Chapter 217: Divine Resting Grass
Under Duanmu Xingling's lead, the two arrived outside the main gate of Qingxuan Pavilion.
Looking up, Zhang Ruochen was quite surprised and revealed a smile: "Senior Sister also knows the shopkeeper here?"
"Of course... What? You know him too?" Duanmu Xingling's heart skipped a beat, her eyes round as saucers, a strange glint flashing within them.
Zhang Ruochen naturally sensed the change in Duanmu Xingling's expression and pressed further: "Senior Sister seems surprised?"
"No!" Duanmu Xingling shook her head and said, "It's just that the backstage boss of Qingxuan Pavilion is my aunt. I'm curious, since you know the shopkeeper here, why has my aunt never mentioned it to me?"
"Your aunt is that... graceful and charming proprietress?" Zhang Ruochen thought of that alluring and enchanting proprietress, then looked back at Duanmu Xingling, even more incredulous.
Duanmu Xingling chuckled, quickly masking her inner turmoil, and said, "So you already knew my aunt! That's wonderful!"
The shopkeeper of Qingxuan Pavilion, Mo Hanlin, saw Duanmu Xingling walking in with a young man wearing a metal mask. Seeing their intimate demeanor, he was first slightly startled, then quickly regained his composure and immediately stepped forward, cupping his hands in a slight bow: "Greetings, Miss Duanmu."
"Shopkeeper Mo, no need for formalities." Duanmu Xingling smiled.
Mo Hanlin's gaze shifted to Zhang Ruochen, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "Miss Duanmu, who might this young hero be?"
Duanmu Xingling said: "He is the renowned young hero who has recently shaken the world, the secret disciple of the Silver Robe Elder Hall Master of the Martial Market Academy, Chen Ruo. Also, he is my boyfriend."
Hearing Duanmu Xingling's words, even with Mo Hanlin's excellent composure, he was greatly startled, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest. He thought to himself in distress, "What kind of mischief is this little ancestor up to now?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Mo Hanlin and could clearly sense that when Duanmu Xingling and he walked in, at least six pairs of eyes in the entire Qingxuan Pavilion were fixed on him.
These were not ordinary glances but vigilant, sharp, and hostile stares—truly out of the ordinary.
"This Qingxuan Pavilion is no simple place; it might be hiding some secret?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself, but he did not rush to inquire, remaining calm and composed.
Duanmu Xingling shot a glance at Zhang Ruochen, her voice shy and playful: "Brother Ruo, if you need to buy any spiritual medicine, just tell Shopkeeper Mo. If even Qingxuan Pavilion doesn't have it, it's probably impossible to find anywhere in the entire Yunwu Commandery."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Shopkeeper Mo, have you ever heard of Divine Resting Grass?"
Mo Hanlin's brow furrowed slightly, and he shook his head: "I have run Qingxuan Pavilion for decades and have seen no fewer than a thousand types of medicinal herbs and pills, and have read many pharmacopoeias, but I have never heard of Divine Resting Grass. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I must disappoint Young Master Chen."
Zhang Ruochen had been mentally prepared, so he hadn't held out much hope. He nodded lightly and smiled: "I was just asking casually. Since it's not available, forget it."
Duanmu Xingling knew very well that Zhang Ruochen had come specifically to buy Divine Resting Grass, so it must be of great use to him; it couldn't be just a casual inquiry.
After seeing Zhang Ruochen out of Qingxuan Pavilion, Duanmu Xingling asked: "Junior Brother, what do you need Divine Resting Grass for?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "It's actually just a dispensable medicinal herb. Even if I can't find it, it doesn't matter."
"So what are your plans next? The situation in the royal capital is extremely complicated now, with forces gathering from all sides. Even if the entire Yunwu Commandery army is mobilized, it probably won't stabilize the current situation. And you are a hot figure on the Bounty List. Many people want to kill you. Once you resume your identity as Zhang Ruochen, even if you stay inside the royal palace, it will be extremely dangerous." Duanmu Xingling said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled: "That's why I plan to find Divine Resting Grass, to break through to a higher realm as soon as possible and protect myself. Of course, Senior Sister, you must also be careful. You are a student of the Martial Market Academy, and evil path martial artists from the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect will certainly target you too."
Duanmu Xingling said: "I'm staying at my aunt's place now, which is quite safe. Ordinary evil path martial artists can't break in. Junior Brother, would you like to stay at my aunt's residence too?"
"Uh... I'd better... forget it. I'm in the identity of Chen Ruo now, not Zhang Ruochen on the Bounty List, so I won't attract that many powerful enemies." Zhang Ruochen felt a bit uneasy thinking about that charming proprietress.
If he stayed at the proprietress's residence, wouldn't he have to be on guard against her every day?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's expression, Duanmu Xingling guessed what was on his mind and didn't press him further: "If you really encounter danger, you can come to my aunt's residence to find me immediately. You should know, my aunt still has some influence in the royal capital."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and nodded. Finally, he glanced at the plaque of Qingxuan Pavilion, a thoughtful look on his face, and then left the Martial Market.
Duanmu Xingling watched Zhang Ruochen leave the Martial Market and immediately left Qingxuan Pavilion, heading to Qin Ya's mansion.
"Aunt, when did you get to know Zhang Ruochen? Why have you never mentioned it to me?" Duanmu Xingling sat opposite Qin Ya, looking somewhat annoyed.
Qin Ya smiled slightly, her eyes like a crescent moon, charming and alluring: "You mean the Ninth Prince? I met him a few times two years ago, and he left a deep impression on me. In Yunwu Commandery, everyone knows that the Seventh Prince, Zhang Tiangui, is the number one genius, unmatched by anyone. But I think Zhang Ruochen's talent is no less than Zhang Tiangui's. Why did you suddenly ask about him?"
"I saw him today!" Duanmu Xingling said.
Qin Ya was about to pour tea for Duanmu Xingling, but upon hearing this, her hand paused mid-motion: "I was informed that you went to Qingxuan Pavilion with Chen Ruo and even claimed to be his girlfriend. Could it be that this so-called Chen Ruo is actually Zhang Ruochen?"
Duanmu Xingling didn't intend to hide it, so she nodded.
Qin Ya's expression turned serious: "Xingling, your aunt must remind you that every three years, the Divine Cult searches the entire Kunlun Realm for the most outstanding woman to train as a Saintess. A Saintess can wield great power and receive abundant cultivation resources, but there are also constraints that come with being a Saintess."
"Once you become a Saintess, you can only marry a Saint of the Divine Cult in the future, serving the Saint for life. That is your destiny."
"Right now, you can fool around because your current mission is to infiltrate the Martial Market Academy, and few people know your true identity. Moreover, you are in the thirty-six commanderies of the Demon Ridge, where almost all the cult members are my people; they wouldn't dare to spread the news."
"If things blow up in the future and the Night Envoys discover it and report to the headquarters, both you and Zhang Ruochen will be dead."
Duanmu Xingling cupped her cheeks with both hands: "As a Saintess, do I have to marry those old men who are a hundred, two hundred, or even three hundred years old? Can I just not be a Saintess?"
Qin Ya shook her head: "Once chosen as a Saintess, your fate no longer belongs to you. Although the Divine Cult selects a Saintess every three years, once a Saintess marries, she is no longer a Saintess. So, in the entire Divine Cult, there are only twelve Saintesses at present. Each Saintess holds a pivotal position in the cult, representing the younger generation of the cult as they travel the world. Even the branch leaders of various commanderies must obey their orders."
"Of course, if you truly want to control your own destiny, you must learn from the Chief Saintess, Ling Feiyu, and cultivate to the Saint realm yourself."
"If your usefulness surpasses that of a Saint, the Cult Leader will naturally consider your feelings and won't force you to marry a Saint of the cult."
Duanmu Xingling's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Qin Ya said: "Don't get too excited too soon. If you fail to display sufficiently stunning talent, you won't even make it to the Saint realm before the Cult Leader forces you to marry a Saint of the cult. How many years has the Moon-Worshipping Cult been established? How many Saintesses have truly been able to control their own destiny?"
Duanmu Xingling said: "Aunt, rest assured, I will cultivate diligently. Although the chance of becoming a Saint is slim, I will still strive for it."
Qin Ya nodded, squinting with a smile: "You came to see me, it can't be just about this, can it?"
"There is indeed another matter."
Duanmu Xingling said: "Aunt, you are well-traveled and knowledgeable. Have you ever heard of Divine Resting Grass?"
"Divine Resting Grass!"
Qin Ya stood up, pondered for a moment, and said: "Why did you suddenly ask about it?"
"Aunt has really heard of it?" Duanmu Xingling's beautiful face showed undisguised joy.
Qin Ya nodded: "In the Eastern Domain, there is a high-level ancient ruin left from the Middle Ages called Divine Resting Valley. In the entire Kunlun Realm, only Divine Resting Valley can produce Divine Resting Grass."
"It is said that Divine Resting Grass is a deadly poisonous herb. The toxin extracted from Divine Resting Grass can even kill a Half-Saint."
"Xingling, tell me the truth, why are you looking for Divine Resting Grass?"
Duanmu Xingling was overjoyed: "Aunt, don't ask! I just want to know, through the cult's power, can we obtain Divine Resting Grass?"
"Of course we can." Qin Ya said.
Duanmu Xingling asked: "How soon can it be delivered to Yunwu Commandery?"
Qin Ya frowned slightly: "If we send people to Divine Resting Valley to pick Divine Resting Grass, round trip, it will take at least two months. But Divine Resting Grass is a deadly poison, specifically used to deal with martial arts experts. Yunwu Commandery is only a lower-level commandery; it's indeed hard to find Divine Resting Grass here, and there's no need for it. However, Qianshui Commandery is an upper-level commandery; they might have stored Divine Resting Grass."
"You just need to use your Saintess identity to issue a secret order to the headquarters in Qianshui Commandery. The people there will do their utmost to find Divine Resting Grass as quickly as possible. Qianshui Commandery is adjacent to Yunwu Commandery. If they move fast enough, we could have results in as little as three days."
"I'll go issue the order right now." Duanmu Xingling's figure moved, turning into a series of afterimages, flying out of the pavilion and skimming over the water's surface, leaving only silvery laughter in the air.
"This is a bit troublesome!" Qin Ya stood up, her curvaceous figure outlined, staring in the direction Duanmu Xingling had left, a worried expression on her face.