Upon hearing her call, the twin sisters standing gracefully by her side leaned forward and opened the wooden box on the table.

A wisp of cold frost drifted upward, revealing a piece of fish that had been prepared; the fish meat was so white it was transparent, like a crystalline ice block.

"This is the finest belly cut of the White Dragon Carp from Jade Ring Pool. If the White Dragon Carp is too small, its meat is tender but can be too rich; if too large, the meat is firm yet bland. Only a hundred-year-old White Dragon Carp has the best flavor, and this one is exactly a hundred years old, extremely rare. Mr. You, please do have a taste."

Who would have thought that a plate of fish could involve so much attention to detail?

You Su marveled at the luxurious indulgences of the Immortal Family, while Yo Meng and Yu Long had already donned special gloves made from fish belly to carefully slice the fresh fish for You Su.

One on the left and one on the right, they each picked up a slice of fish, dipped it in a secret aromatic sauce, and offered it to You Su by hand. The warm aroma was irresistible to anyone.

You Su sighed softly, intending to stop them, but Yudie spoke first in a cold tone:

"Yo Meng and Yu Long! Do not overstep your bounds!"

Startled by their mistress, Yo Meng and Yu Long quickly retracted their hands, exchanged a glance, and could only softly apologize. In their hearts, they both thought that feeding fish slices was a traditional courtesy to guests, a rule their mistress should have known better than they did; how could it be overstepping?

Their mistress seemed so emotional, almost as if she was... jealous.

You Su, grateful for the Saintly Guardian’s understanding, silently thanked her, took up the chopsticks himself, and picked up a slice of fish; the rich aroma filled his mouth, accompanied by a cool undertone, truly an exquisite fish belly. It was no wonder Mr. Yu had revered it as a treasure that day.

"Mr. You, how does it taste?" Yudie eagerly asked.

You Su nodded, "It’s indescribably delightful. Consuming this fish regularly might render cultivation unnecessary."

"I’ve eaten so many White Dragon Carps, yet I am far from any progress," Yudie’s tone carried a hint of sadness before she continued with poise, "There are many more delicacies to try, Mr. You, you must sample everything. Once you leave the Jade Ring Pool, you won’t find them again."

Indeed, the table was filled with an array of rare dishes: balls made with fresh fish roe, drunken shrimp and crab marinated in floral wine...

The most peculiar was a tall glass cup made of glass, containing a very pale vinegar, within which transparent small fish swam, identifiable only by their eyes and the gold line along their bodies.

"These are unique small fish from the Jade Ring Pool, called Jade Tendon Fish. This size indicates they are fully grown. Paired with this Golden Fruit Vinegar, they offer an extraordinary taste experience."

Yudie patiently explained to You Su.

You Su took a gentle sip, and immediately the Jade Tendon Fish danced and flipped in his mouth; a light bite revealed a crisp texture like biting into ice, with splashes of fish juice blending with the sweet and sour vinegar, leaving a fragrant taste. Even more astonishing, that gold line seemed to have a special effect, instantly making him feel his meridians activate throughout his body.

"The wonders of Jade Ring Pool’s cuisines are indeed the most intriguing I have ever tasted," You Su remarked, though his tone lacked the original novelty and excitement.

Perceptively, Yudie noticed You Su’s reluctance to limit the conversation to just cuisines and took the initiative to say:

"Far beyond fine wines and rare delicacies, everything within the Jade Ring Pool is enigmatic beyond measure. Surely Mr. You has his purposes for visiting Jade Ring Pool. May I ask, what brings you here?"

Conversing with the Saintly Guardian felt like a spring breeze to You Su, she seemed to always grasp the perfect measure in their conversation.

"I am here by the order of the Third Elder of Profound Sky Sect and Mr. Bihua, to exchange treasures for a Lotus Heart."

"Lotus Heart?" Yudie’s eyes sparkled, "Is Mr. Bihua the great spirit plant expert? It’s rumored that she gained enlightenment under an old tree, which then not only rejuvenated but evolved into a unique Divine Tree in our world, named ’Shining Through the Ages’?"

"Indeed, that’s her."

"What would Mr. Bihua need a Lotus Heart for?" Yudie asked curiously.

You Su shook his head, "I do not know."

"In the way of the Spirit Plants, Mr. Bihua is unrivaled in the present age. She wants a Lotus Heart; perhaps she intends to cultivate another Lotus Pool?" Yudie speculated to herself, showing an expression of wonder and admiration, "She is truly a powerful woman of ambition and ability... Jade Ring Pool would not refuse her. We agree to the exchange."

You Su was a bit surprised, not expecting things to proceed so smoothly: 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Holy Maiden, won’t you ask the Third Elder what treasure he offers for exchange first?"

But to his surprise, Yudie chuckled and said, "Since the Third Elder has come for an exchange, could it be anything less precious than a Lotus Heart? Therefore, is there a need to ask?"

This eighteen-year-old girl seemed to possess an intelligence and freedom beyond her age.

"The Holy Maiden is correct. May I know when I might proceed with the exchange for the Lotus Heart?"

Yudie’s expression showed a hint of regret as she replied:

"To be honest, the Lotus Heart is one of Jade Ring Pool’s rarest treasures, maturing only once every hundred years, and from each batch, only two or three are usable, and they are extremely difficult to preserve. Thus, Jade Ring Pool cannot provide stock for exchange at present. But fortunately, the next batch of Lotus Hearts will mature soon, within ten days."

"So fortuitous?"

Yudie offered a reserved smile and said, "Mr. You is incredibly talented and naturally enjoys celestial fortune. All you need to do is wait patiently."

You Su calculated the time; if it’s ten days, there would be little left after accounting for the travel time back and forth. Rather than returning to report back to the sect and coming again, indeed, it is best to wait here.

"Then I shall bother you for another ten days."