The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 213: The Regeneration Jade Lotus

The Regeneration Jade Lotus . . .

As Bing Xin-Yue expressed her eagerness to examine the Regeneration Jade Lotus, Cha-Eun Xiao found himself ensnared in contemplation. It took him a while to return to the present moment, and when he did, he readily agreed to her request.

"Of course, it belongs to you, so you may certainly examine it," he replied. With a swift gesture, he produced the lotus—a dazzling, crystal-white bloom on a black stem that exuded an aura of pristine purity. Even the stamen bore the same pristine hue, giving the impression that it would remain untarnished by any impurity.

Bing Xin-Yue's eyes sparkled with fascination as she approached the lotus. She couldn't contain her excitement, her heart racing at the sight of the high-quality Regeneration Jade Lotus. She approached Cha-Eun Xiao with an almost reverent air, her gaze fixated on the lotus.

When Cha-Eun Xiao expressed his surprise at the two words carved onto the stem of the lotus, Bing Xin-Yue responded with a knowing smile. She gently touched the stem with her hand, radiating a chill energy that caused the words "Chu-Chu" to gradually appear.

With tears in her eyes, Bing Xin-Yue breathed a sigh of relief, her heart filled with hope. "My master," she whispered, "she finally has hope."

Cha-Eun Xiao, although initially annoyed by the situation, was deeply moved by the unspoken bond between the two women. He couldn't help but feel a sense of respect and admiration for the members of the Misty Cloud Palace, who were willing to make such profound sacrifices for the sake of their comrades.

These women were nothing short of heroic, and their selflessness left a lasting impression on him. It was clear that everyone in their sect adhered to a code of conduct that demanded tremendous sacrifices for the greater good.

In response to Bing Xin-Yue's question about the time it took to cultivate the Regeneration Jade Lotus, Cha-Eun Xiao nodded in affirmation. "Yes, it has only been approximately a month since I began developing the Regeneration Ink Lotus into the Regeneration Jade Lotus," he confirmed, his eyes reflecting the gravity of their situation.

Cha-Eun Xiao considered Bing Xin-Yue's words carefully before responding, "Indeed, I place the utmost importance on keeping my promises. Since I made that commitment, I will do everything within my power to fulfill it. I understand that your lives depend on this, and that's motivation enough for me to give it my all. While it was just a single Regeneration Ink Lotus, I expended a significant portion of my precious resources in the process. It came at a considerable cost."

He paused, letting out a sigh. "Fortunately, the Regeneration Ink Lotus was on the brink of transformation, requiring only one final step. Without that, I may not have succeeded."

Bing Xin-Yue, puzzled by his mention of resources, inquired further. "What do you mean by resources and a high cost?"

Cha-Eun Xiao clarified, "When I referred to resources, I meant a substantial quantity of spiritual jades, along with various other treasures and special minerals. I used these materials to create a unique array capable of absorbing spiritual energies. Additionally, I placed the lotus at a convergence point of spiritual energy streams, and it benefited from the presence of Rootless Spring Water."

He confessed, "Despite my best efforts and investments, I was unable to fully transform the entire lotus into a pure white color. This, in my view, constitutes a failure on my part. I feel a sense of shame for not achieving a perfect outcome."

Bing Xin-Yue offered a reassuring smile as she responded, "Master Feng, you are far too humble. What you've accomplished is already astonishing. Perhaps you don't grasp the true complexities of this endeavor. Even if the Renascence Saint Garden were still intact, it would take us fifty years to advance a Regeneration Ink Lotus into a Regeneration Jade Lotus."

She continued, her smile tinged with bitterness. "To progress from a Regeneration Jade Lotus to a Renascence Jade Lotus would require five hundred years of painstaking effort. Yet you, in just a month, transformed a Regeneration Ink Lotus into a high-quality Regeneration Jade Lotus. If we proceed diligently, it may take us only a short time to advance it to a Renascence Jade Lotus. Your humility aside, the Misty Cloud Palace, with generations of study behind us, should be more embarrassed than you."

The revelation of the time and effort involved left Cha-Eun Xiao astounded. He couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for not fully comprehending the gravity of the task he had undertaken.

Cha-Eun Xiao considered Bing Xin-Yue's question carefully, trying to find the right words to explain. "Well," he began, "even if I wanted to say it took longer than a month, I couldn't, because it's only been a bit over a month since I last left Wen-Ren Chu-Chu. I don't want to sound like I'm fishing for praise or rewards, but I also don't want to become their specialist in lotus development."

He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at the thought of being captured and forced into such a role.

Bing Xin-Yue pressed further, her curiosity piqued. "I wonder, if you were to start working on developing this Regeneration Jade Lotus into a Renascence Jade Lotus, how long would it take?"

Cha-Eun Xiao sighed, "The problem is there aren't enough materials for me to do it."

Bing Xin-Yue clarified, "By 'not enough materials,' you mean in the Land of Han-Yang, right? It doesn't include our materials, does it? So, if we provide the necessary materials, would that be sufficient?"

Cha-Eun Xiao nodded. "Yes, you're correct. If we have enough materials, and there are no unforeseen accidents, it would take me three to five years to develop a lotus of this size into a Renascence Jade Lotus."

Bing Xin-Yue's expression darkened at the prospect of waiting for three to five years. She exclaimed, "Three to five years!"

Cha-Eun Xiao maintained a serious demeanor as he explained, "Indeed, three to five years are necessary. This Regeneration Jade Lotus was developed by me, and even though it's already of high quality, it still requires meticulous development to become completely white. Upgrading it to a Renascence Jade Lotus will also take three to five years, at the very least."

Bing Xin-Yue, however, had a different reaction than he expected. She appeared both embarrassed and surprised as she clarified, "No, Master, you misunderstood me. I was surprised that it would only take three to five years. I didn't mean to suggest it was a long time."

Cha-Eun Xiao realized he may have underestimated their patience. "I see," he replied, "What I mentioned earlier pertains specifically to this Regeneration Jade Lotus. With enough materials, it can definitely become a Renascence Jade Lotus. However, other lotuses may require different timelines and conditions."

Bing Xin-Yue was intrigued. "What do you mean by 'other lotuses'? Could you elaborate?"