"Let's go ask that guy what exactly happened in this village."
Zhang Tian said.
"But, that guy doesn't seem to want to talk anymore."
Wang Banyue scratched his head.
Zhang Tian smiled mysteriously.
"Don't worry, I have a way."
Zhang Tian was very confident.
After he finished speaking, everyone returned to the small hut.
It was still the same strange puppet.
However, Zhang Tian and the others now felt somewhat familiar.
"Esteemed Master, please come out. We have something to discuss with you."
Zhang Tian spoke slowly.
After he finished speaking, a black figure once again emerged from the puppet.
The Esteemed Master looked at Zhang Tian and the others.
"I know what you want to ask, but I also have my principles. I won't say more about these matters."
He said and prepared to leave.
Seeing this, Zhang Tian quickly spoke.
"Esteemed Master, I have something you need. How about we make a deal?"
As Zhang Tian spoke, he directly produced a pill.
The moment the pill was revealed, the shadow of the Esteemed Master, who was about to leave, instantly returned.
"Is this a Soul Pill? Kid, where did you get this? This is extremely rare."
Upon seeing the Soul Pill, the Esteemed Master became energetic as if injected with stimulants.
Zhang Tian rubbed his cheek. He should have offered the Soul Pill directly from the start, saving himself so much trouble.
"Esteemed Master, please don't ask about these things. Just answer a few questions for me, and this item is yours."
Zhang Tian said.
The Esteemed Master coughed dryly.
"Do I look like that kind of person? I am, after all, supremely powerful. How could I possibly be reduced to being controlled by a mere Soul Pill?"
As the Esteemed Master spoke, he raised his chin.
His expression clearly conveyed that he was proud and powerful, and would not stoop to coveting such a thing.
Zhang Tian had a way to deal with this.
"Esteemed Master, if I'm not mistaken, your strength has been severely damaged, forcing you to subsist within this puppet just to survive."
"You don't want to die, not because you fear death itself, but because you fear becoming like those outside, a monster devoid of consciousness after death."
Zhang Tian spoke continuously.
With each word he uttered, the Esteemed Master's expression changed.
He looked at Zhang Tian as if he were a monster.
He had not expected that, in just one exchange, Zhang Tian had already grasped his inner thoughts.
He had never encountered anyone like Zhang Tian.
What he didn't know was that Zhang Tian had even extrapolated further.
These conclusions were all drawn by Zhang Tian through deduction.
When they first arrived, the Esteemed Master had spoken a great deal, even incessantly.
But then, he suddenly fell silent. Zhang Tian found this peculiar.
Later, the mist, coupled with the Esteemed Master's reaction to the Soul Pill, further fueled Zhang Tian's suspicions.
The Esteemed Master's current demeanor was enough to confirm that Zhang Tian's deductions were all correct.
"Are you threatening me?"
The Esteemed Master's expression was unreadable.
"It's not a threat, but a proposal for cooperation. I can guarantee a sufficient supply of Soul Pills for you, and I can also guarantee protection against the things you fear."
"Of course, the prerequisite is that you tell me everything."
Zhang Tian said.
At this moment, the Esteemed Master's expression was changing at a visible rate.
"Do you have that capability?"
The Esteemed Master asked, his gaze appraising Zhang Tian.
In his view, among them, perhaps only Zhang Qilin possessed such strength, while Zhang Tian's power was indiscernible and likely not very formidable.
Zhang Tian smiled. If they could get through the Demon Tower, why would they worry about Motuo?
Clearly, Zhang Tian was brimming with confidence.
"Let me put it this way, we just emerged from the Demon Tower."
Zhang Tian said.
Upon hearing this, the Esteemed Master was instantly stunned.
He looked at Zhang Tian with disbelief.
It was known that even with the mountains sealed, and no way out, the villagers dared not venture out through the Demon Tower.
Yet, Zhang Tian had directly entered from that direction. How incredible was that?
The Esteemed Master swallowed. He truly couldn't fathom how Zhang Tian had managed to exit.
"If that is indeed the case, then I accept your proposal."
The Esteemed Master said directly.
If Zhang Tian had truly come from that direction, then he undoubtedly possessed the required capabilities.
Zhang Tian nodded, then tossed over a few pills.
"Speak, then. Tell me about the mist."
"And about what lies within Motuo, as well as your own situation."
Zhang Tian said. The Esteemed Master took the pills from Zhang Tian.
Without any hesitation, he consumed them directly.
Instantly, the Esteemed Master's aura seemed to strengthen considerably.
He gradually regained some of his strength.
His gaze towards Zhang Tian also held a different nuance.
"That mist is emitted by the countless Hidden Sea Flowers within the Motuo Valley."
"Beneath the beautiful exterior of the Hidden Sea Flowers lies great danger."
"That mist captures the souls of the deceased, transforming them into mindless tools."
The Esteemed Master said, then glanced outside.
"If I were to speak too much, they would sense my presence and then entangle with me, absorbing my essence. As my strength has declined severely, I am powerless to resist."
The Esteemed Master said, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness.
Zhang Tian frowned slightly.
"Then why didn't the people of the tribe remove the Hidden Sea Flowers earlier?"
"Why keep them until now?"
Zhang Tian asked.
"The Hidden Sea Flowers have both drawbacks and benefits. They possess a unique effect that no other thing can replicate: they can allow the departed to be seen again for a few moments."
"Thus, everyone calls these flowers sacred flowers. However, if the number of deaths increases, these flowers will also become agitated."
The Esteemed Master explained.
Zhang Tian nodded in understanding.
He had also roughly guessed what happened with Baima.
The Esteemed Master had likely utilized this effect of the Hidden Sea Flowers to allow Baima's soul to persist.
Thus enabling her to meet Zhang Qilin again.
This explained how the Esteemed Master could maintain a common person's soul in existence for such a long time.
Even for Zhang Tian, it would be impossible to keep an ordinary person's soul in the world for too long, but these flowers could.
This made Zhang Tian even more intrigued by the Hidden Sea Flowers.
"What exactly is the nature of these flowers?"
He pondered in his mind.
"What dangers lie within Motuo? You stopped talking halfway before."
Shirley Yang asked from the side.
The Esteemed Master chuckled.
"Within Motuo, apart from the Hidden Sea Flowers, there are many other plants."
"Each of these plants has a different effect, and their dangers are no less than that of the Hidden Sea Flowers."
"However, since you were able to pass through the Demon Tower, these are not of great concern."
"Baima's burial site is located in the center of the Hidden Sea Flowers. Once you enter, head towards the deepest part of the flowers, and you will find a tombstone. That is the place."
The Esteemed Master finished speaking and remained silent.
Zhang Tian nodded in understanding.
While the Hidden Sea Flowers sounded formidable, compared to the Nine-Story Demon Tower, they were like a small fry.
However, when Zhang Tian thought of one thing, a hint of anticipation appeared on his face.
If there were various kinds of flowers, then precious medicinal herbs would surely be present as well.
At that time, he might be able to obtain even more medicinal ingredients.
Thinking of this, Zhang Tian even felt a faint sense of anticipation.