Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (8/8)
After the deal was concluded, the bartering resumed.
Nan Zhengya didn’t immediately hand over the object to Xu Ziqing. Instead, he waited until someone presented a treasure that captured everyone’s attention before making his move.
Xu Ziqing felt a heavy object in his hand and realized he had been given the wooden box. “Thank you, Brother Nan Zhengya.”
Nan Zhengya responded with a soft snort.
Xu Ziqing smiled but remained silent. He knew Nan Zhengya wasn’t truly thanking him for last night’s events—it had been a minor matter, not worth the value of a mid-grade magic treasure. Despite this, since Nan Zhengya had mentioned it, Xu Ziqing decided to consider it a favor and repay it with a treasure of equal value in the future.
Nan Zhengya continued to trade for a few more items, but Xu Ziqing, already satisfied, merely watched and didn’t engage further.
About two hours later, the barter meeting ended. As they stood up, the steward activated the formation and they were ejected.
Xu Ziqing felt a lightness as Nan Zhengya typically guided him with a whip to avoid getting lost in the void. Both of them soon landed on the ground.
The Nascent Soul patriarchs, eager to refine their newly acquired treasures, quickly departed. They had no intention of lingering.
The Nascent Soul patriarch who had betrayed Nan Zhengya and the one seeking a furnace for his lover left together.
Xu Ziqing noticed Nan Zhengya stayed behind, likely keeping an eye on them.
Sure enough, Nan Zhengya sneered and said, “I’ll go after him. Let’s just leave now. If you’re interested in your brother, you should take the initiative. Don’t be a dithering fool and lose face!” With that, he left Xu Ziqing behind and sped away!
Xu Ziqing, hearing Nan Zhengya’s abrupt words and seeing him chase after the patriarch, couldn’t help but smile wryly.
What did he mean by foolishness or a man’s face? Xu Ziqing wasn’t thinking about that. He simply admired his Shixiong and didn’t want to rush things. He preferred to take his time. Yet, Nan Zhengya’s anger made Xu Ziqing wonder if he had experienced something similar before. Still, he couldn’t imagine who might have caught Nan Zhengya’s favor, making him curious.
The path to immortality is long, and they might meet again. If Xu Ziqing’s cultivation allowed him to evade Nan Zhengya, he might playfully bring it up. With these thoughts, Xu Ziqing slipped into a dark alley, amused.
He removed his mask, restored his original appearance, activated his skills, and flew back through the city’s vegetation.
Back at Prince Tiancheng’s mansion, Xu Ziqing returned to his courtyard. Chonghua was lying in the courtyard, but the jade talisman in his mouth was no longer there. Xu Ziqing knew that Chonghua had indeed met his Shixiong. After pondering for a moment, he headed towards Lanjian’s residence.
It didn’t take long to arrive. Xu Ziqing pushed the door open and entered. As usual, his Shixiong was in the courtyard, honing his sword intent, with a cold expression and eyes slightly closed.
When Xu Ziqing entered, Yun Lie opened his eyes.
Seeing this, Xu Ziqing smiled and said, “Shixiong, I’m back.”
Yun Lie nodded slightly. “Sit.”
Xu Ziqing immediately sat down, facing his Shixiong. Though he didn’t express it openly, the joy in his heart was evident. He then asked, “Shixiong, did you go to the barter meeting for Golden Core stage cultivators?”
What he had asked Chonghua to bring back was not only his own news but also information about the barter meeting.
Typically, monks in the golden core period don’t have anything particularly surprising, and if they do, they rarely need to exchange it. Such barter meetings are often just trading places for casual cultivators, and few sect disciples participate. Core disciples with ample resources like Yun Lie usually have little to gain.
Sure enough, Yun Lie said, “No.”
Xu Ziqing understood and then recounted the events of the previous night to his Shixiong. He mentioned that after returning to the courtyard; he saw Nan Zhengya hiding and, out of a sense of destiny, covered for him. Xu Ziqing also informed Yun Lie that Nan Zhengya now had Nascent Soul cultivation. However, he did not disclose details about past and present lives, Nan Zhengya’s rebirth and recultivation, or Yun Lie’s kindness to Nan Zhengya.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his Shixiong, but Xu Ziqing had noticed Nan Zhengya’s reluctance to have any contact with Yun Lie. The so-called “gratitude” might indeed exist, but if Nan Zhengya felt it had been repaid, things could turn sour. Additionally, Xu Ziqing and Nan Zhengya had a tacit understanding to keep this from Yun Lie, driven by Xu Ziqing’s selfish intentions.
Currently, his Shixiong’s early Golden Stage cultivation could overpower all Golden Core cultivators below Nascent Soul. However, he wasn’t yet capable of dealing with Nascent Soul cultivators. It was better not to go against Nan Zhengya’s intentions, as any harm to his Shixiong would be heartbreaking for Xu Ziqing.
Despite Xu Ziqing’s delicate considerations, Yun Lie knew him well and could sense he was hiding something. Yun Lie immediately said, “Ziqing.” When Xu Ziqing looked up, he saw Yun Lie frowning slightly, and was stunned.
Had his Shixiong’s expression really changed like this? This was truly unexpected. But Xu Ziqing quickly realized that with Yun Lie’s perceptiveness, he had already noticed the flaws in his story, and Xu Ziqing felt a pang of panic.
After more than ten years of practice, Xu Ziqing had never concealed anything from his Shixiong. Now, having hidden something, he felt guilty. When his Shixiong noticed immediately, it displeased him and made Xu Ziqing feel even more ashamed.
Before Yun Lie could say anything, Xu Ziqing confessed, “I haven’t lied, but Brother Nan Zheng’s secret matter can’t be shared. My earlier evasion was my fault. Please forgive me, Shixiong, and don’t be too harsh on me.” He resolved that if a similar situation arose again, he would be honest and simply say he couldn’t disclose it. Such cover-ups were unbecoming and only angered his Shixiong unnecessarily.
Having made up his mind, Xu Ziqing coughed lightly and took out a jade box from his storage ring. He had initially planned to give it to his Shixiong after obtaining the Heavenly Metal essence from Heavenly Secret Realm, but now he hoped it would help appease his Shixiong.
With anticipation in his eyes, Xu Ziqing gently placed the jade box in Yun Lie’s hand.
Yun Lie glanced at him and opened the jade box. Inside, a transparent object with a subtle brilliance appeared. Though it seemed unremarkable, it exuded an extremely mysterious aura that slightly moved Yun Lie. He paused for a moment, examined it more closely, and recognized it.
“Rong Shuijing Crystal,” Yun Lie said.
Xu Ziqing was already satisfied to give his Shixiong something useful.
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Two years passed. Shengyan City had never experienced such a significant event or such excitement. Perhaps it was the anticipation of the opening of the Heavenly Secret Realm that created a growing sense of unrest.
During this time, Prince Xuan Ze of Tiancheng was busy with preparations and seldom interacted with others, allowing the brothers and sisters to focus intensely on their practice, rarely leaving the palace. Even Xi Lin, who typically enjoyed discussing swordsmanship with Yun Lie, seemed to be concentrating on his powers and seldom visited.
During this time, Xu Ziqing received no further news from Nan Zhengya, as if he had vanished without a trace. As for Nan Zhengya’s pursuit of the two Nascent Soul Patriarchs, Xu Ziqing remained unaware of its outcome—whether he had succeeded or failed, lived or died.
However, Xu Ziqing speculated that Nan Zhengya, given his ability to reach this stage and foresee conspiracies in advance, likely had a plan in motion. Trusting this intuition, Xu Ziqing set aside any lingering concerns.
As for Yun Lie, he had achieved a breakthrough to the Golden Elixir stage earlier and had pushed the limits in his spiritual sea, even grasping the embryonic form of the Zi-Fu small universe at this level of cultivation. Yet, despite his talent, consolidating these gains required time and effort.
Over the past five years, Yun Lie has matured significantly. His aura, once soaring like a sword reaching the heavens, now exuded a restrained power, his presence condensed and formidable.
Then, one day, Xuan Ze, the Prince Tiancheng, summoned everyone once more. The gathering included over ten Nascent Soul cultivators and five or six Golden Core cultivators, all of whom were Xuan Ze’s trusted allies. Among them were Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie, considered collaborators in Xuan Ze’s endeavors.
After five years of meticulous preparation, Xuan Ze exuded confidence, yet his demeanor remained serious, underscoring the gravity of their upcoming journey.
As seasoned practitioners, they required little discussion before departing. Xuan Ze briefed them on their destination, and they all activated their spiritual weapons and deployed their abilities, setting off together in a unified direction.
Their destination: the entrance to the Heavenly Secret Realm, situated on a vast deserted island in the Wudang Sea.
<End of Arc 14: Dayan Empire>
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