The next morning, after breakfast, Ye Fan and Liang Rujing set off.
According to the travel time, they would arrive at the Imperial City just in time for the auction.
On the way, Ye Fan reviewed his recent gains. He had refined about twenty pills of various kinds, along with five weapons. However, he didn't plan to auction them all this time. Scarcity breeds value. Releasing too many at once would clearly be unwise. Two pills and one weapon would suffice.
"Wow, I didn't know you could forge weapons too!" Liang Rujing exclaimed, looking at the weapons Ye Fan took out. Especially upon seeing a certain azure sword, Liang Rujing's gaze was captivated. The sword exuded a potent ice aura, perfectly matching her cultivation technique.
"See if it feels right," Ye Fan said with a smile, handing the sword over.
"This is... for me?" Liang Rujing asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Ye Fan nodded.
"Thank you!" Liang Rujing happily accepted the precious sword and immediately circulated her cultivation technique. The temperature in the room plummeted instantly! In just a moment, a thick layer of ice crystals formed throughout the entire room! Liang Rujing was startled and quickly stopped.
"It's... it's actually this powerful..." She could achieve this level before, but it required her full effort. Yet, just now, she had only casually channeled her true qi and achieved it! And it was much faster than before! With this sword, her combat power would surely multiply several times!
"Ye Fan, you're the best!" Recovering her senses, Liang Rujing immediately gave Ye Fan a big hug.
"You're so grown up, yet you're still like a child," Ye Fan said dotingly, ruffling her hair. He could only say he was lucky to have found an eighth-grade Ice Marrow in the Qing Xin Sect's Treasure Pavilion. Weapons inlaid with Ice Marrow could greatly amplify the attack and defense capabilities of ice-attribute cultivators, which was perfect for Liang Rujing.
Currently, Liang Rujing's cultivation was low, so she couldn't fully appreciate its power. As her cultivation increased, this amplification would become even more pronounced! It could reach up to fifteen times! At least until the Void Return stage, she wouldn't need to change weapons.
"Oh, right, Ye Fan," Liang Rujing said curiously after her excitement subsided, "What's this sword's name?"
"I haven't named it yet," Ye Fan replied with a smile. "As its owner, I'll leave that task to you."
"Okay," Liang Rujing held the sword and gestured with it, "What should I name it..."
"Take your time to think about it," Ye Fan said, then sat back down on the bed. He sank his consciousness into his spiritual sea, continuing to steal spiritual power from the seal. Suddenly! The familiar feeling returned...
Liang Rujing was still puzzling over the name when she heard a muffled thud from beside her. Turning her head, she saw Ye Fan lying stiffly on the bed... Liang Rujing turned her head back and continued thinking of a name. Well... she was used to it... It was just the irregular seizures he experienced.
At the same time, another flying boat appeared near Ye Fan and his companion. A male cultivator stood on the deck, admiring the scenery and muttering something to himself. If Liang Rujing were there, she would recognize him instantly. It was none other than Zhao Xiao, whom they had met before.
Last time, it was thanks to that male cultivator that Zhao Xiao's life was saved. Unfortunately, that male cultivator was too severely injured. Before he could even return to the Fire Cloud Sect, he collapsed. After Zhao Xiao brought him back to the sect, he quickly sought help for treatment. However, many alchemists and physicians examined him one by one, all shaking their heads helplessly. If it were just a lost arm, it would have been manageable; after stopping the bleeding, he could have survived. But there was an unknown force within the male cultivator, constantly destroying his internal organs and meridians.
It was a pity that Zhao Xiao had wasted too much time on the journey and missed the best window for treatment. From now on, it would depend on the male cultivator's fate. If he was lucky, he might survive, but he would be bedridden for the rest of his life. If he couldn't make it, then it would be time for the funeral feast...
To be honest, Zhao Xiao didn't really care whether the male cultivator lived or died. But the problem was that the male cultivator had been a good bodyguard, and if he died, Zhao Xiao would have no one to rely on...
Zhao Xiao was the second son of the Fire Cloud Sect Leader, essentially a standard prodigal son. He was usually engaged in all sorts of wicked deeds, bullying men and women alike, doing everything but what he was supposed to do. The only reason he hadn't been beaten to death yet was this Nascent Soul stage bodyguard and enforcer. Thus, his father had restricted his bodyguard to the Nascent Soul stage. There were higher-level cultivators, but his father dared not give him one. This way, if Zhao Xiao got into trouble, it would be easier for him to clean up the mess...
A few days later. Bu Wanxiao, along with Liang Rujing, came to the Fire Cloud Sect to demand an explanation. Although the relationship between the Fire Cloud Sect and the Qing Xin Sect had deteriorated, their strengths were comparable, so the Fire Cloud Sect did not dare to provoke a war rashly. Helpless, the Fire Cloud Sect Leader had no choice but to bite the bullet and pay a considerable price to resolve the matter. He then summoned Zhao Xiao and made him vividly recall his childhood... Damn it! He dared to lay hands on the personal disciple of Mu Yuqing! Was he tired of living a comfortable life?! He would beat this unfilial son to death today!!!
It just so happened that the Fire Cloud Sect had some business dealings with a sect in the Imperial City recently, and Zhao Xiao happened to be well-acquainted with the representative of that sect. This gave him the opportunity to go out again.
At this moment, Zhao Xiao stood on the deck, his anger growing with every thought. He wasn't just resentful of Liang Rujing now. The genuinely happy and excited expression on Liang Rujing's face when she saw Ye Fan that day had made him hate Ye Fan as well! Who was this unknown pretty boy who dared to covet Zhao Xiao's woman?! He would definitely kill him!
As he was pondering, Zhao Xiao's peripheral vision caught sight of something. Upon clearly seeing what it was, Zhao Xiao's heartbeat quickened considerably! After looking closely for a while, Zhao Xiao finally confirmed it! The flying boat ahead was that kid's! Zhao Xiao became instantly excited! His trip to the Imperial City was not only for business but also to enlist the help of that sect's representative to get revenge.
Birds of a feather flock together. Zhao Xiao got along so well with that person because that person was also a prodigal son. They had done many things together, like helping each other harm others. Zhao Xiao had been a little troubled before. Although that person was a prodigal son, he probably wouldn't be happy if Zhao Xiao asked him to brazenly go to the Qing Xin Sect to capture someone. Even though that person's sect was more powerful than the Qing Xin Sect, they wouldn't casually make an enemy for him. He had originally planned to make a move when Ye Fan and Liang Rujing were out, but who knew when they would venture out? What if they didn't leave their homes for months? What would he do?
He never expected this! To encounter him here! And judging by the direction of that kid's flying boat, it seemed to be heading towards the Imperial City as well! This was truly a godsend!
Zhao Xiao suppressed his excitement and stealthily followed behind. Although he wished he could kill Ye Fan right now, he dared not... While he was a prodigal son, he wasn't foolish. That strange magical artifact had killed Nascent Soul stage cultivators before, so his Golden Core stage body wouldn't be able to withstand it... Just a little longer! Once they reached the Imperial City, this kid would be at his mercy!