Ye Chu and Su Rong were chatting casually. Su Rong smiled beautifully, displaying her bright charm and drawing the glances of many men. Her familiarity with Ye Chu also sparked jealousy among many cultivators, who wondered where this cultivator had come from, to be able to get so close to the goddess in their hearts.
Beside Su Rong stood a young man in fine clothes. He was handsome, refined, and carried himself with a bright, open demeanour. Seeing Su Rong chatting so happily with a stranger, he felt somewhat surprised. He knew Su Rong’s temperament well. She was aloof and proud, rarely so talkative in front of outsiders. Yet now, before this young man, she occasionally showed a shy, delicate expression.
This was a side of her they had never seen before, leaving many speechless.
“Miss Su Rong, we still need to go over there to meet Young Master Jiang Ning. Do you think we could perhaps…” Yan Xiaohai walked up to Su Rong, smiling pleasantly and showing perfect manners.
Hearing Yan Xiaohai speak, Su Rong showed a hint of regret. She turned to Ye Chu and said, “I need to go over there for a while. We can chat again later!”
Ye Chu smiled at Su Rong and leaned casually against a nearby stone. “It is fine. Go and attend to your business.”
Seeing that Ye Chu bore no resentment, she breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. She looked at Yan Xiaohai and introduced him to Ye Chu. “This is Yan Xiaohai. His cultivation is very formidable. Senior Brother Yan, this is Ye…”
Su Rong wanted to introduce Yan Xiaohai and the others to Ye Chu, but before she could finish her sentence, Yan Xiaohai interrupted. “Junior Sister Su Rong, let us hurry. Everyone is waiting to see you!”
Yan Xiaohai’s interruption left Su Rong looking awkward and apologetic. She had originally intended to introduce Yan Xiaohai and his companions to Ye Chu, so that Ye Chu would have people to look out for him on the Path of the Heavenly Prodigies. She had not expected that Yan Xiaohai and the others would show absolutely no interest in him.
Su Rong could not help but sigh and stopped pressing the matter. After all, the circle Yan Xiaohai and his peers moved in was difficult to enter. Each of them possessed extraordinary strength. They did not give face to just anyone.
Shaking her head, Su Rong thought that Ye Chu’s background was ultimately too low, and his strength was merely average. Otherwise, these people would not ignore him so completely.
Seeing Su Rong’s apologetic expression, Ye Chu smiled and said, “Go and attend to your matters. I will just sit here for a while.”
Su Rong nodded and walked towards another area. Halfway there, she turned back to glance at Ye Chu. Seeing him still leaning lazily against the bluestone, she could not help but sigh.
Su Rong was clearly the centre of attention for this group. Wherever she went, crowds gathered around her. Ye Chu had been admiring Su Rong’s graceful figure, but his view was quickly blocked by others, forcing him to look away.
Ye Chu had just withdrawn his gaze when he noticed someone else leaning nearby. This person was clad in black robes that completely covered their body, with a veil concealing their face. Ye Chu was startled, wondering where on earth this person had appeared from.
“Is this woman another one of those you have ruined in the past?” As soon as the black-robed figure beside him spoke, Ye Chu instantly recognised her from that gentle, beautiful voice. He was surprised to see her here as well.
“I have a kind nature. How can you use the word ruin to describe me? However, I am curious how you managed to stand here. I heard there are even more people hunting you than there are hunting me.” Ye Chu appraised Ji Die’s slender figure, but soon sighed, thinking that such a sexy and alluring body was completely hidden beneath these black robes.
Hearing Ye Chu’s words, Ji Die’s face beneath the veil grew cold. “You are truly cunning. Two bottles of sacred liquid drew a large wave of pursuers straight to me. If I did not have some skill, I would probably be dead by now. You are becoming increasingly ruthless.”
“You flatter me. However, I also know how strong you are. Those people are no match for you at all. You will not die!” Ye Chu laughed. “Besides, I gave you sacred liquid as a gift. How can you accuse me of being ruthless?”
Ji Die gave a soft snort through her nose. For days she had worn black robes to evade the many people hunting her. Yet even so, some still knew her identity. Having come this far, she was equally irritated by the harassment. And all of this was brought upon her by the man standing before her.
Ji Die did not pursue the topic further. From the moment she accepted the sacred liquid from Ye Chu, she had foreseen this situation. Though displeased, she did not wish to complain about it too much.
“You do have courage, daring to come up here. Since these people know you possess sacred liquid, I fear they will all be watching you like hawks.” Ji Die said. Yet Ye Chu detected a tone of schadenfreude in her voice, which he found hard to believe. Would a woman as ethereal as a heavenly maiden actually show such a gleeful expression at another’s misfortune?
“If they are not afraid of death, let them try to take it. I still have dozens of bottles of sacred liquid. I just fear they lack the ability to claim it.” Ye Chu smiled. “Besides, you and I are tied to the same rope. If I am besieged by them, do you really think you could escape?”
Ji Die glanced at Ye Chu and then said, “I know what you want to do. You are after the blood of these cultivators. I struggle to understand what reason drives you to collect the blood of every cultivator so obsessively, even at the risk of placing yourself in danger.”
Ye Chu shrugged. “Everyone has their own preferences. I personally love drinking blood soup. I am preparing to cook a soup of ten thousand races. On the day it is finished, I will invite you to share a bowl.”
Ji Die felt her stomach churn. She circulated her spiritual energy and glared fiercely at Ye Chu. “In the future, if you dare speak such disgusting words in front of me again, I will… Hmph… Bear the consequences yourself!”
Ye Chu shrugged. He was not particularly afraid of Ji Die. Instead, he asked curiously, “What are you doing here?”
“The Heavenly Prodigy Map!” Ji Die said slowly. This left Ye Chu momentarily stunned.
“You want this thing? What use is it? To check the map of the Heavenly Prodigy Path?” Ye Chu asked curiously. He could not help but glance at the fat man lying on a bluestone nearby, wondering if he should go and rob the Heavenly Prodigy Map from him first.
“It has its uses. It is somewhat connected to the Red Dust Female Saint.” Ji Die said. “What do you think? Are you interested in seizing it together with me?”
Ye Chu’s heart skipped a beat. He was immensely shocked. He had not expected this to involve a Sovereign, and not just any Sovereign, but the most peerlessly brilliant female Sovereign in history.
“What connection does it have with her?” Ye Chu asked.
“If I knew, I would not be looking for them.” Ji Die replied. “So, are you interested in joining forces to obtain all three Heavenly Prodigy Maps?”
“There are three?” Ye Chu exclaimed, surprised by this revelation.
“Of course! For your sake, I am willing to exert some effort.” Ye Chu said matter-of-factly, smiling at Ji Die and looking as though he were doing it entirely for her benefit.