Invincible Dad-Chapter 703 - Green Jade Pendant_1

"Speak."

"Half an hour ago, I received a message from an informant that Lady Qingqiu entered the Forbidden Grounds three months ago." Yan Chunfeng paused. "And she has been out of contact since."

"BANG!" The wine cup in Xu Lai’s hand was crushed by a tremendous force.

His face remained calm. "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Is she still alive?"

"The life plaques of Lady Qingqiu and the other Immortal Venerables, along with those of the Heavenly Soldiers from the Heavenly Court, have all ceased to function."

Yan Chunfeng pursed her lips. "So she might be alive, or she might have already..."

Xu Lai fell silent.

No wonder those old immortals of the Southern Immortal Domain were willing to offer him three one-million-year-old Spirit Plants as a tribute. It wasn’t just that they had sensed the potential dangers lurking in the Snowflower Forbidden Grounds. It was also because ten Immortal Venerables and one Quasi-Emperor at the sixth level had all lost contact within a few short months of entering. If word of this spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Immortal Domain and throw the Southern Immortal Domain into chaos!

"Where is the Domain Master?" Xu Lai asked, gently tapping on the table.

"In life-and-death seclusion, attempting to break through to the second level of the Quasi-Emperor Realm."

Yan Chunfeng lowered her head, stood up, and said softly, "Please punish me, Young Master."

「The Southern Immortal Domain.」

It could be considered the primary gathering place for the Demon Race, where all the major demonic Tao Lineages and Holy Lands were located. The Nine-Tailed Fox clan of Qingqiu was the leader amongst them, boasting two Quasi-Emperors in their clan.

The Domain Master was that young Quasi-Emperor from Qingqiu. Though she was only at the first level of the Quasi-Emperor Realm, she was backed by Lady Qingqiu, who had reached the sixth level. This didn’t even account for the special relationship between the Nine-Tailed Fox clan and The Supreme Emperor.

It was well-known that among the entire Demon Race, the Nine-Tailed Fox clan was the only one that did not offer tribute to the Heavenly Court. In fact, they even took treasures from the Heavenly Court’s treasury every hundred years. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals of the Southern Immortal Domain were always exceedingly courteous to the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. They had no choice. This was a debt owed by The Supreme Emperor. To be precise, it was owed to that Lady Qingqiu of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan.

No one knew the specifics of how the debt was incurred or what it was for. Yan Chunfeng didn’t know either.

But what she did know was that such a significant event had occurred in the Southern Immortal Domain under her watch, and she had been completely unaware. This is a severe dereliction of duty.

If not for The Supreme Emperor’s message via Divine Sense, Yan Chunfeng likely would have never investigated the three Snowflower Forbidden Grounds. She wouldn’t have known that the Snowflowers had borne fruit or that ten Immortal Venerables and Lady Qingqiu had separately entered the Forbidden Grounds.

"It doesn’t matter." Xu Lai did not rebuke the Fourth Divine General. The Immortal Domain was too vast. Even divided into four, the Southern Immortal Domain was still boundless. Even he couldn’t cover the entire south with his Divine Sense, let alone Yan Chunfeng, who was only in the Immortal Venerable Realm.

At that moment, the sound of staggering footsteps accompanied by violent coughing echoed, and a strong scent of blood wafted through the air. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Shop Assistant, the one paying the bill has arrived," Xu Lai said, a trace of a smile finally appearing on his face.

Xu Yanyang was worth helping twice. He actually managed to kill two Venerables who had fallen to the Nascent Soul Realm. However, Xu Yanyang’s left arm was torn open and dripping with blood, while his right hand, hanging limply, barely managed to drag his saber. His white robes were dyed red with blood, making for a miserable sight. Though he was victorious, it was a Pyrrhic victory.

"CLACK."

The saber was placed on the table.

Xu Yanyang sat down in the chair across from Xu Lai. He paid no attention to the stunningly beautiful woman at his side. Instead, he panted heavily and said, "Thank you. You’ve helped me once again."

"It’s nothing." Xu Lai nodded. "Can you still drink?"

Yan Chunfeng poured a cup of wine for him.

"Thanks." Xu Yanyang took the cup and downed it in one gulp. His face flushed red as he boomed, "Good wine!"

"Of course, it is," the Shop Assistant muttered. The wine in this shop is brewed by the owner at great expense, using fresh Spirit Plants and exotic fruits. Drinking it helps heal injuries and rejuvenate the spirit. Otherwise, how could the bill for it and a plate of beef come to one mid-grade Spirit Stone?

"But I don’t have any Spirit Stones left," Xu Yanyang admitted candidly, setting down his cup.

The Shop Assistant’s expression stiffened. The man before said he didn’t have any Spirit Stones, and now you’re saying you don’t either? Who’s going to pay the bill?

Yan Chunfeng smiled. "Shop Assistant, what’s the price?"

"One mid-grade Spirit Stone."

"Keep the change." Yan Chunfeng’s Divine Sense rummaged through her storage necklace, finally finding a high-grade Spirit Stone in the farthest corner.

What a generous customer! The assistant’s eyes lit up with excitement as he took the stone. The change of ninety-nine mid-grade Spirit Stones was equivalent to more than a decade of his salary. The sudden windfall nearly made him faint.

"..."

Xu Yanyang glanced at Yan Chunfeng and shook his head. This woman looks virtuous and beautiful, like she’d be good at managing a household, but it’s just an illusion.

But since it wasn’t his money, Xu Yanyang said nothing and just drank his wine in silence.

He drank wine and ate meat. Although the taste was average, Xu Yanyang wolfed it down. He hadn’t rested properly in months, let alone had a quiet meal like this, even though someone in the Nascent Soul Realm could long go without food.

"I need to find a quiet place to recuperate, then I’m going to the forbidden land to find Shen Qing." Xu Yanyang placed a blood-stained Jade Pendant on the table. "I have to return this to her before I can continue my journey through the Immortal Domain."

"This Jade Pendant..." Yan Chunfeng’s beautiful eyes twinkled. "It’s from the Shen Family of the Second Domain."

"The Shen Family of the Second Domain?" Xu Yanyang looked slightly bewildered. He had only recently arrived in the Immortal Domain and had spent most of his time on the run, so he hadn’t had much opportunity to learn about its various Tao Lineages and great families.

"The Shen Qing you mentioned, is she the betrothed of Lei Wanjun, the Saint Heir of the Thunder Sect? He’s the most outstanding descendant of Immortal Venerable Lei Fengyun," Yan Chunfeng said, a sudden realization dawning on her. "Young Master, could this be related to them entering the Forbidden Grounds? Two powerful factions with generations of good relations, yet the Saint Heir of the Thunder Sect wants to kill the treasured daughter of the Shen Family, his future Daoist partner. Something about this whole affair seems incredibly strange."

"The Shen Family’s daughter knows something, or perhaps obtained something, related to the Snowflower Forbidden Grounds," Xu Lai said, closing his eyes. "Lei Wanjun found out, and it sparked his killing intent."

"What kind of information or treasure could drive Lei Wanjun to kill his own betrothed, even at the risk of offending the Shen Family?" Yan Chunfeng mused aloud, her brow furrowed. "Young Master, do you think the news that the Snowflowers had fruited might have come from the Shen Family?"

"I don’t know," Xu Lai replied flatly. "We’ll find out when we go inside."

"Xu Lai!" Xu Yanyang coughed, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He said anxiously, "I know your Boundary is high, but even a Quasi-Emperor has died in the Snowflower Forbidden Grounds! You..."

"That’s right, fellow Daoist, don’t seek your own death," the Shop Assistant chimed in. Having accepted a high-grade Spirit Stone from them, he felt he should at least offer a word of caution. But he quickly shut his mouth. Which of the cultivators in Thunder Sovereign City was here in this remote place just to see the sights? Weren’t they all after the opportunities within that forbidden land?

"Focus on healing." Xu Lai patted Xu Yanyang’s shoulder and stood up to leave.

"If you’re determined to go, then please do me one more favor." Xu Yanyang handed him a blood-stained, green Jade Pendant. "If you encounter Shen Qing on your way there or back, please return this to her for me. If you don’t find her, just bring the pendant back here."

"Alright."

Xu Lai left the inn without lingering.

Yan Chunfeng smiled enchantingly and followed behind him.

Once the two were out of sight, Xu Yanyang bowed deeply in their direction. His injuries were severe and would take a very long time to fully recover. If he waited three to five months to set out, any opportunity would be long gone. And since Xu Lai’s Boundary was higher than his and he was going now...

"May your journey be safe."

"This is the third favor I owe you."