"Uh... Miss Qiao, you've misunderstood. There's no need to worry. The Linglong Lotus is fine; it just misses you a bit..." Jun Mo Xie's words caused a blush to instantly creep up Qiao Ying's face. She glared at him and snapped, "What nonsense are you spewing, brat..."

This guy, saying he missed me the moment we met...

"Miss Qiao seems to have misunderstood again..." I meant, the Linglong Lotus really misses you. After all, you raised it with such... dedication," Jun Mo Xie said innocently.

"You!"... Qiao Ying's face turned pale with anger.

Dugu Xiao Yi let out a cackle. "Brother Mo Xie, you're being a rogue again..."

Jun Mo Xie's face darkened. He shot her a look and boomed, "Where was I being a rogue? Little girl, don't spout nonsense and confuse things, or you'll be spanked severely later, and I won't go easy! I was just saying that since the Linglong Lotus has been away from Miss Qiao for quite some time, it must really miss its former mistress... The Linglong Lotus can't speak, so I was merely voicing its inner feelings. How is that being a rogue...?"

Speaking on behalf of a plant!?

It takes some nerve to use such a weak excuse.

Qiao Ying's pretty face flushed again. She said resentfully, "The Linglong Lotus really misses me? You seem to know it quite well..."

"Indeed," Jun Mo Xie sighed, his tone seemingly "sincere and heartfelt." "Your Linglong Lotus is truly sentient. Since arriving here, it has been busy extolling your virtues to the other flora. Now, many of the spiritual medicines here have been moved by its words and are eagerly awaiting your arrival, hoping you will stay with them forever; that would be truly wonderful..." Qiao Ying was both amused and annoyed. This fellow could really spin a yarn; how could he say such a thing? Was he treating her like a three-year-old child?

"You say there are many spiritual medicines? Where are they located..." It seemed that ever since she saw that "Yin Soul" earlier, Qiao Ying had been itching with curiosity. Now, hearing what Jun Mo Xie said, even though she didn't believe the young master's tall tales, a strong sense of curiosity surged within her.

"Such precious medicinal ingredients are naturally kept in the safest and most convenient place for care—my bedroom. When would you like to visit..." Young Master Jun said, looking rather shy.

"You... you utter scoundrel..." Qiao Ying was instantly infuriated! His spiritual medicines were all in his bedroom? Recalling his earlier words—"Many spiritual medicines are eagerly awaiting your arrival, hoping you will stay with them forever..."—didn't that imply she should move into his bedroom just like his herbs?

This... this absolute rogue!

"Hehe... Since both ladies have come today to congratulate me, I, Jun Mo, cannot let you leave empty-handed. However, as I have just established my residence, I cannot compare to the vast resources and profound foundation of the Illusionary Manor or the Sacred Lands. I have nothing truly impressive to offer, so I can only ask each of you to accept a slice of lotus root. Please forgive my meager offering..." Jun Mo Xie said with a slight smile.

A slice of lotus root for each of them?

Did he think his lotus was an immortal elixir? We traveled thousands of miles just to eat a slice of his lotus root?

Both women felt a sense of dissatisfaction in their hearts.

How dare this fellow try to play poor in front of us? The Plain Heart Lotus and the Snow Silkworm Handkerchiefs given to everyone in the main hall—the Illusionary Manor and the Sacred Lands might not even be able to produce those two items. Not to mention the luminous pearls, the Tea Fragrance Grass, and the Yin Soul Ginseng here—which one of them isn't a rare treasure known the world over? And he dares to claim poverty with such wealth? Why doesn't he just drop dead!

Qiao Ying and Miao Xiao Miao had both tasted the Linglong Jade Root before, so they knew it was only about the size of a peanut. Naturally, it wouldn't be sliced. Therefore, what Jun Mo Xie was offering must be ordinary lotus root. Why would we covet your so-called dog-shit lotus root? Could it be better than the Linglong Jade Root?"

Seeing the displeasure on their faces, even bordering on pouting glares, Jun Mo Xie remained unperturbed and smiled faintly. With a flip of his wrist, a massive piece of lotus root appeared in his hand!

Thick as a fist and nearly a foot long!

In terms of sheer volume, it wasn't particularly remarkable—perhaps even slightly smaller than an ordinary lotus root found in the world. But this piece of lotus root was pure, jade-white throughout, so crystal clear that one could almost see through to the other side.

Furthermore, the instant this crystalline root appeared, the entire room was instantly filled with an indescribable, fresh aroma—elegant and pleasing...

The room was already permeated with the distant, lingering fragrance from the Myriad Ages Tea Essence, but at the moment the crystalline lotus root appeared, that distant tea aroma vanished instantly, leaving only the subsequent, delightful scent behind...

This ineffable, captivating fragrance, upon inhalation, made one feel refreshed and invigorated, as if one's very soul had been cleansed in that instant...

Qiao Ying's beautiful eyes snapped open to their widest extent. Her small mouth gaped wide, completely discarding her composure, as if she had just witnessed something utterly unbelievable...

Miao Xiao Miao was also startled, but uncertainty lingered in her heart: No way? How could it be this big...? But Qiao Ying suddenly cried out? "Linglong Jade Root?! Is that truly the Linglong Jade Root?"

Jun Mo Xie smiled and nodded. "It truly is the Linglong Jade Root? How is this possible..." After receiving confirmation from the other party, Qiao Ying swayed slightly, nearly fainting. It took almost all her strength to maintain control, but she couldn't help but lunge forward: "Let me see! How can this be, how can this be..."

Miao Xiao Miao was also stunned... This, this was the Linglong Jade Root? This was... unbelievable, wasn't it? How could it be so large?

Taking the large "lotus root" from Young Master Jun's hand, Qiao Ying's face was filled with a reverence akin to worship! This was the Linglong Jade Root produced by the Linglong Lotus!

And it was this big...

Turning it over and over, examining it with the careful reverence one reserves for a priceless treasure, Qiao Ying's jade-white face grew redder, and her breathing became rapid. Placed next to the pure white Linglong Lotus, the two seemed to complement each other perfectly!

"Such successful cultivation... how did you do it..." Qiao Ying hugged the lotus root tightly to her chest, looking at Jun Mo Xie with an expression of intense longing and urgency.

Jun Mo Xie smiled faintly but did not reply. Qiao Ying suddenly realized: How he did it was his business; why should he tell her? Given the subtle relationship between the Evil Monarch's Residence and the Three Great Sacred Lands, how could he possibly disclose such a secret to her?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel a pang of loss. "I spoke out of turn..." Although she stopped asking, the reluctance in her tone was even more pronounced!

"It's nothing rare, really. I stumbled upon a Heavenly Earth Spirit Vein by chance..." Jun Mo Xie said with a warm smile, looking at her. "I excavated a pool of water above the Spirit Vein... I used the spiritual energy of the Vein to nurture the Linglong Lotus, resulting in this Linglong Jade Root. It's that simple..."

Qiao Ying immediately felt a sense of clarity; so that was it! Nurturing the Linglong Lotus with a Heavenly Earth Spirit Vein would naturally be far more effective and much faster than relying solely on natural forces in the Heavenly Sacred Palace. In fact, only this method could have rapidly promoted the Linglong Lotus to produce such a massive root...

At the same time, a strange surge of joy rose in Qiao Ying's heart. He didn't need to tell her such a secret, yet he told me! Telling me, someone who doesn't belong to his faction!

Possessing the legendary Heavenly Earth Spirit Vein...

Even people within the Heavenly Sacred Palace would be envious of such a thing! If news of this leaked, it would inevitably bring endless trouble, potentially making him the target of the entire Jianghu world!

But Jun Mo Xie told her this secret without hesitation, simply because she asked him: How did you do it?!

This was an immense show of trust in her!

Looking into Jun Mo Xie's warm gaze, Qiao Ying's heartbeat skipped a beat, and she inexplicably felt a sense of happiness.

It was a deep satisfaction arising from the very core of her being...

"Rest assured, this secret will remain only in my heart, forever unrevealed," Qiao Ying murmured, her voice low but extraordinarily firm. Moreover, as if taking an oath, she didn't even realize how devout she sounded when uttering those words...

With a slight chuckle, Jun Mo Xie offered a noncommittal smile, then took back the piece of Linglong Jade Root.

He placed it flat on his left palm, raised his right hand like a blade, and made several swift, phantom slashes.

The Linglong Jade Root in his hand was evenly divided into nine pieces.

"Xue Yan, take these two pieces and send them to Mother and Grandfather; the rest... each of you take one piece..." Jun Mo Xie waved his right hand, and pieces of the Linglong Lotus slowly floated out, drifting gently toward everyone present, as if suspended by some unseen force...

Mei Xue Yan didn't hesitate. She agreed with a sound, took two pieces, and swiftly left.

Once cut, this type of item must be consumed quickly, otherwise, after a short while, it would completely dissolve into the air... Even with Mei Xue Yan's speed, the process would require her full effort, and she would need to envelop the lotus pieces with the Profound Energy of a Saint Venerable cultivation level to prevent their dissipation...

Filial piety is the foundation of human relationships. Jun Mo Xie's actions made Qiao Ying and Miao Xiao Miao feel the profound human warmth emanating from this Monarch of Evil.

Qiao Ying excitedly picked up the piece floating before her and took a deep breath of contentment. This single portion was already more than ten times the size of the Linglong Lotus produced by the Linglong Lotus plant in the Heavenly Sacred Palace!

She believed the effects of this lotus would certainly be extraordinary!

Miao Xiao Miao, however, looked at the floating Linglong Lotus before her with a bit of helplessness and hesitation. Meeting for the first time, how could she rashly accept such a precious gift? This was truly a priceless treasure!

It was an object renowned alongside the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit! Just thinking of the arrogant demeanor of the sacred tree in the Illusionary Manor was enough to gauge how precious the Linglong Lotus was... "... "This... I cannot accept it!" Miao Xiao Miao thought it over, but still firmly refused.