Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 429 - 337 Stubborn Ye Hongyao (No more today)_1

Chapter 429: 337 Stubborn Ye Hongyao (No more today)_1

"What is it? Fairy Ye, don’t beat around the bush."

Shen Long frowned as he spoke.

"Essence Blood of a fourth-grade Red Fire Flood Dragon. Weren’t you always inquiring about the whereabouts of this item? I obtained it through an exchange with a good friend."

Ye Hongyao said.

"Essence Blood of a fourth-grade Red Fire Flood Dragon! Alright, I’ll be right there."

Shen Long was somewhat astonished but quickly agreed to come.

He left the Golden Cicada Pavilion, walked more than a hundred steps, and arrived at the entrance of a vast estate. The signboard bore three golden characters that read "Hongyao Garden", with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators standing guard at the entrance.

A tall and thin man in a green shirt came out. He approached Shen Long with hastened steps, bowed, and said, "Junior Sun Lin pays respects to Senior Shen. Apprentice Aunt Ye has been waiting for you for a long time, please follow me."

Shen Long nodded and followed Sun Lin into the quiet courtyard with green tiles where he met Ye Hongyao.

Ye Hongyao, sensing the strong Spirit Pressure emanating from Shen Long, flashed a look of astonishment in her beautiful eyes, followed by a surge of ecstasy.

"Master Nephew Sun, your presence is no longer needed here; you may leave."

Ye Hongyao waved her hand, dismissing Sun Lin.

"Taoist Friend Shen, this is the Essence Blood of a fourth-grade Red Fire Flood Dragon."

Ye Hongyao took out a red porcelain bottle and handed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long pulled out the stopper, and a pungent scent of blood surged out.

"Fairy Ye, did you specifically find this for me?"

Shen Long asked doubtfully.

"Not exactly, I had asked a friend of mine to keep an eye out for it. At an underground auction in the Southern Border Cultivation World, there was Essence Blood of a fourth-grade Red Fire Flood Dragon. Fortunately, one of my friends was there; she purchased it at a high price, and I exchanged with her for it at a steep price. Taoist Friend Shen, this isn’t a gift. You’ll have to exchange something for it."

Ye Hongyao spoke seriously.

She did like Shen Long, it’s true, but they weren’t dao companions; it wouldn’t be right to give it to Shen Long for free, as it would make her seem cheap.

Shen Long exhaled a breath of relief; he had actually feared that Ye Hongyao was offering it for free, in which case he would have preferred not to accept it.

"Five Golden Soul Pills! How about that?"

Shen Long took out a golden porcelain bottle and handed it to Ye Hongyao.

"It’s a deal!"

Ye Hongyao quickly accepted, taking the golden porcelain bottle. She looked at Shen Long with a smile and said, "Taoist Friend Shen, I did not expect that after some time apart, you have advanced into the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul. Congratulations!"

"You flatter me, Fairy Ye. I’ve taken quite a few Essence Advancing Spiritual Power Elixirs, otherwise, my cultivation progress wouldn’t have been so quick."

Shen Long explained, and as something came to mind, he curiously asked, "Fairy Ye, did you come to the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm specifically to find me?"

"If you were my husband, then that privilege might be yours. I was in the Northern Sea Cultivation Realm on business and happened to hear that you were also here."

Ye Hongyao explained.

Even for a woman pursuing a man, she had her own principles; she wouldn’t cling to Shen Long.

Shen Long had an epiphany, about to say something but then swallowed his words.

"Taoist Friend Shen, there are no outsiders here; if you have something to say, just speak freely. Don’t hold back."

Ye Hongyao said with a smile, picking up the teacup and taking a sip of Spiritual Tea.

"Fairy Ye, the words you said at my residence were in jest, weren’t they?"

Shen Long asked.

Having cultivated for many years, he hadn’t encountered a female Cultivator as forward as Ye Hongyao. Her actions really put Shen Long at a loss on how to respond.

"What I said was sincere. Taoist Friend Shen, in terms of family background, aptitude, and abilities, I, Ye Hongyao, am not lacking. Not to boast, but in the entire Qianyang Realm, there are few female Cultivators with a better combination of family background and capabilities than me, and most of them are already engaged. I, Ye Hongyao, am a worthy match for you."

Ye Hongyao said earnestly.

Shen Long was caught between laughter and tears, puzzled, "I don’t understand why it’s me. There are many male Cultivators with superior family backgrounds and abilities than me."

"As you said, there indeed are many. However, those fellows are either tangled up with multiple female Cultivators or are unbearably arrogant. I don’t fancy them. We are both Alchemists, sharing a common interest."

Ye Hongyao explained.

"We haven’t been involved in anything, right? Isn’t your change a bit too abrupt?"

Shen Long asked dubiously.

When Ye Hongyao first met Shen Long, she wasn’t particularly warm towards him, and the number of times Shen Long had dealings with her could be counted on one hand.

"The dao companion I seek must be a hero among people, and you qualify as one. Previously, you were not that hero. Is this answer satisfactory to you?"

Ye Hongyao said.

"So what you’re saying is that you’re fond of the powerful me, not me myself."

Shen Long suddenly saw the light.

"Is there a difference?"

Ye Hongyao asked, undisturbed.

"There’s a big difference, Fairy Ye. I have not the slightest romantic interest in you."

Shen Long said earnestly.

If you don’t like someone, you should make it clear and not lead them on.

"I have romantic feelings for you, and I believe you will change your mind."

Ye Hongyao said with full confidence.

Shen Long’s head was covered in black lines, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he said, "Fairy Ye, let me be clear! We will not become dao companions."

"Who can predict the future? You have the right to refuse, and I have the right to like. I’m not clinging to you. You are free to mingle with other female cultivators, and I’m simply pursuing my happiness. Whether I succeed or not isn’t important—what matters is that I’ve tried."

Ye Hongyao remained nonchalant.

"This..."

Shen Long was at a loss for words.

"It’s nothing. Just pretend you don’t know I like you, and carry on with your life. If you meet a female cultivator you fancy, you can also pursue her. I won’t pester you endlessly. I’m still confident in myself."

Ye Hongyao said.

"Fairy Ye, I know a few young and outstanding men. How about I introduce them to you?"

Shen Long suggested.

"Not interested. I’m only interested in you."

Ye Hongyao said seriously.

"Why are you only interested in me? Surely there are more Nascent Soul Cultivators in the Qianyang Realm than just me!"

Shen Long said with a wry smile.

"Because you rejected me, and the unattainable is what is intriguing."

Ye Hongyao stated solemnly, then as if recalling something, she continued, "While I do like you, that doesn’t mean I will give unconditionally. I’m not that foolish."

"Alright then! Thanks a lot."

Shen Long expressed his gratitude.

"It’s nothing, just a small effort, and I didn’t suffer any loss. This is a list of materials I need to gather. If you have any, I can trade you something for them."

Ye Hongyao took out a golden jade slip and passed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long scanned it with his divine sense and nodded, then took out more than ten types of materials to exchange with Ye Hongyao for Spiritual Medicine.

"You even have the inner core of a fourth-grade Snow Toad Beast! These Monster Beasts have become quite rare."

Ye Hongyao exclaimed in surprise.

"I happened upon a fourth-grade Snow Toad Beast! I slaughtered it."

Shen Long explained.

"Oh, and a word of caution—recently, there’s been a spate of Nascent Soul Cultivators disappearing. Be extra careful when you go out."

Ye Hongyao warned.

Shen Long thanked her and agreed.

They started discussing the art of alchemy, sharing their knowledge, each gaining insights.

Two hours later, Shen Long took his leave, and Ye Hongyao sent Sun Lin to escort Shen Long out.

Returning to the Golden Cicada Pavilion, Shen Long entered the Alchemy Room, sat down on a red cushion, and meditated to restore his spirit.

After a quarter of an hour, he opened his eyes, took out the Qianyang Cauldron and alchemy materials, and began the alchemy process.

He exhaled a breath of Qinglian True Flame from his mouth, which landed on the bottom of the cauldron, and he tossed in the essence blood of the fourth-grade Red Fire Flood Dragon along with other materials, before sealing the cauldron lid.

It wasn’t long before a faint scent of elixir wafted from the Qianyang Cauldron.

With this batch of Blood Flood Dragon Pills, he wouldn’t have to search for fourth-grade Flood Dragons for a while and could focus his energies on other matters, such as enhancing his Divine Soul Power.