9: Dragon Blood Orchid

"The lair?"

Chen Qingxuan tilted his head and looked at her;

What was this Little Girl thinking now?

Before he could speak, Huang Qingxue lifted her small face, her big eyes revealing anxiety and fear.

"That... didn't you say I'm too weak as a Cauldron... and you don't care for me yet... Why don't you go find another Cauldron first... In a few years, when I'm a bit stronger, I'll come back and find you... I already know where your home is anyway... What do you say?"

"..."

Chen Qingxuan's face darkened as he listened.

Looking at Huang Qingxue's cowardly yet serious little gaze, he was truly laughed out of anger, then he grabbed her by the back of her collar.

"No... no... let go of me... are you even human... you'll have a daughter one day too..."

Huang Qingxue was instantly like a panicked bird, her limbs flailing in the air like a land duck that had fallen into water; the scene was comical and ridiculous.

Chen Qingxuan didn't plan on wasting words, as she wouldn't listen anyway, and directly carried her into the light gate before them.

Gulu—

The moment he stepped into the light gate, Chen Qingxuan felt as if he had passed through an extremely thin layer of water. A soft sensation touched his skin, and his vision turned from dark to bright... In the blink of an eye, the two had traveled from the mountain range into the Secret Realm.

A dark, classical hall sat upon a slightly reddish earth. Directly in front was a large golden door with a pair of dragon claws carved onto the lock.

Rumble—

Suddenly, the golden door swung open inward automatically.

The movement of the heavy golden door made a dull sound, the earth trembled, dust flew, and a mysterious pressure wafted out from within.

"This is?"

Chen Qingxuan looked around, a sense of tension rising naturally.

This was his first time exploring a Secret Realm, especially one so strange; he didn't dare let his guard down.

But having finally made it inside, he certainly couldn't give up halfway.

"Hold onto me if you don't want to die."

Chen Qingxuan set the Little Pitiful One down and took her hand instead, to be ready for any accidents.

"Mm?"

Huang Qingxue scanned the surroundings with alert eyes. The sight of the ash-like dead land filled her heart with unease;

And Chen Qingxuan's serious and solemn warning made her heart race even faster. She stopped struggling and instead gripped Chen Qingxuan's large hand tightly.

The two walked forward, leaving footprints with every step.

If it weren't for knowing this was a Secret Realm, from the appearance alone, it looked entirely like an eerie, uninhabited land.

As they drew closer to the golden door, the interior scene gradually emerged.

The depths of the massive hall were empty, save for a single vivid and strange red flower floating in the dark Void Realm.

The eerie Aura that had previously wafted through the golden door originated precisely from the red flower in their sight.

"This is?"

Chen Qingxuan was a bit dazed.

He looked around and, after confirming there was nothing else noteworthy besides this flower, he had to guess that this flower was the so-called opportunity.

But what was this flower?

Having undergone Transmigration so many years early, Chen Qingxuan knew his Aptitude was shallow and that it would be hard to achieve much in the way of cultivation, but he hadn't lived aimlessly;

During that time, he had used various methods to understand this world so that when the world ended, he would not only have strength but also sufficient knowledge.

For example, he had heard of the various Spiritual Plants, treasures, Medicinal Pills, techniques, and Sect forces of this world, even if he couldn't master them.

However, he had never seen this red flower with its novel shape and eerie Aura in any book or manual.

Even the most mediocre Materials should at least be recorded; why did this give off such a strange feeling?

While Chen Qingxuan was wondering, the familiar System voice arrived as expected—

Ding!

[Congratulations Host, you have found a True Dragon Blood Gu—dragon blood orchid.]

[The so-called dragon blood orchid refers to a type of Blood Gu born after a True Dragon passes away, when the evil it suppressed steals the Dragon's luck and drinks the True Dragon's Essence Blood.]

[Because its essence is transformed from evil and it possesses the ability to prey on the fortune of all living beings, the places where it grows suffer from misery and the destruction of life...]

"Blood Gu... dragon blood orchid?"

Chen Qingxuan was greatly shocked. Just as he was wondering why he had never heard of it, the System sent a response—

[Although the dragon blood orchid is born of evil, it is not something a Mortal can touch. Even for a Mortal to know of it is a desecration of the dragon blood orchid...]

"This... a tumor suppressed by a True Dragon is actually so arrogant?"

Chen Qingxuan furrowed his sword-like brows. "In that case, this dragon blood orchid... is practically an Incarnation of evil in this world... and it even preys on the fortune of all living beings... Should I get rid of it as soon as possible to prevent further exploitation?"

Ding—

[In response to the Host, everything has pros and cons; it cannot be dismissed with a single word.]

[Although the dragon blood orchid is essentially a source of evil and grows by drinking the fortune of living beings, this dragon blood orchid is already fully grown. The Host can use the orchid to command the Dragon.]

[For example, controlling it as a Puppet and utilizing its ability to prey on the fortune of all living beings... to seize the fortune of heaven and earth.]

"I see."

After grasping the System's meaning, Chen Qingxuan had an epiphany.

Although the dragon blood orchid itself was not a good thing—much like the corrupt officials and bandits who preyed on villages in ancient times—encountering it wasn't necessarily a bad thing;

For instance, you could rob the rich to help the poor!

As long as you could control the dragon blood orchid, its ability to prey on the fortune of all living beings... would naturally transform into your own benefit.

"I didn't expect it could be played like this."

After sorting it out, Chen Qingxuan laughed heartily.

After obtaining the operating method from the System, he first let go of Huang Qingxue. "Wait here, big brother is going to get something."

With that, he walked toward the dragon blood orchid.

"..."

Huang Qingxue stood in place, looking left and right, not daring to move.

After reaching the area below the dragon blood orchid, Chen Qingxuan stomped his foot and soared into the air, easily reaching out a hand to take the dragon blood orchid from the sky.

Despite the intimidating Aura of the dragon blood orchid, it was merely an empty shell, a soft persimmon at the mercy of others.

Aside from stealing the fortune of all living beings, it didn't have even a sliver of resistance against the outside world.

Chen Qingxuan plucked it directly.

"Being able to prey on the fortune of all living beings... also means that if I encounter opportunities in the future... possessing the dragon blood orchid... will make it easier to obtain opportunities and seize chances than others."

Holding the dragon blood orchid, Chen Qingxuan turned and walked back to Huang Qingxue.

Looking at the Little Pitiful One's delicate face, an idea popped into his head. Stopping in front of her, he commanded directly,

"Undo your buttons!"

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Huang Qingxue hugged herself in fright, her watery big eyes seemingly asking—what do you want to do?

"So much dawdling."

Chen Qingxuan raised an eyebrow and finally decided to do it himself, lest she refuse to cooperate.

"No... what are you doing..."

Huang Qingxue began to struggle frantically;

Unfortunately, with her current strength, she had no power to resist before Chen Qingxuan. In a short while, her sleeve was forcibly pulled back.

Looking at that fair and smooth little shoulder, Chen Qingxuan did not hesitate and directly pressed the dragon blood orchid onto it as the System had instructed.

That's right, he planned to give the fortune of the dragon blood orchid to Huang Qingxue.

Although Chen Qingxuan needed it himself, after careful consideration, rather than using the dragon blood orchid to find opportunities himself, it was better to attach it to a talent;

Setting aside the Little Pitiful One's background and experiences, he also hoped she would grow up quickly.

Just the fact that he had already signed a contract with Huang Qingxue meant that any benefits she obtained in the future would include a share for him; he didn't need to be stingy.

Furthermore, with Huang Qingxue's Aptitude and growth potential, the effect of the dragon blood orchid would certainly be greater on her than on him, which would also allow him to gain more returns.

Therefore, nurturing Huang Qingxue was accelerating the speed at which he became stronger!

Sizzle—

The moment the dragon blood orchid touched the Little Pitiful One's shoulder, it was like a branding iron on snow, and a piercing hiss instantly rang out.

"Ah~~~"

At the same time, Huang Qingxue cried out in pain.

Although the dragon blood orchid was an immeasurable treasure, wanting its power to merge into the body inevitably required enduring some torment.

That bone-piercing pain terrified Huang Qingxue.

She began to struggle desperately.

"Don't move!"

Chen Qingxuan grit his teeth and could only shout with feigned ferocity.

In truth, seeing the Little Girl's painful expression made his heart ache, but he could only steel himself and hold her arm while merging the dragon blood orchid into her.

The burning pain surging into his palm along the way also made him break into a cold sweat.

But at the thought of the dragon blood orchid's effects—helping her obtain more fortune and opportunities in the future, and even serving to ward off danger... it was all worth it!

Soon, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed.

Chen Qingxuan let out a heavy breath of turbid Qi before slowly letting go of the trembling Little Pitiful One.

"Wu... wu wu..."

Huang Qingxue curled up on the ground, her small hands hugging herself in pain as she sobbed and dropped little pearls of tears.

It hurt so much just now... she thought she was going to die.

"..."

Chen Qingxuan scratched his head, then had a flash of inspiration. He pulled a stick of candied haws from his space ring and squatted before the Little Pitiful One with a face full of smiles.

"Come, open your mouth."

"..."

Looking at the candied haws held to her lips, Huang Qingxue's gaze was dull;

The next moment, she lifted her tear-stained face, her eyes staring straight at Chen Qingxuan, her gaze revealing endless grievance;

At the same time, there was also an irrepressible, intense hatred.

"..."

Chen Qingxuan sighed lightly, knowing that more words were useless, so he directly pinched her small face and forced open her cherry-like mouth.

Immediately after, he stuffed the large, round candied haw inside... "Since you've eaten my candy, you can't blame big brother anymore. Actually, big brother is doing this for your own good; you'll understand in the future," Chen Qingxuan said to himself, looking at the hall which was already gradually dimming.

"Gah... cough, cough cough..."

The foreign object forced down her throat made Huang Qingxue cough uncontrollably, leaving her in no mood to taste the sweetness of the candied haw.

After pulling out the forcibly fed candied haw, her eyes lowered to look at the dragon blood orchid brand that had appeared on her shoulder;

It felt as smooth as before to the touch, as if nothing were there.

But with the naked eye, one could see that strange red flower, looking as lifelike as if it had grown into her flesh and blood.

"Mm...?"

Huang Qingxue's breathing quickened due to fear, and she tried to rub off the brand with her hand, but no matter how hard she scrubbed or scratched, she couldn't affect the dragon blood orchid in the slightest.

It was as if it had completely fused with her.

Chen Qingxuan raised an eyebrow and said, "What are you doing?"

"You..."

Huang Qingxue bit her cherry lips with her pearly teeth, her eyes unable to hide her panic. "What is this thing... is it the legendary Slave Imprint?"

"No."

"I don't believe you!"

Huang Qingxue let out a dragon-like roar;

As she spoke, she suddenly scrambled up from the ground, raised her pink fists, and lunged at Chen Qingxuan with an imposing Aura... [image]