The nights at the Purple-Gold Immortal Vein were colder than those in the Northern Lands.
It wasn't the temperature. The spiritual energy was too abundant, so thick it felt cloying, pressing down until people could barely breathe.
Zhou Xuan stood in the guest courtyard and swept a hand through the air. Seven formation patterns swam from his fingertips, layered together, and enclosed the courtyard.
The outermost layer blocked sound, the next cut off divine sense, and the one beyond that muddled divination. He didn't name the remaining three layers, and Lin Qingzhu didn't ask.
One glance told her that no one could eavesdrop on this courtyard tonight.
"Everything's set."
Zhou Xuan withdrew his hand.
Lin Qingzhu sat beside the stone table, holding a string of counting beads and sliding them back and forth very slowly.
She had mulled it over the entire journey, but only now had she put her thoughts in order.
"When the people from Taia arrive tomorrow, we set three ironclad rules."
"Go on."
"First, we rent, never sell."
She shifted a bead.
"We can let them try it, but we absolutely cannot sell it. Once we do, it becomes a one-off deal, and we lose all room to haggle later."
Zhou Xuan nodded.
"Second, a three-day limit."
She moved another bead.
"Once we lend it out, they get exactly three days, then we take it back. Let them taste the sweetness without letting them swallow it all in one gulp. It'll have them clawing at their hearts."
"And the third?"
"Third, we choose the person."
Lin Qingzhu lifted her eyes.
"We can't let Taia fob us off with some nobody disciple. The tester has to be a core disciple, someone their immortal vein treasures most and can least bear to lose. Once they see the results,