Chapter 186: Taking the Big Picture Into Consideration
As the legend of the Sword Immortal continued to ferment in Rong City, the legend of the human cultivator in Ping City did not decrease in popularity either.
Many of them admired Li Yuanqing, who was a powerful figure who roamed the wilderness alone. However, they did not have the strength to do so. Entering the wilderness alone was simply a dead end for them.
There was someone who quietly left Rong City and embarked on a journey to find this Sword Immortal.
“City Lord, do we really have to do this?”
“I think this person might very well be the one I know. I have to get him back.”
“But City Lord, if they find out that you’re not here, I’m afraid…”
“Seal the news. Don’t let anything out. Nothing must happen before I return.”
The old man sighed slightly and looked at Ye Qiluo helplessly. “But City Lord, do you really think that it will be useful just by finding this person? I thought that the situation described by the expedition team was exaggerated. I’m afraid we can’t believe it completely.”
Ye Qiluo looked at the old man firmly and said, “No, if that person is really someone I know, he must have a way. I believe it.”
The old man’s persuasion was useless. Ye Qiluo was desperate.
The City Lord of Rong City, the beautiful Ye Qiluo, entered the wilderness alone.
This wilderness was extremely dangerous. Every step she took was extremely dangerous. Even with Ye Qiluo’s skills, she had to be extra careful. She hid her aura the entire time and walked carefully. Half a month later, she finally found some of Li Yuanqing’s aura.
Ye Qiluo bent down and squatted down. She stretched out her slender fingers and grabbed a handful of soil. The soil was reddish-brown and emitted a strong stench.
Ye Qiluo looked up and forward. She saw a pile of minced meat lying randomly in front of her. She looked at the depth of the blood that had fused into the ground and the temperature of the soil. It seemed like he had not gone far.
After half a month of searching, she finally found the person she was looking for. Ye Qiluo’s hand that was holding the soil could not help but tremble slightly.
Li Yuanqing did not care about what was happening behind him. At this moment, Li Yuanqing was leaning against an old tree and worrying.
The old tree beside him was very thick, as thick as two people hugging each other. However, the bark of this old tree was extremely dry, and there were many holes in the trunk. From the looks of it, it was extremely old.
A few new buds grew out of the messy branches. On these fresh branches, there were specks of apricot-yellow leaves. These leaves were very beautiful. Just a small ball of them was enough to attract people’s attention.
“Master, I don’t think this tree will survive if it moves into the domain. Let’s just forget it.”
The Man-eating Vine touched the ancient tree from top to bottom. Although there was a new sprout on the ancient ginkgo tree, its entire trunk had been completely destroyed. Even if it was removed and moved into the domain, it would not be able to survive.
If the entire tree was transplanted, there was not much chance of survival. This old tree was already on the verge of death. It was already very rare for it to bloom with the last bit of color.
Li Yuanqing felt that it was a pity. It would be great if such a beautiful ginkgo could be planted in his domain.
“What a pity.”
Li Yuanqing shook his head and turned around. There was a huge python behind him. It was curled up into a ball and its head was ruthlessly pressed to the ground.
The python’s eyes shone with fear as it looked at Li Yuanqing in horror. This human was stronger than he had imagined.
Li Yuanqing looked around at the python and could not think of anything to do.
“What a pity.”
The python knew that it was definitely not Li Yuanqing’s match if it faced him head-on. It swayed its tail slightly and crawled on the ground obediently, not daring to move.
“Master, what do you plan to do with this little fellow?”
In the mouth of the Man-eating Vine, this python that was more than a hundred meters long turned out to be an inconspicuous little fellow.
Li Yuanqing shook his head and said, “If not for this little fellow, I’m afraid this tree wouldn’t have survived until now. It is also its credit that I was able to meet it. Spare its life and let it accompany this ancient ginkgo tree on its last journey.”
The python seemed to understand Li Yuanqing’s words and nodded frequently. It was even squeaking, as if it was grateful and happy to have survived.
As Li Yuanqing spoke, he undid the seal on the python’s body. The python gratefully crawled in front of Li Yuanqing and kowtowed twice before crawling towards the ancient ginkgo tree.
This ancient ginkgo tree could be considered to have sprouted. Its trunk should have already dried up. It was already a miracle that it could sprout such a small sprout. It did not seem realistic to expect it to blossom and bear fruit in this situation.
Li Yuanqing took one last look and planned to leave this time. He was a little regretful.
One of the python’s heads crawled through a hole in the ancient tree. Not long after, its entire body crawled into the ancient tree.
Li Yuanqing watched as he returned to his nest and was about to leave with the Man-eating Vine. However, just as he was about to leave, the python’s body crawled out from the other end.
The python swayed its huge body and carefully arrived in front of Li Yuanqing.
“Little guy, don’t tell me you still want to make things difficult for me. I think you understand what kind of situation you’re in.”
The python blinked at Li Yuanqing and carefully extended its huge head to Li Yuanqing’s feet. Then, its mouth opened slightly and three round b.a.l.l.s landed at Li Yuanqing’s feet. After putting down the three b.a.l.l.s, the python retreated to the side. Its body was coiled up like a small mountain as it looked at Li Yuanqing quietly.
Li Yuanqing raised his hand and grabbed the three b.a.l.l.s. When he took a closer look, he realized that it was a seed left behind by the ginkgo tree. The python had preserved it in a withered place and it had yet to sprout.
“When did you keep these seeds?”
Li Yuanqing looked at the python in surprise. He did not expect this fellow to have such a brain. He actually left three seeds behind. This way, he could revive this ginkgo tree in his domain.
“Alright, I see that you’re quite smart. I’ll reward you with two pills.”
Li Yuanqing was in a good mood. He took out two Divine Origin Pills and threw them at the python.
The python opened its mouth and swallowed the two pills. It looked at Li Yuanqing happily.
“We don’t owe each other anything. Let’s meet again if fate allows it.”
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and stretched out his right hand towards a big tree behind him. A huge suction force spread out from the palm.
Ye Qiluo, who was hiding behind the tree, was pulled over uncontrollably. She felt like a doll that was controlled by Li Yuanqing.
Ye Qiluo was caught off guard by Li Yuanqing.
Speaking of which, Ye Qiluo had only just arrived. She was extremely shocked to see Li Yuanqing playing with this seventh-stage Spirit Transformation python like it was a pet.
Li Yuanqing placed Ye Qiluo on the ground and looked at her in confusion.
“City Lord Ye? Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be living your good life in Rong City now? I heard that everyone in Rong City can live and work in peace under your governance. You’re doing well.”
Ye Qiluo got up from the ground in a sorry state and tidied her clothes. She looked at Li Yuanqing steadily.
Li Yuanqing took a step back carefully. What did this woman mean? Why was she looking at him like that? It was really strange.
“City Lord Ye, you didn’t come here to spy on me, right?”
“So it is you. I was right.”
Li Yuanqing was confused by Ye Qiluo’s baffling words.
Li Yuanqing looked at Ye Qiluo strangely. “City Lord Ye, I didn’t do anything to let you down, right? I feel like I…”
“Mr. Li!”
As Li Yuanqing spoke, Ye Qiluo suddenly did something that surprised him.
Ye Qiluo suddenly knelt on one knee and lowered her head, facing Li Yuanqing.
“City Lord Ye, what are you doing? Get up quickly.”
Li Yuanqing hurriedly tried to help Ye Qiluo up, but her clothes were thin. It would be inappropriate if he reached out and touched her skin. However, it would not be appropriate to let Ye Qiluo kneel here without asking.
Ye Qiluo was the City Lord of Rong City. How could she be kneeling in front of him? However, Ye Qiluo did not say anything at first. She just knelt there, not saying what she wanted.
“City Lord Ye, what are you doing? I know you’re very grateful to me. It’s just a small matter. It’s reasonable for me to help you when you encounter your own kind in the wilderness. You don’t have to thank me in this way.”
Li Yuanqing thought that Ye Qiluo had specially come to thank him for saving the expedition team. If it was just for such a small matter, why would she, the City Lord of Rong City, come all the way here to kneel down and beg personally?
“I’ve long heard of the Sword Immortal’s reputation. I’ve specially come to seek an audience with you today. I hope that you can lend a helping hand to the human race of Rong City!”
Ye Qiluo’s words stunned Li Yuanqing.
“But didn’t City Lord Ye govern Rong City very well? The humans there are living very comfortably now. Moreover, there are more humans in the entire city. It’s a very good phenomenon, right?”
Ye Qiluo looked up, her exquisite face filled with worry.
“Lord Sword Immortal, you might have heard something from the expedition team, but the current situation in Rong City is only on the surface.”
“Where did this come from?” As Li Yuanqing spoke, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have admitted that he was the Sword Immortal. “I have to make it clear. The Sword Immortal is the glory of Ping City. I’m just an ordinary cultivator. If you have something to ask the Sword Immortal, I won’t be able to help.”
Ye Qiluo saw that Li Yuanqing did not intend to admit it, but she was thinking that Li Yuanqing was the legendary Sword Immortal.
She looked at Li Yuanqing. “Sword Immortal, only you can resolve this matter. Although I’ve obtained the position of City Lord, the demons outside Rong City have infiltrated very severely. The situation is far from what you’ve heard.”
“But I think the human race is doing quite well now. Then where did the crisis you mentioned come from?”
Li Yuanqing originally thought that Rong City was living a prosperous life, just like Ping City. However, he neglected that there was no human in Rong City who was as powerful as him.
Although Ye Qiluo was also an expert, she was still far from being able to stabilize a city.
“A large number of demons keep pouring into Rong City. They are secretly attacking our fellow humans. In just half a month, thousands of humans have been harmed.”
“Thousands?”
Ye Qiluo sighed. “It’s just that I’ve been suppressing this news. In order to avoid a large-scale conflict with the demons, we’ve sealed this news.”
Li Yuanqing frowned and looked at Ye Qiluo. “Then haven’t you thought about how long you can hide this level of mutilation?”
Ye Qiluo looked at Li Yuanqing sadly. “Sword Immortal, I’m helpless too. The demons are powerful and they have formed an alliance. If we fight them on a large scale, we have no chance of winning. That’s why I’ve been enduring.”
“Then is enduring getting you anywhere?”
Ye Qiluo grabbed Li Yuanqing’s hand. “That’s why I rushed over immediately after I heard the news about the Sword Immortal. I knew that it was you, Young Master Li. You’re the Sword Immortal. You must have a way to help Rong City stabilize the human race!”
Li Yuanqing was not obligated to help the humans of Rong City. However, he and Ye Qiluo did have some old ties in the past. Even as friends, he felt that he should help his friend in such a predicament. However, the situation there was not clear yet. It was hard to say what the consequences would be if he rashly attacked.
Although Li Yuanqing considered himself to be extremely powerful, he also knew that there were mountains beyond mountains and heavens beyond heavens. If he was too high-profile, he would only be unlucky.
“This is not easy to do.”
Li Yuanqing looked at Ye Qiluo hesitantly. Ye Qiluo’s hands were very warm. Her exquisite white hands grabbed the corner of Li Yuanqing’s clothes tightly, making her look quite pitiful.
“Lord Sword Immortal, Young Master Li, Mr. Li, you must have a way, right?” Ye Qiluo lowered her head heavily. “I beg you to help me for the sake of the human race.”