Chapter 97

" Hmm? You agreed so easily? "

Shi Qianqiu couldn't help but be stunned. Hu Gao's response took him by surprise. Wasn't it said that there was danger below the red magma? Why did this kid agree so readily? This doesn't make sense!

Now, he faced a dilemma: should he risk sending someone from his side to pick the black fire lotus pods from the red magma pool, or should he let Hu Gao and his group be the sacrificial lambs to pick the black fire lotus pods?

After all, such an astonishing number of black fire lotus pods was incredibly valuable, possibly relating to the future of the entire family. There could be no room for carelessness.

" Elder Shi, you should go and pick them. There's nothing particularly dangerous in the Fire Beast Forest, just some fire beasts and a Fire Beast King. Although the Fire Beast King is powerful, I believe you can handle it. You are at the Second Stage of the Body Passage Realm. Even if you can't handle it alone, Elder Yu can help you, and there won't be any problem."

At this moment, Shi Dong, the fifth young master of the family, stepped forward to speak. To him, the value of these black fire lotus pods far exceeded that of gold coins.

The reason was simple: if he could bring back thousands of black fire lotus pods for the family, this achievement would be enough to make him the heir of the family. Even some opponents with far greater power than him would be defeated by him.

" That's right, Elder Shi. We absolutely cannot let this kid go and pick the black fire lotus pods. His willingness to go himself is definitely a trick. If I'm not mistaken, he's trying to buy time, waiting for reinforcements. After all, these thousands of black fire lotus pods, if obtained, would immediately boost their faction's strength by several dozen or even a hundred times. They would definitely need help to protect their safe return to the family."

Elder Yu immediately spoke up.

" Buying time, Elder Yu is indeed right. That brat is clearly stalling for time. Once we return to the family, I'll have Father arrange a position as a family steward for you," Shi Yuan said with a radiant smile.

" Miss Shi..." However, facing Shi Yuan's smile, Elder Yu felt a chill in his heart and let out a mournful cry.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. How could he be promoted to a family steward just because of a few words? As for why he would be promoted to a family steward, he knew very well.

" Elder Yu, your cultivation is not much lower than Elder Shi's. You can definitely pick the black fire lotus pods. So, I think you should go and pick them. Once you successfully bring the black fire lotus pods to Fifth Brother, I can guarantee that you will become a family steward," Shi Yuan's tone left no room for Elder Yu to refuse.

" That's right, Elder Yu. You know, if I bring thousands of black fire lotus pods to the family, I will immediately become the sole heir, and even Elder Brother won't be able to compete with me. Promising you a position as a family steward will definitely not be a problem. I can even swear that once I become the family head, I will immediately promote you to a family elder."

Shi Dong also tempted and made promises, "Think about it, if you become a family steward and a family elder, the cultivation resources you will receive will be immense. I can even allocate some of these black fire lotus pods to you, helping you break through to the late stage of the Body Passage Realm, or even the Burst Essence Realm."

" Late stage of the Body Passage Realm? Burst Essence Realm? "

Although Elder Yu knew that this trip could easily cost him his life, leaving no trace behind, hearing the combined temptations from the two young masters made his breathing quicken.

He was very clear that, with his talent, he could at most cultivate to the Third Stage of the Body Passage Realm, and even reaching the middle stage would be difficult. If this matter succeeded, his life would be completely rewritten.

It had to be said, the temptation was indeed too great, almost making him lose his reason.

" Old Yu, no need to hesitate. You can't let Fifth Young Master and Sixth Young Miss take the risk. And it would be difficult for you to deal with them three alone. Only I can watch over them."

Shi Qianqiu said calmly, then lowered his voice to a level only the four of them could hear, "Move quickly. Once you get the black fire lotus pods, I will immediately eliminate them and leave the Flame Valley with the pods."

" Alright!" Finally, Elder Yu no longer hesitated, took a deep breath, and agreed.

" Elder Yu, I didn't misjudge you. Since you've agreed, I'll give you a token of appreciation, granting you the family name on behalf of my father."

Seeing Elder Yu agree, Shi Yuan sighed in relief, then flipped her palm, revealing a black pill in her hand, "Swallow this Black Rain Pill."

" Black Rain Pill?!" Elder Yu's expression changed slightly.

The Black Rain Pill was no ordinary pill. While the "Blood Slave Contract" instilled fear, the "Black Rain Pill" controlled the soul.

The Black Rain Pill originally had the effect of nourishing the soul, but once the controller added a thread of soul, they could use the pill's effect to parasitize the soul of the person who swallowed it, thus controlling their soul.

Once swallowed, he would belong to the Shi family for life, required to be loyal. If he had any second thoughts, his soul would suffer the torment of being gnawed by countless insects, and the controller could easily reduce him to a cripple.

However, thinking that any outsider servant or guard who wanted to become a member of the Shi family had to swallow the Black Rain Pill, he felt a bit more balanced. Although he was reluctant, he still took it and swallowed it with gritted teeth.

Seeing him swallow the pill, Shi Yuan and the others visibly relaxed.

" Finally agreed, what a hassle." Hu Gao, standing in front, didn't say anything, but he was laughing inside. Human nature is indeed suspicious and greedy.

" Senior, you don't need to worry. There's no danger below the red magma. If you really don't want to pick the black fire lotus pods, you can let me do it. If there's any danger, it will be me who dies, right?" Hu Gao didn't mind adding fuel to the fire at this moment.

" Kid, you don't need to provoke me. Just stand there quietly," Elder Yu coldly snorted, feeling a bit embarrassed. A mere Ninth Stage Condensed Shadow Realm cultivator wasn't afraid, while he, a First Stage Body Passage Realm veteran, hesitated, making him look bad.

Elder Yu no longer hesitated and walked straight toward the red magma pool.

Seeing this, Shi Qianqiu's aura stirred, enveloping Hu Gao and the others. Under his aura, any movement from Hu Gao and the others would be immediately detected.

After doing this, Shi Qianqiu and the others watched Elder Yu with ease, not at all worried that Hu Gao and the others would escape.

" Brother Hu Gao, what do we do now? "

Yun Feng and Han Chong looked at Hu Gao, knowing he must have a plan.

" Get ready, we need to hide far away. The Fire Beast King below the red magma pool will likely be lured out. Let them four deal with it slowly."

" Right, Brother Hu Gao, although the Fire Beast King is powerful, what if it's not a match for them four? What about the remaining black fire lotus pods? Do we really have to let them take them?"

Han Chong asked, feeling reluctant, "I don't care about getting the black fire lotus pods. I even think that if our family gets so many, it might invite a clan-destroying disaster. But letting these few people take so many black fire lotus pods is really hard to accept. If there's no other way, I'll use my ultimate move to delay them, then attract others to come. Let's see how they can leave with the black fire lotus pods smoothly."

Yun Feng also nodded in agreement, clearly sharing the same thought. They absolutely couldn't let others take the benefits.

" Don't be impulsive. Who said I'm giving up the black fire lotus pods? That's a joke. This is just the first step. The real show is yet to come. Just wait and see."

Hu Gao quickly stopped Yun Feng and Han Chong, fearing they might impulsively reveal their trump cards.

" The real show is yet to come?" Yun Feng and Han Chong's eyes lit up.

After that, the three of them said no more and, like the four from the Shi family, watched the red magma pool.

Elder Yu had already reached the pool, staring at the red magma below, his expression relaxed. He stood by the pool for a few breaths, and there was no movement. In the Fire Beast Forest, the greatest danger was the Fire Beast King and fire toxins. Fire toxins could be ruled out here. If it were the Fire Beast King, it would have appeared and attacked him as he approached the red magma pool.

The current situation only indicated one thing: there was no danger in the pool!

Thinking of this, Elder Yu no longer hesitated. His internal essence energy surged, like a wave of water rushing toward the red magma. The violent energy instantly pushed the red magma aside, revealing the black fire lotus pods below.

" Indeed, they are black fire lotus pods, so many of them! "

Elder Yu, Shi Qianqiu, and the others' pupils dilated, they all took deep breaths, and their expressions were extremely excited.

Seeing so many black fire lotus pods with their own eyes was different from just hearing about them from Hu Gao. This moment was enough to make them envious, excited, and crazy.

" Haha, all black fire lotus pods. I, Yu Chan, can finally rise to prominence."

Elder Yu laughed loudly, almost shedding tears. He was too excited. After struggling for most of his life without much achievement, he never expected such a stroke of luck today.

He could easily imagine that in no time, the Shi family would rise in Longhua, and he, Yu Chan, would rise with it, no longer having to bow and scrape, no longer having to be humble. In his eyes, these black fire lotus pods were already shining with a golden light, beckoning to him.