Chapter 1733
Chapter 1733 (Raw 1744):
After a long time, Xiao Chen put away the Dragon Pattern Cauldron and pondered the flower basket in his hands.
The exterior of the flower basket looked exquisite with its many fresh flowers. Aside from looking pretty, there was nothing else special about it.
However, Xiao Chen had seen the wonders of the flower basket in the Smiling Daughter Pavilion and naturally would not treat it as an ordinary flower basket.
However, it seemed that its effects were all flash.
Incredibly magnificent, filling the room with flowers, and presenting an excellent sword dance, these things attracted people to spend money.
Xiao Chen did not think much of this effect. If it were really useful, Jiang He would not have casually tossed it to me.
Could it be that there are still Spirit Jades in there?
There's no point in thinking about it. Even if there had been Spirit Jades, Jiang He would have taken them all. How could he leave any for me?
Never mind, let's refine it first. No matter what, it's still a Dao Tool.
Xiao Chen sent his Spiritual Sense into that flower basket, and he immediately felt the world spin as if he had entered a maze.
There were countless exquisite and beautiful screens inside intersecting with each other and looking very complicated.
No matter what, Xiao Chen was trapped in there, unable to get out. He thought for a while and increased the strength of his Spiritual Sense, sending in some of his Soul Energy as well.
He prepared to force his way past the screens. "Rumble…!" He crashed through the screens, banging them down one after another.
However, this only resulted in him going deeper in. It was like an eternally endless realm.
How problematic!
Xiao Chen lost his patience and used his Spiritual Sense to cause an explosion. "Rumble…!" The entire maze exploded.
The many screens shattered like they were glass and floated in the air.
Xiao Chen started to smile. However, before he could complete the smile, it froze.
"Whoosh!" The shards of the screen all regathered, forming a brand-new maze that was even larger and more complex.
The more problematic thing was that Xiao Chen discovered that he could not pull out this strand of Spiritual Sense.
His Spiritual Sense was stuck inside. He could get out only by cutting it off.
However, this was Xiao Chen's Spiritual Sense, which was related to his Soul Energy. If he cut it off, it would definitely affect his soul.
Damn it! This is bad. No wonder that Jiang He did not covet this.
Jiang He must have known about this from the start. Unless one possessed the strength of a Cloud Sea Star Venerate, one would not be able to break through this maze and obtain the control rights to this flower basket.
The flower basket was just a decoration when held in the hand, utterly useless. Even those mysterious phenomena could not appear.
How was this good?
Xiao Chen was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he cut off his Spiritual Sense, accepting his misfortune, he would have to endure the damage to his soul; however, at least his life would not be in danger.
If he did not, he would remain stuck trying to break this maze.
Hesitation was not in Xiao Chen's character. He immediately made the decision and cut off his Spiritual Sense, coming back out.
His complexion paled, and he felt dizzy, his body swaying slightly.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes and held his head. After resting for a while, he barely managed to regain some vigor.
However, the injury to his soul would require a few days to recover.
While looking at the flower basket, Xiao Chen smiled bitterly. Before Jiang He left, he even left a trap for him.
Jiang He was indeed an interesting person. He looked very carefree with a smile frequently on his face but was actually very proud in his heart, unwilling to admit defeat, a careful and daring person.
However, Xiao Chen did not hate Jiang He. His feelings for Jiang He did not reach hate.
There was more of a rivalry between the two. That Jiang He could sense the saber intent in Xiao Chen's body, verifying Xiao Chen's identity as a bladesman.
Xiao Chen also immediately noticed the hidden saber intent in the other party. That sharpness could not be concealed from a true bladesman.
When two true bladesmen were together, competition was inevitable. Neither would be willing to admit defeat.
Upon careful calculation, there did not seem to be a conflict between the two. In reality, they already clashed more than once.
They could be considered to have clashed once in the Soaring Dragon Pavilion. Xiao Chen caused the other party to lose out, and Jiang He even ended up treating Xiao Chen to wine.
In the Smiling Daughter Pavilion, Jiang He sneakily stole the Fairy Basket and evened the score.
Earlier, when Xiao Chen and Jiang He fought against the three, both of them purposely held back, wanting to see who would reveal their trump cards in the end. However, neither of them did, so that was a draw.
"Like you, I look forward to meeting again, whether I make a move on you or not."
A smile appeared on Xiao Chen's face as he put away the Fairy Basket. Then, he returned to the city to find Ling Yu.
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Inside the Smiling Daughter Pavilion:
When Xiao Chen returned, the pavilion was empty and quiet, no longer as busy as before.
Xiao Chen, who knew the reason, did not feel surprised. After identifying himself, he found Ling Yu drinking happily in an elegant room.
"Martial Uncle, why are you back?" Ling Yu was startled to see Xiao Chen.
With a smile, Xiao Chen explained, "After escaping from the encirclement of those people, I did not want you to worry about me. So, I came back to meet you and, at the same time, say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" This somewhat shocked Ling Yu. "Martial Uncle, you are not returning to the Purple Flame Sect?"
Xiao Chen nodded and replied, "Exactly. I plan to stay in the Soaring Dragon Great Realm for a period before returning to the Grave Sea."
"How long?"
"Perhaps half a year, perhaps one year."
Ling Yu felt a sense of loss. However, he did understand. With his martial uncle's cultivation having hit a bottleneck, he should have gone out on experiential training already.
This Soaring Dragon Great Realm teemed with experts. The truly incredible people of the nearby dozens of astral clusters were all here.
Actually, with Ling Yu's martial uncle's strength, this was the most suitable place for experiential training; the Grave Sea was too small.
Ling Yu thought of something, and his expression changed slightly. "Oh, right. Martial Uncle, something big happened in this Smiling Daughter Pavilion."
"Oh, what happened?" Xiao Chen asked despite knowing.
Ling Yu whispered, "Their Fairy Basket disappeared. That Fairy Basket is extremely precious. Without it, the Smiling Daughter Pavilion cannot continue operating. They need to wait for the headquarters to send a new one. Furthermore, the Fairy Basket is extremely complicated to make, with many steps involved, which will take a long time.
"The Soaring Dragon City's Smiling Daughter Pavilion probably cannot continue operating…"
A ripple spread in Xiao Chen's heart. However, his expression did not change. Unexpectedly, the commotion caused was so huge.
However, it was impossible for Xiao Chen to hand over the Fairy Basket.
He felt that this Fairy Basket contained some secret and was of tremendous value. In any case, the Smiling Daughter Pavilion would not be able to link it to him.
Xiao Chen asked softly, "Are there any clues to who stole it?"
Shaking his head, Ling Yu replied, "None. The person who stole it did not leave any signs behind. It is simply too strange. Right now, they suspect that a Holy-Venerate-level existence did it. After all, there is a Cloud Sea Star Venerate guarding this Smiling Daughter Pavilion."
Xiao Chen laughed in his heart. This assumption is really a huge mistake. Jiang He could even steal an important treasure of the Dragon Race, what more the Smiling Daughter Pavilion's Fairy Basket. The important treasure of the Dragon Race definitely had peak experts of the Dragon Race guarding it. Those people would be at least of the Sovereign Stage Cloud Sea Realm.
"Sorry, some problems cropped up in the Smiling Daughter Pavilion, and I could not personally come and welcome Young Master Xiao."
As the two chatted, the headliner Ling Long walked over with an apologetic expression.
Xiao Chen felt embarrassed. When being treated so sincerely like this, he felt somewhat awkward.
However, he could not get exposed right now. He nodded and said, "It's fine. I heard from Ling Yu already. Miss Ling Long, what are your plans?"
Ling Long smiled bitterly as she replied, "What other plans can I have? Naturally, I'll return to the capital. When one is in the mortal world, one does not have the freedom to act independently."
Ling Yu felt sad to hear that. He blurted out, "Miss Ling Long, how about you follow me back to the Purple Flame Sect? Given Miss Ling Long's talent, you definitely can become a true inheritor."
At that suggestion, Xiao Chen could not help thinking, After seeing and getting accustomed to a bustling life, how can she possibly endure quiet and loneliness?
In the end, my little martial nephew is still young and does not understand the human sentiments in this world.
Ling Long did not reject the suggestion. She smiled at Ling Yu and said, "Many thanks for Young Master Ling's kind intentions. In the future, when there is no more place for me in the Smiling Daughter Pavilion, I will definitely remember Young Master Ling's words."
Ling Yu smiled and said, "Not a problem. Earlier, Miss Ling Yu made arrangements for me to leave safely without expecting anything in return. Naturally, I, Ling Yu, will do as I said."
Ling Long smiled faintly before saying, "I would like to speak to Young Master Xiao alone."
Ling Yu looked curiously at his martial uncle. Then, he left the room as requested.
After Ling Yu left, Ling Long's expression changed slightly. She said straightforwardly, "Your friend stole that Fairy Basket, right?"
Xiao Chen's expression did not change, not showing anything strange on his face. He looked at Ling Long and asked, "Why do you say this?"
"It is just a suspicion. The timing of when he left us was too coincidental. It happened to be the time when the Fairy Basket disappeared."
Ling Long said seriously, "Don't worry. I did not tell anyone. No one would believe that a Major Primal Core Venerate stole the Fairy Basket."
Xiao Chen felt surprised. "Why?"
Ling Long explained softly, "As far as I am concerned, there is no loss. Furthermore, I truly see Young Master Xiao and Young Master Ling as friends and do not want to cause trouble for you two."
Xiao Chen felt warm in his heart. No matter what, as long as Ling Long voiced her suspicions, the Smiling Daughter Pavilion would definitely interrogate him, which inevitably would be a little inconvenient.
"Many thanks."
"You're welcome. If we are fated, let's meet up in the Yanwu Dynasty's capital." Ling Long bowed and turned around to leave.
Xiao Chen entered deep thought as he watched the other party go.
When Ling Yu came back in, he asked, "Martial Uncle, what did Miss Ling Long ask you?"
Xiao Chen did not answer the question. "Do you like this lady?"
Ling Long immediately blushed and countered, "Martial Uncle, why do you ask that?"
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and said, "Because even a fool can tell. If you like her, marry her. Miss Ling Long is a good person."