The Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree, which had already fled far away, instantly reappeared above the city wall when it heard this. Its voice rang with delight.
“Really?”
The Tribulation Transcendence cultivator said, “Brother Tea Tree, please wait a moment. I’ll open the city gate for you right away.”
With that, he rushed back into the inner city at top speed and went straight to the sect master of the Flame Saint Sect. He briefly explained the matter of the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree, then said, “Although this tree’s arrival is suspicious, its behavior is absurd and deranged, as if its soul has been damaged. And it is such a supreme treasure. Even if there is something strange about how it came here, its love for wood spirit stones is absolutely genuine. If we can keep it here with wood spirit stones, even if only for three to five months or a few years, it will be of enormous benefit to the sect.”
Putting aside everything else, just the Heavenly Dao laws branded onto its leaves meant that cultivating and comprehending the Dao beneath the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree would be no worse than guarding the Five Elements Immortal Stones in the Immortal Stone Palace.
The Flame Saint Sect was currently “at war” with the Machete Gang, so all of the sect’s powerful experts had been mobilized. At this moment, aside from those stationed at the various city towers, almost all of them were gathered here.
One cultivator said with a chuckle, “I suspect this Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree was released by the Machete Warrant Lord to lure us in. But a ninth-rank supreme treasure has delivered itself to our doorstep, and not just any treasure, but an extraordinary, transcendent, top-grade ninth-rank sacred treasure. If we refuse it, wouldn’t we be wasting the Machete Warrant Lord’s kind intentions? Keep it here and keep a close eye on Jade Shura. I refuse to believe any great chaos can come of it. Are we supposed to believe the Flame Saint Sect’s mountain-protecting formation can’t restrain a single ninth-rank sacred treasure?”
Everyone nodded, saying that his words made sense. When such a supreme treasure appeared in the world, never mind if there was a trap—even if there were mountains of blades and seas of fire, one still had to charge in and seize it. Just think back to when the sacred artifact emerged. How fiercely had everyone fought over it? Back then, how many factions had acted despite knowing that there was an untouchable existence sealed within the Ancient Desolate Mountains? Now, this Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree was far more valuable than a sacred artifact, and the risk was almost negligible.
At worst, the Machete Warrant Lord would come knocking to demand it back. The Flame Saint Sect could simply strip the old tea tree bare of its sacred tea leaves and return the tree. After all, the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree grew a new batch every three years. If the Machete Warrant Lord had already taken the tree back, would she really worry about not having tea leaves? If necessary, the Flame Saint Sect could take a step back, keep the leaves, and return the mines, herb gardens, and Jade Shura that the Machete Gang wanted. Trading all that for thousands of Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea leaves would mean the Flame Saint Sect had profited immensely. Perhaps some among them might even step into the Mahayana stage through this opportunity. At that point, even if they could not ascend, becoming an Earth Immortal would be guaranteed. With that thought, they felt as though they had taken another step closer to the Earth Immortal realm. If they could cultivate to that realm, why would they need to fear the Machete Warrant Lord? Their days of holding their heads high would come again.
Immediately, someone urged the Tribulation Transcendence cultivator to hurry up and open the city gate to invite the old tea tree in, lest it change its mind and run off.
The sect master of the Flame Saint Sect personally controlled the formation and shifted a crack open in the grand array. He transmitted his voice outward.
“We respectfully welcome Brother Tea Tree’s honored arrival. This humble one greets you. Fifty thousand wood spirit stones have already been prepared. Please accept them, Brother Tea Tree.”
As he spoke, he moved fifty thousand wood spirit stones out of the storage treasure he carried and piled them somewhere the old tea tree could see.
When the old tea tree saw a crack open in the grand array and saw a little hill of wood spirit stones appear right before its eyes, it was overjoyed. With a whoosh, it slipped right through the crack.
By the time Yu Mi rushed over, she only had time to slash out with a flame, burning a bit of its root.
The old tea tree cried out in pain.
“Yu Mi! This tree grandpa will remember you!”
It dashed up to the Flame Saint Sect’s sect master and, with lightning speed, swept away the little hill of wood spirit stones.
Bao Gu, watching from afar, was instantly speechless.
Then she came back to herself and cried inwardly, Why did you run so fast? Take me in with you!
Fine. This time, the old tea tree had entered the city. From the looks of it, this rather had the feel of throwing a meat bun at a dog. The old tea tree’s dissatisfaction with her oppression was not a matter of one or two days.
However, Bao Gu was not worried that the old tea tree would never return. Even if the old tea tree wanted to stay away forever, it would still depend on whether Qing Ying agreed. Qing Ying cared even more about this tree grandpa than she did about Bao Gu, her bargain-bin master. Did they dare shelter the old tea tree? Fine. When Qing Ying finished seclusion and came knocking, they had better not piss themselves in fright.
After the old tea tree entered the city, Bao Gu leisurely walked forward. Each step carried her several hundred zhang, and before long, she appeared outside the Flame Saint Sect.
When Yu Mi saw Bao Gu arrive, she asked, “How did that old tea tree get out?”
Bao Gu said expressionlessly, “I saw that this formation was extremely secure and hard to deal with, so I wanted the old tea tree to help me take a look. Who would have thought he would actually run off again?”
Standing on the city wall, the Tribulation Transcendence cultivator looked at Bao Gu cheerfully and cupped his fists.
“Many thanks for your generous gift, Warrant Lord.”
Bao Gu said coldly, “My things are not something ordinary people can accept. Let me remind you: taking in the old tea tree will bring you a huge problem you cannot afford to provoke.”
After all, the original owner of this tea tree was not her.
The Tribulation Transcendence cultivator smiled and said, “Is the Warrant Lord referring to herself?”
Bao Gu was in a very poor mood. Her gaze was icy, and her entire bearing was sharp and solemn, carrying a faint aura of slaughter.
In the eyes of the Flame Saint Sect, it seemed that Bao Gu had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice she used as bait.
Bao Gu said coldly, “I won’t waste words with you. Just one thing. I will collect the debt, and you will release Jade Shura.”
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master appeared above the city gate and said calmly, “Warrant Lord, isn’t it rather improper for you to forcibly seize the Flame Saint Sect’s belongings like this?”
Bao Gu said coldly, “If I slaughter the city in a fit of rage, you will find that even more improper.”
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master’s eyes flickered slightly. He said, “Is the Warrant Lord planning to disregard Jade Shura’s life?”
Bao Gu said, “I will bury the entire Flame Province with her.”
Judging from her appearance, she was clearly enraged from humiliation.
Bao Gu turned to Yu Mi and said lightly, “Senior Sister, return to the flagship.”
As she spoke, a faint sword shadow overlapped with her figure. Her hand formed a sword-gripping gesture, and the Xuantian Sword appeared in her palm. A chilling killing intent spread from her body.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master’s expression changed slightly. Then he smiled faintly again and said, “Warrant Lord, isn’t this a bit too impulsive? If Jade Shura dies, I wonder how you will explain yourself to Soul Chasing Pavilion?”
At those words, Bao Gu’s expression eased slightly. She seemed to fall into thought, then raised her head and glanced toward the flagship.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master followed Bao Gu’s gaze and swept his divine sense over the flagship. In one glance, he saw Qu Yirou, pavilion master of Soul Chasing Pavilion, standing before a massive window at the very front of the ship.
The Killing Empress, Qu Yirou.
His eyes met Qu Yirou’s, and he immediately felt a chill down his back and a cold sensation at his neck. In terms of cultivation realm, he was not inferior to her. But in the cultivation world, no one wanted to personally experience the reputation of the Killing Empress. That title had truly been carved out through slaughter. She had proven her Dao through killing, killing so many people that every time she advanced even a minor realm, heavenly lightning would descend upon her. She had been struck by heavenly lightning so often that enduring it was like play to her. Being listed on the Machete Gang Inn’s bounty board was still better than provoking the Killing Empress into taking action.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master interpreted Bao Gu’s earlier glance upward as proof that even the Machete Warrant Lord was wary of the Killing Empress. At the same time, he was well aware that the Machete Warrant Lord’s behavior could not be judged by common sense at all. She was capable of anything. When angered, she never cared about consequences. Her actions were so unexpected they made one’s heart tremble in fear. No matter how formidable the Killing Empress was, when she struck, she targeted one person. But whenever the Machete Warrant Lord acted, blood flowed like rivers. Looking at this situation, could she be planning another massacre?
Those mines and herb gardens were not enough for the Flame Saint Sect to truly fall out with the Machete Gang and go to war.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master advised in a gentle tone, “Warrant Lord, this is merely a matter of wealth and resources. There is no need for us to fight to the death over it, is there?”
Bao Gu stared expressionlessly at the Flame Saint Sect’s sect master. Neither her eyes nor her face revealed even the slightest emotion, making it impossible to guess what she intended to do.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master remained calm and continued, “In all things, harmony is precious. Too much killing karma is ultimately harmful to cultivation. Why don’t both sides take a step back?”
Seeing that Bao Gu did not respond, he continued on his own, “I know the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree is something the Warrant Lord cherishes greatly. However, treasures choose their masters. Since the old tea tree has shown such favor toward the Flame Saint Sect, it would naturally be improper for us to refuse him entry. If one day the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree wishes to choose another master, the Flame Saint Sect will certainly not obstruct him. Since the Warrant Lord has personally come today, the Flame Saint Sect must also show its sincerity.”
After saying this, he called out, “Men!”
He immediately ordered someone to bring Jade Shura out. At the same time, he took out the title deeds for that stretch of mines and herb gardens and said, “Warrant Lord, choose a convenient day and send someone to handle the handover. How does that sound?”
Jade Shura had no injuries or pain, but her entire person seemed wilted. She bit her lip and looked at Yu Mi and Bao Gu standing outside the city. Thick-skinned though she was, she truly had no face to see anyone right now.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master saw that he had already brought Jade Shura up, was willing to release her, and was willing to hand over the mines and herb gardens the Machete Gang wanted, yet the Machete Warrant Lord still stared at him without saying a word, as though unwilling to let the matter rest. He had already given her a way down. If the Machete Warrant Lord refused to take it, what more did she want? Was she really going to disregard the overall situation and start a war?
One had to know that given the Machete Gang’s current circumstances, they would gain no advantage from going to war with the Flame Saint Sect. And if Jade Shura died because of this, Soul Chasing Pavilion would indeed come after the Flame Saint Sect, but would they really let the Machete Gang off?
For a moment, the Flame Saint Sect’s sect master’s expression darkened as well. He stood with his hands behind his back and silently stared at Bao Gu.
Even Yu Mi, standing beside Bao Gu, could not figure out what Bao Gu was thinking. She turned to look at Bao Gu and called softly, “Bao Gu.”
Then she said in a low voice, “Jade Shura’s safety matters most.”
When Bao Gu heard Yu Mi’s words, her expression eased a little. She turned to Yu Mi, and her voice became soft and gentle.
“Then I’ll listen to you.”
If moments ago she had been expressionless, her aura cold and sharp like the bitter northern wind, then now, facing Yu Mi, she was as warm as spring in the third month.
Yu Mi nodded lightly and asked, “May I handle this?”
Bao Gu nodded gently again and replied, “All right.”
Her appearance was especially obedient, with none of the city-slaughtering momentum from moments ago.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master also let out a slight breath of relief. Yu Mi was much easier to talk to than Bao Gu. At the very least, she was someone who could be reasoned with.
The Flame Saint Sect’s sect master was naturally worried that once they released Jade Shura, the Machete Gang would later come knocking to settle accounts. After obtaining Yu Mi’s guarantee and finalizing the date for the handover of the mines and herb gardens, he released the hostage without further hesitation.
After the restrictions on Jade Shura were removed, she flew over to Yu Mi and Bao Gu’s side and said in a low voice, “I underestimated the enemy and was careless.”
Bao Gu said mildly, “It’s no matter. You were born as an assassin, not as a military commander. I only asked you to collect a debt, not to lead troops into battle. It’s fine.”
Different talents had to be used in different ways. Treating the leader of assassins as a marshal commanding troops had been her mistake.
The debt had not been fully collected, and instead she had gotten herself captured. That was truly humiliating. The more Jade Shura thought about it, the more ashamed she felt. This time, she had really capsized in a gutter and suffered a terrible setback. Worse still, it had happened when the Machete Gang was already in the eye of the storm, dragging them down at such a critical moment.
Jade Shura gritted her teeth and said, “Bao Gu, leave the rest of the debt collection to me. I’ll issue a military pledge. If anything goes wrong again, I’ll bring you my head!”
Where one fell, one had to climb back up. If she was simply led back in disgrace like this, she would lose all face. How could she face anyone in the future? Her cultivation realm was already far behind Bao Gu and Yu Mi’s. In handling matters, she had always relied on having her master’s protection, and had made her master clean up after her more than once. Now, when people in the cultivation world mentioned Yu Mi, they all perked up with interest. But when they mentioned Jade Shura, it was always, “Don’t provoke Jade Shura. The person behind her is someone you can’t afford to offend…”
Bao Gu nodded agreeably and said nothing more, only, “Let’s go back.”
Through her connection with the flagship’s formation, she brought Yu Mi and Jade Shura back to the flagship. Then, using the flagship’s teleportation domain gate, she returned directly.
As for the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree, Bao Gu did not mention it at all. This left the Flame Saint Sect’s people both surprised and uneasy.
They knew the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree was a hot potato, and they knew even more clearly that the Machete Warrant Lord would not let them occupy it so easily. But the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree had run over on its own. Even if their brains were flooded, they could not possibly shut such a supreme treasure outside their gates. Nor did they dare think of possessing it long-term. They only wanted the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree to stay in the Flame Saint Sect for a while so they could pluck some Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea. If the Machete Warrant Lord came to demand it in the future, they could ask the Machete Gang for some benefits and return it.
To them, this matter was equivalent to the Machete Gang trading the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree for Jade Shura and those mines and herb gardens. As for whether the Machete Gang wanted to retrieve the Horned Dragon Enlightenment Sacred Tea Tree in the future, the price would have to be discussed separately…
