“I agree to help you make a name for yourself, but I won’t exert any real effort. I’ll just act as your messenger.”
“Secondly, my South Ridge Dragon Race is not a bunch of pushovers for others to manipulate! If you think you can take any Dragon from me, you’re dreaming!” Chi Hong’s voice was resolute, brooking no argument.
Even if she had to sacrifice some clansmen and fight Qin Qingyue to the bitter end, she would never hand over a single Red Dragon.
This was her bottom line as the Red Dragon Clan Leader.
Elder Chi Qin immediately stepped forward, clutching the Flame Crystal Stone tightly in her palm, her gaze locked onto Qin Qingyue, ready to activate the Grand Array at Chi Hong’s command, no matter the cost.
She was even more radical than Chi Hong, and harsher toward outsiders.
Qin Qingyue was silent for a moment. With a flick of her fingertip, she tossed one of the Flame Crystal Stones she had been toying with toward Chi Hong.
Then, with a twist of her wrist, a chilling, radiant Immortal Sword and several rare, aura-laden Immortal Materials appeared on the table in the hall.
“Once things are settled, the last crystal stone will be returned.”
“These Immortal Materials, let the promising juniors of your clan use them. As for this sword…”
She nodded at the sword shimmering with celestial light.
“Earth-grade Superior Sword. Take it as payment for my ‘disturbance’ this time.”
Heaven-grade Immortal Weapons were few and far between, priceless even on the market, and their appearance always stirred up bloody storms.
Otherwise, Su Yingman wouldn’t have been so shaken when Qin Qingyue directly tossed one at her back then.
Qin Qingyue still had Heaven-grade Immortal Weapons, but now was not the time to bring them out for a deal with the Red Dragon Clan.
This Earth-grade Superior Sword was already among the best on the market, and offering it was already extravagant.
“This…”
Chi Hong was stunned. Looking at the radiant Immortal Sword and materials on the table, she couldn’t make sense of Qin Qingyue’s intentions for a moment.
What did this mean? A slap in the face, followed by a sweet treat?
Even with the deep heritage of the Red Dragon Clan, these items were still tempting.
“Chi Hong, this is my sincerity.”
Qin Qingyue swung her foot gently, a dazzling smile on her face, as if the earlier tension had never happened.
“Also, the Misfortune lingering on me has already dissipated. You should be able to sense it, right?”
Her aura was now clear, with none of the fierce, ominous Misfortune of before.
Threats only plant seeds of disaster and can’t sustain true cooperation—Qin Qingyue understood this well.
She aspired to found a new Dragon Palace, and in the future, she would inevitably have to deal with the Red Dragon Clan and other Dragon Race members, perhaps even integrate with them.
So Qin Qingyue only intended to cooperate with the Red Dragon Clan, not fight. A show of strength was enough.
“Your Misfortune is gone? How…” Chi Hong’s lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
The overwhelming Misfortune that had plagued Qin Qingyue for centuries—could it really be gone?
She had even planned to immediately assemble a team to purify the Dragon Palace once this bringer of disaster left.
“Heh.”
The crisp sound of high heels tapping on the floor rang out.
Qin Qingyue said no more, rising elegantly and heading straight outside, leaving behind a cool voice:
“Palace Master Chi, remember this.”
“Next time, when it comes to the matter between me and Wu Zhaohua, or anything involving Jiang Huai, keep out of it.”
Before her words had fully faded, she and the silent Su Yingman had already vanished beyond the doors of the hall.
Su Yingman kept a calm facade as she followed closely behind Qin Qingyue, but inside, she was already in turmoil, even tinged with an unspoken excitement.
To witness a confrontation between two Celestial Immortal Forms with my own eyes?!
In the past, even seeking an audience with a Red Dragon Elder was extremely difficult for the Hehuan Sect, let alone the Clan Leader.
Chi Hong stared at the mess in the hall and the dazzling “payment” on the table for a long time in silence.
In the end, she sighed softly and said to Chi Qin behind her:
“I’ll handle this matter personally. The clan affairs will trouble you, Grand Elder.”
She paused, then added,
“Pass down the order—if any young clansmen encounter a youth named ‘Jiang Huai’ while out and about, help him as much as possible. If you can’t, at least do not offend him.”
This seemingly casual decision, in truth, concerned the fate of the entire Red Dragon Clan.
Caught between two giants with Celestial Immortal Forms was no different than dancing on a knife’s edge—one misstep would lead to disaster.
Chi Hong immediately realized the key was Jiang Huai. As long as relations with Jiang Huai were good, everything else would fall into place.
Ling Mountain Courtyard.
Morning light filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows across the small wooden table etched with the marks of time.
Wu Zhaohua sipped her clear congee, but her gaze was always fixed on the youth practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard, nodding secretly to herself.
His foundation was steady, his sword moves practiced.
She had to admit, Qin Qingyue’s tutelage had been excellent, his basics extremely solid.
She was talking about swordsmanship.
The only thing that pricked her heart a little was that the sword in Jiang Huai’s hand had been given to him by Qin Qingyue.
The blade was jet black, of fine quality, but an eyesore all the same. It would have to be replaced sooner or later.
Wu Zhaohua quietly clenched her hand. The spiritual power within her body flowed, forming a subtle link with the new Spirit Sword Pattern carved by Jiang Huai.
When Jiang Huai leapt up and slashed down, she could clearly sense the downward pull from that mark.
As Jiang Huai twisted and swung to the right, the mark shifted slightly leftward from the momentum.
When Jiang Huai suddenly stopped, the mark’s motion halted instantly as well.
Wu Zhaohua smiled in satisfaction, letting her lips curl, and stopped deliberately sensing the connection. She simply enjoyed watching the youth practice his swordsmanship.
So? Wasn’t this much better and more useful than that Black Dragon Mark etched on his abdomen?
A mere abdomen… what was that worth?
Just as she was secretly pleased, Jiang Huai suddenly sheathed his sword and stood still in the center, frowning.
“Why did you stop practicing?” Wu Zhaohua set her bowl down and asked with a bright smile.
She still wore that elegant, plain white dress, her beauty unmatched in the morning light, with a slender, fair ankle peeking from beneath her skirt hem.
“It’s boring. Progress is too slow like this,” Jiang Huai said, frowning.
Back when he was with Qin Qingyue, it didn’t matter what means she used or how harsh she was.
But there was one thing—his cultivation progress was lightning-fast, especially under the blessing of Innate Primordial Qi.
If things went as Qin Qingyue expected, he would soon break through to Foundation Establishment and truly embark on the path of cultivation.
Now that he was back with Wu Zhaohua, life was peaceful, but it lacked that sense of urgency and efficiency.
Having seen the power of Celestial Immortal Forms, having witnessed true immortal might, Jiang Huai naturally longed to become that strong himself.
He wanted to become a powerhouse, like Qin Qingyue, able to roam all five continents.
Jiang Huai found himself missing Qin Qingyue a little. The lively dragon tail that always used to coil around his waist was gone, leaving his heart feeling empty.
Wu Zhaohua keenly sensed his thoughts and snorted softly:
“Qi Refining isn’t only walked on Qin Qingyue’s path.”
“Do you know her origins? She forged her way through brute strength alone. Being formidable in battle doesn’t mean she’s broad in her insights!”
“I have ways to let you easily step into Foundation Establishment, without suffering the hardships she put you through.”
She elegantly finished the last sip of her congee, then rose and walked gracefully to Jiang Huai’s side. Her fingertips brushed the buds of the newly planted flowers as she spoke, a hint of pride in her tone:
“I said it before: follow me, and your days will be filled with jade and pearl, carefree and worry-free.”
The promise made back then—now was the time to fulfill it.
Unlike Qin Qingyue, who wanted to temper Jiang Huai into a powerhouse, Wu Zhaohua only wished to cradle him in her palm, shelter him beneath her wings, and keep him by her side forever.
If not for the limits of her lifespan, she wouldn’t let him suffer even the slightest hardship from cultivation, only wishing him joy and worry-free days for his whole life.
With me here, why would he ever need to become strong?
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