Parting Ways, Setting Out for the Cloud Province Auction House

Seeing how distracted Qin Chuan looked, Shen Qingyuan could only remind him again, "Don't just say you understand. Take it to heart. Once I've broken through, you can toy with them however you like. For now, focus on improving your cultivation. Do you understand?"

"Master, I'll remember. I'm not stupid." Qin Chuan really didn't want any more direct confrontations with Yun Yao and his disciples. He had already decided to be a crafty old schemer and let others deal with them.

Shen Qingyuan went on to give him many more detailed reminders. Qin Chuan enjoyed every word. It felt as though a husband were leaving home while his wife reluctantly fussed over him, so he agreed to everything she said.

"Chuan'er, be careful in everything you do out there. I'll wait for you to return at Supreme Mystery Peak."

"Master, I understand."

After Qin Chuan answered, a long silence settled over the room.

In the end, Shen Qingyuan spoke first. "Go on. I'm going into seclusion to break through as well. By the time you return, I should have succeeded. With me backing you then, you can kill whoever you want."

"Will refining the jade token affect your breakthrough, Master?" Qin Chuan had kept the matter in mind.

"It won't. I obtained a ten-thousand-year-old Great Dao Flower not long ago. While refining the jade token these past few days, I've also been comprehending the opportunity it offered. Now the moment has come."

"You know about my physique too. There are no bottlenecks in my cultivation, so don't worry. By the time you return, I should have broken through."

Shen Qingyuan had the Glazed Immaculate Physique. That physique was a bug: it had no cultivation bottlenecks, at least before becoming an immortal.

That was how Shen Qingyuan had reached late Tribulation Transcendence in just three hundred years, earning the respectful title of Glazed Glass Immortal Venerable from the people of the Origin Spirit Continent's sixteen provinces.

Shen Qingyuan had Qin Chuan to thank for obtaining the spirit herb. She had discovered the ten-thousand-year-old Great Dao Flower while accompanying him on an excursion.

"That's wonderful! Let me congratulate you in advance on breaking through to peak Tribulation Transcendence, Master." Qin Chuan was overjoyed.

According to the plot, Shen Qingyuan only broke through to peak Tribulation Transcendence near the end of the story and became an immortal in the finale. Upon becoming an immortal, she was defeated by the male and female leads and the male supporting characters working together, and her flesh and blood became stepping stones for the leads to become immortals.

Now that Shen Qingyuan would reach peak Tribulation Transcendence ahead of time and, according to her, would have the power to fight the Heavenly Dao, wouldn't he be able to rely on her backing and chop all the male supporting characters to pieces?

He also needed to prepare a congratulatory gift for his master during his time away.

"Chuan'er, I'll always protect you. You don't have to risk your life so recklessly while you're out training. Besides, you've reached the middle Golden Core Stage at such a young age and study formations as well. I've never seen anyone as talented as you. Your life matters most, so remember my words."

After speaking, Shen Qingyuan took another long look at Qin Chuan. She suppressed her reluctance to part and said softly, "Go on."

"Master, I'm leaving, then." Qin Chuan stole a glance at Shen Qingyuan.

"Mm." Shen Qingyuan nodded slightly.

Qin Chuan strode out the door, then quickly darted back and embraced Shen Qingyuan, wrapping both arms tightly around her waist so she couldn't pull away.

"Master, you still owe me a promise. Give me a farewell hug." There was no desire in Qin Chuan's embrace; it was simply a hug.

"This doesn't count as your promise. You can still make a request of me when you return." Shen Qingyuan wrapped her arms around Qin Chuan's waist and rested her head against his chest. She could clearly hear his heartbeat, and she closed her eyes in contentment.

After a long while, the two parted without a word. Qin Chuan returned to his cave dwelling in the moonlight and cultivated all night.

Early the next morning, he descended Supreme Mystery Peak to meet Gu Hao at the Pure Void Sect's main gate.

Shen Qingyuan had also cultivated all night atop Supreme Mystery Peak. Now she watched Qin Chuan leave the mountain.

This was also the first time they had parted since she rescued Qin Chuan. Whenever he had gone out to train before, she had silently followed and protected him.

After Qin Chuan's aura disappeared, Shen Qingyuan stood atop Supreme Mystery Peak for a long time before returning to her cave dwelling.

At the same time, Supreme Mystery Peak was completely sealed off, shrouded in powerful restrictions she had placed. Anyone below the Tribulation Transcendence Stage could not possibly force their way in.

As soon as Qin Chuan left the Pure Void Sect's gates, he saw Gu Hao standing there. Gu Hao still looked like an illegally built structure, the treasures covering him worth at least a million spirit stones in total. Qin Chuan was green with envy and couldn't help marveling inwardly: The Wealth and Peace Merchant Guild really is rich!!!

An old man stood beside Gu Hao. Qin Chuan couldn't discern the old man's cultivation, but he could guess that he was Gu Hao's guardian. Gu Hao's next words confirmed his guess.

"Brother Qin, this is my guardian and my great-uncle, Gu Jun."

"Great-Uncle Jun, this is Qin Chuan, the one I told you about, the Glazed Glass Immortal Venerable's accomplished disciple."

Gu Hao introduced Qin Chuan and Gu Jun to each other, and Qin Chuan exchanged greetings with Gu Jun.

After the three exchanged a few pleasantries, Qin Chuan asked Gu Hao, "Brother Gu, are we setting out for the Cloud Province auction house now?"

"Don't worry, Brother Qin. The auction won't begin for another month. I made all the preparations long ago."

Gu Hao gave Qin Chuan a confident smile, then respectfully said to Gu Jun, "Great-Uncle Jun, sorry for the trouble."

"No problem." Gu Jun was at the middle Body Integration Stage. He was a man of few words who preferred action. He took out a small flying boat artifact, which slowly expanded after appearing and landed in front of the three of them. It was about half the size of a basketball court.

"After you, Brother Qin. I'll explain in detail once we're aboard." Gu Hao raised a hand, inviting Qin Chuan onto the flying boat.

"All right." Brother Qin didn't stand on ceremony and stepped aboard. Gu Hao and Gu Jun followed close behind.

There were four small cultivation rooms aboard the flying boat. Gu Jun went straight into one of them.

Qin Chuan was still standing on the flying boat's deck when Gu Hao approached him with a smile. "There's no need to hurry, Brother Qin. This is Great-Uncle Jun's flying boat. It will take us straight to the Cloud Province auction house."

"The flying boat is neither fast nor slow. We can reach the Wealth and Peace Treasure Pavilion in Cloud Province in three days, but the auction won't begin for another month. I've rented a courtyard for you, Brother Qin, so you can spend some time in Cloud Province's marketplace. When the auction begins, I'll attend it with you myself."

"Thank you, Brother Gu. Sorry for the trouble." Qin Chuan marveled inwardly that Gu Hao truly was a sequence heir of the merchant guild, thorough in everything he did.

"You're welcome. You're my ally, Brother Qin. I'm investing in you now because I want a return later." Gu Hao was so frank that Qin Chuan wouldn't resent him even knowing his purpose.

"Then I'll wait for you to come asking for that return, Brother Gu."

Qin Chuan replied with a smile, and the two talked some more about the upcoming Cloud Province auction.

Suddenly, Gu Hao asked, "Brother Qin, have you heard about the 'dog slaughter' incident in the Pure Void Sect?"

At the words "dog slaughter," Qin Chuan thought of Pei Xuan and his two fellow disciples. He shook his head. "I've been in seclusion for the past six months, so I haven't heard about it. Does it have something to do with Pei Xuan and the other two?"

Gu Hao nodded. "Yes. The three of them searched the Pure Void Sect high and low for black dogs, killing every one they saw."

"After killing the black dogs, the three of them tried to corner Jin Pang at Pill Peak, but he stayed in seclusion the whole time. Then they went to Supreme Purity Peak to look for Wang Sang, but he had gone into hiding, so they couldn't find anyone to vent on."

"There will be a spirit herb at this Cloud Province auction that can regrow severed limbs. The three of them will probably come."

"Brother Qin, you were also involved in the three of them becoming neither man nor woman. You must be careful."