Chapter 175: 175. Chapter 175: Time Waits for No One

175. Chapter 175: Time Waits for No One

"So, you have to add more money!"

Character: Liyang Zhenren's gaze examined Xiao Zhangqing's face and expression, and upon hearing the request, he thought it quite reasonable.

After all, the four treasures together were worth less than half the price of a genuine Condensed True Pill.

There was no reason for Xiao Zhangqing to forgo the Foundation Establishment opportunity; instead, after taking the four treasures, he agreed to his terms.

But for some unknown reason, Character: Liyang Zhenren had an intuition that this young friend Xiao was taking advantage of him?

Moreover, he inexplicably felt that he was being hugely taken advantage of!

Shaking his head, Character: Liyang Zhenren set the baffling thought aside.

He had already carefully inspected all four treasures once, and indeed found nothing special—plain and unremarkable, with no hidden high value.

In terms of perception and insight, Character: Liyang Zhenren was confident he was not inferior to anyone, certainly not worse than the young Xiao Zhangqing.

At most, perhaps that specially made key of unknown function might have some trick.

It might have some other important use.

But such a special treasure, even if he kept it, would be useless without knowing its secret—worth nothing.

So, regardless, even if the four treasures were of great use to Xiao Zhangqing, they wouldn't be a loss for him.

"Xiao, your eye for selecting treasures is unique, and I can't gauge it. Just roughly tell me the type of treasure you need, and I'll see if I have any in stock," Character: Liyang Zhenren said.

He was indeed somewhat curious about Xiao Zhangqing's logic for selecting treasures.

Therefore, he didn't directly list a bunch of treasures for Xiao Zhangqing to choose from, but let him state his requirements first.

Xiao Zhangqing need not fear being seen through; he said openly, "When I select treasures, I never look at how many Spirit Stones they're worth, or how strong their power is, or how much they can boost my strength! I value the treasure's history, its provenance... The greater the pedigree, the longer it's been used by top cultivators, the more delighted I am! Even if the treasures are broken or merely fragments, I still accept them without hesitation."

Character: Liyang Zhenren frowned as he listened, his gaze oddly scrutinizing Xiao Zhangqing.

Choosing treasures without regard to value or strength, only valuing history and origin, even if broken or fragments, you don't care?

How.

You think you can extract a strong one's aura from a treasure, believing that possessing a treasure once used by a strong cultivator will grant you their inheritance and abilities? That's unheard of, an absurd joke! "Xiao's sunshine is truly... unique," Character: Liyang Zhenren said with a smile, then took several items from his storage bag.

These items shared a clear trait: low or no grade, old-looking items exuding age, most of them fragments.

Xiao Zhangqing was initially quite interested, thinking he might find equipment that could greatly aid him among these things.

But after examining each one, his complexion immediately fell, and with a forced smile he said, "Senior Character: Liyang, I need treasures with historical lineage, used by strong cultivators, damaged in battle or due to special reasons—not a pile of broken junk! You can't seriously think I'm a scavenger, can you?"

What the hell is this writing!

Most systems are too lazy to identify, directly showing they cannot be equipped!

As for the few that can be equipped, they are mostly broken Magic Treasures once used by ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators, even some Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The skills extracted from these equipments are of no use at all to the current Xiao Zhangqing!

This old fool was clearly treating him as a dupe, trying to trap him! "Is that so? I don't have your skill, Xiao, to discern the historical lineage of these broken treasures, so I might have erred," Character: Liyang Zhenren said with a grin, and without hesitation gathered all the broken junk.

Xiao Zhangqing smiled without replying.

He must believe that he is the fool.

Soon, Character: Liyang Zhenren again took out a batch of items from his storage bag, this time with a serious expression saying, "Take another look at these, Xiao, and tell me if any satisfy you."

Xiao Zhangqing said nothing and examined them again.

Indeed, the treasures this time were of far higher quality; each could be identified by the system and equipped.

However, Xiao Zhangqing still found most of the extracted skills unsatisfactory.

After all, Xiao Zhangqing's current strength renders early Foundation Establishment cultivators insignificant, easily crushed, and even most mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators are not a threat.

Thus, treasures used by Fake Core True Person, early or mid Foundation Establishment cultivators are most likely of no use to him.

"This replica of the legendary fifth-tier treasure 'Li Fire Five-Beast Fan' is quite nice. However, isn't this treasured fan the Magic Treasure you've used for years, Senior Character: Liyang? Are you sure you can part with it for me?"

Xiao Zhangqing held in his hand a fan that was overall fiery red, yet its top shimmered with multicolored flowing light, his expression a bit unusual.

The Five-Beast Fan is, according to legend, one of the strongest fifth-tier treasures in this world.

It was the personal instrument of a predecessor who shattered the void and ascended millennia ago, its power reaching the level of a celestial artifact! The deeds of the Five-Beast Fan are recorded in various strange tales of the current Cultivation World.

But the genuine Five-Beast Fan should have long ago ascended to the celestial realm with that predecessor, no longer existing in this world.

And the one now in Xiao Zhangqing's hand is the Magic Treasure Character: Liyang Zhenren relied on for fame before his Foundation Establishment.

Its replica also incorporates feathers from five third-tier avian beasts, fused with Character: Liyang Zhenren's primal 'Li Fire', forging the fan's power.

However.

After Character: Liyang Zhenren formed a Golden Core, he acquired higher-level, more potent Magic Treasures better suited to him, so the 'Li Fire Five-Beast Fan' was used far less after his Foundation Establishment.

Especially after he became the top Scattered Cultivator of the Da Yu Cultivation World and founded Character: Liyang Zhenren City, the Li Fire Five-Beast Fan had lain unused for over a hundred years.

Younger cultivators now probably don't know that Character: Liyang Zhenren once rose to fame with the Li Fire Five-Beast Fan.

"Xiao, you actually know about my fan? The disciples I've taken in later probably don't know its origins," Character: Liyang Zhenren said, surprised and a bit nostalgic.

This 'old partner' that accompanied him before his Foundation Establishment has been hidden for far too long.

I didn't know before...

But now I know.

Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself. After system identification, the fan's origin and lineage were displayed crystal clear.

He even learned that although Character: Liyang Zhenren hadn't used the Li Fire Five-Beast Fan in years, he had been nurturing it with Pill Fire and Soul Transformation, raising its grade.

He guessed that Character: Liyang Zhenren truly harbored deep affection for this treasured fan.

Moreover, he hadn't discarded it entirely like worn-out shoes, but retained a sliver of hope to raise its grade, perhaps someday it could match his cultivation level and be useful.

He just didn't know why he now brought it out for Xiao Zhangqing to choose.

"If you, Xiao, deem my Li Fire Five-Beast Fan worthy, then take it. It's an honor that a heavenly prodigy like you values this fan," Character: Liyang Zhenren said.

He is about to seek a suitable place to break through the Nascent Soul realm.

If I can breakthrough successfully and become a Nascent Soul True Lord, this Li Huo Five-Beast Fan will be completely useless.

After all, the fan's foundation is a bit poor; he has spent over a hundred years nurturing it, using many rare materials, yet its enhancement effect is far from ideal.

The only reason he kept it was as a lingering thought.

Now he is burning his boats, ready to take the final step, and should finally cut ties with the past.

Whether person or thing, it should be so.

"Then I shall decline respectfully." Xiao Zhangqing said, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators' treasures are of limited use to him; extracting skills that significantly boost his strength is difficult.

But this Character: Liyang True Immortal is clearly beyond the scope of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He is the top Scattered Cultivator in the Da Yu Cultivation World; even counting the sects, including the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace, he can still dominate among Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The system extracted a skill from this Li Huo Five-Beast Fan, which made Xiao Zhangqing quite intrigued.

Afterwards, Xiao Zhangqing bargained back and forth with Character: Liyang.

Although Xiao Zhangqing was already very satisfied with today's gains.

Five pieces of equipment, each bearing a skill that moved him.

But he doesn't take cheap deals, that bastard, and Character: Liyang is a shrewd old fellow, not a benevolent type; Xiao Zhangqing naturally wouldn't be courteous to him.

In the end, Xiao Zhangqing forcibly chose an item that lacked any good skill but had a very high grade, worth at least tens of thousands of low‑grade Spirit Stones on the open market.

After the transaction, Xiao Zhangqing solemnly pledged to reside in Character: Liyang Zhenren City for the next thirty years (he may leave for up to a year and a half if urgent matters arise), to deter petty troublemakers and handle any problems the city can manage.

For cultivators, such a solemn pledge is no different from swearing an oath to the Great Dao.

Those with no future may not care about such promises, but any cultivator with great prospects, hoping to reach Foundation Establishment or even pursue the Nascent Soul realm, will regard the pledge as highly important.

Some cultivators even go to great lengths before a breakthrough to fulfill previously made promises.

Otherwise, when the breakthrough comes, an incomplete mindset may cause one to fall into the Heart Demon Tribulation.

"Xiao junior friend, a pleasant cooperation," Character: Liyang said cheerfully.

He felt shortchanged in this deal; the treasure he gave was worth more than he expected, yet he was still pleased.

With Xiao Zhangqing's pledge, he can safely leave the Da Yu Cultivation World and devote himself entirely to breaking through the Nascent Soul realm.

Time is urgent; he cannot find a better master than Xiao Zhangqing in the short term, so a premium is acceptable.

"Since I promised, I will certainly give my all," Xiao Zhangqing nodded. Then he sincerely blessed, "I hope to see Senior Character: Liyang achieve the Nascent Soul and return in the future as a True Lord."

"Hahaha!" Character: Liyang laughed heartily, declaring, "The third Nascent Soul True Lord of the Da Yu Cultivation World will surely be me!"

Finally, before Character: Liyang left, Xiao Zhangqing asked a question that had been puzzling him.

He asked why Character: Liyang chose such a drastic move, burning his boats and openly clashing with the Nascent Soul sects Seven Star Sword Sect and Dan Dao Alliance, causing such an unresolvable mess? Though it was indeed exhilarating, it forced him to leave the Da Yu Cultivation World.

Why not temporarily bide his time, stay in the familiar Da Yu Cultivation World, and after breaking through the Nascent Soul, wreak havoc, settle scores? "Xiao junior friend, you are still too naive. I am not doing this for a fleeting thrill to create today's situation."

"Rather, today's situation is an inevitable outcome; no matter what I do, I must leave the Da Yu Cultivation World, so I chose to make a bold move, drawing out all the petty troublemakers who had been secretly coveting Character: Liyang Zhenren City!"

Character: Liyang said helplessly.

Xiao Zhangqing was a bit surprised: "Please, Senior Character: Liyang, clarify for me."

Character: Liyang's gaze drifted afar as he sighed, "It's simple: if I attempt to break through the Nascent Soul realm in the Da Yu Cultivation World, no matter how confident I am, the end will inevitably be death and dissolution of the Dao!"

"First, forming a Nascent Soul requires a fourth‑tier spirit vein, which Character: Liyang Zhenren City lacks—it only has third‑tier superior veins. So to breakthrough, one must borrow a place! Even if a place is borrowed, the news will leak. Then the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace will not stand idly by; they will certainly intervene."

"First comes covert sabotage; if that fails, they will openly cause chaos. In short, unless I die during the breakthrough, they will not cease."

"Why has the Da Yu Cultivation World had only two major Nascent Soul sects for millennia?"

"Besides the near‑impossible difficulty for us cultivators to break through the Nascent Soul realm, a major reason is the obstruction by the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace."

"They will not allow a third Nascent Soul power to emerge in the Da Yu Cultivation World! Otherwise it would disrupt the current structure and threaten their core interests!"

"Take Character: Liyang Zhenren City as an example: I haven't yet broken through the Nascent Soul, yet even with a slight edge in the Foundation Establishment realm, they have already targeted me repeatedly."

"Therefore, to successfully break through the Nascent Soul realm, I must leave the Da Yu Cultivation World and seek elsewhere."

"That said, the Demon Sect Evil Cultivators are now advancing fiercely and are not satisfied with just the Southwest Region. It may not be long before the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace suffer the consequences of their millennia of shortsightedness. Then the existing structure of the Da Yu Cultivation World will be impossible for them to maintain and will have to be shattered."

"Unfortunately, I cannot wait that long; time does not wait for me…"

Having spoken, Xiao Zhangqing had not yet reacted when Character: Liyang's lingering voice faded, and his figure had already vanished from the cave dwelling. (End of chapter)