Chapter 18 : Nie Qi

Not long after, there was a knock on the door of the Room No. 3 marked with the character “Tian.”

Liu Yuanbai stood there, beaming with a smile.

Even he hadn’t expected that jade pendant to fetch such a high price at auction.

“Young friend, as per the rules, the auction house takes a ten percent commission on the final price. However, since this is your first time cooperating with us, and given the exceptionally high sale price this time, we will only charge you half of that as the fee.”

“No problem.”

Soon after, two large boxes filled with spirit stones were carried in.

The entire room suddenly felt saturated with an abundance of spiritual energy.

“Please count them, sir,” Liu Yuanbai gestured politely.

Chen Yuyang didn’t even glance at the boxes, immediately absorbing the top-grade spirit stones into his Xumi consciousness sea.

Then, he straightened his clothes and stood up, turning to the young woman behind him who was still hoping for a glimpse.

“Senior sister, let’s go.”

“You—you’re not going to look?” Gu Qiushui was momentarily stunned. “Over four thousand! That’s no small amount!”

Chen Yuyang smiled slightly.

“There’s no need. I trust their credibility. Besides, even if some are missing, I can claim them back later.”

Seeing the youth’s calm reaction, Liu Yuanbai was even more convinced that this boy had an extraordinary sense of judgment.

With the spirit stones in hand, Chen Yuyang strode out of the auction house under Liu Yuanbai’s respectful gaze.

Once outside, walking down the street, Gu Qiushui couldn’t help but glance back repeatedly.

“What’s wrong, senior sister? Is there something behind us?”

“I—I’m just a little worried about things like theft or murder…” Gu Qiushui hesitated.

Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but chuckle at how cute her concerns were.

“Rest assured, senior sister, the auction house wouldn’t ruin their reputation for four thousand top-grade spirit stones.”

“Just don’t tell others that we have this many spirit stones.”

Gu Qiushui immediately widened her eyes.

“Hey, hey, hey, is senior sister really that silly?”

“Then what’s there to worry about?”

Gu Qiushui realized the logic and felt a flush rise to her cheeks at being lectured by the boy, but she stubbornly bit her lip and said, “That may be so, but it never hurts for us to be a little cautious.”

Muttering to herself, she followed Chen Yuyang’s steps, unknowingly entering a shop not far from the auction house.

“Junior brother, what are you doing here?”

Snapping out of her thoughts, the girl asked instinctively.

Chen Yuyang didn’t answer.

Instead, he walked straight to the counter and pointed at a spirit herb with red stems and blue leaves displayed on a jade tray inside a glass case.

“The Nine-Leaf Frostfire Herb?”

The shopkeeper glanced at the direction the boy pointed to, then quickly scanned his clothes and the young woman behind him.

“One hundred and fifty top-grade spirit stones.”

Without any movement, the shopkeeper’s eyes held an undisguised condescension, and he deliberately emphasized the word “top-grade” when replying.

No explanation was needed; Chen Yuyang pulled out a small pouch from his chest, containing exactly one hundred and fifty top-grade spirit stones.

The shopkeeper’s indifferent eyes suddenly lit up with eagerness, and a smile immediately spread across his aged face.

“Oh my, honorable guest, my apologies for the earlier attitude!”

“Let me get it for you.”

Chen Yuyang tapped the counter impatiently, wearing a look of having lost his patience.

The shopkeeper quickly retrieved the spirit herb, placed it carefully in a jade box, and handed it to the boy.

Behind Chen Yuyang, Gu Qiushui felt her heart pounding uncontrollably as she watched him receive the jade box.

Why did junior brother buy this Nine-Leaf Frostfire Herb?

Could it be—for her…?

Thinking this, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness stirred in the girl’s heart.

What if this really was a gift for her?

If she accepted such a precious item…

Then… perhaps she could only repay him with her heart~.

The thought caused a faint blush to rise on her face.

Chen Yuyang didn’t notice Gu Qiushui’s expression or guess what she was thinking.

Taking the herb, he tucked it into his chest and headed out.

Gu Qiushui clutched the corner of her clothes and hurried to keep up.

But Chen Yuyang simply walked straight ahead, as if nothing had happened.

This worried Gu Qiushui immensely.

Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Th-then… junior brother… why did you buy the Nine-Leaf Frostfire Herb?”

Chen Yuyang glanced sideways at her, a faint smile curling on his lips.

After a moment’s thought, he replied, “For alchemy. It will come in handy.”

“I-I see…”

Hearing it was for alchemy and not a gift for herself, Gu Qiushui’s heart sank somewhat.

But she soon began to reflect.

Gu Qiushui, what are you thinking?

Such a precious item—how could you entertain such wild ideas?

Junior brother’s spirit stones didn’t fall from the sky, and he isn’t obligated to spend so much on you.

Lost in these thoughts, Chen Yuyang had already led her back to the inn where they were staying.

“Senior sister, I’m tired. Let’s call it a day.”

Chen Yuyang smiled lightly.

Gu Qiushui nodded slightly; after visiting so many places, she felt somewhat fatigued herself.

“Mm, I should get some rest too.”

She turned and walked toward her room.

“Qiushui senior sister!”

After taking a few steps, the boy called out again from behind.

“Is there something else?”

Gu Qiushui turned around just in time to see something swiftly thrown toward her.

Almost instinctively, she caught it.

The texture was warm and smooth.

It was—Only then did Gu Qiushui recognize the jade box containing the Nine-Leaf Frostfire Herb.

“Junior brother, you’re…”

“I’m giving it to you.”

“But didn’t you say it’s for alchemy?”

“I’m a second-grade alchemist. Would I use fourth-grade materials? Senior sister, you need to be more mindful.”

Chen Yuyang smiled, waved his hand, and turned to his room.

“W-wait, Yuyang, this is too valuable, I—”

Gu Qiushui hurried to catch up, wanting to refuse.

But Chen Yuyang had already closed the door.

At the same time, Gu Qiushui clearly heard the sound of the door lock clicking from the inside.

The girl froze outside, clutching the jade box tightly, her emotions complicated.

Junior brother isn’t giving me the chance to refuse!

Chen Yuyang knew that if he bought it and offered it openly, she would surely reject it.

He disliked back-and-forth on such matters, so he hadn’t spoken the truth outside but waited until he reached his room to give it to her.

That way, if he closed the door quickly enough, she wouldn’t be able to refuse.

Of course, on the other hand, he was just teasing Gu Qiushui a little.

There was no knock.

From her stance, Gu Qiushui already understood Chen Yuyang’s intentions.

If she knocked and tried to refuse, it would only make things difficult for him.

Standing there for a long while, Gu Qiushui took a deep breath and then turned back to her room.

Rather than saying words of thanks, making good use of the Nine-Leaf Frostfire Herb to break through to Nascent Soul stage would be the best way to repay junior brother Chen Yuyang’s kindness.

Three days later.

The sect assembly ended.

In the end, Tai Lingxuan only secured two slots.

The Heluan Sect was simply too small, with too little influence.

If the sect had just one more Daoshen Realm expert, the situation would be vastly different.

Thinking of Gu Qiushui going to the perilous Qiangwild Secret Realm for the trial, Tai Lingxuan felt a wave of guilt.

“Qiushui, it’s all my fault for being incompetent…”

Sighing, she left the main hall where the sect assembly was held.

“Lingxuan, Lingxuan!”

At that moment, a voice called out.

The sound immediately caused Tai Lingxuan to frown.

“Nie Qi, our relationship isn’t that close. Please call me by my full name,” Tai Lingxuan said coldly, shooting him a frosty glance.

Not far ahead of her stood a man with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and a square face, his posture erect.

Behind him followed a red-haired girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing an expression of pride.

“Lingxuan, I am sincere. Will you become my Dao companion?”

The man took a step forward, gazing at her with infatuation.

As the vice sect leader of Tianmen Mountain, he appeared as pure and naïve as a lovestruck youth standing before Tai Lingxuan.

She shook her head, her voice cold.

“Call me Tai Lingxuan. Besides… I’m already taken. Nie Qi, please stop pestering me.”

Upon hearing this, Nie Qi’s body trembled, his face turning pale.

“I-is that so… I suppose I was mistaken in my feelings…”

Tai Lingxuan’s voice remained indifferent.

“It has always been so. Besides, good and evil can never coexist… Wasn’t that your saying?”

Upon hearing this, Nie Qi felt his heart stab painfully once again.

“But now, the Heluan Sect already…” Nie Qi wanted to say more, but the words stuck in his throat.

Tai Lingxuan shook her head and turned to leave.

Just as she took a step, she seemed to remember something and paused.

“The Purple Profound Red Crystal from the Tianyang Sect—did you buy it all?”

Nie Qi was momentarily stunned, then nodded.

“Yes, I bought them.”

“My disciple needs it. Would you transfer them to me?” Tai Lingxuan asked coldly.

“I can offer twenty percent more.”

Nie Qi was stunned.

He thought she had changed her mind, but it turned out it was about this…

“I can’t agree. The Purple Profound Red Crystal isn’t for me but for my disciple. She’s a one-in-a-billion Pure Yang Constitution, requiring the tempering of that ultimate Yang material.”

Nie Qi shook his head regretfully.

Hearing “Pure Yang Constitution,” Tai Lingxuan’s gaze flickered to the red-haired girl.

At seventeen, her cultivation had reached the seventh level of Golden Core.

Indeed, an astonishing talent.

By comparison…

Though Yuyang was a better Haoyang Constitution, she couldn’t provide him with such favorable conditions for growth.

With a sigh, Tai Lingxuan didn’t argue further and turned to leave.