Trade

Yun Yun thought it over and decided to approach Xiao Peng and invite him to join the Misty Cloud Sect.

The Misty Cloud Sect needed talents like him.

Xiao Peng was about to put away the Qingping Sword when he suddenly sensed a light set of footsteps behind him, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.

He spun around sharply, his sword already held across his body as he watched the newcomer warily.

A woman in a plain dress slowly emerged from the woods. Her Phoenix Hairpin glowed softly amid the dappled light and shadows. There was no hostility on her face, only a curious smile.

"Your skills are impressive," Yun Yun said, stopping in her tracks. Her voice was like a clear spring striking stone. "That move just now was truly breathtaking."

Xiao Peng frowned as he studied her. For this woman to conceal her aura while he battled the Rock Armored Rhinoceros, her strength was certainly no less than his own.

Xiao Peng did not lower his sword. He merely said coldly, "You hid in the shadows and watched me. What is your purpose?"

Yun Yun met Xiao Peng's gaze openly, lightly brushing her fingertips over the hair by her temple. "I am Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. I happened to pass by and saw you make your move. I became so absorbed in watching that I hope you will forgive the offense."

She paused, her gaze settling on the Qingping Sword in Xiao Peng's hand. "To wield such a Dou Technique with the cultivation of a Dou Ling... I fear there is not another talent like yours in the entire Jia Ma Empire."

Xiao Peng was somewhat surprised upon learning that she was Yun Yun. He had not expected to encounter her here.

Keeping his expression unchanged, Xiao Peng said, "Sect Master, you flatter me. I merely rely on the sharpness of my weapon."

"No matter how fine the weapon, it still requires someone capable of wielding it." Yun Yun smiled faintly, her tone turning sincere. "Though the Misty Cloud Sect does not dare call itself the finest, we are willing to provide a place for exceptional talents. If you are willing to join us, I will treat you as an honored guest. You may take whatever resources you need and choose any cultivation method you wish. What do you say?"

Even Xiao Peng was surprised by those words.

But he would not join. The Misty Cloud Sect had nothing that interested him.

Xiao Peng lightly rubbed the hilt of the Qingping Sword with his fingertips. The blade gleamed coldly beneath the sunlight, reflecting the indifference in his eyes.

"I appreciate the Misty Cloud Sect's kindness." Xiao Peng slowly sheathed his sword, the soft clang of metal ringing especially clearly through the valley. "I am used to traveling alone. I fear I must disappoint the Sect Master's good intentions."

The smile on Yun Yun's face faded slightly, but she did not become angry.

She had seen many youths who were arrogant because of their talent. Though the man before her spoke distantly, his gaze was clear and forthright, without the slightest hint of conceit.

"You are certainly straightforward." Yun Yun lifted a hand and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The pearl on her Phoenix Hairpin swayed gently. "If you do not wish to join the sect, surely there is no harm in being friends?"

Xiao Peng raised an eyebrow.

For the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect to lower herself like this was quite beyond his expectations.

"I dare not presume to call myself your friend." Xiao Peng's tone softened somewhat. "But why has the Sect Master personally come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"

Yun Yun's eyes flickered, as though she had not expected him to turn the question back on her.

After a brief pause, Yun Yun answered frankly, "I came for Purple Spirit Crystal. One of my disciples needs it to aid her cultivation in preparation for a Three Year Agreement."

"A Three Year Agreement?" The corner of Xiao Peng's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. "It seems to be an important appointment."

He was rather curious now. Since he had changed the plot, had Xiao Yan become stronger or not?

Yun Yun unconsciously rubbed the cloud-pattern embroidery on her sleeve and said softly, "It is indeed important. My disciple made a Three Year Agreement with a young man from another family. Though she is confident, she still lacks a little polish."

"Oh?" Xiao Peng slightly raised his brow and deliberately followed up, "For the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect to personally seek Purple Spirit Crystal for your disciple, that young man must be no ordinary person."

Yun Yun smiled. "He is merely a waste. Even if he has encountered some opportunities, it is unlikely that he can catch up to my disciple."

She knew quite a bit about Xiao Yan. If Xiao Yan had not become a waste, she would never have allowed Nalan Yanran to break off the engagement.

But Xiao Yan was now a waste. If the engagement was not broken, he would only drag Nalan Yanran down. That was why she had agreed to let Nalan Yanran bring people to annul it.

A trace of amusement flashed through Xiao Peng's eyes.

A waste?

If this Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect learned that the waste she spoke of was rising at an astonishing pace, what expression would she make?

Xiao Peng did not expose it. He merely said blandly, "The world is unpredictable. Sometimes, those who seem insignificant may yet create miracles."

Yun Yun clearly did not take his words to heart. She merely treated them as the shallow musings of a young man and gently shook her head. "Limited talent is a shackle that cannot be broken no matter how one struggles. My disciple possesses extraordinary talent. How could she be burdened by an ordinary person?"

Xiao Peng neither agreed nor disagreed, instead looking deeper into the valley. "Sect Master, are you going to seek the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King?"

A hint of surprise flashed through Yun Yun's eyes. "You know of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King as well?"

"I have heard a little about it," Xiao Peng replied casually, though he understood perfectly well.

That sixth-tier Magical Beast was not easy to deal with. In the original story, Yun Yun had spent quite some time maneuvering around it for the Purple Spirit Crystal.

"This journey is dangerous. Are you going alone, Sect Master?" Xiao Peng asked.

"Yes. Sect affairs are busy, so it is inconvenient to bring too many people." Yun Yun's tone was calm, and she was clearly quite confident in her own strength.

Xiao Peng looked at Yun Yun, then suddenly said, "The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King is fierce and extremely protective of its territory. If you try to take it by force, it may take some effort. Perhaps I can offer a little help."

He remembered that in the novel, Yun Yun had been tricked by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King once.

Without Xiao Yan, Yun Yun might very well have been killed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

Yun Yun froze, clearly not expecting him to offer help of his own accord.

She looked Xiao Peng up and down. Seeing that he was not joking, she asked, "What are your conditions?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Peng said, "You only need to help me hunt a large number of Magical Beasts."

It would take him quite a while to do it alone. Now that he had someone to use, naturally he would make use of her.

Yun Yun was slightly startled, then laughed.

With her status, she had actually been treated as hired help for hunting. This was a first for her.

Yet when she saw Xiao Peng's open gaze, she did not feel offended. Instead, she found the young man's bluntness rather interesting.

"A large number of Magical Beasts?" Yun Yun raised an eyebrow. "What ranks do you require?"

"Third to fifth tier will do. The more, the better," Xiao Peng said.

Yun Yun considered it briefly before agreeing. "Fine. As long as I can obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal, such a small matter is nothing."

To her, Nalan Yanran's Three Year Agreement was the utmost priority. Hunting a few mid-tier Magical Beasts was no more than a simple matter.

Having reached an agreement, Xiao Peng extracted the fifth-tier Magical Beast and obtained a ping-pong-ball-sized essence and a fifth-tier Magic Core.

After watching Xiao Peng's actions, Yun Yun seemed to think of something and asked, "By the way, how do you intend to help me?"

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Peng said, "You will draw the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King away, and I will sneak into its cave to steal it."

Yun Yun frowned slightly at his words. "Steal?"

As the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, she had always acted openly and honorably. Such sneaking and thievery went completely against her usual style.