Fire Prefecture was one of the three thousand Daoist states in the Desolate Heaven Immortal Realm.
Its area was far smaller than Huangzhou, where the Jun family resided, perhaps only one percent the size of Huangzhou.
But even at only one percent the size of Huangzhou, Fire Prefecture was still a vast Daoist state.
In Fire Prefecture, there weren't numerous contending powers.
The entire Fire Prefecture was ruled by the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
The Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom was an ancient kingdom power with a long heritage. Although not comparable to an ancient aristocratic family, it still possessed a profound foundation and a renowned reputation.
Besides the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, there were also the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, the White Tiger Ancient Kingdom, and the Black Tortoise Ancient Kingdom.
The four great ancient kingdoms were collectively known as the Four Symbols Ancient Kingdoms.
At this moment, within the imperial palace of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, in a resplendent hall.
A middle-aged man dressed in a crimson-gold Vermilion Bird robe lay on a couch, his Yintang point (印堂 - acupoint between the eyebrows) dark, his entire aura weak, as if afflicted by a severe illness, his life like a flickering candle.
He was the ruler of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
Beside the couch stood a beautiful woman.
She wore a red feathered robe, her figure graceful, her legs long and slender, her skin snow-white.
Her long red hair seemed to dance like flames.
Her beautiful eyes were a lovely crimson crystal color, her jade-like nose high and straight, her red lips vibrant, and her teeth like pearly shells.
Especially the cinnabar mark between her eyebrows, paired with her jade-like face, made her appear as stunning as a peach blossom, incomparably charming.
This woman was precisely the imperial daughter of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, Bai Yu'er.
"Imperial Father, Yu'er will definitely find an Immortal Divine Herb to save you," Bai Yu'er said, biting her lip.
"Yu'er, this is hard on you. An Immortal Divine Herb cannot be forced..." The Vermilion Bird Ruler shook his head slightly, his voice extremely weak, yet also filled with despair.
An Immortal Divine Herb, what an incredibly rare existence.
Even those supreme orthodoxies and immortal powers couldn't possibly have many in stock.
And they certainly wouldn't be kind enough to hand one over to the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
Although the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom's foundation was strong, and they possessed many top-tier sacred medicines, they didn't have a single Immortal Divine Herb.
After all, in the outside world, the appearance of an Immortal Divine Herb would stir up a bloody storm. People wouldn't even have enough time to fight for it, so how could they possibly sell it to others?
"Imperial Father, rest assured. With Yu'er's abilities, I will definitely be able to obtain an Immortal Divine Herb!" Bai Yu'er's beautiful eyes were firm, turning grief into strength.
Who was she?
The imperial daughter of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, with Vermilion Bird Divine Fire contained between her eyebrows, her talent extraordinary.
Not to mention her appearance, which was considered top-ranking in the Desolate Heaven Immortal Realm.
Many young prodigies from various powers were Bai Yu'er's simps.
Therefore, Bai Yu'er had developed a somewhat proud and lofty personality.
She believed that she definitely had the ability to save her Imperial Father and the entire Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
"Those young prodigies from those powers are all useless. When they are needed, they can't even produce an Immortal Divine Herb."
"And my fiancé, Xiao Chen, as the Eldest Prince of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom,竟然 (actually) can't even procure a single Immortal Divine Herb."
Bai Yu'er walked out of the imperial palace, her jade-like face grim.
In the years after her Imperial Father's incident, the national strength of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom had declined day by day.
Afterward, the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom came to propose a marriage alliance.
At that time, the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom promised to give the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom an Immortal Divine Herb.
Bai Yu'er and that Eldest Prince of the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom, Xiao Chen, had known each other since childhood. Although they had always maintained a distance, they could be considered childhood sweethearts, and their relationship wasn't bad.
After weighing the pros and cons internally, Bai Yu'er agreed.
As a result, after such a long time, the engagement was long settled, but the Immortal Divine Herb was nowhere to be seen.
And now, with the weakened national strength of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, they had no ability to demand it from the Azure Dragon Ancient Kingdom.
Therefore, Bai Yu'er could only rely on herself to find an Immortal Divine Herb.
"What should I do? Imperial Father cannot fall..." Bai Yu'er couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Oh right, how could I almost forget my good friend, Jun Linglong?" Bai Yu'er suddenly thought.
She had once encountered Jun Linglong in a secret realm, and they had gotten along quite well.
Although they hadn't contacted each other much later, given Jun Linglong's personality, she probably wouldn't turn a blind eye.
Furthermore, the Jun family definitely possessed Immortal Divine Herbs.
Thinking of this, Bai Yu'er's breathing quickened, and she hurriedly took out a jade slip to send a message.
On the other side, in a side hall of the Jun family's Heavenly Emperor Palace, Jun Linglong also received the message.
"The Vermilion Bird Ruler is seriously ill and needs an Immortal Divine Herb for treatment?" Jun Linglong frowned slightly after learning the news.
To be honest, if Bai Yu'er hadn't sent the message, she would have almost forgotten this "good friend."
Although Bai Yu'er was an imperial daughter of an ancient kingdom and had a noble status.
But Jun Linglong was a heaven-gifted proud lady of an ancient aristocratic family.
Don't look at her being Jun Xiaoyao's maidservant now; if she went out into the world, she would still be the sought-after noble lady of the Jun family.
"Asking for an Immortal Divine Herb right off the bat, her appetite isn't small. But at least we were acquainted," Jun Linglong frowned slightly.
But the problem was, she didn't have an Immortal Divine Herb.
At this moment, a divine soul sound transmission entered Jun Linglong's mind.
"Linglong, brew tea."
Jun Linglong hurriedly got up. It was Jun Xiaoyao calling her to brew tea.
In a steaming pool filled with immortal qi, Jun Xiaoyao was bare-chested, his body like carved immortal jade, glowing with a flowing light.
Already eight years old, Jun Xiaoyao had a tall and slender figure.
Beside him, Jun Linglong entered, carrying a cup of Dao Enlightenment Tea for Jun Xiaoyao.
Watching Jun Xiaoyao gradually grow up and become more and more divinely handsome and elegant, Jun Linglong had the misconception of raising a shota (young boy).
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Jun Xiaoyao took a sip of tea and said faintly.
"Nothing." Jun Linglong's eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Speak. Can you hide it from me?" Jun Xiaoyao shook his head and smiled.
Jun Linglong bit her lip slightly and finally told him about Bai Yu'er's situation.
"So that's how it is. An Immortal Divine Herb, huh? I'm not lacking them," Jun Xiaoyao shrugged.
At the Taiyue Ancient Stele, he had obtained three Immortal Divine Herbs. Later, the Eighteenth Ancestor had successively given him five more.
Over the years, Jun Xiaoyao had only refined three, leaving five remaining.
"Since she's your good friend, it's not out of the question to give one. Let her come over," Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand.
"Just like that, he's giving one away?" Jun Linglong was slightly stunned.
The world of a nouveau riche, she truly didn't understand it!
However, Jun Linglong still nodded slightly and replied to Bai Yu'er.
A faint smile played on Jun Xiaoyao's lips.
He naturally didn't want to be a do-gooder; he had his own thoughts and plans.
Let those pillars of the righteous path be the beacons of righteousness.
A "saint mother" persona didn't suit him.
Besides, although Jun Xiaoyao didn't attach much importance to one Immortal Divine Herb, he wasn't so generous as to casually give them away.
"Those Sequences of the Jun family not only have the support of various lineages behind them but also affiliated orthodoxies and powers."
"Even that Jun Zhangjian has affiliated powers like the Ancient Sword Sect behind him."
These affiliated powers were not subservient to the Jun family, but to individuals.
"The Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom, although its national strength has declined in recent years, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. It can be brought under control. Perhaps I can even bring the other three ancient kingdoms under my influence as affiliated powers at the same time."
Jun Xiaoyao was making calculations in his mind.
He was Sequence Zero, after all. If he didn't have a single affiliated power behind him, it would be somewhat shabby.
He still needed to have the proper prestige.
As for that Bai Yu'er, to think she could get an Immortal Divine Herb for free, how could that be possible?
Jun Xiaoyao wasn't running a charity. He wouldn't do anything that didn't benefit him.
And Bai Yu'er, who received Jun Linglong's reply, was also exceptionally surprised and delighted.
This feeling was like sweet rain after a long drought.
However, the message Jun Linglong sent made Bai Yu'er fall into thought.
Because the one who was to give her the Immortal Divine Herb was not Jun Linglong herself.
"A heaven-gifted proud son of the Jun family has promised to give me an Immortal Divine Herb. Could it be that he has taken a fancy to me?"
Bai Yu'er couldn't help but think.
She was quite confident in her appearance, being the number one beauty of the Vermilion Bird Ancient Kingdom.
Throughout the entire Desolate Heaven Immortal Realm, she also had a rather good reputation for her beauty.
In her mind, anyone willing to give her an Immortal Divine Herb must be lusting after her body.
"Indeed, even a prodigy of the Jun family can hardly escape vulgarity." Bai Yu'er inexplicably felt a little disappointed.
The Jun family's prodigies, it seemed, weren't as extraordinarily refined as she had imagined.
"But no matter what, I must first obtain the Immortal Divine Herb to save Imperial Father."
Bai Yu'er shook her head and set off for Huangzhou.
(End of this chapter)