Lei Pang said, "It's precisely because you'll be following Young Lady that you'll have the chance to go there. The intelligence we brought back this time isn't really secret. It's just that the number of beasts in the Eastern Wilderness has suddenly increased recently. The General suspects that the Myriad Spirit Mother Pool has appeared again and plans to send some young experts to investigate and see if they can gain some benefits."
Xue Yi understood: "You mean the Lord might send Young Lady there?"
He knew about the Myriad Spirit Mother Pool. It was an ancient legend.
Legend said the waters of the Myriad Spirit Mother Pool could nourish all things and make creatures become more powerful. Especially the golden waters at its deepest point could allow one to transform and enter sainthood.
But... it only worked for the young. The older one was, the worse the effects, to the point it had no effect at all after thirty.
Naturally, Xue Yi also desperately wanted such a good thing.
But he knew his own abilities. Going now would just be seeking death. The various powers of the Ancient Divine Dynasty would surely send experts to compete. The savage tribes and beast clans beyond the frontier in the Eastern Wilderness would surely desperately resist the invasion of human experts.
Even having entered the Cave Heaven Realm, he was still at the bottom level. He had no qualifications to participate in the competition.
Lei Pang nodded. "Right. Young Lady is so powerful and still so young. The golden waters of the Myriad Spirit Mother Pool are practically tailored for her. If you can follow along, perhaps you can benefit from some of her light."
"Haha, I hope so," Xue Yi laughed in response.
But he was thinking to himself: If she goes, she'll probably be the first to die miserably. Benefit? More like benefit from the light of death!
"I still need to hurry to the capital to notify the imperial clan's people. Perhaps we'll meet again at the Eastern Wilderness garrison," Lei Pang patted his shoulder, then swiftly departed.
"Huh? That rushed?"
Lei Pang had come and gone swiftly.
Seeing that tall figure disappear into the distance, Xue Yi couldn't help sighing.
"Don't get caught up in this kind of thing, otherwise even ten lives wouldn't be enough."
The Eastern Wilderness was the territory of beasts and savages. Humans basically didn't dare venture in.
To resist beasts and savages, the Ancient Divine Dynasty had specially constructed three garrisons, dispatched over a hundred thousand elite troops, as well as many martial artists and high-level cultivators to station there.
Lei Pang was one of the frontier guardians. He and many others at the Cave Heaven Realm had gone together to represent the Holy Wei Manor and defend the borderlands.
Comparatively speaking, defending the pass was pretty safe. Venturing deep into the Eastern Wilderness to search for the Myriad Spirit Mother Pool was practically suicidal.
He could only hope the Lord wouldn't be so crazy as to send them there.
Otherwise, bringing a little waste like Xiao Qingruo to venture the Eastern Wilderness would be like stretching out their necks begging to be killed!
...
Xue Yi returned to Orchid Garden and went straight to the room.
Xiao Qingruo was still sitting there reading her book. Seeing him return, she didn't ask anything, completely disinterested.
At this point, Xue Yi had also lost the mood to continue bullying her. He sat down and repeated everything Lei Pang had said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingruo furrowed her brows. "The Eastern Wilderness is dangerous... I hope the Lord doesn't play with fire. I don't want to go courting death."
"I'm thinking the same," Xue Yi said. "If the Lord brings this up to you, refuse if you can. If you really can't, use secluded cultivation as an excuse."
"Mm," Xiao Qingruo nodded slightly, accepting his suggestion.
"I also need to become stronger!"
After hitching a ride on Xiao Qingruo's ship, although there were many benefits, he also had to face much larger matters than before. He needed more power.
Xue Yi thought that taking another millennium red fruit tomorrow and the day after would allow him to steadily enter the Cave Heaven Realm. That would make things relatively easier.
Thinking of the red fruit made him think of the ice beard grass Xiao Qingruo had mentioned earlier.
"What grade is the ice beard grass you mentioned? About how much does it cost on the market?" he asked.
Xiao Qingruo's mouth curled. "What, afraid of the heat already?"
Xue Yi's face darkened. "If you like being hit just say so directly. No need to provoke me in such a roundabout way."
She was completely unafraid and calmly replied, "What's that attitude for borrowing money?"
"Then how about I just take it by force? Hey, hand over the money, otherwise I'll handle you!" Xue Yi huffed with laughter and put his big hand on her shoulder, pretending to molest her.
Xiao Qingruo slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me, disgusting! The banknotes are in the second chest in my room. Buying one pound of ice beard grass will be enough. A few hundred taels of silver will be more than enough. Don't take too much!"
"Alright."
Xue Yi got up and went into her bedroom. This was his first time entering Xiao Qingruo's private room. Just walking in, he smelled a charming fragrance, similar to Xiao Qingruo's scent. He didn't know if she had absorbed the room's incense or if her long-term residence had allowed the room to absorb her fragrance.
Xue Yi arrived at the second chest and opened it.
"Wow, so much!"
The moment the chest opened, Xue Yi's eyes widened.
The large chest, three chi long, two chi wide, two chi tall, was filled with all sorts of banknotes of different denominations, all "Divine Dynasty Currency." Not notes from some small money-lending shop.
The smallest denomination was 100 taels of silver. The largest was a whopping 10,000 taels of gold!
Stack after stack, at a glance, just this one chest was worth at least several million taels of silver!
This was Xiao Qingruo's private money! Not the manor treasury!
"Just how much is this young lady's monthly allowance?" Xue Yi was stunned. Even adding up his two lifetimes, he hadn't seen this much money.
He took 10 notes of 100 taels each, took another look at Xiao Qingruo's other things in her scented bedroom.
There were many items in the room. Just chests alone there were four. There was also a wardrobe and dresser that could hold many things.
Although a bit curious, Xue Yi wasn't a pervert. He wouldn't meticulously investigate someone else's room. He took the banknotes and left.
Xiao Qingruo's back seemed to be standing even straighter. She lightly said, "What do you think, do you feel being my dog is blissful now?"
"Emmm..."
Xue Yi endured again and again before finally unable to resist asking, "Where did you get so much money?"
Xiao Qingruo said, "Since I turned twelve, the manor treasury has given me 5,000 taels of silver each month. At sixteen it increased to 10,000 taels. Add to that the fawning gifts from many people inside and outside the Holy Wei Manor, as well as some gifts from pursuers that I can't refuse no matter how much I want to reject them. Converted to banknotes, it becomes this much."
"I'm convinced..."
Xue Yi was truly convinced.
So there were even people who wanted to unconditionally give her things. Being beautiful and powerful really gave huge innate advantages!
"Nothing special. Truly precious things can't be bought with money. Oh right, bring me some Green Jade Dew when you come back," Xiao Qingruo ordered.
"Green Jade Dew? What's that?" Xue Yi hadn't heard of it.
Xiao Qingruo gave him a blank look. She said in frustration, "Really no experience. One look and you can tell you've never been close with a girl. Green Jade Dew is a signature drink at the teahouse on East Street. They squeeze fruit juice and brew it together with tea, add ice cubes and sugar powder. Young girls love drinking it."
"Uh..."
Wasn't this just an iced fruit tea drink?
She actually had this sort of interest?
It seemed this young lady also had an ordinary side...
With her status, getting Green Jade Dew would be easy with just a word.
But she couldn't do that because it would affect her goddess image.
Now with Xue Yi, their relationship was special. She could relax a bit and indulge her cravings without anyone knowing.
Thinking of this, Xue Yi lightly laughed. "Alright, I'll bring you a cup every time I go out from now on, my esteemed young lady."