MTLNOVEL Chapter 177: Gu Yue Gets Rival
The sect had long suspected there were even greater treasures below the spring, but limited by their strength, they couldn't even investigate, let alone retrieve anything.
All they could do was use the spring's water to train young disciples.
With no further hesitation, Nan Shuishui led Lu Jingming and company to the sect's back courtyard, where an ancient well shrouded in cold mist awaited.
"Mom, is this the big secret we've been hiding? It just looks like an ordinary well—nothing special," Nan Qiuqiu said, peering in, only to be disappointed.
"You don't know anything! You've benefited plenty from the spring water in your training. Otherwise, with your talent, you wouldn't have advanced to Soul Ancestor so quickly," Nan Shuishui scolded.
Nan Qiuqiu, younger than Lu Jingming, had already reached the Soul Ancestor rank—a remarkable achievement, even compared to Shrek's top students like Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi.
But her rapid growth owed much to the spring water. All the young disciples had benefited in the same way.
Clearly, the spring—formed by Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow—was an incredible boon for low-level soul masters.
"Jingming, this is it. Whatever you're after is down there—I can't say more, but I trust you'll manage," Nan Shuishui said, glancing at Xue Di for reassurance.
The Earth Dragon Sect couldn't investigate further, but for ice-elemental powerhouses like Xue Di, entering the spring was like going home.
"Xue Di, Bing Di—you two go ahead. Gu Yue and I will wait here," Lu Jingming instructed.
Once the Profound Ice Marrow was retrieved, Bing Di could restore her body, and Lu Jingming had no need to use Black Abyss White Flower's help.
He knew exactly what lay below: the Ice Polar Divine Crystal vein was priceless, but couldn't be mined en masse for now. The Profound Ice Marrow, though, could be taken.
Once it was removed, the spring would lose its deadly chill, making it possible for the sect to mine the ore themselves.
Lu Jingming wasn't greedy; he planned to pay a fair price for any Ice Polar Divine Crystals, leaving the mining to the sect—and he wasn't short on money.
He also wouldn't take the Profound Ice Marrow for free—he'd come prepared.
Nan Shuishui, hearing Lu Jingming call out to Xue Di and Bing Di, was shocked. As neighbors to the Extreme North, of course she knew their names—top ten fierce beasts, rulers of the north.
Now it all made sense: no wonder they were so powerful.
She wondered how Lu Jingming could command such beings, but wisely kept her questions to herself.
While Xue Di and Bing Di descended into the spring, Lu Jingming stayed above with Gu Yue, Nan Qiuqiu, and Nan Shuishui.
While waiting, Lu Jingming took out eight blood-red crystals—each a ten-thousand-year Stigmata.
"Sect Master, here are eight ten-thousand-year Stigmata, all sub-dragon types. Consider it compensation for what we take."
"That's… that's far too generous! You saved us—there's no need for compensation!"
"Please take them. Stigmata are precious, but to us in Haiyuan City, they're not rare, and these especially suit the Earth Dragon Sect."
Nan Shuishui hesitated but finally accepted. He was right—sub-dragon Stigmata were perfect for her sect.
Her respect for Lu Jingming rose even higher. He didn't have to offer compensation; the rescue alone was reason enough.
Among the eight Stigmata was even a Rouge Dragon one, nearly impossible to obtain. Lu Jingming had enlisted Herta's help to simulate the Rouge Dragon, then had Mobius modify a Golden Earth Dragon's genes to create it.
The bloodlines of dragons were close enough to allow this.
The Profound Ice Marrow was incredibly rare—its power could even forge a million-year soul beast. Lu Jingming knew this, so he offered the Stigmata in return, even though their value was still far less. Still, without him, the sect would never have reached the Marrow, making the Stigmata more practical for them.
"Wow, real Stigmata! And a Rouge Dragon one! Thank you, Lu Jingming!" Nan Qiuqiu, already obsessed with Stigmata, was overjoyed. In her excitement, she impulsively hugged Lu Jingming and planted a big kiss on his cheek, leaving a wet mark.
"What are you doing?!" Gu Yue's eyes went wide, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling.
She was both angry and anxious—she hadn't kissed Lu Jingming yet, and this pink-haired girl had beaten her to it! How could she stand that?
Sensing Gu Yue's murderous aura, Nan Qiuqiu shrank back, face scarlet, and quickly hid behind Nan Shuishui. She'd simply been too excited and now felt embarrassed.
"Ugh!" Gu Yue gritted her teeth, glaring daggers at Lu Jingming, then whipped out her handkerchief to wipe his face clean—no way was she letting someone else's mark stay there.
Lu Jingming blinked innocently, as if he hadn't seen it coming. In truth, he could've easily dodged, but he'd let it happen—why not? He wasn't losing out, and Gu Yue's jealous reaction was adorable.
Nan Shuishui could only cover her face in exasperated amusement, then cast a reproachful look at her daughter. But soon, her expression softened—her little cabbage had finally learned to be proactive. As a mother, she was relieved… but glancing at Gu Yue, she worried for her daughter. The competition was fierce.
Nan Shuishui truly liked Lu Jingming. She knew he'd come with an agenda, but the fact remained: he'd saved them all. With Xue Di's power and Lu Jingming's deed, she had no objection to him taking the treasures below. After all, without his help, the sect would never have reached them.
And Lu Jingming, despite being able to take it all for free, insisted on offering eight ten-thousand-year Stigmata as compensation. That alone spoke volumes for his character.