Chapter 22 Admiring the Moon

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The transaction completed, Chen Qing leaned back in his chair and said, "You can start chatting now."

Murong Lang was the first to speak, "When can you get that sword Gu?"

Hu Yao's hand under the table opened and closed, clearly a bit nervous, "I'll have a full assurance once my Iron Skin Gu undergoes the Butterfly Transformation."

Murong Lang and Chen Qing both thought, it seems she's not from a sect, otherwise how could she need the Iron Skin Gu to advance just to be sure.

Murong Lang explained, "My Thunder Butterfly is known among my friends, so I can't keep boosting it."

Chen Qing agreed silently, indeed, it couldn't be too obvious, otherwise if a Thunder Butterfly advanced rapidly in a short period, anyone would think it's strange.

This scholar probably wanted to secretly cultivate a sword Gu, since their continent didn't even have sword Gu.

During the first confrontation, the opponent wouldn't know how to react.

Then he would spend all his savings on cultivating the sword Gu, as his trump card.

According to what the scholar mentioned before, their continent was rich in Five Elements Gu, primarily using Five Elements Skills in battles.

At that moment, if he pulled out a sword butterfly cultivated to its peak, it would be a sure kill once he closed in, wouldn't it?

Who would expect a cultivator specializing in Thunder Gu and Thunder to suddenly attack with a sword?

It was indeed a clever strategy.

It took Hu Yao a long time to understand the scholar's meaning, and she suddenly connected it to herself, "Then my Power Gu just had its Butterfly Transformation, and the Iron Skin Gu would also undergo Butterfly Transformation, could it attract others' attention?"

Murong Lang asked, "When you go to do that thing, will there be any survivors?"

Hu Yao shook her head.

Murong Lang said, "Then it's fine."

Chen Qing thought, this girl might seem a bit scatterbrained, but she's definitely no benevolent person.

This was obviously grabbing someone else's treasures!

Could she be an evil cultivator?

No way, how could someone with this kind of personality from an evil cultivator survive this long?

Murong Lang reminded, "Just after your Iron Skin Gu undergoes the Butterfly Transformation, don't show it off easily."

Hu Yao got nervous, "I got it."

"I use the Iron Skin Gu without revealing it, as it enhances my defense, no one should notice."

Murong Lang thought, this young girl was rather laid-back, reminding her since they both were chosen by Taichu, "Still, be careful. Cultivators with an Iron Skin Gu might notice the difference."

Hu Yao acknowledged with an "oh."

Seeing the transaction discussion was mostly done, Murong Lang taught Hu Yao some basic 'procurement' knowledge, then cupped his hand toward Chen Qing, "Senior, may I ask if you could set a specific start time for the gathering?"

"The place where Red Lotus is located is not safe, if we delay her too long, it might pose a certain danger."

Hu Yao finally realized, "No, I'm fine."

Chen Qing leaned back and said, "Alright, under the same sky, the times differ. Let's set it for the same time today."

Murong Lang smiled, "Thank you, Senior."

Hu Yao also cupped her hand, "Thank you, Senior."

Chen Qing said softly, "So, is today's gathering concluded here?"

Murong Lang and Hu Yao both cupped their hands and said, "Goodbye, Senior."

After finishing speaking, their figures disappeared from the spot.

This Jiguang Sect gathering gradually began to change in nature, and the gathering time shifted to midnight.

Meanwhile, the original host of this gathering, the branch leader of the Jiguang Sect, was amid intense combat in a flurry of swords and sabers.

Chen Qing took off his bronze ghost mask, sweating profusely under the covers, feeling utterly heated.

Glancing at the additional one hundred and five mid-grade Spirit Stones, he suddenly thought the heat was manageable.

Nestled under the covers, he carefully counted them once more, then hid all the Spirit Stones under the bed, placed the bronze ghost mask securely by his side, and finally lay down with peace of mind.

Should these Spirit Stones be used to buy an Iron Skin Gu or a Fog Gu?

An Iron Skin Gu directly enhances defense, which is certainly nice.

However, for adventuring, it suits more for resisting demon beast attacks or wild beast assaults, preventing accidents, and protecting the body.

But he wasn't going on adventures!

What he needed to defend against, more than anything, were sword cultivators.

After all, around Wuyou Mountain and the nearby sects, sword cultivators were everywhere.

Sword cultivators didn't care what Iron Skin Gu you had.

The difference an Iron Skin Gu might make is turning a severed limb injury into a deep, bone-visible scar, or even having part of the bone cleaved away.

Unless the quality of the Iron Skin Gu was far superior to the sword Gu, only then could the flesh withstand it, though not without external injuries.

That's the tyranny of sword cultivators.

The Fog Gu was different, its ability to vaporize was extremely effective against sword cultivators.

Consider two evenly matched sword cultivators, one with a Fog Gu and the other without.

Without a Fog Gu, a sword cultivator might struggle tremendously to find an opening, and when about to deliver a killing blow, the opponent evades by vaporizing, then they're at a massive disadvantage.

Moreover, a Fog Gu also had the advantage of convenience when one sneaked down the mountain to clandestinely buy Gu and materials.

After much consideration, Chen Qing decided to go to Wanbao Pavilion to inquire about the price of a Fog Gu.

Feeling invigorated as the spring breeze brushed his face, Chen Qing slept soundly, had breakfast, and then went to the Spirit Plant Hall.

After instructing everyone to work, Chen Qing saw Wang Ye with a happy expression, so he kept him back to ask, "What's going on, what's made you so happy?"

Wang Ye cupped his hand and said, "I was just about to thank the Hall Master, for it was by the Hall Master's favor that I could join the Spirit Plant Hall."

"Last night, the senior brothers from the War Affairs Hall said that now I've joined the Spirit Plant Hall, it's not stable to continue living there, and suggested I change my residence."

Chen Qing's eyebrow slightly twitched, here it came.

"What kind of place did you move to that makes you so happy?"

Wang Ye smiled, "It's near the four senior brothers from the War Affairs Hall, and I also got four acres of superior Spiritual Field."

Chen Qing smiled, "Well, congratulations then."

Wang Ye waved his hand, "Thanks to the Hall Master's favor."

Chen Qing said, "Just do your work well, and I won't treat you unfairly."

Wang Ye acknowledged and then withdrew.

Chen Qing went down the mountain, bought ginseng wine with five pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones, filled a gourd, and also bought two taels of Red Silver.

When he returned to the Spirit Plant Elder's house, besides the four dishes and one soup on the dining table, there was a note. He picked it up and read,

"The water's been heated."

Chen Qing knew it was because they had smelled the sweat on him in the morning.

He took a bath before eating, then spent two hours in the backyard watching Yu Qingshuang practice her sword. When Yu Qingshuang sheathed her sword, she noticed Chen Qing.

"You guy, what are you doing watching here?"

Chen Qing said, "Admiring the moon."

Yu Qingshuang pointed her finger at Chen Qing, "Not honest."

Chen Qing replied, "Senior sister, are you interested in enjoying the moon together?"

Yu Qingshuang said, "You've been watching for nearly two hours, and you're not satisfied yet."

Chen Qing said, "I've heard there's an observation deck on Wuyou Mountain, accessible from all directions, where one can overlook the scenery for a hundred miles."

"I hadn't had the chance to go up the mountain before, and now I do, but I don't know where it is, so may I ask senior sister to take me there?"

When Yu Qingshuang let her hands down, she felt the jade bracelet on her wrist, "Alright then."

Following the path to the mountain top, Yu Qingshuang led with a lantern, with Chen Qing following, getting an eyeful.

This gauzy dress was truly graceful, with the moonlight outlining its curves and gentle waves.

Was it really this flexible?

At the observation deck next to the main hall of Wuyou Mountain Sect, Chen Qing rested his arms on the railing, gazing into the distance toward Wang Ye's residence.

Flickers of firelight appeared and disappeared.

Yu Qingshuang leaned against the railing, "It has been a while since I came here, it's exceptionally open and gives a sense of clearing the mind."

Chen Qing shifted his gaze from Wang Ye's house to the oval moon in the sky, then to the senior sister beside him.

On a high terrace under the moon, a beauty holding a lantern.

"Indeed, it clears the mind and is breathtakingly beautiful."

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