After harvesting the latest batch of level-three crops and planting a fresh round of seeds, Xia Kong summoned the farm's control panel before his eyes with a thought.
[Gold coins]: 11,500 [Sacred water]: 0 [Backpack]: Level-three potatoes ×20, level-three cherry tomatoes ×10, level-three white radishes ×10, level-three rice ×20, level-three strawberries ×20, level-three cucumbers ×20, level-three blueberries ×20. Aside from cucumbers and blueberries, which had no level-two seeds, 20 ripe fruits had been kept for each crop with level-two seeds.
Ever since breaking through to Dou Shi, Xia Kong no longer had a single level-one crop in his backpack. Even so, he still spent a few days each month rotating through level-one crops. He did so for only two reasons. First, he could sell them directly back to the farm for gold coins. During the ten days it took the farm's level-three crops to mature, rotating exclusively through level-one crops and cashing them out was the most profitable way to operate. Second, he could give them to Ya Fei to auction off. Over the course of a year, he had amassed four million gold coins-equivalent to ten years of combined revenue for Wutan City's three great clans-as well as a Purple-Gold VIP Card signifying the Mittel Family's most honored guest status.
With a thought, Xia Kong left the Farm Space and returned to his private courtyard at the Mittel Auction House. He normally lived here alone, so he had no need to worry about anyone discovering his secret of vanishing and reappearing out of thin air. Ya Fei might wonder where he obtained so many rare medicinal ingredients, but she could never possibly guess the right answer. The only reasonable explanation she could think of was that Xia Kong kept all those ingredients in a Storage Ring he carried with him.
Xia Kong sat quietly beneath the pavilion, carefully working through his route and plans after leaving Wutan City while waiting for Ya Fei to bring him news from the outside world.
Tap, tap, tap...
A series of light, familiar footsteps drew closer.
Today, Ya Fei wore a completely different outfit: a fitted black qipao that outlined every inch of her exquisite, alluring figure. Her slender waist, her graceful, undulating curves-every movement brimmed with charm, every contour seeming like the Creator's most painstaking work. What struck Xia Kong even more was the unconcealable joy in her eyes.
Xia Kong's Soul Power already far surpassed others of his rank. With just a brief sweep of his senses, he immediately understood why Ya Fei was so delighted.
Her cultivation was no longer what it had once been. She was no longer a commonplace Dou Zhe, but a One-Star Dou Shi rarely seen in Wutan City, and she seemed to have broken through only within the past few days.
"Congratulations on breaking through to Dou Shi, big sister. You're another great step closer to forming Dou Qi Wings and soaring through the skies."
Xia Kong rose and gestured for Ya Fei to take a seat, then poured her a full cup of juice he had tried making from level-two strawberries. His voice was filled with heartfelt well wishes.
"It's all thanks to you, little brother. But now I can't see through your cultivation at all. Would you indulge my curiosity?"
Ya Fei lazily blinked her captivating eyes, a few complex, inexpressible emotions hidden deep within them.
Xia Kong met her gaze, a faint trace of reluctance to part surfacing in his own eyes.
After an entire year of frequent companionship, their relationship needed no explanation. Though neither had fully laid their feelings bare, each knew exactly what was in the other's heart. Otherwise, given Ya Fei's status and personality, she would never have come over every few days to cadge a meal, keeping it up for an entire year.
Xia Kong had no intention of hiding his cultivation from her either. He said slowly, "My cultivation is at Five-Star Dou Master now."
"Hiss-"
Ya Fei drew in a sharp breath, genuine shock filling her face. She remembered perfectly well that only five short months had passed since Xia Kong broke through to Dou Shi. Four stars in five months-nearly one star a month. Such a cultivation speed was truly staggering.
"You really are blessed with heaven-sent talent, little brother. Even if Xiao Yan regains his reputation as a genius and becomes stronger than he once was, I doubt he could compare to you."
Meeting Ya Fei's slightly teasing gaze, Xia Kong gave her a meaningful look and slowly shook his head. "You should know, big sister, that most of my rapid advancement came from outside resources and fortunate opportunities. Without those, I might not measure up to Xiao Yan with his talent restored."
Ya Fei immediately understood the hint in his eyes. She had long suspected that Xia Kong possessed some tremendous fortuitous opportunity. But she, too, had benefited from that secret, and she would naturally keep it safe, so she did not pursue the subject further.
"Oh, tomorrow is the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony for their sixteen-year-olds. Our Mittel Auction House received an invitation as well. I heard Xiao Yan had already reached ninth stage Dou Qi during his early test last month. I wonder whether he's managed to break through to Dou Zhe in the month since. What do you think? Interested in accompanying me to meet this genius you think so highly of?"
"He has a high-tier Alchemist backing him. Refining a fourth-tier Qi Gathering Powder shouldn't be difficult, so his breakthrough to Dou Zhe should already be nailed down. Well, since I'll be leaving Wutan City soon anyway, I might as well meet him."
Xiao Yan had come to the Mittel Auction House several times to consign Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. Though he concealed his figure beneath a black robe and conveyed his requests through Yao Lao's voice, Ya Fei was already highly observant, and with Xia Kong's hints, she had uncovered Xiao Yan's identity early on. She also knew that a high-tier Alchemist stood behind him. Yet she had remained composed throughout, conducting business as usual without showing the slightest sign of anything amiss. Even Yao Lao inside the ring had not noticed a single flaw.
Looking at Xia Kong's candid expression, Ya Fei parted her red lips. Her face remained calm, as though she had expected this all along, but her voice still held a trace of disappointment she could not conceal. "I know. You'll leave Wutan City sooner or later. But in another six months, Jia Nan Academy will begin recruiting in the Jia Ma Empire. With your aptitude, they're certain to take a special interest in you."
"I'll definitely go to Jia Nan Academy, but not this year. I plan to gain experience in the Magical Beast Mountain Range first, then head to the Tagor Desert. Two years from now, I'll witness Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran fulfill their Three-Year Agreement. I'll have just turned eighteen then and will still meet Jia Nan Academy's admission requirements. It won't be too late to enroll and cultivate there afterward."
Hearing that Xia Kong intended to venture first into the danger-ridden Magical Beast Mountain Range, then into the Tagor Desert occupied by the Snake-People, Ya Fei felt as though a hand had seized her heart in a crushing grip. She could barely hold back her mounting worry.
But she understood Xia Kong's personality, so she did not waste words trying to dissuade him. She simply expressed her genuine concern and well wishes.
"Since you've already planned your path, I know I can't talk you out of it. I only hope you'll be careful in everything you do and always put your own safety first. I'll be waiting for your return in the imperial capital."
"Don't worry. I've always treasured my life. Besides, with a peerless beauty like you waiting for me, how could I so easily just... mmph!"
Before Xia Kong could utter the word "die," Ya Fei extended a soft, delicate finger and gently pressed it against his lips, sealing away the rest of his words.
At the warm, soft touch of her fingertip, Xia Kong could clearly sense the concern and unease in her heart. No longer willing to suppress his feelings, he suddenly reached out, wrapped an arm around Ya Fei's slender waist, and pulled her straight into his embrace.
Ya Fei barely had time to let out a soft cry before she was pressed firmly against Xia Kong's chest.
Though Ya Fei was six or seven years older than Xia Kong, she was almost half a head shorter, allowing her to rest her cheek comfortably against his shoulder.
The woman in his arms was warm and soft, her tangible presence washing over him. Even the sorrow of their impending separation and his unease about setting out alone faded by more than half in that moment.
They held each other tightly. Though neither made any further, more intimate move, their hearts were closer than ever at that moment. Everything around them seemed to quietly recede, leaving only the two of them in this silent world.
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