An Encounter with Zuo Xiaoqing

Azure Cloud City, Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

The entire building was constructed from black-gold rock, its surface gleaming with a cold, hard sheen beneath the setting sun.

The two stone lions guarding the entrance were not lifeless carvings, but two living Scarlet Flame Lions whose consciousness had been erased. Hot white vapor spewed from their nostrils, and their scarlet beast eyes stared fixedly at every living thing that approached.

The moment Ye Xingchen stepped onto the stairs, a halberd thrust across his path.

"Admission fee: ten Middle-Grade Spirit Stones."

The armored guard held a weapon in hand without even lifting his eyelids, his voice as stiff as two rocks grinding together.

Ten Middle-Grade Spirit Stones?

Why didn't he just rob him?

"What, don't have them?"

The guard slightly raised his eyelids, his gaze filled with undisguised contempt.

He had seen plenty of poor wretches like this—wanting to broaden their horizons at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, only to find they could not even scrape together the entrance fee.

Ye Xingchen even heard a few snickers from the crowd queuing behind him.

"Here."

Gritting his back teeth, Ye Xingchen counted out ten Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and slapped them heavily into the guard's hand.

"Damn it, just wait," Ye Xingchen stared at the pair of vermilion gates, viciously adding another tally in his heart. The wool comes from the sheep. Later, I'll make you pay it all back with interest.

The guard weighed the Spirit Stones, withdrew his halberd, and still showed little expression. Only that look he gave paupers eased somewhat.

Once he crossed the threshold, the clamorous noise was instantly shut out behind him.

A dense spiritual aura, almost thick enough to cling to him, rushed straight at his face. Ye Xingchen took only one breath, and every pore across his body seemed to open.

When he looked up, even Ye Xingchen, who prided himself on his mental fortitude, could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

What lay beneath his feet was not brick or stone, but whole slabs of polished Azure Spirit Jade.

Farther ahead, a dark-red carpet stretched across the center of the hall. Faint scales showed through its surface, radiating a subtle pressure.

It was dragon skin.

Though it came only from a mixed-blood flood dragon, such extravagance was still terrifying.

Hundreds of luminous pearls were embedded in the vaulted ceiling, illuminating the entire space as brightly as day.

Extravagant beyond measure.

"Damned capitalists."

Ye Xingchen viciously ground the Azure Spirit Jade floor beneath his feet with his toe, wishing he could immediately pull out an iron pickaxe and pry up a few slabs to take away. Compared to this place, those so-called top-tier clubs from his previous life were nothing more than thatched shacks in the countryside.

This was the cultivation world.

This was what true foundations looked like.

The hall was packed with people flowing like a river, most of them richly dressed and haughty in expression.

Ye Xingchen was like a country duck that had blundered into a flock of swans. With his hands behind his back, he looked like a rich old landlord inspecting his territory, his eyes darting shrewdly about.

Suddenly, a familiar figure entered his sight.

It was a woman.

She wore a light-green flowing-cloud dress, a white jade sash cinched around her waist and outlining breathtaking curves. She stood before a counter selling high-grade magical artifacts, idly playing with a short sword that glimmered with icy light.

Zuo Xiaoqing.

Why was this woman here too?

Ye Xingchen's eyes rolled, and a warm smile like one meeting an old friend in a foreign land instantly spread across his face. He hurried over in two strides.

"Well, if it isn't Senior Sister Zuo?"

Ye Xingchen's voice was not quiet, drawing sidelong glances from several people nearby.

Zuo Xiaoqing paused and turned around. When she saw Ye Xingchen, a trace of surprise flashed through her bright eyes.

"Ye Xingchen?"

She looked him over from head to toe, her gaze lingering briefly on his plain clothes. "Why are you at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion too?"

The implication was obvious: was this a place he could afford to spend money?

"What a coincidence," Ye Xingchen said. His skin was as thick as a city wall, automatically filtering out the surprise in her tone. Leaning casually against the counter, he said, "I just made a small fortune and came to broaden my horizons. Senior Sister, have you taken a liking to this Luminous Sword? Excellent taste. Three wind-element inscriptions are carved into its blade. It's perfect for killing people and stealing their goods—ah, no, an excellent weapon for self-defense."

Zuo Xiaoqing set down the short sword. Rather than following up on his words, she asked, "Are you also here to buy equipment for the selection two months from now?"

"The selection?" Ye Xingchen shrugged. "What selection or not, I don't care. There's something I've never had the chance to ask—what hall are you in, Senior Sister?"

After their last match, Ye Xingchen had not seen her again.

He had thought she was merely a passing stranger, yet they had met again here today.

Zuo Xiaoqing looked calm as she casually pushed the expensive short sword toward the steward, indicating that she wanted it.

Turning her head, she lightly said, "I'm not in the Four Halls."

"Not in the Four Halls?" Ye Xingchen froze for a moment. "Then where do you usually cultivate?"

"At my family's cave abode." Zuo Xiaoqing took out a purple-gold card and handed it to the shopkeeper. It was a high-level VIP card from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. "I have a special decree approved by the sect. I'm registered as an outer disciple, but I'm not under the jurisdiction of the Four Halls, nor do I need to carry out sect missions. I only participate in major events like this core disciple selection."

Ye Xingchen: "..."

"So this is the legendary 'connected household,' huh?" Ye Xingchen muttered sourly.

Zuo Xiaoqing heard him, but she did not get angry. Instead, she nodded as though it were only natural. "Background is also part of one's strength. Just like this selection, every major Lineage is determined to win. So am I. This core disciple slot is mine."

She accepted the exquisite sword case the shopkeeper handed her and stored it in her storage ring. Her movements were elegant and fluid, carrying the noble air of someone raised atop a mountain of money.

"Since you're here, why not go to the second floor to look at magical artifacts and pills?" Zuo Xiaoqing glanced at Ye Xingchen. "They may be a little expensive, but you cannot skimp on things that keep you alive."

Ye Xingchen waved a hand and pointed toward the noisy area on the eastern side of the hall, which was as bustling as a marketplace.

"Buying things is too boring. I'm going to take a look over there."

Zuo Xiaoqing followed the direction of his finger, her delicate brows drawing together slightly.

The stone gambling area.

That was the most frenzied place in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Some became rich overnight there, while others gambled away everything down to their underwear. The air was thick with greed, despair, and madness.

"You're going to gamble on stones?" Zuo Xiaoqing's voice turned several degrees colder.

"Just for fun." Ye Xingchen grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Do as you please."

A trace of pity appeared in Zuo Xiaoqing's eyes. In the cultivation world, those without resources could only resort to certain special methods, such as stone gambling.

"Nine out of ten gamblers lose. Take care of yourself."

Leaving behind that indifferent advice, Zuo Xiaoqing turned and left without looking back.

Ye Xingchen watched her proud figure disappear at the stairway. The smile on his lips slowly faded, becoming a hint of amusement.

"Nine out of ten gamblers lose?"

He chuckled softly, lightly stroking his chin with his fingers.

"That's only for the blind."

For someone with a cheat that could see through things, this was not gambling.

This was stocking up.

"So what if you have money? Skill-based players are the true path."

Ye Xingchen curled his lip and turned toward the stone gambling area, where the uproar boiled over like a cauldron.

The clamor from that direction crashed toward him like waves.

"It's risen! It's risen! Green is showing!"