The Visiting Card

"With the help of your Robe Division Imperial Guard, I've already taught the Heavenly Fortune Sacred Sect a good lesson. "Three Supreme Sovereigns of the demon race were also shot dead by the Robe Division Imperial Guard. "In another half month, my... quest will be complete." Jin Li was learning Qi Yuan's way of speaking as well. "Quest complete? That fast! Impressive! Don't log off after finishing. Wait a bit for me, and we'll meet up in person!" "All right." Jin Li held the Exquisite Jade Tide in her hand. Now, with the Robe Division Imperial Guard at her command, she truly counted as the Empress of Southern Qian. The taste of holding supreme power was indeed intoxicating. Yet, having always favored the pure mountain springs and clear breeze, and knowing her own place, she soon awoke from the reverie. "Once matters here are settled, it will be time to leave. "I was never a qualified ruler to begin with. Leaving is just leaving." She had done her best with the affairs before her. Relying on the Robe Division Imperial Guard, she had wiped out the demon race, suppressed the Heavenly Fortune Sacred Sect, and clipped away several brewing crises. The affairs that followed would be left to those who came after. At that moment, Jin Li sat by the window, gazing blankly into the distance at the Ancient Qi Toon Tree, lost in thought. *** "Eldest Senior Brother, a visiting card!" In the early morning, Qi Yuan was jolted awake from a dream. Having killed so many in the game, he had grown accustomed to it and no longer had nightmares. Even so, slaying so many was exhausting, and he had slept longer than usual these past few days. Woken now, he rubbed his bleary eyes and brushed away the strands of hair clinging between his brows. "Huh? What is it?" Qi Yuan felt the stirrings of morning grumpiness. Remembering that there was actual business, however, he suppressed his foul mood. Stepping out of the thatched cottage, Qi Yuan saw Jiang Lingsu standing gracefully in the courtyard outside. Fair and radiant as blossoming peaches and plums, with delicate moth-like brows and luminous eyes, she appeared lively and endearing. Looking at beautiful things was truly easy on the eyes; his morning irritation faded a little. "Eldest Senior Brother, it's a visiting card for Master." Jiang Lingsu handed the card to Qi Yuan. "The Sect Master had Qingying bring it over. She also said the Sect Master had a message for you." "Oh? What message?" Qi Yuan took the visiting card. It looked quite high-end and elegant, adorned with an ink wash painting on the outside. "The Sect Master said you could open it and take a look," Jiang Lingsu said. Qi Yuan paused slightly. He had no idea what medicine the Sect Master was peddling in his gourd. He opened the card and read it attentively, his brows immediately furrowing. He felt that having a morning temper was entirely justified. A start jolted through his heart: *Could it be that because I brought up the Palace of Light the other day after hearing Junior Sister's warning, an expert from the Palace of Light sensed it, sent a visiting card, and now wants to see my Master?* The card was issued in the name of the Palace of Light. Its contents were simple enough: essentially, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Palace of Light named Zhu Lianhua had arrived in Great Shang. He wished to invite several top orthodox figures of Great Shang to gather, discuss the future landscape of Great Shang's cultivation world, and determine the country's development. Before hosting the gathering, he would first pay a visit. Zhu Lianhua would visit the Divine Light Sect within the next few days. The exact time depended on his schedule and could not be determined in advance, so the Divine Light Sect had to make preparations to welcome him beforehand. After reading the contents, Qi Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn't come to cause him trouble; he had simply been worrying over nothing. Looking at the contents of the visiting card, Qi Yuan sneered. "This kid puts on airs even better than me!" As he spoke, he handed the visiting card to Jiang Lingsu. It was not something that required secrecy anyway. Jiang Lingsu took the card. After reading it, she gritted her silver teeth, a faint trace of killing intent flashing deep within her eyes—especially upon seeing the name. "This Zhu Lianhua is truly laughable. Used to acting high and mighty, who does he think he is? "A petty Foundation Establishment cultivator putting on such grandiose airs!" The tone Zhu Lianhua took in the letter was exceedingly condescending. Moreover, without even confirming an exact time of arrival, he expected Qi Yuan and the others to stand ready to receive him. Did he think he was an official arriving on an inspection tour? To deliberate on the situation of Great Shang's cultivation world and dictate its future development—with that posture, any cultivator in the state of Great Shang would probably want to snap: *Who the hell are you, and what qualifies you?* In the visiting card, Zhu Lianhua's arrogance was laid bare to the extreme. "Great minds think alike." Qi Yuan thoroughly agreed with his junior sister's words. Jiang Lingsu continued, "People from the Palace of Light have always been like this. Especially when traveling to smaller places, members of their organization practically keep their eyes on the tops of their heads. "Unfortunately, they truly possess the capital to be arrogant. "We had better not provoke them, or else... it could invite calamity." Jiang Lingsu was also somewhat wary of the Palace of Light. Of course, it was only wariness. "I'll take the visiting card up to Master." Holding the card, Qi Yuan's mood suddenly brightened again. Perhaps he might get to see his master. Not having seen her for several months, he missed her dearly. Qi Yuan made his way to the mountainside, where the barrier once again barred his path. Holding the card, he called out loudly, "Master, someone from the Palace of Light seeks an audience. Here is their visiting card!" Saying so, he held the card aloft and looked forward. He wanted to catch a glimpse of his master. Right then, a gentle breeze swept past, rustling the card. The moon atop the peak seemed to shed a wisp of moonlight. Light and shadow coalesced into two words: *No audience.* After lingering for a breath, the luminous characters dispersed into nothingness. "No audience... Understood." Qi Yuan felt a pang of disappointment at not seeing his master. Holding the visiting card, he felt its material. "Feels pretty expensive. I'll go sell it later and see if I can trade it for a spirit stone." *** A day later, in the marketplace beneath the Divine Light Sect. A figure in extraordinary attire appeared, accompanied by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. That cultivator was at perfection in Foundation Establishment, yet before the other middle-stage Foundation Establishment youth, he acted with utter servility. "Fellow Daoist Zhu, this is the market beneath the Divine Light Sect. "It's rather dilapidated and lacks good items, far inferior to your Palace of Light." The peak Foundation Establishment cultivator did not use divine sense transmission; he intentionally spoke out loud. Unfortunately, none of the people in the market had ever heard of the Palace of Light, remaining entirely indifferent to his words. Only a cultivator wrapped completely in a cloak seemed to overhear; his heart skipped a beat, yet he feigned nonchalance. Zhu Lianhua swept his gaze over the market and remarked airily, "It's tolerable—at least fit to step on. Hopefully I can unearth a hidden treasure here." He had come to the Divine Light Sect for two reasons. First, he intended to pay respects to the foremost expert of the Divine Light Sect, the Peak Master of Seven Colors Peak. Second, rumors had circulated recently that a supreme treasure had emerged within the sect, manifesting anomalies several times; such treasures belonged to the virtuous. He hailed from the Palace of Light, which embodied supreme virtue. The second reason was the true purpose of his visit. Hearing this, the peak Foundation Establishment cultivator chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Zhu also came for that supreme treasure?" "If it truly is a treasure of that caliber, I must collect it personally. "The Divine Light Sect is too small a temple. Leaving such a treasure in their hands would invite disaster, as their strength cannot control it," Zhu Lianhua stated as though it were obvious. The peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, Wang Shuang, felt disdain in his heart, yet he still flattered, "Fellow Daoist Zhu is worthy of being from the Palace of Light, keeping the world at heart. "Before even forging ties with the Divine Light Sect, you already consider their well-being." "Tell me, has the Divine Light Sect already obtained this Five Elements Supreme Treasure?" Zhu Lianhua asked. Wang Shuang pondered for a moment. "Even if they have, they would likely claim otherwise to outsiders." "What do you say—if I offer a quota to recommend someone into the Palace of Light in exchange for their treasure, would they agree?" Wang Shuang froze upon hearing this. A quota to recommend a cultivator into the Palace of Light was indeed precious. Yet it was only that. The Palace of Light was mighty, but it was far too distant from Great Shang! Wang Shuang respected and feared Zhu Lianhua, but if Zhu Lianhua truly pushed him into a corner, he would dare to kill him. Of course, without being backed into a corner, who would take such a desperate risk? Wang Shuang was speechless at cultivators like Zhu Lianhua from grander regions, but he nevertheless replied, "I only fear the Divine Light Sect fails to recognize true jade." The implied meaning was that the Divine Light Sect would never surrender the treasure. Zhu Lianhua was not surprised. "It seems another approach is needed." Though he was accustomed to arrogance, he understood that one could not truly corner others. Otherwise, his status would mean nothing. Within the state of Great Shang, though he looked down upon all Foundation Establishment cultivators, if an Origin Core cultivator decided to stake everything and throw caution to the wind, he would suffer as well. The two walked through the market, alternating between private transmissions and speaking aloud. Wang Shuang then spoke up. "I happen to know a secret treasure-hunting technique. While its reliability comes and goes, I occasionally stumble upon rare finds. "Today, I shall demonstrate my skill and find some treasures to present to you, Fellow Daoist." Wang Shuang maintained a very humble posture; he had already grasped parts of Zhu Lianhua's temperament. Sure enough, Zhu Lianhua grew interested. "Then let us see what you can do." The technique Wang Shuang employed was called the Heaven-Seeking Treasure Technique. It gave him a faint sense of certain rare, peculiar treasures. Yet he understood that in a run-down market like this, there was rarely anything of true value. He decided that if he failed to unearth anything genuine, he would simply pay out of his own pocket to substitute a treasure. Channeling the technique, a golden gleam surfaced in Wang Shuang's eyes. After about half an incense stick of time, joy broke out across his brow. "To think I actually found something here! Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist. I will purchase it and bring it for you to see." If both went together, the stall vendor might jack up the price upon seeing Zhu Lianhua's extraordinary attire. Zhu Lianhua nodded and tactfully chose not to follow. After all, by staying behind, he gave Wang Shuang room to secretly swap in a treasure of his own if the search failed. He stood in the market, waiting quietly. Before long, Wang Shuang returned with an elated expression. "Fellow Daoist, I spent merely one spirit stone to pick up this treasure! Take a look—what is this!" As Wang Shuang spoke, he held up the item he had acquired. "Don't look at how it seems somewhat ornate yet battered and ruined; its material..." His voice trailed off. He noticed that Zhu Lianhua's expression had turned exceedingly grim. *Did I say something wrong?* Wang Shuang felt a twinge of fear. "Fellow Daoist?" Zhu Lianhua snatched the item from Wang Shuang's hand, his face darkening with shifting emotions. "Where did this come from?" Wang Shuang's heart sank, and he asked tentatively, "Do you recognize this treasure, Fellow Daoist?" "What fucking treasure!" Zhu Lianhua slammed the object to the ground. "This is the visiting card I sent to the Divine Light Sect!" His suppressed fury erupted, clearly enraged to the extreme. Hearing this, Wang Shuang was thoroughly stunned. He had never imagined that the 'treasure' he had managed to unearth was none other than the visiting card Zhu Lianhua had sent to the Divine Light Sect! This was simply... utterly absurd!