Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-741

The huge Sun and was hanging high in the sky. It was noon.

The Flower Festival that happens once every 10 years had finally come to an end. Even though along the way, a major disruption occurred that astonished everyone in the City of Flowers, the festival nonetheless came to an end.

The candidate for the God of Flowers was also determined. Though it turned out to be a male, it was still chosen by the godly flower, thus nobody could object to it.

After all, there was no hard rule that it must be a woman who becomes the Goddess of Flowers. Therefore, the citizens of the city couldn't really issue an opinion regarding this.

Ling Xian also didn't have much of an opinion. He was highly interested in finding out the secret behind the God of Flower. Therefore, after Hua Wan Yue told him to wait, he followed this woman to a VIP room.

Currently, he was sitting on an expensive golden chair and he was holding onto a special tea from the City of Flowers, looking very relaxed.

Hua Wan Yue sat opposite from him. Her face held a soft grin, looking graceful and very honorable.

"Leader Hua, if you have something to say, say it now. I don't like to drag things out and waste time." Ling Xian sipped on his tea and smiled.

"I like those who are straight forward."

Hua Wan Yue smiled, "I believe you are very curious about the God of Flowers and you should understand that I have my reasons for once again having to choose a God of Flowers."

"That's right. I am curious, but I don't want to pursue it."

Ling Xian nodded. "What I care about, is what is required of me and what I can gain from it."

"You really are straight forward. Then I will say it."

Hua Wan Yue erased her smile and her expression turned serious. "Do you know what is the foundation of the City of Flowers?"

"I do not know. But I am guessing it is linked to the strength of life. Or else the City of Flowers cannot be blooming all year long." Ling Xian whispered.

"You truly are smart."

Hua Wan Yue's eyes flashed with a trace of strangeness and continued to ask, "I wonder if you can guess what is the foundation of the City of Flowers?"

"Something related to the strength of life…"

Ling Xian frowned and after a moment of silence, he tentatively asked, "The foundation of the City of Flowers… could it be the legendary Holy Spirit Water?"

Hua Wan Yue's lips curled up and she smiled. "You guessed it. the reason why the City of Flowers can bloom all year long and have every flower lover converged here is because of the Holy Spirit Water."

"It actually is!"

Ling Xian's eyes turned heated. Ever since he returned to the Ling Clan from the 36 islands, he had set a goal for himself.

That was to acquire the Holy Spirit Water.

Because Ling Tian Xiang was now possessed, there were only two methods to wake her. One was to use someone she was familiar with to force her to remember.

This method was one he had already attempted. Thought at the time, it momentarily appeared to have had an effect, it ended up failing.

The second method was to use the Holy Spirit Water. This object has the strength of life and light. It has the ability to renew people's flesh and bones, and can also erase all that is dirty.

To be used against people who are possessed, it was more than appropriate. One drop of it could awake the memory of those possessed.

Other than Ling Tian Xiang, he needed the Holy Spirit Water for another reason. That is… he needs it for the giant sword he acquired from the golden Roc from the Imperishable Palace.

That sword was made out of legendary purple gold. Based on Ling Xian's estimation, this sword had the power to split open earth and was extremely powerful.

Sadly, this sword was cursed by an unknown curse. Unless he acquires the legendary Holy Spirit Water, there was no way he could break the curse.

Now that he's finally heard some information about the Holy Spirit Water, why wouldn't he be overjoyed?

"This is great. This truly is serendipity. It required no effort at all from me."

Ling Xian silently chuckled, and his expression didn't change at all. The heat in his gaze dulled down as well.

"So it is the legendary Holy Spirit Water... no wonder the city has flowers blooming every day and the flowers grow everywhere you go."

"It is exactly that. Or else the soil in the City of Flowers cannot make so many flowers flourish."

Hua Wan Yue did not notice Ling Xian's unusualness and sighed, "Sadly, from half a year ago, the stream of Holy Spirit Water began to dry up. Based on my estimation, it will take less than three years for it to completely run dry."

"Dry?"

Ling Xian frowned and thought of the whole ordeal with the God of Flowers, "Could it be that leader, you are rechoosing the God of Flowers to try and revive the Holy Spirit Water?"

"You truly are smart." Hua Wan Yue complimented. She stared directly at Ling Xian, her gaze full of hope.

Feeling her friendly look, Ling Xian shrugged, "Don't look at me like that. First of all, I don't know the link between the water and the God of Flowers. Second, I don't know how to cure the stream of Holy Spirit Water."

"You may not know the method behind saving the Holy Spirit Water, but you will definitely be able to revive it."

Hua Wan Yue's face was full of confidence, "Countless days ago, the ancestor of the City of Flowers got two treasures. One was the Holy Spirit Water, the other was the godly flower."

"After acquiring those two items, the ancestor constructed the City of Flowers and set the rule that the moment the Holy Spirit Water begins to dry, the flower would be used to pick a God of Flowers, who can then revive the water."

Hua Wan Yue's face was full of determination and impatience.

"If that's the case, then why did the city continuously pick God of Flowers? But then for the past 1,000 years, the city stopped. Doesn't that mean the city didn't need the God of Flowers?" Ling Xian frowned.

"About that…"

Hua Wan Yue hesitated, "I don't know the details. I just know that back then, the Goddess of Flowers made a mistake. At the same time, the City Leader found a method to ensure the Holy Spirit Water never runs dry. Therefore, she decided to trash the Goddess of Flowers' title."

"So that's how it is."

Ling Xian nodded, "It looks like the method the City Leader found had failed after this past 1,000 years."

"That's right."

Hua Wan Yue bitterly smiled, "This is why I am willing to offend the City of Flowers and pick a new God of Flowers. After all, the Holy Spirit Water is of utmost importance. The moment it runs dry, the city is headed for destruction."

Ling Xian nodded softly, indicating that he understands her pain, "You spoke so much, but I still don't understand what the role God of Flowers consists of. What kind of power does this person have to be able to revive the water?"

Hearing this, Hua Wan Yue's face turned serious. She looked at Ling Xian carefully, then uttered out a few words.

"Fifty years of lifespan."

At those words, Ling Xian immediately frowned, "Tell me the details."

"The details are that the flower sucks away 50 years of your lifespan. Then, the flower will use the energy it absorbs to revive the Holy Spirit Water and make sure it doesn't run dry."

Hua Wan Yue's face looked nervous. She was terrified that Ling Xian would become enraged, sweep up his sleeves and leave.

If this was anyone else, she naturally wouldn't be afraid. But she had just witnessed his terror and how he was able to defeat even the six heroes of Yuezhou. Therefore, she had to be cautious.

Even though she's never fought against someone at the undefeatable realm of the completion level, she could feel it that Ling Xian wasn't strong enough to defeat her. But he could easily escape.

If he really just leaves like that, then she will have nowhere to cry to. After all, the godly flower wasn't something that she could use at will.

"So I have to pay with 50 years of my lifespan…"

Ling Xian frowned. Someone's lifespan is of the utmost importance. Even in the cultivation world, where lifetimes are a lot longer, 50 years is no joke.

Normally speaking, those of the meditational stage could live up to 100 years – not too different from ordinary mortals. Those of the foundational level can live up to 200.

When the completion level is reached, life span increases to 300. While this number sounds not that low, it was a level that requires many decades to reach. Therefore, 300 isn't actually enough for most people.

After all, not everyone is as insane as Ling Xian. Not everyone could reach this level under 20 years.

The bottom line is that lifespan is something important to a cultivator.

Before his eyes, Hua Wan Yue was asking for 50 years of lifespan. For Ling Xian to still be sitting there was already very calm of him.

Since he has only spent about thirty years of his lifespan cultivating, only one-tenth of his total lifespan, lifespan to him was not that important anymore.

Plus, he was only one step away from reaching the original level. When that happens, his life span would change dramatically and become way longer.

Therefore, he pondered for a while before finally answering, "I can accept this. However, I need the Holy Spirit Water."

"No way!"

Hua Wan Yue rejected right away, "The Holy Spirit Water only produces one drop per century. Please forgive me for not agreeing to your request."

"If that's the case, then please forgive me for not being able to accept this." Ling Xian was not flustered and smiled instead.

"You are the God of Flowers, your status inside the City of Flowers is lower than mine."

Hua Wang Yue raised an eyebrow. "Not only is your status lower, you also don't have as many rights as me. I can make all the elders inside the city move for you. Isn't that enough?"

"That's not enough. I am only interested in the Holy Spirit Water." Ling Xian grinned. He didn't care much about the God of Flowers title.

"Other than granting you the power to order the elders around, I can open the city's vault for you and allow you to take anything you want. Is that still not enough?" Hua Wan Yue's frown deepened.

"That's not enough. I only want the Holy Spirit Water."

Ling Xian's lips curled up and extended two fingers, "Also, I want two drops."

"You!"

Hua Wan Yue stood up from her chair, her face looking a little pale. She originally thought the title of the God of Flowers and the rights she was willing to grant him were enough to have him agree.

But she didn't think that Ling Xian would ask for the Holy Spirit Water. And he asked for two drops!

Remember that the City of Flowers counted on that water as its foundation. Plus, the stream only produces one drop every 100 years. So how valuable was that?

Why would she give it away to others?

"What? Perhaps the leader of the city wants to use force to make me agree?" Ling Xian spoke slowly. His expression was as calm as usual.

He was of the undefeatable realm of the completion level. Though he was different than an original leveled cultivator, he could protect himself.

"Aye…"

Seeing that Ling Xian was not at all scared, Hua Wan Yue suddenly recalled his terrifying capabilities. She couldn't help but to exhale deeply and return to her chair.

She couldn't guarantee that she could handle Ling Xian. If she fails, then she would be losing the God of Flower and she also would've made an enemy for the City of Flowers.

Therefore, she could only sigh. "Must you have the Holy Spirit Water?"

"That's right. Plus, I need two drops. There cannot be one less."

Ling Xian's attitude was determined and resolute. It was as if he wasn't up against an original leveled powerhouse, but was up against a cultivator of a lower level than him.

…