**Hundred Flowers Palace**
Ji Fanxin, the Hundred Flowers Fairy, sat gracefully across from Zhang Ruochen, her delicate hands, as soft as boneless jade, gently warming the renowned “Fairy Scattering Flowers” wine. This exquisite wine, famous across realms, was brewed by Ji Fanxin herself from the petals of a hundred sacred flowers. It was a rare treasure, available only at the Hundred Flowers Palace auctions, and its price was exorbitantly high.
For countless men, merely tasting the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” wine was a dream come true. To drink it warmed by the hands of the Hundred Flowers Fairy herself? Many cultivators would willingly pay with their lives.
“Receiving a cup of wine from the Fairy surpasses all worldly pleasures.”
Behind Ji Fanxin stood Demon King Jue and Qian Liwen, their postures as still as ancient pines. Yet, their eyes were vigilant, especially toward the black iron figure standing behind Zhang Ruochen.
*”Gurgle! Gurgle!”*
The wine began to warm, releasing a delicate fragrance reminiscent of a blooming flower field. It felt as though one were standing amidst a sea of flowers. Petals of white, pink, crimson, and lavender began to materialize, floating in the air like a fairy scattering flowers.
Ji Fanxin poured a cup of wine and handed it to Zhang Ruochen, saying, *”Try it.”*
Though Zhang Ruochen rarely drank, except with Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan, the “Fairy Scattering Flowers” wine warmed by Ji Fanxin was irresistible. With just a whiff, he was already intoxicated. For a man, fine wine and a beautiful woman were the two things one should never辜负. And wine offered by a beauty? That was even more unmissable.
Zhang Ruochen took the icy luminous cup and sipped lightly. Instantly, specks of light flew out from his body, and he felt as though he had merged with the sea of petals, floating weightlessly.
Unable to help himself, Zhang Ruochen exclaimed, *”What excellent wine!”*
The “Fairy Scattering Flowers” wine surpassed even the “Unbreakable Precept” wine of the Thousand Stars Celestial Maiden. Both were fine wines, and both women were stunningly beautiful. However, while the Thousand Stars Celestial Maiden merely enjoyed drinking, Ji Fanxin was skilled in both brewing and warming wine. There was a clear difference in their mastery of the art of wine.
*”No matter how good the wine is, it’s still just wine. How could it compare to your impressive methods?”* Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen set down the luminous cup and asked, *”What do you mean by that, Fairy?”*
Ji Fanxin’s mesmerizing eyes turned toward the black iron figure behind Zhang Ruochen. *”Even the leader of the Ten Thousand Evils Realm has been subdued by you. Isn’t that an impressive feat?”*
In truth, Zhang Ruochen didn’t want too many people to know about Xie Chengzi’s identity. The black armor, a ten-thousand-pattern saint artifact, was supposed to conceal Xie Chengzi’s aura. Yet, Ji Fanxin had seen through it at a glance.
Demon King Jue and Qian Liwen were visibly shocked. They hadn’t expected that a notorious figure like Xie Chengzi would become Zhang Ruochen’s guard.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. *”Impressive! As expected of the Ancient Nether Divine Lotus. It’s truly difficult to hide anything from your divine eyes.”*
*”This time, it has nothing to do with my vision. It’s mainly because I possess something that resonates with the evil energy within Xie Chengzi.”*
Ji Fanxin took out a dark red iron ring, covered in ancient inscriptions and emanating a chilling evil aura. The evil energy it released was of the same origin as that within Xie Chengzi.
Zhang Ruochen asked, *”What is this?”*
The black iron figure behind Zhang Ruochen, his eyes turning red, coldly said, *”So you were the one who took the Bloodthirsty Ring I forged.”*
Ji Fanxin replied indifferently, *”Remember the mass grave I took you to? This ring was found at the bottom, absorbing the blood and saint energy of the female corpses. It’s still only a semi-finished product.”*
The black iron figure quickly bowed to Zhang Ruochen and said, *”Master, the Bloodthirsty Ring is an evil treasure of immense power. I collected countless rare materials to forge it. Once completed, it will be capable of striking stars and suppressing mountains and rivers.”*
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, signaling him to step back.
Zhang Ruochen could also see that the Bloodthirsty Ring was extraordinary. Though it was an evil artifact, its power was undeniable. He said, *”A sinister saint artifact like the Bloodthirsty Ring seems to have no use in your hands, Fairy.”*
*”True, I have no interest in it. If you want it, you can have it for thirty million saint stones,”* Ji Fanxin said calmly.
Zhang Ruochen replied, *”Thirty million saint stones could buy a five-radiance ten-thousand-pattern saint artifact with change to spare. Fairy, we’re friends. There’s no need to overcharge me, is there?”*
*”Is the Bloodthirsty Ring not worth more than a five-radiance ten-thousand-pattern saint artifact?”* Ji Fanxin’s gaze turned to the black iron figure.
The black iron figure quickly stepped forward and said, *”Master, I will pay the thirty million saint stones. We must buy back the Bloodthirsty Ring.”*
Zhang Ruochen frowned. *”Do you have a place to speak here? Step back.”*
Paying thirty million saint stones wasn’t difficult for Zhang Ruochen. However, if he could negotiate, why should he be taken advantage of?
Now, through the black iron figure’s reaction, Ji Fanxin had realized the Bloodthirsty Ring’s value far exceeded thirty million saint stones. Negotiating further was impossible. He could only hope she wouldn’t raise the price.
Zhang Ruochen said, *”Fine, thirty million saint stones it is.”*
Without giving Ji Fanxin a chance to raise the price, Zhang Ruochen raised his hands and used a spatial grasping technique to snatch the Bloodthirsty Ring from her.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen act, Demon King Jue’s saint energy surged, and a powerful saint’s aura pressed toward Zhang Ruochen.
*”Stop!”* Ji Fanxin called out.
*”Bang!”*
Zhang Ruochen tossed a storage bag containing thirty million saint stones to Ji Fanxin.
Ji Fanxin didn’t even glance at the bag. Instead, she looked at Zhang Ruochen with a smile in her eyes. *”What a skillful spatial grasp. So you are the famous Lin Yue. I should have guessed it was you. I don’t want the thirty million saint stones. Give me a thousand drops of divine spring instead.”*
Ji Fanxin’s true form was an Ancient Nether Divine Lotus, and divine spring was of great use to her.
*”I knew I couldn’t hide it from you, Fairy,”* Zhang Ruochen said. *”However, we already agreed on the price. Thirty million saint stones it is.”*
*”Fine,”* Ji Fanxin said, taking out the Golden Step Dragon Chariot and holding it in her palm. *”Do you want to redeem the Nine Dragons Chariot?”*
*”Of course,”* Zhang Ruochen said.
Ji Fanxin replied, *”Then use divine spring to exchange for it.”*
Zhang Ruochen smiled wryly. *”When I was in my most difficult times, you helped me. I’ve always remembered that kindness and thought of you as an ethereal being, unmoved by worldly gains, a remarkable woman of sentiment and righteousness. But… isn’t what you’re doing now a bit like taking advantage of my situation?”*
*”Don’t hold me in such high regard. I’m not as noble as you think.”*
Then, Ji Fanxin added, *”However, I won’t take advantage of you either. You owe me a total of one hundred and seventy-two million saint stones. Just give me five thousand drops of divine spring, and I’ll return the Nine Dragons Chariot to you. At the market price of thirty thousand saint stones per drop of divine spring, my offer is already very generous.”*
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. *”No, no. While the market price for a drop of divine spring is thirty thousand saint stones, no one would actually sell divine spring for saint stones. Have you ever seen anyone selling divine spring? I’ll give you the one hundred and seventy-two million saint stones right now.”*
Ji Fanxin’s brows furrowed slightly. *”Four thousand drops of divine spring.”*
Zhang Ruochen took out a storage bag and handed it to Ji Fanxin, smiling. *”Here’s one hundred and eighty million saint stones. The extra eight million is my gratitude for your help back then.”*
Ji Fanxin sighed in frustration. *”You’ve collected so much divine spring. Is selling me four thousand drops really that difficult?”*
Zhang Ruochen’s smile faded, replaced by a bitter expression. *”If I really had over a hundred thousand drops of divine spring, given our friendship, I wouldn’t just sell you four thousand drops—I’d give you ten thousand. But to be honest, I’m only collecting divine spring for someone else. I don’t even have ten thousand drops on me.”*
Ji Fanxin pondered for a moment. *”Someone else? The Thousand Stars Celestial Maiden? Or Mo Xiaogu?”*
In Zhang Ruochen’s mind, the image of the enchanting Celestial Maiden of Tianchu appeared. He smiled faintly and shook his head. *”I really can’t say. I hope you can understand.”*
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was being truthful, Ji Fanxin didn’t press further. She returned the Golden Step Dragon Chariot to him, saying, *”Returning it to its rightful owner.”*
Zhang Ruochen took the chariot, his mood lifting. *”To be honest, you looked incredibly majestic riding the Golden Step Dragon Chariot, like a peerless empress on a royal procession. However, I’m puzzled. Riding the chariot undoubtedly revealed our connection. Aren’t you afraid of drawing the attention of the Heaven Realm faction?”*
Ji Fanxin replied, *”In the misty sea of the fourth layer of the Truth Temple, I realized something. As cultivators, we should act according to our hearts and not always be timid and restrained. A hidden dragon that stays in the abyss for too long loses its edge and dares not soar through the heavens. The Heaven Realm faction targeting me might be a form of tempering and challenge. Besides, the Thousand Petals Realm is a core member of the Demon God faction and isn’t afraid of the Heaven Realm faction.”*
*”You’ve already reached the fourth layer of the Truth Temple?”* Zhang Ruochen was astonished.
After all, Zhang Ruochen was still on the third layer of the Truth Temple, in the Thick Soil Minor World. Even so, his mastery of the Truth Path already surpassed 99% of the cultivators in the Truth Heavenly Domain. The fourth layer of the Truth Temple was likely accessible only to the top ten divine disciples.
Ji Fanxin said, *”During my last retreat, I comprehended the two realms of the third layer of the Truth Temple, so I went to the fourth layer to take a look.”*
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. *”Something still doesn’t add up. With your cultivation and mastery of the Truth Path, you should be able to cross the eighth layer of the Truth Ocean and reach the ninth. Why are you still lingering in the seventh layer?”*
Ji Fanxin gave Zhang Ruochen a deep look, and then petals began to swirl around them, enveloping the two. Demon King Jue, Qian Liwen, Xie Chengzi, and the others disappeared from sight.
Only then did Ji Fanxin speak. *”Because of the Truth Oath.”*
Zhang Ruochen’s pupils contracted sharply.
Ji Fanxin continued, *”While cultivators should act according to their hearts and not always be timid, we also shouldn’t push ourselves to the brink of death. You crossed the Truth Ocean too ostentatiously!”*
