The three Tier 2 Demon Cores might be enough if he could obtain a qualitative return from them.
With that thought, Ji Tianyou headed back to the inn.
Now that Lin Yue was staying with him, he no longer needed to give everything to random people. He could simply give her useful resources and see what kind of return he received.
Knock! Knock!
Ji Tianyou knocked on Lin Yue's door.
A moment later, the door opened.
Lin Yue looked up and smiled.
"Young Master, you're back."
Ji Tianyou nodded.
"Here. This is for you."
He took out one of the Tier 2 Demon Cores and handed it to her.
Lin Yue looked at the small blue core in her hands with confusion.
"Young Master, what is this?"
Ji Tianyou was about to explain when he suddenly froze.
A system notification had appeared in his mind.
He quickly looked at it.
[Ding! Gift detected.]
[Target: Li Yue.]
[Gift: Tier 2 Cyan Serpent Demon Core.]
[Hidden Function Activated.]
[Destiny Daughter Return Activated.]
[Destiny Daughter Return: When gifting an item to a Daughter of Destiny or Son of Destiny, the return may trigger a Critical Return and provide the maximum possible benefit.]
[Target: Lin Yue.]
[Identity: Daughter of Destiny.]
[Fate: Future Great Empress.]
[Critical Return Multiplier: 1,000x.]
Ji Tianyou's eyes widened.
He had not expected such a function to exist.
The system notification continued.
[Critical Return Activated.]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Return Reward: Tier 3 Cyan Python Demon Core.]
[Return Reward: Tier 5 Cyan Flood Dragon Egg.]
[Destiny Daughter Return can be activated once every month.]
Ji Tianyou stood there silently for several seconds.
He had only given Lin Yue a Tier 2 Demon Core.
Yet he had received a Tier 3 Demon Core and a Tier 5 beast egg.
Lin Yue was still looking at the blue core in her hands.
"Young Master, what is this for?"
Ji Tianyou quickly recovered.
"It will help you awaken your Spirit Root. Keep it with you and let its energy slowly nourish your body."
Lin Yue looked at the core again.
"Okay, Young Master."
She carefully held onto it.
"Then go and rest for now," Ji Tianyou said.
Lin Yue nodded.
She turned around and walked back into the room.
As she closed the door, she suddenly remembered something.
Mother said that if Young Master brings me home, I should cook for him.
Lin Yue looked around the room.
But how am I supposed to cook in an inn?
She scratched her head, unsure what to do.
Meanwhile, Ji Tianyou returned to his own room.
He closed the door and sat on the bed.
His thoughts were still focused on the system notifications.
The discovery of the Destiny Daughter Return had completely changed his understanding of Lin Yue.
Not only was she the future Great Empress, but gifting resources to her could also trigger an extremely powerful return.
Ji Tianyou looked at the two new rewards stored in his System Inventory.
The Tier 3 Cyan Python Demon Core was already extremely valuable.
But the Tier 5 Cyan Flood Dragon Egg was even more extraordinary.
The egg was covered in cyan patterns that spread across its entire surface.
"System, how do I hatch it?" Ji Tianyou asked.
[Simply drop some of your blood onto the egg.]
Ji Tianyou nodded.
He followed the system's instructions and made a small cut on his finger. A drop of blood fell onto the surface of the egg.
The moment his blood touched it, the cyan patterns began to glow faintly.
Cracks quickly appeared across the shell.
Ji Tianyou watched carefully as the cracks spread.
A strange connection suddenly formed between him and the small creature inside the egg.
He could vaguely sense its presence.
A moment later, a small head emerged from the cracked shell.
It had black scales, bright green eyes, and a small pair of horns.
Ji Tianyou stared at it for a moment.
Flood Dragons were considered lesser dragons in the cultivation world. According to the legends, they were not true dragons, but some powerful Flood Dragons could eventually evolve into true dragons.
The little Flood Dragon looked at Ji Tianyou with its green eyes.
Ji Tianyou smiled.
"Looks like you're going to be my companion."
The little creature made a soft sound and slowly crawled out of the egg.
Its body was only about the length of Ji Tianyou's arm.
It looked around curiously before turning back toward the broken shell.
It opened its mouth and began eating the remaining pieces of the egg.
Ji Tianyou watched it quietly.
"This little guy is hungry."
The Flood Dragon continued eating until there was nothing left of the shell.
After finishing its meal, it crawled toward Ji Tianyou and stopped beside his leg.
Ji Tianyou crouched down and carefully touched its head.
The little Flood Dragon did not resist.
Instead, it rubbed its head against his hand.
A faint smile appeared on Ji Tianyou's face.
"From now on, I'll call you Xiao Qing."
The Flood Dragon looked up at him.
"Xiao Qing."
It made a small sound as if responding to its new name.
Ji Tianyou picked it up and placed it on his shoulder.
The little Flood Dragon wrapped its body around his shoulder and rested there comfortably.
Ji Tianyou then looked at the remaining rewards in his System Inventory.
He still had the Tier 3 Cyan Python Demon Core.
Ji Tianyou stood up and left Xiao Qing in Lin Yue's care before leaving the inn.
He still had the Tier 3 Cyan Python Demon Core in his System Inventory, and he needed to exchange it for the Nine Petals Moon Flower Essence.
He quickly made his way toward the Heavenly Pavilion.
After arriving, he entered the familiar merchant organization and approached the receptionist.
The receptionist recognized him.
"Young Master Ji, you're here again."
Ji Tianyou nodded.
"I came to exchange the core for the flower."
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Please come with me."
She led him through the pavilion and into a private room.