Free Web NovelChapter 514: Chapter 514: Blood Orchid
The luxurious carriage stopped in front of Zhang Yuan’s tent.
The knights guarding it dismounted in unison, one of them was Bazhad.
This samurai from the Hulan Tribe nodded at Zhang Yuan, then strode forward and knelt on one knee beside the carriage.
Then, he crossed his arms horizontally in front of his chest.
The next moment, the curtain of the carriage lifted, and a veiled woman stepped down on Bazhad’s arms.
She wore a luxurious long dress that couldn’t hide her graceful and elegant figure, although her true appearance couldn’t be seen, a pair of eyes as bright as stars were enough to set one’s imagination aflame.
Most importantly, the aura emanating from her gestures clearly indicated her noble status.
She lifted her skirt lightly and bowed gracefully to Zhang Yuan, saying, "Wulan Tuya greets Lord Zhang Yuan."
Zhang Yuan returned the gesture: "Hello."
His gaze shifted to Bazhad beside him.
However, Bazhad, oblivious to Zhang Yuan’s gaze, focused on his own breathing, showing no reaction.
The Hulan Noble Lady, Wulan Tuya, smiled slightly and said, "Lord Zhang Yuan, forgive me for the unannounced visit of Wulan Tuya."
Zhang Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Let’s sit down and talk."
He sat back down beside the campfire, and from Wulan Tuya’s carriage, two pretty maids quickly laid a rug opposite him.
Zhang Yuan had seen similar rugs in the market during the day, but none as exquisite and luxurious, and they cost dozens of taels of silver.
Wulan Tuya sat down gracefully, her starry eyes fixed on Zhang Yuan with curiosity and innocence.
However, Zhang Yuan did not feel that this Hulan Noble Lady was a naive and ignorant girl.
There was something strange about her to him.
Wulan Tuya was undoubtedly a great beauty, her beauty was something that a thin veil could not cover, her grace was rare, and it contained a hint of mysterious power. ƒrēewebnovel.com
At the same time, Wulan Tuya seemed exceptionally frail, as if the Fire of Life might extinguish at any moment!
Zhang Yuan suppressed that odd feeling inside and straightforwardly asked, "What do you need from me?"
As the saying goes, nothing happens without a reason, he didn’t think the Hulan Noble Lady would visit him without a purpose.
Wulan Tuya elegantly raised her delicate hand and made a gesture.
The two maids and the guarding knights like Bazhad withdrew, keeping a distance.
Wulan Tuya nodded and said, "Lord Zhang Yuan, indeed, I have something to ask for your help with."
"It must be a bothersome matter, right?"
Zhang Yuan smiled and said, "But I am not fond of trouble. I came to Nacuoda merely to witness the Saigute meeting."
Wulan Tuya was momentarily taken aback.
She obviously didn’t expect Zhang Yuan to act so unconventionally, disrupting the pre-planned dialogue.
But Wulan Tuya was not an ordinary woman.
She smiled and said, "Lord Zhang Yuan, aren’t you curious about the reward I’m willing to offer?"
The reward?
Zhang Yuan rubbed his chin, answering with interest, "Let’s hear it."
Wulan Tuya gazed at him deeply and then clapped her hands.
A knight swiftly approached, placing a metal box in front of Wulan Tuya.
Then, he bowed and retreated.
Clearly, the box was made of gold, gleaming in the firelight, emitting a captivating allure.
It sparked intense curiosity about what treasure might be inside!
The answer was soon revealed.
Wulan Tuya lifted the lid of the box.
Inside the golden box, there lay a pitch-black stone.
Though the stone seemed unremarkable, Zhang Yuan immediately recognized it as a piece of Celestial Divine Iron!
Except for its size, it was almost identical to the one given to him by Zamuhu.
Most importantly, Zhang Yuan instantly sensed the eagerness of the Red Blood Saber.
This Divine Soldier, dormant within his Dantian, conveyed an intense desire for devouring!
Zhang Yuan was speechless.
Even though Zamuhu’s Celestial Divine Iron had been continuously ground by the Red Blood Saber, it still hadn’t shed its outer shell.
To reveal its core essence.
Could it handle a piece several times larger now?
However, Zhang Yuan’s thoughts couldn’t override the inherent instincts of the Red Blood Saber—this Divine Soldier possessed a voracious appetite!
"What is this?"
Suppressing the emotional influence of the Divine Soldier with great effort, Zhang Yuan feigned indifference and asked, "A stone?"
If he exposed his emotions, it would likely put him at a disadvantage in the negotiation.
Wulan Tuya, unaware of human intricacies, explained, "Lord Zhang Yuan, this is a piece of Celestial Divine Iron..."
Three years ago, a massive meteor crashed towards the Hulan Grassland, exploding mid-air before reaching the ground.
What landed were pieces of varying-sized black meteorites.
These meteorites were extraordinarily hard, barely scratched even by Profound Soldiers. The tribe’s Great Shaman identified them as Celestial Divine Iron, believed to be a gift from the Celestial God.
Therefore, the tribe’s leaders made every effort to collect the meteorites scattered across the grassland.
Yet, even the tribe’s best Master Craftsman couldn’t refine the Celestial Divine Iron, not even melting it was feasible.
"Two months ago, a Celestial Being visited our tribe."
Wulan Tuya concluded, "Exchanging ten carts of salt, ten carts of refined iron, and ten carts of silk for a piece of Celestial Divine Iron, but that piece was only half the size of mine!"
Celestial Being!
Zhang Yuan hadn’t expected a Celestial Being to venture into such a remote area, taking away a piece of Celestial Divine Iron.
He asked gravely, "What do you wish to exchange for?"
Zhang Yuan initially didn’t want any interactions, fearing that the Hulan Noble Lady might carry considerable troubles.
But now Zhang Yuan’s thoughts changed—she offered too much.
This piece of Celestial Divine Iron was a must-have for Zhang Yuan!
Wulan Tuya’s eyes lit up instantly, raising a slender finger: "I need a Blood Orchid."
"Blood Orchid?"
Zhang Yuan questioned, "What is that?"
He had never heard of this name nor read about it in any texts.
Through Wulan Tuya’s explanation, Zhang Yuan learned that the Blood Orchid was a flower, a rare one growing in Storm Valley!
Storm Valley was over three hundred miles from Nacuoda, nestled deep in towering mountains.
It was a forbidden area for the Hulan Tribe, prohibiting their members from approaching.
For hundreds of years, only three people who entered Storm Valley came back alive!
One of them discovered the existence of the Blood Orchid.
And managed to pick one.
Wulan Tuya needed a Blood Orchid to treat her congenital illness.
She didn’t hide this secret, frankly telling Zhang Yuan.
"The Great Shaman once told me if my disease could not be completely cured, I wouldn’t live more than three years!"
"Almost two years have passed now."
