Chapter 645

Chapter 645: The Woman in Ancient Garb

“Brother Daoist, how much for this earring?” Golden Ling’er tried mimicking Jin An’s formal tone, but her youthful awkwardness showed through her forced seriousness, making the merchant woman chuckle. “Little girl, this is a mid-grade Immortal artifact. Better pick something else. These ordinary magic tools were all forged by me. If you like any, I’ll sell them for a few middle-grade spirit stones.”

“A mid-grade Immortal artifact?” The girl stared wistfully at the earring on the straw mat, its surface gleaming with peculiar light under the sun. The exquisite craftsmanship combined purple jade with pure violet gold, bearing signs of profound refinement techniques. Its effects surely wouldn’t be weak.

Golden Ling’er sighed. Her only protective item was a low-quality Immortal artifact – the small dagger on her back. She usually treasured it dearly, carefully wiping it with a handkerchief, though Jin An often teased her for this. Now seeing a mid-grade Immortal artifact casually displayed among countless similar treasures, the young girl felt overwhelmed.

Helpless, she scurried back to Jin An and complained, “Senior brother, it’s too expensive! That mid-grade Immortal artifact would cost me years’ worth of spirit stones.”

“Silly girl, I warned you not to go. See what happened?” Though sympathetic, Jin An knew mid-grade Immortal artifacts were prohibitively costly – even their master wouldn’t casually purchase one.

“But it was so beautiful! I guess I’ll have to save up through strict frugality.” She clenched her small fist determinedly, then remembered her current cultivation expenses already strained her spirit stone supply. The idea of saving more seemed impossible.

“Safe travels, friend.” The merchant waved off a customer. Golden Ling’er spotted someone walking away with the exact mid-grade artifact she’d wanted and stomped her foot. “I curse that spirit stone thief! May his true qi vanish during cultivation… then suddenly return to scare him!”

“Junior sister, what a childish curse.” Jin An laughed nervously. Had he not known Ye Yun’s cold exterior hid kindness, he’d have panicked about her cursing a peak Nascent Soul expert.

As Golden Ling’er turned to leave, she nearly collided with someone. Suddenly, immense power slammed into her from the side. Unprepared, she went flying.

White light flashed as Ye Yun appeared using minor displacement magic, catching her mid-fall before setting her down gently.

“Going too far, aren’t you?” Ye Yun’s icy gaze pierced through the crowd toward the attacker.

“A seventh-level Golden Core brat dares glare at me?” A cultivator guffawed. “Want me to pluck your eyeballs for wine snacks? Think you can play hero with that weak cultivation?”

“Try it.” Ye Yun’s voice stayed frosty. Jin An hurried to support Golden Ling’er, fearing collateral damage if Ye Yun acted.

“Still acting tough? Don’t blame me for what comes next!” The cultivator roared, infuriated by Ye Yun’s defiance.

“Enough, Tiangang. Too many eyes here.” A Nascent Soul Fourth Level cultivator pulled back his companion, then offered an Immortal Spirit Stone to Ye Yun’s group. “Our apologies. My friend has rough manners.”

Golden Ling’er lifted her chin. “I bumped into him accidentally. Keep your stone.”

“Stubborn brat!” Tiangang laughed and reached for her wrist.

Jin An shielded her, voice cold. “Address me if you have grievances. Don’t bully a girl.”

“I do as I please!” Tiangang’s true qi pressure crashed down like a mountain. Jin An’s throat filled with blood, but he stubbornly held his ground under the Fourth Level cultivator’s aura.

“Not bad.” Tiangang grinned before forming a hand-blade to strike Jin An. His four companions made no move to stop him, the apologetic cultivator shrugging helplessly.

“You’re more arrogant than me.” Ye Yun stepped forward as Tiangang prepared to attack.

“Who are you to speak?” Tiangang swung at Ye Yun.

Ye Yun caught the strike effortlessly, immobilizing Tiangang’s arm despite his struggles. A chilling mental intent enveloped Tiangang like icy water – he froze, realizing Ye Yun could slay him instantly, causing spiritual dispersion and death.

Trembling, Tiangang glanced desperately at a woman in his group.

“Your cultivation rivals mine.” The elegant central woman finally spoke. “Join me in searching the Xumi Treasure. Together, even Moon Goddess Palace’s duo wouldn’t oppose us.”

“You’re strong too.” Ye Yun’s eyes glinted. Letting Tiangang off easily? That wouldn’t be Ye Yun’s style.

In an instant, four different types of spiritual power engulfed Tiangang with overwhelming force. Under this crushing pressure, even a peak Seventh Level Nascent Soul cultivator would hesitate to face it, let alone a mere Fourth Level Nascent Soul like him. In the blink of an eye, Tiangang met death and disappearance of the spirit, dissolving into smoke. Truth be told, had he resisted with full strength, Ye Yun – still afflicted by residual fire poison – couldn’t have eliminated him so easily.

Ye Yun’s slaying of Tiangang drew neither surprise nor anger from the woman. "Impressive. In some aspects, you’ve even surpassed me." Her veil shifted slightly as she spoke, revealing breathtaking features beneath. The three precious jades around her pale neck marked her exalted status, radiating an aura surpassing mid-grade Immortal artifacts that drew gazes from surrounding Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Her beauty paled compared to the significance of her artifacts.

"If this is your limit, you’re unworthy of partnering with me." Ye Yun instantly recognized the crescent mark of Moon Dynasty. His storage bag still held Silver Moon Armor from that faction. Though she seemed estranged from them, he remained cautious.

With his cultivation level unrecovered, he couldn’t afford past arrogance. Even disregarding himself, he had two to protect – one newly entered Nascent Soul stage, the other barely at First Level perfection. Without him, they’d be mere cannon fodder in Xumi Treasure.

"Your answer intrigues me. Cooperate with me, and I’ll reserve the blazing sun flames heavenly materials and earthly treasures for you." Her icy tone brooked no argument. The haughtiness cultivated since childhood made Ye Yun chuckle. "If this offer’s genuine, I’ll join you in exploring Xumi Treasure’s second layer."

"Then take this token. Crush it there, and the boundary-breaking symbol will teleport you to me." With a faint smile, she departed without sparing Tiangang’s corpse a glance. Her parting glance stirred frenzy among nearby Nascent Souls.

"What a seductive creature…" Jin An murmured.

Golden Ling’er stomped her foot when she saw Jin An’s lingering gaze, storming off in anger.

"Senior, your thoughts?" Jin An asked Ye Yun with a knowing look, well-acquainted with his junior sister’s temper.

"Seems reasonable," Ye Yun replied.

"If I could gain such a companion, I’d die content," Jin An whispered when Golden Ling’er was out of earshot.

"You and Ling’er suit each other. Why not consider it?" Ye Yun inquired, noting Jin An’s melancholy.

Jin An shook his head. "You know her status isn’t for ordinary people."

Ye Yun frowned. If Jin An couldn’t match Golden Ling’er’s standing, how dared he covet that superior woman?

"Golden Ling’er, I found something you might like." Noticing her sullenness, Ye Yun produced a mid-grade Immortal artifact from the trading post.

Golden Ling’er’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed it, caressing the treasure. "Senior, you’re too generous." Jin An gaped at the artifact’s familiar design – such extravagance surprised him.

"Perhaps Ye Yun truly doesn’t value mid-grade Immortal artifacts. If so, our initial wariness was misplaced." Jin An reckoned their Master’s jade tablet quest offered nothing better than mid-grade artifacts. Anything superior would force their retreat, being beyond their cultivation level.

Every treasure and spirit material they’d encountered required formidable strength. Even as Nascent Souls, they’d barely survived their journey. Without Ye Yun’s company since Golden Ling’er’s invitation, they’d have perished long ago.

What madness drove their Master to send two Nascent Souls into Xumi Treasure? Treasures abounded, but dangers lurked everywhere. Even Ye Yun had contracted fire poison retrieving a supreme Immortal artifact, suppressing his cultivation. Knowing this would terrify Jin An, making them flee immediately.

To Ye Yun, every trial prepared him for greater challenges. "This tempering prepares us for future voyages," he murmured, gazing into the distance with natural authority.