"It seems you don't know your place". The woman said with an emotionless voice. But before she could do anything-
"You have a purpose either in feeding me the Heavenly Extinction Yang Gu poison or visiting me now. And please spare me the pointless threats. Because if Senior had wanted to kill me, you would have. After all, I saw your body".
The woman's aura spiked for a second but instantly disappeared in a split second. However, Jiang Hao's focus almost broke, because of the sheer weight he felt in that split second.
It was as if he was but a mortal, standing in an apocalyptic world, where everything around him is against him. Elements, Laws... even the reality.
However, gritting his teeth, without waiting for her to say anything he continued.
"Therefore, if Senior has any requests, let us talk like civilized individuals. I clearly know you have the power over any and all negotiations we might have, but I am sure... Incentives work best, no?" Jiang Hao forced his words out.
The woman was quite surprised that he found out the name of the pill that she fed him because the pill had been extinct for a long time.
She didn't question him but turned her head towards the flower sprout and kept looking at it for some time. After a while, the aura lock on him disappeared.
"How did you plant this?". Hong Yuye asked.
"I can understand plants. I give them what they want the most". Jiang Hao said.
He had been ready for this question, and he read in the library there are some innate constitutions like the Innate Medicinal Body, that are naturally talented in alchemy and can read the 'intent' of herbs.
The woman glanced at Jiang Hao, clearly not believing what he said.
"If Senior does not believe me, Senior can judge my words with another spirit plant with the same grade or anything lower than the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower. And I will prove to you by planting it". Jiang Hao said.
Now the woman definitely was surprised, and it clearly was shown on her face. She did not expect him to know the name of the flower.
'It seems she too is not completely immune to the poison. How cute~'. Jiang Hao thought and chuckled inwardly.
"How...did you know the name?". She asked not realizing that her cold facade was loose now.
"I told you, didn't I? I can understand them. The plant told me". Jiang Hao said with a light smile.
"Is that so?".
"Hmm". Jiang Hao said with a nod.
"Then... what is this?". She asked as she took something out of nowhere. It looked like a mushroom, but it had pulsing red veins. It looked like magma was flowing through those veins.
He didn't immediately appraise it, but looked at the herb and looked at Hong Yuye. "What does Senior want to know about it?"
"Hmm... tell me what it is used for?". She said after some thought.
Condition: Keep appraising; How can I plant it in my situation?;> [Infernal Magma Mushroom: Imperial Grade. A plant that needs an extreme amount of heat to grow and mature. Naturally, they grow in environments with extreme amounts of Magma Qi. This plant could be used to make many pills that can heal and stabilize a broken dantian while also elevating the innate constitution. To plant this you need to feed the plant natural magma every 6 months and need to isolate the mushroom within a sealing formation along with the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower] 'Heal a broken dantian and elevate the innate constitution!!?? Woman... what in the fuck kind of treasures do you hoard?'. Jiang Hao internally roared and his face contorted into disbelief. This was all the proof the woman needed to know. His disbelieving expression was proof enough because up to date, there is no... absolutely nothing that could heal a crippled dantian. It is also an extremely rare incident because killing and capturing a person or even reducing someone's cultivation was easier than crippling a dantian. A person's dantian does not exist inside their body but in a different plane of existence. Therefore, to cripple someone means they have to hold onto the other person for a considerable enough time to cripple them. But will the other person wait until they are crippled? Some would fight. Others would kill themselves. And some would beg for mercy and offer their loyalty. The woman looked at Jiang Hao for a while and asked. "Why haven't you spoken about this to anyone? If you had, the sect would value you more?". "The sect?". Jiang Hao got over the surprise and asked in an emotionless tone. "Before I did not want to show my worth and stand out. I thought it would bring me trouble. But after I was targeted by an infiltrator from the Sunset Sect, without even doing anything I now know that I need to show something and get the sect to value me a little more". Jiang Hao spoke in a neutral tone instantly throwing the Turtle under the bus. "Hmm". She didn't say anything for a while again. There was a pregnant silence between them when she waved her hand and Jiang Hao felt her entire being wrapped in a soft and gentle aura. He was surprised to feel that the wound on his leg was completely healed. "I do not use violence to get anything done. As you said, it is better to use incentives". She said. "The plant is quite fragrant, and it gives spiritual energy, so when it matures I'm going to take it with me. Do you have any objections?". She crouched down and caressed the tender bud. Jiang Hao's expression turned into one that looked like he was looking at an idiot. "Then you better take me with you too. After all, I can tend to it better. I don't want anything, just give me more plants to take care of". Jiang Hao said shamelessly with a straight face. This didn't satisfy the woman, but she decided to let it go. She couldn't kill him, so what's the point of fighting with a brat? "As I said, I will give you some benefits. What do you want?". She asked Jiang Hao didn't immediately answer but thought for a moment. Out of everything he needs for now- "I need a technique that can elevate the control over all aspects of my body and a charm technique". He said. "I can understand the Control technique, but why do you need a Charm technique?". Without looking at Jiang Hao she asked, still caressing the bud. "Don't you know, Senior? Traitors are everywhere these days. If not for the pill you fed me, I would already be dead, after falling into Yun Ruo's charms. So I thought having one would be better". He said. The woman looked at him, clearly not believing what he said. After all the intelligence he had shown today, if he wanted the charm technique for such petty reasons, then he is probably bipolar. However, seeing that he had no intention is saying anything, she waved her hand and two books fell onto the reclining chair on the side of the courtyard. Afterward, she looked at Jiang Hao and said again. "I want the flower, take care of it" "When do you want to take it?" "When it blooms and bears a fruit". Saying so she stood up and started walking inside the shack like she owned it. Jiang Hao followed her. She went to the second floor and looked around. She saw the talismans on the table and raised her eyebrow as if asking him, 'You can only draw Grade-0?'. "I only started drawing talismans this year, and I don't even have any contribution points to look for Grade-1 Talisman Instruction manuals". Jiang Hao said 'dejectedly'. "Hmm". After a hum, she didn't say anything. Then she turned put a book on the table and looked at him with her expressionless eyes. "This is a formation that can isolate the spiritual energy of the surroundings, 'Spirit Isolation Formation'. This a basic formation, but it is used on very large scales. For example, in cities or sects, to isolate the spirit energy condensed inside. Use this so you can isolate the spiritual energy created and condensed by the Heavenly Fragrance Dao flower." This elated Jiang Hao, initially he wanted to find a way he could trap the energy inside but finding the instructions required for such a task had to be put on hold. But now? "Thank you, Senior", saying so he cupped his hand and bowed deeply. He was truly happy, so he had to show his gratitude. He was not an arrogant asshole. Seeing this the woman was satisfied but didn't show it on her face. Then with a blur, just like earlier, she faded into pink mist. After he was gone, Jiang Hao again felt the 'sage state' turning itself back 'on'. With a sigh, Jiang Hao canceled the Clear and Pure Heart skill. He didn't feel much different because there were no girls in the vicinity, but the feeling of 'love', although terrifying because he felt as if he was becoming a yandere for a woman so powerful, was beautiful and pleasurable. 'Cheh... I had butterflies in my stomach and now I'm hollow back again. Talk about an emotional whiplash'. Getting the unnecessary thought out of his head, he sat down and took the body control technique, and opened the book. The book was handwritten. It was very beautiful and he instinctively knew that this technique was very deep and required high skill to comprehend it. It also had a powerful-sounding name. Grand Existential Leash Jiang Hao could guess that this was a test from the woman. He could imagine her looking at him with those scornful eyes and asking 'You couldn't do it?'. With a newfound determination, not to be outdone by the woman, Jiang Hao promptly immersed himself in the intricacies of the book. The writing was like flowing water, the letters were not separate, and they contained a potent mystical energy that instantly made Jiang Hao enter a state of focus and enlightenment. 'Existence is of several parts. More parts mean more shackles. The ones who let the world control the shackles are slaves to the world. Body, Soul, Spirit extension, Laws, Dao, Breathing, and so on can be put on a leash. The one who controls them turns the shackles into leashes...' His meditation went on. Day after day, dawn to dusk, he cultivated for three whole days until his mind couldn't take the strain anymore. He had to activate the Clear and Pure Heart skill several times because his spiritual energy reservoir couldn't supper the drain. 'Pheww... that was very informative'. As if on cue, several notifications rang in his mind and words flashed on his retina. [You gained a major understanding of the Force control technique +1] [You gained a major understanding of the Force control technique +1] [You gained a major understanding of the Force control technique +1] [You gained a major understanding of the Force control technique +1] [Innate talent of the Force Dao +1] [Innate talent of the Force Dao +1] It would not have been this easy to master a technique of such caliber, but coupled with the Clear and Pure Heart skill and the comprehension-enhancing system, it was a breeze. Not to mention the mysterious energy left on the words. 'I wonder what that energy was. It was as if somebody was directly teaching the manual to me'. He thought. He got up and stretched back. Then he went to the washroom, had a shower, changed to new robes, and went downstairs. He saw more bubbles on the flower. After collecting them, he started walking towards the herb garden. While walking he fell into contemplation. 'Now that woman wants the flower, then that means the sect master cannot get it back. Did they want to fish this woman out? Is that why they gave the flower to me? Also, the woman who is watching me is either dead or unconscious. I can definitely imagine the demoness is definitely leagues above the Primordial Spirit realm. I also feel like she is stronger than Elder Baizi. Maybe only the previous Sect Master can match her. If that old hag is still alive anyway. One thing is certain, everything will go to shit, the moment this flower blooms and bear fruit. But if I had to guess, because of the high grade it has, it will take a long time for that to happen' When he reached the garden he went to his daily duties, taking care of the important herbs. Most people would distance themselves from him because of the pressure from Heavenly Joy Pavillion. But he couldn't understand them. Is the Heavenly Joy Pavillion that powerful for the fodder class people to ignore him? Ultimately, he accounted it to the master of the Cliff of Broken Hearts being a pussy. If he can't stand up when someone is bullying someone on his turf, what is he? A demon or a Pussy boy?