Chapter 52: Relic News

Lin Ziyu and her sister Zixi heard Xiao Zhangqing refuse, and couldn't help but feel desperate.

At this moment they cared not for shame, only how to persuade Xiao Zhangqing to rescue them.

But.

Xiao Zhangqing's words indeed made sense.

The Lingfu Pavilion has been roiling with hidden currents for the past six months; many Symbol Masters have been heavily punished for seeking personal gain, and numerous rumors have still spread in Nanshan Fang.

This disaster that befell the two sisters is essentially Lingfu Pavilion's self‑inspection of Symbol Masters.

Xiao Zhangqing was fine originally; if he were suspected of being the mysterious Symbol Master Bai Wuji for rescuing the sisters, the injustice would be too great.

"No way. Symbol Master Xiao, you're completely different from Senior Bai Wuji, and you only advanced to First‑rank Talisman Master half a year ago; Senior Bai Wuji had already been a First‑rank Mid‑grade Symbol Master a year and a half ago… So Lingfu Pavilion would never mistake Symbol Master Xiao for Senior Bai Wuji."

In fact, Zixi still harbored some words in her heart that she didn't say.

Although, in her view, Senior Bai Wuji is a wildly rough, brave, mysterious Symbol Master, cold and domineering just like his name; even if Xiao Zhangqing's future potential might surpass Senior Bai Wuji's, he is timid, overly cautious…

That's a completely different type! "Lingfu Pavilion, do you get to decide? If you say I'm not Bai Wuji, then I'm not Bai Wuji?"

Xiao Zhangqing snorted coldly.

The woman was indeed clever; even now she could spot a blind spot and refute his logic.

But no matter how cunning she was, she could not guess that the person she was clinging to was the very Senior Bai Wuji she mentioned! "Even if Shopkeeper Zhou can discern loyalty and treachery and doesn't treat me as Bai Wuji, he still won't give me this face." Xiao Zhangqing still refused to intervene.

Older sister Lin Ziyu continued to plead: "We'll give it! We'll give it! Today we're just bringing Symbol Master Xiao's name into the open, so Hu Yuan won't dare act against us! Symbol Master Xiao, when you later advance to Second‑rank Talisman Master, even Shopkeeper Zhou will surely give you face! If… if Shopkeeper Zhou truly doesn't give Symbol Master Xiao any face then, the two of us sisters are willing not to burden you, and will obediently surrender…"

Younger sister Zixi suddenly understood something at this moment, and recalled something else.

After hesitating a moment, she tentatively said: "Symbol Master Xiao, I wonder if you're interested in the cave relics of former cultivators? If Symbol Master Xiao is willing to try helping us sisters, we will thereafter obey you without complaint, and I have information about a cave relic whose cultivation level is at least late Foundation Establishment, possibly even a Nascent Soul True Person, which I can share with Symbol Master Xiao."

Zixi seemed to have seen through it.

This Xiao Zhangqing truly lives up to his words—he's no fan of women!

The two sisters, being beautiful, would likely have other cultivators willing to step in to rescue them.

But in Xiao Zhangqing's eyes, their beauty clearly isn't enough to merit his intervention.

"What cave relic? Explain in detail." Hearing that, Xiao Zhangqing indeed showed some interest and changed his tone.

"Symbol Master Xiao, do you still remember… remember that you once bought a jade stone mat from my stall at the market…" Zixi said sheepishly.

The past was unbearable to recall.

That was her first encounter with Xiao Zhangqing, and she also swindled him out of three Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

"I remember. So, is this jade stone mat related to the cave relic you mentioned?"

Xiao Zhangqing said casually, but a strange hue flickered deep in his eyes; he no longer treated it as a joke, but became extremely serious.

"If I tell you, Symbol Master Xiao might not believe…" Zixi steadied herself, organized her words, and said: "When I took three Low‑grade Spirit Stones from Symbol Master Xiao, I indeed took advantage of him. But I wasn't entirely deceiving him; this jade stone mat truly originated from a former cultivator's cave relic."

"However, most of this cave relic is shrouded by formations, and the formation's level is very high; even after several hundred years it still possesses near Third‑tier power, and ordinary cultivators simply cannot explore it."

"Thus, this cave relic remains relatively intact; only the outer area and some zones where the formations have failed have been fully explored."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhangqing's mind was already very interested.

If the Enlightenment mat he bought truly came from the so‑called cave relic, and the relic has not been fully uncovered, then the information's value is huge. Even without a golden finger, a single treasure hidden within a cave just below a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator would be enough to make all Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Nascent Soul True Persons, swoon.

Moreover, Xiao Zhangqing's inventory is in need of some equipment with a 'historical feel'!

"How would I know whether what you say is true or just a fabricated lie to cheat me?" Xiao Zhangqing asked.

"It's true! I can swear on the Dao that the mat I sold to Symbol Master Xiao was indeed obtained from a cave relic!" Zixi, a bit frantic, explained: "Although… although that jade stone mat is made of Mortal World cold jade, which might aid Mortal World martial practitioners, for us cultivators it's of little use…"

Xiao Zhangqing let out a cold laugh, saying nothing, seeming unconvinced.

But inside he felt rather moved.

How could he possibly not believe, how could he not know? The Enlightenment mat he bought from Zixi was indeed used by a late Nascent Soul cultivator! That cultivator's rapid progress—almost a level per year—and reaching the First‑rank Upper‑grade Symbol Master realm owed much to that Enlightenment mat!

Spiritual root +1, and insight increase.

These two equipment effects are truly divine techniques!

Lin Ziyu spoke again at this point: "Symbol Master Xiao, this matter is absolutely genuine! Our family's rise and strength depended entirely on this cave relic."

Afterwards, the two women explained the origin to Xiao Zhangqing.

It turned out the sisters were not Scattered Cultivators like him; they did not begin cultivation by obtaining celestial fate from the Mortal World.

Instead, they came from a once‑great Foundation Establishment cultivator family!

However, the Lin family had declined for many years and no longer had any Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Yet because the Lin family possessed a complete and decent formation inheritance, their family's mountain‑guarding great formation reached Second‑rank level.

Under the protection of the formations, even without Foundation Establishment cultivators, the family could still ensure its unbroken continuation.

Information about the cave relic was a family secret; most clan members were unaware.

The two sisters only learned of it by chance.

However, having lost both parents, they endured harsh treatment within the family from childhood, and betraying the Lin family's greatest secret left them with no psychological burden.

"If Symbol Master Xiao is interested in the relic, when you later reach Foundation Establishment… and become a Second‑rank Talisman Master, and wish to explore, the two of us sisters are willing to guide you!" Zixi said.

She originally meant to say, wait until Xiao Zhangqing reaches Foundation Establishment.

But considering Xiao Zhangqing's Low‑grade spiritual root, Foundation Establishment was almost impossible, so she quickly altered her wording.

If he becomes a Second‑rank Talisman Master, his status will be lofty; Foundation Establishment cultivators will be willing to be friends, standing on equal footing, and then they can jointly explore.

That is the cruel aspect of the Cultivation World.

Second‑rank Talisman Masters, though rarer than Foundation Establishment cultivators, are far scarcer, and their importance in major sects, families, and forces far exceeds that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But if a Symbol Master's spiritual root quality is lacking, especially with a Low‑grade spiritual root like Xiao Zhangqing's, Foundation Establishment is hopeless.

They will only enjoy fleeting glory.

After a hundred years, their end approaches, unable to extend life for a full cycle like Foundation Establishment cultivators.

(End of chapter)