Cooperation

"If you don't have enough money on hand right now, I can cover it for you."

Zhou Juechen spoke.

"An investment?"

Li Xian asked with a smile.

"If possible, the Zhou Family would certainly be willing."

Zhou Juechen said, "Even those who haven't made the Hidden Dragon Ranking can enjoy preferential treatment if they show their brilliance. To name an example close to home, the renowned Heavenly Dipper Hand Zhao Tianming of Lijiang City once received funding from the Dingfeng Marquis Estate. Yet in the end, not only did he fail to make the Hidden Dragon Ranking, he couldn't even reach the leakless realm."

He looked at Li Xian. "And you're confident you can complete blood exchange and marrow washing in three months... anyone who heard that would find it utterly incredible! With talent like yours, as long as you don't get stuck at primordial unity, it would be an outrage against heaven if you failed to make the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

Primordial unity...

He had long since comprehended it fully.

But...

"You need to think this through."

Li Xian said, "I'm unfettered by nature. To put it plainly, I never put the greater good first. My path of growth will inevitably encroach on many people's interests, and those losses will bring corresponding retaliation. If they can't do anything to me, they'll inevitably drag the innocent into it and strike at you."

"If you had the ability, would you avenge us?"

"Yes."

Li Xian said calmly, "But that would be meaningless. The moment someone dies, everything reaches its full stop. Even if their name lives on for ten thousand generations, they cannot return from the dead."

"Then that's enough."

Zhou Juechen smiled. "How could it be so easy to invest a few resources, hitch ourselves to a dragon or phoenix, and rise on the wind? Even the greatest sects take risks when they invest in prodigies."

He sounded somewhat wistful. "Five years ago, a major local sect nurtured a prodigy who made the Hidden Dragon Ranking. But before the Dragon Gate Contest, one of his rivals sent powerful fighters into the sect to leave nothing to chance. They brazenly slaughtered its guardians, along with that ranked prodigy."

"Oh? They could actually do that?"

Li Xian was somewhat surprised.

"In the Dragon Gate Contest, sometimes just one or two places make all the difference! Take this round-aside from Yan Yu and Xiang Yangsheng, who would dare say they're certain to obtain a Dragon Gate Token? Under those circumstances, seizing every moment to achieve a breakthrough in cultivation is one approach! Eliminating your rivals before Leaping Over the Dragon Gate officially begins is another!"

At this point, Zhou Juechen's expression grew grave. "Every round of Leaping Over the Dragon Gate leaves heaps of bones behind. Ninety percent of martial geniuses become stepping stones for serpents to transform into dragons! But if you can leap over the Dragon Gate... you soar into the sky and enter an entirely new world! That's why, despite knowing their chances of survival are one in ten, martial experts still flock to Leaping Over the Dragon Gate every five years, embracing it as gladly as sweet nectar."

"In nature, fish leaping over the Dragon Gate must also expend every ounce of strength, fighting for that sliver of opportunity even with their bodies covered in wounds."

Li Xian was perfectly at ease with this. "In the contest for the great Dao, there is only advance, never retreat! Only one person is destined to reach the summit and stand invincible beneath heaven!"

Zhou Juechen glanced at him...

"It really surprises me that you have that kind of resolve."

He was deeply puzzled. "It's hard to imagine that someone like you chose to enter the Marquis's Residence as a live-in son-in-law just two months ago. You're so different now that you seem like an entirely different person."

"Then consider 'Li Xian' dead. The man standing before you now is Li Xian."

Li Xian spoke.

"As in taking the lead on the great Dao?"

Zhou Juechen asked.

Li Xian gave a slight nod.

"Good."

Zhou Juechen nodded emphatically.

He would treat this as meeting him anew and completely discard his understanding of him as the former "Li Xian."

"Although I know that for a prodigy like you, making the Hidden Dragon Ranking and entering a transcendent sacred land like the Tai Xu Sword Palace, the Sacred Martial Tower, or the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion won't be difficult, I still hope you'll give our Zhou Family this opportunity, Li Xian."

At this point, Zhou Juechen said composedly, "As for the potential dangers you mentioned... our Zhou Family is willing to bear them."

Li Xian glanced at Zhou Juechen.

It wasn't that he looked down on the Zhou Family.

He was thinking that if he really did invite tremendous trouble, even if the Zhou Family chose to stay out of it, those supreme experts perched high above might still vent their anger on others.

Since the Zhou Family had already prepared themselves...

"Sorry for the trouble, but please exchange it for a dose of Precious Jade Soup for me."

Li Xian spoke.

Hearing this, Zhou Juechen nodded firmly. "I'll go right now!"

Then he immediately added, "Shall I introduce you to the Sword Saint Guangyuan? The Sword Saint Guangyuan is someone whose swordsmanship the Sacred Martial Tower has certified as transcendent and saintly. That's precisely why he was granted the title of Sword Saint!"

"Others choose me, and I choose others. Just explain the circumstances and let each side get what they need. There's no need to force anything."

Li Xian spoke.

Hearing this, Zhou Juechen understood what he meant.

He preferred cooperation: the other party would invest in him now, and he would repay them in the future. He didn't want to get entangled in personal favors.

But...

"As a Sword Saint certified by the Sacred Martial Tower, if Master Guangyuanzi wanted to take a disciple, countless outstanding youths and young heroes of the martial world would flock to him. Even renowned veterans would try every means to send their prized disciples to study under him, seeking nothing more than his guidance. Li Xian, as a prodigy of monstrous talent, you have your own pride, but..."

Zhou Juechen looked at Li Xian. "There's no shame in lowering your head a little before someone powerful and visiting him of your own accord to show respect. On the contrary, it can help you see yourself more clearly."

Having heard him out, Li Xian answered calmly, "I know."

He couldn't help laughing. "I'm not an idiot. Trying to do something I know is impossible would just be asking for suffering."

"Then you agree to try to win the Sword Saint Guangyuan's..."

"The blazing sun shines upon the boundless world; the moon gleams pure, and the river of stars sparkles. When I gaze at them, I am a frog in a well looking at the sun and moon, a mayfly looking at the blue heavens. All that remains in my heart is endless awe, and..."

Li Xian did not say what else.

Instead, he changed tack and said calmly, "But with the Sword Saint Guangyuan... there's no need for that."

No need for that!

What did he mean, no need for that!?

The Sword Saint Guangyuan...

Naturally, he could not compare to the sun and moon!

Nor could he rival the blue heavens!

But with the aid of someone as powerful as him...

Would Li Xian's path of growth not become more than ten times smoother!?

"Have you thought this through?"

Zhou Juechen said, "I've seen astonishing martial prodigies whose pride soared into the clouds and whose ambitions rose higher than heaven. They firmly believed they could carve out a broad, open road on their own. In the end... they could only watch as people less talented than themselves soared upward with the help of powerful experts. Eventually, they lost their mental balance, their cultivation progress plummeted, and they missed their chance at Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate, fading into the crowd."

"Our conversation has come full circle."

Li Xian spoke.

Full circle?

Zhou Juechen froze.

"Clearly, he wasn't enough of a prodigy."

Li Xian said, "His level was too low."

Zhou Juechen was instantly speechless.

He didn't think that martial prodigy's level had been too low.

He merely felt...

Li Xian's pride soared even higher into the clouds, his ambitions even higher than heaven.

"Besides... the joy of life lies not in the outcome, but in the journey."

Li Xian smiled freely. "Looking up at the vastness of the universe, looking down at the abundance of all things, letting the eyes wander and the heart roam-this is enough to delight sight and hearing to the fullest. Truly, it is a joy."

Zhou Juechen shook his head.

In this world of impatience for quick gains, where achievement alone mattered, did anyone truly disregard the outcome and value only the journey?

Or...

Was it merely talk, the naïveté of someone who wouldn't turn back until he hit a wall?

He couldn't tell.

Nor did he need to anymore.

Because although deep down he didn't agree with Li Xian's approach to life, he had to admit...

Those words seemed to carry some unknown power into his heart.

He didn't know what that power was...

He only knew that he had to help obtain this dose of Precious Jade Soup for him.

Perhaps even...

Obtain the more effective Blood Spirit Powder!

"Then we'll do as you suggested for now. I'll explain the circumstances to the Sword Saint Guangyuan and see whether we can cooperate so that each side gets what they need."

Zhou Juechen spoke.

He knew that if he really said this, he would very likely displease the Sword Saint Guangyuan, perhaps even offend this top expert certified by the Sacred Martial Tower, but...

He still decided to put his pride on the line and try for Li Xian.

Li Xian nodded.

Zhou Juechen soon left.

While Zhou Juechen and Li Xian were talking, the young commandery princess, Yan Ruxue, had also hurried back to the courtyard the Canglang Sword Sect had arranged for them, escorted by Shen Hong, Cao Zhi, and the others.

Even after returning to the courtyard, Yan Ruxue still looked somewhat dazed, as though her mind remained trapped in the terror of death brought on by Li Xian's brazen killing.

Until...

She heard the lively conversation and laughter of the King of Yue's heir, Yan Kaigui, the Iron Sword Sect's leader, Daoist Xuantie, and the Hidden Dragon Ranking expert Feng Juanyun coming from within the courtyard. Only then did she suddenly snap out of it.

The moment she recovered, the fear in her heart and Li Xian's intimidation turned her humiliation into rage.

An indescribable sense of disgrace flooded her entire body.

"Li Xian!? You dared kill someone right in front of me! And someone from Prince Yue's Residence, at that!? I want you dead!"

Carrying that fury, she stormed straight toward the inner courtyard.

In the inner courtyard, besides their host Yan Kaigui and the principal guests Daoist Xuantie and Feng Juanyun, Daoist Xuantie's female disciple Chen Yu and the eldest young lady of the Dingfeng Marquis Estate, Liu Yanran, were also present.

As maidservants moved among them, they exchanged toasts in a congenial atmosphere.

Yan Ruxue's sudden intrusion undoubtedly shattered that harmony.

"Brother, people are walking all over our Prince Yue's Residence, and you're still in the mood to sit here drinking?"

The moment she arrived, she offended both Daoist Xuantie and Feng Juanyun.

The smiles on the two honored guests' faces visibly cooled.

Yan Kaigui also frowned and snapped, "What nonsense are you spouting!? What could be more important than my time with Sect Leader Black Iron and Brother Feng? If you want to make a fuss, do as you please once we return to the Prince's Mansion. Now leave at once, and don't disturb us!"

"What could be more important?"

Still in a fury, Yan Ruxue cared only about venting her emotions. "Yan Lian was slaughtered in full view of everyone! Isn't that important enough?"

At these words, Yan Kaigui's expression finally changed.

"Yan Lian? Dead?"

Not only he, but Daoist Xuantie and Feng Juanyun also paused slightly.

They knew Yan Lian.

An expert at viscera great accomplishment.

As the King of Yue's heir, and someone connected to an "Immortal Seedling," Yan Kaigui already had security well beyond the usual standard.

True Person Xuantie was in fact an Attendant of Prince Yue's Residence, specifically responsible for ensuring Yan Kaigui's safety.

However, as an expert who had undergone blood exchange and marrow washing, he did not accept Yan Kaigui's orders in every matter. Those actually responsible for handling affairs great and small were stewards and guard captains at the Internal Organs Realm, such as Yan Lian and Luo Teng.

But now...

Yan Lian was dead!?

"What happened!?"

Yan Kaigui finally set down his wine cup. "Who was it!? Our Prince Yue's Residence bestowed the surname Yan on Yan Lian, making him half a member of our household. Who dared kill him?"

"Li Xian!"

Yan Ruxue shot a hateful glance at Liu Yanran, who was keeping the guests company. "The one who killed him was that mud-legged peasant you found, Li Xian!"

(End of chapter)