Chapter 225

Chapter 225: Land of Rare Flowers and Odd Herbs

After some haggling, Li Hui finally acquired four ginseng roots, each as thick as a baby’s arm, filling him with joy and greatly improving his impression of the female demon.

Observing carefully, he concluded that artifacts turned demons were truly different. They were refined through various methods of weapon-forging, making them far sturdier than the bodies of Guang Jin and Qiu Qiu, and they also had more freedom.

Moreover, the Heavenly Gift Patterns seemed significant; each pattern appeared to have its own importance. For instance, while moving within this Black Fortress, encountering formations would allow easy passage. No wonder they thrived on the island, hoarding so many treasures and artifacts. The previous items thrown to the altar didn’t even warrant a blink—truly, they were rich beyond measure.

Li Hui moved swiftly, passing through the stone wall and stepping onto the spiraling downward staircase. Just as the green light behind him shrank and vanished, the emerald comb forced its way inside.

The comb transformed into human shape, patting its chest in alarm, “That was close! I almost missed the crack in the stone wall. Thank you, young master, but please keep a distance from the jade comb.”

“Hmm!” As Li Hui sensed the Black Fortress tremble, he didn’t bother wasting words with the demon and rushed downward at lightning speed, leaving behind the six hundred sixty-six steps in a blur.

The female demon followed closely behind, utilizing the lingering echoes of the green light to dart through. When they entered the fourth underground level together, she exclaimed, “Thanks to you, young master, for the light of soaring to high places! Otherwise, stepping onto the stairs carelessly could lead to misfortune. I lost my wits before and foolishly approached that altar to collect treasures, only to find myself stuck at the mouth of a large cauldron.”

“Are those eight altars really that formidable?” Li Hui asked as he scanned his surroundings.

“More than formidable! I almost shattered my artifact!” The jade comb’s face paled at the mention of the altars, still bearing a remnant fear of her own. In truth, she also felt apprehensive around Li Hui, intentionally keeping her distance with every step.

“Hehe, should we call it standing on the verge of death?” Li Hui smiled slightly, surprised. The fourth level was deserted, and even the palace lanterns that should illuminate the corridor exuded a chill, while shadows seemed to wander along the walls.

The jade comb looked horrified and gravely said, “Hurry, we must leave; this place is ominous!”

Without needing to be told twice, Li Hui shot forward. Suddenly, he heard a shriek as a massive shadowy claw appeared, piercing through layers of obstacles and reaching out towards the corridor.

“Boom…” The green light surged, driving the shadowy claw back as it quickly vanished into the darkness, shaking as if it dared not show itself.

They dashed toward the entrance and continued down, traversing nine hundred ninety-nine emerald steps before entering the fifth underground level, where their vision opened up dramatically. They were greeted by brilliant rainbow light and auspicious colors, revealing a garden of rare flowers and odd herbs, alongside a divine tree shimmering with brilliance and bearing various auspicious fruits.

Li Hui dared not make any sudden moves, as red marks appeared all over him like brands. This was the highest warning from his Ideal Body, indicating that the area was filled with restrictions, formations, and secret techniques that could be fatal with just one misstep.

The jade comb felt as cautious, standing by a small path among the white jade flowerbeds that led far into the distance. She reminded him, “Young master, you possess the light of soaring to high places beneath your feet, allowing you to collect some rare flowers and odd herbs or auspicious fruits to perhaps replenish your lifespan.”

Guang Jin exclaimed, “Wow! Am I seeing things? The Auspicious Dragon Celebration Tree, the Guardian Red Fruit Divine Tree, the Eight Sounds of Wonders Flower, and the Pinnacle Purple Cloud Vine. And look! That little grass shooting brilliant tricolor light—could it be the Awakening Grass that helps people break through the bottleneck of cultivation?”

Li Hui took a glance around, recognizing many long-lost spiritual plants based on their features. Previously, he had collected some golden fire-type spiritual plants in the Underground Cavern of the Purple Fortress, but compared to these rare flowers and odd herbs, those felt like trash; their rarity was incomparable and beyond measure.

“Let’s find the earth axis first.”

Guang Jin wailed, “No! I want to pick the Eight Sounds of Wonders Flower! It’s my treasured delight! If I leave now, I’ll never love again!”

“Get lost! What kind of monk do you fancy?” Li Hui knew how to prioritize; he only took risks he could manage, refusing to bear risks he could not handle. Before finding the earth axis, he absolutely could not waste the light of soaring to high places mentioned by the jade comb.

“I’ve renounced being a monk! Now I’m your servant, young master.” Guang Jin was adept at being stubborn, and once he saw something good, he could not move on; he was like a pi xiu, greedy and stingy, taking but not giving.

“If you keep talking, I’ll bring out the Concentrating Peace Wood and won’t care for you anymore.” Li Hui walked forward along the small path, feeling enriched just by standing and watching along the way.

“My Eight Sounds of Wonders Flower! My Eight Sounds of Wonders Flower!” Suddenly, Guang Jin paused and cried, “Ah! I’ve changed my mind! There’s a King Bodhi Tree growing here, with many fruits scattered on the ground. It’s unrealistic to move the entire tree, so I’ll just pick up all the fruits!”

Li Hui slowed his pace. The path was becoming narrower, and one misstep could lead him into a formation’s restrictions. His Ideal Body continued to give warnings, and many parts of him burned bright red, responding most violently.

After about half an hour, the surrounding heat-type spiritual plants increased, and the air filled with warmth. At the end of the small path, a well platform appeared.

“I found it! This is the place.”

“Incredible, there’s actually a deep well! That saves a lot of effort—escaping underground will be much easier,” Li Hui leaped onto the well platform and looked down, frowning in concern.

There he saw flames flickering wildly underground, with magma gleaming blindingly. His heart raced: “Even gold and iron would vaporize instantly if they fell in. Can I really escape from here?”

Of course there were problems! A big one!

Li Hui sat down on the broad well platform and took out four Listening to the Tide pattern talismans.

These four talismans had been exchanged earlier using the Fortune Ascending Talisman from the Heavenly Array; they served no other purpose than to listen to the sounds of wind and water, allowing estimation of how thick the clouds were and how deep the water ran.

“Rush!” Three talismans transformed into faint white light and disappeared into the well. Li Hui pressed the fourth talisman to his forehead, closing his eyes to sense carefully, hope gradually blossoming in his heart.

“Turns out it’s a lava river, less than fifty fathoms deep, and it seems to flow north to south based on the sound.”

“The earth axis is just beneath the lava river. When Wan Nest Island sinks into the sea, I must dive into the earth axis to gather strength and enter the earth vein, far removed from the close watch of the Hongmo Sect.”

“For now, I must prepare well. The Ice Silkworm and Ice Picking Short Sword will come in handy; the Yin-Yang Nine Heads and Primitive Shell Symbol also need to be adjusted to their best states. Perhaps I can even make some Guanghan Ice Soul Talismans and Fire Avoidance Talismans.” Li Hui glanced at the jade comb demon and said warmly, “Sister Jade, could you give me some treasures? Artifacts and fragments of treasures would also work; they would be of great use to me!”

Guang Jin muttered, “How thick-skinned can you be? Do you expect her to just give it to you?”

“Fragments are fine? I have quite a lot saved up,” the jade comb replied eagerly. Hearing that felt like music to Li Hui’s ears. It should work well to make talismans with Blood Banana Leaves, and even if the effects weren’t great, he could use quantity to make up for it.