The Azure Fox King chuckled and nodded. "Indeed, this treasure is a top-grade spiritual artifact, and the back is inlaid with five high-grade spiritual stones. Originally, this king intended to use this treasure to collect the Rootless Lotus, but after obtaining the Purple Gold Bottle, this item became useless. This treasure can temporarily store the Rootless Lotus, but remember, it's only temporary. It's best to consume the lotus seeds inside as soon as possible."
High-grade spiritual stones are rare. This was the first time Zhang Ling had seen high-grade spiritual stones since entering the Golden Core stage.
The spiritual energy contained in one middle-grade spiritual stone is equivalent to the total spiritual energy of one hundred low-grade spiritual stones, and the total spiritual energy of one hundred middle-grade spiritual stones is roughly equivalent to one high-grade spiritual stone.
In other words, one high-grade spiritual stone is worth at least ten thousand low-grade spiritual stones.
However, basically no one would exchange middle or high-grade spiritual stones for low-grade spiritual stones, because the spiritual energy contained in middle and high-grade spiritual stones is more pure.
For refining some magical treasures or setting up powerful formations, low-grade spiritual stones are often insufficient, so middle-grade or even high-grade spiritual stones are needed.
On the market, exchanging for a high-grade spiritual stone would cost at least fifty thousand low-grade spiritual stones. High-grade spiritual stones of the metal element are even harder to exchange for, and you might not be able to get one even with one hundred thousand low-grade spiritual stones.
Even in high-grade spiritual stone mines, mostly middle-grade spiritual stones are produced, and high-grade spiritual stones are not abundant. Low production is also an important reason why high-grade spiritual stones are difficult to exchange for.
Even Nascent Soul stage cultivators wouldn't have many high-grade spiritual stones.
Next, the Azure Fox King gave Zhang Ling some instructions on the taboos and methods of consuming the lotus seeds.
Zhang Ling was naturally very grateful, and at the same time, he was slightly relieved. He only took out the Rootless Lotus and did not take out the spiritual eye stone.
Now it seems that the Azure Fox King probably didn't know that the Rootless Lotus was originally parasitic on a spiritual eye stone.
A spiritual eye stone nurtured in a high-grade spiritual vein is also worth no less than this Rootless Lotus. Having a spiritual eye stone is equivalent to carrying a small middle-grade spiritual vein with you at all times.
Consuming the Rootless Lotus is actually simple. Just wrap the lotus seeds with spiritual power, circulate them to the dantian, and continuously refine them with dan fire. This process is extremely long, lasting several years.
As for the lotus petals of the Rootless Lotus, they had already become illusory and shrunk into a flower bud. These petals are not solid, and once all the lotus seeds are taken out, the Rootless Lotus will directly dissipate.
Before long, the Azure Fox King's phantom also became illusory. He said to Tu Fei and Huang Ying, "This king's injuries have not yet recovered, and I will be in seclusion for a while. You two should also return as soon as possible and urge this girl to consume the lotus seeds and cleanse her body."
Tu Fei and Huang Ying naturally responded quickly. The Azure Fox King then glanced at Xi'er, his body flashing with azure light, and transformed back into the black-furred fox.
"Ancestor is gone." Xi'er hugged the black-furred fox, stroking its fur, and said to Huang Ying with a smile, "Auntie, Xi'er hasn't been out for a long time."
"Hehe, you little girl, you want to go out again. Alright, Auntie Huang will take you out for a stroll."
"Xi'er loves Auntie the most."
The girl's face was full of joy, and she immediately pulled Huang Ying towards the door, like an ordinary girl who loved to play.
Huang Ying patted the girl's head with a loving expression, shook her head helplessly, and smiled apologetically at Zhang Ling, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, I won't stay here any longer. I'll take this girl to stroll around the market."
"Fellow Daoist Huang, please feel free." Zhang Ling naturally had no objections.
"Haha, you can go ahead. Brother Zhang, Tu will naturally entertain you well. You must keep an eye on this girl, and don't forget that we will return in three days."
Huang Ying glanced at Tu Fei without saying much, and was pulled out of the house by the girl, leaving while talking and laughing.
"Does Fellow Daoist find it a bit strange?" After the two women left, Tu Fei invited Zhang Ling to sit down, poured a cup of spiritual tea, and chuckled.
"Oh, I do feel that this Miss Xi'er seems to have some mental issues."
"That's right. I believe Fellow Daoist has also seen that Xi'er's mind is not complete. If Huang Ying hadn't obtained a piece of soul-nurturing wood from you earlier, the situation would have been even worse. Speaking of which, the little girl's age is actually similar to ours, calculated to be a hundred years old, but her mind is only equivalent to that of an eleven or twelve-year-old girl."
"Is this also a defect of being a half-demon?" Zhang Ling couldn't help but ask.
"Maybe, but Senior Demon King has found several spiritual objects. Now, with the addition of the five Rootless Lotus, using these spiritual objects to cleanse this girl's mind, the girl's mind can slowly grow. It may be like a normal person in a short time." Tu Fei finished a cup of fragrant tea in one gulp, sat on the chair in a carefree manner, and looked at Zhang Ling with great interest.
"Brother Zhang, you must have entered at least the fourth level of the Abyss, right? I heard that the Abyss Secret Realm is extremely dangerous. It is said that the number of cultivators who came out this time is even less than usual, less than 30%. If I hadn't been in seclusion to break through my realm in recent years, I might have also ventured into the Abyss. It seems that two Nascent Soul stage cultivators have also fallen. I heard from Senior Demon King that the elders of Myriad Manifestation City were also seriously injured."
"Oh, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator has fallen." Hearing this, Zhang Ling couldn't help but be stunned.
He had been staying in Myriad Manifestation City during this time and had heard a lot of news, but he had not heard any rumors about Nascent Soul stage cultivators falling in the Abyss.
When entering the Abyss Secret Realm, several Nascent Soul stage cultivators appeared. I wonder which two have fallen.
However, looking at Tu Fei's expression, he didn't seem to be lying, and the news might have come from the Azure Fox King, so it was even less likely to be false.
Unexpectedly, Nascent Soul stage cultivators also fell in the Abyss. Zhang Ling couldn't help but sigh. It seems that there are still many secrets in the last two levels of the Abyss Secret Realm.
Next, he chatted with Tu Fei. This Fellow Daoist Tu may seem carefree, but he is very talkative.
During the conversation, Zhang Ling also roughly talked about his experience entering the Abyss this time. In addition to guessing about the Abyss Secret Realm, the two naturally also exchanged cultivation experiences.
Tu Fei is proficient in swordsmanship and possesses a powerful sword cultivator inheritance. He himself has learned quite a variety of things. In addition to the cultivation techniques he practices, he also dabbles in demon refining techniques, weapon refining, and alchemy.
After exchanging experiences, the two also gained something. Zhang Ling still attached great importance to such exchanges between peers.
After all, since he started cultivating, he has basically lived the life of a rogue cultivator. Although he has many top-level cultivation techniques, he often encounters confusion during the cultivation process and can only rely on his own comprehension.
Unlike Tu Fei, who has a master and now lives in the Demon Hidden Valley, with the Azure Fox King as his backer, he often receives guidance.
In this way, after a full day and night of exchange, Zhang Ling left.
