Early in the morning, mist hung over Refining Lake as a small boat glided up to the deserted scrap island.
Shen Yue was using the Heaven Origin Gold-Splitting Hand to collect scrap while dredging sand from the lakebed, then filtering it with a Qi-gathering method.
Before long, he really did filter out a grain of golden Qi.
"It works!" His eyes lit up.
It was in a Qi state, yet heavier than sand and brighter than soil, like a golden grain. The wisp of Qi he had gathered was clearly Star Flow Sand Qi, the Qi that condensed into Star Flow Sand.
Just then, Seventh Prince Changqin Wuming rowed over through the mist in a small boat.
"Old Shen?" He blinked. "Not practicing martial arts today? You're here so early?"
Usually, Changqin Wuming was the first to collect scrap. Since Shen Yue practiced martial arts every morning, he generally didn't arrive until midmorning.
"I'm the Son of Heaven. How can I be behind others at court? I'll have to come earlier tomorrow!"
Changqin Wuming formed a giant hand, grabbed some scrap, and got to work.
"But Old Shen, you're here so early. Are you hoping to collect more scrap and save up enough spirit stones to buy waste Qi?"
At that thought, Changqin Wuming's expression darkened.
He'd finally managed to scrape together the spirit stones, but the group collecting waste Qi had told him yesterday that they only accepted people at Qi Refining fourth level or higher.
Weren't they just targeting Old Shen?
Luckily, I'm at Qi Refining fourth level.
"I'm going to collect waste Qi. Aiqing Shen, focus on your cultivation. Once I've established myself over there, I'll take you to glory. We'll overthrow the Chen Clan and make you the lord of Chusheng Market."
Changqin Wuming stood at the bow, his robes billowing in the breeze as an emperor's aura spilled out of him.
"Then how about you pay me a salary first, Your Highness?"
Changqin Wuming's spirits soared even higher.
He was a prince, the future emperor. Of course he should pay his ministers!
But when he felt around his clothes, Changqin Wuming froze in embarrassment.
What salary? He was still in debt!
"Ahem..." Changqin Wuming coughed twice, feigning calm. "The pioneering cause must be led by me. Aiqing Shen, don't worry. I'll definitely take you to overthrow the Chen Clan. There'll be plenty in it for you..."
Before he could finish, a streak of light cut across the sky and stopped above the lake.
When Changqin Wuming saw who it was, his face turned deathly pale.
It was Chen Qiaoqian, the Chen Clan's direct-line daughter and a prodigy who had joined the Taixu Sword Sect.
If she'd heard what he'd just said, he'd be ground to dust.
Chen Qiaoqian wore a gauzy robe and stood on a spirit sword above the lake. With a wave of her hand, hundreds upon hundreds of streaks of light shot down toward the water.
"Refining Lake will be cleared of debris. You'll need to go to the lakebed and sift through the sand. Each of you may borrow a Water-Avoiding Bead. Return it after you're done."
The streaks of light shed their radiance, revealing one pale-blue Water-Avoiding Bead after another!
Changqin Wuming and the other laborers on the lake were overjoyed.
A Water-Avoiding Bead was a treasure that let its user hold their breath and keep water at bay. It cost five spirit stones at the market!
Chen Qiaoqian watched their reactions with a cold expression. She couldn't understand why these people were willing to toil here.
And why were they so excited just to borrow a water-avoiding treasure for a while? Didn't they have any higher ambitions?
Suddenly, a small boat caught her attention.
Her heart stirred, and she landed on it.
Changqin Wuming thought Chen Qiaoqian had overheard his treasonous words. He was so frightened he nearly jumped into the lake, but Shen Yue stopped him.
Chen Qiaoqian glanced at the sand and mud on the boat, her brows lifting slightly. "You're clearing sand on your own initiative. Very good. What's your name?"
"Shen Yue." Shen Yue cupped his hands in greeting.
Chen Qiaoqian gave a slight nod. "The Chen Clan has always been generous and benevolent. Though your backgrounds are humble, don't sell yourselves short. Strive to better yourselves. The Chen Clan sees your efforts and will surely cultivate you in the future."
What a grand promise. It was just like those capitalists in his previous life, manipulating people with empty promises.
Shen Yue didn't take it seriously, but kept up his respectful demeanor.
Chen Qiaoqian extended a slender finger and tapped lightly. The Water-Avoiding Bead in Shen Yue's hand flashed, and its restriction vanished.
"Keep this bead."
"Miss, you're a golden phoenix come to earth, magnificent as the rising sun. I'll strive ever harder and serve you with all my heart and loyalty." Shen Yue cupped his hands.
Chen Qiaoqian only smiled faintly, then rode her sword away.
Changqin Wuming's eyes instantly reddened. He grabbed Shen Yue by the shoulder and pointed at the sand on the boat, demanding in rapid succession:
"The Water-Avoiding Bead! Did you know all along that the Chen Clan was going to clear the lake?"
He'd been wondering why Shen Yue had piled so much sand on the boat. So that was what he'd been waiting for!
"Yeah. Miss Chen told me herself." Shen Yue toyed with the Water-Avoiding Bead, wondering if he could skip dredging the sand and dive straight to the lakebed to gather it instead.
Changqin Wuming couldn't sit still.
"So you disappeared for the whole day and night yesterday because you went to find the eldest Miss Chen?"
"Fine, General Shen! You get to eat the good stuff and drink the good wine, but you won't bring me along? And after I even saved up your betrothal gifts! How can you face my imperial sister after this?"
Shen Yue tucked the Water-Avoiding Bead into his clothes and smiled. "How about I put in a good word for Your Majesty with the eldest Miss Chen?"
"You dare speak such outrageous words? You've wounded me deeply. I've decided that, starting today, I'll sever all ties with my imperial sister!"
"Aiqing Shen, you have to put in a good word for me!"
The words had barely left his mouth when—
"Changqin Wuming!" A woman hovered in midair, glaring at him furiously.
It was over!
The instant Changqin Wuming saw her, he let out a mournful cry.
The woman was his imperial sister, Changqin Wuxuan.
But Changqin Wuxuan seemed to know her imperial brother's nature. After a brief burst of anger, she sent two streaks of light flying before riding her sword away.
The streaks of light carried jade slips as they flew down. When Shen Yue and Changqin Wuming examined them, their expressions changed drastically.
"The one who subdued my entire army with one hand during the battle for the imperial throne... was Chen Yunxi of the Chen Clan!"
The Chen Clan had three prodigies of this generation. Chen Yunxi was even more formidable than Chen Qiaoqian and was already preparing for Foundation Establishment.
"I, Changqin Wuming, am sworn to never coexist with the Chen Clan!"
Above them.
"The first person to clear the lake will receive an Essence Condensing Pill." Chen Qiaoqian's voice rang out across Refining Lake.
Changqin Wuming, who had been filled with hatred just moments ago, clutched his Water-Avoiding Bead and plunged into the lake. Shen Yue couldn't stop him in time.
"Your Highness, didn't you say you'd never coexist with the Chen Clan?"
"This is called enduring humiliation for the sake of a greater plan!" Changqin Wuming cautiously glanced at Chen Qiaoqian, who was overseeing the work from above the lake.
"We eat the Chen Clan's food and drink the Chen Clan's wine. Once we're strong, we'll exterminate the Chen Clan's nine generations, make the men into timber, and send all the women to the pleasure quarters. Aiqing Shen, you can be the director."
"Sounds reasonable."
The Water-Avoiding Bead truly lived up to its name. The water couldn't come within ten feet of them, and they quickly sank to the lakebed.
The mud and sand on the lakebed were mixed with iron filings and copper dust, crunching beneath their feet.
In some places, the sand had hardened into lumps, baked by the fire veins until they resembled pottery shards. They crumbled at the slightest touch.
The fire poison in Changqin Wuming's body ached faintly, so he didn't dare touch down.
"Your Highness, Miss Chen is watching from above."
"I'm just gathering my spiritual energy!" Changqin Wuming gripped the Water-Avoiding Bead and dove into the mud and sand. "Charge with me!"
As soon as he spoke—
"Aiqing Shen, save me!"
Changqin Wuming had stepped on a lump hardened by the fire veins, and his foot had caught fire.
"..." Shen Yue was a little speechless. He put away the Water-Avoiding Bead for the moment and drew in lake water to put out the fire.
Then he began clearing the sand, secretly circulating the Star Sand Return-to-Store Technique to collect sand Qi.
Gathering Star Flow Sand Qi from the lakebed was indeed much faster than dredging sand.
"If it weren't for all this fire-vein-hardened sand, I could probably go even faster," Shen Yue grumbled inwardly.
The fire-vein-hardened sand was a hassle. He couldn't use the Water-Avoiding Bead around it, or he'd catch fire just like Changqin Wuming had.
"Wait! Flowing sand... fire... Fire Flowing Sand!"
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