As they talked, Ye Xuan suddenly felt that something was amiss.
Why did that brat Gu Li keep shooting meaningful glances at him?
Could it be that the kid was so impatient he already wanted the lavish gifts prepared for him?
Ye Xuan transmitted his voice discreetly, "You brat, do you want the lavish gifts of thanks right—"
Before Ye Xuan could finish, Gu Li twitched his brows and made faces as he said, "Uncle Ye, what are you thinking? Is your nephew the kind of person who cares only about material gain?"
The corner of Ye Xuan's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, his downcast eyes clearly saying, *If not you, then who?*
Gu Li gave a light cough and transmitted his voice softly, "Uncle Ye, you can bring out the gifts right about now.
"And then... doesn't our Nine Dragons Immortal Sect still have a female flood dragon that isn't pregnant yet?
"Just think about it. Dragons are lustful by nature. How could you pass up such a golden opportunity?
"For that matter, don't you have other female flood dragons in the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect? Don't tell me you only have nine black flood dragons in the entire sect."
The more Ye Xuan listened, the brighter his eyes shone. He looked at Gu Li with newfound admiration, realizing he had truly judged a gentleman's heart with petty cynicism.
Gu Li was clearly looking out for him!
Thorough. Truly thoughtful and thorough!
Ye Xuan cleared his throat, rose to his feet, and said courteously, "Since young friend Li is here as well, I shall present the modest tokens of appreciation that the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect prepared long ago."
As he spoke, six ancient-looking storage rings floated into the air.
Gu Li and Gu Changsheng received one each, Meng Jiangchu and Meng Wanshu received one each, and Li Guanqi was given two.
With a mere sweep of his divine sense, Li Guanqi discovered at least thirty million spirit stones inside, along with over a thousand rare spiritual herbs.
Ye Xuan smiled. "Thanks to young friend's generosity, the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect was able to obtain the offspring of a true dragon, and our black flood dragon will soon transform into a dragon.
"The Nine Dragons Immortal Sect will remember this debt of gratitude.
"In the future, if you or the Great Xia Sword Sect ever need assistance, do not hesitate to ask."
Having said that, he turned to Gu Changsheng and Meng Jiangchu with a warm smile. "I have long heard of both of your illustrious names, Fellow Daoists, yet never had the opportunity to meet you.
"Thanks to these youngsters today, it is my great honor to meet you both. I hope you will stay a few more days at the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect so we may share wine and converse merrily."
Meng Jiangchu did not stand on ceremony either. A mere sum of spirit stones did not catch his eye, but the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect's power was extraordinary.
The sect's forefather was an old monster in the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, and since Meng Jiangchu himself was counted among the people of the Seven Domains, they would inevitably cross paths in the future.
Besides, Xiang Huaizhi had already mentioned that when the time was ripe, he would naturally take Ye Xuan to the Seventh Domain.
As an eighth-grade alchemist, countless people sought to curry favor with Gu Changsheng on ordinary days, but the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect...
If he remembered correctly, they had an eighth-grade alchemist of their own. For them to treat him with such courtesy was also largely because of Li Guanqi.
Everyone present was a figure who had lived for thousands of years, and with no grudges between them, they were naturally glad to forge ties.
Amid laughing pleasantries, they all accepted Ye Xuan's goodwill.
By now, Li Guanqi understood what was going on, especially since Gu Li's winking had nearly squeezed tears from his eyes.
He simply smiled and said, "Uncle Ye, Jiuxiao's internal power has not yet stabilized. Would it be possible to let him spend some time with the black flood dragons?"
Ye Xuan's grin stretched almost from ear to ear, and he nodded eagerly with a chuckle. "Of course! Absolutely!
"Lao Zhao, quick! Guide the true dragon to the back mountain yourself to see the black flood dragons. Pay special attention to the fourth one, understand?"
The old gatekeeper was an old fox as well, so how could he fail to grasp what was happening?
Bowing with lowered eyes, he said, "Rest assured, Sect Master. Rest assured, young friend Li. I will make sure everything is arranged properly."
Li Guanqi naturally wasn't worried about Jiuxiao getting the short end of the stick. When it came to such things... the dragon was coming out ahead no matter how one looked at it.
Jiuxiao transformed into dragon form and took to the air, a profound look in his eyes that could hardly conceal his ecstatic delight.
Shrinking into a small dragon, he nudged Li Guanqi affectionately before soaring away behind the old man.
It was evident that Ye Xuan hesitated several times as though wanting to ask Meng Jiangchu something, but held back because there were too many people present.
Content to just chat casually, Gu Changsheng suddenly asked, "Since Sect Master Ye has been rooted in the Ethereal Immortal Domain for so long, have you heard any news regarding the Qilin Soul or the Seven-Colored Glazed Flower?"
Hearing this, the brocade-robed man furrowed his brows, a look of contemplation appearing on his resolute face.
"I have never heard of a spiritual plant known as the Seven-Colored Glazed Flower. But as for the Qilin Soul...
"When I traveled through the Ethereal Domain in my youth, I seem to have heard whispers about it in the Southern Domain. However, it was so long ago that my memory is a bit hazy."
Excitement washed over Gu Changsheng's face. Even a faint whisper was wonderful news!
At least the Qilin Soul was not a baseless myth; there was a very real chance it could be found in the Ethereal Immortal Domain!
Meng Jiangchu said gravely, "Then I must trouble Brother Ye to keep an eye out for these two items. They are of utmost importance to my son-in-law."
Ye Xuan glanced thoughtfully at Li Guanqi, keeping his speculations to himself without asking indiscreet questions.
He simply nodded slightly and said softly, "Very well, I will keep this in mind. I'll instruct my subordinates to inquire around, and I'll let you know as soon as there is any word."
Afterward, Ye Xuan conversed further with the two, reaching preliminary agreements for future cooperation in pill refining and artifact crafting.
After all, as an alchemist clan, the Gu clan possessed a massive number of alchemists, making them an ideal partner coveted by countless sects.
By this time, Meng Wanshu had already entered a meditative cultivation state.
Drawing on the medicinal power of the pill bestowed by Xiang Huaizhi, she refined the energy within her body to suppress her cultivation at the initial entry into the mid Body Integration Realm.
Tremors rippled from the back mountain. The others shared tacit knowing smiles, while Ye Xuan grinned and chuckled heartily.
Yet right at that moment, the expressions of Gu Changsheng and Gu Li changed almost simultaneously!
"Not good! Something has happened!"
Everyone in the hall sprang to their feet in an instant!
Gu Li pinched several silver-white inscribed talismans between his fingers, and violent spatial power erupted instantly.
Silver light surged, yet the warping space seemed to be forcibly suppressed by some tremendous power, unable to expand!
Gu Changsheng gave a cold snort as surging mental energy poured into Gu Li's body, causing the silver radiance to blaze brilliantly!
*Boom!*
A deafening roar resounded as the shockwave of the shattering silver light nearly tore the main hall of the Nine Dragons Immortal Sect apart.
Tables, chairs, and benches in the hall turned into flying ash in an instant, and the windows on all four sides shattered completely.
Stepping forward, Ye Xuan waved his hand to extinguish the shockwave and frowned. "What happened?"
Gu Changsheng said coldly, "Someone has broken into my Gu clan's realm and sealed it off from the inside!"
Right after, Gu Changsheng sneered coldly, "Hmph! They truly look down on our Gu clan!"
Reflecting on it, the others felt the same... Aside from Han Yuan, there were presumably at least three other eighth-grade alchemists present in the Gu clan.
Yet Li Guanqi's expression turned exceedingly grim. Setting down the jade slip in his hand, his face darkened ominously.
Gu Li frowned and asked, "What is it?"
Li Guanqi said in a deep voice, "I can't reach Tang Ru! Return immediately!"
*Buzz!*
Meanwhile, inside the Gu clan realm, two colossal cloud boats burst through the void!
A tyrannical pressure swept across heaven and earth as three figures stepped upon the void, holding sway over the entire realm!
Lu Hengtian of the Lu clan, Zhu Ying...
...and an expert virtually unknown to the outside world. The man possessed handsome features and flowing long hair.
Dressed in a vermilion robe and holding a folding fan, he carried a faintly effeminate air.
His fox-like eyes held a subtle reddish gleam, and his rouge-painted lips curled into a slight smile.
Chapter 894