"Zhong Shan, why did you call here? Did you find the thing?" Hao ili's arrogant voice rang out even before entering the hall.
Zhong Shan didn't mind and instead stood up to welco her. Soon, Hao ili, with a small golden dragon on her shoulder, and the flamboyant Western Poison Emperor walked in.
The mont they entered the hall, the Western Poison Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"Young fellow, your cultivation speed is truly astonishing!" the Western Poison Emperor remarked in surprise.
The last ti they t, Zhong Shan was only at the Golden Core stage. It hadn't been long since then, and now the Western Poison Emperor couldn't even discern his level clearly, implying he had reached the Integration stage? The Western Poison Emperor had previously examined Zhong Shan's bone structure and found it to be the worst he'd ever seen. How could this be? Integration stage? Unbelievable. Even the best bones couldn't account for this rapid advancent. Had he eaten so celestial elixir?
"Thanks to senior's kind words, I've had so fortuitous encounters," Zhong Shan replied with a smile.
"Pfft! From the Golden Core stage to the Integration stage in such a short ti, and you call that a minor fortuitous encounter? That's defying the heavens! With your bone structure, how many treasures did you get?" The Western Poison Emperor's eyes bulged.
Zhong Shan could only shake his head and smile bitterly. How could he explain this?
"Alright, Master, I'm here for a reason!" Hao ili interjected impatiently.
The Western Poison Emperor had to swallow his indignation. This was a pitiful example of a master with no authority.
"Zhong Shan, why did you send this note?" Hao ili asked.
"This way, please!" Zhong Shan led them further into the hall. Amid their curiosity, he flipped his hand.
"Boom!"
Outside the hall, eleven giant steles stood tall.
"Immortal Steles?" Hao ili exclaid excitedly.
She rushed out of the hall to examine them closely.
"They are real Immortal Steles. Zhong Shan, you're amazing! How did you manage this? My master couldn't get a single one after decades of effort, and you brought eleven at once. Incredible!" Hao ili's excitent made her blurt out everything.
Hearing this, the Western Poison Emperor's face darkened, rendered speechless. What could he do? The remaining forty-four Immortal Steles were in the hands of two dynasties and two holy lands. No matter how famous he was, he wouldn't dare clash with Buddhas or emperors.
The Western Poison Emperor was also skeptical. Could these be fakes? How did Zhong Shan get them?
"ili, verify if they are real," the Western Poison Emperor suggested.
"Of course, they're real. Not a single one is fake! Haha, another eleven, just thirty-three to go," Hao ili said, promptly collecting the steles.
In high spirits, Hao ili turned to Zhong Shan.
"Zhong Shan, tell what you want. I'll get it for you," Hao ili said generously.
"Uh, this was sothing I promised you. I'm just delivering it. These are the eleven Immortal Steles from the Great Li Dynasty," Zhong Shan said.
"Great, great!" Hao ili was extrely pleased.
Suddenly, Hao ili's eyes shifted, and she pulled the Western Poison Emperor aside for a quiet discussion.
"Master, give the ten-thousand-year dragon pearl the Dragon King gave last ti," Hao ili said.
"What for?" The Western Poison Emperor's eyes widened, clearly reluctant.
"Master, you saw it. Zhong Shan is better at finding Immortal Steles than you are. You can't use the dragon pearl right now, so why not give it to Zhong Shan?" Hao ili said.
As Hao ili finished speaking, the Western Poison Emperor shuddered, his eyes bulging even more.
"That is a ten-thousand-year dragon pearl! It's the remnant left behind by a powerful dragon who failed to ascend to immortality," the Western Poison Emperor said with great reluctance.
"Co on, the Dragon Palace has countless treasures. Next ti, I'll find you sothing even better," Hao ili insisted.
"But still!" The Western Poison Emperor was clearly unwilling.
"Master, think about it. It's been less than ten years, and Zhong Shan has already found eleven Immortal Steles. You've been searching for decades and haven't found even one," Hao ili argued.
"Didn't I find one before?"
"That was given to you by Zhong Shan! Honestly," Hao ili rolled her eyes.
The Western Poison Emperor sighed in resignation. Having such a disciple was truly a tragedy.
"If you give him the dragon pearl now, I think he will be even more motivated to help find more Immortal Steles," Hao ili said excitedly.
"Can't we give him sothing else?" the Western Poison Emperor tried to negotiate.
"No way. He's an emperor and a duke. Didn't you say he can get ordinary things whenever he wants?" Hao ili glared at him.
At that mont, the Western Poison Emperor wished he could slap himself. Why had he said that? Now, he was paying for his own words.
"Alright," the Western Poison Emperor finally relented, taking out a fist-sized, multicolored dragon pearl with great reluctance.
Hao ili, without hesitation, grabbed the dragon pearl and walked over to Zhong Shan.
"Zhong Shan, I, Hao ili, distinguish between kindness and enmity clearly. This ten-thousand-year dragon pearl is a gift to you as thanks for finding these eleven Immortal Steles," Hao ili said generously.
The Western Poison Emperor stood by with a look of deep sorrow. A ten-thousand-year dragon pearl was a precious treasure. Giving it to Zhong Shan felt like a waste. Even he didn't dare to absorb its power now, yet it was being given to Zhong Shan, who might not be able to use it for a long ti.
"This is too much," Zhong Shan said, eyeing the Western Poison Emperor's expression. Although he very much wanted the pearl, he made a show of reluctance.
Hearing Zhong Shan's hesitation, the Western Poison Emperor's eyes lit up. Yes, you don't want it? Give it to . I'll take it.
"Take it. I always keep my word. If anyone dares to take it from you, I'll curse them to have rotten hands and feet!" Hao ili said decisively.
Hearing Hao ili's words, the Western Poison Emperor shuddered involuntarily. His hands and feet instinctively drew back. He had just been thinking of ways to get the dragon pearl back, but hearing Hao ili's curse, he was terrified. Who would dare to steal it now? A curse from Hao ili was no joke. Her words were more binding than a royal decree. The Western Poison Emperor felt a wave of despair. Why had he accepted such a disciple? What a misfortune!
"In that case, I won't refuse," Zhong Shan said with a smile, taking the pearl.
A ten-thousand-year dragon pearl, the essence of a celestial dragon condensed within, was an incredible treasure.
The Western Poison Emperor could do nothing but watch with deep resentnt.
"Hmm, find more Immortal Steles in the future. There are still thirty-three left. I have high hopes for you!" Hao ili encouraged him in her crude manner.
Zhong Shan smiled quietly and shook his head.
"What?" Hao ili asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You still want more Immortal Steles?" Zhong Shan asked.
"Of course!" Hao ili nodded eagerly.
"How many dragons can you gather?" Zhong Shan asked.
"Gather dragons?" Hao ili was puzzled.
"Yes, since you've given a ten-thousand-year dragon pearl, I naturally want to help you find more Immortal Steles. But I can't do it alone. I'll need so help from the dragon clan," Zhong Shan explained with a smile.
"Find? How do we find them?" Hao ili asked, puzzled.
"Uh, to be precise, we're going to steal them. We're going to pull off a major heist and rob the Immortal Steles!" Zhong Shan declared.
Hao ili, fearless and bold, imdiately brightened at Zhong Shan's suggestion. It sounded like a great idea to her. The Western Poison Emperor, however, looked shocked.
"Rob? The remaining Immortal Steles are in three places: the Taishui Dynasty, the Longevity Realm, and the Pure Land. Rob? Each of those places is a formidable power! How can we rob them?" the Western Poison Emperor exclaid.
"Where do we start?" Hao ili asked eagerly.
"The Pure Land!" Zhong Shan replied.
"Cough, cough, cough..." The Western Poison Emperor nearly choked.
You must be out of your mind. You actually want to rob the Pure Land?
"Kid, do you have a death wish? Rob? Rob the Pure Land? A hundred of you wouldn't be enough to die there. We're not going with you," the Western Poison Emperor imdiately objected.
If Zhong Shan wanted to die, fine, but he shouldn't drag them along. The Pure Land? Even the entire dragon clan wouldn't co out unscathed from there. Rob? More like getting robbed.
"Oh, Master, stop shouting. What's the big deal about robbing the Immortal Steles? Really, Zhong Shan, continue," Hao ili said impatiently.
The Western Poison Emperor felt utterly humiliated, feeling a deep sense of regret. Why did he end up with such a disciple? It felt like a curse.
Zhong Shan observed their expressions and knew what they were thinking. He smiled slightly and said, "Senior Western Poison Emperor, don't worry. When I say we're robbing the Immortal Steles, it's not about rushing in foolishly. We need a strategy."
"Exactly!" Hao ili agreed. Obtaining the Immortal Steles was the priority; any other difficulty was secondary.
Of course, only Hao ili would think this way because she was fearless. Anyone who dared to oppose her would be cursed.
"What strategy?" the Western Poison Emperor asked quickly. He needed to understand the plan, seeing that Hao ili was clearly determined.
"Obviously, we can't do it alone. We need to orchestrate a multi-faceted plan, drawing nurous powerful individuals to attack the Pure Land. Only then can we steal the Immortal Steles," Zhong Shan explained.
"And who would join you in such madness, robbing a holy land? If you find soone, I will..." the Western Poison Emperor began but stopped himself. Before eting Hao ili, he would have made any vow, but after spending ti with her, he realized making vows was a bad idea.
"Haha, rest assured, I will find the people and handle the arrangents. You just need to gather a large number of dragons and follow in an assault on the Pure Land from the northern side of the East Sea," Zhong Shan said.
"Alright, it's a deal!" Hao ili said excitedly.
Zhong Shan nodded in satisfaction. By aligning Hao ili with his plans, he no longer had to worry. Anyone who dared to trouble him would face Hao ili's curses. With her by his side, they would be invincible and unparalleled in their cursing prowess.
anwhile, the Western Poison Emperor could only feel a deep sense of resignation. Zhong Shan was indeed mad, planning to rob a holy land. Holy lands were not to be trifled with. If they were that easy to rob, they would have been destroyed countless tis already. Since Hao ili was determined to go, he, as her master, had no choice but to accompany her. One misstep and they could all perish. He lanted his fate. Why had he taken such a disciple? What a misfortune!
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