AST

1161-1170

AST 1161 - Gaining Another Two nimbus, Improvement

Tantai Xuan became flustered when she remembered about the incident last time. Fortunately she was wearing a veil and her head was also slightly lowered right now. But she had already made a decision in her heart. She would definitely not stay in the same pavilion as them tonight.

"At most two days. We may even leave tomorrow!" Yu Ruyan informed him with a smile.

"Why in such a hurry? But I'm relieved too, since you will be staying at Putuo Mountain." Qing Shui thought that it was a very decent decision. With his current strength, he reckoned that he'd have to flee everywhere if she was with him. Although his strength was quite decent in this Western Oxhe Continent, it was still not enough to create an impact.

When Yu Ruyan realized that all she had been doing was talking with Qing Shui and had neglected Tantai Xuan, she hurriedly loosened her grip on Qing Shui. She then pulled Tantai Xuan towards the living room.

Tantai Xuan didn't really feel anything about it though. The expression on her face had already returned to normal. She looked at them smilingly. Regardless, she still felt that Yu Ruyan was blissful.

To be able to reel in such an infatuated fish, she thought that this man wouldn't be bad no matter what. She wouldn't doubt the nature of an infatuated fish. Besides, master had a very high opinion of him. She thought back about the words of that Joyous Sage. Would something like that really happen between him and her?

Someone who could infuse more than 100 nimbus of strength for others through Strength Infusion should be a Grade Three State Master at the very least. Tantai Xuan was deep in her thoughts. A Grade Three State Master was already quite a terrifying existence. That old man could very well surpass a Grade Three State Master.

"Well, do you still have a lot of wine left?" Tantai Xuan whispered towards Qing Shui after taking a seat.

"Oh, yes, a lot. How much do you want? I can give you it all." Qing Shui was surprised at her question. At least he could be considered a friend to Tantai Xuan now and probably quite a good one at that. She treated his woman as her sister. The relationship between them was akin to that of a 'bestie' in his previous world or something even more than that.

"No, I mean my master needs some!" Tantai Xuan hurriedly explained.

"How much do you need? Is a hundred jars enough?" Over these years, Qing Shui had accumulated quite a lot in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. With the extension of time in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, the amount of those plum blossoms had grown quite a lot compared to the beginning.

"No need for that much. Ten jars will suffice. I will buy them from you. Give me a price. I know this wine is very valuable. Or perhaps I can trade for them with items?" Tantai Xuan said after thinking.

"You are Ruyan's sister. Consider these a gift!" Qing Shui shook his head.

"No, this wine is very valuable...."

"I really don't have any plans to sell this wine and I have not sold it before either. If you insist on paying for it, then go buy it from someone else!" Qing Shui smiled at her.

"Sister Xuan, no need to be so courteous towards him!" At this very moment, Yu Ruyan laughed in an effort to resolve the dispute.

Qing Shui took out 20 jars and placed them on the table. "Let me know when you run out. I'm guessing that you won't find this anywhere else. Even if you do, it is very rare. I have more than enough, so just tell me when you need more. I'm treating you as a friend. You don't need to guard against me like you would to a thief. Although you are very beautiful, I don't have any intentions towards you. Besides, my Ruyan is more beautiful than you!"

Tantai Xuan turned gloomy as she put away the wine immediately. "I do treat you as a thief but I also treat you as a friend. Good to know that you don't have that kind of intention towards me. That assured me."

"Qing Shui, what nonsense are you talking about?!" Yu Ruyan glared him.

Seeing that it was about time, and the sky would turn dark soon. "I'm going to cultivate. Wait for me tonight, alright? Both of you can go on and eat without me."

Qing Shui left first as soon as he finished speaking, leaving behind a bashful Yu Ruyan and an embarrassed and flustered Tantai Xuan. Although the two ladies were very close with each other, this kind of thing was still very awkward.

"Sister Ruyan, well.... Are you really very happy......"

Tantai Xuan asked in a soft voice when there was only the two of them around. The relationship between these two ladies was akin to that of blood-related sisters. Yet, they weren't blood-related sisters, so they could openly discuss a lot of things with each other.

When Tantai Xuan saw Yu Ruyan's blissful and bashful smile, she couldn't help but to ask. Yet at the same time, it was more like she was teasing her.

"What do you mean?" Yu Ruyan asked Tantai Xuan, who seemed a slightly awkward, with a smile.

"Sister Ruyan, I mean you and him!"

"Oh, that. Of course, I am happy..."

"No wonder why Sister Ruyan's voice was so strange that time." Tantai Xuan smiled faintly.

"Oh, It seems like our Fairy Tantai can't stand being lonely."

"I'm not! Both of you were so loud!"

"Can't you seal your spiritual sense and seal your sense of hearing?!" Yu Ruyan asked, equally shyly and timidly. After all, Tantai Xuan heard her.

Tantai Xuan was unable to speak about her suffering. She had really sealed them at that time. But those scenes emerged in her mind like a spell, the same went for all of the sounds......

..........

After Qing Shui got into the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, he immediately picked up the Portrait of Beauty that was still lying on the ground. Without realizing it, he had already found ten of them. He had already met the ladies on the other nine portraits and had formed some sort of relationship with many of them.

Yet he still hadn't met the woman on the tenth portrait. Moreover, he felt that it was very unlikely for him to meet her anytime soon. The position of other party wasn't ordinary. He was still uncertain if he could find her in the Western Oxhe Continent. Besides, Qing Shui didn't intend to search for her either.

"Oh right, the nebula within my body dispersed earlier at the sight of this woman and that gigantic green colored dragon. I haven't checked how much my strength has been raised." Qing Shui quickly sensed it with great excitement.

It wasn't really the right time to do so earlier, but he had also vaguely sensed it. After all, any changes in the body could be felt. Qing Shui smiled when he sensed it. The nebula that had dispersed actually increased Qing Shui physical strength by two nimbus. But of course, he knew this was still mostly due to the Strength Infusion that the old man had performed on him. But during that time it had only reached the borderline. It just so happened that telepathic communication after that happened to catalyze the nebula.

His physical strength had reached eight nimbus!

Such a tremendous gain still made Qing Shui extremely surprised. At the same time, he was even more puzzled as to why the Joyous Sage would perform a Strength Infusion on him. One round of Strength Infusion would probably cause him to lose ten years of his cultivation!

Right now, Qing Shui had reached nearly 1,000 nimbus of strength with just using the Big Dipper Sword alone. If he used the Nine Continents Mountain, he would be close to 2,000 nimbus. By now, he was probably capable of fighting against a State Master of the lowest level!

His spirit energy had also reached more than 1,500 nimbus. With some treasures, his spirit energy was also extremely terrifying in its resistant to damage. It could be said that if Qing Shui met a cultivator whose primary cultivation was spirit energy, he could confidently defend himself against him. To be able to cancel out about 70% of spirit energy was already beyond terrifying. This was the most scary part of the Arhat Rosary Beads.

As for physical attack, Qing Shui had his Nine Yang Golden Body, Nine Continents Mountain and the rest. Besides, even the might of his Emperor's Qi was turning domineering. He also had the Nine Continents Step and the Five Elements Divine Refining Technique.......

Oh right, movement technique!

Qing Shui suspended this Portrait of Beauty and then tried his best to recall the movement technique of that gigantic green colored dragon from back then. The way it moved and the Qi aura it exuded. At that time, it created an impact that caused Qing Shui to have a very intense realization.

The reason why Qing Shui had a realization was due to the existence of Fish in Water. If he didn't have Fish in Water, he wasn't certain if such a realization would have come to him.

He moved!

Qing Shui's figure rose to midair. His movement was still like Fish in Water but its swiftness could make one sigh in amazement. As time passed, his movements were also changing. The biggest change that could be observed was the aura that he exuded.

Fish in Water emphasized agility and ingenuity, allowing him to roll with the punches. But Qing Shui's current movement technique carried a domineering aura that was condemning. The movement technique was still agile and even more so compared to before. It felt almost like it was the work of the Gods. With this kind of agility and domineering aura together, that kind of impact was still very impressive.

Roaming Dragon Steps!

Qing Shui smiled in satisfaction. Although he had only just grasped the Moving Dragon Steps, it was a lot more powerful than Fish in Water at its peak. Next, he had to coordinate it with Nine Palace Steps.

The most important thing about the Nine Palace Steps was its orientation. He could move anywhere he wished within the Nine Palace and everything within there was under his control. The ability of his opponents would more or less be lowered Inside the Nine Palace. The Nine Palace Steps inside the Nine Palace was most straightforward but sometimes Qing Shui would still need to use the Cloudmist Steps in there when he was facing his opponents. However, the situation had turned for the better. He could use the Roaming Dragon Steps. This way, his power would probably become a lot stronger.

Like this, a few days passed. Qing Shui would forget everything when he was cultivating. Just like this time, he didn't stop to sleep or rest over these few days.

For a powerful cultivator, especially of this caliber, they would still be fine even if they didn't eat or sleep for ten days to half a month. Even so, they would still normally sleep because sleeping could recuperate the mind and it was a very special and vital thing to do. It was best that they at least took naps every day. It was very important do so.

As soon as he stopped, Qing Shui felt mentally exhausted. His stomach also growled in hunger. So he sat down and ate some food then washed himself up before he immediately lay down on the big bed in the Realm of the Violet Jade immortal and slept.

.............

By the time Qing Shui came out, it wasn't 11 pm yet. The two ladies were still around when he walked to the living room. Yu Ruyan smiled after she saw Qing Shui. "Wait for a moment, I will serve you your meal."

Qing Shui was going to say no, but he didn't. In just a short moment, Yu Ruyan served him two dishes, a soup and some rice.

A meat dish and a vegetable dish of quite ample portions!

"Well then, I shall return to rest!" Tantai Xuan stood up and said smilingly.

"It's still early, have a rest first! Let's sleep together tonight!" Yu Ruyan said with a smile.

"No way!"

Qing Shui hurriedly objected before Tantai Xuan could even say anything. It was still fine if he didn't see Yu Ruyan. But if he couldn't do that sort of things when Yu Ruyan was staying here, then that would really be an ordeal to him.

Qing Shui words made the two ladies fell embarrassed. Yu Ruyan's face was crimson!

"Miss Tantai, well... I haven't seen Ruyan for so long... so you know... I have missed her terribly......"

"I don't know!" Tantai Xuan spat at him and hurriedly stood up to excuse herself from Yu Ruyan before she left.

Tantai Xuan left this pavilion immediately and made her way towards the other pavilion.

"Huh, why did she go to the other pavilion?" Qing Shui stared at Yu Ruyan.

"It's your fault. She said it was a little noisy. Qing Shui, I think she didn't only mean that it was noisy. Sister Xuan had a very strange expression on her face...... Was my voice really that loud?" Yu Ruyan asked as she blushed in shame.

"Enough. Let's not be bothered if she's acting strange or not. Let's go have our happy time! Oh right, you can be a little louder tonight. I love to listen to it the most......" Qing Shui said while he immediately lifted Yu Ruyan and walked towards the bedroom.

Before they even reached the bedroom, Qing Shui was already kissing those sweet, soft and divine red lips. The wonderful sensation numbed the back of Qing Shui. By the time they reached the bedroom, Yu Ruyan only had her snowy white undergarments left on her body.

Qing Shui kissed her lips, her face, ears, delicate neck and sucked on one of her nipples with her clothes in between. Yu Ruyan uncontrollably arched her back as she moaned uncontrollably, enticing Qing Shui through his sense of hearing.

Qing Shui had one of his hand on her breasts and his other reached over her delicate waist and groped her round, perky and beautiful rear. It was so round and soft, yet at the same time surprisingly elastic.

AST 1162 - Tantai Xuan who Fled

Qing Shui had one of his hands on her breasts and his other reached over her delicate waist and groped her round, perky and beautiful rear. It was so round and soft, yet at the same time surprisingly elastic.

............

With the previous wild experience, things went especially smoothly this time. Qing Shui was tirelessly demanding as he changed all sorts of positions. Scenes that were capable of making one's blood surge unfolded before him and he was also one of the creators.

At the same time, these scenes also emerged before Tantai Xuan, who was in another pavilion. She didn't expect to once again witness a similar scene to before. This made her so embarrassed that she wanted to look for a hole and crawl into. It made her flustered.

She shut her eyes tightly and covered her ears while she sealed her spiritual sense. But all these were once again proven ineffective. Those scenes emerged before her again. It was as if she was in the same room as Qing Shui and Yu Ruyan right now.

It was a very strange feeling. She decided that she might as well stop covering her ears and trying to seal her spiritual sense. She could even see herself in front of Qing Shui and Yu Ruyan.

"Can't both of you restrain yourselves for a bit....?" Tantai Xuan muttered to herself, yet it was also like she was expressing her true feelings out aloud.

But everything suddenly changed. As the scene changed, the three of them appeared in the same space of consciousness, much like that pleasant dream among the sea of flowers where Qing Shui and Di Chen met. But the current scene made the three of them extremely embarrassed.

Qing Shui and Yu Ruyan had appeared in the consciousness, standing together with Tantai Xuan. The three of them could clearly see Qing Shui and Yu Ruyan, who were passionately intertwined with each other on the bed.

Although Qing Shui was embarrassed, he didn't seem too surprised. He had witnessed the intimate moments of himself and Qing Hanye before just like this too, only now with an extra audience, Tantai Xuan. This was enough to make one die of embarrassment.

However, the three of them were not in control of their bodies right now. No one spoke and they didn't know even if they could speak either. Furthermore, they couldn't look away even if they didn't want to watch the scenes unfolding before them on the bed. Their sense of hearing, sense of touch, vision and sense of smell were being amplified multiple times more than usual. The air was filled with an indescribable lasciviousness.

Qing Shui now understood why Tantai Xuan didn't want to live in the same pavilion. Yu Ruyan understood now too. She initially thought that Tantai Xuan had only heard something. But now it was clear to both Qing Shui and her now. Their previous indecent performance had been seen by someone......

Qing Shui was gloomy. Never mind if he had to watch himself and his woman indulging in the wild act. It didn't really matter. However, it turned out that there was also a kingdom toppling beauty watching beside him. If it was a man, Qing Shui would definitely have slain him without any second thoughts......

The most mortified among them were still Yu Ruyan and Tantai Xuan, especially Yu Ruyan. There were no words to describe her current mood. Actually Tantai Xuan wasn't feeling any better than Yu Ruyan. She had seen every inch of this man. On top of that, it was in this fashion. The most speechless part was the fact that she was watching it together with the very same man.

Their intimate acts were no longer within their control. Right now, all the three of them could only watch the couple on the bed going at it untiringly.

Perhaps due to their subconsciousness, it was a lot shorter this time compared to previous time. Even so, it still lasted for more than two hours. The scene before Qing Shui and Yu Ruyan's eyes wavered and Tantai Xuan vanished while both of them seemed to have returned on top of the bed. However, when they were watching just now, their sensations didn't disappear.

Qing Shui was still embracing Yu Ruyan but it was very quiet in the room. In the silence of this moment, they could hear each other's hearts beating. The two of them were embracing, facing each other. He was looking at Yu Ruyan's satisfied but mostly embarrassed expression on her face.

"How could this happen......" Yu Ruyan sighed after a long moment.

"This is telepathic communication between consciousnesses. The chance of it happening is only one in fifty thousand, one in one hundred thousand or even one in a million. The chance of it happening between three people is even lower." Qing Shui was also very gloomy about it actually.

He feared that this would traumatize Yu Ruyan and even him. He recalled last time and those exciting 'scenes' that he had watched earlier. No wonder why Tantai Xuan was acting strange last time.

It turned out that they had been watched long ago!

If both him and Yu Ruyan didn't know the fact that she had seen it, they wouldn't really feel anything. But now, they didn't even know how to speak to each other normally the next time they met......

Yu Ruyan was also extremely embarrassed. "Do you think Sister Xuan can still see us right now?" she asked cautiously.

"No!"

"How can I face her after this......?" Yu Ruyan grew more ashamed the more she thought about it, to the extent that she wanted to look for a hole and crawl into. It turned out that Sister Xuan had already seen them last time. No wonder why she was asking her if she was very happy earlier and said that she was making such weird noises. So she had actually seen everything......

...........

Tantai Xuan was in her bedroom. Her face was so red that it seemed like blood would seep out at any moment. Was there anything more embarrassing than this? Her thoughts were swirling in her head.

The sky was growing brighter. She was a little afraid of the morning coming. She woke up really early but holed herself up in her room all this time!

Qing Shui woke up and went for his morning practice. On the other hand, Yu Ruyan made her way towards Tantai Xuan's room. Tantai Xuan jolted at the knock of her room's door. She opened the door to find herself staring at Yu Ruyan. "Sister Ruyan!"

Yu Ruyan blushed. She held Tantai Xuan's hand as she entered the room and closed the door behind them.

"Sister Xuan, I would like to leave the Putuo Mountain," Yu Ruyan said softly.

Tantai Xuan was shocked. She clasped Yu Ruyan's hand tightly. "Sister Ruyan, we are all women. Do you have to be like that? We've already discussed this, why do you want to make such a decision instead? Could it be that you don't want to be my sister anymore?"

"Sister Xuan, you won't look at me in some other way?" Yu Ruyan asked helplessly. This was the most embarrassing part for her. Although men and women enjoyed sexual pleasure that was the most amazing thing in the world, this kind of intimacy should only be shared among two people. It would really be upsetting if it was seen by someone else.

"Sister Ruyan, what are you saying? To be honest, I am quite envious of you. Did it really feel that good....?" Tantai Xuan blinked her eyes teasingly.

"Oh I see, so even our holy maiden is also in heat now. Should I call him over?" Yu Ruyan blushed but she was a lot calmer now. This incident seemed to have brought the two ladies even closer together.

"What are you talking about, Sister Ruyan? Listen, we are sisters forever. There's nothing to be ashamed of between us. Why don't we sneak away now? It's awkward to see him......" Tantai Xuan huffed.

"Sure! Use your Sacred Jade Divine Stone and wait for me a hundred li away from here. I'll go and inform him first." Yu Ruyan agreed after thinking for awhile and felt like it was a good thing to do too. This incident would be forgotten eventually.

When Yu Ruyan went to inform Qing Shui, he was also a little gloomy. The two ladies had initially planned to stay here for two nights. Now, even Qing Shui didn't feel like it anymore. He wasn't worried about what Tantai Xuan would say, he was only worried if there would be any revulsion between the two ladies. As for the revulsion between him and Tantai Xuan, it would probably never be gone.

"Ruyan, perhaps the next time both of you return here, I may not be around here anymore. Only maybe. So if I'm not here, then don't worry. I will go look for you," Qing Shui said after thinking for a moment.

"Alright, please take care of yourself. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine at the Putuo Mountain!"

"Give her these to consume. The more powerful she is, the more beneficial it is to her too!" Qing Shui passed Yu Ruyan a portion of the things that would be useful to Tantai Xuan and asked her to give them to her. Yu Ruyan's safety would be more guaranteed with Tantai Xuan's strength.

Yu Ruyan and Tantai Xuan left, without even having their breakfast. Qing Shui was left having his breakfast alone, while sighing at this turn of events that was out of his control. The incident this time had indeed left him speechless. He wasn't even in the mood to talk about it anymore.

As soon as he was done with breakfast, he immediately set off to the Firecloud Blacksmith Store. With the increase in his strength, he found that it was no longer that cold here. By the time he arrived at the Firecloud Blacksmith Store, Yan Yangzhao was already there.

"Brother, I am here to bid my farewell!" Yan Yangzhao announced happily after he saw Qing Shui.

"You're leaving that soon!?" Qing Shui found himself in front of Yan Yangzhao already while speaking.

"Some matters to settle back home, so they are rushing me to return. We are brothers, so I'm not going to thank you in helping me forge the sword!" Yan Yangzhao reached out to pat on Qing Shui's shoulder.

"If we are brothers then there's no need to be so courteous. Since you are leaving, let me give you some little presents. I believe you will find them to your liking!" Qing Shui handed over an Interspatial Silk Sachet to Yan Yangzao.

"Brother, I can't possibly accept this......"

"It's Plum Blossom Wine!" Qing Shui chuckled.

Yan Yangzhao's hand that was initially pushing it away immediately grabbed it with lightning speed.......

"Brother, are you really planning to stay here? Go to the inner city. I will help you out!" Yan Yangzhao frowned as he offered seriously.

The Divine Weapon Street was declining anyway. This was not how it used be in the past. The Forging Grandmasters here were only left with their reputations. A few of them had already moved out from here to the inner city a few years ago. There were also generations of Forging Clans and they were much more famous than the ones in Divine Weapons Street.

"I will definitely make my way to the inner city but not now. When that time comes, I will definitely trouble you, Brother." Qing Shui gave Yan Yangzhao a smile.

"If you don't look for me when you are at the inner city, I won't forgive you." Yan Yangzhao patted Qing Shui's shoulder with great force.

Qing Shui nodded and smiled, while he gave Yan Yangzhao a pat too.

With Yan Yangzhao's departure, Qing Shui reverted back to his monotonous life, just like back in the day. Stone had been improving rapidly. Over this period of time, Qing Shui had let him consume quite a lot of medicinal pills along with Old Man Wang. The old man still had more than a hundred years of lifespan so Qing Shui taught him a cultivation art to preserve health. His constitution was already fixed, so he didn't teach him the Thousand Hammer Technique.

Stone was cultivating the Tiger Form and the Thousand Hammer Technique but only very minimally. He could be considered proficient now. As they said, the master could only lead one to the door, while cultivation would be up to each individual.

Normally, Stone should be able to carry out self-cultivation. As for how far it could go, it would all depend on his own luck!

Both Old Man Wang and Stone had drunk Plum Blossom Wine. Qing Shui had used it for their meridian cleansing. The benefits that they received were enough to last them a lifetime.

Qing Shui couldn't really leave now even if he wanted to, because the pair of grandfather and grandson weren't really that safe. Hence, he was prepared to stay here for now and then think about how to deal with the matters here appropriately.

The Firecloud Blacksmith Store had great reputation now. Many people would come to customize or buy weapons. Over this period of time, Qing Shui had been forging in the blacksmith store. Not only that, he would also forge in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, so the items on the shelves were of much better quality than before.

AST 1163 - Yan Jin sprays tea in Qing Shui's face, Sworn siblings?

Even though Qing Shui's current forging skill was only to the point that he could double a weapon's stats, this was enough for Firecloud Blacksmith Store's reputation to spread far and wide.

Qing Shui managed to exchanged his skills for quite a number of materials. Whenever he worked on a requested weapon, whether using the materials from the requester or using his own materials, he wanted to be paid in items and not cash. All the requester had to do was to offer something that Qing Shui was interested in whether it was raw materials, medicinal herbs or some bizarre and unusual items.

A few days passed quickly and Qing Shui managed to amass close to 300 weapons, 200 sets of armor and even more jewelry. Normal battle armor could not be compared with Black Tortoise Golden Scaled Battle Armor or Skirts as they lacked the additional boosts. However, once their stats were doubled, they were considerably impressive.

Such armor was only suitable for powerful cultivators as they had the strength to withstand the weight of these things thus they were quite useless for low-level cultivators. However, there existed legendary and god-level weapons and armor which do not follow the laws of the natural world. Oddly, if a normal person managed to get such items, they could use them and become very strong.

Old man Wang's body was improving daily. Other than practicing his usual martial arts, Stone started to practice metallurgy for at two hours daily using the Thousand Hammer Technique.

Both grandfather and grandson were quite proficient in metallurgy now. His hope for them was not that they would become incredibly skillful at forging but that they would be able to lead happy and carefree lives without people being envious of their skills. This was because they did not have anyone to protect them now, neither could he protect them himself.

Usually, people do not attack blacksmiths, unless they themselves were a blacksmith. This was the reason that Qing Shui looked forward to them successfully opening their blacksmith shop though definitely not on Divine Weapon Street.

One day, Qing Shui looked for Old man Wang and Stone. He told them his thoughts, but he let them decide what to do.

At his age, Old man Wang naturally knew that it was for the best, he sighed and replied, "We'll follow your arrangements!"

"Okay, then let's do it today. Stone, listen to me carefully. With those bottles of medicinal pills, you will definitely reach Xiantian. As for how far you will go in the Art of Forging, it all depends on how many strikes you can make with your hammer!"

"Thank you, mister! I'll engrave your words in my mind." After saying that, Stone kowtowed to Qing Shui in the manner of a disciple.

"Alright! Work hard! We'll meet again if it is fated. Take care of your grandfather. Your lives are going to get better."

Qing Shui passed them all the necessary items and let them leave via the south courtyard even though no one would notice both of them as they were not known in Divine Weapon Street.

Qing Shui was left alone in his Firecloud Blacksmith Store. He sat leisurely at a small table, drinking tea. Just then, someone came in. He was a little surprised but it wasn't actually that odd at this time of the day.

Dressed in an eye-catching green elegant dress, the expression on her flawless jade white face was as calm as still water. Her most beautiful features were her pair of eyes, which were as tranquil as a lake in autumn. Whenever she blinked, her eyes twinkled as the bright stars in the sky. Accompanied by her beautifully sculpted nose and high bun, she looked as pretty as a painting.

The person that walked in was none other than the ravishing beauty, Miss Yan. When she saw Qing Shui, a faint smile appeared on her face, "Mr. Qing Shui!"

"Hi, how did Miss Yan find time to visit my small shop?" Qing Shui replied with a smile as he stood up. The woman was scarily powerful, she was even more powerful that her brother Yan Yangzhao. Qing Shui didn't know how she even got so powerful.

"Aren't we friends? So now, you don't even welcome your own friends?" While Yan Jinyu jested, she walked toward Qing Shui.

"I'll welcome you any day. Actually, I keep wondering when you'll even appear." Qing Shui gestured for her to sit.

Yan Jinyu paused for a moment realizing how glib Qing Shui was. She didn't think too much about it because if she knew that if she did she would be on the losing end.

"Don't you consider me your friend?" Yan Jinyu asked honestly as she looked at Qing Shui with her limpid eyes.

"Miss Yan, why would you say that?" Qing Shui avoided her pair of beautiful eyes furtively. Those eyes seemed to have a power over him, but he didn't want to stare at her in a daze.

"I find it very odd. Why won't you help me even though you can? I think I'm quite sincere and you even acknowledge that we're friends. But when my brother came, you not only helped him to repair his sword for free, you even gave him that rare wine. You don't know how cocky he acted in front of me when he came home... I am just saying, I am not blaming you. I just don't understand..." Yan Jinyu gave Qing Shui a puzzled look.

If Qing Shui told her that he didn't have the confidence to help her when she came, but he reached a breakthrough when her brother came, he still had no way of explaining why he did not charge him and even gave him wine!

"Uh, actually your brother put me in a difficult position. With his sword on my neck, do you think I could refuse him?" Qing Shui said bitterly with a very convincing act.

"Don't bullshit me. He would never do that. If he really tried that, my father would beat him until he was half dead," Yan Jinyu replied, teasingly.

"Ah. Well, actually your brother and I call each other brothers. I think it is quite alright to give him a gift and help him out!" Qing Shui said, feeling that he had found a good reason.

She had never met a younger man who could banter and talk nonsense with her. It was very relaxing being with this man, so she didn't hate him and even found it interesting talking to him.

"Oh. Since he is my older brother and also yours. Then, I am your older sister." Yan Jinyu looked at Qing Shui with a tranquil expression.

Qing Shui rubbed his nose and said, "It doesn't work that way. We are friends."

"Are you rejecting me?" Yan Jinyu didn't know what to feel, she just found it very strange. When had she ever taken the initiative to start a conversation with someone? She was even trying to use her connections, yet he was still rejecting her.

"Miss Yan, come and have some tea. I could never ostracize you. Seeing such a beauty like you, I can't help wanting to hide you in my pocket... I meant that as an analogy." Qing Shui took one of the snow white cups and poured a cup of tea for her. The tea leaves were high quality oolong that he produced in his Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. None of the tea in his previous life could even compare.

There were many benefits to drinking tea, even in his previous life. Some people would even say that one could survive three days without rice but not even a single day without tea. The fact that many people drank tea daily showed the importance and significance of tea drinking. Tea can keep one awake and boost one's thought processes and memory. Tea can alleviate exhaustion and improve one's metabolism. It could also help maintain the health of one's heart, blood vessels, digestive tract, etc.

The tea leaves which were cultivated in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal had even greater benefits. That tea could help recover one's spirit energy. If one drank it often, it could even increase the amount of one's spirit energy, albeit only by a little but it was better than nothing. It also had a detoxifying effect.

Yan Jinyu felt a little unhappy after that younger man got the better of her but when she smelled the fragrance from the tea, she was astonished. She took the cup of tea from Qing Shui and took a few sips before looking at Qing Shui, amazed.

She had tried the wine that her brother got from Qing Shui but this tea tasted even better than the wine though it wasn't fair to compare them. The tea and that wine were the best she had ever tasted. To top that off, this tea seemed to have beneficial effects. As a daughter of the Yan Clan, she had tried all sorts of valuable teas and wines, yet none could compare to what this man had.

"Miss Yan..."

"You sound too polite. Since we are friends now, don't call me like that in the future." Yan Jinyu smiled at Qing Shui.

Qing Shui really didn't understand this woman. She was so collected, in terms of her mannerism, expression and eyes. Her beauty was the sort that would bewitch the people around her but Qing Shui felt that women like her were like poison. The allure of such women was even more potent than those flirtatious and licentious women. Once a person fell into their trap, who knows when he could get out.

He was confident, but he did not wish to try, nor did he have the mood to try!

"What should I call you?" Qing Shui smile as he took a sip of tea.

"I don't care, you can decide." Yan Jinyu also took a sip of tea.

"Jinyu!"

"No!"

"Younger Sis Jinyu!"

"No!" Yan Jinyu realized she was feeling the urge to beat him up.

"Little Niece, Jinyu!"

Puey!

Tea sprayed from Yan Jinyu's mouth, directly onto Qing Shui face...

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Yan Jinyu put down the tea cup and quickly wiped Qing Shui's face with her handkerchief.

After she wiped his face twice, Qing Shui took the handkerchief from her and said, "I'll do it!"

The faint fragrance on the handkerchief was like the smell on her body. After he cleaned his face, the handkerchief was a little wet. "Your handkerchief is dirty, why don't you give it to me? I can use it as a towel..." he smiled.

Yan Jinyu was dumbfounded. She reached for it, but she couldn't help blushing when she remembered how she had spat her tea in his face.

"You look decent and proper but why do you like to spout nonsense?" Yan Jinyu couldn't hold back her laughter when she thought about the names Qing Shui came up with.

"I don't dare to say anything now, I'm afraid you will help me wash my face again."

"Stop saying that! I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Your punishment is that you must call me Sister Yan," Yan Jinyu said, taking the good opportunity she had.

"Why do I have to change the way I address you. If you really need help, just tell me and I'll definitely help you. We are friends." Qing Shui actually didn't want their relationship to get closer at this point in time.

"No! You need to call me Sister Yan!"

"I can. But then we must go through the ceremony to be sworn siblings. You will be my sworn sister in the future and I will treat you as such." Qing Shui found that it wasn't a bad thing, after all this sister was also a powerful cultivator.

Yan Jinyu was a little startled at first, but she smiled and said, "Alright. Close the door. We'll start the ceremony!"

"But, we must get a witness!" Qing Shui laughed.

"That's not necessary. Heaven and Earth will be our witness," Yan Jinyu replied.

The courtyard they were in was exactly in the right position. Since Qing Shui had made this proposition, he decided to go through with it. He closed the door and went to the center of the courtyard with Yan Jinyu. He kept telling himself that he was not the one to use their connections and that he wasn't a woman pleaser, it was this woman who tried to use her connection...

"Am I older or are you older?" Qing Shui grinned at Yan Jinyu. This felt unreal to him, he had no idea why Yan Jinyu would want this.

AST 1164 - Decision to Leave. What kind of powerful backing did she have?

"I'm definitely older." Yan Jinyu replied grumpily knowing what Qing Shui was trying.

"Oh, how old are you? Tell me, let's see if you're really older." Qing Shui chuckled.

"Cut it out. Anyway, I'm older!" Yan Jinyu said firmly. She did not want Qing Shui to continue on this subject. Qing Shui understood and didn't continue asking.

The position they were at was the Tian Di (Heaven and Earth) Position in terms of Feng Shui. This was a good place to worship the heavens. Now, he was going to become the sworn brother of this woman, but he felt that it was a little preposterous. Actually, this entire day was rather preposterous. He felt that Miss Yan was a little abnormal...

This woman was beautiful, calm and magnanimous. She looked so mature and elegant, yet she kept forcing him to be her sworn brother. If it weren't for Qing Shui's self-confidence, he would have suspected that she was plotting against him.

But what could she want from him? Other than his forging skills, his wine or some tea leaves? Qing Shui did not care. He looked at Yan Jinyu to see if she was ready.

Both of them lit three joss sticks. There was a kneeling mat under both of them. Yan Jinyu gestured for Qing Shui to start talking first.

"To the Heavens above, myself, Qing Shui and Yan Jinyu will be sworn siblings from today on. I am not trying to gain status through connections, nor be her gigolo, I will treat her as my true sister. If anyone bullies her, I will tear them up." Qing Shui looked up to the sky speaking sincerely.

Yan Jinyu felt a little displeased, but she also looked up to the sky, "With the Heaven and Earth as our witness, I take Qing Shui as my sworn brother today. He will be my relative from this day on. No matter what happens, I will try my best to help him, even at the cost of my life."

Qing Shui was shocked by Qin Jinyu's last words. He couldn't tell if she really meant what she said, but he was definitely touched by it. They were now siblings, with Heaven and Earth as their witness. Then, he slowly said, "Time can be the judge of our sentiments!"

After saying that, he thrust his joss sticks into the joss stick urn!

Yan Jinyu also placed her joss sticks into the urn.

"Sis!" Qing Shui said mildly with a smile.

"Brother!" Yan Jinyu rubbed Qing Shui's head happily. She seemed delighted.

Qing Shui's face quivered a little as he took out a vat of Plum Blossom Wine and poured half of it on the ground. With that, they had finished their ceremony with joss sticks and wine. He took out two cups. He poured two cups of wine and handed one to Yan Jinyu.

"We will be siblings in the future. We will take care of each other. I will do my best to protect you until you find your future husband." Qing Shui laughed, holding up his cup.

"What are you saying? I have already decided that I would never marry. Alright, after we finish this cup of wine, we will be siblings." Yan Jinyu clinked her cup with Qing Shui's.

Both of them finished their wine in one gulp.

"Okay, now that we are siblings. Tell me, why are you so adamant on being my sworn sister?" Qing Shui didn't really understand the whole situation, but he went along with it and agreed to her request.

"Must there be a reason?" Yan Jinyu asked.

"Of course, don't you find this weird? Nothing happens without a reason in this world. There must be some sort of reason." Qing Shui grinned.

"Just as you said, nothing happens without a reason. If I tell you that I think that you have great potential and I don't want us to be just strangers in the future because I want your help next time, would you believe me?" Yan Jinyu replied thoughtfully.

"Yes!"

"Ah, if so. That's great!" Yan Jinyu said feeling a little surprised.

"Do you know why the wolf and the Bei (a fictional animal that is like a wolf in folklore) usually work together?"Qing Shui asked but suddenly found it a little inappropriate.

"Why? Because they have the same goals?" Yan Jinyu's expression was a little stiff though she still sounded calm. She knew he was referring to the phrase, "Wolves and Beis working together". (TN: This is basically an idiom with the meaning partners in crime.)

"That's right!" Qing Shui replied in a hurry. Qing Shui actually had a different answer, but he knew he couldn't bring that up because it was just not suitable.

Legend has it that wolves and Beis are similar creatures. A wolf has long front legs and shorter hind legs while the Bei has long hinds legs and shorter front legs. Whenever they go out hunting, the Bei needs the support of the wolf to move, putting its front legs on the wolf's hind legs. Once, the wolf and the Bei stumbled upon a sheep pen. Even though there were many sheep, the fence was too high. Thus, they had a good idea, if the wolf could stand on the Bei's neck, letting the Bei boost him up. The wolf will then be able to jump into the pen and steal the sheep.

Qing Shui actually wanted to talk about the Bei needing the wolf's support to walk but that was too inappropriate!

"You can't lie. You have a special look when you're lying." Yan Jinyu laughed and continued, "It's almost time for lunch. Let's go, you can't make up any excuses now!"

Both of them went to the same restaurant that he and Yan Yangzhao went to previously. They even chose the same seats. Perhaps it was because they were now sworn siblings but it was a weird coincidence.

After their meal, their relationship as siblings got better. Though Yan Jinyu did not speak much, hearing such a beautiful woman speak was rather enjoyable for Qing Shui. On top of that, they both enjoyed discussing similar topics.

"Sis, give me your Greencloud Stone, I can help you forge a sword. But I can't be certain about its stats," Qing Shui said to Yan Jinyu after finishing his food.

"It's okay. I rather not have you do that. I don't want to feel like I am using you, as my sworn brother, to make weapons."

"Are you sure?"

"At least not at the moment."

"You sure?"

"Maybe I should reconsider!" Yan Jinyu laughed!

"Alright then."

"Okay, I reconsidered. I want you to help me now. Will you belittle me?"

"No. We make friends to scam them. If we don't scam them, who else? If you try to scam someone you don't know, you might fail," Qing Shui joked.

"Then, I don't want it! Really!" Yan Jinyu said sincerely.

"Are you really going to change your mind because of this? We are siblings now, do you really have to take me so seriously?" Qing Shui didn't expect Yan Jinyu to say that. He actually knew that Yan Jinyu was like him, in the way that she didn't want to receive any benefits from others without reason, so he understood her feelings.

"Qing Shui, I feel that it is not right," Yan Jinyu said earnestly.

"Oh, so even now, you are still concerned about your ego? Do you think that our friendship isn't strong enough?" Qing Shui looked at Yan Jinyu.

"No, Qing Shui. It isn't like that, otherwise, I wouldn't even ask you to be my sworn brother. I just wonder if I am being too practical." Yan Jinyu looked back at Qing Shui a little bitterly.

"Humans are all practical. Just like how aristocratic clans seek alliances through marriage. People of a certain capability would have friends of similar capabilities. Rich people would not befriend poor people, as there is no way of using them. Living, if you put it in a good way, is basically helping even other out without our own communities and connections, working together to go through difficulties and advance forward. But if we get realistic about it or in a negative sense, it is using each other, just like us. We are siblings now, so helping you forge a weapon is nothing special. It is okay if you think that you're using me for my forging skills. Perhaps, I would look for you in the Inner City, would that also be counted as me using you?" Qing Shui reasoned.

Qing Shui knew that she probably understood his view but her pride made it hard for her to accept how he handled things.

......

Qing Shui shut the door to his shop and brought Yan Jinyu to the manor he was living in. As they had finally come to an agreement, Yan Jinyu wanted to wait for the weapon to be ready before they left.

Qing Shui had already decided to leave with Yan Jinyu to the Inner City. This was why she happily agreed to Qing Shui helping her forge a new weapon as he would need her help once they were there.

His shop was quite quiet after he let Old man Wang leave. He also went to bid farewell to Yu Ruyan. He could leave any time, but he just bought the manor here and he still had his Huoyun Blacksmith Store. He decided then that no matter where he went, his blacksmith store will always have the same name.

"Qing Shui, will you sell this place when you leave?"

"No, I won't sell it. I will just leave it. This is a very important place to me, I must definitely keep it. If I do come here again, I will have a place to stay. Keeping this place will give me the feeling of familiarity."

"Ok, that's true. Anyway, you don't lack funds. I guess you'll let those people stay here. You must be a kind person."

The people that Qing Shui employed to look after his properties were all handicapped people. He wanted to give them a job and he also paid them well.

"Oh, could you tell me about the Inner City? I am not quite sure, even living here in the outer city. Is The Four Kings Aristocrat Clan from Four Kings Street very powerful?" Qing Shui had a feeling that he could get quite a lot of information from Yan Jinyu.

"The Four Kings Aristocrat Clan from Four Kings Street are not that powerful, as they are just one of the branches. But they are one of the more prominent branches as they are important to the main clan in the Inner City. As for Black Wind Mountain, you could say Four Kings Aristocrat Clan is backed by them. How did you offend them?" Yan JInyu smiled at Qing Shui, Black Winds Mountain seemed insignificant to her.

Qing Shui was puzzled. Tantai Xuan was Putuo Mountain, yet he was wary of Black Wind Mountain. Putuo Mountain shouldn't be much weaker than Yan Clan. But then again, Yan City was one of the five largest cities in Great Yu Dynasty so it probably had a long heritage, with multiple deep-rooted clans which all spanned over generations, this it wasn't surprising that they could be comparable to Putuo Mountain.

He did really understand all that, just like he didn't understand this sworn sister of his. She was already at State Master level. What sort of sect or clan could nurture such talents? After all, her relatives were also around that caliber.

"No, they were coveting my woman. So I scared them. I'm not strong enough to kill them." Every time he thought about how he had to restrain himself, he couldn't help wanting to be even more powerful. Even though he was growing stronger at an extremely quick pace, he wasn't satisfied by his progress.

"Why don't I go along with you to kill those people from the Four Kings Aristocrat Clan (四王世家)!" Yan Jinyu said to Qing Shui.

Qing Shui was startled. When he looked At Yan Jinyu's face, he knew she was serious. His heart skipped a beat. He was shocked by this woman's prowess, whether it was from the powerful Yan Clan backing or her own strength. He knew that the Yan Clan was definitely stronger than Black Wind Mountain.

AST 1165 - Heaven Secrets Academy，Forging the Four Elements Greencloud Sword

"That's unnecessary. If I really want to kill them, I'll do it myself." Qing Shui grinned at the woman who had given him quite a few surprises.

"Why? Do you not trust my ability?" Yan Jinyu flashed Qing Shui an alluring smile.

This was the reason that he forced himself to take her as his real sister. He was afraid that he couldn't control his lust, so he constantly reminded himself about their relationship. Now that they were sworn siblings, he had clearly aligned himself with the Yan Clan. In any case, he would stand on their side.

"Sis, Yan Clan is the largest clan in Yan City. While Yan City is one of the five largest cities in Great Yu Dynasty. So, how powerful is Yan Clan?" Qing Shui was curious. Great Yu Dynasty was a Late Grade Two Dynasty, and he wanted to know what other powerful clans existed besides the royal family.

"Qing Shui, things have changed. Clans, sects and people who used to be very powerful might not retain their power. On the other hand, there are less prominent groups who might have grown in strength." Yan Jinyu reminded Qing Shui.

"That's true. The world is changing every second, just like every one of us." Qing Shui agreed. There are people who could ride on the tailcoats of others and there are people who can achieve heaven-defying feats. With this large world and its huge population, there were still many geniuses out there. A genius could easily change the entire course of fate and status for his or her clan.

"Yan Clan is indeed a powerful clan in Great Yu Dynasty. Yan City was even once the second biggest city in Great Yu Dynasty. Unfortunately,

Great Yu Dynasty shares its border with Great Virtue Dynasty. Scarlet Flame Region lies between Great Virtue Dynasty and Yan City. Although there is no great war between these two dynasties, there are frequent skirmishes. Within Scarlet Flame Region, there are various strong demonic beasts and cultivators. These cultivators are vile characters from both Great Yu Dynasty and Great Virtue Dynasty who hide in Scarlet Flame Region to avoid people who are seeking them for revenge. They occasionally go to either Great Yu Dynasty or Great Virtue Dynasty to assassinate other powerful and influential cultivators." Yan Jinyu sounded like she was at her wits end regarding this situation.

"Can't you organize a group of cultivators to corner and kill them?" Qing Shui could tell from Yan Jinyu's expression that Yan Clan must have suffered considerable losses due to those criminals as they were the leaders of Yan City.

"Those people are very crafty and stealthy, so they are extremely hard to catch. They always manage to get information about our operations. Once they know that a large group is targeting them, they escape to Scarlet Flame Region. That hot, acrid place is a vast land filled with danger. They have a strategic advantage once they escape into that region. No matter how many people we send, we can't do anything against them once they get into that region. Over these years, Yan Clan hasn't improved at all. But the other clans and sects are growing stronger each day. A few clans in Yan City are already planning to take over Yan Clan's position," Yan Jinyu said warily as she looked at Qing Shui.

Qing Shui finally knew why this woman wanted him to be her sworn brother so badly. It was definitely because of his forging skills. He was quite receptive to it now as he trusted that Yan Clan would certainly treat him fairly.

"Sis, do you mean that Yan Clan's position is being threatened now? Did you learn your current skills from your family or from some other masters?" Qing Shui asked with a smile.

"Due to circumstances, I learned my martial arts from Heaven Secrets Academy." Yan Jinyu seemed to be proud when she spoke of Heaven Secrets Academy.

"Heaven Secrets Academy" Qing Shui only knew about General Manor, but he had no idea what Heaven Secrets Academy was.

"Heaven Secrets Academy was one of the strongest clans in Western Oxhe Continent and was as strong as a Grade Four Dynasty. It existed along with two other Grade Four Dynasties over many generations, occupying a special status between a clan and a dynasty. Heaven Secrets Academy is well-regarded, but I am only considered an above average disciple there," Yan Jinyu explained briefly.

The continents filled with an unpredictable mix of people of varying talents, it is no surprise that there may be powerful organizations he had never even heard of. Ignoring the meaning of its name, Qing Shui found it fascinating that the strength of Heaven Secret Academy could actually rival that of a Grade Four Dynasty. If a genius like Yan Jinyu was only considered above average, one could only imagine how large Heaven Secrets Academy was.

"Those clans in Yan City probably won't dare to do anything against your clan. Putting aside the possibility of success, they definitely can't underestimate your capabilities!" Qing Shui said to Yan Jinyu thoughtfully.

"Yes. Some of the masters in Heaven Secret Academy appreciate my talents. If any one of them decided to sort things out on my behalf, those clans would just disappear from Yan city. That is also something that those clans are afraid of. However, Heaven Secret Academy is open to anyone in Western Oxhe Continent, as long as they are gifted. This means that if a person from another clan gains influence in Heaven Secret Academy, getting the support of the masters there, the whole power structure would totally change."

"Sis, what about the Royal Family of Great Yu Dynasty?" Qing Shui had been quite curious about this for some time.

"Let me put it this way, members of the royal family are not simple people. Not only do they have martial arts passed down through their lineage, they have other channels of obtaining power. For example, multiple members of the royal family of the Great Yu Dynasty are members of the Heaven Secrets Academy as well. Some of them are even masters there," Yan Jinyu replied.

"Does this mean that most of the aristocrat clans and royal families have connections in Heaven Secrets Academy?" Qing Shui was quite fascinated with this.

"There are a large number of aristocrat clans and royal families in Western Oxhe Continent. They don't necessarily have to join Heaven Secrets Academy. They could also join the two powerful Grade Four Dynasties. The royal families of those Dynasties actually allow people to pledge their allegiances to them. It is a win-win situation where they serve these dynasties and get their protection in return."

Now Qing Shui had a clear picture of the situation. The principle that people would always make use of each other would never change. Just as with other places, the connections between the clans and sects here are extremely complex yet the key to success was the influence one's clan could derive from their network. An obvious example of this was Yan Jinyu. If she was influential in Heaven Secrets Academy, Yan's clan position in Yan City would always remain, they could even be independent of the royal family.

"Qing Shui, even though we are sworn siblings. I will never involve you in Yan Clan's troubling matters. Don't worry." Yan Jinyu looked at Qing sincerely, almost as if afraid that Qing Shui would mistake her intentions.

Under normal circumstances, one would naturally suspect her intentions as she brought up the issues facing her clan right after she and Qing Shui became sworn siblings. Luckily, Yan Jinyu was more powerful than Qing Shui so to others that was barely a possibility.

"It's okay. I understand you, sis. I won't hold any prejudices against you. This is normal to me. I will make some food and we can head for the Inner City tomorrow." Qing Shui did not think too much about it, perhaps because he was very confident in his abilities. At least, he felt that it was quite easy to survive most attacks now. He decided he would just react to the circumstances. The most important thing for him now was to interact as much as possible with the circle of powerful people in this continent. He wanted to become stronger as fast as possible.

Qing Shui went into the kitchen to prepare some food without expecting that a woman of Yan Jinyu's status would step forward to help. She did, however, follow him into the kitchen, but he didn't say anything as he started cooking.

"Can you cook? Why don't I do it?" Yan Jinyu stood by the door looking at Qing Shui.

"Alright, you can go ahead!"

Yan Jinyu was speechless but since she had already offered, she had no choice. It wasn't that she was entirely useless at cooking but her cooking skills were just average. She threw a bitter glance at the smiling man. She found that he was quite brash, but she didn't dislike that.

Qing Shui did not stay idle. He helped her prepare the ingredients. When Yan Jinyu smelled the fragrance of the food she cooked, she was surprised. She couldn't believe that she could actually create such delicious smelling dishes.

But, she was intelligent, so she quickly found out that the fragrance was from the spices. There weren't any special spices used but the odd thing was that these spices were especially fragrant. It was unusual that a person like her who could only make sure that her dish was fully cooked could actually make dishes that smelled this good.

She did not ask Qing Shui about it. This man had too many secrets and perhaps that was even the reason which led to her requesting a man to be her sworn brother for the first and only time!

Qing Shui and Yan Jinyu sat at the table and had their dinner. Yan Jinyu smiled after her first taste of the food, "I haven't cooked for a long time. I can't believe I can make something this good. This is food is even better than that made by imperial chefs."

"I didn't expect you can cook this well too." Qing Shui added casually.

"As if!"

......

Qing Shui entered his Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal at night. He practiced his martial arts for a few days and then he took out a Greencloud Stone. This was going to be the first time Qing Shui was going to try to create the Four Elements Greencloud Sword from his memory.

Yan Jinyu gave him more than ample raw materials, though that did not impact his work much.

Qing Shui first forged the blade of the sword. The Four Elements Greencloud Sword's blade was slightly wider than the average sword and should be made by a mix of Greencloud Stone and Thunder Rock. He had Thunder Rocks with him, but they were not of the best quality. The Thunder Rocks he saw at the Ancient Ruins were the best but unfortunately he had not obtained them previously.

He could only make do with the slightly inferior Thunder Rocks now and reforge the sword next time if he found better Thunder Rocks in the future.

The blade of the sword was relatively easy to forge. He had to create an alloy of Greencloud Stone and Thunder Rock. Thunder Rock had a very high melting point, so he wasn't very confident that he could melt it down. If he really failed to melt it by conventional means, he would use his Nine Yang Golden Body which was at large success stage or Heart of Roc which was already perfected. Perhaps, it would work that way.

It took three full days before the Thunder Rock showed signs of melting. It was then that Qing Shui felt that it was not a bad choice to use these slightly inferior Thunder Rocks because he might not be able to melt them if they were of a higher quality.

He mixed the Greencloud Stone with the Thunder Rock, other materials and Celestial Stone. He did not use the Celestial Stones that Yan Yangzhao gave him previously and this time Yan Jinyu also gave him some.

It took exactly nine full days before he successfully melted the entire mixture! Nine full days!

After another nine days, he finally finished the structural form of the blade of the sword though this was well within Qing Shui's expectation. Qing Shui felt a little emotional because he knew that he was going to create a sword that was comparable to his Big Dipper Sword or even better!

Looking at the blade, he started to hammer it with his Violet Star Thunder God. This process was not very long but it was crucial as the blade of a sword determines its strength.

Hammer once, twice...until he couldn't even remember how many times he had hammered the metal. He did not really care about the number of times he hammered because he enjoyed the process and he felt an impulse to just continue hammering. Each time he hammered on the blade, he felt a comfortable feeling all over. It was like taking a warm bath under the sunlight of winter or like the old tree slowly budding again...

AST 1166 - Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging，Reaching Ten Nimbus，A powerful blade

Qing Shui immersed himself in that wondrous feeling. Forging had already become such an enjoyment that he could lose himself in it.

Ding!

Qing Shui did not know how long he had been hammering, but he finally heard a bright crisp sound, which was then accompanied by a resplendent glimmer. It immediately woke him from his trance-like state; a state where he felt like he was a drop of water in the huge ocean, or a stirring ancient tree, or a bird flying in the sky. It was as if he was suddenly conscious of what he was doing.

The glimmer from the blade was bright. Even though Qing Shui recovered his senses very quickly, he didn't see the colors of the light, but he was sure it was not only five colors. After all, his Ancient Art of Forging could only improve, thus logically, he concluded that it had reached the next level.

Qing Shui did not examine the blade in his hand but rather entered his Sea of Consciousness and looked at the state of his Ancient Art of Forging.

Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging!

Under the description, he read something that delighted him. There is a small probability that he would be able to successfully create a legendary grade armor, weapon, or accessory. Qing Shui was amazed by this as he did not expect to suddenly reach the Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging. It was indeed a right decision to help Yan Jinyu forge this Four Elements Greencloud Sword. That woman seemed to have good fortunes and associating with her somehow brought luck to Qing Shui as well.

Previously, thoughts about reaching the Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging did occupy his mind but as it become harder and harder to achieve, he gradually stopped thinking of when he would reach that breakthrough and how he could do it. For him, the most important thing was to become stronger, the art of forging was actually only secondary.

Now that he had reached this breakthrough, he was definitely worthy of the term Master Blacksmith. In the Western Oxhe Continent, there were probably a very little amount of people who could exceed him in his skills on forging. This was something he was pretty confident about.

Even though there was only a small probability that he would be able to produce a legendary grade armament, the main point was that it was finally possible. Qing Shui didn't know how strong a legendary grade weapon was, but still, it cannot be compared to a Divine Artifact. He only knows that legendary grade weapons, armors and accessories were considered top-tiered. He couldn't control his excitement when he thought about it.

That was not the only good news. He felt that his strength had increased after the breakthrough and it was quite significant. His natural strength had increased by a shocking two Nimbus and this was brought by his breakthrough on the Thousand Hammer Technique!

Qing Shui was suddenly enlightened. Using his hands like hammers in the Thousand Hammer Technique required the tactful use of both his arms and hands, as he also need to moderate the synergy of his strength and creativity.

He could even feel some changes in his State of Immovable as Mountains. Qing Shui felt that the enhancement brought by the Seven-colored Pellet had increased from 7x to 7.2x. He could tell that it was probably because he also reached a breakthrough on his Immovable Mountains. He knew that it had increased his strength now by two folds. Additionally,the Immovable Mountains could directly affect the use of heavy weapons in terms of the execution of strokes, as well as the overall aura and grace while using these weapons.

This was a dramatic change for the Ancient Art of Forging. The breakthrough from the Pentacolor to Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging could be described as a normal person who suddenly became an immortal.

With the sudden increase of his base strength to ten Nimbus, Qing Shui felt a little lightheaded as this breakthrough came from a fortuitous event and it was a bit too sudden. This degree of increase might be insignificant to others but for Qing Shui, it was different as his overall strength was amplified by his Seven-colored Pellet and Arhat Rosary Beads.

This pleasant surprise really gave him too much excitement, that he couldn't help but to think of Yan Jinyu. She was really his lucky star as he wouldn't be able to reach this breakthrough without her.

After regaining his composure, Qing Shui looked at the blade he had forged. This was the sword that helped him breakthrough to the Hexacolor Rainbow Art of Forging. Even though it was still incomplete, he was already in awe of his own creation.

Using his Thousand Hammer Technique, he removed the impurities from the alloy of the Greencloud Stone and the Thunder Rock, refining both metals to create an incredible blade.

It could increase the user's strength by five folds and their spirit energy by two folds. It also gives the user a 20% chance of doubling their attack damage (including damage from spirit energy). There was also a 10% chance that the attack would be imbued with an electrical effect. Using this sword also reduces stamina consumption by 20%.

This was the attributes of the blade, which was more or less close to the final completed form of the Four Elements Greencloud Sword. Usually, there won't be much of drastic changes from this nearly complete form once it was completed. Even at this point, its stats was already far better than his Big Dipper Sword. He was already feeling a little envious, it could boost his strength insanely if he could use this sword.

Qing Shui had an impulse to keep the sword for himself, but he quickly erased that thought. He knew that he would feel guilty if he did that and it could definitely affect his cultivation. Even if he forged this sword for a stranger, he would still give the complete product to his customer, let alone Yan Jinyu. That woman had already brought him a lot of benefits and she was also his sworn sister, so he knew he just had to do his best to forge the sword for her.

Qing Shui felt a little despicable for having the thoughts of keeping the sword for himself. But he had already done well as a cultivator, holding a blade he could use and one which was so much better than his usual weapon, was a great temptation to any cultivator. It was a temptation that was greater than any beautiful woman.

Four Elements Greencloud Sword had four Seal Formation, namely Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. Thus, theoretically, it could activate the Gloom Covering Skies and Earth, the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance, the Fly Sand Rolling Stones and the Soaring Dragon Sea Quake. However, he did not know how it would perform these in reality.

Qing Shui didn't stop practicing how to carve seal formations ever since he arrived in the Five Continent and started being able to carve seal formations. He spent most of his time in his Firecloud Blacksmith Store to research and study how to carve these seal formations.

The Fire Snake seal gave the user a certain percentage of success to activate the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance. Once a target is ensnared, they would end up in a horrible fate. Qing Shui was most pleased with this particular seal formation.

Qing Shui did not know how powerful the Tornado Seal would be. He only knew that wind was one of Nature's most powerful arsenal. Winds could come together and generate horrible hurricanes and tornadoes which could level mountain ranges.

As for the Water Dragon Seal, it was the symbol of a sea dragon from the sea. One could only imagine the power that is embodied in such a symbol.

Qing Shui had studied many seal formations. Generally, the nature of each seal was related to one of the Five Elements. Even the Lightning Wind Seal could be categorized under one of the Elements. In fact, everything in this world was categorized under at least under one of the Elements.

Qing Shui only started carving the seal formations after he rested and thought about it for some time. The first seal formation he carved, which was the Fire Snake Seal, went well. As the blade possessed a Thunder Rock, he associated it with Thunder Fire. Because of this, he decided to carve the Fire Snake Seal first.

Qing Shui had to estimate well the size of the seal formations as all of them had to be linked together. If they were too small, the cyclical flow between them would also be small. Whereas, they might conflict with each other if they were too large.

He stopped after a bit of time had passed. He took out a few swords created from Metallic Essence, they were about the same size as the Four Element Greencloud Sword. Then, he started to carve the four seal formations on the swords.

With Qing Shui's current forging skills, he easily upgraded the normal Metallic Essence into Tempered Metallic Essence and shaped the swords to look like the Greencloud sword. They all had the attribute to increase the user's strength by three folds and some additional special attribute. Unfortunately, the material was too inferior, so they would be easily worn down with any expert user.

Qing Shui's aim was to practice carving the formation seals so that they connected well. First, he had to connect the essence between two seal formations. He had to let each seal to have individual cycles before he linked them to create a larger cycle.

Luckily, he continuously practiced carving seal formations all this time and had also practiced how to link two seal formations. However, he had never tried to add a third or fourth seal formation, so he didn't dare to hastily carve one on the Greencloud Sword.

Qing Shui tested adding the third seal formation, guiding the flow from the existing two seals into the cyclical flow of the third. It was like solving a geometrical means mathematical question, it was easy to overlook some details.

Failure!

Failure!

Success!

"My God! Another failure!"

Qing Shui looked at the massive pile of weapons he had wasted with his failed seal formation carvings.

He was able to link the cyclical flow between three seal formations quite confidently. However, each time he added the fourth formation seal, it would shatter the entire sword. Swords don't get easily damage through impacts with other swords but conflict within the internal energies of the sword can easily shatter it.

Qing Shui calmed himself down and thought deeply.

"Five Elements Talismans... Does this mean that I have to follow the general principles of the Five Elements."

Under the sequence of Gold, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, the elements engender each other, while also countering an opposing element. The Fissure Seal belongs to Earth, the Tornado Seal belongs to Gold (Wind is generally considered under the Gold Element), the Fire Snake Seal belonged to Fire and the Water Dragon Seal belonged to Water.

The Fissure Seal engenders the Tornado Seal and the Tornado Seal engenders the Water Dragon Seal. Whereas, the Water Dragon Seal counters the Fire Snake Seal while the Fire Snake Seal engenders the Fissure Seal!

Suddenly Qing Shui understood something after he contemplated about it more. The Four Elements Greencloud Sword has to follow the flow of the Four Elements. Qing Shui picked up another sword and started carving.

This time he carved all five elements on the sword this time. The reason Qing Shui failed previously was because he could not handle the countering elements with his current standard.

Then he tried again, as he put in every effort he had. He failed again but Qing Shui smiled because he knew that he was on the right track. There wasn't anything wrong with the Four Elements, it was just the limitation of his skills. If he added one other seal formation, it might not activate but it could at least reduce the conflicting energies between the Fire Snake Seal and the Water Dragon Seal.

AST 1167 - The Powerful Four Elements Greencloud Sword

From there, Qing Shui continued carving. Although he kept on failing, he was able to get a sense of how it should be each time and then he would cross this barrier.

Time passed by unknowingly. When a five-colored light ray was emitted, Qing Shui let out an exhalation. He looked at the longsword which was ordinary to begin with but now was flowing with colorful lights and felt a great sense of satisfaction.

It was a success!

Qing Shui looked at this valuable Four Elements Long Sword.

Heavenly Vision Technique!

Four Elements Metallic Sword. Increases user's strength by threefold and increases a small amount of spirit energy. It has a 20% chance of doubling the prowess of the user's attacks and a 10% chance that there would be an effect which might be either Gloom Covering Skies and Earth, Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance, Fly Sand Rolling Stones or the Soaring Dragon Sea Quake. Its impact would be affected by the sword's size and the cultivator's abilities.

This sword was made from poor materials and could spoil easily. Diamond or other materials could be added to strengthen it!

Carving these Seal Formations was actually so that the powers from these four talismans could be unleashed. The success rate was still 10%. 10% wasn't considered low. There would be an average of one hit out of ten tries. However, it would also be possible for there to be two consecutive successes or even the possibility that there wasn't a single success even after 30 or 50 attempts.

Diamonds weren't considered the most top notch and precious, but they were still very valuable. At least, Qing Shui didn't have any diamonds on hand. However, these things could be purchased. It was just that they could only be acquired through trade and he would need to get them through connections.

As for adding other things, Qing Shui felt that the golden extract essence and 10,000 Year coldsteel weren't bad either. However, the diamond should be absolutely necessary. After all, this was something which must be added since it had been actually refined for that.

Just to be safe, Qing Shui once carved several swords. As they said, one would be unfamiliar at the first attempt, familiar at the second attempt and become a master at the third attempt. Qing Shui carved on over ten swords, each taking him about half a day. His determination was really strong.

He took a break, had some food and after he was well rested, he carved on another sword to warm up before he worked on carving on the Greencloud Sword.

Although Qing Shui wasn't considered to be well-trained in this, he had gained familiarity in the process through his practice. If there were no accidents, he shouldn't fail.

When the familiar five-colored lights flashed again, it wasn't just five-colored lights. Including the sword's body itself, it was six-colored lights. In that moment, the colorful glow was brilliant. Qing Shui finally relaxed. The glow this time was more brilliant than ever.

He has succeeded!

After the glow on the sword's body disappeared, it became rustic looking. The bit of golden extract essence, 10,000 Year coldsteel, violet jade and other materials which had been added in at the point of forging couldn't be seen. Right now, there were only some ancient runes on the surfaces which exuded a world weary aura. The entire sword appeared rustic and impressive, bearing a silvery grey color.

It looked very nice and could be used by both males and females. Qing Shui quickly looked toward this brand new weapon!

Four Elements Greencloud Sword!

It was forged by repeated tempering of Greencloud Stone, Thunder Rock and other materials. The useless residues were removed during the tempering process, refining the energies from the Greencloud Stone, Thunder Rock and other materials.

It increases the user's strength by five fold, spirit energy by twofold and there was a 20% chance that the prowess of the user's attacks would be doubled, even for spirit energy attacks. There was also a 10% chance that there would be an effect which might be either Gloom Covering Skies and Earth, Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance, Fly Sand Rolling Stones or the Soaring Dragon Sea Quake. Its impact would be affected by the sword's size and the cultivator's abilities.

The depletion of the user would be reduced by 20% when using this sword.

It was only now that the sword could be called the Four Elements Greencloud Sword. The sword had been completed. Qing Shui couldn't help but want to try it out, but he didn't do so. That was because some weapons were very strange. After one person had used it, for a very long period of time in the future, it could be such that the other users of the sword might not be able to wield it well.

Qing Shui dismissed this thought. Thinking of this made him want to laugh. It was because it was akin to a virgin female, whereby the first time was very important. Legendary grade weapons and divine artifacts seemed to all have this aspect to them, which was to recognize their owners. It was as if they would be stamped with the ownership label after they had recognized their first owner.

Therefore, Qing Shui could only try out those which had been forged by ordinary metallic essence. He rose into mid-air and tried to use them, slowly channeling his Qi of the Ancient Strengthening Technique in the swords. The metal swords which appeared to be a little rustic now had a hint of glow but it was very minute.

Basic Sword Techniques!

Qing Shui practiced stance after stance and very quickly, over ten moves were completed. However, there was still no sign of the "Four Elements". Just as Qing Shui was distracted, a strong ripple suddenly appeared on the tip of the sword!

Hssss!

Several tens of thick and huge fire snakes appeared over ten meters before the sword, instantly forming something that was like a cage made of the fire snakes. The sounds and energy exuded caused one's heart to beat faster.

Qing Shui stopped, feeling very satisfied. The entire process from the point of the energy fluctuation to the appearance of the fire snakes was very short but it did occur. If one could notice this beforehand and excelled in speed, they might be able to avoid being hit fatally. However, it would be very hard to escape from the attack unscathed.

Overall, it was considered to be quite a powerful weapon. Putting down the sword in his hands, he checked out the sky. Unknowingly, it was already about time for him to head out.

Qing Shui washed up and had a change of clothes. He was in a good mood. He had gotten a lot stronger and he could also reforge his Big Dipper Sword later. It might be able to increase his abilities to the level of the lowest grade State Master.

Qing Shui didn't know if it was still possible for him to power up his Big Dipper Sword further. He felt that right now, it was very easy for him to forge weapons which could increase one's strength by fourfold and he would need some luck to make weapons which increased one's strength by five fold. It was just like when he was helping Yan Jinyu to forge the Four Elements Greencloud Sword. He had just attained a breakthrough to the Hexa-color Rainbow Art of Forging and thus the attributes to this sword were considered very good. Right now, it would be very hard for Qing Shui to forge another Four Elements Greencloud Sword which was exactly the same. It would take some luck.

Thankfully, Qing Shui had always been one to be considered quite lucky. This was a mysterious ability. Rather than luck, it would be better referred to as Qing Shui's abilities!

When Qing Shui exited the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal, it was already day outside but it was still early. Qing Shui went for his morning practice but when he arrived at the backyard, he saw that a lady was already there, dancing with her sword.

Yan Jinyu!

Her weapon was a longsword and her sword moves were very mysterious. It wasn't light and agile, nor was it a sword dance. Her sword moves were very strange, it was as if each attack had its own unique feeling. It was as if they held the powers of the world.

This was a feeling, borrowing the force from the world. It was like if one stood in a high place and looked afar, while one's vision might not actually have become better, the person would be able to see further away. This was what it meant by borrowing force. It was a mental state and was commonly seen. However, there were different levels to it. Using weapons was also one way to do that but it was considered a minor form. What Yan Jinyu was doing was a major form. Legends had it that powerful experts could crush mountains and rivers with a wave of their hands, borrowing the aura and pressure from the world, flipping seas and great rivers. They could even knock down the stars in the skies.

Yan Jinyu turned to look at Qing Shui, smiled, nodded and returned to her sword practice. Qing Shui, on the other hand, continued to look Yan Jinyu while she was doing her sword practice, as he casually practiced his Taichi Fist.

He had already reached quite a good level in this area but it seemed that he was still not comparable to Yan Jinyu. The only thing he could bring out in this area was his Taichi but it was still a far cry from Yan Jinyu's.

However, Qing Shui was very happy. It was because he seemed to have sensed something new. Therefore, while he practiced his Taichi Fist, he continued to sense Yan Jinyu's aura and the charms she was exuding.

These were things which couldn't be picked up and required one's individual comprehension. Qing Shui had already gotten to the level of introduction and had even gotten some comprehension. Unknowingly, the fist force he was demonstrating was getting increasingly stronger.

Qing Shui's Taichi mental state had just increased and was still in the phase where he was required to stabilize it. Right now, he finally seemed to have stabilized it.

"The transformation you go through is really unbelievable. From the first time I met you until now, you're at least twice as strong as before." Yan Jinyu put away her sword, walked up next to Qing Shui and said with a weird look.

"I'm just lucky to have attained some breakthroughs!" Qing Shui smiled and stopped. It was about time anyway.

"You never speak a word of truth. Let's go get some food and then prepare to head to the inner city!" Yan Jinyu looked at Qing Shui and said, smiling.

"This is for you. Test it out and see if you're satisfied with it!"

Qing Shui took out the Four Elements Greencloud Sword and passed it to Yan Jinyu.

When Yan Jinyu saw the Four Elements Greencloud Sword, her beautiful eyes shone. She liked the rustic Seal Formation prints on it. It appeared to be a little old but was pleasing to the eyes and very sturdy. It wouldn't lose out to any luxurious looking weapons. It had its own impressive aura.

Yan Jinyu looked at Qing Shui and then slowly took the sword. When she saw the little bit of glow flowing through the Four Elements Greencloud Sword, she looked at Qing Shui in surprise. Her tender lips opened slightly and Qing Shui could even see her pink and tender tongue. Her shocked expression caused Qing Shui to be stunned.

This lady was very beautiful. Hers was a serene beauty, not a flamboyant one. However, no one would be able to ignore her. Her existence was one which could unknowingly bring harm to a country and its citizens.

When Qing Shui regained his senses, he saw a faint pink glow on her cheeks. He smiled awkwardly and said, "Elder Sister is so beautiful that it's almost a match for my wife..."

Yan Jinyu was taken aback by Qing Shui's words. Beautiful ladies tended to think highly of themselves. She smiled and looked at Qing Shui, "Is Miss Tantai from Putuo Mountain your wife?"

"No!" Qing Shui said directly.

"Qing Shui, then do you wish to marry her?" Yan Jinyu asked softly.

"I don't. I already have a lot of wives."

Yan Jinyu: "..."

Yan Jinyu looked at the sword in her hand and turned away from this topic, "This is really surprising. To think that your forging abilities have already reached this level. This sword can allow me to be about the level of a Grade Two State Master."

Yan Jinyu couldn't conceal her excitement. Her previous weapon increased her strength by less than fourfold but now, with the Four Elements Greencloud Sword, her prowess increased by a lot. This additional one fold was really a lot. Moreover, her spirit energy, depletion and four elements all went through a tremendous change.

Qing Shui told her about the sword's abilities. In fact, Yan Jinyu could also sense most of it, but she wouldn't know about the things like the 四法 unless she tried it for herself.

"Qing Shui, this sword is too precious. Sister likes it a lot. Tell me what you need, I'll see if I can satisfy your request." Yan Jinyu gave it some thought and said very seriously.

"You want to stand on ceremony with me?" Qing Shui smiled as he looked at her.

"No. I can't bear to return it to you. I'm just very happy. Being your elder sister, I haven't given you anything before but yet you've shown me a lot of kindness." Yan Jinyu said, finding it a little embarrassing.

"Then you can call me elder brother..."

"You can go die! Don't even think about it." Yan Jinyu gave Qing Shui a slight punch and said.

In this moment, a rapturous mood filled the air.

AST 1168 - Heavenly Secrets Pill, Qing Shui's Opportunity, The Area of Yang City, Spiritual Sense Locked On

Qing Shui controlled the outrageous thought in his mind. He felt that it was the right decision to become sworn siblings with her. At least for now, he could use this reason to erase some of his inappropriate thoughts toward her.

Men are born to be amorous. Beautiful ladies would always be a fatal weakness for men, especially for a capable man. Capable men would never have a shortage of women and would frequently meet ladies who they would fall for.

Sometimes, falling for someone can be very simple. Just by the clothes the person was wearing, a single gaze, voice, a simple action, a disposition, how a person carried himself or herself or even an expression. There were countless possibilities.

Amongst the ladies Qing Shui knew of, there were those who had made his heart beat faster but yet they were only considered friends. Qinghan Ye, Ye Guyan, Long Lingyun...

Qing Shui even felt that he basically had no interactions with them anymore and if there were no accidents, their paths might never meet again. Liking something new was an instinct. Qing Shui didn't approve of liking new stuff and discarding the old and he wouldn't dislike the old either, especially when it was applied to people. The longer people got to know each other, the closer they would get and the more they would consider each other family. Family ties was something that couldn't be cut off. Only beasts would throw away old partners after they have taken a liking to new ladies. For his own women, he would try his best not to take a liking to someone new.

"I'll give you this. This was something given to me by my teacher. It's the Heavenly Secrets Pill. Each pill will increase your physical strength by one nimbus and only one can be taken each year, with a maximum of ten per person. It doesn't increase a lot of strength but I hope that you won't despise it. Compared to what you have, your Elder Sister doesn't have much to give you." Yan Jinyu handed Qing Shui a small porcelain bottle that was the size of a fist.

Qing Shui was so agitated that he trembled. The Great Yu Dynasty really had good stuff. Increase one's physical strength by one nimbus was considered little?

Qing Shui had his seven-colored pellet, Arhat Rosary Beads, Buddha Image, Nine Continents Mountain... but other people only had their weapons and Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation. The increase brought by their martial techniques was comparatively lesser, especially when compared to Qing Shui's seven-colored pellet.

None of them knew how powerful Qing Shui's seven-colored pellet was. For every increase of one nimbus of strength others would receive, Qing Shui would get eight nimbus worth. If he were to take into account other factors, it would be even higher. Qing Shui's physical strength would actually include what he got from the seven-colored pellet since it was something passive and permanent, increasing over seven fold additional physical strength.

Therefore, Qing Shui's physical body as very strong. As his cultivation increased in the future, it would get even stronger. This was how terrifying the seven-colored pellet was. However, Yan Jinyu didn't know about that. After all, to her, increasing one nimbus or several nimbus of strength a year was nothing much. However, Qing Shui had the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. It was just a pity that each person could only take up to ten pills and gain ten nimbus of strength from the pills. Qing Shui was very excited. If he wasn't mistaken, there should be ten pills in this bottle and he would be able to let his strength increase to 20 nimbus very soon...

Qing Shui received it, "I like this very much. I shan't stand on ceremony with sister then. Have you already taken ten of it?"

"I have. This is considered a benchmark in Great Yu Dynasty. Only those who are Grade Five Martial Emperors or higher are allowed to take it. In Great Yu Dynasty, after we've taken the amount we require, we can use the rest to exchange for other useful items." Yan Jinyu smiled and said.

As expected of a large faction. The things which they could bring out were different. To Yan Jinyu, an increase of one nimbus worth of strength was nothing. This went to show that Great Yu Dynasty should have better things.

However, to Qing Shui, getting an increase of one nimbus worth of strength was a huge amount. Even with the breakthrough he attained with the Hexa-color Rainbow Art of Forging, he had only gotten an increase of two nimbus for his physical strength.

"Then I shan't stand on ceremony either. This thing is very precious to me and if I were to choose, I'd rather choose the Heavenly Secrets Pill over the Four Elements Greencloud Sword." Qing Shui said happily. This lady was really a bearer of good tidings to him.

What Qing Shui didn't know was that the Heavenly Secrets Pill was also very valuable in the Great Yu Dynasty and Yan Jinyu had only taken one. This was what her teacher had given to her and this bottle was the reward for attaining Grade One State Master level. And she had given it to Qing Shui...

Qing Shui sensed that this medicinal pill was very powerful. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said what he did to Yan Jinyu. He felt that the Great Yu Dynasty could compete with a Grade Four Dynasty. Moreover, after what Yan Jinyu said earlier, Qing Shui didn't give it much thought and just felt that it was quite little for a person to only be able to take ten of them.

Seeing that Qing Shui liked it, Yan Jinyu felt very happy as well. She had really wanted to give Qing Shui something. After all, even a Grade Two or Grade Three State Master would like this sword a lot. At their levels, a weapon was quite important for a State Master level cultivator.

"Mmm, oh right, Qing Shui. I still have some Greencloud Stone here. It's probably not enough for another sword. This sword was also forged from Greencloud Stone. Can it be smelted?" Yan Jinyu suddenly thought of something and brought out some things, showing them to Qing Shui.

Qing Shui's eyes lit up. The Greencloud Stone was considered quite a precious material and he was still troubled over the fact that there weren't sufficient materials for him to forge the Big Dipper Sword. With this, it should be about enough!

"Since it's not enough to forge another sword, I'll take it!" Seeing that Yan Jinyu was really giving it to him, Qing Shui didn't stand on ceremony.

"Come, let's go grab some food and then make a move!" Yan Jinyu happily tugged Qing Shui's sleeves and headed for the manor.

The two of them had unknowingly gotten much closer. Of course, a large part of it was due to the fact that they had become sworn siblings. They were friends to begin with but now, they had more interactions. For example, Qing Shui could give this sword to Yan Jinyu, leading her to feel from the bottom of her heart that this guy was very reliable. It was because she knew that Qing Shui's own weapon wasn't as good as this one. She could sense it.

She understood well how important a weapon was to a cultivator. She could sense Qing Shui's true heart and thus could tug Qing Shui's sleeves, feeling at ease.

Yan Jinyu was still the one who cooked this time around.Qing Shui gave her a lot of the fragrant fruits, making her both happy and worried. She was afraid that in the future, she'd only be able to eat the food that she cooked for herself. She was worried that she would eat too much, not because she'd grow fat but because she didn't like the feeling of eating a lot.

Yan Jinyu got Uncle Zong to bring them back on the draconic horse. It required quite a bit of time to head to the inner city and even powerful flying demonic beasts would need ten days to half a month.

"Elder Sister, there's a faster way to head to the inner city but you'll have to make a little sacrifice." Qing Shui didn't wish to waste time on traveling and toward Yan Jinyu, there wasn't a need to hide anything from her.

"Sacrifice what?" Yan Jinyu looked at Qing Shui, stunned.

"I'll need to hold your hand. We're now siblings, you won't let your imagination run wild, right...?"

"You're the one letting your imagination run wild!" Yan Jinyu said that and then stretched out her hand with a weird expression. Although she appeared to be calm, her heart was actually very erratic. She hadn't felt like this before and hadn't even held hands with her own brother when they had grown up.

"I'll need both hands..." Qing Shui took one of her soft hands and said.

Qing Shui could sense that she was very nervous. She was the Young Miss to Yan City's Yan Clan and was extremely beautiful. She should have quite a number of suitors. Moreover, there should be even more people and more talents in Great Yu Dynasty. He felt that she should have a boyfriend or even a fiance. However, she seemed to be very nervous at the moment. It shouldn't be that bad to be just holding hands. Moreover, they were siblings in name.

Qing Shui took her soft and beautiful hands and leaped into the air. Yan Jinyu lowered her head slightly, as if not willing to meet Qing Shui's gaze.

Nine Continents Steps!

...

After one Nine Continents Steps, Yan Jinyu looked in surprise at the city under them, then at Qing Shui. She was once again astonished by this guy. He held too many secrets. They did it for another repetitive seven times and although it didn't bring them to the inner city, they had already covered half the journey.

"Right now, I can only travel this distance within a day. Based on what you say, we should be able to reach there tomorrow. We happen to be above a city. Why don't we go down and take a look?" Qing Shui smiled and suggested.

"Alright!" Yan Jinyu smiled and then gently drew back her hands.

Qing Shui quickly let go and then the two of them descended. Qing Shui thought of how traveling this way would even save the need to have a flying mount.

Yang City!

Although this was Yan City, there were still some other names for the certain parts of the city. For example, the area they were in was known as Yang City or rather, the area around Yang City.

There were over a thousand cities in Great Yu Dynasty. Other than the imperial city, Yu City, the Yan City was one of the five largest cities in the dynasty. Not only were they powerful, they had a considerably large land size as well.

Every city was very luxurious and over the years, Qing Shui had passed by many cities. He had only passed by them briefly each time and he did the same for Yang City as well, staying for only a day.

"Has Sister came here before?" Qing Shui spoke out casually, as if he wasn't really asking a question but just calmly making a statement.

"I haven't. I haven't been to many cities in Yan City either. However, I often look at maps and stuff. The world is too big and even if I spend my whole life traveling, I might not be able to go to many cities."

The two of them chatted on their way and time passed by very quickly. Right now, they were just spending some time walking around in Yang City.

Suddenly, Qing Shui had a feeling as if he had been locked onto by a spiritual sense. Even Yan Jinyu seemed to have sensed something similar. He asked softly, "Sister, did you sense anything strange?"

When Qing Shui asked, Yan Jinyu's countenance changed, "You sensed that too?"

"I'm not too sure, that's why I'm asking Sister." Qing Shui said calmly and the two of them continued to walk as they spoke. They didn't stop nor look around.

"We've just arrived here and have traveled in this manner. By rights, we shouldn't have been followed so quickly." Yan Jinyu seemed to be unable to understand this.

"Sister, do you have confidence? This person's spiritual sense seems to be very concealed. The person must not be weak." Qing Shui followed Yan Jinyu as they went through the crowd.

"The owner of this spiritual sense should excel in spirit energy. In the past, I wouldn't have confidence but right now, with the sword you gave me, I do. I just don't know how many of them are there." Yan Jinyu relaxed her frown.

"Put this on！" Qing Shui took out a Sacred Jade Divine Stone Ring, grabbed her hand and put it on. The moment it was put on, a gold needle in his sleeves pricked Yan Jinyu's fingertip and blood seeped into the Sacred Jade Divine Stone Ring.

Recognizing owner just through blood was an item of legendary grade. Qing Shui hadn't planned on giving it to her initially since he didn't have many of them anymore. He still needed to save one for Di Chen. These things were hard to come by. He had also planned to save a few of them as family treasures in the future...

However, having met such an encounter and this was his sworn elder sister whom he had completed the vows with before the gods, he eventually decided to let her have it for her safety.

AST 1169 - Battle, Prowess of the Four Elements Greencloud Sword, Five Elements Contravention

Yan Jinyu was a little numb to it by now. Qing Shui continued to tell her about how to use the Sacred Jade Divine Stone Ring. In fact, she had already known of the abilities it had and letting it recognize her as its owner was the fastest and most accurate way for her to familiarize herself with this object.

"Let's go meet them. If we really can't handle them then we'll run," Qing Shui smiled and said.

Yan Jinyu thought about it and said worriedly? "They should be people from Scarlet Flame Region, they were previously Yan Clan's enemies or could even be people who wish to replace Yan Clan. They should have seen that Uncle Zong had left alone by himself. I wonder how he is now."

"People from Scarlet Flame Region?" Qing Shui guessed as much, but he hadn't expected that he would come into contact with these people so soon. He wasn't satisfied with his current abilities. After all, the people he would need to go up against were people who were on the same level as Yan Jinyu, people who were going against Yan Clan. Therefore, many of them would be at State Master level.

If he was at the Western Oxhe Continent, didn't know Yan Jinyu, Tantai Xuan and the others, didn't know of any forging skills, it would be very hard for him to encounter State Master level cultivators. Although these encounters seemed to be very dangerous, they were also opportunities. Otherwise, his cultivation wouldn't have grown so rapidly during this period of time.

He didn't regret taking this path. He felt that it was very good. Although there were dangers, there were opportunities as well. He believed that if he were to encounter danger, he would have the abilities to escape if he wished to.

"Mmm, it should. Let's head up to the sky. They'll probably show themselves very soon," Yan Jinyu said this to Qing Shui, headed into a more remote place and then flew up to the sky.

Qing Shui quickly followed after her. They went up high in the air where ordinary people wouldn't be able to see. The skies would always be the place where strong cultivators fought.

Qing Shui stood next to Yan Jinyu, who had came to a stop and said, "Since you're here, why are you hiding yourself? Come out!"

Silence fell and no one appeared. However, there were many clouds which were thick like smoke. Those places were the only places in the sky where people could possibly hide. Of course, it would be another story if they were to know how to conceal themselves. However, the "Art of Concealment" was a legendary existence. At the very least, Qing Shui hadn't seen it before.

Qing Shui sent out his spirit energy to the surroundings like formless hands. Very soon, he found a spot. However, it was too far and hard for him to attack.

Swoosh!

Qing Shui shot out a coldsteel bead from his hand. He had used the spiritual sense for his Hidden Weapons Arts to lock on his target, who would only be given the option to fend it off face on or keep on dodging until the coldsteel bead's power ran out.

Ding...

After a series of crisp sounds, an old man walked out from behind a thick cloud. The old man was tall and slender, wearing grey clothes. The old man's appearance was especially ordinary and on the first look, anyone would think of him as such. Only his pair of eyes would occasionally reveal a sharp gaze.

"Who are you? Why are you following us?" Yan Jinyu looked at the old man and asked calmly.

"Why are we following you? Is there a need to ask this? Yan Clan was the one had put us on the wanted list. We can only live in Scarlet Flame Region. If we don't look for you guys, who should we be looking for?" The old man smiled and looked at Yan Jinyu.

Yan Jinyu paused for a moment before saying, "The people wanted by Yan Clan are all people who have committed heinous crimes. Yan Clan would definitely not order the arrest of anyone without a reason. You guys have killed the innocent and haven't observed the rules for cultivators."

"Haha, lass, as long as there are good people in this world, there well be bad ones. If there aren't bad people, how would there be any good ones? There's actually no difference between the good and the bad, only the difference between the strong and the weak. Right now, Yan Clan are the ones with the power, then you're naturally the one to be the good people who calls the shots. However, times will change and very soon, Yan Clan will be buried in history," the old man smiled and said.

"Do you know what righteousness is? What it means by the evil won't triumph the good? Only those who have the support from the people will be able to last. Have you seen any evil-doer who was able to live for very long? It's because you guys aren't suitable for this world and will end up getting eliminated."

"Excuses, those are all excuses. Many places in this world are controlled by the people whom you guys think are evil-doers. Aren't those places still peaceful? To be straight, we've brought harm to your interests and threatened your position. Alright, I don't wish to say too much either. Today, I'll start with you first to get some interest. I'll get my payback slowly in the future," the old man said impatiently.

With that, the old man took out a strange weapon that was four feet long. It was like a staff but yet not one; it was a little like a mace but yet its very tip was like a snake's head.

Yan Jinyu took out the Four Elements Greencloud Sword and said to Qing Shui, "Qing Shui, you can just watch from the sides. Keep yourself safe."

Qing Shui nodded, not saying anything. After all, with his current cultivation, it was still a little hard for him to deal with this situation. It was because this old man's cultivation should be at the peak of a Grade One State Master and was probably very close to becoming a Grade Two State Master. After all, he had come to assault and kill Yan Jinyu.

The old man looked at Yan Jinyu, swung his weird looking weapon, sending a light blue glow which seemed like a hand, grabbing toward Yan Jinyu.

Spirit energy attack, Tangling Hands!

The old man's cultivation was related to spirit energy. Although this Tangling Hands appeared to be a simple attack, if one was tangled up by it, their movements and speed would be restricted. Then, the old man would be able to use his killer moves without a care.

Yan Jinyu shook her Four Elements Greencloud Sword, bringing forth shadows that seemed to appear like a brilliant sunflower, engaging the opponent's Tangling Hands.

Pa!

The old man's Tangling Hands were scattered off and with a flash, Yan Jinyu dashed toward the old man.

The old man seemed to be stunned to have his Tangling Hands stopped. However, he reacted very quickly and with a wave of his hand, a light colored glow appeared under his feet and he quickly dodged.

Waving his hand again, a huge thick grey-colored gas crept out toward Yan Jinyu.

Cultivators trained in spirit energy tended to choose primarily from one of the five elements and then chose some other to cultivate as well. Right now, Qing Shui could basically be sure that the old man's primary cultivation was in the earth elemental spirit energy.

The earth element prioritized force, power and strong defense.

Yan Jinyu looked at the earth Qi which was getting closer to her. This earth Qi seemed more like walls made of soil, covering the world. It came with quite a terrifying force.

A majestic force burst out from Yan Jinyu and the Four Elements Greencloud Sword in her hand sent out a wide sword glow which was like water.

Azure Water and Clear Skies!

A huge wall of water formed a barrier. This wasn't all. A huge water dragon appeared from the waters, spinning. In just a moment, the overspread earth Qi immediately broke down and dissipated.

Earth originally contravened water but the Four Elements Greencloud Sword had increased Yan Jinyu's spirit energy by quite a bit. Moreover, the Soaring Dragon Sea Quake was activated. Even though her water powers were contravened, she also managed to resolve the overspread earth Qi.

The old man now had his eyes wide-agape in astonishment. According to his information, it should be very easy for him to deal with this lass from Yan Clan. However, it didn't seem to be the case right now. He swung his hand once again.

Roar!

Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation!

A huge demonic beast image appeared on the old man. It looked like an ape-typed demonic beast. They were considered to be spirit-type with powerful spirit energy. It seemed that this old man really did primarily cultivate in the area of spirit energy and had great mastery in its use.

Yan Jinyu didn't dare to let her guard down and quickly activated her Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation as well!

Her Demonic Beast Armor Manifestation was a huge demonic beast which looked like a crane. It was elegant and appeared to be very intelligent.

Yan Jinyu dashed toward the old man with the grace of a crane!

Sword Overturning Earth！

The old man let out a loud bellow, swinging his weapon consecutively. Two huge demonic beasts which were like two earth dragons appeared. They had been formed from his spirit energy. One of them circled around the old man while the other dashed toward Yan Jinyu.

The enormous earth dragon exuded killing an aura, dashing toward Yan Jinyu in a zigzag motion. Its huge, hideous looking head occasionally spewed out rocks that were sturdier than metallic essence.

Yan Jinyu continued to swing her Four Elements Greencloud Sword. Each time she did, a huge sword Qi appeared, like a huge wall of water that was extremely sharp.

Boom boom...

Endless explosive sounds rang out!

Break!

Yan Jinyu let out a cry and spun the sword in her hand. Everything seemed to be very profound at that moment. A brilliant light glow shot out toward the earth dragon's neck where the dragon's reverse scale was at.

Pfft!

The earth dragon's enormous head was chopped off by this bright sword glow. The entire earth dragon instantly disappeared in the air.

Yan Jinyu was protected by a layer of glow while she moved around with a profound set of footwork. Qing Shui felt that it was very similar to his Seven Star Steps but it was just similar.

The old man started to panic a little. Those who primarily cultivated spirit energy tended to have the advantage of long range attacks but were afraid of close combat.

The old man swung his hand and another huge stream of earth Qi flowed toward Yan Jinyu. This earth Qi seemed to be like boiling water, exuding boiling waves of aura.

Essence Fire of Earth！

When Qing Shui saw this, he let out a sigh. Earth contravened water but water contravened fire. Yan Jinyu clearly cultivated a powerful sword technique that was of the water element. The old man's head was muddled. Although this attack was very powerful, much more than the earth Qi from earlier, it was a pity that it had been contravened and thus its prowess weren't fully unleashed.

Water Ripples Sword Imprint!

Yan Jinyu didn't stop charging. Sweeping out her Four Elements Greencloud Sword swiftly multiple times, steams of huge sword imprints that were like water ripples were sent out. The Waves Sword met with the over-spreading Essence Fire of Earth.

After a slight tussle, the earth Qi disappeared. Just then, Yan Jinyu hit out another stream of Water Ripples Sword Imprint.

Right now, she was already very close to the old man and the circling earth dragon was ready to attack anytime!

Just then, a huge ripple of power appeared from the tip of Yan Jinyu's sword tip, following after the Water Ripples Sword Imprint!

Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance!

Suddenly, several tens of huge fire snakes appeared around the old man or rather, fire pythons. They even had sizzling electricity force on them.

Qing Shui smiled. He hadn't expected that the prowess of the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance with the Four Elements Greencloud Sword was many times stronger than the one he had with the other ordinary swords.

Terrified, the old man wanted to dodge but it was too late. He could only let the earth dragon coil up around him to protect himself. However, this time around, the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance contravened the earth dragon.

With a huge crackling sound, the exploded prowess made even Qing Shui feel terrified. To think that the prowess unleashed just by Yan Jinyu was already so terrifying!

Huge flames soared in the skies, dissolving even the clouds in the surroundings. It even created deep rumbling sounds of thunder and terrifying crackling sounds. Violet colored thunderbolts kept flashing.

In that instant, the places covered by the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance became like hell!

When the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance disappeared, so did everything. The time for the Fire Snakes Frenzied Dance was not long and would only last for the amount of time it took for a few breaths. However, its prowess was astonishing.

It might be because of the five elements contravention.

AST 1170 - Fated Encounter, She Is Demon Lord, the Owner of Demon Lord Palace

Of course, part of the reason was also because Yan Jinyu was strong. The stronger one was, the stronger the prowess of the Four Elements Greencloud Sword that could be unleashed. However, the powers unleashed by Yan Jinyu were still beyond his expectations. However, when he thought of how powerful the Four Elements Greencloud Sword was, he didn't find it strange anymore.

It might be because the old man thought highly of himself that he had actually come alone. He must not have expected to be killed by Yan Jinyu just like that. Everything was because of a single weapon. Without the Four Elements Greencloud Sword, they would probably have a problem escaping, let alone there being the possibility that Yan Jinyu would be able to kill the elder.

"Sister, let's get out of this place. It's not safe to stay here!" Qing Shui saw that Yan Jinyu seemed to still be in a slight daze and quickly said.

"Mmmm!"

Both Yan Jinyu and Qing Shui disappeared instantly, blending into the crowd. This wasn't the first time she had encountered such situations but this was the first time she was up against such a powerful opponent. If she hadn't met Qing Shui, without Uncle Zong by her side, it would probably be hard for her to get out of this fix.

Unknowingly, she grew to like Qing Shui more and more. This was a like one had for their family and nothing else. It was just pure feelings of like.

In fact, Qing Shui was feeling the same. Although he had helped her, he felt that he had actually gained. Very soon, he would be able to take part in battles like these and wouldn't have to be so passive.

If he were to have to fight against that elder today, if the elder used only spirit energy, then Qing Shui would have been able to protect himself. However, he didn't know about anything else. After all, it was hard to tell if he could actually destroy those two earth dragons.

Yan Jinyu seemed to be very happy at the moment. She put on her bamboo hat. There were actually many people along the streets wearing face veils or bamboo hats, regardless of their genders.

Qing Shui wore a bamboo hat as well and looked around as he sensed the surroundings with his spiritual sense. Whenever he noticed powerful cultivators, he would take extra effort to sense them. However, it was good that powerful cultivators were hard to come by and thus it wasn't easy to encounter them.

And amongst the people in the crowd, no one seemed to know that Qing Shui and Yan Jinyu were powerful cultivators. It was because they hadn't reached that level, so even if they had crossed paths with powerful cultivators, they wouldn't have known. It was like how, in the past, Qing Shui didn't encounter any powerful cultivators before he had gotten strong. It wasn't because he didn't manage to meet any but it was more him not realizing even if he had passed by one.

They had initially planned on continuing to be on their way but then felt that it was a good idea. After all, they would be able to arrive at the inner city the next day. They should be safe there then. Yan Clan was still quite powerful and influential.

Right now, they could only worry and could only draw their own inferences. It was worrying because that old man from earlier had appeared. That old man's cultivation was close to that of a Grade Two State Master. A Grade Two State Master would have a very respected position but earlier, one such person had died.

In the world of cultivators, one could only continue to get stronger. There would always be stronger people out there. Although a cultivator's life was seen to be very strong, their lives were actually very brittle.

The top person in a circle might be just the weakest one in another circle. There was always someone better outside. The path of martial arts was endless.

Qing Shui continued to think as he walked on. Some of the things he heard as well as his own comprehensions continued to increase his understanding of this world and he was increasingly able to find his own position.

They didn't travel at a very fast speed nor did they have a fixed destination. They just followed the flow of the crowd, walking around and taking a look along this wide street. The place was very lively. In the middle section of the streets, there would be some carriages passing by, including beast carriages and horse carriages of various sizes. Some of them were luxurious while others were simple. The two sides were the pavement for pedestrians and then there were the stalls and stores.

Suddenly, Qing Shui had a strange feeling. It was a very familiar one, but he couldn't really grasp it. He suddenly lifted his head and looked at the sky. The feeling came from above, but he wasn't able to see anything from the ground. However, that feeling really did exist and it seemed to be getting increasingly clearer. The feeling that the source was above him grew stronger.

"Sister, wait for me here and be careful. I'll be back soon!" Qing Shui used the Sacred Jade Divine Stone Ring to dash toward the sky.

He shot up 200 li directly. Even though he was 200 li up the air, which was the equivalent of 100,000 meters, it didn't seem to be enough. However, that feeling was getting clearer. Moreover, Qing Shui felt that the target seemed to have came to a stop. The other party must have sensed Qing Shui as well.

When he disappeared with a flash, Yan Jinyu had dashed over as well. She happened to see Qing Shui's disappearing silhouette and she quickly headed over as well.

Ten times. At the height of one million meters in the sky, the air seemed to be even clearer. There was still plenty of fresh air around, unless how in his previously life, oxygen would be thin in high altitudes. And by now, Qing Shui had also finally saw the source the familiar feeling was coming from.

There was a huge divine turtle and a lady standing next to it. This scene was very familiar. He had seen it through an exchange of his consciousness.

The lady's hair was done up high, she had soft brows and her beautiful face without makeup on was like the morning sun reflected on snow. She had the beauty of a goddess but her eyes were as cold as winter.

She had a pair of cold and beautiful eyes which seemed to pierce into one's bones. They were beautiful and pure like ice and snow but the chill penetrated deep into one's bones.

She was divine. Her snow-white plain clothes couldn't hide her curves. Her shoulders were sharp, her chest curved into a beautiful arch and the curves at her waist flowed beautifully. Her slender figure made her appear as if she was a jade carving created by the gods.

She stood there, exuding an aura which made it feel as if she mustn't be tainted. Amongst the ladies Qing Shui had seen, this was one whom he mustn't get near. It wasn't cold but more of an arrogance coming from her soul.

That lady from the crystal coffin!

Qing Shui hadn't expected to meet her under such circumstances. It was really such a coincidence. It was like fate. He knew that it was because of the portrait of beauty he had in the Realm of the Violet Jade Immortal. Otherwise, it would be very hard for him to sense her. It could also be because of the skinship they had before. No matter what the reason was, he was finally able to see her again.

He had already seen that huge turtle behind her from the previous time they had interacted through their consciousness. It was too big, like a mountain. The aura it exuded caused Qing Shui to be stunned...

This old turtle was in no way weaker than the green dragon from the interaction of their consciousness. It had a strong vitality as well. Back then, when they were in the crystal palace, it didn't seem to be so strong. When Qing Shui sensed the lady again, he understood everything. He was just too weak.

It was so in the past and it continued to be so right now. He still didn't know this lady's cultivation. He had thought that the current him shouldn't be weaker than her now but now he knew that his guess was very far off the mark.

He didn't know if she had concealed her abilities back then, if she had suddenly gone through rapid progress or her body had awakened. All this was no longer important. What was important that it seemed that he was still unable to catch up to her.

He had previously decided that when he met her again, he'd give her warmth. But looking at the current situation, who was he to be doing that? Qing Shui looked at this lady for whom he didn't understand his feelings. The lady was very cool but was also looking at him. Her eyes were still as cold and piercing, but they were very beautiful and pure like snow. However, they gave off a cold all the way down to his bones. She was cool but yet very natural. Everything seemed to be very normal, as if she was born with such a disposition.

Qing Shui looked at the lady, not knowing what to say. It was only after very long did he then say softly, "Hello!"

After saying that, Qing Shui felt more relaxed. He wasn't expecting the lady to reply her, but she did. This astonished him.

"Hello. I didn't expect to be able to meet you again."

Her voice was still cold as ever but it wasn't unpleasant. There was a cool arrogance behind the tone.

"I initially thought that I'd be able to help you... I don't know why but I felt that I'd like to help you. I hope to get you to stay..." This was the first time Qing Shui was completely empty of any confidence he had. Not even one bit of it was level.

The words he said didn't match and he wasn't able to say sensible stuff now.

By this time, Yan Jinyu had appeared as well and she went up next to Qing Shui. She heard what Qing Shui said as well but a huge tsunami formed in her heart. It was because she saw the divine turtle and the cool lady.

Yan Jinyu did her best to not say anything as she looked at this scene in a daze.

The lady wasn't infuriated, nor were there any changes to her expression. "I had also sensed your aura earlier and knew that you'd come. I just didn't expect you to come here. But so what if you've come? There's no way that our paths will cross. Alright, I'm going to leave. You're on your own now!"

With that, the lady turned to leave, doing so with much grace. Qing Shui wanted to say something and after much effort, said, "Take care! We'll meet again!"

The lady left. Her silhouette disappeared together with that huge turtle. It was only after a very long time had passed that Qing Shui looked toward Yan Jinyu, "Why did you come?"

"Qing Shui, do you know who she is?" When Yan Jinyu was saying this, her voice seemed to be trembling.

Qing Shui sensed that something wasn't right, but he still asked in surprise, "You know her?"

"I just happened to get to know about her. How did you get to know her?" Yan Jinyu was astonished as well.

"Sister, tell me who she is first." Qing Shui urged.

Seeing that Qing Shui didn't know who that lady was, Yan Jinyu guessed that they shouldn't have any connections. She gave it some thought and felt that even if Qing Shui wanted to have a connection with that lady, it would be very difficult!

"She isn't from Western Oxhe Continent but her name is well-known. She is Demon Lord, a lady who is like a demon. Many people want her dead," Yan Jinyu looked at Qing Shui and said slowly.

Hearing Yan Jinyu's words, Qing Shui's fist clenched up.

"Why?" Qing Shui looked at Yan Jinyu.

"It was said that many years ago, she disappeared. A few years ago, she eradicated a powerful aristocratic clan but no one knew the reason. The influence of that clan was very big and thus, many other factions wanted to kill her. However, she's very strong. It's said that right now, she is Demon Lord Palace's Demon Lord and has inherited the legacy from the previous Demon Lord. In the first place, there are many people who were up against Demon Lord Palace." Although Yan Jinyu spoke very briefly, Qing Shui could still grasp some points.

Right now, Qing Shui was still in a muddled state. However, he felt that if he hadn't guessed wrongly, she had probably fallen victim to the intense aphrodisiac when the Demon Lord Palace was fighting against some other factions. It should be the reason why she was sealed by the old turtle and brought away from the four continents. This time around, she must have returned to kill the person who did that to her. As for the inheritance of the Demon Lord's legacy, it must have been why her cultivation had soared tremendously.

The reason she said that they wouldn't cross paths must be because he was too weak while she was Demon Lord Palace's Demon Lord. Or it could be that she didn't take a liking to him and hadn't remembered him.

Yan Jinyu said that she had a lot of enemies and those people were some powerful righteous people, at least, that was what it was in name. And she and Demon Lord Palace should be similar to those people form the Scarlet Flame Region!

Therefore, the battle between them would never come to an end. Neither party would give up until their lives had been expended!