Chapter 1333: Chapter 500: The Secret of the Autumn Insect (Part 3)

Zhou Xuan extended his hand, placing it on the Eternal Life Sect Leader’s right forearm, and said enigmatically, "Sect Leader, do you know why I kept you on East Market Street?"

"To open my eyes and let me see your newly refined Golden Core."

"Opening your eyes is secondary," Zhou Xuan replied. "If I refine a hundred pills from this furnace, offering five to you, who in the heavens would know?"

"And if I refine two hundred, giving you ten, who would be the wiser?"

Zhou Xuan had set the "kickback" percentage for the Eternal Life Sect Leader – five percent.

Upon hearing this, the Eternal Life Sect Leader immediately understood, but he still pointed to his temple, refusing, "Master Zhou, I don’t enjoy consuming elixirs; it could easily harm here."

Then, he whispered, "In the Heavenly Dome, many have had their spirits ruined by elixirs, there are quite a few cautionary tales."

Zhou Xuan sneered, "Eternal Life Sect Leader, at this point, it’s disingenuous to feign ignorance."

"You may not consume elixirs, but many will. If they do, these elixirs have value. Taking my elixirs can bring you considerable benefits in the heavens, isn’t that so..."

"In the heavens, elixirs are hard currency."

Zhou Xuan then smoothed his sleeves and stood up, saying, "If you look down on my elixirs, feel free to return to the Heavenly Dome. I, Zhou Xuan, won’t force you to stay."

This tactic of "playing hard to get" tempted the Eternal Life Sect Leader, who hurriedly said, "Master Zhou, I was only joking earlier. The value of the elixirs you offer is enormous, so I, Chang Sheng, will not hold back... am I being greedy?"

"That’s the right attitude."

Only then did Zhou Xuan sit down, crossing his legs and sipping tea, while pointing at the cricket in the Eternal Life Sect Leader’s hand.

The Eternal Life Sect Leader understood, acknowledging that he was "softened by accepting what wasn’t his," and began introducing the White Autumn Insect.

"Mr., to be honest, this Qiu Chong’er is a kind of incense."

Zhou Xuan nodded subtly, seeing that the Eternal Life Sect Leader intended to cooperate, he asked knowingly, "How can this living insect become a person’s incense?"

"Ah, up in the Heavenly Dome, in the Secret Realm, there lives a bug in each of us, though the types are quite different."

The Eternal Life Sect Leader chuckled, "For some, it’s a centipede. For others, a maggot or even an earthworm, and so on."

"Why are the incense beings in the Heaven’s Secret Realm so peculiar?"

"I’m not sure about the unnecessary details, I only know that human world disciples have a single stick of incense in their Secret Realm, while those in the Heavenly Dome each have a bug."

The Eternal Life Sect Leader’s gaze became somewhat evasive,

Zhou Xuan continued to inquire, "What’s the difference between this Qiu Chong’er and human world incense?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Don’t underestimate this Qiu Chong’er, it can control an enormous amount of Fragrance Souls and Fire Insects in the human world."

The Eternal Life Sect Leader caressed the White Cicada’s back shell, making strange whistling sounds,

As he stroked and called, the White Cicada seemed to receive some command, lifting its wings, joining them together, and vibrating its muscles to vigorously rub the wing membranes, producing a chirping sound.

The noise was ear-piercing, and in the entire Jingyi Shop, red and cyan, thread-like insects appeared, swimming in the air.

Initially, these countless insects moved chaotically, but as the chirping intensified, they swarmed towards the shop’s exit.

Zhou Xuan suddenly felt a loss of "incense," secretly linking with his folded fan, but found it unresponsive.

At that moment, he felt as though he had wandered into the Ancient Soul Returning Hall, unable to use his divine skills anymore.

The Eternal Life Sect Leader pointed at the departed red and cyan insects, saying, "Those are Fire Spirits and Fragrance Souls, which were revealed by the Qiu Chong’er’s call.

The Qiu Chong’er’s call can also control the movement of those Fire Spirits and Fragrance Souls."

Only then did Zhou Xuan understand—the secret of the Sky Dome Heavenly Fire Clan’s ability to strip someone’s Incense Fire Tao was here.

The insects in their Secret Realm can control a vast amount of "incense" in Heaven and Earth.

Zhou Xuan then asked the Eternal Life Sect Leader, "Is Ning Bukong also a member of the Sky Dome Heavenly Fire Clan?"

"No, he’s not."

"Then how does he have a White Autumn Insect in his Secret Realm?"

"Oh... it’s because over the years, his accomplishments in alchemy earned him some merit, thus the Heavenly Dome exchanged his original incense for an Autumn Insect."

Explained the Eternal Life Sect Leader.

Zhou Xuan immediately replied, "So, this is considered a reward from the Heavenly Dome?"

The Eternal Life Sect Leader smiled, "It can be seen as a reward, but... hehe..."

He said no more, continuing to fondle the White Cicada’s back shell, without intention to elaborate further...