"And, take it. It's a congratulatory gift for your advancement," Elder Yang said as he took out an exquisite sword as tall as himself and handed it over to Feng Xue.

"T-this... this is your flying sword! I can't accept it, Master. This is too precious," Feng Xue's eyes wide open and couldn't help but gulped when she saw the sword.

The flying sword was one of the sect's heaven-grade treasures bestowed by Sect Master to Elder Yang personally. Anybody who knew its history could easily realize its worth. How could she not be frightened by such a gift?

"Just a scrap metal, nothing to worry about it. It's the least thing I can do as your master lest I'll lose my face," said Elder Yang indifferently.

"Thank you, Master. I'll definitely treat it well," Feng Xue's eyes sparkled like a star in the sky as she rubbed the sword gently as if it was her own baby.

"Yes, yes," said Elder Yang lazily and then turned back to leave, "Now, let me rest for a bit. Setting up the formation really taking a toll on my body."

"Have a good rest, Master," said Feng Xue, sending him off.

***

Ding!

[Qi increase by 1,440. Current Qi 187,520/249,000]

The next day, Snowy and Feng Xue set off to Blackwood forest right after they finished having breakfast and said their farewell to Elder Yang, who also left the mansion returning to the Heaven Sword sect.

They wore a simple cloth and a veil to hide their face; in fact, it was common for a female cultivator to dress in that way to avoid unnecessary attention. They also activate the Aura Concealment technique to obscure other people's perceptions. Now, anyone who looked at them will mistake them as an ordinary mortal girl.

"Are you ready, Snowy?" Feng Xue said to Snowy as she summoned her new flying sword.

"Un." Snowy nodded.

"Let's go!" Feng Xue offers her hand to Snowy, helping her climbed up the sword. After Snowy stabilized her foothold, Feng Xue guided Snowy's hand to her waist. "Hug me tightly so you won't fall later."

Suddenly, Feng Xue felt something soft was pressing her back, and an enchanting fragrance tingling her nose caused her heart to pound harder. Her body trembled, nearly caused her to lose balance. Fortunately, her feet didn't betray her and quickly steadying themselves once more.

Dammit, I was the one who warned her to be careful, yet I was the one who nearly tripped up... cursed Feng Xue inwardly.

"What's wrong?" asked Snowy, tilting her head sideways with a puzzled expression.

Sure, I told her to hug me tightly. But, this is too close..! screamed Feng Xue inwardly but still kept her cool, not showing it on her face.

"Nothing. It just I'm still not getting the hang of the flying sword properly," Feng Xue barefaced lie with a straight face.

"Oh, okay. Take your time," said Snowy didn't suspect anything, and once again squished her body to Feng Xue's.

Feng Xue calmed down and started getting used to Snowy's warmth. Then, she propelled the sword forward, taking off to the sky at breakneck speed.

Wooosh.

"Woohoo...!!" The wind brushed her cheek made Feng Xue felt an indescribable sense of freedom. She was so excited that her embarrassment earlier felt like a lie.

Snowy smiled warmly, looking at her childish action and just laying her head on Feng Xue's back and quietly listened to her speeding heartbeat.

***

The trip only lasted for 30 minutes before they were landing at a quiet place nearby the forest outskirts. Feng Xue stored her flying sword back into her ring and then took Snowy to a small but bustling restaurant. It was the perfect place to hear some rumor about Nine-Petal Lotus' occurrence.

Even though Blackwood Forest was called a no-man land, it was still attracting many cultivators who made a living from hunting spirit beasts or gathering medicinal plants. This fact was exploited by merchants and some quick-minded people to make a big fortune. So, it wasn't strange that somebody opened a restaurant in such a dangerous place.

Feng Xue and Snowy quickly found a place to sit and ordered some hot meat buns and two cups of tea. While they were waiting for their food, they heard some cultivators engaged in a lively discussion.

"It's true! I swear by God that when I hunted a Black Boar that day, I saw a rainbow-colored light flashing from deep in the forest! it was so bright that my eyes blind for a moment," one middle-aged cultivator said while chawing a chicken drum.

"You might be see it wrong. You only said that because you got nothing that day," laughed one of his friends mockingly.

"No, I can't be wrong. You can ask Old Qian because he saw it too," said the middle-aged cultivator as he pointing at an old man in front of him.

"Yes, that's true. I saw the light when I venture deeper inside the forest," nodded the old man approvingly.

"Does it mean there are some treasures inside the forest? Why don't we check it together?"

" Check your ass! The spirit beasts deeper in the forest are very strong, at least they were at the Seventh level of Qi Transforming Stage. Go alone if you want to die early!"

"Fine, fine. I only give a suggestion."

"But, it's said that someone had taken a glimpse of the treasure before. There's some rumor that the treasure was that mysterious flower."

Feng Xue was listening attentively to their discussion. She had a hunch that they were talking about the Nine-Petal lotus. Afraid that she will lose the only clue, she hastily approached those cultivators.

"Big brothers, may we join in this table?" said Feng Xue.

The group was stunned listening to her captivating voice. Although they couldn't see her face, they could guess from her figure and demeanor that the woman in front of them was definitely a charming beauty. They couldn't help but flustered by the lady's request.