Chapter 30 Ice Crystal Snow LotusNot long after, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong also arrived at the Treasure Appreciation Fair. Huo Yuhao had recently been highly valued by the academy, even granted a special privilege: he could freely choose one treasure from the Treasure Gathering Pavilion each year!Huo Yuhao used this year's privilege without hesitation, buying Wang Dong the Golden Earth Dragon King's left arm bone, valued at nine million five hundred thousand gold coins!Wang Dong's family background was extraordinary, and she could certainly afford this Spirit Bone herself, but receiving a gift from Huo Yuhao meant something entirely different. Her pretty face flushed with excitement, and her gaze towards Huo Yuhao was practically trailing threads of affection.Even when she saw Dai Youheng again, he seemed more agreeable, and because she was in such a good mood, she couldn't be bothered to fuss over the minor incident at breakfast earlier."Brother!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed happily upon seeing Dai Youheng, pulling Wang Dong along. "Wang Dong and I are going back to absorb the Spirit Bone. Do you want to come back with us?"He had gained a benefit and wanted to share his joy with this brother who had always "supported" him.Dai Youheng showed a perfectly gentle smile on his face and shook his head. "No, Luoluo, Susu, and I still want to look around here. You two go back first.""Go, go, hurry up and go," Dai Youheng thought to himself. "If you don't leave, how can the 'guests' Dai Huabin invited make their appearance?"He clearly remembered that in the original story, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were ambushed by assassins hired by Dai Huabin on their way back to the academy!Moreover, due to his own existence, some of the forces in this assassination might target him. Dai Huabin wouldn't kill him; his goal should be to reclaim those two Spirit Bones and teach him a profound lesson.And Dai Youheng's method for breaking this situation was shockingly simple: he just wouldn't go with Huo Yuhao!The assassins' main target would undoubtedly be Huo Yuhao, the guy who made Dai Huabin kneel.As long as Huo Yuhao left, the assassins would definitely prioritize following him. Would they really wait outside the Treasure Gathering Pavilion just because Dai Youheng didn't go with him, insisting on waiting until both were together to catch them all?What if he deliberately lingered in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion until very, very late, only leaving after Huo Yuhao had safely returned to the academy?Therefore, by separating from Huo Yuhao, he could use Huo Yuhao to draw away most of the firepower, and this crisis targeting him would naturally resolve itself."A dead fellow daoist is better than a dead poor daoist. Huo Yuhao, you have the protagonist's halo; you can definitely handle this small scene. Your brother won't accompany you on this adventure." Dai Youheng watched Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong excitedly leave the Treasure Gathering Pavilion with a faint smile, his heart completely calm.He turned to the Lan Sisters and said, "Let's go, let's look at something else. I heard the refreshments at the Treasure Gathering Pavilion are good; we can go try them."He decided he would stay in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion until closing time today.Dai Youheng had originally planned to spend the rest of his time drinking tea in the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's lounge area, leisurely waiting for the commotion involving Huo Yuhao to subside before leaving. However, plans often don't go as expected.Not long after Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong left with that resplendent Golden Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone, the staff of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion quickly placed a new treasure in the most prominent spot where the Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone had previously been displayed.It was a lotus flower.Its entire body exhibited an extremely pure ice-blue color, with layers of petals, as if meticulously carved from ten-thousand-year profound ice, crystal clear, emitting a faint white cold mist and a refreshing aura that calmed the mind.It was placed on a specially made cold jade stand, and the price on the tag was—nine million five hundred thousand gold coins!It was on par with the nine million five hundred thousand Golden Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone from earlier.As soon as this peculiar ice lotus appeared, it attracted the attention of many people in the hall, but its exorbitant price and unknown effects led most people to merely observe.However, the Snow Empress in Dai Youheng's spiritual sea suddenly became intensely agitated!"This is... an ice crystal snow lotus!" The Snow Empress's voice carried an unbelievable surprise."ice crystal snow lotus?" Dai Youheng's heart stirred. For the Snow Empress to lose her composure like this, this item must be extraordinary. "Sister Snow Empress, is this an Immortal Herb?"He thought of the Immortal Herbs from Tang San's era that had heaven-defying effects."No, not yet." The Snow Empress quickly calmed down, but her tone still carried excitement. "This ice crystal snow lotus is not old enough yet; it hasn't reached the true Immortal Herb level. Its total energy and medicinal effect are probably similar to a ninth-grade purple ganoderma. But, Youheng, it has an extremely special effect that makes its actual value, in some situations, even comparable to an Immortal Herb! I think it's precisely because of this effect that its price is as high as a true Immortal Herb.""What effect?" Dai Youheng pressed."Youheng, do you remember how I successfully took human form?" The Snow Empress asked in return."I remember. You used the power of a hundred thousand year snow lotus to seal most of your cultivation, and used it to protect your physical body and soul, thus completing your transformation." Dai Youheng replied. Ordinary Spirit Beasts over two hundred thousand years old were almost unable to take human form; the Snow Empress's method was the only clever way."Exactly!" The Snow Empress affirmed. "And this ice crystal snow lotus possesses a similar ability, and it's even gentler and more controllable. After consuming it, for a short period, the consumer's body and soul will be protected by a layer of ice crystal shield, making it indestructible!"Her tone became extremely solemn. "I told you before that I had a way to help you absorb a hundred thousand year spirit ring beyond your level. The original plan was to rely on my power to forcibly seal most of that spirit ring's energy, allowing you to absorb it gradually. But doing so is ultimately not perfect; it might waste some of the spirit ring's essence and carries a certain risk.""But with this ice crystal snow lotus..." The Snow Empress's voice was full of confidence. "I can guide its power to create the most perfect defensive state for your physical body and soul when you absorb the spirit ring! Protecting your body and soul from any backlash from the spirit ring's energy! At that time, you won't need any seals; you'll be able to perfectly absorb all the power of that hundred thousand year spirit ring in the optimal state, one hundred percent! The process won't be much harder than absorbing an ordinary spirit ring!""Oh? Such a miraculous effect!" Dai Youheng's eyes gleamed. Perfectly absorbing a hundred thousand year spirit ring, without risk, and maximizing the benefits! The effect of this ice crystal snow lotus was simply tailor-made for him!Without any hesitation, he immediately strode towards the central display stand.Seeing this, the Lan Sisters quickly followed.Lan Luoluo urgently whispered, "Brother Youheng, what are you doing? That lotus costs nine million five hundred thousand! You didn't even buy that better Golden Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone just now, and this one, whose use is unknown..."Before they could finish their sentences, Dai Youheng had already directly told the staff member in charge of the display, "I'll take this ice crystal snow lotus."With that, he swiftly and decisively pulled out the corresponding gold coin card, ready to complete the transaction.
