Perhaps due to the overwhelming numbers and might of the Qianlin Guards, the four individuals confessed everything honestly.
The ones who were being chased by the demon bees included three men and one woman. They came from three different small families, with cultivation levels around the Yuan Bright stage. Earlier, they had entered a valley filled with Moon Bee Flowers, captivated by their rarity. However, they didn’t expect that picking just a few Moon Bee Flowers would provoke the demon bees inhabiting the valley, forcing them to flee in embarrassment.
Upon hearing about the Moon Bee Flowers, Wen Qiao immediately knew that Moon Bees must also reside in the area.
Moon Bee Flowers are the symbiotic spiritual flowers of Moon Bees. The bees treasure these flowers more than their own lives, and they pursue intruders who dare to pick them relentlessly until one side perishes. It was no surprise that the group was chased by the bees.
However, it is common for small families with limited resources and outdated information to make such fatal mistakes. It wasn’t entirely unexpected that these four provoked the demon bees.
Qian Shou then asked, “Where are the Moon Bee Flowers located?”
The four hurriedly provided the information without the slightest concealment, their expressions uneasy, worried that Ning Yuzhou and his group would hold a grudge against them for their previous behavior. Although the Seventh Prince, Ning Yuzhou, was not much of a threat himself, the Ning family behind him was formidable. If they incurred his hatred, their families would be unable to protect them, especially since there were fifty Qianlin Guards here.
Fortunately, after obtaining the location of the Moon Bee Flowers, the Qianlin Guards simply surrounded Ning Yuzhou and his group as they departed, showing no intention of pursuing the matter further.
The four let out a sigh of relief, finally relaxing their tense nerves.
Their honest disclosure of the Moon Bee Flowers’ location was meant as an apology for their earlier actions. As long as Ning Yuzhou accepted this token of goodwill and chose not to hold a grudge, there would be no further consequences. Judging by their departure, this seemed to be the case.
—
After spending several hours, they arrived at the valley where the Moon Bee Flowers grew.
Moon Bee Flowers, being the symbiotic spiritual flowers of Moon Bees, produce nectar that is fragrant and sweet. This high-quality spiritual honey not only beautifies and rejuvenates but also prolongs life and, at times, detoxifies and aids in cultivation with remarkable effects.
Naturally, Ning Yuzhou and his group had come for the Moon Bee Honey.
The valley was blanketed with blooming Moon Bee Flowers. The pale yellow blossoms were clustered together, carpeting the entire valley. A gentle breeze carried a captivating floral fragrance.
Amidst the Moon Bee Flowers, Moon Bees could be seen diligently collecting nectar.
Perhaps due to the earlier intrusion and subsequent chase, the number of Moon Bees in the valley was not overly large. However, the remaining bees were still numerous enough to pose a challenge for anyone attempting to collect honey.
The valley was vast but open, making it easy to spot the bees’ nest built on a cliffside. The enormous hive was strikingly conspicuous.
After surveying the area, Ning Yuzhou instructed Qian Shou, who then began organizing the Qianlin Guards for the task.
Standing at the valley’s entrance, a few Qianlin Guards silently infiltrated the area, positioning themselves at the valley’s windward side. They opened several jade bottles, pouring out a powdery substance. The wind attribute Qianlin Guards then conjured a breeze to carry the powder into the valley.
A faintly sweet aroma wafted through the air and into the valley.
Soon after, the Moon Bees collecting nectar began flying erratically, as if intoxicated. One by one, they dropped from midair to the ground.
Once all the bees in the valley were incapacitated, the Qianlin Guards entered to harvest the honey.
Ning Yuzhou, holding Wen Qiao’s hand, also entered the valley, directing her to dig up the Moon Bee Flowers.
It was clear that by now, he understood his little wife’s deep love for spiritual plants. She enjoyed cultivating them, treating both high-grade and low-grade plants with equal affection—a pure and obsessive passion.
Wen Qiao hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Compared to the earlier group that had been chased miserably by the bees, this seemed almost too easy. She couldn’t help but ask, “What was that powder earlier?”
“A type of spiritual medicine specifically for demon insects,” Ning Yuzhou replied with a smile. “Inhaling even a small amount makes them feel as though they are drunk, and they recover after half an hour. Of course, this only works on low-level demon insects; for higher-level ones, the effect would be much weaker.”
Wen Qiao let out a soft “oh,” thinking to herself that the Qianlin Guards were incredibly well-prepared. Even having such a thing on hand was quite convenient.
She then began digging up the Moon Bee Flowers as well.
She loved digging up spiritual herbs to take back and plant. Although Moon Bee Flowers were only second-grade spiritual herbs, they reproduced quickly, were visually pleasing, and also produced honey, making them worth collecting in abundance.
The Qianlin Guards moved quickly. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had harvested all the honey from the beehive, filling dozens of bottles. They even discovered a shallow layer of royal jelly within the hive. Carefully collecting it, they managed to fill a single bottle, which they presented to Ning Yuzhou.
Royal jelly was richer and more aromatic than regular honey. The thick, translucent liquid glistened like golden amber beads, slowly rolling inside the bottle. It was a rare delicacy as well as an exceptional antidote.
After examining it, Ning Yuzhou handed the bottle to Wen Qiao.
“For me?” Wen Qiao was slightly stunned.
Ning Yuzhou nodded. “This royal jelly is of excellent quality. Drinking it regularly can suppress the onset of fire poison.”
Hearing this, Wen Qiao accepted it without further refusal. By now, she had grown accustomed to her husband giving her items of immense value. If it were anyone else, they would likely be trembling with anxiety while accepting such treasures.
Although she couldn’t repay him at the moment, it didn’t matter. As long as she survived, she would find an opportunity to return the favor someday.
Just as she placed the royal jelly into her storage ring, they heard a Qianlin Guard at the entrance of the valley shout, “Who dares to launch a sneak attack?”
The sharp clinking sounds of weapons echoed continuously. The guards stationed at the valley entrance quickly formed a simple defensive array, deflecting the incoming hidden weapons and forcing the attackers out of hiding.
No, they weren’t forced out—they revealed themselves willingly.
Wen Qiao and the others turned toward the sound and saw three male cultivators approaching.
Qian Shou’s expression darkened slightly as he subtly stepped in front of Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao to shield them.
The Qianlin Guards within the valley swiftly regrouped, forming a standoff with the three intruders at the entrance.
“The Black Lizard Dragon has smelled the royal jelly—it loves the taste,” a soft and sinister voice spoke. “Hand over the royal jelly you’ve harvested, or I’ll kill you all.”
The speaker was a thin, pale man with refined and delicate features. His dark, glossy eyes gleamed coldly, resembling a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.
The other two were a burly man wielding a massive axe and a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar’s robe.
The three stood together with casual expressions, showing no regard for the fifty Qianlin Guards in the valley.
The Qianlin Guards remained silent, their faces emotionless as they guarded the valley entrance, awaiting their master’s command.
The refined man seemed surprised by their steadfastness and suddenly chuckled. “You cultivators of Dongling are really a stubborn bunch. Always refusing to take the easy way out—so very principled.”
Both Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao quickly caught on. From that remark, it was clear these three were not from Dongling.
Judging by their aggressive attempt to seize the royal jelly, it was clear they came with ill intent. It made Wen Qiao wonder if the person whose skull had been smashed in the plains earlier had been killed by them.
At this moment, the middle-aged man dressed as a scholar spoke up. “Xu Jiuxiu, stop wasting time. Hurry up—we still have a long way to go.”
The pale, refined man named Xu Jiuxiu appeared displeased but knew when to back down. Reluctantly, he said, “Fine, there are plenty of people here. Let’s first let my Black Lizard Dragon have a nice meal.”
As he spoke, he patted his beast pouch, and a massive black Lizard Dragon appeared at the entrance of the valley. Its gaping maw revealed sharp, jagged teeth as it let out a deafening roar and charged toward the Qianlin Guards.
The Qianlin Guards felt a chill in their hearts. It was a seventh-grade Lizard Dragon. Thankfully, it was only a juvenile. The guards formed a human array, their formation shifting intricately to block the creature’s attacks, holding their ground with some effort.
The three men watching from a distance appeared somewhat surprised as the Qianlin Guards successfully fended off several of the Lizard Dragon’s attacks.
“It’s a human array—a remarkably ingenious formation,” the middle-aged scholar marveled. He hadn’t expected such a backward and remote country to produce a human array of this caliber.
Xu Jiuxiu’s expression darkened as he saw his Lizard Dragon repeatedly thwarted.
He took out a bone flute, pristine and jade-like, and placed it to his lips. A strange soundwave emanated, causing the Black Lizard Dragon to go berserk, its power increasing dramatically.
Ning Yuzhou watched calmly. Seeing that the Black Lizard Dragon was about to break through the Qianlin Guards’ defenses, he said to Qian Shou, “Take action, but do not kill.”
Qian Shou acknowledged the command, forming seals with his hands. His figure gradually faded until he disappeared.
Wen Qiao was startled, but she soon realized that Qian Shou hadn’t vanished but had instead used the surrounding environment to conceal himself. It was an advanced stealth technique, allowing him to blend seamlessly into his surroundings, truly adaptable and versatile. If not for her half-yao awakening, which gave her a natural affinity with spiritual plants and allowed her to resonate with them, she wouldn’t have sensed his presence at all.
The three men outside the valley also noticed Qian Shou’s disappearance and felt a flicker of alarm.
Although they were focusing on the Lizard Dragon’s assault, they had been keeping an eye on the situation in the valley and had been wary of the cultivator whose cultivation was unfathomable. The sudden disappearance of that cultivator heightened their vigilance.
The Lizard Dragon attacked again, its powerful tail sweeping across, shattering rocks and scattering plants. Finally, it broke through the Qianlin Guards’ defense line.
As the beast opened its massive jaws and lunged forward to devour the disorganized guards, a sharp flash of sword light streaked across its body. The Lizard Dragon howled in pain as a sword wound appeared from its spine to its left abdomen. Its hard black scales shattered, and blood spurted out.
Injured, the Lizard Dragon roared and rampaged uncontrollably.
The Qianlin Guards, disciplined and well-coordinated, quickly retreated upon seeing the dragon wounded, avoiding unnecessary risks.
Their combat philosophy was clear: if you can’t win, retreat. The Qianlin Guards’ tactics were practical and humane—they wouldn’t stubbornly fight to the death.
Xu Jiuxiu, seeing his Black Lizard Dragon injured, was furious. His pale face turned a strange shade of red, and his soft voice became chillingly venomous. “You dare to harm my precious pet? I’ll kill you all and feed you to the dragon!”
As Xu Jiuxiu drew his twin swords and charged into the valley, his killing intent was as sharp as blades. Wen Qiao quickly grabbed her husband’s hand, ready to flee if things turned dire.
Ning Yuzhou remained calm, glancing at his arm held by her. He leaned slightly closer, as if to reassure her.
Xu Jiuxiu’s attack was intercepted by Qian Shou, whose stealth was now broken.
The two cultivators engaged in fierce combat at the valley entrance. Meanwhile, the Qianlin Guards withdrew and formed a protective circle around Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao.
After a brief exchange, Xu Jiuxiu realized that the Dongling cultivator’s strength was equal to his own. It was impossible to kill him in a short time. However, he was unwilling to let the person who injured his Lizard Dragon go unpunished. He shouted, “You two, why haven’t you stepped in yet?”
The middle-aged scholar and the burly man with the giant axe remained motionless. With cold expressions, they replied, “This is your problem.”
Since Xu Jiuxiu had decided to rob others of their royal jelly, it was only right that he handled it himself. They had no intention of helping.
Xu Jiuxiu was infuriated, but he understood their reasoning, which only made him angrier.
Wen Qiao sighed in relief upon seeing this.
The cultivation levels of these three outsiders were unfathomable. If all three of them, along with the Lizard Dragon, attacked, Qian Shou wouldn’t stand a chance. But now, with only Xu Jiuxiu to deal with, they might have a chance to take him down first…
Wen Qiao kept brainstorming ways to escape. Her health had only recently begun to improve, and she didn’t want her newfound hope to end here. Before she could think of anything, she felt Ning Yuzhou’s hand lightly brush against her palm, tickling her slightly. Her fingers instinctively twitched.
She turned to look at Ning Yuzhou, only to see him smiling at her, calm and elegant as always, as if he had no concerns at all.
She was momentarily speechless. Just as she was about to speak, a dazzling light suddenly appeared in the distant sky. The brilliance was so blinding that everyone instinctively closed their eyes.