"Wait, could you do me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Don't display the Half-Eyed in front of others."
Li Cunxu agreed. He was more than happy not to show his Half Sacred Lotus Eye in public, as his Sacred Lotus Eye was a fake. Although Master Jia's craftsmanship was superb, there would always be someone skilled enough to see through it.
For example, someone like the Old President.
"Alright, but I have a condition."
"What is it?"
"I want to enter the Sacred Lotus Pool once."
The Sacred Lotus Pool was the sacred ground of the Sacred Lotus Li Family and the most important family heritage. It housed the Sacred Beast, the Sacred Lotus Carp.
What is a Sacred Beast?
A Pet Beast with the Holy Attribute, these beasts possess terrifying potential. Even Dragon Pets have to admit their superiority.
Moreover, the Sacred Lotus Carp is both a Sacred Beast and a Dragon Pet.
Every pair of Sacred Lotus Eyes grants one opportunity to enter the Sacred Lotus Pool, attempting to gain the favor of the Sacred Lotus Carp and form a contract with it.
Li Shihuo agreed without hesitation. The Sacred Lotus Carp was highly selective; out of ten owners of Sacred Lotus Eyes, perhaps only one could successfully contract it. Given the difficulty of contracting with a complete Sacred Lotus Eye, he didn't believe a Half Sacred Lotus Eye could achieve it.
In his eyes, Li Cunxu entering the Sacred Lotus Pool was merely to admire its beauty.
Of course, Li Cunxu's goal wasn't the Sacred Lotus Carp. His next Contract Slot was already reserved for a Curse Attribute Pet Beast. Even if a Sacred Lotus Carp came begging... he wouldn't take it? Hmm?
Well, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
Li Shihuo asked, "When do you plan to enter the Sacred Lotus Pool?"
"Can I go now? I need to go home and grab something."
"Sure, I'll wait for you at the Ancestral Hall."
Li Cunxu slung the rented Spatial Backpack, which had a one-year usage limit, over his shoulder and headed to the Ancestral Hall.
Li Shihuo didn't understand why Li Cunxu needed to bring a Spatial Backpack into the Sacred Lotus Pool. Did he have some delicious food hidden inside to lure the Sacred Lotus Carp?
The young man was adorably naive.
The Sacred Lotus Carp was very picky, usually feeding on the leaves of the Radiant Sacred Lotus. Each leaf was a Gold-level treasure. So-called delicacies were even less appealing to the Sacred Lotus Carp than the water in the Sacred Lotus Pool.
By the Sacred Lotus Pool, the clear water rippled gently. In the tranquil pond, the Sacred Lotus bloomed serenely, its petals as smooth as silk, exuding a faint luster that reflected the golden rays of the sun, like a sleeping fairy gently caressing the water's surface.
The Sacred Lotus Carp in the pool moved gracefully, their scales shimmering as they darted among the lotus leaves, occasionally leaping out of the water, creating ripples that disturbed the pond's tranquility.
Not far from the Sacred Lotus Pool was a smaller pond called the Azure Lotus Pool.
Above the Azure Lotus Pool grew the Sword Radiance Azure Lotus, and below swam the Azure Lotus Carp, similar to the Sacred Lotus Carp.
Apart from their patterns and attributes, the Azure Lotus Carp were not much different.
The original Azure Lotus Carp were mutations of the Sacred Lotus Carp.
The Azure Lotus Carp belonged to the Azure Lotus Li Family, an important branch of the Sacred Lotus Li Family. Once rivaling the Sacred Lotus Li Family, the Azure Lotus Li Family bravely sacrificed themselves to resist the cataclysm caused by the Outer Four Gods. They held back the Uncrowned Evil God and the Evil God avatar of the Prison Demon God, ultimately slaying one of the Uncrowned Evil God's God Children.
Li Cunxu took off his shoes and stepped into the Sacred Lotus Pool, immediately causing a slight sense of aversion among all the Sacred Lotus Carp.
The Sacred Lotus Carp were creatures of cleanliness, highly particular about hygiene.
Li Cunxu's step into the Sacred Lotus Pool precisely hit their sore spot.
This was under the condition that Li Cunxu didn't have foot odor. If he did, the Sacred Lotus Carps would immediately knock him out, making him experience the sensation of a salted fish darting.
The invisible Sacred Lotus Armored Dragon, coiled on the ceiling, opened its eyes and glanced down.
Did no one explain the rules to him? One must stay by the shore; the Sacred Lotus Pool is off-limits. If entered, the angry little ones wouldn't form a contract with him.
Li Shihuo indeed hadn't explained. He did it on purpose. After agreeing, he regretted it. Although Li Cunxu was Half-Eyed, he was still Li Shiji's grandson. Could there be something special about him that might lure away a Sacred Lotus Carp?
If a Half-Eyed were to take away a Sacred Lotus Carp, the Sacred Lotus family would become a laughingstock in the aristocratic circles.
The evolution chain of the Sacred Lotus Carp: Sacred Lotus Carp — Sacred Lotus Armored Serpent — Sacred Lotus Armored Dragon.
Li Cunxu didn't seek the favor of the Sacred Lotus Carps. Instead, he picked up the Holy Lotus Carp Scales from the bottom of the Sacred Lotus Pool.
The scales shed by the Sacred Lotus Carps are epic-quality resources.
This was the true goal of Li Cunxu's journey.
"So, he's here to clean the pool. A new guy, huh?"
The Sacred Lotus Armored Dragon closed its eyes again.
"One, two... three hundred."
Li Cunxu couldn't stop smiling, picking up Holy Lotus Carp Scales more valuable than gold. How could he not be happy?
After thoroughly cleaning the Sacred Lotus Pool, Li Cunxu moved to the Azure Lotus Pool to collect more.
The Azure Lotus Carps were more aggressive and launched several attacks on Li Cunxu.
Li Cunxu ignored them all, enduring the pain.
The Azure Lotus Carps had clearly been taught by their elders not to harm humans. Their attacks, though painful, were controlled.
After bumping into Li Cunxu a few times and seeing him unresponsive like a wooden mannequin, they swam away bored.
Li Cunxu was overjoyed. A few moments of pain for such a large pile of Azure Lotus Carp Scales—if others found out, they would envy him to death.
However, joy aside, grudges remained.
He noted down these bumps. When they grew up, Li Cunxu would seek them out one by one and give them a beating—definitely not for their grown-up scales.
The Azure Lotus Carps that bumped into Li Cunxu looked just like the others. How to tell them apart?
Simple—beat them all when they grow up.
The Azure Lotus Carps who were beaten for no reason would naturally go after the ones that bumped into Li Cunxu.
After all, because of them, they were inexplicably beaten. Without venting on the culprits, they wouldn't feel at ease.
Li Cunxu returned fully loaded.
Seeing Li Cunxu walk out of the Sacred Lotus Pavilion with a smile, Li Shihuo's heart skipped a beat.
Li Shihuo nervously asked, "Did you contract a Sacred Lotus Carp?"
"No."
"Did you contract an Azure Lotus Carp?"
"No."
Li Shihuo breathed a sigh of relief. His worst fear hadn't come true.
"Then why are you so happy?"
I collected a pool of Holy Lotus Carp Scales and Azure Lotus Carp Scales. How could I not be happy?
But he couldn't say that. Whether he could take the scales away was another question.
"I remembered something happy. My Slime gave birth to little Slimes."
What's so happy about a Slime giving birth to little Slimes? It's baffling, making his heart race for nothing.
"Remember, don't show your Half-Eyed side in front of others and embarrass yourself."
"Mm-hmm."
"Let's sign a contract just in case!"
Li Cunxu agreed so readily that it made Li Shihuo somewhat uneasy.
Li Cunxu didn't refuse, after all, he wasn't the true possessor of the Sacred Lotus Eye.
With a backpack full of fish scales, Li Cunxu was eager to return home.
On his way back, Li Cunxu pondered whether he should form a contract with a Sacred Lotus Carp in the future, completely ignoring the possibility that no Sacred Lotus Carp would be willing to contract with him.
(End of Chapter)