Chapter 78: Empty Nether Flower and Spirit Treasure Golden Cicada
After settling his own affairs, Wu Tong gave a brief notice in the group chat, then exited. After all, he hadn't forgotten—he still had something more important to do today.
"Master, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
Just as Wu Tong withdrew his consciousness from the chat group, he heard the voice of his maid, Xiao Yun.
Upon hearing her words, Wu Tong's eyes lit up, a look of impatience flashing across his face.
The soul beast he had requested had finally arrived.
Thinking this, Wu Tong immediately rolled off the recliner and turned to Xiao Yun. "Where's Brother Xue right now?"
Xiao Yun was startled by Wu Tong's sudden movement, but quickly recovered and answered promptly, "Master, His Highness is waiting for you at the training grounds."
Without any hesitation, Wu Tong headed straight toward the training grounds on the right side of the front courtyard.
…
Before long, Wu Tong arrived at his personal training grounds.
Seeing the slightly ajar double doors, he wasn't surprised and pushed them open directly.
The moment he entered, he saw the back of a blond young man pacing around his gym equipment.
He was clicking his tongue in admiration.
Wu Tong looked at Xue Qinghe's back and the way he moved around the fitness machines.
His mind began to wander, and in a daze, Xue Qinghe's back morphed into his original form.
Qian Renxue – Gym Instructor Edition.jpg
Tch—
Wu Tong quickly shook his head, trying to get the image out of his mind.
Snapping back to reality and seeing that Xue Qinghe hadn't noticed his arrival, Wu Tong stepped forward and called out, "Brother Xue."
"Brother Wu Tong, you're here."
The moment Xue Qinghe heard the "Brother Xue" greeting, he knew Wu Tong had arrived. He turned around, and sure enough, it was as he expected.
"Brother Xue, could you use a different form of address? Every time I hear that one, it just sounds really awkward."
Wu Tong had a black line across his face. He'd always found the term uncomfortable, but in the past, he had no choice. Now that he had the confidence, he brought it up directly.
"Alright then." Xue Qinghe didn't object to Wu Tong's request.
As for why Xue Qinghe had always called him "Brother Wu Tong," there was, of course, a reason behind it.
Three years ago, Wu Tong had angered him over something, and this was Xue Qinghe's subtle way of annoying him in return.
At the time, Wu Tong's influence and strength didn't allow him to object, so he could only silently accept the title.
From then on, Xue Qinghe continued to address him that way, and over the years, it became almost a habit.
After Wu Tong became a Divine Test candidate, Xue Qinghe recalled the matter and wanted to find a good moment to change the address.
But since no opportunity had come up, now that Wu Tong had brought it up himself, it was the perfect chance to shift the term back.
"Whew, that's a relief."
Seeing Xue Qinghe agree, Wu Tong also let out a sigh of relief.
Xue Qinghe noticed his reaction and a brief smile flickered in his eyes before vanishing.
"Brother Xue, what do you think of my training grounds?"
Seeing that Xue Qinghe was standing beside the fitness equipment without touching anything, clearly waiting for him to explain, Wu Tong found it a bit amusing and asked.
"As expected of Brother Tong's brilliance. If I'm not mistaken, each of these machines has its own function, and combined, they can probably train every part of the body."
Xue Qinghe's identity was, of course, exceptional. Having been in a high position for so long, his eye for detail had sharpened. He could easily deduce the purpose of the equipment just by their appearance.
This also gave him a deeper appreciation for Wu Tong's intellect.
Brother Tong, huh?
Well… at least it's better than "Brother Wu Tong."
When Wu Tong heard the new address, he tensed slightly, but quickly relaxed again.
After hearing the compliment, Wu Tong showed a "you've got good taste" expression.
He began to explain, "Brother Xue, you're exactly right. Each of these machines has a specific function and can train every part of the body."
"This barbell is for upper body training; this horizontal bar is to strengthen forearm power; and this treadmill is meant to work out leg muscles…"
As Wu Tong gave his explanation, Xue Qinghe nodded from time to time, like an attentive listener, absorbing everything Wu Tong said.
For a moment, the two of them gave off a strangely harmonious and picturesque vibe.
After finishing the explanation, Wu Tong finally remembered the actual reason he had come here.
Seeing that Xue Qinghe didn't seem inclined to bring it up, Wu Tong could only speak first, "Brother Xue, the soul beasts you prepared…"
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe snapped back to reality. After seeing the training equipment, he had gotten too excited and completely forgotten the main reason he came.
He quickly apologized, "Apologies, I got distracted by the training gear and forgot my purpose for coming."
"Brother Tong, the two soul beasts you wanted—I brought them with me, of course."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe waved his hand, and his soul tool emitted a flash of light. Two soul beasts appeared on the wide training grounds.
Wu Tong looked closely and saw a flower and a cicada lying half-dead on the ground.
The flower was pitch black—its petals, pistil, sepals, stem, root, and even the sap seeping from its wounds were all pure black.
But the blackness was strange. When he looked closer, Wu Tong could faintly see other colors within that black—vivid, sharply defined hues.
There was no mistaking it. This was the Empty Nether Flower, exactly as described in ancient texts—its entire form displaying a multicolored black.
Such a distinctive trait had once left a deep impression on Wu Tong.
"Multicolored black—yes… Five markings on the petal interior. A fifty-thousand-year-old Empty Nether Flower."
After confirming the flower's identity, Wu Tong shifted his gaze to the cicada beside it.
Upon closer inspection, he saw how miserable the cicada truly was.
Its sharp oral mandibles had been severed at the base, crippling its ability to attack.
The broken horn on its head bore a fresh wound, from which pale golden blood flowed freely.
Its wings shimmered with a rainbow sheen, as delicate as artwork—but they were now covered with sword scars, ruining their beauty and making flight impossible.
Its lower limbs had all been severed, leaving it unable to stand.
Nine puncture wounds remained across its body—ferocious and terrifying.
Even so, the cicada wasn't dead. It clung to life with sheer tenacity, relying on its extraordinary vitality to survive.
Wu Tong looked at the cicada's injuries without any change in expression. After all, it was just a soul beast—it didn't stir any sympathy in him.
He paid no attention to its wounds and instead focused on identifying its species.
"Eyes in sixfold, golden all over… rainbow-colored wings, thin and transparent, the fastest in the world… horn on head, smooth as jade… tail six feet long—sixty thousand years."
After careful verification, Wu Tong was certain. This was indeed the Spirit Treasure Golden Cicada he needed—and a sixty-thousand-year-old one at that.
"Haha, excellent. This really is the Empty Nether Flower and the Spirit Treasure Golden Cicada. Thank you, Brother Xue, for helping me find these two soul beasts."
With the confirmation complete, Wu Tong could no longer contain his excitement and expressed his gratitude to Xue Qinghe.
"No need for thanks. After all, I'm only doing it for Brother Tong's promised reward."
Seeing Wu Tong's elation, Xue Qinghe replied with a humble smile.
(End of Chapter)
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