A Nian stood with Lu Changfeng on the Heaven-Worship Altar a little longer. Rain poured over the edges of the stone platform, gathering into waterfalls among the mountains, their roar carrying far into the distance.
She wiped the rain from her face and turned to Lu Changfeng. Beyond admiration, something harder to name had entered her gaze-the instinctive response to the unknown, curiosity mingled with a trace of unease.
"Your methods truly are... unheard of, sir," A Nian said softly, choosing her words.
Lu Changfeng smiled. "The world is vast, and spellcraft takes countless forms. The Central Lands and Hongfang simply follow different paths."
He offered no further explanation, nor was one needed.
Some things lost their charm when explained too thoroughly.
Besides, the hunger for spiritual qi in an age of waning magic, the way Central Lands spellcraft harnessed the forces of nature-such concepts would probably be harder than a heavenly book for A Nian to understand, having grown up amid Hongfang's abundant spiritual qi.
It was like a fish that would never understand what "thirst" meant.
She had no need to study how to keep herself from growing thirsty; she only needed to learn how to swim faster.
He, on the other hand, sorely needed methods for directing spiritual power now that the Spirit Tide was rising across the Divine Land.
"I'd like to make a trade with you," Lu Changfeng said.
"A trade?"
A Nian froze, then waved her hands rather urgently. "You saved Grandmother's life, sir. There's no need to speak of trades. Whatever you need, I would naturally-"
"Those are two separate matters."
Lu Changfeng raised a hand to interrupt her, his expression calm and earnest. "I chose to save her. You needn't burden yourselves over it. A trade is another matter. Central Lands spellcraft