Chapter 76: Officially Signing the Agreement
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“Pay the price?” Chen Fei looked at Su Ran in confusion.
“The reason the Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra had such a strong effect the first time was primarily due to the Fire Cloud Stone!”
“Secondly, it was our first dual cultivation session. The first exchange of Yin and Yang brings the greatest benefits naturally.”
“But as the interactions between Yin and Yang increase, the effects will gradually diminish until they provide no benefits at all.”
“If we want to continue using the Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra for rapid improvement, we will need heavenly treasures like the Fire Cloud Stone.”
Su Ran explained patiently.
Chen Fei finally understood the situation, but he became curious and asked, “If there are no suitable heavenly treasures, would changing partners for dual cultivation still bring the same miraculous effects?”
Su Ran shot him a sharp look. While what he said wasn’t wrong, dual cultivation with the Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra involved deep consciousness-level contact and the mutual exchange of Yin and Yang. How could it be done casually with just anyone?
“Technically, you’re not wrong, but the selection of a dual cultivation partner is crucial.”
“The ideal partner should either have extraordinary talent, allowing you to absorb a portion of it.”
“Or they should have a much higher realm than you, which would also produce great results.”
Su Ran nodded in confirmation.
“Chen Fei, what level has your spiritual power reached as a Shu Ling Master?” Su Ran suddenly asked.
After two sessions of dual cultivation, they had reached the peak period of benefits from the Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra. Moving forward, the gains would be much smaller.
“I’m not sure.” Chen Fei shook his head. He had no clear understanding of how many levels his spiritual power had reached.
“How many spiritual vortexes have appeared in your Sea of Consciousness?” Su Ran explained, “One vortex corresponds to a hundred segments of spiritual power. When you gather ten vortexes, you reach the thousand-segment level of a Shu Ling Master.”
“When you achieve the thousand-segment standard, your spiritual vortexes will merge into one, ultimately transforming into liquid spiritual power.”
Su Ran continued explaining.
“Vortexes?” Chen Fei recalled his own Sea of Consciousness, which seemed entirely different from what Su Ran described.
Back when he was in the City Lord’s Mansion, he had accidentally obtained a mysterious treasure. After Xu Tian Cauldron absorbed and refined it, his spiritual power had increased significantly. Instead of forming vortexes, numerous points of starlight had lit up, forming a mist.
At the time, he believed that each starlight represented a segment of spiritual power, so he assumed he had already reached several hundred segments.
However, after the recent dual cultivation with Su Ran, he realized that wasn’t the case. His Sea of Consciousness now contained thousands of glowing starlights, densely packed.
He then noticed that these starlights formed a mist, and the mist resembled a great cauldron. Interestingly, one cluster of mist contained precisely 1,200 starlights.
Now, within his Sea of Consciousness, there were two such clusters—like two Xu Tian Cauldrons in their embryonic state.
“Could one starlight mist be equivalent to a hundred segments of spiritual power?”
“Instead of forming vortexes, my spiritual power has taken the shape of Xu Tian Cauldron’s mist?”
Chen Fei believed this to be the case, so he hesitantly told Su Ran, “My second vortex is nearly complete.”
“So fast?” Su Ran looked at Chen Fei in shock.
She knew that Chen Fei had only just awakened as a Shu Ling Master, but his talent was exceptional. His Chen Guang Mist was unique.
“This is all thanks to my wife’s Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra.” Chen Fei said with a smile.
Su Ran couldn’t deny it. The Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra was an incredibly advanced and special technique. Chen Fei had absorbed part of her Phoenix bloodline’s talent, so it was only natural for his growth to accelerate.
“Two hundred segments of spiritual power—quite an achievement.” Su Ran said. “At your current level, you’re now a capable Shu Ling Master. With your techniques, even against a Fourth-Rank Great Ling Master, you could potentially kill them in a surprise attack.”
Hearing this, Chen Fei was stunned. Was a Shu Ling Master with two hundred segments really that powerful? Could they eliminate a Fourth-Rank Great Ling Master with a surprise attack?
Now, he finally understood why people like Lu Yijun feared a thousand-segment Shu Ling Master so much.
“Wife, what about you? How many segments have you reached?” Chen Fei asked Su Ran curiously.
“Not even a hundred.” Su Ran replied.
“How is that possible?” Chen Fei was surprised. If he could reach nearly two hundred segments using the Yin-Yang Emperor Sutra, how could Su Ran not have even reached a hundred?
“There are things you wouldn’t understand even if I explained.” Su Ran said. “I have my own unique path of cultivation.”
“Although my spiritual power hasn’t grown much, I have made great progress on my cultivation path.” At this moment, Su Ran was full of confidence.
Chen Fei immediately understood. Su Ran was walking the path of awakening her Phoenix bloodline. For her, true power would only emerge once her bloodline was fully activated.
After resting for the night, they began their third session of dual cultivation…
After this third session, both of them clearly felt that the effects of the Fire Cloud Stone had been nearly exhausted.
The once smooth and radiant stone had become rough and cracked, as if it had been scorched by intense flames.
Chen Fei felt reluctant to part with it. The deep connection formed during dual cultivation had strengthened their bond significantly.
Now, to outsiders, they already seemed like a genuinely affectionate couple.
“Chen Fei, once we return, help me arrange a meeting with my eldest brother. I want him to accompany me to Luo Xuan Valley.” Su Ran said on their way back from the Huang Ling Mine.
Chen Fei frowned and asked, “Wife, why do you want to go to Luo Xuan Valley? That place is crawling with demonic beasts.”
“I’m going there to hunt those beasts.” Su Ran didn’t hide her intentions. “The time my ancestor secured for me is limited. I must do everything I can to strengthen myself as quickly as possible.”
“Is it absolutely necessary?” Chen Fei wanted to stop her but understood the danger posed by the mysterious thousand-segment Shu Ling Master behind the City Lord’s Mansion.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” Su Ran reassured him.
“Alright then.” Chen Fei nodded.
When they returned to the Zhang Linchuan had fought against the Lin family on Chen Fei’s behalf, so it was only right for him to repay the couple in some way.
What they wanted wasn’t much—just for Chen Fei to teach their children, Zhang Qing and Zhang Rou, more about modern dance.
Soon, Zhang Linchuan and his wife arrived at the Su family estate with their children.
They informed Chen Fei that they had already arranged for a meeting with a royal prince, who could take him to Tianyan City at any time.
However, Chen Fei was in no rush anymore.
With the Worldwide Merchant Guild extending an olive branch to him, he could now leverage their power. Such matters no longer required his direct involvement.
Then, in the presence of Zhang Linchuan and his wife, Chen Fei watched the innovative dance performance created by Zhang Qing and Zhang Rou.
What he saw left him utterly speechless.
He had instructed the siblings to innovate upon the foundation of modern dance he had taught them, expecting them to create new modern dance forms.
However, for some reason, the siblings had managed to blend this world’s classical dance with modern dance, creating something entirely new.
“Teacher Chen, what do you think?”
Before the performance even ended, Liu Yunyan eagerly asked on behalf of her children.
“Surpassing the master!”
“It seems entrusting modern dance to them was the right choice.”
Chen Fei nodded in approval.
Hearing his praise, Liu Yunyan and her husband beamed with joy.
Afterward, Chen Fei personally taught the siblings two more modern dance routines—his most refined techniques.
After sending the Zhang family off, Chen Fei couldn’t help but sigh. No matter the world, art was universal.
Perhaps, through these siblings, modern dance could shine like never before. Their future was full of promise.
Chen Fei walked to the front courtyard, where Su Ran was still handling family affairs. Not wanting to disturb her, he instead gave some instructions to Miao Yue before leaving the Su estate.
Arriving at Li Zhong’s residence, Chen Fei inquired about what had transpired during his absence.
Qin Shuang was still missing. The Qin family, though persistent in pleading for her case, had been consistently turned away by Li Zhong.
Meanwhile, Chen Laoda and his trading caravan had visited as well. Now that they had secured the rights to black copper ore, they had established a new office for the merchant convoy.
Following Chen Fei’s orders, they had also begun preparations for acquiring Dustless Cloud Crystals. Everything in the trading convoy was progressing smoothly.
No word had come from Silvermoon Academy, but Li Qingyi had visited once more, leaving her address for Li Zhong. She had asked for Chen Fei and Chen Yang to visit her together once they had made their decision.
“Let’s go. Come with me,” Chen Fei said after understanding the situation.
Since Su Ran had decided to venture into Fallen Spiral Valley to hunt beasts and improve her cultivation, he had to make thorough preparations.
Even though Chen Fei was now an eighth-rank Grand Spirit Master and a dual-segment Artificer, he was well aware of the dangers lurking in Fallen Spiral Valley.
The millennium-old Silver Flood Dragon alone posed an enormous threat. Given their past enmity, accompanying Su Ran meant he was highly likely to face the dragon’s revenge.
Therefore, before heading to Fallen Spiral Valley, he hoped to acquire high-grade third-rank or even fourth-rank pills from Li Qingyi.
Soon, Li Zhong accompanied Chen Fei to the address provided by Li Qingyi.
The location was a luxurious mansion in a quiet yet central part of the city, not far from the City Lord’s Manor. The entrance was guarded by sixth-rank Spirit Masters.
It seemed they had already received word from Li Qingyi, as they led Chen Fei and Li Zhong inside without the need for further introductions.
In the main hall, Chen Fei once again met Li Qingyi—the young nobleman with a folding fan, exuding elegance and charm.
“Brother Chen Yang, why have you come alone?” Li Qingyi asked curiously. He had specifically invited both brothers.
“Master Li, my brother and I have already discussed the matter. It makes no difference whether we both come or just one of us,” Chen Fei explained.
He had chosen to use his alias, Chen Yang, because he couldn’t gauge Li Qingyi’s true strength. If the man saw through his deception, things could become troublesome.
“Fair enough,” Li Qingyi nodded, gesturing for tea to be served before continuing, “I already told you the conditions. What is your decision?”
“To receive your favor, Master Li, is like having a pie fall from the sky—it’s an incredible opportunity for us.”
“My brother and I have decided to join the Worldwide Merchant Guild and assume the role of branch leader in Huangwu City.”
“However, we still have unfinished matters in Huangwu City. We would like to request that we not be assigned to leave in the short term.”
Chen Fei spoke with sincerity.
“For the upcoming secret realm?” Li Qingyi asked.
“Yes, but not just that,” Chen Fei replied. “I promised Silvermoon Academy that I would enter the secret realm to help Lu Yijun break through to the True Spirit Master realm.”
“As for my brother, due to his ties with the Su family, he cannot leave until the threats against them have been neutralized.”
Chen Fei added the final clarification.
“No problem!” Li Qingyi agreed without hesitation. “I came to Huangwu City for the secret realm as well. So, we will head to Tianyan City after it concludes—it makes no difference.”
“As for the Su family’s troubles, I’ve already investigated. The threat originates from the City Lord’s Manor, which is backed by a Thousand-Stage Artificer.”
Li Qingyi stated plainly.
“That’s correct,” Chen Fei wasn’t surprised that Li Qingyi had uncovered the truth.
“A Thousand-Stage Artificer is troublesome to deal with,” Li Qingyi admitted. “However, it seems this individual has sustained an old injury. Once I obtain what I need from the secret realm, I will personally resolve this issue.”
Hearing this, Chen Fei couldn’t help but grow curious. He boldly asked, “Master Li, may I ask—how does a Thousand-Stage Artificer compare to us Spirit Masters in strength?”
Su Ran had once mentioned that even a dual-segment Artificer could potentially assassinate a sixth-rank Grand Spirit Master with the right strategy. If that was the case, then how terrifying would a fully empowered Thousand-Stage Artificer be?
“At their peak, a Thousand-Stage Artificer is strong enough to make even ninth-rank True Spirit Masters wary,” Li Qingyi explained. “If this person weren’t injured, I wouldn’t be confident in handling them either.”
Chen Fei took a sharp breath.
From what he knew, ninth-rank True Spirit Masters were among the strongest individuals in the Great Qing Kingdom.
“Alright, here’s the agreement I’ve drafted. If you find no issues, sign it.”
Li Qingyi produced a prepared contract and handed it to Chen Fei.
After carefully reviewing it, Chen Fei did not sign immediately but instead made a request.
“Master Li, I have one more favor to ask.”
“Go ahead,” Li Qingyi replied.
“I need high-quality third-rank pills.”
Chen Fei finally revealed his true reason for coming.
