Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

Xiao Yi Xian's sidelong glances tracked Xiao Bai's approach, her heart racing with anticipation. A smug curve tugged at her lips as she imagined this stern-faced jerk begging her with sweet words, only for her to reluctantly agree.

To her shock, Xiao Bai didn't stop before her. Instead, he paused a short distance behind, near the wall.

He's not here to beg? Did he find the mechanism's switch?

She spun around, catching him pressing something on the ground.

Creak… A sound echoed through the silent cave.

The stone gate, moments ago glowing faintly yellow, reverted to its natural grayish-blue, slowly rising. A beam of light spilled from the widening gap.

Xiao Yi Xian's lips parted in disbelief. This jerk actually opened it.

As the gate fully rose, the inner light banished the outer darkness. Xiao Bai waited for the air to circulate before stepping inside.

Seeing him enter, Xiao Yi Xian scrambled to her feet and hurried after.

Beyond the gate, the space opened into a broad, ancient stone chamber, stark and empty. Moonlight stones embedded in the walls bathed the room in bright clarity. At the center, a raised platform held a chair, where a skeleton sat, its skull resting on its thigh, hollow eye sockets staring at the entrance, lending an eerie chill to the room.

Before the platform stood a wide, neatly crafted stone table, bearing three stone boxes, each with a visible lockhole.

Golden glints shimmered across the chamber, giving it an air of opulence. Xiao Bai glanced at the corners. Three were piled high with gold coins and jewels, their reflections casting the glow. The fourth corner, to the right-front, was different.

"Ice Spirit Flame Grass!" Two exclamations rang out—one aged, one crisp.

Yao Lao's was via soul transmission, unheard by Xiao Yi Xian.

She dashed to the right-front corner, ignoring the glittering wealth. There, a small earthen flowerbed held various plants, their mingled herbal and floral scents wafting upward.

"Purple Blue Grass, Hundred Spirit Ginseng Fruit, Snow Lotus Seed, Ice Heart Flower…" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes sparkled as she crouched, naming rare herbs with glee.

"Xiao Bai, that Ice Spirit Flame Grass in the center—can I have it? I'll trade for it!" Yao Lao's voice, urgent, came from the ring.

Xiao Bai eyed the plant Yao Lao mentioned. Its white stem, dotted with icy crystals, contrasted with a fiery red crown, wreathed in a misty aura like a flickering flame. The blend of opposing attributes was striking.

He knew Ice Spirit Flame Grass, like the Blood Lotus Essence, was essential for refining Blood Lotus Pills, crucial for consuming Heavenly Flames. "Sure," Xiao Bai nodded.

"Haha, great! Name your price, kid—anything reasonable, and it's yours!" Yao Lao's joy was palpable. He'd expected only the Heavenly Flame from this trip, but with Xiao Bai, he was nearly set for Blood Lotus Pills. How could he not be thrilled?

"No demands for now. Let's call it a favor owed. Don't refuse when I cash it in, Senior," Xiao Bai said.

He wasn't without wants—like the Poison Pill Method. Yao Lao would likely give it now, deeming it trivial, but with an Calamity Poison Body right here, revealing it risked suspicion. Better to wait.

"Rest assured, I keep my word. Just don't push me too far when the time comes," Yao Lao said, half-joking, half-serious.

"Senior, you know I'm not unreasonable," Xiao Bai replied with a faint smile.

A tug on his robe interrupted him. Looking down, he saw Xiao Yi Xian's big, watery eyes pleading. "Sir… could you spare some of these herbs for me?" she asked, pouting pitifully.

Xiao Bai smirked inwardly. Sir when she needs something, jerk otherwise. Her cute act nearly swayed him. From his storage ring, he produced several jade boxes and a jade trowel—prepared back in Wu Tan City—and handed them to her, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Thinking he'd consented, Xiao Yi Xian beamed, snatching the tools. Patting her ample chest, she vowed, "Don't worry, sir! I'll dig these up perfectly—not a single herb damaged!"

Xiao Bai nodded calmly, barely containing his laughter. Work hard, little worker! he cheered silently.

With his nod, Xiao Yi Xian dove in, her love for herbs outweighing the allure of the gold piles. Yet, she felt a pang of regret. If not for this guy, these would've been mine—all mine! Now, she had to beg for scraps, her heart aching.

Damn jerk! Cursing inwardly, she carefully dug up the precious herbs, placing them in the jade boxes.

Xiao Bai turned to the central stone table, eyeing the three locked boxes. He tugged one—fixed to the table. Tracing the lockhole, he glanced at the skeleton on the chair. Scanning it, he spotted three black keys hanging from its bony hand, stark against the white bone.

Approaching the chair, Xiao Bai bowed respectfully. "Senior, forgive my intrusion," he said softly.

His soul force gently lifted the keys without disturbing the bones, floating them to his hand. Taking them, he walked back to the stone table.