Chapter 80: Elder Honglian
Chapter 80: Elder Honglian
“Hangzhi! Hangzhi!”
“Lei Qun?”
“Oh heavens, you’re finally awake! This room at Drunken Immortal Pavilion is crazy expensive. One night costs a Eighth-grade Demon Beast Inner Core. If you hadn’t woken up soon, we’d have gone broke!”
“What happened? How long did I sleep?”
Lu Hangzhi struggled to sit up in the large bed. He felt like his head was splitting open. Shaking it hard barely helped. His Magic Power responded sluggishly. He was really suffering badly from the hangover. He couldn’t help a bitter smile.
“Three days.”
Lei Qun answered, his tone a mix of admiration and exasperation.
Lu Hangzhi was stunned.
He’d slept that long?
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“Seriously? We would have if we could! Know why they call this place Drunken Immortal Pavilion? Spirit Wine shouldn’t be drunk too much. Drink too much, and even a real immortal would be out cold. And you drank Immortal Liquid! The folks here said for your cultivation level, you’d sleep a full seven days at least!”
Ah.
Lu Hangzhi quickly grasped it. Because he cultivated The Path to Divinity, his Spiritual Power Pool was denser than most cultivators’. That’s why he woke early. But these hangover effects would probably take a while to fade completely.
Lei Qun spoke again:
“But you got so lucky! Elder Honglian personally boosted your cultivation base! And she used Immortal Liquid! Your level instantly shot from Sixth Rank early stage to Sixth Rank middle stage. Wow… Tong Zhan and the others turned green with envy.”
“Huh?”
Prompted by Lei Qun, Lu Hangzhi realized only Lei Qun was there. “Where did they go?”
“Off buying things.”
Lei Qun explained. “We took turns staying to watch you. The rest are gathering Magical Artifacts, Elixirs… getting ready for next month’s guard rotation.”
“…
Lu Hangzhi rubbed his temples, nodding slowly.
He’d have felt truly awful if everyone wasted three whole days just because of him.
“You should go too. I’ll just rest here in the room.”
“Okay!”
Lei Qun didn’t hesitate.
“Heard the Seven Great Sects are holding a joint auction tomorrow. Supposed to have some good stuff. I’ll go check it out. Rest well. There’s Spirit Spring and Spirit Tea on the table. Drink lots to clear your head.” Then he left.
Lu Hangzhi’s heart stirred.
An auction?
I wonder how well some Spirit Honey would do if I offered it.
Mulling this over, he pulled out a porcelain vial, uncorked it, and tipped golden crystal grains into his palm. A delicious scent hit him.
Huh?
The moment the Spirit Honey smell reached him, his eyes brightened. He was surprised to feel the headache lessen slightly. A huge wave of joy followed. Just smelling it actually seemed to soothe the hangover!
Without a second thought, he grabbed a teacup, poured in Spirit Spring water, dissolved some Spirit Honey, and drank it in one gulp.
The honey water felt good going down. His body definitely felt better. The splitting headache and groggy feeling faded fast. Lu Hangzhi could sense his grip on his Spiritual Power Pool returning. It worked! Lu Hangzhi smiled.
He kept making honey water and drinking it, while slowly checking his Spiritual Power Pool. Just as Lei Qun said. That Immortal Liquid wash three days ago changed it. The pool was twice its original size. Thick, silvery-white liquid filled it. It felt deeper, weightier. Seventh Grade middle stage. A week of hard practice got him nowhere. Elder Honglian casually gave him a whole minor stage. That was a big gift.
“Elder Honglian… I must thank her properly next time we meet,” Lu Hangzhi reminded himself.
Drinking the honey water, he thoroughly banished his hangover effects. His body recovered, reaching its best state ever. “Imperial Wine Sect’s Nectar Immortal Elixir really is extraordinary. No wonder they dare compare their Spirit Wine to Elixirs! It’s just that getting drunk like that is dangerous… But since Spirit Honey counteracts the effect, maybe I should get some more.”
A plan formed in Lu Hangzhi’s mind. Ninth-Grade Monster Cores barely worked now. Immortal Liquid seemed the fastest way to break through. But this needed caution. Ordinary cultivators needed a week to recover. If he openly said he could completely recover in just three days? That would draw far too many curious glances and probes in this Marketplace.
Lu Hangzhi recalled the drunk cultivators he’d seen leaving Drunken Immortal Pavilion. He put on the same act: flushed cheeks, head heavy, steps clumsy and unbalanced as he went downstairs. The place was still packed. Plenty of unsteady people were leaving. He didn’t draw any special looks or Spiritual Sense probes.
Outside Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Lu Hangzhi relaxed. He dropped the act and started strolling leisurely down the street, window-shopping.
Flying Swords, Spiritual Artifacts, Magical Artifacts, Elixirs… These were every cultivator’s focus. Lu Hangzhi joined the crowds wherever they were thickest.
Dual-Realm Mountains Market’s foundation was incredible! It blew places like Violet Cloud Town Marketplace or small sects like Xuanxin Sect completely out of the water.
Here, even a temporary stall set up by a Spirit Coalescence Elder eclipsed entire minor sects. Their stalls overflowed with all kinds: high-quality Spiritual Artifacts with bright colors, common Defense Magical Devices, whole bottles and jars of various Elixirs, different Talismans… like tiny treasure troves. There were even a few mid-level Magical Artifacts and Elixirs clearly better than True Essence Pills – stuff like “Beast Essence Pills.” It was mouth-watering. But.
Seeing so many such stalls, Lu Hangzhi quickly became used to it.
He stayed calm.
“Offensive Magical Artifacts? I already have a full set of Flying Swords. That’s enough. Defensive Magical Devices? I have the Lotus Bracelet and the Heartguard Mirror. For Elixirs? I have Spirit Honey. The things ordinary cultivators scramble for… I don’t need. Instead, I’ve got over six hundred Demon Beast Inner Cores…”
His mind raced as he walked. Cultivating The Path to Divinity helped him think much more clearly. These Two Realms Mountain cultivators bought Magical Devices and Elixirs for one reason: to survive in the Two Realms Mountain War Zone.
Since he didn’t need much himself, he could invest in his team.
Soon, he decided:
Main targets for buying? “Magical Artifacts that mimic treasures” and Imperial Wine Sect’s “Immortal Liquid”.
The leftover Demon Beast Inner Cores? Use them to buy what Lei Qun and the others needed.
No need to rush buying right now. Wasn’t that Seven Great Sects auction tomorrow? But there was something much more important now:
How could he openly get Spirit Honey into the auction house without bringing trouble upon himself.
Just then.
Lu Hangzhi thought of a person!
…
Southern City branch of the Reinforcement Department.
Lu Hangzhi cupped his hands and requested an audience:
“Venerable One, please help pass a message. Xuanxin Sect disciple Lu Hangzhi seeks an audience with the Inspector Envoy.”
“You’re looking for the Inspector Envoy? What for?”
All the guards at the Reinforcement Department branch were at least at the Spirit Condensation Stage, so naturally they wouldn’t give this reckless young boy a friendly look.
“Reporting to Venerable One, this junior just returned from Sector 112. At that time, I was fortunate to receive the Inspector Envoy’s aid and was gifted a spiritual item. I came specifically to express my gratitude.”
“…”
The Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator was startled upon hearing this and immediately dropped his dismissive attitude, speaking kindly:
“The Inspector Envoy hasn’t been at the Southern City branch lately. If you only wish to thank him, he probably won’t make a special trip back. Perhaps you could leave your Identity Plaque and Message Talisman. When he returns, I’ll convey your message…”
“Thank you for letting me know, Venerable One.”
Lu Hangzhi actually knew all along that given Chang Baimei’s personality, he wouldn’t stay put at the branch. So he changed the subject: “Since the Inspector Envoy isn’t here, may I ask if Elder Honglian is available?”
“Elder Honglian has returned from rotation and is currently at the branch. She…”
“Elder Honglian definitely knows me.”
“Alright, I’ll notify her for you.”
The Spirit Condensation Stage cultivator saw that despite his young age and average cultivation, Lu Hangzhi casually named high-ranking members of the Reinforcement Department and seemed very familiar with them. His suspicions faded, and without further questioning, he directly took out a Messaging Talisman to contact Elder Honglian.
Shortly after, Elder Honglian emerged from the courtyard of the Reinforcement Department. A faint look of surprise crossed her face as she eyed him up and down before slowly composing herself:
“The Inspector Envoy’s judgment is indeed remarkable. After drinking the Immortal Liquid, you woke up so quickly and recovered completely.”
As soon as Elder Honglian spoke, it confirmed Lu Hangzhi’s claims. The Spirit Coalescence Elder who had relayed the message now looked at Lu Hangzhi with even more warmth.
Lu Hangzhi nodded in thanks to the Venerable One who had helped pass the message, then turned to Elder Honglian:
“That day at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, I was too reckless. Thank you for your help, Elder.”
“It was a small matter, not worth mentioning.”
Elder Honglian remained calm, still studying Lu Hangzhi with keen interest:
“Would you like to come to my quarters?”
The nearby Spirit Condensation Stage cultivators all looked surprised.
Elder Honglian, known for being cold and hot-tempered, rarely invited cultivators. Yet now she…
What background did this kid have?
He really must have a close relationship with the Inspector Envoy!
Lu Hangzhi knew Elder Honglian wanted to find out how he sobered up. Cupping his hands, he replied:
“I would be honored!”
Under the astonished gazes of the Spirit Coalescence Elders in the Reinforcement Department, Lu Hangzhi followed Honglian into a courtyard on the left side of the department.
The courtyard was filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, neatly arranged and exquisitely decorated.
Clearly, Elder Honglian was someone with a taste for life and elegance.
“Sit.”
Elder Honglian stopped at a stone table in the front yard, motioning for Hangzhi to sit, then got straight to the point:
“The aftereffects of the Imperial Wine Sect’s Immortal Liquid are very potent! Even Spirit Coalescence Elders can hardly resist them! Normally, you shouldn’t be able to get out of bed or use spells for at least seven days. But I just checked your condition—there are no lingering effects at all. I’m very curious.”
“Perhaps it’s because I drank some honey water.”
“Honey water?”
“Yes.”
Lu Hangzhi remembered that in the War Zone, Elder Honglian had voluntarily taken shifts in the Matrix Tower, replacing Revered Qin and Revered Mo. He felt rather favorable toward her, so he didn’t hide anything and directly took out a small bottle of Spirit Honey.
Elder Honglian was half-skeptical. She took the bottle, gently picked up a drop, and put it in her mouth…