Outside the door stood a figure in green robes, untainted by dust, with bright eyes and white teeth... black hair cascading like a waterfall, a beauty capable of toppling nations.
Inside the door stood a figure in white, his clothes slightly yellowed, with a modest and gentle demeanor... a young man with his hair bundled in a hairpin, radiating high spirits.
After four years apart, they barely recognized each other at first glance.
"Xu Xian?"
"Lin Qianqian..."
Recognizing one another, they both felt a surge of joy at the reunion.
As the sun began to set, the youth asked, "Are you hungry? I'll treat you to some porridge."
The latter gladly accepted.
Walking side by side, they arrived at the Spirit Food Workshop.
Xu Xian said, "It's my treat, but you pay the bill."
Lin Qianqian was stunned... A string of question marks seemed to hang over her head, but she confusedly agreed anyway.
"Alright."
"Decisive!"
When the food was served, Xu Xian tore through it like a whirlwind, cleaning his bowl in no time. Lin Qianqian watched him in a daze, frozen in place without even picking up her chopsticks.
"Why are you looking at me? Eat," Xu Xian said.
Lin Qianqian took a small sip and said, "I heard from the senior sisters that your favorite thing is drinking porridge. I didn't believe it at first, but now I do."
Xu Xian smiled without explaining.
"They all call you the Porridge Ancestor," Lin Qianqian added.
Xu Xian said indifferently, "Empty titles of the mortal world are not worth mentioning."
The two talked for a long time, bringing up old times and sharing stories from their years apart.
Lin Qianqian mentioned she had joined Tianjian Peak and become a disciple under a Pavilion Elder. She was a third-generation disciple, as was Zhang Yang, who had gone to Zhujian Peak to forge iron.
She also said that when Xu Xian first woke up, she had been in the Sword Mound, staying there for over a month. After coming out and hearing about what happened to him, she immediately came to see him.
As she spoke, she took out her sword and placed it on the long table, smiling brightly. "Look, this is the sword I obtained. What do you think?"
The sword was entirely white, surrounded by a spiritual glow. Even though it was unsheathed, its sharp aura was palpable.
In Xu Xian's vision, a line of text floated above it.
[Qingshuang · Low-grade heaven-tier weapon]
Weapon tiers in this world were categorized as: mortal weapon, spirit weapon, earth weapon, heaven weapon, immortal weapon, and divine weapon.
The Demon-Slaying Sword he had seen at the Longevity Bridge that day was an immortal weapon, while the sword from his novice gift pack was a mortal weapon.
Qingshuang was a heaven-tier weapon. Even if it was only low-grade, it was still a rare weapon within the Wendao Sect and the entire Fanzhou, worth an astronomical amount.
When the sword was placed on the table, even Zhou Tao was drawn over. His eyes shone as he looked at it with amazement.
"Tsk tsk, it's actually a heaven-tier sword. Junior Sister Lin, to obtain such a sharp tool from the Tianjian Pool at such a young age, your future is limitless. You'll be someone incredible later on."
Lin Qianqian said with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhou, you flatter me."
Xu Xian did not hold back his praise either. "It is indeed excellent. I remember you have an ice spirit root. This sword is named Qingshuang; it suits you perfectly."
Lin Qianqian was startled. "Wow, you recognize this sword?"
Zhou Tao also looked over in surprise.
Xu Xian gave a light cough and said with an air of seniority, "Of course I do. Don't forget, I am the Sword Ancestor's disciple."
The two of them looked at him with strange expressions...
Xu Xian didn't mind and instead urged Lin Qianqian to hurry up and eat.
Lin Qianqian took two more bites, then wrinkled her nose. "I'm full."
"Hmm?"
She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the bald fat man and whispered in a low voice, "It doesn't taste that good."
Seeing that her bowl of spiritual porridge was practically untouched, Xu Xian adopted the posture of an elder and lectured her, "I have to say, how can you waste food like this?"
"But I can't eat anymore," Lin Qianqian said aggrievedly.
Xu Xian let out a sigh, looking very troubled. "Forget it, I'll help you eat it. Who told me to be your Little Grand-Uncle?"
Without waiting for Lin Qianqian to refuse, he took the bowl and began to feast.
To be honest, his appetite had increased lately. Previously, one bowl was enough to make him full, but now two bowls felt just right.
Lin Qianqian's large eyes went wide. "Wait, I already ate from that... If you weren't full, I could have just bought you another bowl."
Xu Xian said dismissively, "So what if you ate from it? It's not like I'd find you distasteful."
Lin Qianqian's eyes widened even further, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Then... alright."
After finishing the second bowl, Xu Xian felt satisfied. He let out a burp and motioned for Lin Qianqian to leave. On the way, they encountered many passing disciples who bowed and greeted him.
"Greetings, Little Grand-Uncle!"
"Greetings, Little Grand-Uncle!!"
Xu Xian held his head high and his chest out, walking with a measured, dignified stride. He nodded occasionally and returned their smiles, long since accustomed to such treatment.
As for his status, it went without saying. He enjoyed it immensely.
Especially when he was feeling depressed, he would intentionally head to crowded places just to hear others call him 'Little Grand-Uncle,' and his mood would instantly improve.
He didn't forget to show off to Lin Qianqian. "Sigh, it's such a burden. As you can see, with my current status, it's impossible to keep a low profile. It's truly a headache."
Lin Qianqian couldn't help but laugh and asked in return, "Then should I call you Little Grand-Uncle too?"
Xu Xian said generously, "No need. We're close, right? You can still call me brother. However, your master still has to call me Martial Uncle. We'll each have our own way of addressing each other, haha."
Lin Qianqian's eyes narrowed into crescents as she said happily, "Alright, I'll listen to you."
On the way, they chatted about other things, mostly regarding cultivation. Lin Qianqian shared some insights, and Xu Xian listened attentively. She also told Xu Xian to focus on his cultivation because once he reached foundation establishment, he could go to the Sword Mound to choose a sword for himself...
Night fell. The stars were quiet, and the Milky Way hung upside down in the sky like a canopy.
"It's getting late. I should head back."
"Alright."
Lin Qianqian stretched out a small, pale hand. "Give me your dao jade."
"For what?"
"Just give it to me."
Xu Xian didn't think much of it and handed over his dao jade.
Lin Qianqian swept her divine sense over it, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She then took out her own dao jade and touched it against Xu Xian's. Amidst his confusion, she returned it and smiled as she reminded him, "Remember to eat well. I'm going now. I'll come see you again another day."
With that, Qingshuang left its scabbard. She stepped onto it and, under the moonlight and starlight, waved goodbye before disappearing into the vast night.
Xu Xian looked down at the dao jade in his hand. A faint trace of a merit point transaction flickered on its surface.
[Tianjian Peak Disciple · Lin Qianqian has transferred to you: 3,000 merit points.]
Xu Xian was stunned for a long moment, speechless. Then the corners of his mouth curled up into a cheerful grin as he muttered, "I didn't expect her to be such a little rich lady."
The wealthy can borrow a thousand gold, but the poor struggle to credit half a peck of rice.
Xu Xian admitted he was a little touched.
A brief acquaintance from four years ago, yet when they met again four years later, she had proactively transferred 3,000 merit points to him.
He didn't know if 3,000 merit points were a lot or a little to Lin Qianqian, but for him, it was like charcoal delivered in a snowstorm.
He had originally just thought of tricking the girl into paying for a meal, never expecting she would solve his urgent need.
This friendship was something Xu Xian silently took note of. He felt that Lin Qianqian was a friend worth keeping...
Stowing the jade tablet away, he returned to his courtyard.
Xu Xian told himself that he had to finish his body refining before these merit points ran out...
The next morning, Xu Xian headed out as usual, planning to go to the mountain peak to breathe in the violet qi that appeared at the start of the day. However, he found Wen Qingxue sitting in the courtyard early in the morning. Seeing the youth come out, she asked, "Little Grand-Uncle, have you considered the job for weeding the spiritual herb field?"
Weeding the spiritual herb field paid 1,000 merit points a month.
Xu Xian clasped his hands behind his back and paced outside the door, refusing her offer.
"I'm not going."
Wen Qingxue frowned. "Do you even have enough merit points left to eat?"
Xu Xian let out a cheerful laugh and boasted, "Your Grand-Uncle might not have much, but I have plenty of friends. To think I'd have no money for food is a joke."
Wen Qingxue: "..."
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