The most dangerous place is the safest place.

A short while later.

Pill Saint Immortal Workshop.

Looking at the three large characters "Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion" before him, the corners of Qi Yuan's mouth twitched slightly. He subconsciously checked the Thousand-Mile Tracking Talisman in his hand, and after confirming he hadn't found the wrong place, he fell into a silent daze.

I'm seriously freaking done!

After all that, it turns out I still have to go to Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion. So Spiritual Plants visit brothels too, is that it?

"This young master, why are you standing out here in a daze?"

Just then, a courtesan standing at the door soliciting customers saw Qi Yuan standing there blankly. Thinking he was a greenhorn who had the desire but lacked the guts, she immediately approached with a coquettish laugh, vigorously throwing flirtatious glances at him.

"Please, come in quickly. There are many fun things inside that are guaranteed to make you linger and forget to return, unable to stop yourself..."

Qi Yuan suddenly snapped back to his senses and was about to interrupt her when a familiar child's voice reached his ears.

"Big Brother, why are you here?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan's expression stiffened. He looked toward the source of the voice and saw a big-eyed, round-faced young boy running over from behind him.

The boy was fair and chubby, with a hint of cunning and liveliness in his eyes. It was none other than the Illusion Star Grass Spirit, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

At this moment, the Little Grass Spirit seemed to have learned some sort of technique to conceal its aura, making it look no different from a human.

He was wearing an expensive cloud-patterned silk jacket and a glittering gold longevity lock around his neck, looking just like the young master of some wealthy family.

Seeing the Little Grass Spirit suddenly appear, Qi Yuan calmly put away the tracking talisman and acted surprised, saying:

"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."

The Little Grass Spirit ran excitedly to Qi Yuan, saying with a mix of surprise and joy:

"It really is you, Big Brother! Do you like coming here to play too?"

Qi Yuan was instantly stunned.

What did he mean by "too"?

Before he could ask for details, the Little Grass Spirit pulled on his sleeve and led him toward the backyard of Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, saying as they walked:

"Big Brother, let me tell you some good news. I found Grandpa Shen and made many new friends. Come on, I'll take you to meet them."

Hearing this, Qi Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He immediately guessed who the Little Grass Spirit's accomplice was.

Grandpa Shen—the very guardian who had led the Little Grass Spirit astray!

No wonder such a major crime could be committed; it turned out there was a primary culprit... Most importantly, would the opponent's strength be very high?

It seemed he had considered things too simply before coming. If he encountered some powerful existence, how would he escape?

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive, but he quickly calmed down.

Since things had come to this, he could only take it one step at a time. Regardless, his relationship with the Little Grass Spirit was very friendly, so it was unlikely he'd be met with ingratitude.

Furthermore, he had the [Myriad Spirits Affinity] talent, which automatically increased the favorability of all non-human living beings toward him. As long as he didn't reveal any hostility, his safety should be guaranteed.

"Greetings, Young Master Xing."

"Little Young Master, this friend of yours is quite handsome."

"Mmm-hmm, Young Master Xing is so well-behaved. Is it okay if Auntie holds you while you sleep tonight?"

...As the two walked through the halls, the various beauties they encountered would always step forward to greet them with fiery enthusiasm. Clearly, a certain Little Grass Spirit was very popular with the young ladies in Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

For some reason, Qi Yuan didn't see Pu Genshuo or Liu Qi on the first floor. He figured those guys were probably in a private room on the second floor.

Soon, the human and the grass arrived at a luxuriously decorated room in the backyard of Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

Qi Yuan scanned the room but didn't see any sign of other grass spirits, which immediately made him suspicious.

"Where is this?"

The Illusion Star Grass Spirit gave a mysterious smile and replied proudly:

"This is the temporary base of our Grass Spirit Clan. Grandpa Shen taught me that a good grass spirit must learn to have 'three burrows for a crafty rabbit' and cannot set up a nest in only one place."

Three burrows for a crafty rabbit?

Qi Yuan's expression became strange, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Then why would you choose a base inside a brothel where people are constantly coming and going? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

The Illusion Star Grass Spirit replied solemnly:

"This place was personally chosen by Grandpa Shen. Grandpa Shen said this is called 'Hiding in plain sight'—the most dangerous place is the safest place."

"Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion has the most people entering and exiting daily. No one would ever think our Grass Spirit Clan is hiding inside. Of course it's the safest place!"

Looking at the articulate Little Grass Spirit before him, Qi Yuan felt somewhat speechless.

He had to admit, that old ginseng spirit really was a Genius!

"Big Brother, they're all underground. Follow me."

As he spoke, a green glow emanated from the Illusion Star Grass Spirit, and he pulled Qi Yuan along as they tunneled into the ground.

The next moment, the figures of the human and the grass appeared in a spacious underground cavern.

Qi Yuan only felt a cool, damp, earthy smell hit his nose, followed by wisps of medicinal fragrance.

The medicinal fragrance contained an extremely dense vitality. If a Mortal were here, taking just one breath would cure a hundred illnesses and prolong their life.

Even as a Cultivator, Qi Yuan felt incredibly refreshed. His blood and Qi accelerated their circulation, giving him the sensation of having eaten a Ginseng Fruit.

Just then, an old man's voice rang out within the cavern:

"Little Xing, didn't I tell you not to run around... Eh? Why did you bring an outsider in?"

The voice was aged but not weak; instead, it was vigorous, loud, and full of vitality.

Qi Yuan looked up and saw a short, plump old man dressed in brocade and wearing a mink hat. He was straightening up from a grand armchair, staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

The old man had a broad face and large ears, with a long beard hanging to his chest. His complexion was as ruddy and full as a baby's. At first glance, he had the air of a wealthy old man from the secular world, except those eyes were shifty, revealing a lot of shrewdness and a hint of... lecherousness.

The Little Grass Spirit ran happily to the old man, looking up with his little head and saying:

"Grandpa Shen, Big Brother isn't an outsider. He is also Xing'er's savior. If Big Brother hadn't stepped in to save me last time, Xing'er would have been chopped up for Alchemy by an evil woman."

Seeing this, Qi Yuan also hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands in a respectful greeting:

"I am Qi Yuan. Greetings, Senior."

At this moment, he could already confirm that the strength of this Old Mountain Ginseng before him was absolutely terrifying.

Although he couldn't see the old man's specific cultivation level, he could clearly sense a vast, ocean-like spiritual power contained within the other's body.

While plant-type beings weren't known for their combat prowess, it depended on who the opponent was. When the gap reached a certain level, techniques weren't needed at all; one could crush an opponent with spiritual power alone.

"No need to call me Senior. Just call me Master Shen."

Seemingly having heard the Little Grass Spirit's words, the old man's expression softened slightly, and his tone relaxed a bit:

"As a human, you were able to be Little Xing's savior. It seems you are different from those Devil Heads outside who treat Spiritual Plants as Alchemy Materials."

Just then, several more Grass Spirit Children appeared, drilling out from the soil and chattering away.

"Scared me to death. I thought it was that group of Alchemists chasing us. Turns out it's Brother Xing's human friend."

"Since he's one of us, we don't need to worry."

"With Grandpa Shen here, what is there to fear!"

Before Qi Yuan could speak, a grass spirit child with a flower growing on its head stepped forward and said with a serious face:

"I heard that humans are all big villains. Not only do they refine Spiritual Plants into Medicinal Pills, but they also always treat Spiritual Plants as food to be eaten directly, calling it 'eating vegetarian is good for the body.' It's simply terrifying!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Grass Spirit Children were instantly frightened, and they all looked at a certain someone with eyes full of both hatred and fear.

Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, then immediately explained:

"This Qi has been a picky eater since childhood. I only like to eat meat and never eat vegetables."