Chapter 426 - 243: Molten Earth Dragon
Soon, the two of them arrived at Zhonglong Peak.
Unlike the vast, white expanse of snowy mountains outside, this place was protected by a Grand Array. Thus, the interior was lush with greenery, and all sorts of flowers vied for attention, creating an exceptionally pleasing sight.
Guided by Yao Yuting, Lü Zhong walked through a small path and came to a thatched cottage.
A person was already seated inside the thatched cottage.
’As expected, it had to be Huo Yezi.’
Before coming, Lü Zhong had never seen a portrait of Huo Yezi. He had guessed that ’like master, like disciple,’ so he expected Huo Yezi to be a muscle-bound monster like Yao Yuting—if not as brawny as a wild bear, then at least a burly, muscular man.
But who would have thought he’d be a scrawny old man?
Gazing at the pale-faced, clean-shaven, and gaunt old man in plain, simple robes inside the cottage, Lü Zhong found it incredibly difficult to connect this person with the renowned Artifact Refining Master, ’Huo Yezi’.
"Fellow Daoist Lü, you’ve arrived! Quick, please, have a seat!" Seeing Lü Zhong, Huo Yezi put down the bamboo slip he was reading and immediately stood up to greet him.
After Lü Zhong sat down, a powerfully built maidservant came forward to pour tea.
Lü Zhong glanced at the Spirit Tea. He saw its liquid was as clear as Blood Jade, and its initial scent carried a searing heat that gradually transformed into a sharp, cool fragrance. His cultivation even showed signs of loosening slightly, and a glint of light appeared in his eyes.
"Fire Dragon Tea?"
This tea grows deep underground, nourished day and night by the power of a Fire Vein for a hundred years before it can be harvested.
He hadn’t expected Huo Yezi to actually have Fire Dragon Tea. This was a treasure worth a thousand Spirit Stones per leaf, something that was often sought but rarely sold. He had wanted to buy a few leaves to try it before, but his attempts had always ended in failure.
’He never thought he’d get to see it today.’
"Haha, I knew Fellow Daoist Lü was a man of taste! That’s right, this is indeed Fire Dragon Tea!" Huo Yezi clapped his hands and laughed heartily, personally confirming Lü Zhong’s guess.
Then, he revealed a mysterious smile and said, "Fellow Daoist, why don’t you guess what grade this Fire Dragon Tea is?"
"What grade?" Hearing this, Lü Zhong lifted the Fire Dragon Tea before him. He first sniffed it delicately for a moment, then took a light sip while simultaneously circulating his Cultivation Body.
A sound like a dragon’s roar seemed to emerge from within his body, and streams of fiery light burst from his skin.
The fiery light turned into blazing flames upon hitting the ground, instantly setting the thatched cottage alight. Yet, the two men within the inferno were completely unharmed; not even a speck of ash landed on them.
After a long moment, the strange phenomena on Lü Zhong’s body slowly dissipated. He then opened his eyes and said with feeling, "If I’m not mistaken, this is without a doubt Eighth Grade Fire Dragon Tea!"
Fire Dragon Tea was difficult to find, all because of its effect of boosting one’s cultivation. Just now, he had only taken a small sip, yet he felt his cultivation advance significantly, equivalent to a month of hard training.
If he drank the whole cup, he could save a year of cultivation.
A Fire Dragon Tea with such efficacy must be the rarest of treasures.
That’s why he had said it was Eighth Grade.
But unexpectedly, Huo Yezi shook his head after hearing this. Seeing Lü Zhong’s confusion, he explained, "Fellow Daoist Lü, you’ve guessed wrong. This is only Seventh Grade Fire Dragon Tea—or to be precise, Half-Seventh Grade, not Eighth Grade..."
’Seventh Grade, Half-Seventh Grade—it didn’t matter.’
’After hearing this, Lü Zhong had already faintly guessed the purpose of Huo Yezi’s invitation; it was probably inextricably linked to this Fire Dragon Tea.’
’What was that saying again?’
’Right, entice them with profit!’
’The most effective and direct way to move a Core Formation Cultivator was to entice them with profit.’
’He had to admit, he was truly tempted by this item.’
Seeing Huo Yezi looking at him with a smile, Lü Zhong didn’t voice his thoughts directly. Instead, he picked up the Fire Dragon Tea and began to drink it, sip by sip.
Once the cup of Spirit Tea was down, it was just as he had predicted: it saved him a year of hard cultivation.
Without any ceremony, Lü Zhong pulled the teapot toward himself with his power and began to pour another cup.
Another sip of Fire Dragon Tea, and his cultivation still grew.
Seeing Lü Zhong just drinking tea without saying a word, showing no intention of speaking first, Huo Yezi finally couldn’t sit still any longer and had to break the silence. At the same time, he was secretly regretting brewing so much tea.
"Ahem, I invited you here this time, Fellow Daoist, because I wish to invite you to join forces with me to deal with an Evil Beast!"
"Perhaps you could elaborate, Fellow Daoist?" Lü Zhong replied, reluctant to put down his teacup.
Huo Yezi sighed at his words and said:
"The truth is, a Molten Earth Dragon that I was raising lost control for some unknown reason a while ago. Not only did it destroy the Sword Casting Pool I was newly constructing, but it also occupied the Spirit Vein where the Fire Dragon Tea grows. You need not worry too much; it’s just that this happened so suddenly, and you are the only high-level cultivator in the vicinity."
The matter of Lü Zhong slaying the Flood Dragon was known to very few in the common circles, but it had already spread throughout the upper echelons of power. The outside world already viewed this ancestor of the Bihai Sect as a Nascent Soul Seed.
"A Molten Earth Dragon? Fellow Daoist, are you joking?"
Hearing this, Lü Zhong’s expression couldn’t help but change.
This beast, like the Water Flood Dragon, was also a type of Flood Dragon, despite its name suggesting otherwise. It was a rare Demon Beast, a mutated variant of a Flood Dragon.
In terms of power, the Molten Earth Dragon was even stronger than the Water Flood Dragon.
’From what Huo Yezi was implying, the two of them would likely have to go into the Fire Vein to fight this beast.’
’Good heavens!’
’This was truly a good way to get killed.’
’One had to know that the Molten Earth Dragon’s Innate Divine Technique was the "Fire-Eating Divine Technique." Fighting it in an Underground Fire Vein meant the beast could continuously absorb Fire Spiritual Qi to heal its injuries.’
Lü Zhong immediately stood up and cupped his hands. "Fare—"
But before he could finish, Huo Yezi cut him off, explaining with a bitter smile, "Are you worried that even the two of us together won’t be able to handle it, Fellow Daoist? Rest assured, I have come prepared!"
As he spoke, he took out a small, sapphire-blue flag from his sleeve.