Chapter 1017: Blockhead
Blockhead . . .
Han Bingxue, his face showing defiance, shouted, "Why?"
"There's a very good reason for me to call you a fool. If you took a closer look at the mountain, you'd see something too. You've asked a rather foolish question, indicating that you haven't observed the mountain carefully," Cha Eun Xiao said with disappointment. "The mountain is brimming with arrays, from the grass to the trees to the rocks. Examine it attentively, and you'll realize it's a Manifestation Mystic Array that covers the entire mountain."
"If we can discern it's a Manifestation Mystic Array, then it stands to reason that the paths on the mountain will constantly change," Cha Eun Xiao explained to Han Bingxue.
"Urh..." Han Bingxue appeared embarrassed as he opened his eyes wide. Deep down, he knew Cha Eun Xiao was correct, but he didn't want to concede. He argued, "I've never encountered a Manifestation Mystic Array! It's only reasonable that I didn't recognize it... I don't think you should belittle me just because I'm unaware of this specific array."
"Pah! You call yourself a level nine Dao Origin Stage master!" Cha Eun Xiao remarked. "The only thing you're well-versed in is swordplay practice. What about the other aspects of life? Do not reveal that you know me to anyone! That's embarrassing and shameful!" Xuan Bing chimed in with agreement.
Han Bingxue felt awkward. If anyone else in the Qing-Yun Realm spoke to him like that, he'd have drawn his sword and engaged in a fight, even if it was Wu Fa. However, facing Cha Eun Xiao and Xuan Bing, he could only endure.
"Fine! It's my fault. I'm stupid. I'm ignorant. Satisfied now? I've disgraced both of you! Is that enough?" Han Bingxue looked upset. "Here's another question. How did you figure out that they're in such dire need of Regeneration Ink Lotus? How did you deduce that? Regeneration Ink Lotus is undoubtedly one of the top medical materials in the Qing-Yun Realm, but there are plenty of other equally valuable medicinal materials!"
Cha Eun Xiao regarded Han Bingxue with a gaze that seemed to question his intelligence. "I... I truly don't know how to put this... I'm beginning to wonder if you're genuinely this dense or if you're just pretending... Did you not hear them? They mentioned needing medicines for Misty Cloud Palace. Don't you know what type of medicine Misty Cloud Palace requires most?"
"What? How should I know?" Han Bingxue asked, his confusion apparent.
"All kinds of Regeneration Lotus!" Cha Eun Xiao nearly laughed out loud. "What's running through your mind apart from these outlandish notions of pretentiousness?"
Xuan Bing was barely containing her laughter. She was usually a dignified lady, but the conversation between the two brothers was rather comical.
"Regeneration Lotus? Is it that valuable to Misty Cloud Palace?" Han Bingxue remained bewildered.
"Brother Cha, there's no need to press him further. We're in dire need of Regeneration Lotus. It's a closely guarded secret! It's only logical that he doesn't know about it. I suppose it's fate that you found out!" Xuan Bing interjected, speaking up for Han Bingxue in an unusual display.
But she was entirely sincere this time. Misty Cloud Palace's greatest secret was its need for Regeneration Lotus to treat the ailment stemming from its own martial arts. Cha Eun Xiao had discovered this secret thanks to Bing Xinyue and Wenren Chuchu. His East-rising Purple Qi proved to be highly effective in alleviating the ailment. Unbeknownst to him, he even unconsciously removed the ailment from Xuan Bing. Nonetheless, he didn't know all the details of the secret.
Chastened by their unceremonious treatment of Han Bingxue, Cha Eun Xiao felt compelled to save face. Though he knew he was in the wrong, he wouldn't admit it. A roasted duck remained obstinate—it was just the way he was!
Han Bingxue, living by the rule that "the boss is always right," didn't even consider whether Cha Eun Xiao was correct or not. He simply moved on to his third question. "Alright, I'm ignorant about lotuses and such... How did you come to know that Li Clan is aware of the way in?" He refused to give up.
"If they don't, it would mean that Li Clan has been living like a group of ignorant dogs for thousands of years!" Cha Eun Xiao maintained an emotionless tone. "They have been collecting valuable medical materials for powerful sects in exchange for cultivation resources. Consider this: If you were in their shoes, would you know the way into a place filled with treasures?"
Cha Eun Xiao took care not to make any offensive remarks since he had wronged Han Bingxue with his previous question. He knew that Han Bingxue wouldn't mind if he were scolded again, but Cha Eun Xiao had a conscience!
Han Bingxue finally realized the foolishness of his questions. He admitted, "Perhaps they are just a group of blockheads who don't know the way..."
"You are the only blockhead in the world," Cha Eun Xiao retorted vehemently. "The others aren't."
Han Bingxue remained irritated.
Xuan Bing chimed in after Cha Eun Xiao, saying, "I don't understand one thing, though. Why are you so certain that the key to the entire situation lies in this mountain?"
Cha Eun Xiao looked at Xuan Bing in disbelief. "It's such an obvious matter... Han Bingxue may be a fool, so he didn't see it. But you too?"
Han Bingxue grew even more agitated. "Boss, can't you stop dragging me into this? What's the point of continuing to criticize me?"
"Obvious?" Xuan Bing was surprised. "Obvious how?"
She genuinely couldn't comprehend. Unlike Cha Eun Xiao, she had visited this mountain numerous times. However, she had never detected anything special about it. She had never considered that this mountain held the key to the peculiar phenomenon in the Oracle District.
The mountain did indeed contain valuable medical materials, but she never thought they were connected to the unique occurrences in the Oracle District.
Cha Eun Xiao fell silent for a moment. Then he said, "Elder Xuan... every morning, when the sun rises from the east, don't you sense the purple qi from that direction?"
Xuan Bing was taken aback. "Sense? Sense what?"
Cha Eun Xiao sighed. "Every morning when the sun rises in the east, a vast amount of purple qi descends to the land. This is precisely the type of spiritual qi that cultivators need... In this district, the purple qi dissipates rapidly. Most of the spiritual qi becomes part of the air and is drawn to this mountain. Well... you truly don't know?"
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