Chu Zhiyuan had already discussed this matter with Chu Qingyan.
He also mentioned his premonition that Lu Yaofeng's cave was extremely dangerous.
It's best not to open it easily. Several grandmasters should act together, or use other methods to investigate. People absolutely must not get close easily.
Even better, it's best not to investigate at all. Just let it stay there. It doesn't matter if it's not opened. Just pretend we don't know. The only thing is, we can't let the experts of Great Meng get their hands on it.
Although he felt that refining this black pearl was useless, as it was just to conceal his aura and could simply be worn. Even if refined, it would still need to be worn, so there wasn't much difference between refining it and not refining it.
But he still couldn't help but want to refine it.
The refining method was like his own toy, and he couldn't help but want to use it and play with it.
Three days later, when his refining was complete, his body surged with power, as if an invisible force filled his body, and his body seemed to swell slightly, Li Hongzhao appeared again. Chu Zhiyuan felt that he possessed infinite power, capable of punching a hole in the sky and flattening mountains with a single blow.
He tried to calm this impulse and illusion, and upon hearing that Li Hongzhao had come again, he had no choice but to go to the front hall. Li Hongzhao smiled, her phoenix eyes flashing with a mocking smile.
Chu Zhiyuan sat down on a chair and said helplessly, "What is it again? I still need to focus on cultivation."
"Aren't you the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites?" Li Hongzhao snorted. "You never leave your house all day long. Are the officials of your Great Jing Dynasty so lazy?" Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Have you found out anything?"
"You are indeed despicable, sending people to search for Lu Yaofeng's cave to take it all for yourself."
"Tit for tat." Chu Zhiyuan remained unmoved and smiled, "You're not innocent either. Let's not blame each other. Is there anything else?"
"I've already asked my imperial father, and it's not true. The ancestors of Great Meng didn't do anything to Lu Yaofeng. They let him leave. Lu Yaofeng also often returned, but in the end, he was buried with his woman in one place, remaining here."
Chu Zhiyuan remained noncommittal.
"You don't believe me?"
"I believe the Great Meng Emperor wouldn't speak carelessly. Since that's the case," Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then shall we go explore it?"
"Exactly!" Li Hongzhao snorted, "You still haven't found it, have you? How ridiculous, so ridiculous!"
Chu Zhiyuan didn't mention that her map was incorrect, and smiled, "How could Lu Yaofeng casually reveal the location of his burial? How could he allow outsiders to disturb him and his woman? It's not wrong that we can't find it."
"What a ridiculous excuse." Li Hongzhao curled her red lips.
This was an excuse for his own incompetence. In terms of gathering information, Great Jing couldn't compare to Great Meng even if they whipped their horses. Chu Zhiyuan asked, "Then when shall we depart?"
"We'll leave now." Li Hongzhao said, "Don't play any more tricks, and don't send anyone to follow behind!"
She believed that Chu Zhiyuan was capable of such a thing. If he couldn't take it all for himself, then he would turn a secret theft into a forceful robbery. Chu Zhiyuan said, "Do you know the methods of the Worry-Free Sect?"
"Poison?" Li Hongzhao smiled triumphantly, "I have a Poison-Repelling Spirit Pearl."
Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.
Li Hongzhao flipped her hand, and a hazy, radiant pearl appeared in her palm, the size of a dragon's eye, perfectly round and flawless. Chu Zhiyuan was instantly extremely envious.
"You want it?"
"Are there more?"
"No more." Li Hongzhao chuckled and shook her head, "Of course, there is only one such spirit pearl."
She finally had a chance to tease him, and it felt particularly satisfying.
Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "Then you should go yourself. If I'm poisoned, you'll definitely watch me die."
"I don't have such a cruel heart." Li Hongzhao smiled, "Your Great Jing also has such treasures."
"I don't have enough merit to exchange for one."
"Tsk tsk, how pitiful! ... Then exchange for a spirit pill, how about a Rank One spirit pill?"
"Forget it."
He felt that a Rank One spirit pill was worth more than that, and besides, he didn't have a Rank One spirit pill.
"... Fine, I'll lend you one."
She tossed the spirit pearl in her hand to Chu Zhiyuan.
Chu Zhiyuan knew that she was deliberately teasing him, but he didn't mind.
She had the upper hand this time, and he would get his revenge next time.
He examined the Poison-Repelling Pearl, peering deeply into it, and then tossed it back to her.
"You don't want it?" Li Hongzhao smiled.
Chu Zhiyuan said unhappily, "You wouldn't be unaware that this is a fake pearl, would you?"
Li Hongzhao's smile froze.
Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but laugh heartily, "You really don't know?!"
Li Hongzhao then sneered, glanced at the pearl in her jade hand, and snorted, "You're trying to fool a ghost!"
"Haha..." Chu Zhiyuan was overjoyed, laughing incessantly, "It seems someone is trying to harm you... Haha, I've saved your life, haven't I?"
"This Poison-Repelling Pearl is really fake?" Li Hongzhao frowned.
Chu Zhiyuan stopped laughing, "Let Mr. Su come over and take a look. Surely Mr. Su can tell the difference between real and fake."
"Mr. Su." Li Hongzhao stared at Chu Zhiyuan.
Su Qiuyan appeared in a flash.
Li Hongzhao handed over the Poison-Repelling Pearl, "Mr. Su, is this Poison-Repelling Pearl fake?"
Su Qiuyan took the Poison-Repelling Pearl, focused her mind and sensed it, then raised it to her eyes to look at it.
She circulated her energy into it, and the light flickered and expanded.
Su Qiuyan shook her head in confusion, "Fake?"
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "How about this, let's get some poison and test it."
Su Qiuyan said, "Then let's test it."
She also hadn't been able to detect anything unusual and wanted to know if Chu Zhiyuan's intuition was accurate and whether it was stronger than her own, a grandmaster.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "Zou Fang."
Zou Fang stepped forward.
"Find someone to get some poison, the more poisonous the better."
"Yes."
Zou Fang floated away.
A moment later, she brought over a deerskin cloak, opened it, and inside were a row of throwing knives.
These throwing knives were different from Chu Zhiyuan's throwing knives. Each one was a willow-leaf blade, the tips of the knives shimmering with a faint blue luster.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Where did these come from?"
"Sun Jisheng likes to tinker with these things."
"Bring a bowl of water."
Zou Fang put down the deerskin pouch and brought over a large bowl of water.
Chu Zhiyuan pursed his lips.
Zou Fang took a willow-leaf throwing knife and dipped it in the water. Instantly, the clear water turned blue.
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "He's not afraid of accidentally hurting himself."
This poison was extremely potent, capable of sealing the throat upon contact with blood.
Zou Fang smiled and took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve, "Sun Jisheng has an antidote on him."
Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand and gestured towards Li Hongzhao.
Li Hongzhao held the Poison-Repelling Pearl between the thumb and middle finger of her right hand, gracefully placing it lightly into the water.
The bright light entered the water, making the blue water even more blue, even more beautiful.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at Li Hongzhao.
Li Hongzhao's beautiful face was covered with a layer of frost. Su Qiuyan also frowned, her expression serious. This was truly a fake Poison-Repelling Pearl.
At a critical moment, it would be fatal!
Who was so bold as to dare to do such a thing? Plotting against the princess was tantamount to treason, and the crime deserved the extermination of nine generations! Chu Zhiyuan smiled and looked at Li Hongzhao, "This should have been done by someone close to you, right? Do you want me to help you find out?"
Li Hongzhao glared at him, biting her pearly teeth.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "Aren't you going to thank me for saving your life?"
".. I really thank you for your kindness!"
"Not sincere at all, a wasted rescue!" Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "It's disheartening."
"Aren't you doing it for yourself!?" Li Hongzhao snorted.
If something happened to her, and she died from poisoning because the Poison-Repelling Pearl was fake, he would probably be unable to escape either. In the end, if they both died, it would be equivalent to mutual destruction.
But if he lived and she died, then all the blame would be placed on him, and Great Meng would definitely retaliate. Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.
"Alright." Li Hongzhao snorted, "I'll count this as a life-saving favor. Don't worry, I'll definitely repay you!" Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
