Bai Qi, caught while stealing, felt somewhat guilty and was planning to cover his face and flee in embarrassment.

After all, the esteemed Master Bai Qi of Black River County, stealing someone else's lotus roots.

If this gets out, it would seriously damage his reputation.

If He Jingfeng hears about it, how could he ever hold his head high again?

But before he could run far, he heard a thunderous, resounding chant, and Bai Qi stopped in his tracks, quickly releasing his own aura.

"It's really like a flood washing into the Dragon King Temple! No wonder there are no treasure fish, shrimp, or crabs; all scared away by Sister Jiao's pressure!"

The Big Flood Dragon, quietly lurking underwater, lifted its head, its golden vertical pupils revealing a puzzled expression, seemingly wondering why Big Brother was here?

It happily circled around Bai Qi, as if frolicking.

"Ahem, I specifically came to see how you're doing."

Bai Qi's forehead shone with two water patterns, as if able to communicate with it, calmly responding.

He searched his entire body and finally took out the Jade Green Lotus Seed given by Qi Yan:

"Here, I brought this for you. It's mildly astringent, strengthening eyesight and spleen, everyone who has eaten it says it's good! They say it's particularly suitable for... dragon-type physique!"

The Big Flood Dragon's pupils widened, staring intently at the few lotus seeds quietly lying in Bai Qi's palm, then a layer of moist glow appeared in its eyes.

As if on the verge of tears!

"Despite being of dragon lineage, why act like you've never seen the world? Jade Green Lotus is planted everywhere in Black River County."

Bai Qi murmured silently, feeling a bit guilty deceiving the Big Flood Dragon, who was visibly touched.

"Roar!"

The Big Flood Dragon, with a mental age of about eight, raised its head, emitting an excited hum, carefully brought its head closer to Bai Qi, and caught the two emerald-like, plump lotus seeds, as if receiving the best gift in the world.

Immediately after, it stirred the waves, its slender body moved, and swiftly darted dozens of meters, quickly vanishing from Bai Qi's sight.

"Ever since following my master, my moral baseline has been increasingly flexible. Proximity alters morals, being subtly influenced by Master Ning much indeed!"

Bai Qi sighed, recalling how he hadn't joined Tongwen Hall, maintaining an Innocent Heart, untainted.

"Roar!"

In the blink of an eye, after about ten breaths, the Big Flood Dragon parted heavy waves, the lotus seeds originally held in its mouth had disappeared, replaced by an exquisite, beautiful armor shining like iron.

"For me?"

Bai Qi unusually raised a bit of shame, the item under his Evil-Breaking Spirit Eye's gaze emitted a dazzling treasure light enough to blind him.

According to the Craftsmanship distinctions, at least it must be top-tier martial equipment.

Because in this world, there are two major paths, martial arts and Dao arts.

Thus, artisans differentiate between "weapon" and "instrument."

Weapons are used by Martial Artists, flowing with blood-like patterns, allowing blood and strength to be better infused within, unleashing immense power.

Instruments are exclusive to the Dao, containing intertwined laws and principles, allowing the Divine Soul and thought to reside within, like a second physical shell, operating with ease.

"Weapons have mundane, treasure, and divine classes; instruments have Dharma, spirit, and Dao classes."

Bai Qi looked at the armor resembling Thousand-Forged Divine Iron, emitting a cold light, fully integrated, suppressing the rising greed.

Exchanging a few lotus seeds for top-tier martial gear, let alone the rare Treasure Armor.

Too guilty!

"Seems not quite fitting, Sister Jiao, you should just keep it yourself."

Bai Qi waved his hand, forcibly diverting his gaze, to avoid regretting later.

Within Craftsmanship, masters who know how to forge weapons are numerous, but those skilled in crafting Treasure Armor are exceedingly rare.

Even those who set up kilns and have exceptional skills, like Li Yuan respected in Celestial Water Prefecture, at most produce upper-echelon mundane armor at the Hundred Forging Level.

A close-fitting Treasure Armor equates to a Life-saving Talisman.

Imagine during a life-and-death struggle, you withstand an enemy's full-strength blow unscathed, what an advantage that would be.

"Roar!"

The Big Flood Dragon's golden vertical pupils suddenly showed grievance, thinking Bai Qi didn't appreciate its carefully selected "gift," conveying a pitiful sense wanting to cry.

"This..."

Bai Qi scratched his head, coaxing and raising children was never his strong suit.

"Well then, just temporarily place it with me, whenever you want it back, remember to ask me."

Seeing Big Brother relent, the Big Flood Dragon rejoiced, its four legs continuously splashing the water.

Its father once told it that people of the Human Race forge friendships by exchanging treasured items.

"This thing, why does it look like Dragon Scale?"

Bai Qi received the exquisite armor emitting a cold aura, strangely, it didn't feel heavy, but upon touch, like wax melting, it slowly wriggled, covering his entire body immediately, clinging to the skin without any discomfort.

"Roar Roar!"

The Big Flood Dragon's vertical pupils shone with playful charm, seemingly very pleased.

Bai Qi flexed his muscles a few times, finding no hindrance, yet oddly feeling he could summon wind and rain at his fingertips.

"This large area, all belongs to you, Sister Jiao?"

He asked.

The Big Flood Dragon shook its head, gesturing Bai Qi to ride its back, its dozen-meter-long body moved on the wide riverbed, stirring turbulent currents.

It circled several hundred miles around, pointing to various deep pools, lotus pools, and a crystal palace below.

"Turns out a little rich lady, quite thrifty, knowing how to be self-sufficient."

Bai Qi held the Big Flood Dragon's neck, standing upright to look below, where glows appeared endlessly, dazzling, almost beyond sight.

"Not only nurturing treasured lotus roots, but also Purple-Backed Bamboo, Flowing Color Vine, Life and Death Ling Jiao..."

Having trained in Dezhen Tower, his perspective elevated substantially, Bai Qi carefully observed and identified several valuable rare treasure plants.