After that exchange was completed, the others resumed trading.
When Nan Zhengya returned to his seat, he did not immediately hand the crystal to Xu Ziqing. Instead, he waited until someone else produced a rare treasure that drew everyone’s attention.
Suddenly Xu Ziqing felt a weight in his hand. He was holding the wooden box. “Thank you, Brother Nan Zheng.”
Nan Zhengya merely snorted.
Xu Ziqing smiled without speaking.
He did not truly believe Nan Zhengya had given him something of such value merely to repay last night’s favor. Even if that favor had saved Nan Zhengya some trouble, it could hardly equal the value of a middle-grade demonic treasure artifact. Since Nan Zhengya had explained himself that way, however, Xu Ziqing would not demand an accounting. He would remember the favor and, at the very least, find a treasure of similar grade to repay him one day.
Nan Zhengya exchanged several more items afterward, but Xu Ziqing was completely satisfied. Other precious treasures merely earned a smile; he no longer coveted them.
After about four hours, the exchange finally concluded. They rose and watched the manager activate the formation to send the participants out.
Xu Ziqing felt his body grow light. Nan Zhengya again secured him with the whip, preventing him from losing his way in the void.
A moment later they both landed.
The Nascent Soul ancestors were reluctant to linger after obtaining treasures they urgently needed. They hurried off to find places to refine or use their acquisitions.
The ancestor who had betrayed Nan Zhengya and the one seeking a cauldron for his injured partner were no exception. They departed together, intending to continue their journey in company.
Xu Ziqing now understood why Nan Zhengya had not been the first to leave. He had been keeping an eye on those two men.
Sure enough, Nan Zhengya sneered. “I’ll pursue them now. This is where we part. If you’re so taken with that block of ice you call Senior Brother, you might as well make the first move. Stop hesitating and dithering. You’re an embarrassment to manhood!”
Before Xu Ziqing could answer, Nan Zhengya had abandoned him and shot away in pursuit!
Caught off guard by the remark and the sudden departure, Xu Ziqing could only laugh helplessly.
What did hesitation and manly dignity have to do with it? The more he loved Yun Lie, the less willing he was to speak lightly and profane those feelings. He treasured and respected his senior brother and preferred to proceed slowly.
Yet the remark stirred another thought.
Nan Zhengya seemed uncommonly angry about such matters. Had he suffered some setback of his own? Xu Ziqing could not imagine who might have caught his eye and became curious.
Well, the immortal path was long. They might meet again someday. If by then Xu Ziqing had cultivated enough to survive Nan Zhengya’s pursuit, perhaps he could tease him about it.
Smiling at this slightly wicked thought, Xu Ziqing slipped into a dark alley.
He removed the mask, recovered his original appearance, and activated his wood-escape technique to travel swiftly through the city’s vegetation.
Back at Prince Tiancheng’s residence, he entered his courtyard. Chonghua was crouching there, but the jade talisman it had held in its beak was gone. Xu Ziqing knew his senior brother had received the message.
After considering briefly, he headed toward the Sword-Embracing Abode.
He soon arrived and pushed open the gate. Yun Lie was sitting in the courtyard as usual, tempering his sword intent, his expression cold and his eyes half closed.
As Xu Ziqing entered, Yun Lie opened his eyes.
Xu Ziqing smiled. “Senior Brother, I’m back.”
Yun Lie nodded. “Sit.”
Xu Ziqing sat immediately opposite him. His happiness was plain despite his casual tone. “Senior Brother, did you attend the Golden Core exchange?”
The message he had sent back with Chonghua had contained not only his whereabouts but also news of the exchange.
Golden Core cultivators rarely possessed especially extraordinary treasures, and those who did seldom needed to trade them. Their exchanges were generally frequented by independent cultivators. Core disciples of major sects, especially one as well supplied as Yun Lie, had little reason to attend.
As expected, Yun Lie said, “I did not.”
Xu Ziqing understood.
He then recounted the events of the previous night to his senior brother. He explained how Nan Zhengya had been hiding in his courtyard, how their previous acquaintance had prompted him to offer concealment, and even that Nan Zhengya was now at Nascent Soul. But he did not reveal anything involving their previous lives, Nan Zhengya’s rebirth and return to cultivation, or the favor Yun Lie had once done for him.
It was not because he distrusted his senior brother. Xu Ziqing had considered Nan Zhengya’s words and behavior and understood that the man did not wish to associate directly with Yun Lie. The debt of gratitude might be genuine, but if Nan Zhengya thought they meant to demand repayment, it would be unpleasant. Moreover, Xu Ziqing had tacitly agreed with him to preserve the secret.
Here, it must be admitted, Xu Ziqing had selfish concerns of his own.
Although Yun Lie was only at early Golden Core, he was already unrivaled among Golden Core cultivators below Nascent Soul. With further advancement, he might even contend with Nascent Soul experts. At present, however, that gap remained. Xu Ziqing would rather not oppose Nan Zhengya’s wishes. Even the slightest harm to Yun Lie would break his heart.
But Xu Ziqing’s thoughts were complicated, and Yun Lie understood him intimately. He could tell that something was being withheld. “Ziqing.”
Xu Ziqing looked up and froze when he saw Yun Lie’s slight frown.
His senior brother’s expression had actually changed! That was unexpected. But he quickly realized that Yun Lie had detected something amiss in his story, and a little panic seized him.
In more than ten years of cultivation, he had never concealed anything from Yun Lie. Now he already felt guilty, and being caught so swiftly, even displeasing his senior brother, left him deeply ashamed.
Before Yun Lie could say another word, Xu Ziqing confessed, “I haven’t told you anything false. It’s simply that the matter concerns Brother Nan Zheng’s private secrets, which I cannot disclose. I was wrong to be evasive just now. Please forgive me, Senior Brother, and don’t hold it against me.”
When he looked up again, Yun Lie had recovered his usual expression, the seven emotions once more motionless. Xu Ziqing relaxed a little. He resolved that if something similar happened again, he would tell his senior brother outright that he could not explain, rather than conceal his intentions. Evasion was unworthy of an upright man, and angering Yun Lie over it was even worse.
After coming to that decision, he cleared his throat and took the jade box from his storage ring.
He had intended to present it only after finding Geng Metal Essence in the Tianlan Secret Trove, but perhaps he should offer it now to please his senior brother. He hoped Yun Lie was no longer upset.
With an expectant gaze, Xu Ziqing gently placed the jade box into Yun Lie’s hands.
Yun Lie glanced at him and opened it.
A translucent substance with restrained brilliance appeared. It looked unremarkable at first, but contained something so profound that even Yun Lie’s state of mind stirred.
He paused and examined it more carefully. Then he recognized it.
“Water-Fusing Essence Crystal,” Yun Lie said.
Xu Ziqing’s expression was tender. “That’s right. I obtained it at the exchange. Please accept it, Senior Brother.”
After a moment, Yun Lie asked, “What did Nan Zhengya spend to obtain this for you?”
Xu Ziqing paused, then answered, “Brother Nan Zheng traded a middle-grade demonic treasure for it. When my cultivation improves, I’ll repay him for the favor. Since I’m giving it to you, Senior Brother, please don’t worry about that.”
Yun Lie did not press the matter. He stored the crystal in his ring and then said, “This is useful to me. I should thank you.”
Xu Ziqing relaxed, smiling even more warmly. “You’ve helped me so much, Senior Brother. To finally be able to give you something useful hardly deserves your thanks. We’ve known each other for many years, and I consider us very close. If you feel the same, then let’s not speak of thanks between us.”
Yun Lie did not thank him again. Xu Ziqing was delighted.
Being able to give his senior brother something he truly needed was enough to satisfy him.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Nothing remarkable happened in Shengyan City. Yet as the opening of the Tianlan Secret Trove drew nearer, an undercurrent of activity became increasingly palpable.
During those two years, Prince Tiancheng Xuan Ze was apparently occupied with preparations and seldom visited his companions. The two martial brothers devoted themselves to cultivation and scarcely left the residence. Even Xi Lin, who usually enjoyed discussing the sword with Yun Lie, was busy refining his divine abilities and came rarely.
Xu Ziqing also heard nothing more about Nan Zhengya, as though the man had never appeared. Whether his pursuit of those two Nascent Soul ancestors succeeded, who prevailed, and whether anyone died remained unknown.
Still, Xu Ziqing reasoned that Nan Zhengya had advanced so far and uncovered the plot against him in advance. He must have made thorough preparations, and ordinary hazards would be unlikely to trouble him. When the thought arose, Xu Ziqing soon put it away again.
As for Yun Lie, he had broken through to Golden Core and, under extreme pressure at Ruyi Immortal Manor, comprehended the beginnings of the Purple Palace Minor Cosmos at that realm. But even extraordinary talent could not replace gradual accumulation. To stabilize such gains required time.
With five years in which to consolidate his cultivation, the sword qi that had once soared uncontrollably around him became more restrained. Like a sharp sword concealed in its sheath, his aura was colder, deeper, and more weighty.
At last, Prince Tiancheng again summoned everyone: more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators and five or six Golden Core followers, all trusted members of his circle.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie joined them, though they remained outside the structure of his retainers and were regarded as cooperating allies.
After five years of preparation, Xuan Ze seemed reasonably confident. Even so, his expression was grave. He clearly regarded the expedition as momentous.
These were all cultivators, so there was little need for speeches before departure. Xuan Ze briefly explained the destination. Everyone produced flying artifacts or deployed divine abilities and set off together.
The entrance to the Tianlan Secret Trove lay on an enormous deserted island in the Wudang Sea Region.