481 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 481: The Quest for the Life-Death Grass As Ye Linglong gazed at the five round pills inside the jade box in her hand, she could make out the intricate patterns on them. Such marks indicated that they were high-grade pills, signaling the exceptional quality of these celestial rank pills. Remarkably, if their eyes did not deceive them, the five celestial middle-grade pills appeared to be Barrier-Breaking Pills, specifically intended for breakthroughs. These pills were essential for celestial lords looking to elevate their status to celestial emperors. For many, the leap from a celestial lord to a celestial emperor was a formidable obstacle. Success was not always guaranteed on the first attempt, and failure only reinforced the barrier further. However, possessing a Barrier-Breaking Pill significantly increased the likelihood of successfully making this transition. Everyone fell silent, their gazes fixated on Ye Linglong, their eyes blazing with desire. Producing five celestial middle-grade pills with the distinct patterns on them in a single furnace was a remarkable achievement, underscoring her expertise. How fortunate Baili Ming was to have found his biological daughter, a celestial-level alchemist! Clearly, building a closer connection with the Baili family would be beneficial. This thought simultaneously struck everyone present. "I have information about the Life-Death Grass. Could we possibly trade it for a Barrier-Breaking Pill?" "I also have some information. I’d like a Barrier-Breaking Pill, too." "I have some as well!!" "I have some too!!!!" Once the request began, it quickly grew as more attempted to trade for the pills. However, not all were genuine; some sought to deceive, offering false information in a bid to obtain the pills. But Ye Linglong was not easily fooled. Anyone wishing to trade had to first swear an oath to their heart’s demons, ensuring the authenticity of their information. If it was fabricated, they would never again advance in their cultivation. Such an oath was perilous for cultivators, especially for those in this secret realm seeking opportunities to enhance their powers. Putting their future cultivation at risk for a celestial pill was a risky gamble, one rarely taken. This single requirement swiftly filtered out many, leaving only those with truly valid information about the Life-Death Grass. Ye Linglong kept her word, exchanging pills for information with each of them. The area around the small house bustled with activity. Fu Changming observed the lively scene, his eyes flickering, deeply contemplating something. "Ancestor, what should we do?" someone beside him whispered. They had been searching for Baili Ming, and now he was right before them. Should they act? Fu Changming glanced at him. "Are you a fool? Didn’t you notice the people inside? Some of them are descendants of other celestial emperors. Are you trying to create trouble for yourself by involving them?" The person promptly fell silent. Indeed, there were several other celestial emperors' descendants present. High-ranking cultivators rarely had children, making their direct lineage incredibly treasured. If anything happened to them, consequences would be severe. "So, are we just going to let this go?" he asked, unwilling to accept it. They had scoured the secret realm in search of Baili Ming. Fu Changming replied, "Wait. Once they have the Life-Death Grass information, they will go looking for it. We’ll follow them closely during this period and destroy it if necessary. Dream on if you think you’ll get the Life-Death Grass!" "Understood!" Ye Linglong and her group acquired several leads on the Life-Death Grass, all verified by heavenly oaths for authenticity. After securing their celestial pills, those people withdrew, one by one. Leads on the Life-Death Grass were scarce, and soon no more people came forward to exchange information. Estimating that she had gathered enough, Ye Linglong decided to follow each clue diligently. She intended to close the small house and visit each location, one by one. While separating might have been faster, she couldn’t shake the suspicion that Fu Changming was still lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He was like a venomous serpent hidden in a corner, ready for a fatal attack. Therefore, to be safe, they would explore each location together. No one else objected; with the secret realm still open for some time, they had ample time to investigate each place thoroughly. Baili Ming was filled with eager anticipation, a hope burning in his eyes like never before. As they checked each location, the first they reached did indeed have a Life-Death Grass. Unfortunately, it was already dead. Life-Death Grass was quite delicate, requiring precise conditions to survive. An unsuitable environment could swiftly kill it, and sadly, this plant was beyond revival. Although it wasn’t realistic to find a living Life-Death Grass at the first try, Baili Ming was still disheartened. There had been a Life-Death Grass here, but they had arrived too late. Ye Linglong reassured him, "Father, this is only the first place, don’t lose hope." Baili Ming’s expression softened as he nodded, and they pressed on with their quest. Their subsequent efforts turned fruitless, largely met with disappointment, either finding dead plants or discovering excavations from the previous secret realm exploration. Baili Ming’s initial hope dwindled away, each piece of optimism eroded, sustained only by growing despair. Ye Linglong felt helpless. Their luck was dismal—this was the kind of misfortune where one feels jinxed at every turn. "There’s only one more place left," Feng Li remarked, his own expression a mirror of their collective frustration. Anyone would be dispirited after enduring so many disappointments. "No worries, Father, if nothing turns up, we can trade again. The secret realm remains open; we still have a chance," Ye Linglong consoled. Baili Ming sighed deeply, forcing a strained smile. "Linglong, you’ve done more than enough. Should this be another dead end, it’s fate. Trading again may yield nothing new." With those words, he headed toward the last location. The final site lay within a basin encircled by mountains, with the clue pointing right to its center. As Ye Linglong and the others arrived, they spotted a plant with intermingled black and white leaves swaying gently. A living Life-Death Grass. Ye Linglong trembled with excitement, while tears streamed down Baili Ming’s face as his body shook. Finally, they had succeeded. Everyone exhaled a collective sigh of relief, their tension unravelling. Even Ye Linglong could hardly contain her deep breath of relief. After enduring so much disappointment, they had been bracing for this last location to yield nothing as well. Yet, here it was—a thriving Life-Death Grass. "Zheng Er is saved," Baili Ming murmured. However, as the group basked in joy, the space beside the Life-Death Grass began to distort, revealing a figure emerging by the precious plant.