The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1019: Sleepless Night!

Chapter 1019: Sleepless Night!

Sleepless Night! . . .

Erhuo roused from its lengthy slumber, leisurely stretching itself and extending its paws as far as they could reach. Its once diminutive frame elongated gracefully as it unfurled its ears and stood up.

Peering at its own paws as though seeking something, it strolled a few steps with elegance, shook its fur, and arched its back before succumbing to laziness once more. During this process, its nearly transparent fur underwent a transformation, returning to its pristine snow-white state.

For the first time, a sense of bewilderment appeared in its eyes.

In the next instant, it rose once more and paced to and fro. As it looked back, it was taken aback.

Not far away, dozens of Silver-scaled Golden-caruncled Snakes had grown more than twice their previous size. They hissed in a display of allegiance, their bodies stretched out and their eyes filled with trepidation. They were submitting to Erhuo, clearly sensing that their boss had become even more formidable during its extended slumber.

Erhuo might now be several times more potent than before, striking fear into these snakes. The innate instinct and nature of the snakes prompted this reaction. They couldn't be faulted for it.

However, just how powerful had Erhuo become if it was many times more formidable than before? The exact extent of its newfound strength remained unknown.

In the eyes of Xuan Bing and Han Bingxue, Cha Eun Xiao appeared as usual, wholly engrossed in his cultivation efforts, absorbing and assimilating the spiritual qi in the environment. However, for Cha Eun Xiao, this night felt considerably longer than previous ones.

Nevertheless, he did not find it bothersome. In fact, he felt that it was both wonderful and intriguing. It had been a long time since he had eagerly anticipated anything.

His countenance remained serene, and he sat cross-legged, waiting in delight.

[A new day awaits!]

[Tomorrow, I will penetrate the third layer of this mountain, descend to the heart of this district, and uncover the truth behind its enigma.]

Cha Eun Xiao did not expect to resolve everything in one go, but it was an important day that awaited him.

Meanwhile, it was a night filled with excitement and anticipation for him, yet one fraught with sleeplessness for Li Clan.

Li Qingzhou returned to the clan and reported what had transpired, causing a commotion within Li Clan.

When they learned that Cha Eun Xiao possessed the Regeneration Ink Lotus, which was on the verge of maturation, and confirmed the veracity of Li Qingzhou's claims...

"How could you just leave them there? What if he escapes? You pig-headed fool!"

The elders berated Li Qingzhou harshly.

"What if the Cha Clan people reach him tonight? What if they simply abduct him or strike a deal? Wouldn't this all have been in vain for us? Wouldn't we plummet to the depths? A single lotus, if it's of the same quality as that young man's, would be sufficient to curry favor with Misty Cloud Palace. If the Cha Clan possesses several like that, Misty Cloud Palace might back them to become the overlords of the entire Oracle District. Misty Cloud Palace would find it effortless!"

"Cha Clan is currently at the lowest ebb. They won't relinquish their last glimmer of hope. For them, that young man represents not only hope for their survival but also an opportunity to rise to the district's pinnacle."

"You despicable wretch, you actually abandoned him and returned as if you've accomplished something great! You shamelessly sought rewards..."

After the flurry of scoldings and rebukes directed at Li Qingzhou, Li Clan urgently convened a leadership meeting.

"The situation demands thorough preparation. We cannot afford any errors," exclaimed the leader of Li Clan.

In short order, Li Clan had assembled nearly all of its elite members, ready to embark on their mission to the mountain. The elites were divided into two groups. The first group fanned out to secure all the routes Cha Clan might use to approach Cha Eun Xiao. The second group was tasked with discreetly monitoring Cha Eun Xiao, Han Bingxue, and Xuan Bing.

"Ensure they are still present, but do not approach them," instructed their leader. "Li Qingzhou's concerns are valid. We are uncertain of their capabilities. If we draw closer, they may become aware of our presence. Should they discern the significance of the lotus to us, they might escalate their demands. We cannot afford any mishaps. Any delay or error could result in an unbearable loss."

Li Clan had dispatched a substantial number of skilled individuals, including nearly all of their elite members. Each one was on high alert.

They patiently awaited the dawn, when the sun would herald their action.

Every member of Li Clan had spent the entire night vigilantly watching over their designated responsibilities.

To Li Clan, Cha Eun Xiao was akin to a heaven-sent savior. Though Cha Clan was grappling with a severe predicament, it was still no straightforward task for Li Clan to assume the role of intermediary with Misty Cloud Palace. In recent years, Misty Cloud Palace's demand for Regeneration Ink Lotus had been steadily increasing, and the quantities procured by the various clans in Oracle District fell far short of their requirements.

Regeneration Ink Lotus was an exceedingly rare find. The chance of discovering one was equivalent to a stroke of good fortune.

The risks associated with collecting these lotuses were considerable, as encountering the guardian beasts meant a ninety percent likelihood of becoming their prey. This was not an exaggeration.

For instance, Li Clan could procure approximately fifty lotuses per year, whereas Misty Cloud Palace required around ten thousand.

Li Qingzhou's confidence in Li Clan's ability to replace Cha Clan was little more than bluster. Even if Cha Clan failed to secure a single lotus, their annual quota was only fifty lotuses less than that of Li Clan. In Misty Cloud Palace's perspective, this was a negligible shortfall.

However, the Regeneration Ink Lotus that Cha Eun Xiao presented to them was an entirely different matter. A Regeneration Ink Lotus on the brink of transformation into a Regeneration Jade Lotus was equivalent to ten thousand regular Regeneration Ink Lotuses. Such a lotus was a rare find, and a single one was sufficient to meet Misty Cloud Palace's annual demand.