Originally, this situation should have pleased Cui Xu's heart. Xiaoyao had no feelings for Dongfang Wunian, but the problem was: the divine king had no dreams, but the divine maiden had feelings.
Even though Xiaoyao didn't chat much and sometimes would zone out, Dongfang Wunian still liked talking with Xiaoyao. Even if it was talking to herself, she enjoyed it. Sometimes she could also quietly zone out with Xiaoyao.
Of course, this "feelings" that the divine maiden had hadn't reached the level of deep affection, it couldn't even be called love. It was just a slight favorable impression. Being with Xiaoyao, Dongfang Wunian felt very comfortable, that was all.
Regarding this, Xiaoyao paid no attention. He only thought about collecting materials, being able to collect the materials he wanted was best. Then he wanted to quickly end this training and return early, as there was still a treasure waiting for him.
Today was the day they went deepest into Heavenly Heart Mountain, which meant today should be the day they faced the most dangers and also the most opportunities. Xiaoyao hoped to encounter good things, this was also a rare opportunity. Even if he came by himself, it would be very difficult to advance further inward. Even if he advanced, he might not have the ability to obtain those good things.
"Xiaoyao, come with me. I discovered something good.”
During the noon rest, Cui Xu came to find Xiaoyao with a friendly expression, but there was a trace of hatred in his eyes.
Xiaoyao felt this matter wouldn't be anything good, but he felt Cui Xu would have difficulty posing any danger to him. He had many life-saving methods. Plus, perhaps there really was something, if the other person had good intentions, then he would be thinking with a petty heart.
...
...
"Oh, got it!" Xiaoyao decided to follow Cui Xu. First, he'd see the situation. If it was meant to scheme against him, at least now he was alert, better than being ambushed.
Cui Xu led Xiaoyao to a cliff. This was proof of Heavenly Heart Mountain's diverse terrain. This cliff seemed to extend very, very long, almost endlessly, while below was a lush green forest.
However, although this wasn't a dark abyss, the height of this cliff was also extremely terrifying. From the cliff where Xiaoyao stood to the green forest below, this altitude difference could crush a person to pieces.
After Cui Xu brought Xiaoyao here, he walked to the cliff edge himself, looking into the distance.
"Young Master Cui, where is the thing you mentioned?" Xiaoyao also came to the cliff edge, but he didn't stand together with Cui Xu. Instead, he maintained a safe distance. At the same time, he faced toward the bottom of the cliff, as if looking for something, not giving the impression that he was deliberately keeping his distance.
"The thing is down there. You go down and find it," Cui Xu said coldly.
"It's too high here. Even if I have a way to go down, it would be very difficult to come back up. I don't know what Young Master Cui is referring to, if the value isn't high, I won't go," Xiaoyao said very seriously, seeming not to notice Cui Xu's hostility.
Cui Xu seemed somewhat surprised and said, "You mean if there's something of high value, you would go down?"
"That's natural,” Xiaoyao said.
"This is very dangerous," Cui Xu reminded him. "It's not just the height, there are many terrifying monster beasts in that forest below. If this cliff didn't block them, we wouldn't dare come here."
"Oh, could this be Horizontal Dragon Cliff?" Xiaoyao remembered a special cliff. According to records, this Horizontal Dragon Cliff stretched for dozens of li. Its height and angle prevented the monster beasts below from crossing over, blocking the possibility of monster beasts infiltrating outward.
This Horizontal Dragon Cliff was also a dividing line, the boundary between Heavenly Heart Mountain's center and middle region. Crossing this boundary, the strength of monster beasts would differ tremendously.
"You do have some knowledge! That's right, this is Horizontal Dragon Cliff," Cui Xu said.
"Oh... Young Master Cui, what is this thing you mentioned?" Xiaoyao asked again.
"The thing..." Cui Xu hadn't expected Xiaoyao to still ask. Actually, it was obvious he had deliberately lured Xiaoyao here, but not to harm Xiaoyao, he wasn't that stupid.
Quite a few people had seen Xiaoyao follow him away. Now Xiaoyao was also the person who could treat Dongfang Wunian's anorexia. If he did anything to Xiaoyao now, it would definitely bring much trouble.
Most importantly, Cui Xu was just like his name, he had the courage to brag but not the courage to harm people.
"There's nothing here. I just want to warn you don't have any improper thoughts about Junior Sister Dongfang. Think about your own status," Cui Xu stated his purpose. This was his goal to warn and remind Xiaoyao!
"Oh, I know this. Hey, Young Master Cui, so you were joking. There really is something good here,” Xiaoyao suddenly changed his tone, confusing Cui Xu. Next, Xiaoyao made an action that startled Cui Xu.
After speaking, Xiaoyao directly jumped down from the cliff.
"Ah! Xiaoyao..." Cui Xu cried out, then instinctively rushed to Xiaoyao's previous position and looked down. He saw Xiaoyao's figure floating downward, getting smaller and smaller.
"Senior Brother Cui, what just happened?" Dongfang Wunian suddenly appeared nearby. She had originally felt something was strange, why was Cui Xu looking for Xiaoyao? She followed to see, only to witness Xiaoyao suddenly jump down. She couldn't directly question Cui Xu because when Xiaoyao jumped, Cui Xu was still quite far away.
"It's not my fault. I don't know either. He just said there really was something good here, then jumped down. Could he have seen something?" Cui Xu was initially somewhat panicked, but then became calm. He thought, what was he afraid of? He hadn't done anything.
"What good thing? He must have discovered some medicinal material. But he didn't prepare anything and just jumped down like that, how will he get back up?" Dongfang Wunian was somewhat curious. At this moment, she saw Xiaoyao had used some methods to pause on the cliff wall, so nothing was wrong.
Combined with Cui Xu's explanation, she understood that Xiaoyao jumped down because he discovered some good medicine, it had nothing to do with Cui Xu. She just couldn't understand how Xiaoyao could gather herbs like this, jumping down without any preparation. Even experts wouldn't dare do this.
"I don't know. Let's wait here. Maybe he needs help." Cui Xu said. Even though he wasn't very willing to wait for Xiaoyao and even hoped Xiaoyao couldn't come back up, at this moment he had to say this to gain Dongfang Wunian's favor.
"Mm!" Dongfang Wunian nodded.
"Xiaoyao, are you alright?" Dongfang Wunian shouted down. She believed Xiaoyao could hear, in such an open space without obstacles, sound could travel very far.
"I'm fine! You can just wait up there. If you don't wait, that's fine too, I can come up myself. I won't talk to you anymore, I have work to do. Also, don't shout for no reason, it will attract monster beasts," Xiaoyao's voice came from below.
"Oh, got it," Dongfang Wunian reflexively replied, suddenly realizing this response was unnecessary. Her face turned slightly red with embarrassment. Fortunately, there was no one nearby (she ignored Cui Xu) and sat to the side to wait.
What was Xiaoyao doing below? What good thing did he discover?
Xiaoyao could only say it was something good, this thing couldn't be better!
Xiaoyao hadn't expected that Cui Xu could actually lead him to find such a good thing. Although Cui Xu didn't seem to have done it intentionally, the result was like this.
Just now, Xiaoyao had smelled a scent from here, the scent of spiritual energy. Xiaoyao was certain there were natural treasures below. He had Chi Chi go down to search and discovered it was directly below, so he jumped down.
Xiaoyao wasn't afraid of jumping down dangerously because he had some tools that could let him pause on the cliff wall at any time. He also had tools that could let him glide in the sky, anyway, he definitely wouldn't die.
Xiaoyao paused on a small protruding platform. What he wanted to find was on this platform, a very rare spiritual fruit that could not only be used in medicine but also increase cultivation when eaten directly.
This was a treasure!
Even in Heavenly Heart Mountain's center, there probably weren't many, because this type of spiritual fruit was very difficult to grow. It needed to absorb spiritual energy between heaven and earth for years and years to mature, and the time required was very long.
At the same time, this type of spiritual fruit would also attract most animals and monster beasts to devour them. Some intelligent monster beasts knew to wait until maturity, while those without intelligence would eat them directly.
Also, within a certain time after spiritual fruits matured, they had to be immediately eaten or picked and specially preserved for medicine. Otherwise, the spiritual energy contained in these spiritual fruits would dissipate.
Xiaoyao was very lucky, this spiritual fruit had just matured not long ago and could be picked...
Just as Xiaoyao was preparing to pick it and feeling happy, suddenly an incident occurred. The spiritual fruit in front of him was eaten in one bite by a white, chubby, round little monster beast. This monster beast was...
"Chi Chi! Quickly spit it out! This kind of spiritual fruit needs to be refined into pills to achieve optimal effects. You're wasting a precious thing,” Xiaoyao grabbed Chi Chi, shaking vigorously.
"Chi chi..." Chi Chi didn't seem to want to spit it out, struggling to shake its head.
"You dare resist? Believe it or not, I'll throw you down,” Xiaoyao continued twisting Chi Chi, trying to make it give up.
"Chi chi!" Chi Chi pouted, staring at Xiaoyao.
"..."
Xiaoyao was somewhat speechless. From Chi Chi's reaction and the look in its eyes, Xiaoyao understood Chi Chi was very determined, as if this spiritual fruit was very useful to it.
(End of Chapter)