Chapter 402: Chapter 394 Plotting for the Fire Lotus_1

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Many cultivators were like old scholars rushing to exams, failing this year and trying again the next.

The more times they took the exam, the more familiar they became with the rules, which allowed them to prepare more effectively for the next one.

The Water and Land Dharma Assembly was the only chance for mortal cultivators to enter an Immortal Sect.

And comparatively speaking, it was fairer.

As long as one had the strength, it was nearly impossible to be overlooked.

By then, even all the senior members of the Black Tiger Gang would likely attend. Many of those big shots already had experience in multiple assemblies, and their chances of success were higher.

After all, most of them had already reached the Spirit Qi Realm.

…

After dinner, Qin Niu returned to his study to browse through Master Mo Yang’s Plants Illustrated Handbook.

Purchasing this book had been an incredible deal.

The plants included within were extraordinarily rare and special.

It was said that Master Mo Yang later entered an Immortal Sect, but whether he achieved immortality or if he was still alive was unknown.

Master Mo Yang could be considered a top success story among farmers.

A normal farmer, if they worked hard to become a planting master and a great landlord, would be deemed very successful. He, however, had managed to enter an Immortal Sect and cultivate through his hard work.

Qin Niu quickly flipped to the page about the Fire Lotus.

It featured several illustrations, all of the same Fire Lotus, but from different perspectives and stages of growth.

The last picture, showing the Fire Lotus in full bloom, was extremely similar to the one Qin Niu had seen in the lava.

The Fire Lotus, also known as Drought Golden Lotus, Red Lotus, Nirvana Lotus, Apocalypse Lotus, etc., grows in scorching lava. It is most commonly found in active volcanoes.

Some were the size of a palm, while others could grow up to seven or eight meters in diameter.

Legend has it that the lotus coexists with fire, meaning when it is born, a volcano forms. When it fully blooms, it marks the eruption of the volcano.

The lotus can be used in medicine and can help cultivators of fire-related cultivation techniques rapidly increase their cultivation levels.

There were tales of great beings of the immortal dao who, with immense wisdom and courage, used the Fire Lotus to achieve nirvana and transcendence, shedding their mortal bodies to forge an immortal form and an indestructible golden body…

As Qin Niu read about the Fire Lotus, he felt his blood boiling with excitement.

By a stroke of luck, he had already obtained an Ice Lotus.

If he could get a Fire Lotus as well, it would be perfect.

The book didn’t mention any methods for harvesting the Fire Lotus, only that it was born within fiery lava, and that attempting to retrieve it risked life and limb and was not for the faint-hearted.

Master Mo Yang must have been someone who cherished plants and trees; his Plants Illustrated Handbook detailed the uses of each plant and included illustrations, but never discussed how to acquire them.

“Water and fire are incompatible, yet they generate and overcome each other. Can I use the Ice Lotus to obtain the Fire Lotus?”

A flash of inspiration struck Qin Niu.

Master Mo Yang had also mentioned that when the Fire Lotus fully blooms, it signifies the eruption of a volcano.

The Fire Lotus in the lava was nearing its full bloom, and the turbulent flow of the lava in the cave indicated that the volcano might erupt at any moment.

He had to acquire the Fire Lotus before the volcano erupted.

Otherwise, the Lotus would be destroyed in the eruption.

The temperature of the lava was extremely high, exceeding a thousand degrees. As a mortal with a physical body, Qin Niu stood no chance of entering it.

The Ice Lotus seemed to be the exact opposite of the Fire Lotus, continually emitting cold air, even capable of freezing an entire pond.

Using it to withstand the heat of the lava was at least worth a try.

Qin Niu decided to find time to take the Ice Lotus and attempt entering the cave.

Of course, he had to make some preparations first.

After reviewing the Plants Illustrated Handbook, he used his consciousness to check on the Green Demon Bees and the Dark Gold Shadow Fire Bees in his Hundred Treasures Insect Bag.

Pff!

He blushed with embarrassment.

There he saw, the Dark Gold Shadow Fire Bee was lying on top of the Green Demon Bee.

The world of insects was so straightforward. Human relationships, by comparison, were much more complex. Some people might date for years before even considering marriage and eventually coming together.

Insects, on the other hand, could become mates as soon as they found each other agreeable.

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Originally, he was still worried that the Dark Gold Shadow Fire Bee and the Green Demon Bee were two different bee species, and they wouldn’t mate.

His worry was unnecessary.

All he needed to do was patiently wait for the Green Demon Bee to lay eggs.

After his bath, Qin Niu walked towards Wang Wanyan’s room. While the insects were busy procreating, he too must work hard towards the goal of soon becoming a father.

If he could have several children, raise them, and have them join him in cultivation, the Qin Family would gradually flourish.

He would also have the strongest support.

Father and son soldiers in battle, after all.

The next morning, Qin Niu wrestled out of the tender land, dressed, and left the room.

He didn’t wake Wang Wanyan, still sleeping soundly.

Having given her a tough time last night, naturally, he let her sleep a while longer.

“Master, good morning!”

The three maidservants were industrious, getting up early to prepare breakfast and boil hot water.

Upon seeing Qin Niu rise, they brought over the hot water for washing.

“Is it raining outside?”

“Yes, a light rain has been falling!”

Yu Qiu, the oldest of the maidservants, replied.

The other two maidservants were only around thirteen years old, a bit young, and also much shier.

They didn’t dare to converse much with their master.

Every time they saw Qin Niu, they would stand respectfully, hands held down at the front, shoulders slightly drooped.

“You three have been at my residence for some time now, are you getting used to it?”

“Used to it!”

The two younger maidservants replied softly.

“You and the two madams treat us very well, never scold us. I have food to eat, a good place to live, and the work is not tiring. It is good! Being able to serve you and the two madams as maidservants is my good fortune.”

Yu Qiu’s answer might have a hint of flattery, but her tone and gaze were very sincere as she spoke.

Her overall demeanor was also quite positive.

Her complexion had a hint of rosy health, her eyes were bright, indicating her life here was indeed not bad.

“As long as you work hard and serve me and the two madams well, I will definitely not treat you unfairly. I’m planning to go into the city today, and I see your clothing is quite worn. I will buy two sets for each of you. Just tell Xiao Qing your sizes.”

Qin Niu was fairly satisfied with the performance of the three maidservants over this period.

It was also time to give them some rewards to keep them motivated.

Adults work hard mostly to honor their parents, support their children, and improve the lives of their families and themselves— to have enough food and warm clothing.

They sold themselves to Qin Niu, becoming servants, which made it impossible for them to contact their families again.

Unless they had Qin Niu’s permission.

The maidservants generally wouldn’t take the initiative to contact their families.

Most of them were sold off by their parents or siblings, losing their freedom.

And others no longer had any family.

Some uncles or other relatives, upon seeing their niece’s parents dead or missing, might outright sell them off, then usurp their inheritance.

For the sake of money, human nature can be more terrifying than demons.

“Thank you, master!”

All three maidservants were overjoyed upon hearing that their master was going to get them new clothes.

Their smiles were evident on their faces.

“Yang Yao, this is the first time I’ve seen you smile; you should smile more in the future. That way you’ll look prettier, understand? If you always frown and look troubled, you’ll only grow uglier, and age especially fast,” Qin Niu told the maidservant with a beauty mark on her left eyebrow.

This maidservant was picked by Wang Wanyan, quite frail looking, but not bad in appearance. She was just exceptionally introverted, always seemed preoccupied, rarely speaking.

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