Birds chirped as they took flight in flocks from the mountains.
Gu Ze finished his cultivation and exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi.
[Level 9 of Qi Refining]
He had finally surpassed Li Xunmiao again. For some reason, he felt a sense of pride.
During the few days he had spent in seclusion within Li Xunmiao’s dwelling, she had never returned.
However, considering that Qingquan had already finished her own seclusion, she had likely taken Li Xunmiao away to cultivate. There was no need to worry about her safety.
While cultivating in peace, Gu Ze had refined quite a few medicinal pills. Unfortunately, their quality was only at the Qi Refining stage, so they weren’t considered rare.
He had also taken the opportunity to refine a few pieces of unidentified ore and carved them meticulously.
Calculating the time, Gu Ze felt it was about time to visit Lian Yue.
Winter had arrived. After the heavy rain from Qingquan a few days ago, the temperature in the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion had dropped below freezing. Stepping outside meant facing a blast of icy air.
Even though the weather was poor, Gu Ze did not intend to stay behind.
During this visit, he planned to express his feelings to Immortal Lord Lian Yue. If she agreed, the two of them would become Dao Companions.
Unfortunately, Gu Ze was penniless and had no decent token of affection to offer.
‘Forget it. If all else fails, I’ll give her the Chilong Rope as a gift. It isn’t romantic, and Lian Yue can’t even use it, but we can bring it out to tie her up when we’re playing around. It would add a lot of flavor.’
If he truly became the Dao Companion of Immortal Lord Lian Yue, Gu Ze felt that he might finally be able to settle down. ‘If I’m caught in a pincer attack by the master and disciple of Biluo Peak in the future, I probably won’t be able to hold out.’
With a Dao Companion, Gu Ze would at least have some restraint. As for whether that restraint would actually be effective, that was another matter entirely.
Just as he stepped onto the immortal boat, Gu Ze heard the sound of breathing.
Without turning around, Gu Ze knew exactly which powerhouse had arrived. She had completely hidden her presence, yet left a tiny flaw for him to discover on purpose. Gu Ze really couldn’t figure out what Qingquan was trying to do.
“Peak Lord, why are you staring at me from behind?” Gu Ze asked, turning around slowly without trying to hide his awareness.
“What makes you think I’m staring at you? Can’t I just be looking at the scenery?” Qingquan replied coldly.
“But… you’re standing on my immortal boat. Does this mean you don’t want me to leave, or do you want to come with me?”
“Who… who wants to go with you?” Qingquan’s tone faltered.
She had been watching Gu Ze for several days. Seeing him suddenly end his seclusion and prepare to leave Biluo Peak alone for no reason, she had hurriedly chased after him.
“I think your movements are suspicious, so I’m just following to see. You have so many secrets, am I not allowed to be curious?” Qingquan asked in return. “Where are you planning to go?”
Gu Ze sighed and told the truth. “I previously received a favor from Immortal Lord Lian Yue and made an agreement with her. I’m going to see her now.”
Hearing Lian Yue’s name, Qingquan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh? I didn’t expect you to be on such good terms with Lian Yue that you’ve known her privately for so long.”
It seemed that Lian Yue’s rescue of her was likely related to Gu Ze. Could she be the female cultivator Gu Ze mentioned before, the one who provided him with materials for pill refining? It made sense.
Only the extremely wealthy Rouman Peak would be willing to give away so many materials. If it were Qingquan’s poorly managed Biluo Peak, she would have to empty out her entire family fortune.
The misunderstanding in Qingquan’s heart deepened.
“Then I will go with you. It just so happens that I also intend to visit and thank her, but I haven’t been able to find where she is,” Qingquan said, urging Gu Ze to set off immediately.
Gu Ze looked at Qingquan awkwardly. “The Peak Lord wants to ride the immortal boat with me? My boat is rented. Traveling like this might be a bit shabby.”
In other words, Qingquan was now an Immortal Emperor. Going out for a formal visit to express gratitude should at least look respectable.
Furthermore, Gu Ze felt that Qingquan was too idle if she could afford to travel slowly with him on a rented boat. Was it really okay for an Immortal Emperor to be this relaxed?
Looking back, Qingquan wasn’t much different from before; she was still someone Gu Ze found difficult to approach.
Qingquan looked around the spirit boat, hummed in agreement, and hesitated for a moment.
“This boat of yours is indeed too ordinary. How about this? I’ll give my immortal boat to you. You can use this for your travels from now on.”
With a wave of her hand, an immortal boat with a blue and black color scheme that was one size larger landed beside them.
“This object is called Star Chaser. It’s extremely fast and has three forms. What you see now is the simple form. I’ll have Star Chaser recognize you as its master now, and you can control it to change into its standard and luxury forms,” she introduced to him.
When not in use, this immortal boat could be shrunk down to the size of a palm and placed directly into a storage bag.
As Gu Ze sat on the boat, he immediately felt much more comfortable. Star Chaser could automatically block the surrounding astral winds and regulate the temperature on deck.
Pushing Star Chaser forward, the two of them instantly shot through the air. It consumed almost no spiritual energy, yet its speed was more than several times faster than the previous boat.
“Not bad, not bad. The Peak Lord’s boat is truly fast,” Gu Ze remarked, his mood brightening considerably.
“Hmph, you don’t say.” Qingquan didn’t feel any pain in giving away her personal transport as long as Gu Ze liked it.
Of course, even if he didn’t like it, he had to take it! Because it was a gift from her, Qingquan.
“Eh? Where are you flying? This isn’t the direction of Rouman Peak,” Qingquan noticed the surrounding scenery changing as a vast, continuous sea of clouds appeared in the distance.
“Ahem, I’m familiar with where to find Lian Yue. Just follow me obediently.” Gu Ze didn’t explain much.
‘What does he mean by “follow obediently”?’ Had Gu Ze become so used to coaxing his Junior Sister that he was treating her like a sister too? Qingquan felt a slight surge of annoyance but didn’t let it show.
Gu Ze walked over and sat down beside Qingquan.
“By the way, will you also call me Daoist friend in front of Xunmiao?” Gu Ze suddenly asked.
This was an insignificant question; Gu Ze just wanted to make a joke.
However, Qingquan’s expression suddenly became tense. Even though the purple mist covered her face and Gu Ze couldn’t see it, he could hear a slight tremor in her voice. “Who… who wants to call you Daoist friend? You don’t even count as a disciple of mine.”
Hearing her words, Gu Ze’s eyes dimmed slightly. So he didn’t even count as a disciple?
Qingquan’s face was flushed. She turned her head to look elsewhere, her gaze burning. She couldn’t let Gu Ze be her disciple.
If a teacher and student formed a bond, it would be an illicit love. The clearer she kept her relationship with Gu Ze, the easier it would be for her to accept this fate.
‘Wait…! How can I let this little thief have his way? Whether I accept this bond or not, I still need to observe him for a while longer.’
“Then are you unwilling to even call me Daoist friend in private?” Gu Ze sighed and asked softly.
Seeing him appear a bit dejected, Qingquan hesitated for a few seconds before parting her lips slightly. “… Daoist friend. Is that enough?”
Her tone was still trembling. Qingquan had never been this timid before.
Gu Ze cast a playful look toward that mass of purple mist. “The voice was too small, and there was no emotion. Do it again.”
“Don’t push your luck!” Qingquan was instantly shamed into anger, and the entire immortal boat vibrated in the sky. “What kind of emotion do you want?!”
Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Gu Ze spread his palm to reveal a green token.
“I forgot about this. Now that you’ve returned safely, it’s time to return the Peak Lord Command Seal to your hands.”
Gu Ze successfully changed the subject.
Looking at the token, Qingquan’s gaze gradually softened. She had chosen Gu Ze from the very beginning, and she really hadn’t chosen the wrong person. Gu Ze had not disappointed her expectations and had even responded to her wishes.
“I’m giving it to you. Keep it as a souvenir.” Qingquan pushed it back, refusing to accept it.
“With my current status, I am not restricted by a single token. However, even though you have the token, do not abuse your authority as Peak Lord. If I find out… heh, Daoist friend is well aware of my methods.”
Now, she was calling him Daoist friend quite smoothly.
Gu Ze didn’t refuse further and tucked the Peak Lord Command Seal away again.
The two of them flew over the Yunhai Market and stopped near a mass of black clouds.
This was Qingquan’s first time here, and she was slightly surprised. “To think there was such a place in the Immortal Pavilion. My senses can’t even penetrate it at all.”
‘If Lian Yue was hiding here, no wonder I couldn’t find her before,’ she thought to herself.
Gu Ze didn’t respond. He walked ahead into the black clouds, leading Qingquan to the Dark Market where Lian Yue was hiding.
Gu Ze hadn’t visited in a long while, but Lian Yue heard his footsteps immediately. The door opened automatically, as if welcoming his entrance.
Inside the room, Lian Yue had been waiting for a long time.
A few days ago, when Qingquan attained the dao, the world shook during the battle between the two powerhouses.
Lian Yue had specifically returned to Rouman Peak to take charge. Vaguely, she thought she had heard someone calling her name in a very angry tone.
That rain had blessed the entire Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion, and it seemed to have specifically favored Rouman Peak. Lian Yue had gained quite a lot, and her cultivation base had broken through to the [Level 8 of Golden Core].
Her perception had also improved slightly, allowing her to hear Gu Ze’s footsteps from afar.
However, after Qingquan entered the Black Market, she completely hid her aura. Under the absolute suppression of her cultivation, Lian Yue couldn’t sense her existence at all.
Inside the room, Lian Yue had set up incense and scattered fresh flower petals over the neatly tidied bed to add a romantic atmosphere. Looking in the mirror to adjust her thin, sexy clothing, Lian Yue wore a look of confidence.
She had already consulted her trusted aides at Rouman Peak to learn how to please a man. Although it was only theory, she was determined to charm Gu Ze today and make him fall for her!
Once the deed was done, she would propose becoming Dao Companions. She didn’t believe Gu Ze would refuse.
Everything was going according to plan.
The wooden door let out a soft creak. Lian Yue pressed her legs together and sat on a stool, slowly turning around. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, not daring to look directly at Gu Ze.
She opened her arms, her graceful and exquisite body lines faintly visible under her light undergarments.
“Brother Gu Ze, I’ve waited for you for so long. Come and give me a kiss~”
Her face was flushed. It had taken a lot of determination for her to say such embarrassing words.
However, her coquettishness received no response.
A faint light spilled through the doorway. The atmosphere was silent and awkward.
Lian Yue’s gaze shifted upward slightly, only to see two shadows in her field of vision.
Her pupils shrank as she slowly lifted her head and saw the figure shrouded in purple qi.
“Qingquan!” Lian Yue recognized her instantly. She was so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
But the invisible pressure emanating from the other woman’s Nascent Soul stage fell upon her, making her afraid to move.
Slowly retracting her arms, Lian Yue covered her chest with both hands, her face so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
“Daoist friend Qingquan… congratulations on your breakthrough.”
Gu Ze could no longer bear to look at the hellish scene before him. He tilted his head slightly and closed his eyes, trying his best to keep his breathing normal.
Qingquan was also extremely shocked.
“It seems I’ve come at a very bad time. I didn’t expect the two of you to be in… this kind of relationship.” Her voice was cold to the extreme, even carrying a hint of disdain.
“No, no, Daoist friend Qingquan, you’ve misunderstood,” Lian Yue tried to explain weakly.
“Gu Ze, you’re really something.” Qingquan was clearly past the point of listening to her. She turned to stare at Gu Ze with gritted teeth.
Her gaze looked like she wanted to kill him. Even through the purple mist, Gu Ze could feel it.
Gu Ze had given up on thinking and reflexively cupped his hands. “You flatter me.”
“I wasn’t praising you!” Her sincerity had been wasted. She hadn’t expected Gu Ze to be such a philanderer. Qingquan planned to go back and cut the Sealed Fate Thread between them immediately.
With a cold snort, she was about to turn and leave when she suddenly spotted the bed covered in flower petals.
‘No! If I leave now, won’t I just be making things easier for them?’ If these two were left alone, who knew what methods Lian Yue would use to make Gu Ze happy?
Qingquan believed she could never bring herself to act as loose as Lian Yue had just now! ‘What did she mean by “Brother Gu Ze, I want a kiss”?’ Even if Qingquan’s soul were to be extinguished, she could never flatter a man so obsequiously!
Thinking of this, Qingquan decided not to leave. Instead, she sat down at the table right in front of them.
Lian Yue’s face was still full of panic as she cast a pleading look toward Gu Ze.
Gu Ze could only smile helplessly. It was easy to invite a deity but hard to send one away. How could he possibly get rid of a powerhouse like Qingquan?
“What? Has my arrival disturbed the two of you?” Qingquan tapped her fingers on the table.
Lian Yue’s voice was tiny. “It is a bit of a disturbance… You gave me a fright.”
Qingquan acted as if she hadn’t heard and urged Gu Ze. “Gu Ze, don’t just stand there. There are no outsiders here. Take a seat.”
Gu Ze looked at Lian Yue, then at Qingquan. Finally, he pulled over a chair and sat right in the middle.