Chapter 138: The Secret of the Blue Lotus Disc and the Nine-Treasure Lotus Lamp
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Lei Xiang’s face remained astonishingly calm. With a wave of his storage pouch, an ancient-looking scroll flew out. He rapidly formed a series of hand seals, and the scroll unfurled vertically. A vast expanse of black-and-white energy spread outward, enveloping both Lei Xiang and the Blue Lotus Disk.
If it could trap an enemy, it could protect its master as well.
That was the principle Lei Xiang had grasped. The White-Haired Granny was far beyond what his cultivation could withstand. Even the miraculous Immortal-Slaying Spear of Nine-Nine would be useless against her. Thus, he decisively unfurled the White Mountain Black Water Diagram and drew both himself and the Blue Lotus Disk inside.
A moment later, the White-Haired Granny flew back. Facing the enormous scroll that seemed to support both heaven and earth, she summoned the Pink Rose Sword and Madam Wang’s Ghost-Trace Needles, then launched a furious assault against it.
She had just been struck by Lei Xiang’s Immortal-Slaying Spear of Nine-Nine, which had dispersed half the spiritual power within her body. When she hurried back, she discovered that Lei Xiang had already hidden himself inside this independent space. A mere little fellow at the mid-Core Formation stage had escaped from her hands again and again. How could she not be enraged?
Lei Xiang was equally furious. Dressed in black, he wore an expression as cold as still water, as though covered by a layer of frost.
“Come out.”
He was actually speaking to the Blue Lotus Disk, and his tone was so cold that it held no warmth whatsoever.
A flash of red light appeared, and a beautiful woman dressed in fiery red materialized from thin air. Her lovely eyes swept over Lei Xiang, and she said even more icily, “What do you want?”
She was Tian Rui, the spirit of the Nine-Treasure Lotus Staff and the Blue Lotus Disk.
Lei Xiang laughed in exasperation. “What do I want? Twice now, you have driven the Blue Lotus Disk while deliberately dodging the enemy’s attacks, leaving me to face life and death alone. I doubt your only concern was protecting the Blue Lotus Disk from damage. Give me an explanation.”
Tian Rui’s expression did not change. “It’s simple. I wanted you dead.”
Lei Xiang frowned. He had not expected Tian Rui to admit it so readily. During his battles against the Decayed Tooth and the White-Haired Granny, the Blue Lotus Disk had abandoned him and fled twice, leaving him with severe internal injuries. If he had not reacted swiftly and accurately, his soul would have been destroyed long ago.
Yet Tian Rui had answered him so bluntly. It seemed she intended to lay everything bare.
Lei Xiang did not press her. He knew she would continue speaking.
“You are nothing more than an ordinary mortal, as ordinary as they come, yet through sheer luck you formed a blood contract with the immortal artifact you call the Blue Lotus Disk. You are entirely unworthy of being its master. Only by killing you can we dissolve the contract between you. That is why we have endured you all this time, waiting for an opportunity to use someone else’s hand to kill you. If you have any sense, take your own life and atone for your sins. Then you can enter the cycle of reincarnation sooner. I can even grant you some benefits, so that your next life will be free of worry.”
“Oh, that is quite a boast.”
Lei Xiang bared his small tiger teeth and smiled with amusement.
“You have looked down on me time and again. You do not appear to be a creature of this world, but none of that matters. What matters now is ability. No matter what kind of mighty existence you once were, your cultivation is currently inferior even to that of a human cultivator at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Killing you would be as easy as turning over my hand, yet you want me to kill myself? That is absurd.”
Tian Rui showed no sign of weakness.
“Would killing me truly be so easy? If it were, why have you not acted already? My cultivation has not recovered, but I possess two supreme treasures: the artifacts you call the Blue Lotus Disk and the Nine-Treasure Lotus Staff. In your hands, they can display no more than thirty percent of their power, but I can fully unleash their abilities. At the very least, that would be enough for me to protect myself.”
They were already so formidable with only thirty percent of their power. What would they be like when fully unleashed?
It seemed these two treasures truly were extraordinary.
Though Lei Xiang thought this, he said carelessly, “You know that I designed and forged the Immortal-Slaying Spear myself. I do not care much about these so-called immortal artifacts. I might return them to you when the time is right, depending on your attitude. But with that attitude, even if I destroy you together with the artifacts, I will not give them back.”
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Tian Rui fell silent. She calculated in her heart, weighing Lei Xiang’s strength. Lei Xiang seized the opportunity to brandish the Immortal-Slaying Spear of Nine-Nine.
“Do not forget that I also possess this spear and this spatial treasure of mine. In this black-and-white world, I alone have authority. Even if you tried to escape, you could not. You would be wise not to gamble with your own life.”
Judging from what Lei Xiang had said, Tian Rui truly had not the slightest chance. She could only remain silent.
Seeing that he had achieved his aim, Lei Xiang once again bared his little tiger teeth and gave a lazy smile.
“I think we can speak calmly now. What astonishing secret do the Blue Lotus Disk and the Nine-Treasure Lotus Staff conceal? If I give up the Blue Lotus Disk, what can you offer me in return?”
Tian Rui’s red silhouette trembled faintly. It would be ideal if Lei Xiang were willing to relinquish the Blue Lotus Disk of his own accord. It seemed the time had come to reveal something about the so-called Blue Lotus Disk.
With that thought, she blew gently toward the Blue Lotus Disk. The artifact shrank back to its original size, and three more stone flower buds surrounding it bloomed. Of the nine flower buds in total, seven had now opened.
When Lei Xiang had originally obtained the wood, water, and fire spiritual roots, three flowers had opened on the Blue Lotus Disk. When he encountered Huo Qiuling and Tian Rui, another had opened. Yet now, guided by Tian Rui’s aura, three flowers had opened at once.
It was truly astonishing. It seemed that this artifact spirit could draw out the full power of the Blue Lotus Disk.
Before Lei Xiang could recover from his surprise, Tian Rui lightly beckoned, and the Blue Lotus Disk flew nimbly into her palm.
“You have seen it now. Back then, you struggled desperately just to open four flowers. I have the ability to make every flower bloom. When that happens, the power of this treasure will increase at least tenfold.
“I can also tell you that its true name is not the Blue Lotus Disk. The Nine-Treasure Lotus Staff does not bear that shabby name either. They are both parts of the same immortal treasure. It was shattered during the great war between immortals and demons ten thousand years ago, then fell into the mortal world with a meteor shower and was obtained by you by chance. It is not an artifact that belongs to your world, and you must return it eventually.
“Some time ago, I sensed the aura of its other components, so I wished to hurry there and reunite with them. Only when this immortal treasure is reassembled will its true power be revealed. Of course, your cultivation speed in the mortal world is already astonishing, but compared with the Immortal Realm, it is far too slow.
“If you are willing to relinquish this treasure of your own accord, I can compensate you. Consider it carefully.”
Lei Xiang slowly sat down beside the little bridge and stretched out his legs comfortably. Then he gently closed his eyes.
Tian Rui did not disturb him. After all, this was not a decision that could be made lightly. It might affect the course of his entire life.
There was neither sun nor moon within the White Mountain Black Water space, only black and white. As a result, there was no sense of time. No one knew how long had passed before Lei Xiang slowly opened his eyes. His gaze had become as distinct as black and white, and clear beyond compare.
“Very well. I accept your proposal, but I have one condition. This immortal treasure must serve me for one hundred years. After that, I will dissolve our contract. That is only fair.”
“What? You want to possess an immortal treasure for one hundred years? Heh, you certainly are bold. A hundred years may not be long to us immortals, but how can I trust you?”
Lei Xiang bared his small tiger teeth and smiled.
“Whether you trust me is your concern. In any case, I know you still need my help—taking you to search for the fragments of the immortal treasure, for example. If I can use it for a hundred years, I will have far more motivation to help you. Is that not so?
“Besides, you have already waited for tens of thousands of years. Do you truly care about a mere century? Without me, who knows how much longer you would have to wait before seeing this immortal treasure again?”
Tian Rui clenched her silver teeth, cursing Lei Xiang inwardly for taking advantage of her predicament. She truly did want Lei Xiang to take her there. After all, her cultivation was still shallow in the mortal world, whereas Lei Xiang, with his Immortal-Slaying Spear, was already an exceedingly formidable existence.
At last, she exhaled heavily.
“Very well. I agree. Once the immortal treasure has been reunited, you may use it for one hundred years. If greed overtakes you after that century and you refuse to return it, I will naturally have a way to destroy you and return the immortal treasure to the Immortal Realm.”
Lei Xiang’s expression remained as calm as an ancient well, as though he had already known what answer Tian Rui would give.
“Now tell me the name of this immortal treasure. How many components does it still need?”
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“No.”
Tian Rui’s answer was crisp.
“I will tell you once you find the fragments. There is no need to rush. We should set out now and search for them. I have waited long enough.”
Lei Xiang shrugged helplessly.
“If you will not tell me, then so be it. But I cannot leave with you yet. I still have two matters to deal with.
“First, I must go to the Floating Island at the Laughing Fang headquarters. I have to rescue my friend’s wife. Otherwise, I will never be able to set out in peace to help you search for the fragments of the immortal treasure.”
Tian Rui suddenly smiled mysteriously.
“Lei Xiang, would you believe me if I told you that one of the fragments of the immortal treasure is on the Floating Island?”
Her words startled Lei Xiang. He looked at Tian Rui suspiciously, confirming that she was not joking. There was no reason for her to deceive him about such a matter.
He said nothing more. His hands moved rapidly through a series of seals, and three layers of light barriers formed around him. He established a hide-covered defensive layer on the outside, then turned his attention toward the heavens and prepared to begin cultivating.
“Hey, why are you cultivating at a time like this? Let us hurry to the Floating Island. We can rescue someone and search for treasure at the same time. Do not waste time sitting around here.”
Lei Xiang rolled his eyes at Tian Rui.
“Has a donkey kicked your brain? With my pitiful level of cultivation, it would be impossible for me to go to the Laughing Fang headquarters. I cannot even defeat the White-Haired Granny guarding the outside. Unless I raise my cultivation quickly, I will not be going anywhere.”
Tian Rui snorted through her nose.
“With you cultivating here, who knows when you will break through? You are—”
She stopped speaking, because she had seen a jade bottle floating before Lei Xiang’s chest. Within it appeared to be three round, black shadows.
Then she heard Lei Xiang say, “It would be impossible for me to break through in such a short time by relying on myself. But what if I add Boundary-Breaking Pills?”
Boundary-Breaking Pills?
Tian Rui’s mouth fell wide open.
Such pills were considered spirit treasures even in the Immortal Realm, and she herself had never been fortunate enough to see one. How could they possibly have appeared in the mortal world?
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