Chapter 1010: The Cultivator
The yellow-robed man's demon form had transformed into yellow sand, and although Yang Haoran's Soul Armament, Remnant Moon, hadn't killed him, it had inflicted considerable damage. Furthermore, after burrowing beneath the sand, he was relentlessly pursued by several ghost-head chains, sustaining further injuries during that chase. This was why he appeared so weak upon resuming his demon form now.
Yang Haoran's voice entered the yellow-robed man's ears. Though his words held not the slightest trace of anger, the yellow-robed man couldn't help but shiver.
Under the menacing gaze of several ghost-head chains, he struggled to stand upright in mid-air. Though he was incredibly weak at the moment, he still possessed enough ability to prevent himself from plummeting to the ground.
After straightening his body, the yellow-robed man quickly bowed to Yang Haoran.
"Spare my life, Lord Underworld Official! This humble one was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai. I should not have harbored designs on Lord Underworld Official. I beg you to grant this humble one a path to survival. The Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers are indeed in this humble one's possession, but they are not in a separate dimension. Instead, this humble one has transferred them to a safe location. If it pleases you, this humble one can lead you there right now. All the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers in this desert are gathered there. You may take as many as you wish, Lord."
He couldn't win in a fight, nor could he escape. The yellow-robed man had no choice but to compromise. At least, on the surface, he had conceded. Not only had his attitude towards Yang Haoran undergone a complete reversal, but he was even willing to lead Yang Haoran to the hidden location of the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers.
"Oh! Your attitude changed remarkably fast!"
Xiang Chuan feigned surprise, his expression a tad exaggerated, his tone slightly provocative. However, this time, the yellow-robed man ignored him. It was as if he hadn't heard Xiang Chuan's voice at all. He merely lowered his head slightly, remaining motionless, awaiting Yang Haoran's reply.
Yang Haoran didn't make any promises to the yellow-robed man, merely smiling as he bade him to lead. This left the yellow-robed man feeling quite uncertain.
However, this time he didn't choose to flee as before, nor did he try to bargain with Yang Haoran. He knew that he currently possessed no leverage to negotiate with Yang Haoran.
"Lord Underworld Official, please follow me."
Yang Haoran wasn't worried that the yellow-robed man would pull any tricks, so he didn't ask further questions. With a faint smile, he followed the yellow-robed man.
Xiang Chuan, seeing Yang Haoran so readily follow the yellow-robed man, felt a slight unease in his heart but still followed along. After all, he knew Yang Haoran's strength. With the yellow-robed man's capabilities, even if he played some schemes in secret, there would only be one outcome: death at Yang Haoran's hands.
A moment later, the three of them stopped beneath an unremarkable sand dune.
Yang Haoran surveyed his surroundings, his expression unchanged.
Xiang Chuan also surveyed his surroundings, but his brows furrowed slightly, for he didn't sense anything unusual in this place.
"Hey, Yellow Sand Monster, you hid the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers here? Why do I feel like you're trying to fool me?"
Xiang Chuan withdrew his gaze, then looked at the yellow-robed man and spoke, his tone filled with strong suspicion.
As before, the yellow-robed man ignored Xiang Chuan. He turned his gaze to Yang Haoran, first bowing, then began to explain.
"Lord Underworld Official, this place may seem ordinary with nothing special about it, but there's more to it than meets the eye."
With that, the yellow-robed man pointed to the sand dune ahead and continued.
"In this desert, there are countless sand dunes like this, but only this one is different. It is a unique existence in this desert."
Upon hearing this, Yang Haoran's expression remained unchanged; he simply nodded lightly.
Seeing no curious expression on Yang Haoran's face, the yellow-robed man felt a sense of trepidation. Daring not to say more, he quickly retrieved an Array Disk from within his separate dimension.
As he injected his Demon Power into the Array Disk, it emitted a spiritual glow, and the sand dune before them trembled violently. Under the gazes of the three, a large amount of yellow sand rolled away from the front of the dune, revealing a stone door. The stone door slowly opened, exposing a verdant green passage.
"Lord Underworld Official, please."
The yellow-robed man politely gestured for Yang Haoran to enter. Yang Haoran did not refuse, nodding as he led Xiang Chuan through the stone door.
The ceiling of the passage inside the stone door was inlaid with stones that emitted a green light. It was because of these stones that the entire passage was illuminated. While the verdant green color might be somewhat eerie for ordinary people, it posed no pressure whatsoever for non-ordinary individuals like Yang Haoran and his companions.
The passage wasn't long. In just a few minutes, the three of them exited, finding themselves on a flat, sandy expanse. On this sandy ground, approximately twenty-odd Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers grew. The already terrifying appearance of the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers seemed even more horrifying under the green light.
"Lord Underworld Official, all the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers in this desert are here, twenty-four in total. Apart from these twenty-four, you won't find another Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flower in this desert."
The yellow-robed man spoke respectfully to Yang Haoran, his tone filled with certainty.
Yang Haoran had no doubt about this. After all, the yellow-robed man was a yellow sand spirit, and naturally knew this desert like the back of his hand. If he said there were only twenty-four Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers in this desert, it must be true.
Of course, if the yellow-robed man was deliberately deceiving him, that would be another matter entirely.
However, from the current situation, he felt it was unlikely the yellow-robed man would lie about this, for in the face of his life, the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers counted for nothing.
"Are you rearing all the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers in this desert?"
Yang Haoran's face showed a hint of curiosity as he asked the yellow-robed man.
"This humble one is rearing all of them. Although Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers are highly poisonous, they are also a type of spiritual medicinal ingredient. Quite a few Pharmacists need them, especially those who enjoy refining poisons; they consider them treasures. So, occasionally, I take some Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers to Ancient Demon City to sell, exchanging them for things I need. Besides that. . ."
At this point, the yellow-robed man paused, a hesitant expression on his face.
"Heh heh, just say what's on your mind. Don't stammer."
Yang Haoran watched the yellow-robed man's change in expression and said with a smile.
"This humble one dares not speak."
The yellow-robed man quickly bowed to Yang Haoran, then responded with a look of fear.
"It's fine, speak. Don't waste my time."
Seeing that Yang Haoran had spoken to this extent, the yellow-robed man gritted his teeth and finally said.
"Every day, I let the Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers out to feed. The location and quantity are unfixed. If I encounter anyone who has designs on them, I will make a move against them. If I can defeat them, I will, and I'll gain benefits from them. If I encounter an opponent I cannot defeat, I will decisively choose to flee. After all, in this desert, as long as the disparity in strength isn't too great, it's difficult for an opponent to keep me. It is precisely because of this that I offended Lord Underworld Official today."
Hearing the yellow-robed man's explanation, Yang Haoran couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"So, if you encounter a situation where you can't escape, do you always act as obediently and respectfully as you are now?"
The yellow-robed man quickly shook his head and explained.
"I've only been in this line of work for a short time. I haven't encountered a situation where I couldn't escape until now. Today is the first time."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Yang Haoran's face deepened a few shades.
"Heh heh, then we truly are fated."
Hearing these words, the yellow-robed man felt a bitter taste in his mouth. If time could rewind, he would absolutely never appear before Yang Haoran. In fact, he would hide as far away as possible, so he wouldn't end up in his current plight.
"In my opinion, this Yellow Sand Monster isn't a good sort at all. His main purpose in rearing these Flowing Sand Four-leaf Flowers is to lure people in to collect them, then slay them, seize their resources, and absorb their Human Spirits to enhance his own power. Yellow Sand Monster, am I right?"
Xiang Chuan spoke at this moment, and his words instantly made the yellow-robed man's face change.
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