Chapter 61: Ice Powder, the Perfect Choice for a Gift

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Ice Powder, the Perfect Choice for a Gift

More and more people emerged from the caves, most of them having gained something.

Upon emerging, these people made a beeline for the outer areas of the Secret Realm, hoping to score another windfall. Therefore, when the Female Cultivator Chen Banlian ran up to Lu Wu’s stall and asked for several more bowls of ice powder, both Lu Wu and Qin Zhan looked at each other.

"You seem..." Qin Zhan started to say, but then he saw Chen Banlian’s secretive expression.

After a few more careful glances, he decided not to say anything else.

He had long since noticed that Chen Banlian was suffused with an aura of death, something common for those nearing the end of their lifespan.

But after she came out of the cave, the life force radiating from her was so strong it made even him take a second look.

’Needless to say, she must have had a fortuitous encounter.’

With so many eyes and ears around, there was no need for Qin Zhan to expose Chen Banlian’s secret.

Chen Banlian shot Qin Zhan a grateful look. After a moment of thought, she took out all the Spirit Stones she had on her.

A total of twenty-three Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

"I want to use all of these to buy ice powder."

Chen Banlian, with the courage of someone betting everything on a single throw, wanted to seize this opportunity with all her might.

If this gamble failed, she would be in for a very miserable time.

"Do you have any flavor preferences?"

Lu Wu asked as she put away the Spirit Stones.

"No, just give me a bit of every kind."

’She wasn’t sure about Elder Bai Gu’s preferences, so covering all the bases was the safer bet.’

"Alright, then please wait a moment."

There wasn’t much ice powder left, so Lu Wu needed to make a new batch.

She tossed the Glazed Fire into the stove. The nearly transparent flame, tinged with gold, looked almost sacred.

But not everyone was as knowledgeable and well-informed as Qin Zhan.

The Glazed Fire’s temperature wasn’t high. Chen Banlian was merely surprised by how beautiful the flame was before looking away.

She stood to the side, watching Lu Wu’s movements.

Some unknown powder was added to water, boiled, and then cooled to create the transparent ice powder.

The ice powder in the container was smooth and translucent. Watching Lu Wu slice it apart with a knife was strangely satisfying.

Tiny cubes of ice powder were placed into clear bowls, topped with all sorts of fruits, and then drizzled with milk, coconut milk, and brown sugar syrup.

The ice powder, which seemed to require no technical skill to make, made Chen Banlian swallow her saliva as she watched.

Having eaten it before, she knew exactly how it tasted.

’That sweetness... she thought she could remember it for a lifetime.’

"It’s ready. Please check them."

Lu Wu presented the ice powder she had ordered.

The colorful bowls of ice powder looked like exquisite works of art, almost too beautiful to disturb.

Chen Banlian suppressed the urge to keep a few bowls for herself, packed them all into her storage bag, and walked toward the stone monument.

A few Cultivators still lingered, wanting to see if they could get lucky and enter a second time.

After trying, they all ended up disappointed.

So when these people saw what Chen Banlian was doing, some of them showed mocking expressions.

But in the next second, they were all proven spectacularly wrong.

Chen Banlian successfully entered the cave dwelling again. Some people, refusing to believe it, tried to follow behind her, but the stone monument remained unresponsive.

"How can that little wench still get in?"

Some, refusing to accept it, even tried to destroy the stone monument.

But before that Cultivator could even make a move, Huohuo, who was perched on Lu Wu’s shoulder, spat a mouthful of fire at him.

The scorching flames ignited the man.

The intense heat from the golden-red flames made everyone nearby hurry away, leaving only the malevolent Cultivator to howl in agony within the fire.

Fortunately, Huohuo was only giving him a warning and didn’t intend to take his life.

Seeing the man on the brink of death, Huohuo opened her beak and sucked the flames back in.

"CHIRP!"

’Bad man. Bird doesn’t like. So bird must burn with fire.’

Huohuo had been in this Secret Realm since her birth. She had no prior memories but felt a deep affinity for this stone monument.

’She always felt that she should protect it.’

The bird’s power made everyone look at it in a new light.

The Cultivator, who had barely escaped with his life, looked at Huohuo with an expression full of terror.

After taking an Elixir Pill to heal his wounds, he hastily departed.

This time, however, Chen Banlian wasn’t inside for long before she was sent back out.

Suddenly being stared at by so many people, Chen Banlian timidly averted her gaze, her hand clutching her sleeve tightly.

Straightening her back, she walked to Lu Wu’s side.

"Boss Lu, thank you."

’Elder Bai Gu really did love the ice powder. After she gave all of it to him, he tossed her a storage bag. Inside were many Spirit Stones, as well as some other treasures. They weren’t priceless artifacts, but they were things that someone of Chen Banlian’s strength could rightfully possess. As the saying goes, possessing a treasure beyond your means to protect is a crime in itself. So these items were, in fact, just right for her. And all of this was thanks to Boss Lu’s ice powder. If not for the ice powder, the Elder would never have given her a second glance.’

"This was your own good fortune. You don’t need to thank me."

Lu Wu gracefully deflected her thanks and said with a smile.

Chen Banlian, committing this kindness to heart, bought a few more bowls of ice powder and then took her leave.

She noticed some malicious gazes fixed on her. ’Staying here any longer might bring trouble to Boss Lu. But now, she had the confidence to face these dangers. I will become stronger.’

Watching her leave, Lu Wu saw some people following her out of the corner of her eye.

But the resolute expression on Chen Banlian’s face as she left told Lu Wu that she had a way to handle it.

As more people were ejected from the stone monument, fewer and fewer Cultivators remained.

With the exception of Chen Banlian, no one else could enter a second time.

Continuing to wait here was just a waste of time.

After everyone else had left, only Qin Zhan and Lou Xiaotian remained with Lu Wu.

She glanced at the time. ’Time to pack up the stall.’

Now that she didn’t need to watch the stall and her bodyguards were with her, Lu Wu wanted to look around the Secret Realm.

The two men enthusiastically supported her idea.

The scenery in the Fire Secret Realm was peculiar. From afar, the mountains rose and fell like great waves.

The plants that could survive in the Secret Realm were all heat-resistant, and thus, were not very aesthetically pleasing.

Since she had to set up her stall again the next day, Lu Wu didn’t plan to go too far.

"CHIRP! CHIRP!"

’Humans, follow bird.’

Noticing that the humans wanted to go treasure hunting, Huohuo volunteered to lead the way.

’She might not have any good things left herself, but she knew many of her neighbors did. Those neighbors must really like it when she visited, because every time she went, they would greet her with big smiles.’

"Huohuo, where are we going?"

Lou Xiaotian asked, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.

He still had some ice powder, but since the external heat was still within his tolerance, he was a little reluctant to eat it.

Qin Zhan, however, had prepared plenty. Right in front of Lou Xiaotian, he walked along, slowly savoring spoonfuls of ice powder.

He had to admit, it was truly refreshing.

Lu Wu, on the other hand, hadn’t eaten any ice powder for a while. She had discovered that ever since obtaining the Glazed Fire, the high temperatures of the Secret Realm no longer affected her.

The aloof Huohuo ignored Lou Xiaotian’s question.

In any case, they were currently heading up a mountain.

The high mountain was covered in jagged, strange-looking rocks. Reddish-brown stones of all sizes carpeted the slopes.

The precipitous terrain created a unique spectacle, and the rugged ground made the ascent somewhat strenuous.