had misspoken.
"Hehe, excellent! Then we shall discuss the details when we meet!" Yu Congwen chuckled lightly.
"This..."
What exactly was in that Jade Slip to make Tao Yao change her mind so quickly? Ning Yuan's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. But before he could ask, Tao Yao raised a hand to stop him.
She only left him with the words, 'You'll know in a moment,' which frustrated Ning Yuan immensely. What couldn't be said now? She was actually being secretive, honestly!
"Lead the way!" Tao Yao said indifferently.
"Yes, Senior!" Yu Wanqiu answered respectfully. She then presented the ten thousand year stone milk with both hands, bowing slightly, and said:
"This is the meeting gift. Please accept it, Senior."
"Mm." Tao Yao acknowledged softly. With a lift of her hand, she summoned the bottle, examined it briefly, and then handed it to Ning Yuan.
"Ding, host obtains three drops of ten thousand year stone milk. After hundredfold reward, obtains three hundred drops of ten thousand year stone milk!"
Ning Yuan silently put the bottle away. With this ten thousand year stone milk and his own 'cultivation,' perhaps it wouldn't be long before his cultivation reached the Peak Nascent Soul stage. Then, Soul Transformation wouldn't be far off.
"Senior, this way, please!"
Yu Wanqiu raised her hand and summoned a spirit boat, entering it first to show sincerity, before inviting Ning Yuan and the others to join.
Since Tao Yao had already made the decision, Ning Yuan wouldn't contradict her. Subsequently, everyone boarded the spirit boat. Under Yu Wanqiu's control, it sped away across the sea.
After a period of travel, they arrived at the main island of the Jinan Sea Domain—Jing'an Island!
It was also Yu Congwen's true lair!
And led by Yu Wanqiu without pause, the group met the target of their journey—Yu Congwen!
This man wore a white scholar's robe, his hair black as ink, his posture tall and straight, his features handsome, appearing roughly thirty years old. Coupled with the scroll in his hand, an air of scholarly refinement emanated from him!
Upon seeing Yu Congwen, Ning Yuan was almost shocked out of his wits. This man's image was completely at odds with his identity as the Ninth Elder of the Rakshasa Alliance. He might as well be a mortal scholar.
However, a faint aura of Death Qi swirled around him, which was somewhat perplexing. Given Yu Congwen's cultivation level, it shouldn't be the case.
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist, and this young friend! How should I address you?" Upon seeing Ning Yuan and the others, Yu Congwen politely clasped his hands in greeting.
"Ning Yuan!"
"Tao Yao!"
"Hehe, Young Friend Ning, Fellow Daoist Tao Yao, please!"
Yu Congwen gestured, inviting the two to take a seat. As for the Three Sisters, he ignored them. These three women were clearly maids or similar roles, not worthy of his attention.
After everyone was seated, Ning Yuan didn't beat around the bush and asked directly:
"I wonder what important matter you have, Senior?"
"Oh?" Yu Congwen immediately showed surprise, then glanced at Tao Yao. He had thought Ning Yuan already knew, but it seemed Tao Yao hadn't told him.
Yu Congwen smiled faintly and said, "No matter, I'll explain it again."
"It's like this: I wish for you, young friend, to go to a place and help me obtain the spring of life."
"What?"
Hearing this, Ning Yuan abruptly stood up, looking at Yu Congwen incredulously, then at Tao Yao. Clearly, this news was hard for Ning Yuan to believe.
No wonder Tao Yao changed her mind so quickly; it was because of the spring of life.
Ning Yuan had once asked Hu Hai to inquire about the whereabouts of the spring of life and only later learned that it might exist in the Ancient Land, but that was just a possibility, not certain.
The Three Sisters standing behind them also showed looks of shock, because the goal of their journey was the spring of life. They hadn't expected to receive news of it before even reaching the Ancient Land!
"I felt the same way you do now!" Tao Yao shrugged her fragrant shoulders. The contents of that Jade Slip contained even more than that; it had taken her some time to digest it all.
Ning Yuan sat back down in his chair and asked impatiently, "What exactly is going on here?"
"Then I shall start from the beginning..."
Over the following period, through Yu Congwen's narration, Ning Yuan quickly understood the cause and effect of the matter.
Yu Congwen, for some reason, was afflicted with Death Qi and thus needed the spring of life to resolve it. Fortunately, after many years of searching, he finally found the spring of life in the Ancient Land.
However, the spring of life was not in the Ancient Land itself, but within a Small World. One must pass through a spatial passage in the Ancient Land to enter that Small World.