Chapter 73

Chapter 73.1: You Can Go Secretly Learn

This was the Mu Family's Mu Lai.

A Elixir Cultivator at the Silver level's eighth grade, wielding dual elements lightning and fire, a rare and highly skilled cultivator of both martial arts and medicine throughout the lands. And because of her tyrannically powerful cultivation together with her swift and decisive hand, she was given the title of Lady Devil by the people.

Though he was mocked like that, Mu Chi did not try to explain any further but just clicked his tongue and said reluctantly: "Yes yes yes, I'm weak. Will that do? How can I possibly compare with a prodigious genius like you?"

"Good that you know that." Mu Chai said coldly.

Mu Chi was speechless. "….." [No sense of humility at all.]

"There is still half a year's time before the Faint Mist Sect will open up to recruit new disciples and I am going to go." Mu Lai said softly as she took the handkerchief from the servant's hand to wipe off her perspiration.

Mu Chi was taken aback a moment, and was then a little puzzled. "Weren't you unwilling to join any of the sects? When I wanted you to come with me to the Limitless Sect before, you had rejected me flat!"

"All the various sects care about too many trifling details and have all kinds of rules. I will naturally not want to be bound." Mu Lai said with a jeering smile. "But as I am now stuck at the Silver level's eight grade and have not been able to break through, I heard that there is a kind of spirit spring in the Faint Mist Sect that can help a Elixir Cultivator breakthrough the level bottlenecks and I thought that I might as well go try my luck."

"So that's the reason. And I thought you've straightened out your thinking." Mu Chi nodded his head in understanding, but then suddenly seemed to have thought of something. "But, once you are accepted into the Faint Mist Sect, then it will be two whole years before you will be able to come out!"

Mu Lai looked at him with a calm expression on her face. "I am only interested in the spirit spring and am not going in there seeking to cultivate for immortality. Who would dare stop me if I want to come out?"

[Is that even acceptable…..]

[But that was indeed the style of the Lady Devil.]

But it might as well be that. The Mu Family was famous in the Constellation Lands and everyone would naturally know that they were a family clan of Elixir Cultivators. Moreover, Mu Lai did indeed have what it took for her to be so haughty and arrogant.

Mu Chi was deep in thought when he heard her ask in an emotionless voice: "Why, on your trip back to the palace this time, your relationship with the Emperor did not thaw?"

"Thaw out our relationship?" Mu Chi's voice sounded like he had just heard the biggest joke. "Will you be able to recollect back water that you've thrown out? I've already said it back then. Even if he begs me, I will never return to that place."

"He is afterall still your father."

"Ha! I have already shown him great benevolence by not killing him." The youth whom everyone knew to be sunny and good looking seemed to have hidden all the bad things deep in his heart, where no one would ever be able to reach.

Just what had exactly happened deep inside the palace then, maybe only he himself knew.

Mu Lai's brows creased up, but did not say anything more.

Having come back to the Gathered Cloud Loft for tens of days and it seemed that the intention was that they would be staying there for quite a long period. Bai Zhi Yan then reopened the covert Rich Fragrance Court which was fronted by the teahouse used as a disguise, its business sad and dismal, with just two or three people idling around in the main floor as they chatted with each other.

Meanwhile, the Rich Fragrance Court on the other hand was overflowing with people, many of them regulars who came frequently, and also people recommended by others.

It was said that the ladies here had the most outstanding looks in the Imperial Capital, both talented and beautiful. Anyone who came before would not be able to extricate themselves, enjoying themselves so much they would forget to even go home.

And the fine wine and delicacies in Rich Fragrance Court was also one of a kind, where many of the nobles who had tasted all kinds of gourmet foods and delicacies attested that the taste of their food would leave what the Imperial Chefs were able to whip up in the dust.

But their prices were also exceptionally expensive. Though that was the case, it did not stop the footsteps of the people from coming here. They were afterall people who had no lack of money and their closure in the past few months had roused up a bout of displeasure among them.

Chapter 73.2: You Can Go Secretly Learn

Looking at the Gathered Cloud Loft from the outside, it could not look any more ordinary, its size just about right, looking neither unpresentable or decrepit, nor was it too ostentatious or attention grabbing. Throughout that street in the Imperial Capital, it was considered to be one of the less conspicuous looking buildings.

Of course, the majority of the people who had not come here before would all be deceived by its unattractive facade.

It was only after one had truly stepped inside that they would discover that there was much more than meets the eye.

You would never be able to imagine that such a small little teahouse had actually been separated into three enormous sections.

Besides the teahouse and the Rich Fragrance Court, there was also an exquisite and beautiful little courtyard with a room hidden inside, with a long and winding corridor that had a little bridge and a small running stream, filled with colourful fish chasing each other playfully, providing a highly lively sight.

Lou Jun Yao was used to enjoying the comforts in life and no matter where he was, the environment must always be warm to the heart and pleasing to the eye. Using Bai Zhi Yan's words to describe it, every single brick and every one tile here, was all money money money!

But as they had a dimensional artifact, they would be able to carry this place away with them anytime they wanted. Otherwise, when they leave from here, wouldn't they be wasting such a precious and invigorating spot?

At the end of that long corridor was a pavilion, where Lou Jun Yao and Bai Zhi Yan were currently engaged in discussion. A screech then tore through the air, and the bare and empty table suddenly had a gorgeous multi coloured bird appear on it. Its beautiful eyes fluttered weakly as it stomped its little clawed feet lazily.

"Why have you come here again?" Bai Zhi Yan said rather mournfully as he twitched a corner of his mouth before he took off the nifty little bamboo tube on its feet. He continued to prattle on as he read the note: "Does that Xun Luo really have nothing better to do? We have the Voice Transmitting Device and he chooses not to use it, insisting to imitate others by passing notes through this whole homing pigeon thing. I fear that this little thing here is about to scratch someone already."

The bird was one of the rarer and more expensive species in Cloud Heaven. Although it looks small and petite like a pet, it was a rare species that was able to fly ten thousand miles in a day, a divine bird that was able to enter the void and pass through dimensions. It understood humans and for that, it was very well liked by people in Cloud Heaven.

"Huh? The Dark Legion has started to recruit Elixir Cultivators? ?" Bai Zhi Yan blinked his eyes. "Could it be because they found themselves at a disadvantage the last time and they want to prepare themselves beforehand now? But aren't they setting the requirements a little too high?"

Lou Jun Yao did not even turn his eyes but could roughly guess what was written on the note. His thin lips arced up slightly and he then made a statement that had Bai Zhi Yan scratching his head. "I heard that Zhuge Xiong was initially from your Divine Healers Sect."

Bai Zhi Yan was taken aback before he replied. "I think he came out from under the Third Elder's hand….."

"Since he was from the same sect as all of you, I would think that he knows the Divine Healers Sects ways inside out. So if the Dark Legion was seeking to recruit Elixir Cultivators, people from the Divine Healers Sect would basically be excluded." Lou Jun Yao said in an unhurried tone, before he laughed softly. "But alas, Gold level Elixir Cultivators can be found everywhere on the street but only in the Divine Healer Sect would there be a higher chance for them to find a Green Bronze level Elixir Cultivator."

Bai Zhi Yan immediately understood hearing that, his devilishly handsome looking face becoming a little perplexed. "How could I have forgotten about that? Looks like the chances of their plans coming to fruition is not that high!"

"Don't we have you here though?" Lou Jun Yao said with an imperceptible smile.

"Aren't I from the Divine Healers Sect as well?" Bai Zhi Yan said, shooting him a glance.

The man's mesmerizing violet eyes then came to be tinged with an unfathomable glint and he said softly: "You can go secretly learn something from the Little Fox."

"Any why have I not thought of that before! ?" It suddenly dawned on Bai Zhi Yan. "I suggested that we should discuss Medicine together before. Even though I was rejected, I should have shamelessly persisted! I must definitely secretly pick up a skill or two from there!"   

Chapter 73.3: You Can Go Secretly Learn

Don't blame him for being so spineless but that lass was really the most outstanding and skilful Elixir Cultivator he had seen in so many years. Back then, he had not even been fully convinced of the old ancestors in the sect and it could be seen now just how much he admired Qing Yu.

Hearing Bai Zhi Yan sounding so confident of himself, Lou Jun Yao just gave him a highly profound smile and then stood up to walk away.

Bai Zhi Yan looked at the back of that tall and slender figure and for no reason he suddenly just felt that the guy seemed to be in such a good mood?

He just could not fathom him out. He felt like he would never be able to comprehend the Lord's mind.

— Water Edge Kingdom —

After about half a month's journey, the convoy of people finally reached the mysterious kingdom in the sea. This was a nation built in the middle of the vast and boundless ocean and they were approaching closer to it with every step, where it suddenly came to stand right before their eyes.

There were no boats or vessels around it and it made people can't help themselves but wonder just how was one supposed to cross that stretch of the sea?

It was said that the people of the Water Edge Kingdom knew magic but it was just a rumour, where no one really believed that. But no one was also able to explain how they were able to stand upon the water's surface and not sink, like they were walking as steadily as they were on land, a strange and baffling sight.

That's right. Every single one of the soldiers in the convoy had walked over the sea's surface to cross over to the other side.

Only one person was different. He relied completely on his deep and profound cultivation to walk over the water, the surging waves below his feet freezing into ice in the instant before he approached, the exact same phenomenon like it had been back at the Green Wave Kingdom's New Moon Lake.

The convoy of people quickly reached the Imperial Palace.

"Respects to the Duke of Vast Seas and the Ninth Princess on your return to the palace!"

A horde of court officials in the grand hall bowed and chorused, passionately welcoming them back from the bottom of their hearts.

The atmosphere in the Water Edge Kingdom's Imperial Court was great. Although the Emperor Yue Mu Chen was frail and sickly, but he possessed unsurpassing intelligence, where no one could compare to him at all. With the support of the Duke of Vast Seas, he ruled over the kingdom very well and all the officials respected him greatly, never was there an instance where people came forward just to flatter and fawn on him.

From up on the throne, Yue Mu Chen's eyes were filled with smiles that had been long missed and although his complexion was pale, his eyes were bright and lively. "The trip must have been arduous for the Duke of Vast Seas. Men, quickly bring him a seat."

Standing above all but just below one man, only Qing Ye Li was qualified to sit right beside the Emperor.

The court attendants immediately brought in a soft and comfy chair and placed it on the left side of the dragon throne. Qing Ye Li obeyed the orders and slowly came over to sit down.

"How was the trip for the Duke of Vast Seas?" Yue Mu Chen asked with concern.

"It was alright." Qing Ye Li said indifferently. "But, I received some good news."

"Good news?" Yue Mu Chen asked in surprise, and the officials down below perked up their ears curiously.

"Your Majesty's health, might be able to be saved." Qing Ye Li said in a very calm tone, but the words caused the entire hall to erupt.

"Is that really true? His Majesty can really be saved! ?"

"If that is really the case, then that's really great! His Majesty's health has really worried us very much all these years!"

"The Duke of Vast Seas is truly the Water Edge's lucky star, always bring us such great fortune."

No matter how excited everyone was, the impact was probably not as great as it was for Yue Mu Chen.

The man whose emotions were kept well in check suddenly had a slight rosiness rise in his cheeks on the pale but handsome looking face. "Is….. that really true?"

If it had been anyone else who came to tell him that his illness could be cured, Yue Mu Chen would not believe a single word of it. But it was told to him by Qing Ye Li this time and that made the whole thing a whole lot more believable.

He had endured too much disappointment over the years where his heart that had been brimming with hope finally sank down into the deepest valley, not daring to harbour any hope after they had been burnt to ashes. Yue Mu Chen was just living through his life one day at a time, where every one more day he still lived was a blessing.