Inside the Red Silk House, petals fluttered in the air as numerous pink moths danced around a miniature, girl-like "Peach Blossom spirit," their movements graceful and their laughter joyful. The nectar they exhaled filled the room with fragrance, making even the most potent mortal medicine pale in comparison.
On the soft bed, a young boy and girl lay entwined, wearing scant clothing, their skin blushing red.
Under the hazy pink smoke, there should have been some progress between the two.
Unfortunately, there wasn't.
A tenacious willpower from the distant Seeking Immortal County intervened at the crucial moment, preventing the pair from practicing the Dual Cultivation technique.
Tao Qian wasn't without romance, but he was well aware of the importance of maintaining his "persona."
After learning the secrets he desired from Pan Hongniang, Tao Qian immediately wanted to return his spirit to find the Infant Sect Master Xiao and complete the assignment.
Just then, nestled in his arms, Pan Hongniang seemed to remember something.
Propping up her infinitely lovely body, she gazed at Tao Qian with a fascinated smile and said softly, "Fei'er, your master has a gift for you, and you'll be immensely satisfied."
As she spoke, her tender, onion-white fingers lifted gently, revealing four Peach Blossom spirits with petal wings carrying an incomparably delicate peach blossom branch from somewhere.
The branch seemed to forever radiate a pink glow, with three peach blossoms on it, all in bud form.
Only when it landed in Pan Hongniang's hand did the buds blossom, revealing three delicate and naked Peach Blossom spirits inside.
Pan Hongniang must have done something, for those three special Peach Blossom spirits awoke, stretched lazily, and unfurled their petal-formed wings.
As the pink mist rose, they lined up and each kissed Tao Qian's lips once.
In that instant, three mouthfuls of incredibly sweet and delightful nectar were transferred.
Tao Qian couldn't refuse and the nectar immediately melded into the depths of his body.
Simultaneously, Pan Hongniang's voice came again:
"This is the deputy key to my Peach Blossom Treasure Vault. What you just experienced was the recognition ceremony. From now on, besides me, you are another owner of the Peach Blossom Immortal Valley."
"Whenever you wish, the foundation that Hongniang has built up over a hundred years will all be yours."
"After all, I cultivate the 'Lifebound Scripture,' something fundamentally solid. My treasures and wealth are far beyond what that Lan Demon Lady can offer."
"Are you satisfied with this gift, Fei'er?"
After speaking, the girlish Pan Hongniang lifted her graceful, swan-like neck, waiting for her lover to show a face full of joy.
And Tao Qian did not disappoint her expectations; indeed, his face was full of surprise.
Thinking about the keepsakes of the Jade-faced Lady Lan Qing'er, it was needless to say that Pan Hongniang's collection was even more abundant.
However, this gift was for now only symbolic.
Tao Qian couldn't possibly abscond with the whole "Peach Blossom Treasure Vault," could he?
In Seeking Immortal County, inside the Star-picking Pavilion.
Tao Qian emerged from the quiet room and informed Master Xiao's waiting maid that there were results. She immediately became excited and began to tug Tao Qian to see Master Xiao.
At this moment, Lin Xiaohua came out leading an awakened alien creature, obstinately following despite her weak and ailing body.
With no other option, Tao Qian and the maid proceeded together to the top floor.
Originally a mundane structure, the Star-picking Pavilion had since been decorated to resemble the halls of an Immortal Palace, transcendent and refined beyond reproach.
The group quickly met Master Xiao, who was softly comforting the Taisui Baby.
Although the baby was adorable, the safety of one's own child was of even greater concern.
Seeing Tao Qian, Master Xiao immediately lost the gentle demeanor of a fairy and asked urgently, "Well? Have you found any good news?"
Tao Qian never intended to beat around the bush, so upon hearing this, he responded directly, "True Master, according to my secret informant, your child is safe for now but imprisoned in a Physical Body prison by the Beautiful Corpse Bodhisattva."
The news from Pan Hongniang indeed wasn't so simple.
It was explosive news that combined gossip with secret knowledge. However, after considering the sensitive information involved, Tao Qian decided to share only what needed to be said.
The rest, he silently absorbed.
As expected, upon receiving Tao Qian's report and verifying that he wasn't lying,
Master Xiao's expression immediately relaxed somewhat. Although worry still lingered in his eyes, his mood seemed slightly improved.
Quickly recalling the strange contribution of the junior before her, Master Xiao let a gentle smile emerge and then said,
"For this mission, both rewards will be attributed to your accomplishments, which are significant."
"Besides the rewards already listed on the notice, you may make a request of me. As long as it's not excessive, I will comply."
"I see that you, junior, while practicing techniques of both the Demon Path and my Heterodox methods, have chosen a Basic Method from the Spirit Treasure Lineage, clearly a Loose Cultivator with aspirations for the Daoist way."
"If you wish to join the Spirit Treasure Sect, you don't have to wait until you enter the Qi Refining Realm. I have an old relationship with Luo Daoist from the Spirit Treasure Sect and with a letter from me, I could make a recommendation on your behalf."
"Of course, how the Spirit Treasure Lineage takes disciples is subject to their rules; as an outsider, I shouldn't interfere. Whether you can truly join still depends on your talent and opportunities."
At these words, Tao Qian's face lit up with happiness.
He was almost ready to agree immediately; this was, after all, what he had always wanted to accomplish.
He had thought he'd have to wait until he advanced to the Qi Refining Realm and naturally produced the "Spirit Treasure Nine Truths Map" within himself before obtaining the route to Spirit Treasure Mountain Gate.
Unexpectedly, a shortcut had presented itself.
Tao Qian was about to agree when Lin Xiaohua's exceptionally weak voice suddenly rang out.
Not only did Master Xiao reveal a puzzled look, but so did Tao Qian.
Lin Xiaohua, who had so abruptly interjected, seemed to have had a plan all along and immediately followed up after those two words:
"Master Xiao's letter of recommendation is naturally very precious, but those bounty rewards are nothing but trash and garbage, worthless to my good friend."
"The Human-faced Worm Disaster that has caused you endless headaches and the safety of the immortal child, my friend has resolved both these issues. As a generous female fairy like yourself, Master Xiao, you should certainly offer some genuine sincerity."
Upon hearing these words, Tao Qian's eyes immediately widened.
Turning his head, he looked toward the alien that resembled a "bronze robot," made up of various strange materials, his gaze showing a look of questioning.
Tao Qian wanted to ask: Has Daoist Xiao Hua always been so brave?
If he heard correctly, Lin Xiaohua was demanding better rewards on behalf of Tao Qian from a female fairy with a terrifying level of cultivation.
Clearly, it wasn't just Tao Qian who picked up on this.
Master Xiao had heard it too, her gentle gaze turning to one of confusion and a hint of danger as she stared at Lin Xiaohua and asked:
"Oh, you make some sense. Those rewards would indeed be precious to a loose cultivator, but for a disciple of a major sect, they are truly insignificant."
"So, what reward does this rising star from the Heavenly Talisman Sect wish to ask of me for your good friend?"
Lin Xiaohua had obviously been waiting for these words.
He immediately followed up without a pause, flattering: "Master Xiao is indeed generous, truly the most beautiful and gentile fairy within the Ten Thousand Infant Sect."
Then, in a seemingly casual tone, he continued.
"I've heard that the cultivation technique you practice is the Great Innate Infant Mother Secret Manual from the Great Book, the Infant Scripture, and that you have drawn the extremely mysterious Innate Infant Mother Origin Qi into your body."
"This source energy not only allows one to enjoy longevity and eternal youth but also has many wonderful uses."
"One of them is to aid in cultivation and requires only a trivial price to pay."
"You have cultivated within the Infant Mother Secret Realm for many years and you must have an abundance of source energy."
"Look, my good friend has just set his Life Seed and is only a step away from breaking through to the Qi Refining Realm. After all, it is better to teach one to fish rather than to give one a fish. Why not bestow upon my friend some of the infant mother source energy to help him achieve breakthrough? Would that not be perfect?"
After Lin Xiaohua finished talking, the atmosphere in the room suddenly grew inexplicably cold.
Tao Qian stood innocently in place, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to begin.
Although he was still unclear about how precious the "infant mother source energy" was,
since someone of Lin Xiaohua's origins would request it, its value was likely far greater than those so-called bounty rewards.
From the moment they met, Tao Qian felt that Daoist Xiao Hua's behavior was oddly eccentric and her condition very unusual, and now even more so.
However, Tao Qian did not sense any malice and knew that Daoist Xiao Hua was indeed a rare and kind cultivator.
Just as Tao Qian was about to say something to ease the situation, Master Xiao, who had shown a cold face due to Lin Xiaohua's unreasonable demand, suddenly let out a sigh.
As though dealing with a playful child, she helplessly massaged her brow and patted her chest, then said:
"Indeed, it is not the fear of the thief stealing but the fear of the thief's covetousness."
"This object was supposed to be given only to someone of my Ten Thousand Infant Sect, but this quirky junior indeed resolved a major concern of mine, and I will need to rely on him in the future, so I can give him one."
"But you won't get the other bounty rewards."
"The letter of recommendation, however, I will still provide to you. Have you considered this thoroughly?"
The last sentence was addressed to Tao Qian.
Although he was baffled by the current situation, Tao Qian knew the proverb all too well that not taking advantage of a good deal was foolish.
Upon hearing the question, he immediately nodded in agreement.
Then, Tao Qian saw Master Xiao stretch out her fair fingers and pluck something from the void. Accompanied by a flash of milky white brilliance, a spherical object flew towards him.
Catching it reflexively, Tao Qian looked down at his palm.
The object was about the size of a pigeon's egg, completely milky white, smooth and glossy, heavy, and a bright light circulated around it.
As soon as he took it in hand, Tao Qian smelt a very strong and soothing "milky" fragrance that seeped into his nose, almost making him moan in satisfaction.
Had his spirit not been strong and his willpower firm, he would have already lost his composure.
What made his eyes wide and brought a look of surprise to his face
was the extraordinary perception that emerged with the touch, and the format information that gradually unfolded:
[Record Name: Infant Mother Origin Pearl.]
[Record Type: Alien.]
[Record: Created from the extremely pure infant mother source energy, 'Primordial Pearl,' an object that only female cultivators who have practiced the Basic Method from the 'Great Innate Infant Mother Secret Manual' can create. Within not only the Ten Thousand Infant Sect but the entire Cultivation World, it's an object worth causing large-scale strife and slaughter over, especially for those Ten Thousand Infant Sect cultivators with a lower cultivation realm—this is the treasure they dream of.]