Everyone stood before the bronze gate, their faces beaming with wild joy.
In front of them was an open clearing, and at its centre grew a massive snow lotus.
This snow lotus was as large as a house.
At that moment, it was in full bloom, each petal emitting a crystalline white light, like a giant luminous pearl.
The rich floral fragrance was refreshing, and with just a gentle sniff, everyone felt their fatigue vanish, their spirits lifted.
“A ten-thousand-year snow lotus!”
The Long-browed Master let out a shrill cry and strode forward.
“Old man, be careful of danger,” Ye Qiu warned.
“Little brat, do you think I’m uneducated and easy to fool? I’m telling you, this ten-thousand-year snow lotus is mine,” the Long-browed Master said, his figure darting like lightning towards the snow lotus.
Fairy Baihua followed closely, moving at high speed, her figure like a streak of light, also rushing towards the snow lotus.
Master Chongxu, not to be outdone, shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
Clearly, all three were captivated by the ten-thousand-year snow lotus.
Ye Qiu understood that Fairy Baihua wanted it to restore her cultivation, while the Long-browed Master and Master Chongxu sought it to enhance theirs.
“A ten-thousand-year snow lotus isn’t so easy to obtain.”
Just as Ye Qiu spoke, he saw the Long-browed Master and Fairy Baihua stop five metres from the snow lotus, their faces serious, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Master Chongxu also sensed something amiss and quickly halted, asking, “Dog, what’s wrong?”
The Long-browed Master pointed. “See for yourself.”
Master Chongxu looked up and saw that on each massive petal of the snow lotus coiled a peculiar small snake.
There were more than a dozen of them.
They were peculiar because, though only two inches long, about the size of loaches, each had nine heads.
Each snake also had a pair of cicada-wing-thin wings on its back, its body white as jade, crystal-clear, with even its eyes and tongue white, blending seamlessly with the petals.
Fortunately, the Long-browed Master had been cautious, or he might have suffered greatly.
The dozen or so snakes coiled on the petals, looking languid but giving the Long-browed Master and the others a sense of great danger.
“Dog, what kind of snakes are these?” Master Chongxu asked.
“I don’t know,” the Long-browed Master replied.
“No way, you claim to know everything from astronomy to geography, yet you don’t recognise these snakes?”
“Bull-nose, are you picking a fight with me?”
Master Chongxu smiled, eyes still fixed on the snakes, saying, “They’re small, but they give me a very dangerous feeling.”
“I feel the same,” the Long-browed Master sighed. “It seems getting this ten-thousand-year snow lotus won’t be easy.”
Master Chongxu said, “How about we ask Ye Qiu for help?”
“No way,” the Long-browed Master whispered. “If that little brat gets involved, we’ll have no chance at this snow lotus.”
“Then what do we do?” Master Chongxu frowned.
“They’re just a dozen beasts. We’re all experts, afraid of them?”
The Long-browed Master said, “Bull-nose, Fairy Baihua, let’s act together in a bit.”
“We’ll take out those snakes first, then pick the snow lotus.”
“I counted earlier. This snow lotus has eighteen petals. Once we get it, we each take six petals. What do you say?”
Fairy Baihua nodded. “I agree.”
Master Chongxu added, “I agree too.”
“Since you both agree, let’s prepare to act. I’ll count to three, and we strike together.”
The Long-browed Master glanced at Master Chongxu and Fairy Baihua, then whispered, “One, two, three—”
Swish! Swish!
Master Chongxu and Fairy Baihua struck simultaneously.
As for the Long-browed Master, not only did he not act, but he stepped back a few paces, arms crossed, looking like he was watching a show.
“Dog, you tricked us?”
Master Chongxu was furious. By the time he and Fairy Baihua realised they’d been deceived, it was too late. They had already attacked the snakes, and the snakes launched a fierce counterattack.
Despite their small size, the snakes were incredibly agile and fast, even outpacing a King-level expert like Master Chongxu.
With wings on their backs, they could fly and attack, making them extremely troublesome.
The Long-browed Master said, “Be careful. As cultivators, it’d be embarrassing to get bitten by these beasts.”
“I’ll cover you from here.”
“If you’re in danger, I’ll come to your rescue immediately.”
Master Chongxu and Fairy Baihua were seething, itching to turn back and give the Long-browed Master a beating if not for the snakes entangling them.
Fairy Baihua, currently only at the Venerable realm, was far slower than the snakes, forced to retreat under the attack of two of them.
Suddenly, two more snakes flew from the sides, lunging at Fairy Baihua, reaching her in an instant.
“Ah…”
Fairy Baihua let out a startled cry.
At the critical moment, two powerful auras swept past her ears, striking the two snakes.
Instantly, the snakes’ bodies shattered, turning into two clouds of blood mist.
Then, Fairy Baihua felt an arm around her waist. Turning, she saw Ye Qiu at her side.
“Step back!”
Ye Qiu pushed her back with force, and Fairy Baihua involuntarily retreated a few steps.
“Master Chongxu, you step back too,” Ye Qiu said, raising the God-beating Whip and swinging it.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
In an instant, all dozen or so snakes turned into blood mist, dead.
Seeing the snakes dead, the Long-browed Master rushed forward to pick the ten-thousand-year snow lotus.
Unexpectedly, the God-beating Whip came down.
The Long-browed Master jumped in fright, quickly withdrawing his hand, glaring at Ye Qiu. “Little brat, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Ye Qiu said coldly, “I should be asking you that. You agreed to act together, so why did you trick Master Chongxu and Fairy Baihua?”
Master Chongxu and Fairy Baihua looked at the Long-browed Master, their gazes icy.
The Long-browed Master said, “I was just… Forget it, I won’t explain.”
“I know if I explain, you’ll say it’s just an excuse.”
Ye Qiu snorted. “I think you’re just out of words.”
“Think what you want. My conscience is clear,” the Long-browed Master said, neck raised, acting like he didn’t care.
“Next time, I won’t let you off,” Ye Qiu said, stepping forward to pick the ten-thousand-year snow lotus.
The Long-browed Master was unhappy, grumbling, “Little brat, you’re hogging everything again. Aren’t you afraid we’ll have objections…”
Before he could finish, a voice spoke up.
“I have no objections.”
