âFellow Daoist, please be careful. Not only contestants are going to be in the array this time.â Ling Hongâs expression changed as he looked up at Lonemoon in a guilty manner. âI donât know if itâs because of what happened in the mystic realm either. The academiesâ teachers are beginning to get suspicious. Thatâs why the Thousand-Image Array will contain not just contestants but also the teachers. Given the teachersâ powers, whoever meets with them in the Thousand-Image Array will definitely be eliminated immediately.â
âYou mean your own teachers will enter the array and take part in the battle?â Lonemoon exclaimed. This was good news. For all they knew, they would have the opportunity to find out where the spirit seed was.
âThatâs right!â Ling Hong answered. Thinking that Lonemoon was worried, he explained, âThe teachers who will be entering the array are teachers who are extremely proficient. Iâve heard that even Teacher Yan will enter the array. Heâs the teacher with the highest cultivation in all the academies I donât think itâll be easy to pass this round of the competition.â
Lonemoon nodded. He already knew what to do. âAlright, thank you for telling me all of this.â
âNo problem!â Ling Hong shook his head and answered. âFellow Daoist, you have helped me so much. I donât know much else - all I can do is help you in these little ways.â
Lonemoon smiled. He was going to answer something courteous, but suddenly recalled another matter. âOh, thatâs right. You said the last time that you wanted to rescue a friend. Howâs that now? Has it been settled?â
Ling Hongâs face drained of color and he frowned. âNot⊠yet!â
âWhy not?â Lonemoon stared blankly at him. âAre there not enough fish bones? Chef has more. Why not-â
âNo! Thatâs not it.â Ling Hong shook his head and said awkwardly, âItâs not a problem with the fish bones. The Fish King has enough fish already. Whatâs more, theyâre the most effective fish bones. Itâs just that⊠the Red Scented Fish Monsterâs bones are extremely hard. We canât find something that can refine it just yet So⊠Thereâs no way we can turn it into medicine to help my friend.â
Medicine? Was it not supposed to be refined into a pill?
âBut it doesnât matter. Iâve already told asked our Academy if I can use their Earth Core Fire. If weâre fortunate, we should be able to get everything done in half a month.â Ling Hongâs smile widened. âWith the Earth Core Fire, we will be able to refine the fish bone! My friend will finally recover then.â Ling Hong was smiling, but it was obvious that he was still worried. He did not look like he believe everything would go that smoothly.
âAll you need to do is to refine the fish bones?â
âThatâs right!â Ling Hong nodded. âThe Red Scented Fish Monsterâs bones has toxins in it. Thatâs why we need a deviant fire to destroy the toxins before they can be turned into medicine.â
âIf thatâs the caseâŠâ Lonemoon sighed. On account of the fact that Ling Hong had been of much help over the past few days, he decided to lend a hand. âPerhaps Chef can help with that. I think heâll be able to refine those fish bones for you.â What deviant fire could beat the True Phoenix Fire? He was sure that Chef would be able to burn the toxins in those bones thoroughly.
âAre you for real!â Ling Hongâs face brightened up as he jumped to his feet.
Lonemoon nodded.
âWell⊠Well, how about we go and look for Fellow Daoist Yi now then?â After thinking for awhile, Ling Hong added, âI donât know what he likes. Should I⊠Should I prepare something for him?â
âErâŠâ Lonemoon pondered for a moment and said, âYou should prepare some top-grade⊠oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar!â
Ling Hong: ââŠâ
What the hell?
ââââââ
Ling Hong had always thought that Fellow Daoist Yi was not easy to talk to. In the ten days since they arrived at the mystic realm, he had not spoken a single word to the four of them. Even to Buggy, who was in the same group as them, Yi Qing was cold. He spoke very little and maintained an unapproachable demeanor.
That was why when Lonemoon said to bring oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar, Ling Hong wondered if those things were sufficient to break the ice. Ling Hong was so worried that he bought more delicacies. With the entire carton, he approached Yi Qing.
The amazing thing was the moment Ling Hong explained the reason for his visit, Yi Qing accepted the carton. He turned around and stuffed the delicacies in Lady Shen Yingâs bag. Then, he turned around and said in a serious tone, âAlright.â
Ling Hong was a little shocked that he agreed so quickly. By the time it sank in, they were already at Ling Hongâs house.
Inside the house, a warm male voice sounded. âLing Hong, youâre here so quickly. Are you sure you thanked them properlyâŠâ He stopped mid-sentence when he looked up and saw the group at the door. âYou areâŠ?â
It was then that Lonemoon saw the teenager seated on the chair inside the house. He looked about 20 years old, and he was quite pale. Yet, his features were soft. There was a blanket laid out above his foot. It looked like movement was inconvenient for this young man. Very quickly, Lonemoon realized that the nerves in his leg were broken. There were traces of demonic Qi in his dantian.
âOlder Brother!â Ling Hong stepped forward and joyfully introduced, âThese friends are the fellow Daoists who sold us that Red Scented Fish Monster back in the mystic realm.â
Ling Wen Xuanâs eyes brightened. He quickly cupped his fists toward Lonemoon and the others. âSo you are the fellow Daoists who took care of my brother in the mystic realm. I am very grateful.â
âFellow Daoist, you are too courteous. He has helped us a lot as well. Weâre just returning the favor.â Lonemoon smiled warmly.
âOlder Brother, this Fellow Daoist Yi Qing can help us to refine the fish bones,â Ling Hong said excitedly. âThatâs why I brought them home with me.â
âReally!â Ling Wen Xuanâs eyes widened. A moment later, they dimmed down considerably out of guilt. âBrother Hong, they were already so kind as to sell you the fish. Why are you still bothering them? And with such a simple thing like refining the fish bones, at that!â
âItâs no trouble at all,â Lonemoon responded. âWeâre fated to meet and become friends. Things like refining fish bones donât cost us much as well.
Ling Wen Xuan looked up at them. Seeing that they were genuinely willing to help them, he said, âWell, in that case⊠thank you, Fellow Daoists. Once I recover, if I am of any use to you, I will repay you!â
Lonemoon smiled politely, then turned back to Ling Hong. âWhere are the fish bones? Bring us there!â
âNow? Alright, alrightâŠâ Ling Hong had not thought that they would want to get started immediately. He quickly said to his brother, âWell, Older Brother, Iâm going to bring them to the medicinal room now.â He turned around and led the group to the room.
Once the few of them entered the room, they found that there were all sorts of medicines lined up around it. The room also smelled strongly of medicine. In the middle of the room was a long table, on which several plates and bottles stood. Lonemoon scanned the entire room. The strange thing was, although there were many different medicines, there was not a single spirit herb. All of them were ordinary plants.
Ling Hong headed for the cabinet right inside and undid several arrays and talismans. He opened a chest gingerly. Inside was the remaining fish bones from their meal the other day.
âThe fish bones are here.â Ling Hong picked up the bones and handed it over very carefully. He said to Yi Qing, âThese bones are hard to refine. Iâve already done my calculations. Even with deviant fire, the least time it would take is seven days and seven nights. Thatâs why Iâm grateful for⊠Eh? Eh!â