CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 186: THE LEGEND OF THE PRECIOUS JADE

"I don’t have time to chat with you here." Li Xiu raised the Fire Lotus Sword, ready to kill.

Sword shadows slashed towards the Vase Monster, and the large vase unexpectedly floated up, rotating in midair, moving up and down, left and right. Every strike from Li Xiu landed on the vase.

No matter how fierce the Fire Lotus Sword’s assault was, the porcelain vase, seemingly fragile and ready to shatter upon touch, blocked every strike without a single mark.

Li Xiu ordered the Jedi Knight to rush over and assist, but upon seeing the Vase Monster’s green glowing eyes, the Jedi Knight turned treacherous and slashed at Li Xiu.

Li Xiu dodged the Jedi Knight’s blade, retrieving the Jedi Knight immediately.

Fortunately, though the Jedi Knight was bewitched, it was still under control, transforming into a ring and returning to Li Xiu’s hand.

"Hehe, kid, you can’t kill me, why not we talk a bit more?" The Vase Monster chuckled eerily.

"There’s nothing to talk about." Li Xiu turned his mind and began walking down the mountain.

The Vase Monster swayed leisurely as it followed, saying while walking, "Don’t you want the method to deal with the Blood Seal Stone?"

"I don’t trust you. Who knows if you want my blood to harm me." Li Xiu said coldly.

"Hehe, young man, you’re quite suspicious." The Vase Monster continued to chuckle wickedly and said, "Actually, even if you’re from the Eternal Heaven, it doesn’t matter. But my method is useless for those already controlled by the Blood Seal Stone. If you haven’t been controlled, then this method will be effective."

Seeing Li Xiu ignoring him and just walking down the mountain, the Vase Monster became a bit anxious, "If you truly haven’t joined the Eternal Heaven yet, we could make a trade. I’ll teach you the method to deal with the Blood Seal Stone, and you help me with something."

"I need to know the method first." Li Xiu stopped and stared at the Vase Monster.

"Fine, I can tell you the method right now." The Vase Monster surprisingly agreed without hesitation.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll take your benefit and not do your task?" Li Xiu asked in surprise, looking at the Vase Monster.

"Hehe, once you learn what I want you to do, even if I don’t give you any benefits, you’d be bound to do it." The Vase Monster laughed eerily.

"Speak then, I’m actually somewhat interested now." said Li Xiu.

"No rush, I’ll first tell you the method to counter the Blood Seal Stone." The Vase Monster unexpectedly swiftly revealed the method.

"Are you not worried that I’m from Eternal Heaven now?" Li Xiu was greatly surprised, as the method the Vase Monster spoke of seemed indeed feasible.

"This method only prevents; if you’re already in Eternal Heaven, controlled by the Blood Seal Stone, this method is useless to you, knowing it makes no difference. If you’re not from Eternal Heaven, using this method to enter it would plant a time bomb, either way, I lose nothing." The Vase Monster chuckled eerily.

"Tell me, what exactly you want me to help you with?" Li Xiu was increasingly curious now.

"Have you ever heard the story of the Jade of He Shi?" The Vase Monster was not in a hurry, speaking slowly.

"Who hasn’t heard of the legendary Jade of He Shi?" Li Xiu frowned, not knowing what the Vase Monster was trying to imply.

The Vase Monster laughed, "The story you heard, is it about a jade gatherer named Bian He, who accidentally found a raw stone, believing it was an unparalleled gem, presented the first time to the king but was mistaken for a pebble and had his left foot cut in anger? Later presenting to the second king, again his right foot was cut, ending with both legs broken, he cried day and night at home with the stone. The third king, upon hearing the tale, found him, had the stone opened and polished, finally discovering the unique and unmatched Jade of He Shi, named thereafter after the gatherer?"

"Isn’t that the story?" Li Xiu questioned.

"Have you heard, before the jade gatherer found the Jade of He Shi, he saw a pair of phoenixes landing outside the cave, and knowing the legend that phoenixes don’t alight where there’s no treasure, he found the Jade of He Shi?" The Vase Monster inquired.

"I’ve indeed heard a similar legend." Li Xiu thought for a moment and said, though the formal Jade of He Shi story did not include this part.

"Have you considered what those mythical creatures, like the True Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin, really are?"

This question from the Vase Monster slightly stunned Li Xiu; if it were before, he’d say they were mythical entities conjured by human imagination, mere figments.

But under the City of Light, he saw the Unparalleled King resembling a Qilin.

Back then, Li Xiu questioned if the mythical beings people spoke of—Qilin, True Dragon, and Phoenix—were in fact magical spirits, only that the term ’magical spirit’ didn’t exist at that time.

"Are you suggesting those phoenixes were magical spirits?" Li Xiu asked the Vase Monster.

"You’re teachable; if the phoenixes were magical spirits, then why did they alight at the location of the Jade of He Shi?" The Vase Monster continued leading.

"If you enjoy being a teacher, I won’t accompany you." Li Xiu frowned.

The Vase Monster laughed, "What attracts magical spirits can only be gemstones; jade is considered a gemstone too. In modern terms, such as Phoenix the mythical entities, would be very high-level magical spirits, and the gemstones that could attract them naturally aren’t ordinary gemstones either."