324: Chapter 324 The Lotus of the Netherworld's Return (1)

Ancestor Fu got straight to the point and said, "We have no intention of becoming enemies with you, Fellow Daoist. We only want the token on the chest of that Little Ghost beside you to leave this ship. I hope you can make it convenient for us. I wonder if you can part with it?"

The Tall Ghost was not surprised at all, as if it had already expected their purpose, and said indifferently, "I can give you the token."

As soon as these words were spoken, the nine people were all overjoyed.

But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, the Tall Ghost continued, "However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. What will you exchange for it?"

Ancestor Fu had already anticipated this and simply smiled faintly. "What do you want, Fellow Daoist? As long as we can provide it, we will not refuse."

The Tall Ghost's eyes, burning with ghostly fire, slowly swept over the nine people, and said one word at a time, "I want five things—netherworld returning ruins lotus, Innate Soul Source True Liquid, Million-Year Soul Crystal, a piece of Top-Grade Soul Marrow, and Immortal Divine Wood."

Each of these five items was a rare treasure in the world, especially the netherworld returning ruins lotus, which was a supreme treasure of the Netherworld. Legend says it grows in the depths of Guixu and can nourish the Divine Soul; even in the Netherworld, it is a rare find that one can only hope for but not seek.

Ancestor Fu's gaze narrowed slightly, then he turned to look at the eight people behind him and asked in a deep voice, "Do any of you have these five items?"

"I have Innate Soul Source True Liquid," Peerless Immortal Emperor spoke up first. With a wave of his hand, a jade bottle appeared in his palm.

Spiritual light flowed over the jade bottle, and the moment the stopper was opened, a dense Soul Source Power filled the air, causing the surrounding Death Qi to dissipate.

"I have a Million-Year Soul Crystal here," Asura Immortal Emperor followed closely. With a flip of his hand, a fist-sized, pitch-black crystal with a faint soul light flowing inside appeared in his hand.

An ancient and mellow aura emanated from this soul crystal; it was indeed a soul crystal that had settled over millions of years.

"I have Top-Grade Soul Marrow," Prison Suppressing Immortal Emperor said expressionlessly, taking out a milky-white crystal. Within the crystal, small soul shadows seemed to be slowly floating, and the aura it emitted made everyone feel a sense of comfort.

"I happen to have a section of Immortal Divine Wood here," Immortal Immortal Emperor also spoke. He took out a section of emerald green wood, barely ten thousand feet in length, yet it contained a continuous Immortal power of life. Even in this space filled with Death Qi, it remained vibrant and green.

The four of them each took out a treasure and placed it before them.

Ancestor Fu looked at these four items, nodded, and then swept his gaze over the remaining people, asking in a deep voice, "Who among you has the netherworld returning ruins lotus?"

As his voice fell, the remaining four—Martial God, Artifact Martial Immortal Emperor, Nine Yang Immortal Emperor, and Supreme Immortal Emperor—all looked troubled and shook their heads one after another.

Martial God sighed and said in a deep voice, "The netherworld returning ruins lotus is one of the world-suppressing treasures of the Netherworld. Let alone possessing it, ordinary Immortals have never even seen it."

"If we were in the Immortal Realm, we could still use our own treasures to trade with the Underworld God of the Netherworld, but now we are trapped on this Ghost Ship, isolated from the world. Even if we wanted to trade, there's no way to do so."

Ancestor Fu's brow also furrowed. He looked at the Tall Ghost and said in a sincere tone, "Fellow Daoist, to be honest, we truly do not have the netherworld returning ruins lotus."

"However, the four treasures—Innate Soul Source True Liquid, Million-Year Soul Crystal, Top-Grade Soul Marrow, and Immortal Divine Wood—are all rare items in the world, and their value is equally significant."

"Do you think it's feasible to exchange these four items for the token?"

Hearing this, the Tall Ghost's ghostly blue flames flickered slightly, and it shook its head without hesitation. "No."

All nine people showed looks of disappointment, and a flash of severity even crossed Supreme Immortal Emperor's eyes as Evil Qi faintly surged around him.

But at that moment, the Tall Ghost changed the subject and said slowly, "However, I know a place that has the netherworld returning ruins lotus. But that place is extremely dangerous. If you can help me retrieve the netherworld returning ruins lotus, I can give you the token."

Ancestor Fu's eyes flickered. He turned to the eight people behind him and asked via voice transmission, "What do you think?"

"Hmph, this creature has ulterior motives," Supreme Immortal Emperor snorted first, his eyes full of wariness. "Who knows where he's going to take us? If even he can't get the netherworld returning ruins lotus from that place himself, it must be extremely dangerous."

"In my opinion, with the strength of our nine Immortal Emperors, we should just directly take the token. Why waste words with him here?"

"No," Immortal Immortal Emperor shook his head and said in a deep voice, "It's best not to resort to force if possible. Since this Tall Ghost dares to face the nine of us like this, he must have something to fall back on."

"If we push him too far and he destroys the token or escapes into a deeper layer of space with it, it will be as difficult as reaching the heavens to find the token again."

"Fellow Daoist Immortal is quite right," Martial God also spoke up. "In my view, we might as well agree to it and follow him to that place to see."

"If that place really allows us to obtain the netherworld returning ruins lotus, then we'll take it to exchange for the token. If that place is too perilous and it's impossible to get the lotus, it won't be too late to take the token by force then."

"I agree with the opinions of Fellow Daoist Immortal and Fellow Daoist Martial God," Peerless Immortal Emperor pondered for a moment and also chimed in.

The others also nodded one after another, expressing their agreement.

They were all experienced and steady individuals, naturally understanding the pros and cons. While taking it by force was direct, the risk was too great; it was better to wait and see.

Seeing that everyone shared this intention, Ancestor Fu immediately made a decision. He turned to the Tall Ghost and said in a deep voice, "Fine, we agree. Take us to that place."

"If we can obtain the netherworld returning ruins lotus, we will exchange it for the token; if we cannot, then do not blame us for taking it by force."

These words were blunt, carrying a strong sense of threat.

The Tall Ghost didn't mind at all, but instead said with some surprise, "The nine of you are all Supreme Great Emperors; I thought you would just snatch it directly."

Ancestor Fu smiled faintly, his smile carrying a hint of coldness. "We are giving you a chance, Fellow Daoist. If you fail to appreciate our kindness, then do not blame us for being impolite."

The Tall Ghost was not at all surprised by these words. The ghostly blue flames flickered slightly, as if it were laughing coldly.

"Let's go."

The Tall Ghost said this and turned to walk towards the depths of the space, with the Little Ghost scurrying along behind it.

Ancestor Fu and the other eight exchanged looks, all seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.

They didn't dare to be careless in the slightest, circulating their Immortal power and warily following the two ghosts towards the depths of this unknown space.

No one knew whether what awaited them ahead was the netherworld returning ruins lotus or a carefully laid trap.