“Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop? The one in the county city's East Market?”
“You know of it, Senior Sister?”
“I have heard of it,” Chi Yuan nodded, her hand finally releasing the sword tassel she had crumpled out of shape.
“Mr. Nan's reputation carries quite a bit of weight among rogue cultivators in the Southern Region. He can refine Earth-grade artifacts, and it is said he can occasionally even forge high-rank ones.”
“The year before last, an Earth-grade Low-rank armor was auctioned off at Linlang Pavilion for the high price of eight million high-grade spirit stones. The maker's mark on it was indeed the seal of the Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop.”
“However, the outside world only knows of Mr. Nan himself; no one has ever known that he is connected to the Northern Region's Shen family.” She looked at Shen Qingci, a hint of surprise rising in her eyes. “So he is actually my little junior sister's clan uncle.”
Shen Qingci smiled and said, “My clan uncle traveled in his youth and took a pseudonym to put down roots in the Southern Region, just to seek some peace and quiet. This time, he only found out I was at the Azure Cloud Sect because of a message from back home, so he specifically sent a letter for me to visit and pay my respects.”
“Oh, right, there's also my aunt. The pseudonym she uses in the Southern Region is Ancestor Tinglan. Have you ever heard of her, Senior Sister?”
Chi Yuan's hand, which was straightening her sword tassel, froze.
“Ancestor Tinglan?” she repeated, asking in surprise, “The one who came from the Tianyan Sect?”
“Yes.”
“The Ancestor Tinglan who can casually deploy a fifth-tier trapping and killing array and carries forty-eight pre-made array discs on her at all times?”
“I... believe so?”
Chi Yuan fell silent for a moment.
She suddenly felt that her understanding of her little junior sister's identity as a 'direct descendant of the Shen family' might still be far too conservative.
Mr. Nan was a high-rank artifact-refiner at the Soul Transformation stage, and Ancestor Tinglan was a high-rank array master at the late stage of Soul Transformation. These two were incredibly famous in the Southern Region, each more renowned than the last, yet they both turned out to be from the Shen family.
“Your family background...” Chi Yuan rarely found herself at a loss for words. After a brief pause, she said, “No wonder Master said you are safer traveling outside than staying in the sect.”
Shen Qingci curved her eyes modestly. “It is just that the elders in my clan dote on me.”
Chi Yuan said no more. She smoothed out the last wrinkle on her sword tassel and placed it back on her knees.
But another thought crossed her mind.
Her little junior sister was making a point of introducing these two elders to her. What did that mean? Could it be that she was bringing her to meet the family?
Her fingers subconsciously reached toward the sword tassel again, but she stopped them halfway, pulling them back to fold her arms instead.
Her heart beat a little faster for some inexplicable reason. She turned her head toward the porthole, avoiding Shen Qingci's gaze.
The flying vessel glided smoothly through the clouds. Outside the porthole, the twilight deepened, and the horizon burned with a sea of orange-red sunset clouds.
Shen Qingci leaned beside her senior sister and watched for a while, then suddenly spoke, “Senior Sister, once we leave Qinghe County, I'll accompany you to Blood Thorn Ridge.”
Chi Yuan turned to look at her. “Didn't you say you were going to stay in Qinghe County and wait for the flying vessel's return trip?”
“I changed my mind,” Shen Qingci said.
“Anyway, there are still about ten days left of our break. Accompanying you on a mission will be a great way to gain some experience. Besides, Blood Thorn Ridge has complex terrain and is filled with toxic miasma. Having an extra person means we can look out for each other.”
“With your meager cultivation, you wouldn't even be a match for a Golden Core evil cultivator,” Chi Yuan said, refusing to relent.
“I won't fight,” Shen Qingci said with a beaming smile. “I'll just watch from the side, passing you pills and talismans, and cheering you on. If a real fight breaks out, I'll run faster than anyone else and definitely won't hold you back.”
Looking at her like this, Chi Yuan wanted to put on a stern face and scold her a bit, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to be harsh.
“Suit yourself.” She turned away, her voice soft and indifferent. “Once we reach Blood Thorn Ridge, stay close to me and don't wander off.”
Shen Qingci nodded vigorously, the weight lifting from her chest.
【Success.】
With her tagging along for the scripted death flag at Blood Thorn Ridge, a Nascent Soul secret guard lurking in the shadows, and her Soul Transformation clan uncle and aunt ready to be called in as reinforcements at any moment, she wanted to see how that Nascent Soul evil cultivator could possibly stir up any trouble.
As for the matter of Lu Beichen traveling to Blood Thorn Ridge to mourn...
She also wanted to see how this male lead would manage to reap any benefits without the “opportunity” of Chi Yuan.
...
As the flying vessel pierced through the clouds, the outline of Qinghe County emerged outside the porthole.
The entire county city spread across both banks of the river valley. The city walls rose a hundred zhang high, built entirely of basalt. Every thousand paces along the wall stood a spiritual light tower, the spirit-gathering beads atop them shining through the morning mist like two rows of glowing dots stretching to the horizon.
Three floating islands hovered above the main city, connected to the walls by iron chains. Pavilions and palaces were layered upon the floating islands, serving as the headquarters for the county government and various major chambers of commerce.
The flying vessel began to descend, and the sights of the ferry terminal became clear. The Furong Merchant Alliance's ferry terminal occupied an entire hilltop outside the county city's west gate. The bluestone-paved docking platform could accommodate twenty flying vessels landing and taking off simultaneously. Currently, six or seven vessels were already parked on the platform, and theirs was the fifth to arrive this morning.
As the gangway was lowered, Shen Qingci spotted the area specially designated for receiving guests by the side of the terminal.
Two carriages were parked there.
The carriages were made from solid blocks of thousand-year-old gloomwood, measuring three zhang high and over two zhang wide, their surfaces densely engraved with array patterns.
The carriage windows did not have curtains; instead, they were fitted with solid, single-cut sheets of spiritual crystal. It was impossible to see inside from the outside, but those inside could look out and see the entire street.
The four Wind-Treading Steeds pulling the carriage stood side-by-side. Their shoulders rose two zhang high, and visible wind blades swirled amidst their manes. Occasionally, they snorted, their breath instantly freezing the bluestone slabs on the ground into a layer of frost.
Fourth-tier demon beasts, equivalent to the combat power of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, were only fit to pull carriages here.
Eight attendants stood beside each carriage, dressed in identical robes and carrying magical artifacts at their waists. Even the lowest among them had a cultivation level at the mid-stage Golden Core.
The cultivators passing to and fro at the terminal subconsciously steered clear of that area, yet their eyes couldn't help but wander over.
The forces in the Southern Region that could afford to use fourth-tier demon beasts to pull carriages could be counted on one hand. Meanwhile, the reputations of the Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop and Ancestor Tinglan were ranked at the absolute top, not just in Qinghe County, but in the entire Southern Region.
As Shen Qingci stepped onto the gangway, a middle-aged man who looked like a manager stepped forward quickly from the right carriage to meet her at the bottom of the steps.
Clad in indigo robes with a flame-patterned token hanging from his waist, he unreservedly released his late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation aura, causing all the surrounding cultivators below the Golden Core stage to take half a step back in unison.
He came to a halt at the bottom of the gangway and bowed, while the eight attendants behind him bowed in unison.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, the rustle of their robes blending into a single sound.
“The Eldest Miss and Fairy Chi have had a long and tiring journey. This subordinate, Shen Shun, is here to receive you by order of Master Nan.”
His voice was low, but the wind at the terminal was strong, carrying every single word far and wide.
The expressions of the surrounding cultivators waiting for their vessels changed instantly. They gathered in small groups, whispering in hushed tones, unable to conceal their shock and suspicion.
The chief manager of the Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop, a great figure at the late stage of Nascent Soul, had personally come to the terminal to receive someone, and even called her “Eldest Miss”!!!
Shen Qingci remained as calm and collected as ever, nodding slightly. “Uncle Shun, it has been many years.”
Shen Shun raised his head, the shrewdness in his eyes masked by a trace of genuine excitement. He stepped aside and gestured with his hand. “The carriages are ready. After you, Eldest Miss.”
The terminal fell dead silent.
Many people began to quietly size up Shen Qingci. Their gazes swept from the Jinglei sword at her waist to Chi Yuan beside her, and then to the two carriages, their minds frantically searching for any major power with the surname “Shen.”
Unfortunately, none could be found.
Rate on N.U.
