Chapter 456 454: Huang Jiaofu

However, as the Clan Leader, she had always been cautious, so she couldn't help but remain on guard.

Li Qiye glanced at the young man before him and smiled leisurely. "I haven't even looked for you yet, and here you are. Interesting, very interesting."

"Hehe, I love nothing more than serving customers. This humble one is just a small-time merchant trying to make a living. As long as a customer appears, I'll naturally provide service until they're completely satisfied," the young man said with a beaming smile.

Li Qiye shot him a sideways glance and said, "When did the legendary Huang Jiaofu of Fengdu City become a mere merchant trying to support a family? No, I should say a ghost!"

"That depends on the customer, of course." The young man didn't mind at all, still smiling amicably. "The so-called legendary status only applies to ordinary customers. I heard you entered the Ancestral Stream and were treated as an honored guest, sir. For a Nine Heavens Immortal like you, this humble one is naturally just a minor character in your presence."

"Oh, I see. You want to build a connection with the Ancestral Stream." Li Qiye laughed and said, "Huang Jiaofu, oh Huang Jiaofu, it seems a leopard can't change its spots."

"So you're saying you know this humble one, honored customer." Huang Jiaofu seized the opportunity to get closer to Li Qiye, his beaming smile the very picture of a merchant who believed in amiability for the sake of wealth.

"Huang Jiaofu, how many times have you died?" Li Qiye chuckled, looking seriously at the young man before him.

Li Qiye's question stunned him for a moment. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know what you're talking about, honored customer. I'm in the prime of my life. By the standards of us in Fengdu City, this humble one should have no problem living for another ten or twenty thousand years."

Li Qiye couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "Huang Jiaofu, it seems you really are something else. But, to get back on topic, I was indeed looking for you."

"And what service might you require, honored customer? As long as you have a need, I guarantee your satisfaction. No matter what you're looking for, this humble one will get it for you." Hearing this, Huang Jiaofu immediately perked up and spoke eagerly.

Li Qiye gave him a beaming look. "I don't want much. I want some Secret Manuals from the Ghost Race. Life Techniques, Longevity Techniques, or Secret Techniques will all do. They must be at least Great Sage Level—the kind of Great Sage at the Founding God or Divine Sealing Level."

"Well... that's a bit difficult," Huang Jiaofu said, rubbing his hands together with his usual amiable smile.

Li Qiye shot him a look. "Believe it or not, I'll throw you into the Night Sea. If there's something in Fengdu City that even Huang Jiaofu can't obtain, then there aren't many who can."

"Hehe, Great Sir, you flatter me." Huang Jiaofu was still all smiles as he said with some difficulty, "Great Sir, you should know how things work here. When people die in Fengdu City, if their bodies are even left behind, they're basically sunk to the bottom of the river. And while it's true that people come here to die every year, that old-timers are happy to end their days here, they're the type whose bodies are never found."

Li Qiye waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, Huang Jiaofu, stop wasting my time. I don't have the patience to haggle with you. Get me the Secret Manuals, and just name your price in Night Sun Fish."

Huang Jiaofu grinned and scratched his head, putting on an act as if he had just remembered something. He slapped his thigh and said, "As a matter of fact, I just remembered! I seem to have acquired a box of things, and I believe there are a few Secret Manuals inside." As he spoke, he fumbled in his sleeve and pulled out a long, old box.

After handing the long box to Li Qiye, Huang Jiaofu said, "Great Sir, please take a look and see if they are to your liking."

Li Qiye opened the long box, took a look, and nodded in satisfaction. "You crafty fellow," he said. "You really do have a lot of good things stashed away."

Li Qiye handed the long box to Qiu Rong Wanxue. "Finding the lost Secret Manuals of your Snow Shadow Ghost Clan is likely impossible now," he said. "There are a few manuals in here that are very suitable for your clan. Moreover, they're absolutely top-quality. Take them back with you."

"But..." Qiu Rong Wanxue was stunned. Her nose began to tingle and her heart instantly melted. An indescribable feeling of gratitude washed over her. At that moment, her beautiful eyes grew moist without her realizing it. She had the overwhelming urge to throw herself into the Young Master's arms and sob, but she held it back.

As the Clan Leader, Qiu Rong Wanxue was not an emotional person. On the contrary, she was calm and dignified. But right now, her heart was filled with nothing but overwhelming gratitude, so much so that she desperately wished she could throw herself into his arms and weep.

She had indeed come to Fengdu City this time hoping to find an important Dharma Scripture her Snow Shadow Ghost Clan had lost. However, she had held no real hope of succeeding. She never imagined that Li Qiye would have actually remembered and taken it to heart.

These were Secret Manuals from a Great Sage at the Divine Sealing Level! Anyone else would be drooling over them, yet he had simply given them to her. She was so moved she could hardly control her emotions.

"Ghost Race Cultivation Techniques aren't suitable for me, so just accept them." Li Qiye gave a gentle smile in response to her emotional state.

Qiu Rong Wanxue took a deep breath, forcing back her tears. She silently put away the long box, secretly clenching her delicate fists. In her heart, she made a silent vow: 'I'll do anything my Young Master asks of me!'

After Qiu Rong Wanxue accepted the long box, Li Qiye turned to Huang Jiaofu. "How many Night Sun Fish do you want?"

Huang Jiaofu replied hurriedly with a beaming smile, "Since you are giving them to a beautiful lady, Young Master, that is a wonderful occasion. This humble one wouldn't dare ask for too much. One hundred Night Sun Fish will be more than enough."

Qiu Rong Wanxue found this unbelievable. Secret Manuals of this quality could absolutely not be bought for a mere one hundred Night Sun Fish.

"Huang Jiaofu, since when did you become so generous?" Li Qiye said, squinting as he stared at him. "Fine, one hundred Night Sun Fish. Now, just say what you want." With that, he handed the one hundred Night Sun Fish to Huang Jiaofu.

Huang Jiaofu accepted the Night Sun Fish, then carefully took out an Ancient Volume. With a fawning expression, he handed the Ancient Volume to Li Qiye and said, "Young Master, I know you are an Immortal descended from the heavens, a truly incredible True Immortal. This humble one has an Ancient Volume here, called the Dragon-Disarming Hand. Please consider it a small token of my gratitude. Thank you for your patronage, my Lord."

"The Dragon-Disarming Hand." Even Li Qiye was visibly stirred. "This Ancient Technique is quite old," he said. "If I recall correctly, it hasn't appeared for a very, very long time. This is an Ancient Technique that would tempt even an Emperor Immortal Gate!"

Huang Jiaofu beamed and said hurriedly, "As the saying goes, 'rouge for a beauty, a Treasure Sword for a hero.' Only a figure like you, my Lord, is worthy of this Ancient Technique. Wouldn't you agree?"

Qiu Rong Wanxue was stirred by this. Although she didn't know what kind of Ancient Technique the "Dragon-Disarming Hand" was, the mere fact that it could tempt an Emperor Immortal Gate was enough to show how incredible it was. But at the same time, she also understood that Huang Jiaofu wanted something from her Young Master. Selling the Secret Manuals had just been an opening gesture of goodwill.

"Huang Jiaofu, oh Huang Jiaofu." Li Qiye shook his head. "If I remember correctly, you're a notorious cheapskate, an iron rooster who won't part with a single feather. Why the sudden generosity? Spit it out. What is it you want? Stop beating around the bush."

Huang Jiaofu rubbed his hands and gave a dry laugh. He hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, "I... I do have a favor to ask of you, my Lord. I would like to ask you to put in a good word for me with the Ancestral God of the Ancestral Stream. Heh, heh... this humble one wishes to leave Fengdu City."

Qiu Rong Wanxue was shocked. 'Leaving Fengdu City? That's impossible!' Throughout the ages, no one had ever heard of a Ghost Envoy leaving Fengdu City.

"Plead with the Ancestor Flow Master?" Li Qiye shot him a sideways glance. "Huang Jiaofu, you should know that no one has ever left Fengdu City! At least, not your kind."

"No, my Lord, someone *has* left before," Huang Jiaofu said hurriedly. "Someone really did leave, and they succeeded! Although my memory of it is a bit hazy, I seem to recall it was the Ancestral God who ultimately pardoned them and let them go."

Hearing this, Qiu Rong Wanxue couldn't help but look toward Li Qiye. Back at the Ancestral Stream, the Ancestor Flow Master had indeed mentioned this. Her Young Master had tricked someone out of Fengdu City. This meant her Young Master had once successfully helped a Ghost Envoy leave Fengdu City.

In fact, Qiu Rong Wanxue didn't know that the person who left all those years ago was not a Ghost Envoy at all!

Qiu Rong Wanxue didn't know the specifics of what had transpired between Li Qiye and the Ancestor Flow Master, but she could vaguely guess that her Young Master had a falling out with him over this very incident.

Li Qiye looked at Huang Jiaofu and said, "Huang Jiaofu, oh Huang Jiaofu, you really never give up. After dying time and time again, you're still fixated on this."

"Heh, heh, this humble one isn't quite sure what you mean, my Lord." Huang Jiaofu scratched his head, and his confusion seemed genuine this time.

Li Qiye narrowed his eyes as he stared at Huang Jiaofu. "Huang Jiaofu," he said, "you aren't human. You're just a lingering obsession within Fengdu City. The moment you step outside, you'll turn to ash and scatter. Even if the Ancestor Flow Master were to pardon you, it would still be impossible for you to leave. You're wasting your energy."

Huang Jiaofu took a deep breath and said with great solemnity, "My Lord, I believe I can. I can sense my own life. I can feel the pulse of Fengdu City!"

Li Qiye's eyes narrowed. He stared at Huang Jiaofu's eyes, which were brimming with vitality, and said intently, "Huang Jiaofu, have you undergone eight transformations?"

Huang Jiaofu couldn't help but scratch his head. "I'm not quite sure what you're referring to, my Lord," he said. "But, I feel that I have Life Force, so I should be able to leave Fengdu City."

Staring at Huang Jiaofu, Li Qiye fell silent. The Mingdu Immortal Emperor had also walked out of Fengdu City back in the day. In truth, Li Qiye had taken notice of Huang Jiaofu a very long time ago. He was different from the Mingdu Immortal Emperor, but Li Qiye also felt that Huang Jiaofu was truly unique. 'With enough time, he'll one day break free from his cocoon and emerge as a butterfly.'

However, this matter was far from being that simple.