Chapter 254 - Ice Petals

The 'Ice petals' was nothing like what Li Ming imagined it as. 

The rare flower that was supposed to bloom only once in every fifty years at the highest peak of the Forbidden Mountain Ranges, was completely opposite to its name.

Rather than icy or blue white-colored petals, the flower had dark purple and pink colored petals with a little round crystal stone shining in its very center.

The crystal felt a little jelly-like at the touch as well as icy cold. Touching it for even a few seconds could cause one's veins to freeze.

Li Ming picked up the flower from the luke water that was filling the small pond at the top of the highest peak of the Forbidden Mountain Ranges.

A tree with silver and grey leaves was growing at one end of the pond. Even in the snow-covered vast area, it shone as a beautiful sight that could catch anyone's attention and build an illusion around them.

She outstretched her right hand towards the tree and within a few blinks, the tea along with the entire pond disappeared, leaving a space behind covered in pure white snow.

"Are you out collecting all the treasures of the Immortal World?" 

A soft voice asked out loud as that very second a silhouette of a boy around sixteen or seventeen years of age appeared next to her.

Unlike most of the men of the Immortal World, this boy had shoulder-length black hair with a light touch of brown in it.

He was wearing black jeans, leather boots accompanied by a bright blue cardigan over a black t-shirt.

On his left wrist was a tattoo of a wand-like thing with a huge violet crystal at its very tip.

"You can say that. By now I am totally prepared to start with the present that I want to gift the Moon Immortal at his birthday this year. I can't wait to start working on it." Li Ming replied excitedly as she safely placed the 'Ice-petals' flower inside her magical space.

"What about the others then? Are you preparing similar amazing presents for them too?" The boy asked again as he looked at her with raised eyebrows, a trait that he definitely picked from her.

"His birthday is the closest and there's no way I can gift the same present to all of them. I will plan about others' presents after Lord Yueliang's birthday." Li Ming quickly defended herself as she hurriedly started descending the mountain peak.

There were seven stars circles present around the Forbidden Peaks that made it difficult for her to use her teleportation power.

She needed to cross at least three seven stars circles before she could safely teleport back to the Lotus Manor without hurting her internal energy.

"No matter how much you defend yourself, it already looks like that you are picking favorites." The boy said as he followed the girl in red.

Li Ming suddenly stopped in her tracks as she turned to look at the young boy with a sharp look in her eyes.

"No matter whatever form you are in, you will never be able to change, right?" She asked while glaring at the boy who suddenly became as meek as the cutest and most innocent puppy in the entire world.

"Master.....!" The boy whined softly as he looked at Li Ming with soft gleaming eyes.

"Alright! Let's not waste any more unnecessary time here. Master is waiting for us." Li Ming said as she grabbed the arm of the boy and jumped down the high cliff.

***

"Master, the medicine is ready. Please drink it." The young maiden, who was now wearing a light yellow dress with dark green colored embroidery on it, said as she entered the darkroom where a handsome but very tired looking young man was resting.

The previously ethereal and magnificent Master Lu was now looking exhausted. His eyes no longer held that same sparkle. 

However, his aura was still as strong as before. Just anyone couldn't see any kind of difference in his cultivation energy.

"You have been going through so many hardships for the past one year just to find these antidotes. I have told you many times not to waste your time and cultivation on this matter...."

"You are my Master. I must look after your health. It's the least that I can do. These mere hardships are nothing compared to the immense knowledge that you have bestowed over me." Li Ming said as she cut off her Master.

She slowly fed the medicine to her Master and after that, she helped him channel his yang qi with her pure yin energy.

It was not until the sun was already about to set that the two of them stopped cultivating and took a short rest.

"You are fully prepared for tomorrow's celebration. No one will be able to find any flaw. You can trust me with the rest. I won't let anyone tarnish your name." Li Ming said as she picked up the dirty dishes and started cleaning them at the farthest corner of the room where a modern washbasin was installed.

"Only my face? What about the rest of the Array Sect and the Academy?" Master Lu asked as he watched the young maiden taking care of the dirty dishes.

The first rule that he made her follow, the moment they set foot inside the cave where they were going to cultivate in closed doors, was not to use her powers for the normal day works.

After that day, Li Ming started doing all the household works without her powers. She helped her Master clearing the cave and setting up everything. 

She started cooking, cleaning, and washing all by herself. She would wake up early before dawn and would sleep after midnight.

But Master Lu was fully aware that she never used to sleep in the night. She would spend the entire night sitting on her bed with her eyes closed as she cultivated.

However, most of the time it felt like even though she was present there physically but mentally she was venturing in some faraway places.

"Why would I care about the Array sect and the Academy? Many people are in there to take care of these unnecessary matters. I don't have to worry about that." Li Ming replied as she finished washing the dishes.

She dried them one by one and then put them back in the rack before washing her hands and drying them on the towel that was hanging beside the rack.

"Why are you saying something like that? You are also a disciple of the Array Sect and Guixian Academy. No matter how much you disliked them, you still have to be thoughtful about them." Master Lu said as he opened the scroll that was sitting on top of his table.

"I'm only responsible for you. Wither than that, I don't care about anyone else in the Academy." Li Ming replied as she started working on the dinner.

After spending seven years in the Immortal World, Li Mung had finally found a great talent of hers.

She was a good enough cook who could make anyone crave her handmade dishes. No matter whether it was the Heaven Emperor, the Head of the Immortal Academy, or even the rulers of the Demon Realm, no one could stop themselves from wanting to taste more of her dishes.

"You are really the most interesting person that I have ever come across. No wonder that you are the chosen one." Master Lu said as he slightly shook his head.

Li Ming just scoffed lightly but did not waste her energy in replying. She just kept working on the dinner.

***

"Are you ready for your tomorrow's task?" 

A man in a dark leather outfit asked another young man who was playing with the beads that were wrapped around his neck.

"Of course! This is not only about your mission. This is also about my self-respect. I can't let that Master Lu do as he wishes. He needs to answer my questions and I'll not settle for anything less!" The young man with beads said in a harsh tone as he glared at the bright flame of the huge candle that was the only source of light in that dark room.

"Good. As long as you don't fail tomorrow's mission, we don't care if it's for our deal or for your own personal matters. Just don't fail this task. You sure won't like the consequences." The man in the leather outfit said as he took out a ball of black mist and passed it to the young man.

"Do not worry, Dark Lord. As long as the Queen will keep her end of the deal, I'll make sure to keep up with mine. No backstabbings, no failures." The young man said as he accepted the ball of darkness.

"The Queen will definitely not let you down. Just make sure to not end up in our wrong books." The man in the leather outfit gave a last warning before his silhouette disappeared from the room.