This trip back and forth would inevitably take some time.
Ruan Hao was his master, after all, so Xu Xian felt he should inform the old man.
After receiving his approval, Xu Xian prepared to leave.
However, just as he stood up, Ruan Hao called out to him.
"Wait a moment!"
"What is it, Master?"
Ruan Hao took a puff of his dry tobacco and beckoned to Xu Xian. "Let me have a look at your dao jade."
Xu Xian was confused.
Without thinking much of it, he took off the dao jade and handed it to Ruan Hao.
Ruan Hao took it, glanced at it, and muttered, "Heh... you brat, your family background isn't shallow, is it?"
Xu Xian gave a bitter smile. Not shallow? He was in debt up to his eyeballs!
Amidst the youth's curiosity and confusion, Ruan Hao took out his own dao jade and fiddled with it. Xu Xian watched, completely lost, wondering what his master was up to.
A moment later.
Ruan Hao tossed the dao jade back to Xu Xian.
"Catch."
Xu Xian caught it with both hands. Subconsciously looking at it, his body suddenly jolted, and he froze on the spot.
Several large exclamation marks seemed to pop up over his head.
"What!!!"
Ruan Hao said nonchalantly, "I heard you took out a cultivation loan from the Merchant Hall. Go pay it back quickly. It's not embarrassing for a disciple of mine to owe money, but I can't afford to lose face over such a small amount of pocket change."
Xu Xian swallowed hard, feeling as though happiness had arrived too suddenly, making it feel somewhat surreal.
"Master, this... this isn't right..."
He had just acknowledged a master, and he’d been given an immortal-grade rare metal and a heaven weapon forging hammer. Now, after only one day of hammering, two million merit points had been thrown straight at his face.
Who could withstand this?
If it were anywhere else, fine.
But this was the Wendao Sect.
It was too surreal!!
Ruan Hao said firmly, "If I give it to you, take it. Don't give me any of that nonsense!"
Xu Xian silently gripped the dao jade, his eyes burning with heat as he looked at Ruan Hao.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
Xu Xian cupped his hands and said solemnly, "I have drifted for half my life without finding a wise lord. If you do not despise me, I am willing to take you as my godfather."
Ruan Hao: "..."
Ruan Hao spat out a single word.
"Scram!"
"Right away!"
Xu Xian left, feeling incredibly excited. The exhaustion from the night was swept away as he stared at the dao jade in his hand over and over again on the road.
The corners of his mouth were harder to suppress than a recoil.
He understood that there was a gap between people.
But he never expected the gap to be this large.
It was simply incredible!!
He couldn't help but sigh, "What kind of miserable life was I living before!"
He decided.
Once he returned from the village, he would work hard under Ruan Hao.
—————
After leaving the forging workshop, Xu Xian did not leave Zhujian Peak.
Instead, he went down the mountain to find Zhang Yang. At that moment, Zhang Yang had a long face, looking dejected and spiritless, as if his body had been hollowed out.
"Brother Xian, why are you here?"
Xu Xian looked at the numb-faced Zhang Yang and asked casually, "I say, what's wrong with you? Did you go out stealing people last night?"
Zhang Yang waved his hand and said helplessly, "Don't even mention it. Yesterday, I don't know what kind of craze Master Ruan was in, but he was hammering away for a day and a night. That sound was louder than thunder. It's a miracle I'm not dead."
Xu Xian: "..."
"Forget that. Brother Xian, what do you need me for?"
Xu Xian got straight to the point. "Go tell your master and ask for some leave. Come out with me for a bit."
"To do what?"
"Don't ask. It's a good thing, regardless!"
Zhang Yang didn't even think before agreeing, "Sure, I'll go tell my master right now. After that, I'll find you at Zuiwan Residence."
"Alright, I'm off!"
Leaving Zhujian Peak, Xu Xian rushed to Tianjian Peak and found Lin Qianqian, waking her from her cultivation.
Lin Qianqian wasn't angry; instead, she ran out full of joy and teased:
"My, my, my, what a rare guest. Isn't this our Little Grand-Uncle Xu Xian, the eighteen-year-old who broke through to the fifth stage in just two years and is now listed in the Sword Pavilion? Brother Xu, how can you spare the time to see me?"
The news of Xu Xian entering the nascent soul stage, his soul lamp entering the Immortal Pavilion, and the bell tolling nine times had already spread yesterday.
Lin Qianqian naturally already knew!
Xu Xian rolled his eyes at the girl and said irritably, "Your little mouth is quite cute, but why do the words coming out of it sound so awkward?"
Lin Qianqian's eyes curved like crescent moons as she smiled. "I'm telling the truth!"
"Alright, stop messing around. I have something important to discuss with you."
Lin Qianqian tilted her head slightly, her big eyes blinking in anticipation. "What is it?"
Xu Xian said directly, "Come out with me for a bit."
"Where to?"
"Home."
"Whose home?"
Xu Xian lowered his gaze. "My home!"
Lin Qianqian's big eyes darted around as she said something shocking, "Are we going to meet your parents? Isn't it a bit too fast?"
Xu Xian was speechless.
"What are you thinking?"
Lin Qianqian pouted, determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Then why are you taking me home?"
Xu Xian said lazily, "Just say whether you're going or not."
Lin Qianqian suddenly smiled.
"I'm going."
Xu Xian looked up at the sky and said to himself, "Fine, come find me at Zuiwan Residence in a bit. We set off at noon sharp."
"So soon?"
Xu Xian said solemnly, "You don't understand. My heart is already flying home!"
Lin Qianqian: "..."
Originally.
Xu Xian had planned to bring the two of them along.
The meat and bones of the Xiushe were great tonics. If mortals ate them, they would strengthen their constitution, prolong their lives, and remain free from disaster or illness—better than any spiritual medicine.
And if cultivators ate them, they could temper their bodies, strengthen their dantian, solidify their souls, and nourish their cultivation. This was especially effective for cultivators below the nascent soul stage.
Lin Qianqian and Zhang Yang had entered the sect on the same day as him, and there was a bond between them. Especially Lin Qianqian—without her, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate so quickly.
After all, he had to eat.
If you didn't have money, you had to work.
This debt of gratitude was not small.
As for Zhang Yang, the young man was decent and honest. Xu Xian thought he would give him a hand if he could.
After bidding farewell to Lin Qianqian, Xu Xian headed straight for the Merchant Hall headquarters on Falling Cloud Peak.
Xu Xian intended to pay back the money and purchase some supplies.
The Xiushe was an ancient exotic beast, a ferocious beast among ferocious beasts. Its meat and bones possessed extremely strong medicinal properties. If an ordinary person ate them, they certainly wouldn't be able to handle it.
Xu Xian had to buy some pills to neutralize the effect.
Otherwise, after they finished eating, the whole village might have to be carried up the mountain. If that happened, Xu Xian's sin would be great.
The little book spirit had said that if mortals were to eat it, they had to take an Ice Clear Pill beforehand.
The Ice Clear Pill was a first-grade pill. After taking it, it could remove evil fire and heart fire from the body.
It was the best item for the task.
Xu Xian had to prepare them in advance.
Arriving at the Merchant Hall headquarters.
Xu Xian found Elder Qian. As usual, when Xu Xian arrived, Elder Qian was humming a little tune, sipping tea, eating pastries, and resting his spirit.
It must be said.
The Forging Hall certainly couldn't compare to this comfortable lifestyle.
"Elder Qian, you're in a good mood!"
Elder Qian was even more enthusiastic than their last meeting, greeting him:
"Oh my, Little Martial Uncle, what wind has blown you here? Please, sit, sit..."
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