Chapter 352

Chapter 352: Travel Companions

At Zhou Fu, within the core district of Immortal City.

Zhou Luo stood before the alchemical furnace, gazing inside with a calm heart.

Lying there were one black and one white Gu insect, both resting quietly with their antennae trembling faintly, lightly shining with spiritual radiance.

Intensely concentrated power flowed within these two Gu insects.

That power lay dormant inside them, truly invisible under ordinary circumstances, becoming detectable only when their abilities were needed.

To prevent others from seizing them, Zhou Luo deliberately hid his own power deep within the Gu insects’ bodies and added several layers of restrictions.

Thus, even if someone obtained the Gu insects, they would find it impossible to use them.

He collected the Gu insects and left the room.

Over the next several days, Zhou Luo focused on nurturing primal Gu insects, intending to later refine high-grade Gu insects for himself.

During this time, Yao Wu also sensed something amiss.

Because she found some primal Gu insects that differed distinctly from those she usually cultivated.

She felt a unique aura emanating from those insects.

Regarding these things Zhou Luo was tinkering with, she didn’t ask questions. Though curious, she remained merely curious.

Through their dual cultivation, their souls had long since become harmonized; she grasped his ways and unconditionally trusted him in many matters.

One day, while studying Gu insects at home, Zhou Luo received a sudden summons from Long Yunshuang, sent via messenger, requesting his presence at Tian Xia Restaurant.

Assuming it was business-related, Zhou Luo promptly put down his materials and headed straight for Tian Xia Restaurant.

He arrived at Tian Xia Restaurant shortly.

Upon entering the room, he saw Long Yunshuang seated calmly.

That day, Long Yunshuang wore a light blue dress embroidered with cloud patterns, collar edges inlaid with golden threads, with elegant lotuses stitched onto the cuffs, enhancing her pure and radiant appearance.

Her face was free of any makeup, a naturally beautiful, fair, and delicate countenance.

Sitting behind the desk as sunlight poured through the window, it spilled onto her pale skin, making her glow brilliantly, like an immortal fairy.

Zhou Luo took several admiring glances before stepping forward, clasping his hands: "Manager Long, unknown… what matter brings a summons?"

Long Yunshuang looked at him, scanning him up and down, then abruptly asked: "Do you know about the Longfeng Mountain range situation?"

She recalled investigation records mentioning his visit to Longfeng Mountain range and his narrow escape from bandits thereafter — indeed fortunate luck.

Zhou Luo thought of what Wang Lang had mentioned recently and questioned: "Is Manager Long speaking of the ruins?"

Long Yunshuang’s eyebrows rose, surprised he knew of this.

To her knowledge, he had been living reclusively and shouldn’t be aware of such matters.

But if he knew, all the better; it saved needless explanations.

"Exactly. I wish to invite Pill Master Zhou to accompany me. What say you?" Long Yunshuang directly extended her invitation.

Intent on investigating the ruins, and considering Zhou Luo’s ability and identity as a Pill Master, she believed having him along might prove extraordinarily helpful.

Hearing these words, Zhou Luo’s gaze flickered.

He hadn’t expected the other party to seek him out for this matter.

He was indeed interested in that ruins, especially since it might contain a dual cultivation technique.

If he could go together with someone as influential as Long Yunshuang, they could look out for each other.

He just didn’t know what kind of person she really was.

Seeing his hesitation, Long Yunshuang cut straight to the point. "I know what Pill Master Zhou is worried about. I have a contract here. We can sign it before we go."

She wasn’t entirely trusting of Zhou Luo’s character either, thus the contract seemed the best option.

Contracts varied in grade; the one she possessed required both parties to infuse a drop of their essential blood to take effect. Violation would incur punishment from the Heavenly path itself.

Therefore, parties bound by such a contract rarely dared to break it.

Seeing that token contract, much of Zhou Luo’s worry dissolved.

Since she possessed such a valuable item, signing this contract meant venturing to those ruins wouldn’t be an issue.

"Since Manager Long has proposed this, I naturally have no objections," Zhou Luo nodded.

"Good. Then let us sign this pact first." Long Yunshuang flicked her right hand lightly, sending the contract token floating towards Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo caught it, scanning the text inscribed upon it.

The terms were typical for such agreements: both parties must refrain from harming each other, and similar clauses.

Having found nothing amiss, Zhou Luo pricked his index finger, allowing a single drop of his essential blood to fall onto the token.

A faint glow emanated from the contract, signifying its activation.

He then passed the token back.

Long Yunshuang, equally decisive, dripped her own essential blood onto it.

Boom—

In the next instant, the parchment-like token released a deep sound. An intangible power settled over both their hearts, connecting them.

Their pact was now sealed.

"Prepare yourself then. We depart in ten days," Long Yunshuang stated calmly.

"Understood," Zhou Luo took his leave.

After exiting Tian Xia Restaurant, he didn’t return directly to Zhou Fu. Instead, he sought out Wang Lang.

Since a journey to the ruins was imminent, thorough preparation was essential.

Second-level spiritual symbols and second-level potions were top priorities.

He didn’t intend to buy the necessary materials from Tian Xia Pavilion. While potion ingredients were fine, procuring spiritual symbol materials there could reveal his identity as a Second Level spiritual symbol master.

This was where Wang Lang’s former connections from the black market came in.

Once he’d briefed Wang Lang, Zhou Luo returned to Zhou Fu and informed Yao Wu.

"Husband, rest assured. This place is secure, and I am here," Yao Wu said.

The process of dual cultivation hadn’t just benefited Zhou Luo; Yao Wu had advanced alongside him.

Endowed with Third Grade spiritual roots, her cultivation had advanced rapidly over ten-plus years of dual cultivation. She was now at the late stage of the eighth level of Qi Refinement, bordering on the ninth level.

"Mhmm. Try not to leave the residence. If you receive no word from me for too long, gather our people, find Wang Lang, and have him escort you all back to the Lin Family," Zhou Luo instructed.

Accompanied by Long Yunshuang, this expedition likely faced minimal peril, but one had to prepare for the unexpected.

Five days later, Wang Lang brought the materials Zhou Luo needed.

Time pressure meant the materials were only sufficient to craft two mid-grade spiritual symbols.

Combined with what he’d accumulated over the years, Zhou Luo now carried six Second Level spiritual symbols: two low-grade, three mid-grade, and one high-grade.

Apart from these, he also prepared several second-level potions.

However, materials for such potent spiritual symbols and potions were exceedingly scarce, and the short timeframe limited his stockpile. Thankfully, his years of hoarding had yielded usable reserves.

Not long after, the day appointed by Long Yunshuang arrived.

Zhou Luo placed Little White in a backpack and departed Zhou Fu.