Zhao Gongming Departs

Three days later, the group had completely left the battlefield behind, and Lei Xiao no longer sensed the gaze of Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

"Where do you young friends plan to go next?"

Ao Guang halted his escape light, turned around, and looked at Lei Xiao and the other four.

After a brief moment of thought, Yun Xiao cupped her hands and said, "Thank you, Senior, for protecting us along the way. We plan to return to Three Immortal Isles and enter seclusion for cultivation.

"This journey to Purple Abode Island has made us deeply aware of how shallow our cultivation is. If we do not raise our strength as soon as possible, we may find it difficult to gain a foothold in this Primordial World in the future."

Ao Guang nodded slightly at her words, then turned his gaze toward Lei Xiao.

"Little friend Lei Xiao, thank you for helping me on Purple Abode Island. I have some heavenly materials and earthly treasures suitable for refining artifacts. Together with the Purple Bamboo you obtained earlier, they should be enough to forge a mid-grade postnatal spirit treasure."

Lei Xiao was slightly stunned, then cupped his hands. "Senior is too courteous. What happened that day was merely a small effort; it does not deserve such a generous gift."

"It does. It does."

Ao Guang smiled and waved his hand. Seven spheres of light, wrapped in dazzling immortal radiance, flew toward Lei Xiao.

"This King has always been clear-cut in his dealings. A favor must be repaid. Besides, those heavenly materials and earthly treasures would only gather dust with me. I might as well give them to you, so they can be put to proper use."

Lei Xiao pondered briefly, then stopped refusing and waved his hand to collect the seven spheres of light.

"Then this junior shall respectfully accept."

Ao Guang nodded. "Should you need anything in the future, come find me at the East Sea Dragon Palace."

With that, Ao Guang said no more. He cupped his hands toward the five of them, then transformed into a stream of water-blue light and tore through the air toward the East Sea Dragon Palace, vanishing between sea and sky in the blink of an eye.

If I'd known, I would've spoken up for Ao Guang too. That way, not only could I have earned the goodwill of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, I could also...

At the side, Zhao Gongming watched Lei Xiao put away the seven heavenly materials and earthly treasures. A trace of envy and jealousy flashed through his eyes.

In his view, they were both Tongtian's disciples, and his cultivation was even higher. If he had spoken up back then, King of the East would surely have given him face as well.

In that case, Ao Guang's friendship and the benefits he had offered would all have been his.

Lei Xiao was especially sensitive to gazes, particularly those filled with malice. He suddenly turned to look at Zhao Gongming, only to see Zhao Gongming smiling and nodding at him.

Was it an illusion?

Lei Xiao did not dwell on it. Looking at Zhao Gongming, he said, "I wonder what plans Junior Brother Zhao has next. If you have nowhere to go for the time being, you may come with us..."

"Senior Brother Lei Xiao, I appreciate your kindness."

Zhao Gongming gave Lei Xiao a slight bow before saying, "I plan to continue traveling through the East Sea, searching for heavenly materials and earthly treasures to incorporate into the Purple Bamboo. I hope to refine a mid-grade postnatal spirit treasure."

As he spoke, Zhao Gongming glanced, intentionally or otherwise, at Lei Xiao's right hand—the hand that had just taken away the seven heavenly materials and earthly treasures—hoping Lei Xiao would share one with him.

Heavenly materials and earthly treasures also came in ranks. Though the ones Ao Guang had just given Lei Xiao were not among the most supreme treasures of the Primordial World, they were very close.

Even for a late-stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortal like him, finding even one heavenly material or earthly treasure of such high grade was exceedingly difficult.

"Since Junior Brother Zhao already has plans, I shall not keep you any longer."

Lei Xiao's expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands. "If fate permits, we shall discuss the Dao again another day."

At those words, an imperceptible trace of disappointment flashed through Zhao Gongming's eyes. He then looked toward the Three Xiao, only to discover that both Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao had their eyes on Lei Xiao. Only Yun Xiao gave him a slight nod with an indifferent expression.

How could this be? It shouldn't be like this.

A thought flashed through Zhao Gongming's mind.

"Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, farewell—"

With that, Zhao Gongming turned into a streak of light and sped toward the depths of the East Sea.

"That annoying person has finally left." A smile appeared on Bi Xiao's face.

"Bi Xiao, do not speak nonsense."

Yun Xiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she softly reprimanded her, "Junior Brother Zhao is our fellow disciple after all. How can you speak of him like that?"

"Big Sister, I'm not wrong. He really is annoying." Bi Xiao pursed her lips and muttered under her breath.

"This Zhao Gongming does make people dislike him. I feel that whenever one gets along with him, he is always scheming at every turn." Qiong Xiao spoke as well.

Yun Xiao opened her mouth at those words but said nothing more.

Lei Xiao: "???"

Did the Three Xiao dislike Zhao Gongming that much?

It seemed that, in this life, the fate between the Three Xiao and Zhao Gongming had run its course.

Shaking his head, Lei Xiao waved his hand, and the seven heavenly materials and earthly treasures he had just collected flew toward Yun Xiao.

Yun Xiao's delicate brows furrowed. She hurriedly raised a hand to stop him. "Little Four, this is a fortuitous opportunity Senior Ao Guang specifically gave to you. How can you..."

"Big Sister."

Lei Xiao interrupted Yun Xiao before she could finish.

"Second Sister, Third Sister, and I already have innate spirit treasures to protect us. Only Big Sister has no treasure for protection. Take these things; they can be used with the Purple Bamboo in your hand to refine a protective spirit treasure."

Yun Xiao looked at the seven clusters of treasure light drifting before her, then at the expression on Lei Xiao's face that brooked no refusal. Her eyes stirred, and warmth surged through her heart.

"Lei Xiao, thank you."

"Big Sister, we are family. Why thank me?" Lei Xiao smiled faintly, his tone relaxed and natural.

Yun Xiao said no more. With a sweep of her sleeve, she gathered all seven clusters of treasure light into it.

"Little Four, the spirit treasures the three of us hold are all top-grade innate spirit treasures, while the materials in Big Sister's hands can only refine a mid-grade postnatal spirit treasure."

Bi Xiao stopped halfway through, looking at Lei Xiao as a crafty glint flashed through her eyes.

"Little Four, aren't you good at finding treasures? How about you have Big Sister accompany you to search for treasure? Find Big Sister a top-grade innate spirit treasure too. After all, when Big Sister treated your injuries back then..."

"Bi Xiao, enough—"

At Bi Xiao's words, a rare flush appeared on Yun Xiao's fair cheeks. She shot Bi Xiao a fierce glare.

"Big Sister, what exactly happened when you treated my injuries back then?"

Lei Xiao was also deeply curious. He had forcibly activated the Purple Firmament Origin Divine Thunder, exhausting his essence, energy, and spirit. Originally, he should have needed a long time to recover, yet not only had he recovered quickly, his cultivation had even broken through an entire major realm.

"Nothing."

Yun Xiao's expression had already returned to its initial calmness. Her tone was so composed that the blush from moments ago seemed like nothing more than Lei Xiao's illusion, yet her slightly evasive gaze could not conceal it at all.

Lei Xiao could not help turning his gaze toward Bi Xiao, but Bi Xiao's eyes were wandering about at the moment, wearing an expression that plainly said, Don't ask me. I don't know anything.

"Fine. Since none of you are willing to tell me, I'll look into it when I get the chance in the future."

Seeing this, Lei Xiao shook his head helplessly. Since Yun Xiao did not wish to speak of it now, he would not force her. He continued with Bi Xiao's earlier topic.

"I am indeed good at finding treasures. I wonder whether Big Sister would be willing to travel with me?"