Where does that wicked woman get her conscience?

Chapter 279 Crystal Black Liquid

Early the next morning.

Just as Guan Xun finished her cultivation, a servant rushed into the courtyard to deliver a message, saying that Zhuge Tianxia wanted her to go to the main hall immediately.

After a moment's thought, he guessed that there must be some progress on the matter of the transport team.

She soon arrived at the main hall.

As soon as I stepped through the door, I saw Zhuge Tianxia holding a teacup, slowly taking a sip.

Seeing someone enter through the door, his eyes lit up and a smile instantly spread across his face. He immediately put down his teacup, stood up, and walked over: "Xun'er, I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't been able to find a single moment to visit you."

He spoke with a hint of apology, then paused before getting to the point: "I heard from Zhao'er yesterday that you want to join the Shangju Pavilion's transport team, is that right?"

"Yes." Guan Xun nodded and spoke frankly, "The champion of this Holy Peak Selection Tournament was supposed to be able to enter the Upper Abode for cultivation, but I was in a hurry to return to the palace and missed the opportunity. Now it's good to be able to go there with the transport team and broaden my horizons."

"Oh, I see." Zhuge Tianxia suddenly realized, then waved his hand decisively and said, "Since you're interested, I'll finalize the approval for you today!"

As he spoke, a hint of mystery appeared on his face: "It's rare that you have something you want to do. Since we have nothing to do this morning, I'll take you somewhere."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuge Tianxia didn't linger and led Guan Xun straight out of the main hall.

The two walked one after the other through the long corridors toward the majestic hall in the center of the True Inheritance Hall.

The entire palace was constructed of black jade, and bronze wind chimes hanging from the eaves swayed gently in the wind, emitting clear and melodious sounds, exuding a solemn atmosphere.

The guards outside the main hall were several times more numerous than those outside the main hall, each holding a long spear and gleaming with sharp eyes, their vigilance almost exaggerated.

Upon seeing Zhuge Tianxia approach, the guards bowed in unison before pushing open the heavy palace doors to let the two inside.

As soon as he stepped inside, Guan Xun was slightly taken aback by the sight before him.

I had assumed that the interior of this grand hall was an empty space, but upon entering, I found myself in a vast bluestone plaza.

Around the square, a ring of tall halls stands in an encircling formation, with no walls separating them, all open like neat cubicles.

In the center of the square, furnaces and refining pools were densely packed together. The furnaces were burning fiercely, and the pool water was steaming. The clanging and clattering of objects mingled together, creating a bustling scene.

The open halls were filled with obsidian stones, which were dark and gleamed with an eerie light, in such large quantities that it was frightening.

On the left side of the square were rows of neat pottery jars, filled with a crystal-clear black liquid that shimmered under the firelight, with a faint, pure spiritual energy emanating from them.

Zhuge Tianxia smiled and glanced around. Seeing that everyone in the square was focused and busy, he nodded in satisfaction.

People would occasionally look up and see him, then quickly bow and greet him. He would simply nod, indicating that everyone should continue with their work.

When they reached the pottery jar on the left, Zhuge Tianxia turned to look at Guan Xun, pointed to the shiny black liquid, and said, "Xun'er, look, this is the crystal black liquid extracted from obsidian. This is what we are going to offer to Shangju Pavilion."

As he spoke, he pointed to the mountain of obsidian next to him and explained in a steady voice: "Every so often, the main hall collects obsidian from the branch halls in various parts of the Central Plains. After the main hall master personally counts and verifies it, it is transported to the main hall and handed over to these craftsmen to refine and temper it. After removing impurities, it is jarred and sealed. When the time comes, it is supplied to the Upper Residence Pavilion in a unified manner."

“The Holy Spirit Goddess of Shangju Pavilion is a powerful being with the light of protection.” He paced back and forth for a few steps, looking at the boiling refining pool in the center of the square, his tone filled with awe. “According to the legends passed down from our ancestors, the place where our Zhongtan Holy City is located was once a fierce hell. Ordinary people would turn to ashes if they stepped into it. It was only after the arrival of the Holy Spirit Goddess that it was calmed down.”

"She could sweep away all evil with a wave of her hand and eliminate all demons and monsters. That's how she built this city, took in refugees and people from all directions, and allowed them to settle down and make a living here."

"As long as she shines with her protective light, the Holy City of Zhongtan will be safe and peaceful. Therefore, it is both our duty and our reverence for her to offer the Crystal Black Liquid."

Upon hearing this, Guan Xun's brows furrowed imperceptibly, and he sneered inwardly. He thought it was a miracle that Guan Qi hadn't driven them to their deaths; how could he possibly be so kind?

Zhuge Tianxia was unaware of what she was thinking, and continued to say to himself, "Among the three halls, the Holy Light Hall is the most capable. The crystal black liquid they handed over four times in a row was of the best quality and the largest quantity. It is precisely because of this that the Holy Light Hall received the blessing of the Holy Spirit Goddess and was exceptionally generous. This is why their disciples acted so recklessly and arrogantly."

"They even guarded two of the city gates of Zhongtan Holy City."

Guan Xun raised an eyebrow and took two steps closer, bending down to examine the pottery jars filled with the crystalline black liquid.

The liquid in the jar was as black as obsidian, and it shimmered with a lustrous sheen under the firelight. The spiritual energy flowing within it was purer than that of obsidian, yet it had nothing particularly unusual about it.

She couldn't help but turn her head and ask, "I wonder what the Holy Spirit Goddess wants this black crystalline liquid for?"

Zhuge Tianxia shook his head: "I don't know either. Anyway, our True Inheritance Hall has passed down the refining technique for generations, and we have always made offerings on time. We have never dared to slack off in the slightest."

"Oh," Guan Xun responded casually, then changed the subject, half-jokingly, "The goddess's cultivation must be quite formidable, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Tianxia's brows furrowed instantly, his eyes filled with awe and even a hint of barely perceptible lingering fear, as if he had recalled some extremely terrifying scene.

"I have never seen the goddess in person, let alone witnessed her in action. I only know that every time she goes out, she is surrounded by a layer of killing aura, and the four personal guards protect her so tightly that no one has ever seen her true face."

As he spoke, his tone grew increasingly solemn: "The pressure she exuded was terrifying to the extreme. Even with my cultivation level, I could only look up at her under that pressure, unable to even muster the slightest thought of resistance. Her true cultivation level is beyond the comprehension of us."

Guan Xun's eyes flickered slightly. "Hmph, he's hidden himself well enough that he hasn't even let anyone see his true face."

As her thoughts raced, Zhuge Tianxia frowned in confusion: "Xun'er, why are you suddenly so interested in the Holy Spirit Goddess?"

"Oh, it's nothing, I was just asking out of curiosity," Guan Xun replied casually, his expression revealing no sign of anything amiss.

Zhuge Tianxia didn't think much of it and smiled as he pointed to the steaming refining pools in the center of the square: "Well, since you're going to join the transport team, I'll show you the whole process of refining obsidian into crystal black liquid today, so you can understand the importance of this stuff."

His tone was more admonishing, yet also carried a fierce protectiveness: "Once you join the team, you must listen to the leader's instructions and do your job well. But if anyone dares to bully you because of their seniority, just tell your father, and I'll slap them until they're crawling on the ground!"

As he spoke, he burst into hearty laughter.

Guan Xun shook his head helplessly and amusedly, then followed him around the square again.

In the following days, she would run over here whenever she had free time, and each time she would get close to the pottery jar containing the crystal black liquid and examine it carefully.

However, apart from the fact that the liquid was purer than obsidian in terms of spiritual energy, it had nothing else unusual or special about it. She had no choice but to give up and turn to immerse herself in the treasure vault of the True Inheritance Hall to cultivate diligently.

This period of cultivation lasted for seven days, during which I remained detached from worldly affairs.

It wasn't until a servant rushed into the treasury, panting, and called out to her that Guan Xun suddenly came to her senses. Today was a special family reunion banquet prepared for her by the palace.

She glanced to her side; Bai Ze was still sitting cross-legged, his spiritual energy flowing continuously around him, clearly still in meditation.

Without making a sound to disturb her, she stretched, straightened her robes, and walked straight out.

……