The scent of the Ironwood Soul Flower!
This news instantly filled the previously despairing Ye Qingchen with immense excitement! Then, Qin Yue’s next words made his breathing quicken.
"Indeed! And it seems we’re in luck! I can sense that this is an Ironwood Soul Flower that’s about to mature!"
"Where is it?" Ye Qingchen asked, his patience wearing thin. With this Ironwood Soul Flower, I can save Xiao Xiao!
Qin Yue pointed to the dense forest on their left and led the way. Ye Qingchen followed closely behind.
After bypassing more than a dozen giant trees, they came upon a dense thicket. Qin Yue bent down, pushed aside the shrubs, and carefully crept forward about ten meters before stopping. She pointed to a lone plant growing in a pile of rubble ahead and said to Ye Qingchen, "Look, this is the Ironwood Soul Flower!"
Ye Qingchen looked where Qin Yue was pointing. In the very center of the rubble, a plant with a stem as thick as an adult’s calf grew. It was shaped like an iron rod and bore a red flower about three inches long. A cluster of emerald leaves grew beneath the flower. Its stacked petals made it resemble a small, red figurine, and a faint aura of Soul Power swirled around it. A gentle breeze carried a refreshing fragrance to their nostrils, invigorating Ye Qingchen’s spirits! This Ironwood Soul Flower grew in the middle of a ring of shrubbery, making it incredibly hidden. If not for Qin Yue’s Medicinal Soul Physique, it would have been extremely difficult to find by sight alone.
The next moment, Ye Qingchen moved to get up and pluck it. If I can just get my hands on it, Xiao Xiao will be saved!
However, Qin Yue held him down. "Don’t go over there! It’s dangerous! Right now, we aren’t the only ones after this Ironwood Soul Flower. I can sense two Tier 3 Monster Beasts nearby whose strength is no less than mine. They’re watching it intently! If you go now, you’ll be attacked by both of them at once!"
At her words, Ye Qingchen broke out in a cold sweat. He had been so excited that he’d forgotten the Supreme Elder’s warning: a treasure of this grade would definitely have guardian Monster Beasts!
"What do we do?" Ye Qingchen asked, looking at Qin Yue.
Qin Yue said gravely, "Don’t rush! This Ironwood Soul Flower will take about an hour to fully mature! When the time comes, I have a way to make them fight each other for it. We can simply reap the spoils!"
Confidence brimmed in Qin Yue’s beautiful eyes, and Ye Qingchen nodded. Her seasoned experience throughout their journey had earned his complete trust. Clearly, since becoming the head of Rising Sun Pavilion, Qin Yue had gone through numerous trials. Patiently, they hid in the shrubs, remaining motionless as time ticked by.
The Ironwood Soul Flower in the center of the rubble grew more vibrant. The faint aura of Soul Power around it intensified, and the fragrance in the air thickened. Finally, under Ye Qingchen’s astonished gaze, the petals around the flower all stood upright. The petals at the rear converged in the center, trembling gently in the wind like dancing Spirits.
The Ironwood Soul Flower is fully mature! Ye Qingchen realized, not needing Qin Yue to tell him.
At that moment, Qin Yue suddenly moved!
WHOOSH!
Her figure, like an arrow released from its bow, shot straight toward the Ironwood Soul Flower! Her speed was incredible!
Ye Qingchen was taken aback. Didn’t she just tell me not to be rash? Why is she charging out now?
The next moment, he realized it wasn’t Qin Yue who had darted out, but the iron chain crossbow she had somehow taken from her Storage Ring! The sharp claw at its tip emitted a piercing sound as it sliced through the air, aiming straight for the Ironwood Soul Flower!
CRACK!
To Ye Qingchen’s immense anxiety, the claw reached the Ironwood Soul Flower, but instead of grasping the plant, it shattered a rock next to its stem!
It missed! What a pity. It was so close! It seems even the experienced Qin Yue makes mistakes when she’s nervous.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Just then, two massive Monster Beast silhouettes charged from the left and right, both heading straight for the Ironwood Soul Flower!
Qin Yue decisively retracted the crossbow’s claw just as the two giant Monster Beasts lunged at each other, tearing ferociously at one another!
Seeing this, Ye Qingchen’s eyes lit up as realization dawned on him. She didn’t miss out of nervousness; she missed on purpose! If she’d actually grabbed the flower, both beasts would be attacking us right now! Her action had lured the two hidden Monster Beasts out into the open!
Qin Yue put away the bow crossbow iron claw and smiled. "Alright! Let them fight first. When they’ve both been badly wounded, we’ll reap the rewards!"
"Good!" Ye Qingchen nodded and glanced inadvertently at Qin Yue’s chest.
Who says a woman with a large chest is brainless? Qin Yue’s cleverness is amazing. As someone visiting Qingyun Mountain for the first time, I’ve learned a lot from her. Sometimes, brute force isn’t the only way to solve a problem; there are other methods.
ROAR! ROAR!
The battle between the two Monster Beasts grew even more violent. To his surprise, Ye Qingchen saw that both beasts were approximately four-meter-long Tier 3 Monster Leopards with snow-white fur and black spots.
A Tier 1 Monster Beast has a cultivation level equivalent to a fourth or fifth-level Martial Apprentice.
A Tier 2 Monster Beast has a cultivation level equivalent to a fourth or fifth-level Martial Artist.
A Tier 3 Monster Beast has a cultivation level equivalent to a fourth or fifth-level martial master.
The two Tier 3 Monster Leopards’ attacks were ferocious, even sharper than Old Du’s! They roared hoarsely at each other, their flailing claws imbued with powerful Spiritual Power! Soon, both were covered in at least dozens of wounds of varying depths. Blood streamed from their bodies, dripping onto the ground and splattering the rocks. Pieces of each other’s flesh hung from their sharp teeth, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
After another round of fierce fighting, one of the Monster Leopard’s eyes was gouged out, and it rolled away, howling in pain. The other, dragging a hind leg, tumbled to the side.
Both Monster Leopards were panting and unsteady on their feet, having grievously wounded each other.
"Alright! Now it’s our turn to take the stage and reap the rewards!"
Just then, Qin Yue stood up, a confident smile on her face. She ignored the fierce glares of the two Tier 3 Monster Leopards and walked step by step toward the Ironwood Soul Flower. She stopped less than three meters from the flower. Looking at the two beasts, she blinked her beautiful eyes and pointed.
"Now, I declare, it’s mine! If you’re looking to die, you can both attack me at once!"
She was completely composed, utterly calm.