This person was Fang Xing, of course. After all kinds of sweet talk, the Peng King had finally agreed to help him calculate the rotation of the formation so he could sneak inside this snow valley. Fang Xing was incredibly disappointed by how slow the Peng King's calculations speeds were, however, and ended up cursing him out throughout the entire process. Despite the Peng King's earlier boasts, he wasn't even as fast as the golden crow.
It can sometimes be painful to compare things. After working with the Peng King only once, Fang Xing realized the golden crow truly was a genius on a completely different level. When it came to calculating and predicting formations, this Golden Core Peng King was far from the crow's level.
After entering Falling Snow Valley, Fang Xing released his spirit sense and allowed it to slowly extend outwards to find Ying Qiaoqiao's tracks. The valley thankfully wasn't too large—its radius was only about a dozen miles—and once he found her tracks, he quietly followed after her. He coincidentally found Princess Chu Ci at the bottom of the snowy hill as well, so he went and sent her unconscious with a whack.
"Big Brother Xiaojiu, is it really you?" After confirming the person in front of her wasn't a figment of her imagination, Ying Qiaoqiao excitedly jumped into Fang Xing's arms and began sobbing into his embrace. This caught Fang Xing off guard, causing him to jump in surprise and drop Chu Ci unceremoniously to the ground.
"What the hell are you doing hanging on to me like a crab?"
"Wahhh, Big Brother Xiaojiu, they're bullying me…."
"I know. That's why I'm here to avenge you. I've already knocked one out…."
"... I miss you…."
"It's only been how many days? Miss me your *ss; quick, we've got more important things to do…."
Fang Xing's shocking and unromantic words curbed some of Ying Qiaoqiao's infatuation. Her eyes were still red and there was an expression of joy on her face she couldn't hide, but when she thought about how she'd just leapt into his embrace, she lowered her reddening face in embarrassment. "Big Brother Xiaojiu, didn't you already enter the Wanluo Court? How come… how come you've appeared here?"
Fang Xing
squatted down and began fumbling with Princess Chu Ci's body. "I heard this perky butt and that golden turtle egg bastard of a big brother talking about how they wanted to take away your opportunity. I came to help, and thank god I made it on time…."
Ying Qiaoqiao turned to look at him with an annoyed expression. "Why are you calling her perky butt?"
"... Can't you pay attention to the important stuff?"
Ying Qiaoqiao quickly kneeled down to help Fang Xing search the princess's body. If it had been in the past, she might have asked what he was doing, but it seemed as though a mutual understanding had formed between them after their cooperation during the Snowy Mountain trial. No questions were needed for either to understand what the other was going to do next.
It didn't take long before Chu Ci's two Dragon Blood Pellets were found. Fang Xing held them up in his hand to study them, only to be amazed; the pellets were colored a dark red and as large as a longan fruit, with the faint scent of blood and a purple aura surrounding it.
After using the Book of Revelation, Fang Xing discovered this Dragon Blood Pellet had been crafted using the blood of a true dragon plus over a dozen precious spirit herbs. Something like this was simply too valuable to put a price on, with an effect that was mysterious and powerful. It would be extremely useful for a Foundation Stage cultivator, but if a normal Spirit Stage cultivator were to take it, they would typically end up unable to handle the amount of power within and explode. Only cultivators like Ying Qiaoqiao—who'd succeeded the bloodline of a Yinglong Dragon—were able to consume it while still in Spirit Stage.
'Wow, I thought these were just some Spirit Stage pellets to fool the girls. They're unexpectedly real treasures….' Fang Xing was practically drooling with desire as he directly placed the pellets into his storage. "This perky butt was discussing with her brother to not leave a single one of the ten Dragon Blood Pellets for you, so we won't leave any for her!" Fang Xing decided before tugging on Ying Qiaoqiao to leave.
Just at
at that moment, Ying Qiaoqiao suddenly stopped. "Big Brother Xiaojiu, let us leave some behind for her!"
"Are you stupid?" Fang Xing asked in surprise.
Ying Qiaoqiao muttered out her reply: "I also thought I wasn't going to get any just then, but she gave me one. Even if it was out of pity, it was still out of good intentions. I want to give her one as well; consider it me returning her kindness…."
"Do you know how valuable each of these Dragon Blood Pellets are?" Fang Xing asked with annoyance.
Ying Qiaoqiao held her head low while holding on to Fang Xing's sleeve.
Fang Xing released a heavy sigh before nudging Ying Qiaoqiao's forehead. "What a wastrel!" With that, he reluctantly tossed a Dragon Blood Pellet atop Chu Ci's body.
Ying Qiaoqiao held her forehead while showing a sweet smile. Suddenly, she thought for a moment and placed the pellet Chu Ci had given her on the princess as well. Fang Xing was left in a state of uncomprehending shock when he saw this, and—knowing just how reluctant Fang Xing was—Ying Qiaoqiao quickly stuck out her tongue in a playful manner. "She gave me one pellet, and I returned her two! Mine are twice as many!"
"Is that necessary?" Fang Xing groaned.
Ying Qiaoqiao gave a serious nod. "Very necessary!"
Fang Xing sighed. "A wastrel indeed!" He truly felt he couldn't understand the thoughts of women whatsoever, but he didn't dwell on it much longer; what was most important right now was taking the remaining pellets.
Ying Qiaoqiao held Fang Xing's hand and they quickly left. Before they were gone, however, she looked to the unconscious Chu Ci and thought to herself, 'You've got a good big brother who helped you plan everything, and… I do, too. And mine is even better….'
Fang Xing did not dare to be careless inside Falling Snow Valley. Two Golden Cores were just outside the valley, after all, and if they were to sweep their spirit sense across the area for any reason, he would easily be exposed. The upgraded Wanluo Mask from the old bastard Wanluo had the ability to block out the spirit sense scan of a Golden Core as long as they were further than a hundred feet,
hundred feet, but it hadn't been tested and it might not be completely foolproof.
Of course, this was him just being overly cautious. In such circumstances, both the old man Hu Qin and Chu Taishang wouldn't casually use their spirit sense to scan Falling Snow Valley. The Dragon Blood Pellets had been hidden in very secure locations that would be difficult for Ying Qiaoqiao and Chu Ci to find, and only if they utilized their maximum potential would they be able to sense a strand of their aura to find one. As for the Golden Core Stage masters, all they had to do was give a quick sweep of spirit sense to cover the entire valley and find all ten pellets at once. Golden Cores were also able to send messages to people who were within reach of their spirit sense, which meant it would then be possible to tell someone precisely where these Dragon Blood Pellets were located. In order to avoid any suspicions, both Golden Cores naturally wouldn't use their spirit sense throughout the trial's duration.
"Over there; there's one under that snow stone…."
"Hm? East, one pellet sealed under a formation…. So sly, almost missed that one!"
"Next to that Snow Crocodile is another one. Let me knock it out, first…."
With Fang Xing's help, the speed at which Ying Qiaoqiao was able to find the Dragon Blood Pellets increased more than threefold. Although Fang Xing was unable to track the pellets' unique aura, he'd already formed his foundation and his spirit sense was more powerful than an ordinary Foundation Stage cultivator. He was only able to scan around two hundred or so feet, but it was still extremely powerful if he activated it fully, and he was able to thoroughly sense the existence of all medicinal powers within a hundred feet from him.
All of the remaining Dragon Blood Pellets were in his hands before long, although Fang Xing was a bit hesitant. He knew these pellets were incredibly precious, and so there would be extreme consequences if he were to take them. Since such precious treasures had already found their way into his hands, however, he would simply be spitting in the face of his way of life if he life if he were to give them up now. He also felt that as long as he didn't make it too obvious, that old bastard Wanluo would be able to protect him somehow.
After considering it, he gave four of the Dragon Blood Pellets to Ying Qiaoqiao and reminded, "When you get outside later, just tell them you've only found four and don't know where the rest are. If there are any problems, just tell them you don't know…."
Ying Qiaoqiao firmly nodded her head. "Ok, I will definitely not tell anyone!" She then took out another pellet and passed it on to Fang Xing. "Big Brother Xiaojiu, take this one, too. My esteemed shifu told me the Dragon Blood Pellets are unique treasures of the Chu Kingdom, and although my beast spirit of the Yinglong Dragon allows me to consume it, one would be more than enough. I don't need this many; even if I had them, I could only use them after forming the foundation, and I've got more than enough pellets from my esteemed shifu to form the most solid foundation I can. You're different. These Dragon Blood Pellets, you should take them. Three is enough for me!"
Fang Xing was surprised by her generosity, and it was his turn to be a little embarrassed, although such embarrassment lasted no more than a single breath before he directly held out his hand. "Sure, I'll keep them for you, then!" He then discussed and advised Ying Qiaoqiao some more before flying to the other side of Falling Snow Valley, fleeing the scene.
As for Ying Qiaoqiao, she felt as though her whole heart was filled with sweetness and joy. Her body felt lighter as she skipped towards the outside of the valley, without even thinking about how Fang Xing had managed to enter the valley in the first place despite the formation or where he might have heard the discussion between Chu Ci and Prince Chu Huang. She didn't even think about how Fang Xing was able to take out Chu Ci with a single blow.
At this moment, all she thought about was how when it came to her Big Brother Xiaojiu, there was nothing he couldn't do.