CHAPTER 49
The End Of An Arc: Ghost Orchids.
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"Right. I can't help you. As you know, I can't leave this damned place," Xue Xing lamented, leaning back with a feigned air of helplessness.
"And yet, mere hours ago, you were at the arena stalking Lu Xietong like a lost puppy." Huogui raised a brow, his expression calm but declaring absolute victory.
"You! How?" Xue Xing froze, stunned and embarrassed to have had his lie exposed so instantly.
"I told you, I have my ways," Huogui said smoothly.
Xue Xing's mouth twitched. He hated that answer.
"But there really are constraints to leaving this place," Xue Xing argued, his tone turning serious. "The further I go..."
"I know," Huogui cut him off flatly.
Xue Xing's expression changed drastically. He threw his hands up in exasperation. "How do you always know everything? Are you all-knowing? And don't you damn tell me you 'naturally have your ways'!" His voice rose an octave with every word.
"It is simple deduction. After Lu Xie cleared the eleventh floor, the bindings of this place naturally weakened. Now, as long as you are willing to pay a price, you can leave the Pagoda. However, the backlash increases the further and longer you are away from this anchor. Am I right?"
Huogui explained at a steady pace, his tone filled with the clear confidence of an expert, leaving Xue Xing no room to argue.
Xue Xing sarcastically raised his hands in defeat, a slightly annoyed expression plastered on his face. "You win! There is no hiding from your all-knowing eyes."
To this, Huogui smiled faintly, looking at Xue Xing as if he were a country bumpkin. "There is nothing to be surprised about. This is common knowledge regarding such archaic binding formations."
As a Grandmaster of Arrays himself, seeing through such a formation was as easy as looking at the lines on his own palm.
"Anyway, I still refuse to help you find your sister. Since you're all-knowing, you can find her yourself," Xue Xing declared firmly, crossing his arms. He had no wish to get involved further with this terrifying brother-sister duo.
"And what made you draw the conclusion that I am looking for her?" Huogui asked.
Xue Xing scoffed. "You are not the only one with 'all-knowing' eyes."
"Then I am afraid your eyes must be faulty," Huogui mocked. "I am not looking for my younger sister."
Xue Xing was stunned.
"Your sister was swallowed by a rip in space itself, and you are not concerned?" Xue Xing asked, his mind racing to build new conclusions. "That means you know what happened to her. Quick! Tell me. The curiosity has been itching me to death!"
"That is naturally none of your concern, and I don't care if you itch yourself to death. She is fine. Although even I don't know exactly where she is or have the ability to get there, I know she is safe. After the time limit expires, she will naturally return," Huogui stated flatly.
A bit disgruntled, Xue Xing muttered, "How would you know she is fine when you are not even sure yourself of what happened to her? Whatever! You brother-sister duo are freaks of nature to begin with."
He sighed, resigning himself to the mystery. "But then, if not for her, what could you possibly need my help with?"
"I need you to accompany me to retrieve something from the Domain of Evernight."
Xue Xing's expression darkened immediately. The playful atmosphere vanished.
"Naturally, as long as we are successful, there would be benefits for you as well," Huogui stated, reading Xue Xing's reaction perfectly.
Xue Xing's left eye twitched ever so lightly.
"Damn you, madman! I am not crazy! The Domain of Evernight isn't even in the Mortal Realm! You are basically trying to kill me by asking me to go so far. The backlash from the Pagoda will turn me to dust before we even arrive!"
He stood up, pacing frantically.
"Besides, the Domain of Evernight is fraught with every kind of evil creature, race, and malevolent power you can think of—and more that are yet to be seen! If you want to commit suicide, be my guest, but do it by yourself!"
Lu Huogui rubbed his temple, watching the ranting Xue Xing with mild annoyance before finally speaking. "Are you done?"
But Xue Xing wasn't, he went for another round spraying spit, profanity, and a thousand reasons not to die everywhere, breathing heavily only when he ran out of curse words.
After taking a few deep breaths, Xue Xing became calm once more. "Why? Why do you want me to follow you there?"
Huogui ruminated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"Firstly, your race is known to be more vile than the entire population of Evernight combined."
"Secondly, your race originated from the Evernight Domain before migrating to the Primordial World. That is why I am including you in the first place—you are a local guide."
"Thirdly, I naturally have plans to temporarily solve the problem of your limitations, so you don't need to be so cowardly."
"And finally, the benefit for your service is naturally one I am confident you wouldn't dare refuse."
Huogui paused, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "Does that settle the questions you were meant to ask, rather than throwing a tantrum like a child? Tch! How unsightly. I can't believe a grown man—an ancient existence at that—still throws tantrums like a toddler."
Huogui's taunt was effective; Xue Xing's face flushed with shame.
"What are your grand plans?" he asked, trying to regain his dignity.
To this, Huogui returned a victorious smile. 'That went far smoother than I expected,' he praised mentally.
"I will naturally tell you along the way," he answered.
"At least tell me what I am risking my neck for," Xue Xing probed.
"Nothing special. Just a couple of Ghost Orchids." Lu Huogui replied nonchalantly.
Xue Xing's eyes bulged, nearly popping out of his skull.
Xue Xing's jaw dropped. "Ghost Orchids?! Those cursed flowers whose leaves mimic petals, but whose petals look like leaves? They're beautiful but deadly—touching one causes agony so unbearable that even seasoned cultivators have taken their own lives! They've been exterminated by every orthodox sect for centuries. The only place they still grow is the Evernight Domain!" He paused, eyes narrowing. "What could you possibly want with such abominations? Don't tell me you—"
A suspicious glint flashed through Xue Xing's eyes. "It couldn't be that you..."
Lu Huogui, easily tracing Xue Xing's line of thought, quickly cut him off. "Stop being dramatic. I am not a masochist who would actively seek to commit suicide like this."
"We set off now. But first, let me help you with this lousy formation," Lu Huogui added as he stood up.
He lifted a foot and pressed it lightly against the ground.
Shhhh!
Green and crimson runes flared outward from his sole, spiraling across the entire chamber. The air rippled with pressure; light flickered madly.
Huogui's expression remained composed—but his complexion turned deathly pale.
He was going all out.
Tampering with Xue Xing's binding formation was no small feat.
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