Firmament Sword

The streets of Baihua City were bustling and lively. The roads were lined with countless precious flowers and plants, and the air was filled with a medley of floral scents.

Entering Baihua City gave one the illusion that they weren’t entering a city at all, but a massive garden!

Within this garden, a hundred flowers bloomed in a dazzling competition of beauty. They formed vibrant clusters, a fragrant feast for the eyes.

Even Master Mao couldn’t resist peeking out from Xu Luo’s pocket, looking around with an expression of novelty.

The saying that Baihua City was filled with beauties like clouds in the sky was no exaggeration. After arriving, Xu Luo realized that Monkey’s description had been far too modest.

Not only were there noblewomen, high-born ladies, and pampered misses from the major powers of Xi Hezhou, but there were also many ordinary, pretty young women who came here seeking all sorts of opportunities.

Everyone knew that this place was teeming with the scions of prestigious families. If a girl could just catch one of their eyes, even becoming a mere Maid, her life would change forever!

And if she were lucky enough to become the concubine of some great figure, she would truly soar to the heavens!

The most common establishments in Baihua City were restaurants and inns. Someone had once described Baihua City by saying, ”Besides flowers, there are only beautiful women and wine!”

With flowers, beauties, and wine, it was only natural that brothels would be indispensable.

Fengyue Halls were also everywhere in Baihua City. The ”big teapots” at the entrances were so enthusiastic it was overwhelming, spouting words designed to entice passersby.

Even Monkey was being fervently pulled inside. As for the young and handsome Xu Luo, who radiated an extraordinary air at a single glance, he was their prime target.

After finally breaking free from the grasp of a heavily made-up ”big teapot” who was at the Divine Power Realm, Xu Luo, drenched in a cold sweat, looked at Monkey and said, ”You didn’t mention this part before...”

Monkey burst out laughing. ”I’m not into this sort of thing. I thought a noble young master like you would enjoy it!”

Xu Luo rolled his eyes and found an inn with Monkey to stay in.

The inn was filled with the fragrance of flowers. Anywhere there was even a little empty space, one’s eyes were met with all kinds of flowers and plants.

There were few trees here; it was a world of flowers.

”Where does the Lady of Piaomiao Palace live?” Xu Luo asked impatiently after having an attendant deliver food and wine to their room.

Qianqian’s condition could not be delayed any longer. The influence of the Fire Dragon’s consciousness on her was growing stronger and stronger. Xu Luo truly feared that one day, the good friend he knew so well would transform into that Ancient Fire Dragon. If that day ever came, he didn’t even know how he would face that familiar stranger.

”Someone of her status isn’t so easy to meet,” Monkey said after taking a sip of wine. ”However, Baihua City holds a grand auction every half a month. Perhaps we’ll have a chance to see her at the auction. The premise is... we have to offer something appealing enough to attract her!”

”Something appealing enough... like a flower?” Xu Luo asked, looking at Monkey.

A spark flashed in Monkey’s eyes. ”In the treasury, there was a packet of flower seeds. I wonder if you noticed it.”

”Flower seeds?” Xu Luo raised an eyebrow. ”I didn’t notice.”

”That’s you for you...” Monkey sighed. ”That packet of seeds, if I’m not mistaken, should be seeds of the Netherworld Flower!”

”The Netherworld Flower... Lord Monkey King, you’re not mistaken, are you?” Xiaojin exclaimed from the side. ”That’s the legendary...”

Monkey rolled his eyes and said proudly, ”Back in the day, with my uncle...”

”Yes, yes, you’ve traveled far and wide!” Master Mao chimed in with a deadpan expression.

”Hmph!” Monkey snorted coldly, then said, ”The Nether Flower Seed emanates Netherworld Power. That kind of power is completely different from any other aura in this world, so it’s very easy to recognize!”

”I’ve heard that if the Netherworld Flower is treated with a Secret Technique and made into tea, a woman who drinks it can retain her youthful appearance forever!” Xiaojin said from the side.

”You’ve heard of this too, you little worm?” Monkey was a little surprised.

Xiaojin said with a hint of resignation, ”This flower is too famous; it’s hard not to have heard of it! I just heard that in the Divine Domain, this flower is extremely rare. I wonder if Baihua City... has any Netherworld Flowers.”

Monkey shook his head and said, ”Although Baihua City is known as the world of flowers, it... definitely doesn’t have the Netherworld Flower! I’m not bragging, but a single Nether Flower Seed could absolutely trigger a bloodbath!”

”No way...” Xiaojin said, shocked. ”Its greatest effect is on women...”

”What the hell do you know!” Monkey lectured. ”Behind every peerless beauty, there’s bound to be one or a group of powerful men! To please the woman they love, is there anything they wouldn’t do?”

Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself, ’This Monkey really isn’t as simple-minded as I thought. He knows human affairs like the back of his hand.’

With that in mind, Xu Luo said, ”You mean... we should auction one Nether Flower Seed? To attract the Lady of Piaomiao Palace?”

Monkey nodded. ”If I’m not mistaken, as soon as this news gets out, the Lady of Piaomiao Palace will definitely be interested. She’ll want to get this Nether Flower Seed at any cost. That way, we’ll have our chance!”

Xu Luo nodded and said, ”That’s right. As long as we want her to win the bid... she definitely will!”

Monkey said, ”But if we do this, we can’t show our true faces. We’ll have to disguise ourselves, or else we’ll be targeted by the major powers in Baihua City!”

”Most importantly, the Nether Flower Seed is extremely rare. We’ll be targeted by *that* guy!” Xu Luo said.

Monkey and Xu Luo exchanged a look, both understanding what the other meant.

Three days later, a piece of news spread that shook the entire Baihua City.

”Have you heard? A great treasure is appearing at the auction in two days!”

”Tsk, it’s just a gimmick from the auction house. When do they not say that? They hold forty-eight auctions a year, and every single time they claim to have a great treasure for the finale!”

”Not this time! The Chief Shopkeeper of the Baihua Auction House personally confirmed it. They’re going to auction a Nether Flower Seed!”

”Hahahaha, don’t be ridiculous, friend. A Nether Flower Seed? Do you take me for a three-year-old? In all these years in Xi Hezhou, we’ve only heard rumors of the Netherworld Flower. How many people have actually seen one?”

”Yeah, I don’t believe it either. Even if there really was a Netherworld Flower, it would have been collected by a Supreme Great Sect like Celestial Brilliance long ago!”

”Only a fool would put it up for auction!”

”If you don’t believe me, go ask them yourselves!”

News about the Nether Flower Seed spread like wildfire throughout Baihua City. It was only then that Xu Luo truly understood the power contained within that tiny little seed.

Even Monkey himself was somewhat caught off guard.

He hadn’t expected that a Netherworld Flower seed would cause such a massive sensation in all of Baihua City.

In a quiet courtyard within Baihua City, an exceptionally beautiful middle-aged woman was intently watering the flowers in her garden.

The middle-aged woman had a graceful figure and wore a long, elegant dress full of charm. Her every movement was supremely graceful, exuding a captivating allure that would stir the heart of any man who saw her.

Several Maids stood quietly to the side, careful not to disturb their lady’s mood.

Just then, a boisterous voice suddenly came from outside. ”Sister, Sister... Xie Yudie! I have news that you’ll definitely be thrilled to hear!”

Following the voice, a young woman in a red dress rushed in like a floating red cloud. Her personality, much like her red dress, gave off a very fiery impression.

The middle-aged woman’s hand, which was watering the flowers, paused steadily. She sighed with a hint of resignation. ”Yu Rou, how many times have I told you? A young lady must be elegant, be reserved, and pay attention to her image! You’re a grown woman now, a dignified Celestial Splendor Noble Lady. Why are you still acting like a tomboy... causing trouble all day long? Who would dare marry you if you keep acting like this?”

”No one will marry me? I don’t even want to get married yet!” the red-dressed young woman said with a grin. She walked over to the middle-aged woman and said, ”There’s a Nether Flower Seed for sale at this auction! Sister, haven’t you always wanted to grow a Netherworld Flower?”

”What?” The middle-aged woman was slightly stunned, then asked in surprise, ”Really?”

It was rare to see such an expression on the face of this noble and elegant middle-aged woman.

The young woman in red gave a mischievous smile. ”Of course, it’s true! The Chief Shopkeeper of the Baihua Auction House told me first thing this morning. I rushed all the way over here to give you the good news, and what do I get? A scolding.”

The middle-aged woman handed the watering can to a Maid beside her, then took the red-dressed girl’s hand and said gently, ”Your sister is just concerned about you. Now tell me, why would someone auction such a treasure? Did the Chief Shopkeeper of the Baihua Auction House say who is selling it?”

The young woman in red shook her head. ”I asked. The Chief Shopkeeper said two men in cloaks brought it in to be auctioned, and they made a strange request.”

”Oh? What kind of request?” the middle-aged woman asked.

”It seems they’re looking for a rare material but don’t want to make it public. So they requested to the Chief Shopkeeper that the Nether Flower Seed is only for trade, not for sale. They require anyone who wants the Nether Flower Seed to write down a material they believe is of equal value on a piece of paper, and then the sellers will choose the buyer. If nothing suitable is offered, the Nether Flower Seed will be withdrawn!” The young woman in red said with a strange look on her face, ”I’ve never seen a seller like this before.”

The middle-aged woman smiled and said, ”That’s not strange at all. They don’t want to reveal their true identities, and they certainly don’t want to expose their objective. Doing things this way... is perfectly reasonable.”

”But the problem is... how is anyone supposed to know what they want?” the young woman in red muttered, furrowing her delicate brows.

”Hehe, Yu Rou, your sister can make a bet with you. Everyone who wants to obtain the Nether Flower Seed will do the exact same thing!” A wise smile appeared on the middle-aged woman’s gorgeous face.

”What thing?” the young woman in red asked subconsciously.

”They will all try every means possible to meet these two in person!” the middle-aged woman said faintly. ”Only a face-to-face transaction is the most secure transaction!”

”But will the auction house be happy about that?” the young woman in red asked.

”Why wouldn’t they be? With a gimmick like the Nether Flower Seed, the Chief Shopkeeper will make a fortune again this time. I can’t imagine how happy he’ll be.”

As the middle-aged woman spoke, she murmured, ”I’m just very curious. The way those two are doing this... it seems it’s not just to trade for some material. It’s more likely they’re looking for someone!”

The middle-aged woman not only possessed a face of devastating beauty but also an intellect that could not be underestimated. However, at this moment, the Lady of Piaomiao Palace did not yet know that the true purpose of the two people trying to auction the Nether Flower Seed... was to meet her in person!