Chapter 10: The Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant
Ying Xuechen looked at the disoriented Zhangsun Qi and thought to himself, Didn’t Zhangsun Ya tell her father what had happened?
Then he realized that the cages in the Feixue Hall seemed to be soundproof. Not only could the prisoners not talk to each other, but they couldn’t even clearly see one another’s faces.
In other words, Zhangsun Qi and Zhangsun Ya probably didn’t even know that the person being held nearby was their own father or daughter.
Besides, had this man forgotten that Venerable Yunhuang was part of the Ying family? How could he dare to openly complain?
Even if Ying Xuan had been at fault, which he wasn’t, the best Zhangsun Qi could hope for would be some minor compensation for the Zhangsun family.
“Zhangsun Qi, save your tears. I’m not the fool Ying Xuan, and you’re not Zhangsun Ya. I’m here today to ask for something from you.”
Zhangsun Qi froze on the spot, instinctively asking, “What… what thing?”
“The Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant,” Ying Tong said slowly, enunciating each word.
“Over the years, your family has bled Ying Xuan dry. That Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant is the least you can give as compensation.”
The moment Zhangsun Qi heard the words “Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant,” his expression darkened. “What Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Of course, Zhangsun Qi knew exactly what Ying Tong meant. The pendant was an heirloom passed down from their ancestors, a symbol of the family head, and it even contained a drop of a true dragon’s heart blood.
They had been warned countless times by their ancestors to protect it at all costs and never reveal its existence.
This secret had been passed down orally from one family head to the next. Not even Zhangsun Ya, his own daughter, knew about it.
Although Zhangsun Qi had no idea how Ying Tong knew about the Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant or that it was on his person, he was determined not to hand it over.
“You seem to have misunderstood,” Ying Tong said with a light laugh. “I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
As she spoke, Ying Tong moved her fingers slightly.
The next moment, Zhangsun Qi was lifted into the air as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. His face turned red as he struggled desperately.
With his frantic movements, a white jade pendant slipped from his body and fell to the ground.
The pendant was entirely white, except for a strikingly bright red mark in the center.
Seeing the pendant, Ying Tong casually released Zhangsun Qi, who fell to the ground. In the blink of an eye, the jade pendant was in her hand.
After confirming it was the item she had been searching for, Ying Tong left with Ying Xuechen.
On the way out, Ying Xuechen asked, “Venerable Yunhuang, are you really planning to give the Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant to Brother Xuan?”
He asked because earlier, Venerable Yunhuang had called Ying Xuan a fool, and it was clear to Ying Xuechen that the disdain in her voice wasn’t feigned.
It seemed hard to believe that she would now give such a valuable item to someone she had just insulted.
Moreover, this was the Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant, a highly valuable artifact. Even for someone like Venerable Yunhuang, who had already reached the Deity Transformation stage, the pendant would still be extremely useful.
Ying Xuechen’s thoughts, however, were misinterpreted by Ying Tong.
“Do you want the Dragon-Blood Jade Pendant?” she asked. “It’s not impossible, but the technique you practice doesn’t align with the properties of the dragon blood inside. If you tried to fuse with it, it could be difficult.”
Ying Tong had only mentioned giving it to Ying Xuan offhandedly. To her, it didn’t matter who received the pendant, as long as it didn’t fall into Qin Xuan’s hands.
“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I was just thinking—dragon blood is precious, Venerable Yunhuang. Why don’t you keep it for yourself?” Ying Xuechen asked.
“I don’t need this drop of blood,” Ying Tong replied casually.
Ying Xuechen’s eyes widened in surprise. What did she mean by not needing this drop of blood? Was it what he thought it meant?
After leaving the Feixue Hall, Ying Tong turned to more serious matters.
“The Jinghong Secret Realm is about to open. You should take Ying Xuan there.”
“Why the sudden interest in the Jinghong Secret Realm? Is there something special inside?” Ying Xuechen asked.
The Jinghong Secret Realm wasn’t considered a major secret realm in the Cangqiong Realm. Usually, only small families or wandering cultivators cared about when it opened. The Ying family had its own secret realms.
“Stop being so nosy. You’ll see for yourself if there’s anything good once you get there.”
Ying Tong had originally planned to resolve the Zhangsun family issue and then send Ying Xuan straight into the white tower to train his mind and spirit.
However, she had clearly overestimated Ying Xuan.
In his current state, if he entered the white tower, he’d likely end up dead inside.
The Jinghong Secret Realm opened every five years. Though it was a minor secret realm, there was one valuable thing inside—a Golden Spirit Fruit Tree.
Eating a Golden Spirit Fruit could rapidly increase one’s cultivation, but before that, the person consuming it would have to face trials of emotional desires.
If they could pass the trials, they’d never have to worry about emotional tribulations for the rest of their lives. They’d be able to remain entirely rational, even in matters of the heart.
It sounded similar to the effect of the White Skeleton flower, but in reality, it was completely different.
The last time Ying Tong visited the secret realm, the Golden Spirit Fruit wasn’t fully ripe. Now, after five years, it should be nearing maturity.
…
Meanwhile…
Qin Xuan was also imprisoned in the dark cell, but not in the Feixue Hall.
“Find a way to get me out of here!” he shouted, slamming his fist against the solid prison door. A second later, a crack echoed—the sound of his bones breaking.
With his cultivation sealed, Qin Xuan could do nothing but vent his helpless fury.
At that moment, a black-scaled dragon serpent slowly emerged from his body.
The serpent surveyed the surroundings with its blood-red eyes before speaking in a calm, unhurried tone. “This cell may look ordinary, but it’s filled with various restrictions. In your current state, as a waste without any cultivation, escaping is nothing short of a fool’s dream. Even with your powers intact, it would still be impossible.”
The word ‘waste’ seemed to strike a nerve in Qin Xuan. He glared at the serpent and roared, “I am not a waste!”
The serpent cast him a dismissive glance and remained silent.
“You call me waste, but what about you? Didn’t you claim to be a dragon? Why didn’t you help me escape earlier? You’re nothing but a liar!”
The dragon serpent ignored Qin Xuan’s hysterics.
Escape?
Qin Xuan had no idea who was guarding them—none other than the Qingluan Immortal Fairy. The serpent was merely a little dragon. While it was on the verge of transforming into a true dragon, until it survived the heavenly tribulation, it was no more than a dish served to someone like her.
Listening to Qin Xuan’s ranting, the serpent for the first time regretted its choice.
No talent, a bad personality, and a man who relied on women for support. It couldn’t understand why it had chosen someone like him in the first place.
At that moment, Qin Xuan had no idea that the serpent had already started planning to quietly find itself a new host.
