Separation-and-Reunion Five-Cloud Gui

First-tier implements were artifacts; those of the second tier and above were treasures.

Ordinary first-tier magical artifacts mostly cost less than a thousand spirit stones.

But for second-tier Dharma Treasures, even the lowest-quality second-tier low-grade ones cost over ten thousand spirit stones.

The price difference between the two was at least tenfold.

First-tier supreme-grade magical artifacts fell between the two. Their materials were already no inferior to those of second-tier Dharma Treasures, and they were specially refined by Foundation Establishment cultivators. They were deliberately made first-tier only to make them easier to wield, allowing Qi Refining cultivators to use them.

For most rogue cultivators in the Qi Refining realm, a first-tier high-grade magical artifact was already a luxury. They dared not even dream of a first-tier supreme-grade one, much less a second-tier Dharma Treasure!

The maid beside Su Yao saw the fiery lettering within the scarlet jade and could not help giving a soft cry, immediately drawing the attention of the other cultivators in the shop.

"Please wait a moment, honored guests. I must report this to the shopkeeper."

Seemingly seeing such a large prize for the first time, the maid hurriedly turned and went upstairs.

Someone curiously sidled over, his gaze darting over the unusual stone in Su Yao's hand. "Did you win some grand prize, fellow Daoist?"

Fang Hong and Su Yao did not answer, merely giving him a look that left him to work it out himself.

The man let out an "oh," seemingly having guessed something, and confidently lowered his voice. "A thousand spirit stones?"

Seeing that he would not stop pestering them, Fang Hong's expression turned displeased, and his gaze sharpened, falling across the man's face like a blade.

The man suddenly felt as though a vicious beast had fixed its eyes on him. His hair stood on end, and he gave a dry laugh before walking away.

Just then, a beautiful young married woman dressed in lavish finery came downstairs.

She wore a chest-high skirt with a high waist cinched around her bust and a broad, flowing hem, draped in a wide-sleeved gauze outer robe. Her radiant appearance carried an air of nobility.

"Honored guests, please follow me upstairs so we may speak." She came before Fang Hong and Su Yao, dipped in a formal curtsy, and addressed them with a smile.

"Very well." Fang Hong and Su Yao exchanged a glance and followed her upstairs.

Inside an elegant room on the second floor.

The three took their seats as host and guests, and the maid brought spirit tea before quietly withdrawing.

The shopkeeper carefully examined the Golden Glow Scarlet Jade, while Fang Hong leisurely surveyed the room.

The most eye-catching thing in the room was a small teleportation altar. The crystalline blue formation patterns upon it alternately dimmed and brightened, giving off waves of strange fluctuations.

The Li Fire Heavenly Palace and the Yin-Yang Sect are constantly at odds. For this shop to open on Five Dragon Island, its backing must be considerable.

And this teleportation altar would require at least a second-tier formation master to set up. Even the Fang Household only has a few to this day.

Fang Hong was inwardly surprised.

After examining it for a while, the shopkeeper set down the Golden Glow Scarlet Jade and smiled. "There is nothing wrong with this scarlet jade. You two have excellent luck. In the ten years since my humble shop opened, this is only the second time anyone has drawn such a large prize."

"Please do not publicize this, shopkeeper," Fang Hong said evenly.

The shopkeeper chuckled softly. "Rest assured, fellow Daoist. I understand the rules. I should let you both know that the prize Dharma Treasure is drawn at random from the Li Fire Heavenly Palace. You cannot specify its type."

Fang Hong and Su Yao naturally had no objections and replied, "That is fine."

"Then I shall request the treasure from above."

As she spoke, the shopkeeper rose and walked to the teleportation altar, placed the Golden Glow Scarlet Jade upon it, and cast a spell to activate the altar.

After a flash of spiritual light, the Golden Glow Scarlet Jade vanished without a trace.

Before long, treasure light flashed upon the altar, and a blue-green jade gui appeared, six or seven inches long, pointed at the top and square at the bottom.

The jade gui looked as though it had been fashioned entirely from green jade mixed with mystic crystal. It was solid and substantial, with exquisite decorative patterns carved upon it.

The shopkeeper picked up the jade gui and said with slight surprise, "It is the Separation-and-Reunion Five-Cloud Gui."

She turned and handed the jade gui to Su Yao, explaining, "Once activated, this treasure can release cloud light in five colors-blue-green, red, yellow, white, and black-from its body, hence the name 'Five-Cloud.' It can form cloud walls to protect you, transport you in flight, and trap enemies. Combining offense and defense, it is considered a fine piece even among second-tier Dharma Treasures."

Su Yao turned the jade gui over in her hands and channeled her magical power to refine it. Sure enough, auspicious clouds of five colors flowed from it, their radiant layers surging and rolling, wrapping the gui like wisps of cloud and changing size at her will.

A second-tier Dharma Treasure consumed too much magical power and divine sense, so she stopped after only a brief test.

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries with the shopkeeper, opened their remaining Golden Glow Scarlet Jade, and took their leave.

A short while later, the two arrived in Yunchuan Studio's rear courtyard.

Su Wan was indeed waiting there for them.

She wore a moon-blue, waist-fitted long dress, with a soft, jade-knotted sash at her waist and broad sleeves like clouds. Her bearing was elegant and serene, unforgettable at first sight.

She had a bright, graceful oval face, her skin as smooth as congealed cream, fair and flawless. Beneath slender brows like distant mountains, her clear almond eyes curved softly.

Fang Hong still remembered her elegant handwriting: "I hope we can meet again soon."

The original owner's mother had always doted on Su Wan, almost treating her as her own child. By contrast, she had been far colder and harsher toward the younger sister, Su Yao.

The reason was laughable: Su Yao's cool demeanor closely resembled that of an old lover of Fang Jian's. For that reason alone, she had transferred her dislike onto Su Yao, even calling her a "cold-faced little vixen" to her face.

Fang Hong's mother also came from an aristocratic clan. After Fang Jian attained the Golden Core realm, her pampered, aristocratic airs grew even more pronounced than when she had lived with her natal family.

Her loves and hates had always been clear-cut. Those who pleased her eye could do no wrong, while she treated those who did not with cold detachment, refusing to spare them the slightest consideration.

Fang Hong's mother was responsible for a good half of the cold, unsmiling disposition Su Yao had possessed since childhood.

Through his time with Su Yao these past days, Fang Hong had clearly discovered that beneath her cold exterior lay a warm heart. Occasionally, she would act coy and play with him, wheedling and clinging to him.

The Su Yao he had seen in the past had been only the tip of the iceberg.

Reunited, the sisters naturally had much to say to each other.

After greeting Su Wan and exchanging a few words, Fang Hong noticed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange and tactfully went to find Steward Mu.

In the west wing room, the two discussed the Ghost King Sect's true disciples.

"Young Master Hong, according to my discreet inquiries, among Black Demon Island's six great aristocratic clans, four people are true disciples of the Ghost King Sect. They come from the Gao, Tan, Zhao, and Xun households, respectively. Here are their portraits."

Steward Mu took out a scroll and unfurled it for Fang Hong to examine.

The Foundation Establishment true disciples of a Golden Core sect were often well known and not difficult to investigate.

Moreover, after reaching Foundation Establishment, cultivators possessed powerful divine sense and could remember anything they saw. Portraits and other information concerning the Foundation Establishment disciples of major sects were frequently circulated and traded in many black markets.

Fang Hong looked at the scroll and saw that the four Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Ghost King Sect consisted of three women and one man, all with hard, cold faces and sinister expressions.

Steward Mu continued, "However, Ghost King Sect cultivators are adept in the Human-Skin Ghost-Face Secret Art and very rarely show their true faces. It is difficult to distinguish which of these portraits are genuine and which are false. If you encounter anyone in these portraits in the future, young master, it would be best to exercise caution regardless."

Fang Hong nodded in acknowledgment and asked, "What are the relations between these three households and the Xun Household?"

Steward Mu gave a bitter smile. "All three have grudges against the Xun Household."

"Black Demon Island's six great aristocratic clans have always fought among themselves, their feuds and grievances tangled together. Yet at critical moments, they can unite against outsiders. Their relationships are difficult for an outsider to explain clearly."

Fang Hong was not surprised in the slightest. His gaze passed over the four portraits in turn as he silently held the thought, What would happen if I asked Father to kill this person? At the same time, he observed the Fate Mirror in his sea of consciousness.

When his gaze stopped on the portrait of one of the women, the candlelight immediately blazed brightly.

"Who is this woman?" He pointed at her.

Steward Mu glanced at it and replied, "Her name is Zhao Feixue. She is at the Foundation Establishment early stage, the weakest of the four."

"They say she was unhappy with the marriage alliance her lineage had arranged and secretly fled the Zhao Household before the wedding. Later, she had a fortuitous encounter overseas and successfully entered the Ghost King Sect. Once she reached Foundation Establishment, the Zhao Household's elders ceased pursuing the matter."

Steward Mu paused, then thought of something and added, "Oh, yes. The marriage alliance the Zhao Household originally arranged for her was with none other than the Xun Household."

Fang Hong said calmly, "Pay closer attention to her movements."

Steward Mu nodded in assent, then took out a jade box sealed with a talisman. "The grand elder was furious when he learned what happened at Fengle Tower. He specially sent this treasure for you to defend yourself and repel enemies, Young Master Hong, in case anything unforeseen happens."