After the two of them went underwater, Ji Mengmeng’s eyes immediately showed surprise.
“Uncle Chen, look quickly. There really are Black Fire Lotuses at the bottom of the lake!”
The Black Fire Lotuses were very easy to recognise. They looked like lotus flowers, yet they burned continuously like black flames.
“It really is a Black Fire Lotus. I will go get it now.”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen also felt very surprised. He had thought this trip to Black Fire Mountain would end in failure.
But now it seemed that heaven had not abandoned them.
However, just as he prepared to take that Black Fire Lotus, a figure flashed past in front of him.
“Heh heh, the last one.”
Ling Xiao took that Black Fire Lotus and directly stored it in his Mountain and River World, planting it in the Black Water Lake.
This way, not only would the medicinal effect of the Black Fire Lotus be better, but it would also not wither.
“It is you!”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen and Ji Mengmeng almost shouted at the same time.
“Oh, it is you two.”
Ling Xiao really had not noticed these two people just now. All his attention had been focused on searching for Black Fire Lotuses. He had not left even one of the thirty plants.
Added to the seventy he already had, that made a total of one hundred. This harvest was truly substantial.
“Kid, hand over that Black Fire Lotus you just took. We discovered it first.”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen said angrily.
He had been watching hope come within reach, only for Ling Xiao to snatch it away at the last moment. How could he explain this to Ji Mengmeng?
His old face looked very unpleasant.
“What a joke. This lake was discovered first by those experts just now, but what about now? They have all become corpses.”
Ling Xiao glanced disdainfully at the middle-aged man surnamed Chen.
He turned to leave.
He had already obtained the Black Fire Lotuses, so there was nothing else for him to do here. As for the lake water, whoever wanted to fight for it could go ahead.
By now the news of the lake’s appearance had probably spread. On Saint Dynasty Immortal Island, there were envoys from the other four immortal islands, as well as envoys from the Seven Martial Sect Island and the two great empires.
Those people would definitely pass the news to their respective forces. They might even organise people to come and seize the lake.
After all, this lake was a true treasure land. Whoever obtained it would probably see their entire force undergo a qualitative breakthrough in strength.
Ling Xiao did not want to invite such trouble. He had already done what he needed to do. Returning to the Divine Phoenix Empire to cultivate properly was the right path.
However, just as he wanted to leave, the middle-aged man surnamed Chen would not let him go.
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen blocked Ling Xiao’s path and said coldly, “I do not care who you are. This Black Fire Lotus must be handed over to me.”
“Do you have a big face?”
Ling Xiao said with disdain.
“Uncle Chen, do not use force.”
Seeing that the middle-aged man surnamed Chen was about to act, Ji Mengmeng quickly called out.
“But miss, this person is too hateful.”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen knew very well how important this Black Fire Lotus was to Ji Mengmeng, so he really did not want to give up.
Ji Mengmeng shook her head and said, “Uncle Chen, we cannot act like those people who plotted against my brother. If we bully the weak just because we are stronger, then how are we any different from them?”
“But what about your brother? Are we not going to save him?”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen said anxiously.
“The lake is so big. It is impossible for him to have picked all the Black Fire Lotuses. If we hurry and search, we can still find some.”
Ji Mengmeng said.
Ling Xiao sighed inwardly. If the other side had pressed him aggressively, he could have turned and left without any hesitation.
But now this innocent little girl was so pure and kind-hearted. If he took away all the Black Fire Lotuses, he would feel as though he had committed a crime.
Yet he could not simply give one to them for free either.
After all, he was not a saint.
“By the way, I must thank you, young hero, for the reminder earlier. Those people really did not have good intentions towards me.”
Ji Mengmeng truly remembered kindness. Ling Xiao had reminded her once before, and she still had not forgotten it even now.
“Sigh, seeing how obedient and well-behaved you are, little girl, I really cannot bear to refuse you. But we met by chance and have no real connection. How about this? If you want a Black Fire Lotus, you can have one, but you must pay a price.”
Ling Xiao scratched his head and said.
“Really? Please tell me, young hero. Even if it costs my life, I will not hesitate.”
Ji Mengmeng said hurriedly.
What she had said about searching for other Black Fire Lotuses was just to comfort herself. How could something as precious as a Black Fire Lotus be so easy to find?
Moreover, more and more martial artists were entering the lake now. Such a supreme treasure as the Black Fire Lotus could not possibly escape their notice.
The reason no one had found any was probably because there really were none left.
Now that Ling Xiao said he could exchange, she was naturally willing.
To others, a Black Fire Lotus might just be a valuable medicinal herb, but to her, it was her brother’s life.
“Miss, you have gone mad.”
The middle-aged man surnamed Chen was truly afraid Ling Xiao would make unreasonable demands, so he felt a bit nervous.
“Uncle Chen, do not interfere. For my brother, I am willing to pay any price, including becoming a servant or even giving my life.”
Ji Mengmeng shook her head. Her eyes showed firm determination.
“Do not worry. I am not the type to take advantage of someone in distress. I just do not want to give away a treasure for nothing.”
Ling Xiao waved his hand and said, “Do you have anything on you that is roughly equal in value to a Black Fire Lotus? Take it out and let me see.”
Ji Mengmeng thought for a moment and presented four items.
The first was a priceless jade stone, worth the equivalent of more than one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. The spiritual energy contained within it was also comparable to that amount.
The second was a martial arts manual, the Ji family’s secret transmission, Dragon Sword Art. Its value was no less than the jade stone, and for martial artists who urgently needed a martial arts manual, it was even more precious.
Moreover, this was a jade-grade intermediate martial art, perfectly suitable for Cave Heaven Realm martial artists to cultivate.
The third was a magical treasure of decent quality, a mortal-grade spiritual weapon called the Flame Umbrella. It could release terrifying flames to burn enemies.
The fourth was actually Ji Mengmeng’s martial soul. This little girl really did not care about her life anymore. She had even offered her own martial soul as payment.
Ling Xiao did not lack spirit stones now. Although that jade stone was worth more than one hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones, it was not enough to attract him.
The Dragon Sword Art, however, was quite good. In his light and shadow profound meaning, the Dark Sword Domain, Light Sword Domain, and Sun-Moon Sword Domain were powerful, but their attacks were too singular.
Ling Xiao had always wanted to find a way to strengthen the power of his sword domains.
This Dragon Sword Art was the Ji family’s secret transmission martial art. It should suit very well with the sword domain insights he had gained from the Human King Notes.
With this in mind, he said, “I will give you the Black Fire Lotus. You give me the Dragon Sword Art.”
Hearing this, the middle-aged man surnamed Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Although the Dragon Sword Art was a non-transmissible secret, there were no other Ji family members here. Only he had seen it. As long as neither of them spoke about it, who would know?
It was far better than letting Ji Mengmeng pay with her life.
The current outcome was not the best, but it was still quite good.
