“Huh?”
The music workshop disciple lowered his head in frustration.
That thing was formed from Lingquan Essence—he had only heard the Elder mention it, never seen it with his own eyes.
Thinking back to when Cloud Flow made his first pot of gold in the Newbie Village, it was all thanks to his hot-tempered ex-wife draining Little Yellow Hair dry. There was no way he’d sell for less than that time.
Remembering the childhood friend who lost out, Yun Liu smiled knowingly.
Siran should be somewhere nearby too—she wouldn’t miss the Mirage City opportunity.
“Move aside!”
A group of rude disciples in black-green Daoist robes shoved through, directly squeezing out the Sea-Severing Alliance cultivators to take the front-row spots.
Wu Lei gritted his teeth, angry but not daring to speak.
“What a crowd. The Cold Chant Sect is here too.”
Cultivators drawn by the commotion craned their necks.
They had no hope for the Heavenly Dao Elixir, but they wondered if the Young Sect Master could satisfy Mr. Yun’s outrageous demands?
Leading the group was a distinguished-looking young man with spiky hair, at Golden Core cultivation.
His gaze was locked onto the Core Formation Pill with a look of absolute determination.
Beside him stood a graceful curly-haired woman who burst into hearty laughter the moment she appeared.
“Hey there, Mr. Yun, Miss Qin! What a coincidence—we meet again.”
Qin Xiang smiled softly and bowed in return, but Yun Liu remained completely indifferent.
“The Radiant Light Sect people seem to be old acquaintances of Mr. Yun.”
“Miss Ruan is as radiant as ever.”
The righteous cultivators of the Heavenly Concord Alliance murmured among themselves.
Everyone knew the Dancer Cultivator.
The rising stars of East Pole Province could be counted on one hand, and Ruan Yu was the ceiling of the younger generation—her fame far surpassing that of the Yunhai Sword Cultivator.
The gentle shopkeeper of Rosy Fragrance Pavilion had been reborn, becoming even more alluring.
But after the Qingxia Chief’s Realm Breaking, that title might have to be questioned.
Ruan Yu looked at Qin Xiang with envy.
The gentle shopkeeper of Rosy Fragrance Pavilion had been reborn, becoming even more alluring. But after the Qingxia Chief’s Realm Breaking, that title might have to be questioned.
She really held nothing back.
How long had it been? And without a word, she’d formed her Nascent Soul through the Heavenly Dao.
Seeing that the cold young master paid her no attention, Ruan Yu pouted, slowly crouched in front of the stall, and said with a smile:
“We’ll take this Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Pill.”
Yun Liu flicked his long sleeve and raised one index finger.
“With your cultivation, you shouldn’t need this, right?”
“A third-grade Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Pill in exchange for one Sea Crystal Gold. With your level of cultivation, Miss Ruan shouldn’t need this, should you?”
“Of course it’s not for me—it’s for our Young Master Xiao.”
Ruan Yu’s voice was meaningful, but she didn’t spot Ji Shiyu anywhere.
Did they not come together?
“Young Master Xiao?”
Yun Liu muttered to himself.
He didn’t care what the Radiant Light Sect wanted it for—cash on delivery, plain and simple.
“Young Master!”
At that moment, a delighted cry came from the crowd.
Yun Liu looked closely.
A valiant woman holding a long spear was waving at him—light armor, silver edges, utterly dashing.
“?”
If Lin Shu was here, that meant…
He turned his head again and, sure enough, spotted a barely hidden long ponytail behind the Little Steward, peeking out timidly without daring to show herself.
Yun Liu’s expression shifted through a complex mix of emotions.
The black-haired, red-eyed tomboy was exceptionally handsome.
Xiao Siran was also dressed in men’s clothing.
So it was you who wanted it. Why didn’t you say so earlier.
“Young… Young Master.”
The usually energetic girl in men’s attire turned bright red at the sight of the white-robed youth, hiding behind Lin Shu with her hands at a complete loss for where to put them.
It was all Sister Ruan’s fault—saying a few women traveling the Jianghu would face all sorts of trouble, and that they needed a man to hold up appearances when necessary.
Now she’d dressed up like this to see her brother. How embarrassing!
The spiky-haired youth didn’t notice her discomfort.
His only focus was securing this Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Pill for Xiao Siran at Peak Foundation Establishment.
He cut in:
“I don’t have Sea Crystal Gold, sir. Would you consider a different exchange condition? Say, a Water-phase Treasure of the same grade—that I can produce.”
Yun Liu lifted one eyelid.
Who are you? And you’re bargaining on my behalf now?
“And you are?”
“Cold Chant Sect, Dongfang Shuo. My father is Dongfang Ye. I’m sure you’ve heard of him out on the open seas, sir. If you’re willing to part with it, the Dongfang family owes you a favor.”
Dongfang Shuo puffed up with pride, looking around smugly, leading with “my father this and that”—daring anyone to compete with him.
“Oh, it’s you.”
Yun Liu nodded.
He remembered now.
Just a simp for Little Yellow Hair—pestering her endlessly until he finally realized she liked women, and the clown turned out to be him.
Looking at the situation now… he’d become his sister’s simp instead?
“As long as Ran wants something, I’ll get it for her. Name your price, sir!”
Dongfang Shuo’s spirits lifted, thinking there was a chance.
Even the East Pole Pavilion Master had to show his father some respect.
Ruan Yu and Qin Xiang were already laughing their heads off.
Acting all big in front of her beloved—did he really think the girl would be grateful?
Come on, ask around. Do you even know the name of the fiancé Miss Xiao never stops thinking about?
Dongfang Ye’s favor was indeed significant.
At Peak Nascent Soul cultivation, he’d been advancing rapidly since leaving Mirage City, drawing the attention of many heavyweights.
Once he broke through to Lianxu, even the Hegemony Realm couldn’t stop him.
He’d qualify to formally join the Heavenly Concord Alliance, and his status in the Daoist sects would instantly tower above the Heavenly Sound Workshop—he could formally lead the Cold Chant Sect and rise to become the top power of the Boundless Sea.
Yun Liu cast a meaningful glance at the ponytailed youth.
Xiao Siran was safe and sound, had made many friends on the journey, and had even developed a sense of humor.
He teased with a smile:
“First Miss Ruan, then Young Master Dongfang. So many people vying to get you a pill—Young Master Xiao is quite fortunate.”
“No, no, no! It’s not like that! We’re just traveling the same route. I knew you’d definitely show up here, mm!”
Xiao Siran waved her hands frantically, immediately pulling Lin Shu away from Dongfang Shuo, terrified that Xiao Yun might misunderstand.
“Dongfang, I’ve told you many times—I’ll figure out the Core Formation Pill situation myself. We’re just passing acquaintances, not even friends. I can’t accept such a precious gift!”
“I just… I just want to help you.”
Dongfang Shuo’s face fell.
Any passerby might think the Young Sect Master had a Long Yang disposition, fawning over some effeminate pretty boy like this.
Splendid, simply splendid!
Ruan Yu covered her mouth with a delicate laugh.
This was exactly the scene she wanted to see—and also the Xiu Luo Chang that Qin Xiang adored.
Yun Liu didn’t notice that behind him, his neglected wife’s cheeks were flushed and her delicate body trembling, already excited to the absolute peak.
Oh my, the situation for Shiyu was looking excellent now—after facing reality, she’d made a strong comeback.
Could Ran stage a desperate reversal and break the destined defeat of the childhood friend?
The increasingly afflicted First Wife watched with bated breath!
“This Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Pill… it doesn’t strictly have to be Sea Crystal Gold.”
Hearing Yun Liu’s tone soften, Qin Xiang, who knew him well, realized the Boss was about to slaughter a pig—clearly planning to fleece Dongfang Shuo for everything he had.
Xiao Siran’s eyes lit up.
The Young Master cares about me so much—why would I need anyone else’s help?
“Hold on, hold on!”
Unexpectedly, someone cut in and jumped out.
“Sea Crystal Gold, you say? I’ve got it!”
A dainty little Dan Boy emerged from the crowd, sharp eyes sweeping across the scene before striding proudly up to the stall.
The onlookers burst into an uproar.
Who wouldn’t covet a Heavenly Dao Core Formation?
They just never expected someone to actually possess that kind of priceless deep-sea mineral.