Chapter 18: Black Pool Ghost Lotus
Trek Through the Desert
Crossing the desert would take at least another hour.
During that time, Feng Xizhi hopped beside Gu Chi, chattering endlessly.
She seemed to have an infinite supply of words.
Gu Chi’s responses were mostly “mm” or “oh,” sometimes nothing at all.
Yet, a single glance from him kept her prattling on.
His mood was decent.
After all, he’d gained a thousand high-grade spirit stones for free.
As for the remaining thousand, Feng Xizhi suggested collecting them at Fire Phoenix Sect after leaving the realm.
A joke—he’d be a fool to go.
An hour later, a dense forest appeared.
Feng Xizhi finally handed him the map.
“Didn’t you say it was in your head?”
“Well, it is…”
“But the map uses tree types to mark locations.”
“Who remembers all those trees?”
She answered faintly.
Gu Chi glanced at the map, quickly pinpointing their position.
In the next moment, he shook off her hand and bolted.
“Hey! Hey!”
“Does your conscience hurt?”
She chased after him, activating her innate spirit blood.
A phoenix phantom appeared, wings flapping, barely matching his speed.
Gu Chi was mildly surprised—she could run this fast?
Then how had he caught her for a spanking earlier?
He was the prey, he realized, growing warier.
Running was pointless.
To harvest the Black Pool Ghost Lotus, he needed to conserve at least seventy percent of his spiritual energy.
He slowed, letting her catch up.
She hugged his arm tightly with her fair hands.
“I’m so good to you, gave you all my savings.”
“You can’t ditch me.”
“Women like you—accepting your kindness means paying a steeper price later.”
“It’s a transaction.”
“You haven’t paid yet, so what’s to fear?”
Her chest pressed against his arm, rubbing softly.
Though small, it was tender.
The gesture reminded him of Pei Ningxue’s coquettish ways.
The urge to knock her out and leave her faded.
He glanced at her coolly.
“Let go. Walk.”
“Don’t ditch me again, okay?”
She stuck close, trailing him through towering ancient trees.
Gu Chi recognized the local spirit plants and trees.
Luck was on his side—he found two ripe Jade Spirit Fruits on a tree.
He plucked them, wiped one, and handed it to her.
“What’s this?”
She asked, taking a bite.
“Jade Spirit Fruit. Good for the eyes.”
For her, it was common sect fare.
For him, a decent find.
He ate his, feeling warmth in his eyes, vision sharper.
Feng Xizhi found it sour, eating half before passing it back.
“You finish.”
He took it, ate it clean, and glanced at her.
Her cheeks were red.
“Why’re you blushing?”
“I just bit it…”
“It’s got my saliva…”
“No wonder it’s so sour.”
“You’re mean!”
She pouted, poking his waist lightly.
The Cave of the Lotus
An hour later, they reached the map’s end.
A barren mountain loomed, a cave within.
Beneath, an underground cavern held the Black Pool Ghost Lotus.
The lotus was a rare herb.
A hundred years old, it was a yellow-tier ingredient.
Three hundred years, earth-tier.
Five hundred, low-grade heaven-tier—a rare treasure.
Spirit herbs were ranked from mysterious, yellow, earth, heaven, supreme, demonic, to holy.
Heaven-tier was for elite cultivators.
Beyond, supreme, demonic, and holy tiers were priceless, found only by fate.
Elixirs were vital for cultivation, varying by path.
Body cultivators, like Gu Chi, sought herbs to temper the flesh—the most common path.
Sword cultivators nurtured their souls.
They split into blade and flying sword types.
Flying sword cultivators, like Fang Xiyu, were resource-heavy, using souls to wield spiritual energy, striking lethally.
They rarely acted, but when they did, blood followed.
Hence the saying: don’t provoke flying sword cultivators.
Beyond body and sword cultivators were array cultivators, crafting natal array discs for group battles, and talisman cultivators, drawing natal talismans.
Both demanded vast resources and exceptional soul talent—beyond most.
Gu Chi was a body cultivator.
Flesh-tempering elixirs were treasures to him.
He used air swords but lacked a proper blade or systematic training.
Only recently had Pei Ningxue taught him the Pei royal sword art, barely making him a sword cultivator.
She claimed he had sword talent, but he wasn’t sure.
He rarely went all out, preferring sneak attacks when foes were weak or off-guard—efficient.
Full effort meant life-or-death stakes.
Without seventy percent odds, he wouldn’t gamble.
“Let’s go.”
He spoke softly.
“Be careful. If the beast guarding the lotus ambushes, I might not protect you.”
“Hmph, even if you could, you wouldn’t.”
“When you realize no one’s trustworthy, you’ve learned the first rule of rogue life.”
He grinned, unashamed.
Eastern Domain favored sect alliances, dominating mountains.
Rogues had little room, craving freedom over control.
Surviving in scarce resources, most kind-hearted rogues became forest bones.
Sect cultivators, living in groups, valued cooperation, reputation, and morality.
It was just survival choices—no right or wrong.
They entered the cave, moving down a narrow path.
Breath held, steps silent.
Spirit herbs absorbed natural energy, like innate arrays.
Beasts often guarded them, nourished by the same energy.
Stealing their herbs meant a fight to the death.
At the cave’s base, a black pool shimmered.
In its center, the Black Pool Ghost Lotus bloomed, eighteen petals glowing.
Nearby, lotus pods held high medicinal value, boosting endurance.
Gu Chi identified it as three hundred years old—earth-tier.
Feng Xizhi wasn’t foolish.
She didn’t rush to pick it, staring at the dark pool.
A gap above let moonlight spill, illuminating the lotus, elegant and serene.
She exchanged a glance with Gu Chi.
He tossed a pebble into the water.
Ripples spread.
A black python rose, its exposed body suggesting dozens of meters in length.
No words needed.
Gu Chi said calmly, “Move.”
Her eyes gleamed.
A flying sword appeared from her wrist, transforming into a blood-red blade, hovering.
As Fire Phoenix Sect’s holy daughter, she was a flying sword cultivator.
Most sect prodigies were, burning resources to nurture souls and swords.
Gu Chi didn’t summon an air sword.
He stepped forward, fists clenched.
The python opened its maw, fangs glinting green under moonlight.
Foul stench hit as it lunged.
Gu Chi didn’t dodge.
He grabbed its fangs, legs bracing on its body, muscles straining to tear its head apart.
Feng Xizhi’s sword struck, aiming for the python’s seventh inch—its heart.
A red streak lit the dark cave crimson.
The python surfaced fully, spraying green venom.
It drenched Gu Chi, corroding his body.
He grunted, summoning his air sword.
Leaping, he landed, sword piercing the python’s head top-down.
Her sword stabbed its heart.
It collapsed, dead, without a sound.
Her lips curved.
Rarely exploring realms or killing, slaying a Core Formation beast felt triumphant.
But her pride faded.
Gu Chi’s face was dark as ink.
“You really didn’t bring me to die?”
She froze.
He sensed what she couldn’t.
His Demon Dragon Gu stirred, awakened by the aura.
As he spoke, the pool churned.
He retreated to the cave wall.
Four pythons, as massive as the first, rose from the water.
Without hesitation, they surged, splashing waves.