Two years passed in a flash.

During this time, Zhang Xian returned to the Great Liang Kingdom once. Li Miaoyin had successfully weathered two heavenly tribulations, officially stepping into the Foundation Establishment stage. Zhang Xian promptly sent a batch of supplies and magical treasures as congratulatory gifts.

Xuanwei cultivated to the peak of Qi Refining, nervously preparing for his heavenly tribulation. Even Yu Yun reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Yu Yun had left the temple and returned to the Great Liang Kingdom, determined to suppress Duke Zhenguo’s influence and embark on his own path of invincibility.

Cooperation with the Cloud Raiment Pavilion grew increasingly pleasant. Zhang Xian gave up twenty percent of the profit, allowing Yun Qi to earn handsomely.

Correspondingly, Yun Qi reciprocated by crushing the Zhao Family of Tianshui City into dust. Tianshui City no longer had a Zhao Family. Zhao Chengyue retreated in disgrace, reportedly fleeing to the Southern Region’s border.

The only slight regret for Zhang Xian was that he had just reached the third stage of Foundation Establishment, while Lin Yinyin had been at the fourth stage for some time. Fortunately, though he lost in cultivation level, on another battlefield, he could always make Lin Yinyin beg for mercy repeatedly.

During this period, Lin Yinyin cultivated with exceptional diligence. There was a simple reason: Zhang Xian had placed several sets of high-grade magical instruments before her, promising that if she could refine them, he would give them to her.

Lin Yinyin immediately coveted them. High-grade magical instruments! How many Golden Core cultivators lacked high-grade instruments? Back then, Zhang Xian had relied on the advantage of his high-grade instruments to force Zhao Chengyue into a resentful retreat.

Lin Yinyin had almost succeeded in refining them while at the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment. If she reached the fifth stage, she definitely could! For this goal, she hadn’t happily played with Brother Zhang Xian for months.

Today, they were eating as usual at the most expensive restaurant in Yiyang City.

Both were feasting heartily when Zhang Xian sensed an incoming message from Yun Qi.

【Three months later, the Baogingfang Auction Conference in Jade Capital City has what Fellow Daoist seeks.】

Jade Capital City differed greatly from Yiyang and Shuiyun Cities, being one of the Southern Region’s top cultivation world hubs. It sat within the territory of the Lingxu Sect. The Lingxu Sect, Yunmiao Sect, Baogingfang, Chan Temple, Penglai, and the Great Xia Imperial Court were collectively known as the Southern Region’s Six Top Sects.

Jade Capital City was located at the very center of Lingxu Sect territory. Rumors said the Lingxu Sect’s sect pocket dimension floated above the city.

Zhang Xian’s eyes lit up. It wasn’t easy, but I finally waited for this.

“Yinyin, want to go to Jade Capital City?” Zhang Xian asked.

“I want to! But Brother, I feel I’m about to break through recently. Can we wait until after the breakthrough to go?” Their relationship was much closer now, but Lin Yinyin still liked calling him “Brother.”

She had originally prepared to change her address to call him “Husband,” but she discovered Zhang Xian liked hearing her call him “Brother,” especially during their “playtime.”

Thus, she kept calling him that way. No choice, she was just that considerate.

“There’s an auction we can’t miss,” Zhang Xian said. Hearing her say she was near a breakthrough made him feel even more anxious inside.

Now, both of their cultivation resources were nearly unlimited, and Lin Yinyin’s spiritual root advantage was fully displayed. If he truly allowed himself to be left behind by two stages, it would be too shameful.

“Okay, Brother!”

After eating, they went to the Cloud Raiment Pavilion shop. The shop steward quickly rose to welcome them; he knew these two were honored guests of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion.

“Elder Yun Qi sent a message saying your flying boat will pass here a few days later. He told me to find you to confirm the timing and hitch a ride.”

“I will check immediately!” The steward hurriedly took out his sect jade slip, looked for a moment, and said, “Yes, Fellow Daoist Zhang! Five days later, the sect’s flying boat will pass Yiyang City. Elder Yun Qi instructed me to tell you beforehand.”

He finished registering Zhang Xian’s contact. A busy moment later, Zhang Xian saw him already sweating profusely.

This person’s body is quite weak, ah. Zhang Xian was somewhat puzzled. He stood up and bid farewell. The steward bowed deeply, daring not to rise for a long time.

Are you kidding?! He had heard that a colleague in the neighboring Shuiyun City had accidentally offended this guest, and the result was torture and death, with his whole family beheaded. Such a terrifying person absolutely cannot be provoked.

Five days later, Zhang Xian and Lin Yinyin arrived at the city gate. An exquisite flying boat was already hovering mid-air. The boat’s body was entirely made of thousand-year spirit wood, carved with complex array patterns. The boat’s prow was carved with a spreading blue luan, lifelike in detail. Against the blue luan’s background was printed a big “Cloud” character.

Someone aboard saw the two and withdrew the protective formation. Zhang Xian, hand-in-hand with Lin Yinyin, lightly leaped and landed on the deck.

Lin Yinyin excitedly boarded and ran to the shipside, leaning half her body out to look down. Shortly, the flying boat started. Yiyang City gradually shrank beneath their feet, becoming an outline on a chessboard.

The distant mountains and rivers were like an ink-wash painting scroll, shrouded in mist, making Lin Yinyin’s eyes sparkle brightly.

Cultivators needed to be at the late stage of Foundation Establishment to control objects and fly, while treading the empty air required near the late stage of Golden Core. Previously, their movement was only considered a long jump. This time, she could count this as experiencing the pleasure of flight early.

“Brother, look quickly! Immortal birds over there!”

Zhang Xian shook his head, smiling. His gaze fell to the other end of the flying boat deck, where Yun Qi leaned against the railing, standing with a leisurely expression.

“Fellow Daoist Yun, long time no see.” Zhang Xian walked forward, cupped his hands, and said, smiling.

Yun Qi politely returned the courtesy. But Zhang Xian’s next sentence almost made him stumble.

“How many spirit stones did this flying boat cost? How about you sell it to me?”

“Cough, cough! Fellow Daoist, don’t joke. How would I know the cost? This is our sect’s heritage treasure. Selling it would probably get me killed by the Pavilion Master.”

“Not that you won’t sell it, just that there’s no suitable price. Later, help me ask for a quote,” Zhang Xian continued. Various mounts were always a fatal attraction to men.

“I’ll ask.” Yun Qi took it as a joke. Then the two chatted, discussing the recent situation in the Southern Region and exchanging cultivation insights. The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

“This auction isn’t massive in scale, but there are many good items. The commissioned auctions are probably anonymous commissions from sect seniors. It’s a pity our Cloud Raiment Pavilion didn’t secure the auction rights, so I don’t know much.”

“There is one heavenly treasure called the Ascension Immortal Grass. The name is a bit exaggerated, but it does have the effect of improving spiritual root quality. Whether it works for your purposes cannot be guaranteed. But just the possibility will definitely fetch a sky-high price.”

Zhang Xian nodded. He had already done research; ancient texts indeed recorded information about the Ascension Immortal Grass.

“Fellow Daoist truly wants to buy it. You need to prepare more funds. Also, I can promise that if you lack spirit stones for circulation, our Cloud Raiment Pavilion can advance two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Repaying with equivalent goods afterward is fine.”

“Two hundred thousand? Unexpectedly, my name is so valuable.” Zhang Xian mentally acknowledged Yun Qi’s goodwill. They hadn’t met many times over the past years, but they had cooperated frequently and gradually familiarized themselves.

“Yes, what if you run away? I’d only beg you to repay the debt,” Yun Qi teased, following the banter.

“Hahaha, bring it!” Zhang Xian reached his hand out.

“Ah? You really want it?”

Zhang Xian’s voice suddenly turned a bit sneaky. “Weren’t you always curious how I repelled Zhao Chengyue?”

“Hmm?” Yun Qi was immediately hooked. This was also why he had originally invested in Zhang Xian; he only knew Zhao Chengyue lost but couldn’t find the reason.

“I self-detonated a dozen-plus high-grade magic swords in front of him! They almost blew him dead.”

Yun Qi was shocked inwardly. Too extravagant! Wait, why is he telling me this now?

“So, I prepared to use high-grade instruments to collect your spirit stones!”

The world behind him actually mass-produces even high-grade instruments!

Yun Qi was excited beyond measure. High-grade instruments were the cultivation world’s hard currency. Above high-grade, instruments already belonged to the treasure category. Each one was priceless, and nobody was willing to sell them. Those possessing such treasures across the entire Southern Region were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

“Go! Quick, take them out, let me see!” Yun Qi excitedly pulled Zhang Xian, entering the flying boat’s interior room and casting an isolation spell.

“?!”

Lin Yinyin, witnessing this scene, stood with a stunned expression. What are they going inside to take out???

They’re not going to do that, are they?!

She had heard that better-looking male cultivators were easier to stray onto a crooked path. Coincidentally, both of them possessed good looks.

No! I must straighten him back! Lin Yinyin tightened her small fist. Today, I’ll make Brother call my name nonstop!