Truly Wonderful

Unlike an ordinary master and servant, the two were not overly reserved around each other. They chatted and laughed aboard the Blue Eagle, creating a pleasant atmosphere. That was why Lin Ran had Xiao Yi Xian call him Young Master rather than Master.

He lacked no women who were completely obedient, like slaves. The Cloud Rain Sect was full of such women.

What Lin Ran needed was someone who, besides cultivating, could connect with him in both body and soul.

He hoped Xiao Yi Xian would be that kind of person. Even if she was not, he hoped she could become one.

The Blue Eagle was not particularly fast, but after several days of flight, they successfully arrived within the territory of a human city.

"Young Master, Black Rock City is here."

Xiao Yi Xian softly reminded him.

Lin Ran gave a slight nod. His soul perception had been surveying the surroundings all along, hoping to encounter one or two sixth- or seventh-tier magical beasts on the way, but unfortunately, things did not go as he wished.

Since flying all the way from the Monster Beast Mountain Range, let alone sixth- or seventh-tier magical beasts, even fifth-tier magical beasts had been exceedingly rare. This showed just how weak the magical beasts within the Jia Ma Empire truly were.

Although this city could not compare to those in the Central Continent, it still counted as a major city within the Jia Ma Empire, bustling with people.

Looking down from the Blue Eagle, Black Rock City below reflected a faint crimson sheen beneath the lingering rays of the setting sun.

Most strikingly, its massive walls had been built from neatly arranged blocks of black rock. They were immensely thick, appearing solemn and forbidding.

"Young Master, Black Rock City is one of the major cities of our Jia Ma Empire. Though it is not as prosperous as the Imperial Capital, it ranks among the best compared to the other cities in the Jia Ma Empire."

As Xiao Yi Xian directed the Blue Eagle away for the moment, she followed behind Lin Ran and explained.

"Black Rock City has very complete facilities. It has things like auction houses and an Alchemist Guild, and even large aerial transport fleets!"

"Young Master, look at these city walls. They're so thick! It is said that they once withstood the combined bombardment of two Dou Wang experts without even being shaken!"

Xiao Yi Xian chattered away, pouring out everything she knew about Black Rock City like a tour guide while curiously examining everything around her.

Her lively manner was full of girlish innocence, utterly different from how she had been in Qingshan Town.

In truth, it was not strange. Although Xiao Yi Xian had only been with Lin Ran for a few months, and her status had changed from a free person to a maidservant,

the change in her heart had been far greater.

In Qingshan Town, although she had been the beloved Little Fairy Doctor of countless mercenaries, that affection was not genuine. Not only did she have to face the covetous eyes of every faction, she also had to suppress her Calamity Poison Body. Her future was bleak, and her heart was filled with despair.

But after following Lin Ran, she had not only learned cultivation techniques from him, but also gained a high-grade Cultivation Method and Dou Techniques. Most importantly, the Calamity Poison Body she had feared most had been resolved!

Freed from the restrictions of the Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian was like a bird released from its cage, without restraints or pressure. Moreover, she was at the age of youthful innocence, her most carefree and lively years. How could she not be happy?

"Let's first buy some daily necessities."

Watching the delighted girl skip along, Lin Ran smiled faintly. "After that, we'll visit the auction house and see whether they have any high-grade Magic Cores."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The two were in no hurry. As they wandered through Black Rock City, Xiao Yi Xian's gaze somehow fell upon a clean-looking stall, and she stopped there.

It was an ordinary little stall displaying many small accessories. However, they were all commonplace goods, made of ordinary materials and scattered crystal fragments.

Xiao Yi Xian stretched out her fair, delicate wrist and picked up a white-and-purple bracelet from the stall.

The bracelet itself was made of ordinary material, with only a bit of ice silver added to make it cool to the touch, making it suitable for summer wear. The purple crystal set into it was artificial as well, an imitation Purple Crystal—the decorative crystals found within the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave.

"This young lady certainly has a sharp eye! This Purple Crystal bracelet is set with superior Purple Crystals. Though these Purple Crystals are not magical beast Magic Cores, they are still exceedingly rare. They can only be found in the caves inhabited by the legendary magical beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King."

Seeing that Xiao Yi Xian was interested, the vendor immediately became animated and introduced it at length. "Miss, you are naturally beautiful. This Purple Crystal bracelet could not suit you better! If you like it, it will only cost three hundred... no, two hundred and eighty gold coins!"

Hearing the price, Xiao Yi Xian paused slightly and said softly, "Ordinary Purple Crystals sell for less than a dozen gold coins, and yours are artificial besides. I'll buy it for twenty gold coins."

"What? Twenty?!"

The vendor's eyes widened. He had thought a fat sheep had come to his door, only to find himself facing a dragon-slaying blade—one that knew market prices extremely well. He immediately refused. "Miss, surely you jest. This Purple Crystal bracelet cost me a great deal to acquire. One hundred... eighty, eighty gold coins! Not a coin less. This old man runs a small business; I need to make a living too!"

"Twenty. I have no more than that."

Xiao Yi Xian gave a light snort, leaving the vendor stammering, unsure of what to say. Then, when his gaze fell upon Lin Ran beside her, he hurriedly called out, "Young master, young master, look..."

"Take it."

Lin Ran casually tossed a pouch containing roughly a hundred gold coins onto the vendor's stall. At the same time, his palm shifted slightly, drawing the bracelet into his hand as he called to Xiao Yi Xian, "Let's go."

"Y-Young Master."

Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face flushed as she hurried after Lin Ran.

After the two had walked some distance and moved far away from the vendor, Xiao Yi Xian looked at the Purple Crystal bracelet in Lin Ran's palm and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Young Master, this bracelet is a little different from ordinary ones, so I wanted to buy it. It was just that the vendor was too unscrupulous..."

"No merchant is honest. It's normal."

Lin Ran toyed with the Purple Crystal bracelet in his right hand. With a slight flick of his thumb, the purple crystal set within it fell out.

He lightly pinched the purple crystal between his thumb and forefinger. It seemed to weather away in Lin Ran's hand, rapidly vanishing until, after only a few breaths, several scattered purple crystal fragments remained.

"It really is Purple Spirit Crystal!"

Looking at the purple crystal fragments in Lin Ran's hand, Xiao Yi Xian gave a delighted cry, her heart filled with joy.

Purple Spirit Crystal was not only a rare alchemy ingredient, but also a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that could assist cultivation. It was extraordinarily valuable.

It was said that this type of crystal could only be produced by the Amethyst Winged Lion King clan, and only a small piece formed every twenty years. Although these purple crystal fragments were merely scraps of Purple Spirit Crystal, they were worth at least a thousand gold coins!

The girl was overjoyed at her first lucky find, even though these Purple Spirit Crystal fragments were of little use to her.

Yet that feeling was something not even a thousand gold coins could buy.

"Truly wonderful."

Lin Ran suddenly spoke, making the delighted Xiao Yi Xian pause in confusion. She seemed not to have heard clearly. "What is it, Young Master?"

"No, it's nothing."

Lin Ran shook his head and casually tossed the broken Purple Spirit Crystal fragments into his mouth, crunching them as he chewed. At the same time, he took an ice-blue gemstone from his Storage Ring and placed it into the empty setting on the bracelet.

Dou Qi surged, and the ice-blue gemstone was already embedded within it.

"Take it. It's the Magic Core of a fifth-tier Ice Crocodile. It can strengthen your Ice Venerable Strength Dou Qi."

"Eh?"

"What, you don't want it? Then forget it."

"I do, I do!" Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly took the bracelet from Lin Ran's hand. Looking at his calm expression, a faint flush once again appeared on her fair, exquisite face.

But Xiao Yi Xian was no ordinary person. After a brief moment of shyness, she generously slipped the bracelet over her smooth, fair wrist. Under the sunlight's refraction, the ice-blue Magic Core made the girl appear even more pure and beautiful.

She raised her head to look at Lin Ran walking calmly ahead, and a graceful, happy smile bloomed on her face.

"Thank you, Young Master."