Chapter 19: The Millennium Ice Toad

Shangguan Yuheng glanced at her but did not drive her away, instead turning back to the desk and resuming his perusal of ancient texts.

The candlelight cast its glow upon his jade-like profile, throwing a delicate shadow of his lashes across his face.

For a while, the only sound in the study was the soft rustle of pages being turned.

Chu Yuyao quietly observed the man absorbed in his reading. She had to admit, this black-hearted lotus looked pleasing enough when quietly engrossed in a book; no wonder the original owner had been utterly bewitched by him.

“If you keep staring, you’ll be sleeping in the west wing tonight.”

Shangguan Yuheng didn’t even lift his head, continuing to leaf through the ancient tome in his hands.

Caught in the act, she awkwardly scratched her nose, looking elsewhere while muttering under her breath, “Who’s looking at you? I was... I was admiring the candlestick.”

That candlestick was no ordinary piece, but a rare magical treasure, its purpose unknown. This black-hearted lotus was indeed wealthy. At first glance, the room seemed unremarkable—almost austere. But upon closer inspection, every item was extraordinary; understated luxury, indeed.

She marveled silently, confirming that the black-hearted lotus was a hidden tycoon.

Just as she pondered how to fleece a little wool from this wealthy man, a sudden snap broke her reverie. She looked up to see Shangguan Yuheng closing his book.

He turned his gaze to Chu Yuyao, adjusting his sleeves with deliberate grace. “Junior Sister Chu, do you wish to know the cure for Thousand Severance Powder?”

He had found some clues earlier, but now had truly discovered the method, though the required medicinal catalyst was rather troublesome.

“Of course! What’s the method?” She sat up like a springing carp, eyes shining as she looked at him.

Shangguan Yuheng nodded slightly, his expression composed as ever. “There is a way, but...”

“But what?” she pressed, her heart in her throat.

This black-hearted lotus was truly vexing, never saying things in one breath, always enjoying the suspense.

Shangguan Yuheng tapped the table lightly with his fingers. “It requires a medicinal catalyst—a millennia-old Ice Toad from the Poison Abyss, and it must be at least eighth rank.”

Chu Yuyao nearly tumbled off the couch.

Poison Abyss? And a millennia-old Ice Toad of eighth rank?

An eighth-rank demon beast was equivalent to a cultivator in the late Golden Core stage, while her own cultivation was merely at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Wasn’t this just sending her to her death?

Moreover, Poison Abyss was a notorious dead zone in the Western Territories. Even Nascent Soul cultivators had to tread carefully there, as it lay within the jurisdiction of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

Clearly, she was meant to seek out Ye Cangming.

That harbinger of calamity would probably strangle her before she could utter a word.

Her face fell instantly, and she looked at Shangguan Yuheng with misery. “Senior Brother Shangguan, are you teasing me? Can’t we pick something simpler? Like... helping you tidy up your medicinal garden?”

Shangguan Yuheng suddenly stood and approached her, his hair falling forward as he leaned in, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance. “I am merely informing you of the required catalyst. Whether you go or not is your own decision.”

Chu Yuyao rolled her eyes; this black-hearted lotus was indeed good at distancing himself.

A millennia-old Ice Toad was a rare creature. She couldn’t even find one, let alone defeat it—especially in a place as terrifying as Poison Abyss.

Was he deliberately making things difficult for her?

[ Ding! Side quest triggered: Obtain an eighth-rank millennia-old Ice Toad. Time limit: three months. Reward: Foundation Establishment cultivation. ]

On hearing the system’s voice in her mind, her eyes sparkled instantly.

The wretched system had finally done something useful.

With her poor aptitude and the original owner’s reckless pill consumption, achieving Foundation Establishment on her own was a distant dream.

She sprang to her feet, brimming with excitement, “I’ll go! Isn’t it just a toad? I’ll definitely catch it!”

Shangguan Yuheng’s lips curled ever so slightly, quickly returning to his usual composure.

Moments ago she had been woeful; now she was full of fighting spirit.

This woman changed her face faster than flipping a page.

“Junior Sister Chu, your courage is commendable.”

He turned leisurely, brushing nonexistent dust from his sleeves. “However, Poison Abyss falls under the Ten Thousand Demons Hall’s jurisdiction. Would you like me to send a message and ask for a favor on your behalf?”

His tone was gentle, as if kindly reminding her.

Chu Yuyao hurriedly waved her hands, “No, no, there’s no need to trouble Young Lord Ye over such a trivial matter. I’ll handle it myself. It’s just Poison Abyss, just an eighth-rank Ice Toad, I—”

Her grand words faltered as she met Shangguan Yuheng’s calm, almost smiling eyes, which seemed to see right through her.

She choked, her confidence shrinking.

“I’ll... do my best to figure something out,” she added lamely, her voice growing small.

Shangguan Yuheng’s lips curled into a faint arc, as though he had anticipated her reaction.

He calmly adjusted his cuffs, his tone unmoved. “Your courage is admirable. In that case, Junior Sister Chu, plan well. Poison Abyss is damp and treacherous, filled with venomous creatures; even Golden Core cultivators dare not venture deep. As for the millennia-old Ice Toad, it favors extreme cold, dwelling beneath the deepest cold pools of the abyss, cunning and dangerous. You must take great care.”

With each word, Chu Yuyao’s face paled further.

This was not a quest for a medicinal catalyst—it was practically a death sentence.

“Senior Brother Shangguan...” Her voice was strained and dry, attempting one last plea, “You see, with my cultivation... I wouldn’t even satisfy the appetites of the venomous beasts inside. Your expertise in medicine and poison is unrivaled; surely you have... perhaps a treasure to ward off poison, or a pill to instantly boost my cultivation, to lend me in an emergency?”

Shangguan Yuheng responded with a soft laugh, the sound like jade struck gently—pleasant, yet tinged with cool indifference. “Junior Sister Chu, it is better to rely on oneself than others. External aids are fleeting, and besides...”

His gaze swept over her with subtle implication. “Our acquaintance hardly warrants such generosity.”

Chu Yuyao: “……”

Well, this black-hearted lotus refused her so cleanly, he didn’t even bother with a fig leaf.

She resentfully scratched her nose, knowing it wouldn’t be so easy.

[ Host, the shared room task is ongoing. Please maintain a distance within three meters at all times. ]

The system’s prompt sounded just in time, pulling her thoughts back.

She looked up at Shangguan Yuheng, who had already returned to the desk and resumed studying ancient texts.

It seemed he had no intention of sleeping tonight.

Chu Yuyao sighed softly and resigned herself to lying back on the soft couch.

Forget it—when the boat reaches the pier, it will straighten itself. For now, she had to focus on the current task.

She closed her eyes, starting to ponder the matter of the millennia-old Ice Toad.

No matter what, she had to make the trip to Poison Abyss.

Not only to complete the system’s side quest, but for her own survival.

As long as the poison of Thousand Severance Powder remained unresolved, she could not rest easy.

As for how to find the millennia-old Ice Toad in Poison Abyss and capture it—she would have to plan carefully.

Lost in her thoughts, she drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

Night passed swiftly.

When Chu Yuyao awoke, daylight was already streaming outside.

She was still lying on the soft couch, and at some point, someone had draped an outer robe over her, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance.

Dazed, she sat up and immediately asked the system, “System, has the time for the task elapsed?”

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. The twelve-hour shared room task is complete. Reward: one Ancient Chaos Lotus Seed. The item has been placed in your system pack; please check and collect. ]

The system’s voice was bright and cheerful.