12: The Ninth Elder delivers the Holy Maiden to the door.

Inside the reception hall.

Ninth Elder had barely sat down when he saw Cao Bu walking in from outside.

He stood up quickly, his face wearing a sincere smile.

"Steward Cao, please forgive me for coming uninvited."

Unlike the previous days, Ninth Elder now looked amiable.

If it hadn't been for Cao Bu's reminder, he might have really persisted in fighting Gu Yun to the death.

By then, not only would he have lost his beloved granddaughter Gu Chuyan, but he would have also blown the matter out of proportion.

If he had drawn out Luo Qingcheng, given her protective nature towards her children, he would have been lucky to escape with his life, let alone unscathed.

"Steward Cao, what are you saying? You are welcome to visit this humble place of mine whenever you wish."

Cao Bu was all smiles, raising his hand to signal the other to sit.

Two Maidservants brought in hot tea, placed the cups down softly, and withdrew.

"Since Ninth Elder has come in person today, may I ask what important matter brings you here?"

Cao Bu picked up his teacup, pretended to blow on the steam, and took a small, careful sip.

"I came specifically to thank Steward Cao today. If not for your reminder, this old man would have nearly committed a grave error."

As he spoke, he flipped his palm, and an exquisite sandalwood box appeared in it.

Cao Bu gently put down his teacup and asked with feigned confusion: "Ninth Elder, what is this?"

Ninth Elder put the box down with a chuckle and pushed it toward Cao Bu.

"A Grade 5 Spirit Medicine, the Yin-Yang Pei Yuan Grass."

"Although its grade isn't high, it can stimulate Yang Qi and consolidate one's foundation."

"If Steward Cao refines it, in that regard... hehe."

At the end of his words, Ninth Elder smiled politely.

Cao Bu understood the implication.

He hadn't expected this old thing to gift him such a treasure.

For an ordinary Cultivator, the Yin-Yang Pei Yuan Grass might only serve to nourish Yin and replenish Yang.

But for him, the Yin-Yang Two Energies within it were exactly what he needed.

It was just a pity that the grade was too low; he estimated it wouldn't be enough to help him achieve a Breakthrough.

However, the gift this old thing brought was truly something he desired.

"Ninth Elder, you joke. I am a lone man, what would I need this for?" Cao Bu feigned refusal and pushed the box back.

Ninth Elder smiled without a word, sipping his tea slowly.

Before long, a young girl in white walked in gracefully.

"Greetings, Ninth Elder. Greetings, Steward Cao."

The young girl had a slender figure, her long, jet-black hair loosely tied with a wooden hairpin, with several strands hanging down the side of her snow-white neck.

As she lowered her head to bow, her ample chest swayed gently, which was quite eye-catching.

However, her clothing was somewhat revealing, ruining the sense of purity.

"Ninth Elder, what is this?"

Cao Bu narrowed his eyes.

This old thing definitely had no good intentions.

"Brother Cao, you don't mind if I call you that, do you?" Ninth Elder said with a chuckle.

Cao Bu's lips curled slightly: "Naturally, I don't mind. Come to think of it, I'm the one getting the better end of the deal."

He changed the subject, a flash of sharpness in his eyes: "However, friendship is friendship, but let's keep our business separate."

Turning his gaze to the girl in white, Cao Bu said with a wry smile: "Is Ninth Elder trying to bring some warmth to my life?"

"What are you saying!" Ninth Elder waved his hands repeatedly: "I just feel sorry for you, brother, seeing you single for hundreds of years."

"I went to Azure Dragon City yesterday to attend an auction, and seeing this girl looked so delicate and pretty, I bought her."

"Rest assured, Brother Cao, this girl is clean. I heard she was a Saintess of a Holy Land, but it was destroyed, and that's why she ended up being auctioned off by her enemies."

Cao Bu sized up the girl; no wonder she had such an extraordinary temperament.

However, this revealing outfit was likely specially arranged by Ninth Elder.

Seeing Cao Bu's interested look, Ninth Elder continued: "Everyone's first time is very exciting. I was afraid Brother Cao wouldn't know how to exercise restraint, so I bought this Yin-Yang Pei Yuan Grass. I hope you will accept it."

As he spoke, he pushed the box over again.

This time, Cao Bu did not refuse and directly took the box.

"I will accept the Spirit Medicine, but you should take the person back."

He wasn't sure if this woman was a spy arranged by Ninth Elder, so after thinking about it, he decided to refuse.

Ninth Elder was not angry.

He just looked at Cao Bu with a strange expression.

This guy couldn't be impotent, could he?

A flash of inspiration struck him, and he leaned in, lowering his voice: "This girl's virgin Yin is still intact, which is highly beneficial for Cultivation. Although your Cultivation cannot advance further, what if Dual Cultivation could restore your Dantian? Why don't you try accepting her, brother?"

Cao Bu's heart stirred. If her virgin Yin was still intact, combined with her Dharma Body Realm cultivation, it should be able to significantly advance his own cultivation.

He Cultivated the Dao of Yin and Yang, and his Cultivation was different from ordinary people.

It was extremely difficult, which was also the reason he hadn't 'eaten' Ye Linglong.

As for the concern about her being a spy, that was easy to solve.

Seeing Cao Bu silent, Ninth Elder assumed he still had reservations and hurriedly persuaded him: "I almost forgot to mention, this girl knows the 'Jade Maiden Heart Sutra', tsk tsk tsk... I guarantee it will let you experience pleasure like never before!"

As he spoke, he gave the girl a wink.

The girl understood, and as she lightly raised her fair hand, a wisp of pure spiritual power swirled around her fingertips.

Cao Bu looked deeply at the girl in white and slowly nodded: "Fine, since it is Ninth Elder's kind intention, I will accept."

"Hahaha, that's more like it!"

Ninth Elder laughed until his eyes narrowed into slits, raising his teacup to hide the calculation in his eyes.

"Get up," Cao Bu said in a deep voice.

The girl in white was sensible and immediately changed her address: "Yes, Master."

After speaking, she obediently stood behind Cao Bu and began to knead his shoulders.

While enjoying the massage, Cao Bu suddenly asked: "By the way, how has Sister Chuyan been recently?"

Ninth Elder's face immediately fell, and he put down his teacup with a mournful look.

"Sigh, that girl has locked herself in her room since that day. She doesn't respond to anyone, not even me, her grandfather."

"It's all my fault. I started the trouble and then forced her to swallow her anger. I am such a failure as a grandfather."

"If her father were watching from heaven, he would probably curse me to death for being such a useless old man."

Cao Bu quickly comforted him: "Ninth Elder, don't blame yourself too much. As long as Sister Chuyan is safe and sound, she will forgive you one day."

Ninth Elder let out a long sigh: "I hope so."

Seeing that both their cups were empty, the girl in white softly refilled them.

Cao Bu picked up his cup and took a sip, then suddenly frowned: "Wait... Ninth Elder, you said Sister Chuyan hasn't been seen for days? Could it be..."

Before he could finish, Ninth Elder's expression changed drastically. In a flash, he turned into a blur and vanished from the spot, leaving the teacup on the table still spinning.

"Not good."

Cao Bu's heart skipped a beat, and he reacted immediately.

He flashed his figure and followed right behind.

Gu Chuyan was a chess piece with great use to him; she could not have an accident now.

With a "bang", inside the Misty Rain Courtyard.

Ninth Elder kicked the door open, and the moment he rushed into the room, his face turned pale.

Inside, on the bed, Gu Chuyan was lying peacefully, with a trace of dark red blood at the corner of her mouth.

"Chuyan! My Chuyan!" Ninth Elder knelt on the ground, weeping with tears streaming down his old face.

At this moment, Cao Bu arrived with the girl in white.

A group of terrified Maidservants had already gathered outside the door.

Upon seeing Gu Chuyan lying inside, their faces turned ghastly pale.

Cao Bu looked at Gu Chuyan on the bed with a gloomy face.

This woman has such a fiery temper?

She actually committed suicide?

Suddenly, he frowned, flashed to the bedside, and reached out to touch Gu Chuyan's wrist.

Ninth Elder looked up and saw Cao Bu touching Gu Chuyan all over, and instantly flew into a rage.

"Cao Bu! She is already dead, and you still..." Ninth Elder was furious, his terrifying Realm Sovereign pressure instantly erupting.

"Shut up!" Cao Bu shouted sternly: "She can still be saved!"

Ninth Elder suddenly withdrew his pressure, shocked and overjoyed: "What did you say?"

"There is still a faint pulse, but she is not far from death," Cao Bu said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Ninth Elder instantly appeared by the bed.

He hurriedly reached out to check his granddaughter's wrist, his hand trembling with excitement: "It's true! It's true, she still has a breath!"

Cao Bu nodded: "It's the Underworld King Powder. Even a Realm King cannot withstand this poison. She was truly determined to die."

"Brother Cao, help me guard!" Ninth Elder gritted his teeth and said.

"How will you neutralize the Underworld King Powder?" Cao Bu frowned.

"I have my own methods!"

Cao Bu looked at him deeply and suddenly understood something: "Fine, I will keep guard for you."

As he turned to leave, his lips curled slightly upward.

If things were truly as he thought, he had really picked up a huge bargain this time.

"Guard the surroundings; do not allow anyone to approach," Cao Bu closed the door and turned to instruct the group of guards.

"Yes, Steward Cao."

The guards withdrew and tightly surrounded the Misty Rain Courtyard.

If Gu Chuyan died, they would be held responsible.

If she could be saved, they would be guilty, but not to the point of death.

Time passed minute by minute.

One day later.

The door opened.

Ninth Elder stumbled out.

Cao Bu hurried forward to support him: "Ninth Elder, how is it?"

Ninth Elder's face was pale, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, and his lips were slightly purple.

"A few days of recuperation will suffice, but if this girl's heart knot is not untied, she will sooner or later do something foolish again." He sighed heavily, the wrinkles on his face deepening.

Being able to save her once was luck, but what about next time?

This girl even dared to drink Underworld King Powder; she was truly determined not to live!

Cao Bu's eyes rolled, and he asked tentatively: "You didn't... force the poison into your own body, did you?"

Ninth Elder waved his hand, forcing a smile: "It's nothing. I am, after all, a Realm Sovereign; this bit of poison won't take my life."