“Master, the things auctioned here are really quite ordinary,” Chi Li said, jumping down from the windowsill as the auction ended. It looked somewhat disappointed. Having attended an auction for the first time, it had expected some kind of surprise.
“Chi Li, this is only a Tier Four city. Having these kinds of resources is already quite good. Even if they had better things here, someone would actually have to be able to afford them.”
Seeing Chi Li's expression, Cang Chen knew its old habit was acting up again. It didn't even look at where they were right now; how could it have so many demands?
Chi Li choked on its words, gave a soft huff, and hopped back into the pouch.
“Martial Aunt, do you wish to see Pavilion Master Shi?”
As soon as Jiang Lu opened the door, a maid stepped forward to greet her. Before leaving, the pavilion master had instructed her to ask for Jiang Lu's opinion.
Jiang Lu shook her head and said directly, “Take me to the Library.”
Nothing was more important to her right now than understanding the various things of this world. The books here should be far more numerous than those in Xijiang City.
Though the maid was puzzled, she still led the way. Only after Jiang Lu went inside did she go to report to the pavilion master.
Shi Yan nodded upon hearing the report.
If she wanted to read, she could read. What could there be in the Library that a direct disciple like her couldn't look at? It just so happened that he could use this time to think about how to interact with her.
Afterward, he went to find Jian An to discuss important matters.
A few days later...
“Little Martial Aunt, you've arrived,” Pavilion Master Shi said with a beam, immediately standing up as she entered.
Beside him, Jian An stood up as well. He remained in place, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, a momentary flash of surprise crossing his face.
Little Martial Aunt?
It seems this person's identity is far from simple. One must know that when other disciples came before, even though Shi Yan's tone carried respect, it was always mixed with polite distance.
Now, this wasn't just respect—it was almost to the point of being eyesore-inducingly sycophantic.
Fortunately, Shi Yan was not fat, only slightly robust, and did not have a beard; otherwise, he would look a hundred times more sycophantic than he did now.
Jiang Lu nodded, the mask on her face concealing most of her expression as she walked over to stand to the right of Shi Yan.
Only then did she look seriously at Jian An. For this person to be here, his status was likely extraordinary. Which clan's cultivator in Wanxin City was he?
Perhaps because Jiang Lu's gaze was too direct, Jian An paused, casting a helpless look toward Shi Yan for assistance.
Shi Yan curled his toes in embarrassment. He hadn't expected his Little Martial Aunt, despite her young age, to be so incredibly direct.
He stepped forward to stand between the two of them and introduced her to Jian An, “Little Martial Aunt, let me introduce you. This is the City Lord of Wanxin City, Jian An.”
He then turned to Jian An, pausing slightly before choosing his words carefully. “This is a core disciple of our Medicine King Pavilion. We all call her... Little Martial Aunt.”
After saying this, he felt a bit sheepish. Good heavens, how did our group forget to ask for Little Martial Aunt's name!
The news from above only mentioned that such a person existed, but didn't state her name at all!
Jiang Lu: ...
So nobody actually knows my name?
Besides, she was currently wearing a mask. Although her facial features bore some resemblance to her original appearance, there were countless similar-looking people in the cultivation world, so she wasn't worried about them spreading her likeness.
Hehehe—
Something flashed through Jiang Lu's mind. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly before she quickly pulled herself together. Stay steady!
She was someone's Martial Aunt now; she had to remain composed in public.
She nodded, and both sides bowed to each other.
“I didn't expect Little... Little Martial Aunt to be so young, hahaha,” Jian An spoke first, his eyes filled with envy as he looked at Jiang Lu.
Judging by her appearance, she was likely not even twenty, yet her strength had already reached Foundation Establishment. She truly was worthy of being a chosen core disciple.
Although Brother Shi hadn't gone into detail, just looking at his attitude made it clear that this person was no ordinary core disciple. She might even be the direct disciple of one of those grand figures.
With this strength, in the future... she would surely make it onto the Heaven's Pride Board.
“City Lord Jian flatters me,” Jiang Lu replied in a casual tone.
Even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't see through her true strength. Excellent, excellent.
However, if she were to go to higher-tier cities in the future, she would have to be careful. After all, cultivators at or above the Soul Formation stage would still be able to see through her disguise.
After exchanging some pleasantries with the two, Jiang Lu went straight to the point.
“Nephew Shi, I currently lack a natal sword. I wonder if there is a sword in the pavilion that shares a destiny with me?”
A sword?
Shi Yan was somewhat puzzled. Did his Little Martial Aunt not have a natal magic treasure?
(Ye Qing had actually planned to take his young disciple to choose one himself, but he had been delayed.)
“Little Martial Aunt, we do have swords, but they might not be suitable for you.”
“The higher a disciple's talent, the higher their requirements for a natal magic treasure. Furthermore, it's best to nurture it from the very beginning and upgrade it continuously. I suggest you find an armaments master to forge one for you.”
“With the Thunderstone in your possession, along with other materials, it would be enough to forge a highly satisfactory spiritual sword.”
Shi Yan gave his advice sincerely.
Jiang Lu lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked at him and asked, “Is there an armaments master here who can meet my requirements?”
Shi Yan thought for a moment and looked at Jian An.
The two exchanged a glance.
“There is indeed one, and their skills are quite high. The quality of the spiritual swords they forge is fairly good. It would be more than enough for the initial forging of your natal sword,” Jian An said after a moment of contemplation.
“Oh? Might I ask who that is?” Jiang Lu immediately asked upon hearing this.
“It is the head of the Zhao Clan, a Nascent Soul clan in Wanxin City—Zhao Hu. Zhao Hu is a cultivator at the late-stage Nascent Soul realm, and their forging techniques are quite decent.”
“I can make the introduction. I'm sure they would also be very eager to meet you, Little Martial Aunt. However—”
At this point, his voice trailed off. He glanced at Shi Yan before continuing,
“—they will certainly want to build a connection with you. Since you are still young, if you can exchange items for their services, you won't need to owe them a favor.”
Hearing this, the corners of Jiang Lu's mouth curled up.
She naturally understood this reasoning.
The hardest debt to repay in this world was a favor. Although she could find another armaments master to forge it later, she had no idea when that would be. Since the opportunity was right here, it was naturally best to have it forged now.
Sometimes, having "connections makes things easier" was far from an empty saying.
As for those so-called divine swords, she didn't dare to dream of them. She wasn't part of the main protagonist's group, so she didn't have that kind of luck.
Furthermore, rather than using something someone else had already used, she preferred to nurture a brand-new one herself. That way, when a sword spirit was born in the future, it would truly be of one mind with her.
Thinking of the resources in her space, she felt there should be something they desired. If their demands were too unreasonable, at worst, she could just wait.
The initiative was in her hands.
However...
This time, she would indeed owe the two of them a favor. Thinking of this, Jiang Lu looked at Jian An, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “I wonder if City Lord Jian has any requests?”
Jian An was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. He shook his head as he laughed, unable to resist patting Shi Yan's shoulder.
“Hahaha—”
“Little Martial Aunt, it's merely an introduction. How could that be considered a favor? For them to be able to do something for you is their honor.”
Jiang Lu remained silent, her eyes staring straight at him. She had not missed the glance they had exchanged earlier.
No matter whose favor it was, she did not want to owe anyone.
Rate on N.U.
