Chapter 62

Third floor.

The evening breeze rustled gently, lifting the gauze curtains.

The division chief was called down by Liu Chen to assist, leaving only the three of them enjoying the cool night and drinking.

Chen Zhao lifted the seal, and the fragrance of Jianzhu Spring Wine filled the air.

As soon as it entered his belly, the Water Spirit Qi merged into his dantian, and the Longevity Record began to turn slowly, yielding a faint improvement.

"This spirit wine was brought specially by me—I never dared to open it."

"Thank you, Brother Chen."

Liu Chen stared at his cup, eyes gleaming.

But this wine had come from the Su Family; the thought made him sigh.

With one person missing from the cup, the three drank with fading enthusiasm.

"This isn't fun! Fang Zhang is dead—it should be Great Auspicious now. Why not send Su Muqing to redeem herself, instead of splitting us four apart?"

Liu Chen, drunk, slammed his cup onto the table, just as he had in Baixian Tower, speaking without restraint.

Chen Zhao watched him slumped over the table, torn between laughter and exasperation.

Recalling the past, this man had once been composed, his ties with Su Wanyao merely matters of interest.

"How about we splurge a little?"

Xin Tong hugged her cup, cheeks flushed red.

Their cultivation was too shallow for distant voice transmission; ordinary Communication Talismans didn't reach far enough.

Unless—using a Premium Communication Talisman.

This talisman was top-grade first-tier, expensive—one sheet cost fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones, enough to buy two Yellow-grade Intermediate Techniques.

Ordinary disciples wouldn't buy them, let alone draw them.

But upon hearing this, Liu Chen shot upright with a sharp sound, pulling out talisman paper and brush, laughing loudly:

"Then let's splurge!"

Not long after.

Liu Chen's Token grew warm.

A blue flash appeared—Su Wanyao held a Premium Communication Talisman, slightly yellowed, clearly long preserved.

She seized a jar of Jianzhu Spring Wine, said nothing, and poured it straight into her mouth.

But after just a few sips, she choked.

Perhaps she was too accustomed to elegance—never having drunk so crudely before.

"Forgive me for the rudeness, but right now, sipping slowly just isn't satisfying."

She coughed lightly twice, smiling broadly.

"The Su Family's internal troubles are over—Brother Chen deserves the foremost merit. When you choose any Su Family girl, I'll personally go arrange the match—make her your maid."

Su Wanyao's tone was playful, as if back in the old days.

A copy of the Fangjia Shennü Lu lay beside her.

But her words carried hidden meaning; Chen Zhao coughed twice, unable to help but reflect that one brushstroke couldn't write two "Su" characters.

"Little Chen has also contributed greatly—if you still wish it, the Su Family still holds the position of Chief Rune Master for you."

Liu Chen bit his lip, drew another talisman, indicating he'd consider it further—and that he'd open a Juxian Pavilion in Immortal City, then go to oversee it.

"It's a deal."

Su Wanyao covered her mouth and laughed, shaking like blossoms in the wind.

"How are you two getting along, Sister Xin and Brother Chen? I have Six-Flavor Great Replenishment Pills for sale—if you need any, I can send someone to deliver them."

Xin Tong said nothing.

She'd drunk herself under the table, lying there like a husband asleep in a romance novel.

"What are your plans, Brother Chen?"

"I intend to focus on cultivation, and one day enter the Inner Sect."

"Tsk... so dull. No wonder you're an Alchemist."

The three chatted into the late night, mostly drunken words, until Su Wanyao ran out of Talismans.

The Talismans consumed could have bought a Mid-grade Dharma Treasure—yet everyone still felt unsatisfied.

Liu Chen seized the chance to suggest purchasing three Chuansun Jade Slip for long-distance communication, though the cost would be higher—an estimated four hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Spending large sums on small matters, in this resource-scarce age, was plainly unwise.

But Chen Zhao unusually did not object.

A clear mind leads to smoother cultivation.

Poetry and wine, while youth lasts.

South of Tiankui Sect lay the endless Han Hu.

Traveling by Dharma Treasure would take at least two weeks.

Legends say it was once a garden lake, but after a Golden Core true cultivator's Dharma Battle, water flooded in, turning it into a vast marsh.

Countless Spirit Fish and water monsters dwell within; fishing thrives along both shores.

Tiankui Sect naturally claimed a stretch of land, assigning Handymen to raise and catch fish.

Outer Sect Disciples also come here—not only to guard, but to hunt demons, dive for herbs, and complete sect missions or commissions.

Tiankui Sect is far from other sects, and with the Sect Master present, even outsiders from other sects treat them cordially.

But after learning the Sect Master's breakthrough had failed, their attitude subtly shifted.

"The Ban Ruo Men disciples have lately shown hostility toward our Tiankui Sect disciples, having seized many of our Spirit Fish."

On the northern shore of Han Hu, inside a fishing boat some ten zhang long.

A boy resembling Chen Qingmeng stood on the deck, speaking to two fellow disciples—a man and a woman—about the situation on Han Hu.

"Once I complete my mission, I'll return to the Spirit Artifact Hall; I can't protect you forever. If you're stationed here later, be extra cautious, especially with Ban Ruo Men disciples."

"Rumors say their founding ancestor was an outcast from a Nascent Soul sect who came here to establish his own school."

Another boy nodded blankly and replied:

"These disciples claim to be of Fo Men, yet they're just as greedy, angry, and deluded—surely their ancestor isn't any better."

"I heard that when Tiankui Sect was weak, Ban Ruo Men allied with other sects to try and swallow us whole—its first battle was on Han Hu."

"Then our Sect Master drew his sword—sword qi flew over a million li, blasting the great river into a new course, leveling everything along its path!"

"A few Golden Core cultivators couldn't stand against him, securing our sect's centuries-long dominance—but what if the Sect Master ever..."

The boy's expression darkened, while the girl crossed her arms, her eyes blazing with determination.

"What's to fear? In a hundred years, we'll both reach Golden Core—Elder Brother Chen will be the next Sect Master, slaughtering them until not a single armor piece remains!"

"Then we'll return here, and I'll treat you to Spirit Fish sashimi."

The Spirit Artifact Hall disciple sighed helplessly, ruffling the two boys' heads, his eyes filled with tenderness.

He was at Qi Refining seventh layer, ordered back to his clan to escort them.

These two Immortal Seedlings came from the Chen Family across the river, both under twelve, both with Three Spirit Roots—entered the sect as Outer Disciples, destined for great things.

Unfortunately, the Chen Family was merely a Qi Refining vassal clan; its young were raised to prioritize the sect over family, never calling him "clan brother."

Now only half a day's journey from shore, gazing from the bow, a faint gray line appeared on the horizon—the mountains of Tiankui Sect, and the city of Shanlian.

With autumn's crisp air and clear sky, the Immortal Seedlings' spirits soared; they climbed the mast, eager to shout aloud.

Yet fearing they'd disturb beasts, they exchanged glances, chuckled softly, utterly unaware that two dark shadows now trailed beneath the water.

In an instant.

Two water monkeys leapt from the water, darting up the mast like smoke.

The boy and girl weren't alarmed; instead, they looked down with keen interest.

The Spirit Artifact Hall boy let out a cold hum—two mid-grade Dharma Treasures, a knife and a sword, shot forth and instantly shredded the two water monkeys.

Two grade-one low-tier beasts, merely Qi Refining sixth layer—he'd slain countless such creatures along the way.

"Elder Brother's Dharma Treasures are incredible!"

The Immortal Seedlings cheered.

But before the words faded.

The boat suddenly stopped.

Several tentacles rose from beneath the hull, each tip shaped like a dragon's head, small mouths spitting lightning.

In a single glance, they blasted the Dharma Treasures into the water and clamped them tight.

"Damn—it's a Dragon-Head Ink Demon? How did it get into shallow waters?"

This beast was grade-one mid-tier; he could summon only one more item—a small bell—and prepared to flee with the Immortal Seedlings.

Before he rose ten chi, a shadow loomed overhead.

The dragon-headed tentacles slammed down—the small bell shattered on impact.

The Spirit Artifact Hall boy spat blood and tumbled into the water.

He spun around sharply.

There, towering five stories high, a giant octopus head stared at him, its eyes brimming with murderous intent.