CHAPTER 69: VISITING CARD

Jin Li: With the help of your Garment Forbidden Army, I've taught Heaven-Fate Holy Sect a lesson. The three Peak Emperor realm demons were also killed by them. In another half a month, I... the mission will be completed.

She'd started to imitate Qi Yuan's way of speaking.

Qi Yuan: Mission complete? That's fast! Amazing. After you finish, don't log off. Wait for me a while, then let's meet up offline!

Jin Li: Alright.

Jin Li held Linglong Xi Jade. Now, with the Garment Forbidden Army under her control, she could truly be considered the Empress of Southern Qian. The taste of power in one's hands was indeed intoxicating.

Yet, as someone who'd always liked mountain springs and clear breezes, she soon sobered from it. After all, she knew her own place.

"I'll leave once everything here is settled. It's only right—I was never a qualified ruler to begin with."

She'd done her best with the matters before her. By sweeping away the demon race and suppressing the Heaven-Fate Holy Sect, she'd successfully eliminated the Southern Qian's present dangers. What came after would be left to those who succeeded her.

Jin Li sat by the window, gazing at the distant Ancient Qichun Tree, lost in thought.

***

"Senior brother!"

In the early morning, Qi Yuan was roused from his slumber by someone's call.

He no longer had nightmares. After enough killing, he simply became used to it. Still, the grand slaughter had taken its toll, which was why he had slept longer these past few days.

Qi Yuan rubbed his drowsy eyes and brushed the hair away from his brow. "Huh? What? What's going on?"

He wasn't a morning person, but thinking that something must be up, he suppressed his bad mood. Leaving the thatched hut, Qi Yuan saw Jiang Lingsu standing gracefully outside the courtyard.

A peach-blossom beauty, with willowy brows and sparkly eyes. She also seemed lively and cute. Thanks to the eyecandy, his morning temper dissipated.

"Senior Brother, it's a visit request for Master." Jiang Lingsu handed the card to Qi Yuan. "Sect Master had Qing Ying deliver it. She also said that the Sect Master has a message for you."

Qi Yuan took the visiting card. "Oh? What message?"

It seemed very high-end and refined, painted with black ink on the outside.

"Sect Master said that you can open the card and take a look," replied Jiang Lingsu.

Qi Yuan was slightly stunned. What was the sect master trying to do? Opening the card, he read carefully, frowning.

The card was issued in the name of Bright Palace.

His heart suddenly jolted. Didn't he and Jiang Lingsu have a conversation about them the other day? Was there a Bright Palace expert eavesdropping after all? Was that why they sent a visiting card, wishing to meet his master? Now, he felt his morning temper had been justified.

Its content was very simple. A Foundation Establishment realm cultivator of Bright Palace, Zhu Lianhua, had come to Great Shang. He sought to invite the leading righteous figures to discuss the cultivation world's future and the Great Shang's development. Before the meeting, he would first visit them.

Zhu Lianhua would pay Divine Radiance Sect a visit in the near future. The specific time couldn't be determined, as it depended on his own schedule. The Divine Radiance Sect should make preparations in advance.

After reading everything, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Someone wasn't coming to cause him trouble! His worries had been unfounded!

He eyed the card, eyes glinting with a cold smile. "This fellow is even more pretentious than me!"

Then, he handed the card to Jiang Lingsu. This wasn't something that needed to be kept secret.

Jiang Lingsu took the card. Upon seeing that name, she bit her lips. A faint trace of killing intent flickered deep in her eyes. "This Zhu Lianhua is truly ridiculous. So used to acting high and mighty, who does he think he is? A mere Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, yet such pomp!"

Qi Yuan very much agreed with his junior sister's words. "Heroes think alike."

Zhu Lianhua's arrogance was laid out to the fullest in the card. His exact time of arrival wasn't even certain, yet Qi Yuan and the others were expected to prepare to welcome him. Who was he? A leader coming to conduct an inspection?

Moreover, he mentioned "the cultivation world's future and the Great Shang's development."

Any cultivator of Great Shang would probably want to shout back at him. Who the heck are you? What makes you think you are qualified?!

Jiang Lingsu explained, "People of Bright Palace have always been like this, especially when going to smaller places. Unfortunately, they do have the capital to be arrogant. It is best we don't offend them, or it could bring us trouble."

She was slightly wary of Bright Palace. Of course, it was only dread.

Qi Yuan held the card, his mood suddenly brightening again. "I'll go deliver the card to Master."

Perhaps, he could see Master once more. It had been months since he saw her and he missed her greatly.

***

Midway up the mountain, Qi Yuan encountered a barrier blocking his way.

He held up the card, screaming, "Master, people of Bright Palace seek an audience! This is the visiting card!"

Qi Yuan leaned forward, eager to catch sight of his master. Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, flipping the card. A moonlight beam seemed to pour from the peak above.

Light and shadow formed two words: Not meeting.

They dissipated after a breath.

"Not meeting. I understand." Qi Yuan felt slightly disappointed for failing to see Master. He felt the texture of the card. "Seems rather costly. I'll sell it and see if it can be exchanged for a spirit stone."

***

A day later, in the marketplace around Divine Radiance Sect...

A peculiarly-dressed figure appeared, accompanied by a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. In truth, the cultivator had reached the Peak Foundation Establishment realm. However, before the others, who were only at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the cultivator appeared very humble.

The cultivator didn't transmit by voice, but deliberately said it aloud, "Daoist Zhu, this is the marketplace near the Divine Radiance Sect. Pretty shabby, isn't it? Nothing compared to your Bright Palace. Nothing good here."

However, no one in the marketplace was moved by his words. They'd never ever heard of Bright Palace. Only a fully cloaked cultivator seemed to have heard something. His heart skipped a beat, but he acted as if nothing had happened.

Zhu Lianhua glanced over the market, casually saying, "Not bad, passable enough to walk in. Hopefully I can pick up some leaks."

He had come to the Divine Radiance Sect with a few motives. First, he naturally wanted to pay respects to Divine Radiance Sect's strongest—the Seven-Colored Peak Master. Secondly, a supreme treasure was rumored to have appeared several times in the Divine Radiance Sect. Each time it appeared, it was accompanied by strange phenomena.

Such a treasure should go to one of virtue—and those from Bright Palace embodied it. In truth, that was his real purpose for this trip.

The cultivator, Wang Shuang, laughed slyly. "No way. Daoist Zhu, did you also come for that supreme treasure?"

Zhu Lianhua said as if it were only natural, "If it truly is a treasure of that level, then I must take it away. The Divine Radiance Sect is too small, they can't possibly control it with their strength. Leaving it here would only bring calamity."

Wang Shuang despised him inwardly, but still flattered aloud, "As expected of someone from the Bright Palace! Your heart is concerned for the world! Though no friendship has been established with the Divine Radiance Sect, you are already thinking for their sake."

Zhu Lianhua asked, "Do you think they've obtained the Five Elements treasure?"

Wang Shuang pondered. "Well, even if they have, they will claim they haven't."

"Would they give up their treasure for one recommendation to Bright Palace?"

Wang Shuang was startled at the words. A recommendation quota into Bright Palace was indeed precious, but nothing remarkable. Bright Palace was strong, but it was a far cry from Great Shang!

Wang Shuang felt speechless toward this sort of 'big-place' cultivator. As much as he revered Zhu Lianhua, he'd kill the man if pushed too far.

Regardless, Wang Shuang still said, "I'm only afraid that the Divine Radiance Sect won't recognize how precious the treasure is."

He implied that the Divine Radiance Sect wouldn't take out the treasure.

Zhu Lianhua wasn't surprised. "Seems like another method will be required."

Despite being arrogant, he also knew he couldn't push people too hard, or his identity would be useless. Though he looked down on all Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, if a single Core Formation realm cultivator recklessly went all out, he too would suffer.

The two walked through the market, sometimes transmitting by sound, sometimes speaking aloud.

Suddenly, Wang Shuang said, "I've studied a secret treasure-seeking technique. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but occasionally I can pick up leaks. Let me show you my abilities and seek out some treasures to present to you."

Having probed part of Zhu Lianhua's temperament, Wang Shuang behaved extremely humbly.

Sure enough, Zhu Lianhua was interested. "Let's see your ability then."

Wang Shuang cast the spell, named Heavenly Treasure-Seeking Art. The skill would allow him to sense certain unique and special treasures. However, he also knew this market wasn't a place for valuable treasures. He decided if he didn't sense any leak, he'd pay from his own pocket.

Upon activation of his skill, Wang Shuang's pupils flashed golden.

After about half a stick of incense, Wang Shuang's brows lifted in joy. "I didn't expect to actually pick up a leak here! Daoist Zhu, wait a moment, I'll go buy that item and show you."

If they both went together, the store owner would see Zhu Lianhua's extraordinary attire and arbitrarily raise the price. Zhu Lianhua nodded and didn't follow. Besides, if he went along and Wang Shuang failed, there'd be no chance for the latter to secretly substitute something to present to him.

Zhu Lianhua stood quietly in the market, waiting.

Soon, Wang Shuang returned, face full of joy. "Daoist Zhu, I only spent one spirit stone and successfully picked up something. Quickly, take a look at this!"

He raised the item he had obtained. "I know the appearance isn't very flattering. It's damaged and in tatters, but the material inside—"

Wang Shuang stopped when he noticed Zhu Lianhua's utterly unpleasant look. Have I said something wrong?

He grew fearful. "Is something wrong?"

Zhu Lianhua snatched the item, his face shifting between gloom and anger. "Where did you get this?"

Wang Shuang's heart sank. He asked cautiously, "Daoist Zhu, do you recognize this treasure?"

"This is no damn treasure!" Zhu Lianhua flung the thing to the ground. His jaw clenched with fury, clearly enraged. "This is the visiting card I sent to Divine Radiance Sect!"

Wang Shuang was also stunned. He hadn't expected the leak he had picked up to be Zhu Lianhua's visiting card!

This is simply absurd!