Chapter 286: A Seductress Still Falls Short of a True Enchantress
In the center of the Saint Pill City mountain range, within a sprawling estate, the air rippled with faint spatial undulations, producing soft cracking noises. A moment later, a spatial rift slowly opened within the estate, and Lu Bu emerged with Medusa and the other three women in tow.
"So, this is Saint Pill City?" Xiao Yi Xian gently brushed her snow white hair back, her delicate face filled with wonder. The density of energy in the air here was astonishing nearly a hundred times greater than what she'd experienced in her residence in Heavenly Poison City. It was no exaggeration to call this place a paradise.
Currently, Xiao Yi Xian's Poison Pill Technique had been completed, and she had gained full control over her Woeful Poison Body. Her strength had skyrocketed from the seven star Douzong realm to the one star Douzun realm, advancing as if she had ridden a rocket. Her progress left both Hei Qing and Tian Huo Zun zhe filled with envy and jealousy. Truly, the Woeful Poison Body was an extraordinary gift.
"Well, Brother Lu Bu, Tian Huo and I will head out for a walk. Today, you should stay and spend time with your wives I won't be joining you for drinks," Hei Qing said, his eyes darting around mischievously before laughing heartily.
"Heehee, Big Guy, you're pretty considerate!" Zi Yan, perched on Lu Bu's shoulders, giggled with satisfaction.
"Haha… It's only natural…" Hei Qing scratched his head awkwardly, his face somewhat unnatural. But only he knew the immense pressure emanating from the little girl atop Lu Bu's shoulders.
If not for the vast difference in their strength, he wouldn't even have been able to look her in the eye her draconic bloodline's aura was just that overwhelming.
"Without a doubt, the Dragon Emperor's bloodline…" A trace of suppressed excitement flashed through Hei Qing's eyes. The revival of the ancient Void Dragon Tribe was finally within reach!
"Take care, Brother. But don't stray too far," Lu Bu said with a smile.
"Haha, I won't." Hei Qing laughed, slowly retreating as the spatial rift closed behind him, vanishing completely.
"Alright, let's head inside!" Lu Bu laughed heartily, leading the four women into the estate. As a candidate for one of the eight elders of the Pill Tower, this estate had been assigned to him, and he could live here for as long as he wanted assuming, of course, that the Pill Tower continued to exist until the end of time.
"Are we going to start making medicinal dishes now?" Zi Yan asked, her small face brimming with excitement and anticipation. It had been nearly a year since her last meal of medicinal cuisine!
"Zi Yan, let's take a walk around the estate first…" Medusa said helplessly. It was only proper to familiarize themselves with their new home.
"No way!" Zi Yan clung tightly to Lu Bu's neck, her small hands gripping his head possessively.
Medusa could only sigh in exasperation, while Yun Yun found herself suppressing a giggle at the scene.
"Alright, you can stay with Lu Bu. We'll take a look around," Yun Yun said, gently pulling Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian along. Since this might be their home for a while, it was only right to get acquainted with the place.
"Heehee, Yun Yun jiejie is the best!" Zi Yan said smugly, grinning as if she had just won a great battle.
Lu Bu, feeling helpless, gave her a pat on the head and headed for the kitchen. Most alchemists didn't need a kitchen especially high level ones in the Pill Tower who could go months without eating. But some things were simply irreplaceable. The Pill Tower clearly understood this when constructing their estates.
In the kitchen, Lu Bu hummed a light tune as various medicinal ingredients floated around him Phoenix Nirvana Flower, Ghost Arrow Feather, Purple Pearl Grass…
In a large earthen pot, water bubbled and steamed as the Phoenix Nirvana Flower boiled. Sliced Ghost Arrow Feather and Purple Pearl Grass were added one by one. This medicinal dish, with the fiery Phoenix Nirvana Flower as its main ingredient, was balanced with Ghost Arrow Feather, Purple Pearl Grass, and other herbs to neutralize its wild energy and bitter taste.
Before long, the rich aroma of the dish filled the estate, making mouths water.
Zi Yan's eyes lit up as soon as she smelled it. The moment Lu Bu set the pot down, she dove in like a vengeful little wolf, devouring its contents with a vengeance. Before Lu Bu could even react, the steaming pot of medicinal cuisine was reduced to scraps.
"You little glutton…" Lu Bu muttered helplessly. Medicinal dishes were known for their delicious flavor and mild energy that was easy to absorb, but to achieve such taste, some of the medicinal properties had to be sacrificed. While they weren't as potent as pills, they still packed a punch especially since this particular dish had been made using the Phoenix Nirvana Flower, a rare treasure from Mu Gu's collection.
Though some of its potency had been neutralized and reduced, it remained a formidable dish. And yet, Zi Yan had polished off the entire pot by herself.
As expected, moments later, Zi Yan lay slumped in her chair, patting her full belly with satisfaction. But soon after, her delicate, fair skin began to flush a faint red as the overwhelming medicinal energy surged through her body.
"Oh no! I need to cultivate!" Zi Yan exclaimed, jumping up and sprinting toward a training room to refine the energy.
"She'll be fine, right?" Medusa asked as she approached, watching Zi Yan rush off in a whirlwind.
"She'll be fine. She just needs to refine the medicinal energy," Lu Bu said, shaking his head. He then noticed that Medusa was alone. "Where are Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun?"
"They've gone to cultivate," Medusa replied with a shrug. Xiao Yi Xian needed time to adapt to her Woeful Poison Body, the first in history to be successfully controlled through the Poison Pill Technique. Yun Yun, meanwhile, had started refining the Green Lotus Core Flame into a spirit servant. After all, she couldn't exactly carry the lotus platform around forever.
"Well, I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a bath and then sleep…" Medusa said, stretching lazily. Her graceful, curvaceous figure was on full display as she stretched, her pear shaped hips exuding an irresistible allure.
With that, the queen turned and sauntered away. Lu Bu's fingers twitched, and he took a deep breath before rising to clean up the dishes. Patience… patience… Forget it, who am I kidding?
With a wave of his hand, the dishes tidied themselves. Lu Bu's figure flickered, and he gently pushed open Medusa's door. Inside, she wore a thin, silky violet robe that clung to her figure, the warm light casting a faint glow over her as she radiated an otherworldly charm.
"What are you doing here?" Medusa asked, her gaze flickering. Her tone was calm, but as she spoke, her robe slipped from her shoulder, revealing her flawless, jade like skin.
"Uh… Your Majesty, your robe is slipping…" Lu Bu said with a serious expression, trying to maintain his composure.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry and help me fix it."
"Hissss…" Lu Bu took a sharp breath. So this is the charm of a serpent queen!
He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her slender waist. With his hands occupied, he could only use his lips to "help" adjust her robe. It was the only logical solution…
In the training chamber next door, Yun Yun's ears twitched. Her elegant face flushed as she sensed the muffled sounds through the walls. Dou Qi surged, covering her ears and isolating the distracting noises.
"Ugh…" Yun Yun muttered, taking a deep breath as she focused on the Green Lotus Core Flame dancing in her palm. "I need to finish this as soon as possible so I can deal with other matters…"
Three days passed in a flash. A refreshed Lu Bu and a radiant Medusa finally stepped out of their room. However, despite their return, Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun, and Zi Yan were all still in closed door cultivation.
"It seems they won't be coming out anytime soon," Medusa said calmly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She was mildly regretful that she wouldn't get to see the jealous and resentful expressions of Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun.
"Why don't we go out for a stroll?" Lu Bu suggested with a smile. After a year apart from Medusa, it was impossible for him not to miss her. Now was the perfect time to spend some alone time with his queen.
"Sure!" Medusa's eyes curved into a soft smile. She stretched out her elegant arm, wrapping it around Lu Bu's, pressing herself gently against him. If Lu Bu missed her, how could she not have missed him just as much?
Lu Bu chuckled softly, his hand naturally wrapping around her slender waist. With a wave of his sleeve, space rippled. A few breaths later, the two of them vanished from the estate.
Saint Pill City bustled with noise. The streets were lively, filled with an endless stream of people. Medusa accompanied Lu Bu as they strolled through the streets, occasionally stopping to purchase some medicinal herbs.
Now that Lu Bu was no longer a solitary traveler, he couldn't live as he had in the past, where he only needed to worry about feeding himself. He now had to consider Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun, and the others.
Yun Yun, currently a four star Douzong, needed pills to help her improve her strength. Xiao Yi Xian, who had broken through to the Douzun realm, would soon need an eighth tier pill like the Jie Li Pill. And, of course, Lu Bu also had to prepare a Jie Li Pill for himself.
Fortunately, while his supply of herbs was nearly depleted, he still had a substantial stock of pills, most of which he had acquired from looting Mu Gu and the Ice River Sovereign's storage rings.
"Truly, looting storage rings is far more rewarding than plundering entire cities!" Lu Bu mused with a laugh.
"Lu Bu, what's our plan after this?" Medusa asked softly, holding onto his arm. She wasn't referring to their current shopping trip but to their next steps.
By now, Lu Bu and Medusa were no longer the insignificant individuals who had to flee for their lives when pursued by Soul Hall Douzuns. With both of them in the Douzun realm, they now had the power to challenge the Soul Hall's elders and Douzun level experts.
"Naturally, it's to improve our strength," Lu Bu said, gently squeezing her delicate hand. He smiled and continued, "I've already prepared a Jie Li Pill for you to help boost your strength. And in the coming days, I'll use the Pill Tower's resources to search for a Seven Colored Origin Stone for you."
Hearing this, Medusa's heart stirred, and her gaze softened further. "The pill is fine, but the Seven Colored Origin Stone... Unless it's of exceptional quality, it won't be of much use to me anymore."
What she truly meant was that she didn't want Lu Bu to owe too many favors. Large factions like the Pill Tower were difficult to deal with; once too many favors were owed, repaying them could lead to endless trouble.
The benefits wouldn't necessarily outweigh the cost, and the entanglements could become significant burdens.
"I want to see the legendary Nine Colored Heaven Swallowing Python in the near future," Lu Bu whispered softly into her ear with a gentle laugh.
Medusa's heart quivered at his words, her gaze rippling with warmth. Beneath her veil, her lips lightly bit down as a blush crept across her face. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms. However, when she glanced at him, she found his eyes fixed on her lips beneath the veil, a faint smile playing on his face.
"Hmph!" Medusa lightly spat, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.
A few days ago, Lu Bu had dragged her into a strange game called "Battle Royale: Stimulating Battlegrounds" in their room. Even now, her lips felt a bit uncomfortable just thinking about it.
"What about Zi Yan?" Medusa asked, forcing down her embarrassment and changing the topic.
"She's no ordinary person she has her own destiny," Lu Bu replied. The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was no trivial treasure, and caution was imperative. In the original timeline, the Sky Demon Phoenix clan missed their chance to seize it due to poor timing. If they had been quicker, their clan leader Huang Tian would likely have done whatever it took to capture it.
Currently, the Void Ancient Dragon Tribe lacked the strength to contend with Huang Tian, so secrecy was of utmost importance. Lu Bu also intended to ensure that the Void Ancient Dragon experts were fully involved in protecting Zi Yan, leaving no room for error.
That said, there was no rush. The Void Ancient Dragon Tribe, fractured as it was, remained highly wary of outsiders. Even with Hei Qing's guarantee, Lu Bu's chances of entering Dragon Island were slim. He decided to bide his time; when the tribe eventually needed him, he would make his move. And they would need him no tribe, no matter how proud, could afford to ignore the value of an eighth tier alchemist, especially one backed by Hei Qing.
"Lu Bu? You're back?" A soft, sultry voice suddenly interrupted Lu Bu's thoughts.
He raised an eyebrow and turned toward the voice, spotting Cao Ying in her usual black dress, exuding a bewitching charm. Following closely behind her, like a shadow, was Song Qing.
"And who might this be?" Medusa asked, sizing up Cao Ying. Her gaze briefly swept over the woman's chest, a trace of curiosity and vigilance flashing in her eyes. Beneath her veil, Medusa's expression turned slightly puzzled. This black dressed woman radiated a powerful sense of threat that could not be ignored.
"This is Cao Ying, a disciple of one of the Pill Tower's leaders," Lu Bu explained softly.
"Ah, so it's Miss Cao Ying. I've heard much about you," Medusa said with a slight nod. She had indeed heard of Cao Ying before while gathering intelligence on the Pill Tower, she had learned of this prodigy with extraordinary talent in both soul cultivation and alchemy. Cao Ying's reputation as a "witch" was widespread across Central Plains.
"And this beautiful lady is…?" Cao Ying's eyes glimmered with a sharp light, a faintly challenging smile appearing on her alluring face.
Though she held some affection for Lu Bu, her feelings were more rooted in pride than love. She didn't want to see a man like him enraptured by another woman.
This wasn't about right or wrong it was pure competitive instinct.
"My wife," Lu Bu replied with a grin.
Cao Ying's expression froze, and an unnatural stiffness overtook her enchanting face. While she had known that Lu Bu was close to Medusa, she hadn't expected them to already be married.
It didn't make sense. Lu Bu was talented, ambitious, and still so young. How could he possibly have settled down so soon? It felt... wrong.
Behind her, Song Qing's expression lit up with a mix of relief and joy. If Lu Bu was out of the picture, then perhaps his own chances were still alive!
"Let's go." Medusa smiled faintly and pulled Lu Bu away, leaving Cao Ying behind.
Witch? How can a mere witch compare to a true enchantress?
Cao Ying's eye twitched, a trace of defiance flashing across her alluring face.
"Hmph… Just you wait…" she muttered, grinding her teeth. So what if he's your husband? I have my ways of stealing him from you. Let's see who has the last laugh!
With this thought, Cao Ying stomped off, her mind churning with schemes.
"Wait, Ying'er, hold on!" Song Qing called out in a panic, hurriedly chasing after her.
In the southwestern part of the Central Plains, a massive crimson bird soared through the skies, its cry piercing and clear.
"Hahaha… Mr. Lu Bu, up ahead lies the Blazing Fire Mountain Range, home to our Burning Flame Valley's headquarters," the Red Fire Elder said with a hearty laugh.
"Impressive indeed!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly, recalling how Lu Bu had mentioned that the Burning Flame Valley's ancestor was a peak Dou Sheng, only a step away from the Dou Di realm.
He had wanted to ask more about it, but Lu Bu, the scoundrel, had demanded payment for any further information. Frustrated, Xiao Yan had left in a huff.
Now, seeing the Blazing Fire Mountain Range in person, Xiao Yan couldn't help but admire its grandeur. He could feel the endless surge of violent yet pure fire energy within the range, as well as the nearly impenetrable spatial barriers surrounding it.
(Chapter End)
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