Lu Zhiyuan had spotted Chen Shuangbai long before and waved to him from afar. The two landed on a nearby pavilion in the mountains.
"Senior Brother Lu." Chen Shuangbai was exceedingly polite.
Lu Zhiyuan was at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and was a disciple from a cultivation Lineage affiliated with the Jade Spring Sect. He had water and earth Spirit Roots, and his aptitude was much the same as Chen Shuangbai's. He was also from the same class of disciples as Fan Yunsong.
He waved a hand. "Why so formal? I saw a streak of purple qi coming from the horizon and knew I'd meet an esteemed person when I went out today. Now I can see a faint golden light shining from your brow, Junior Brother. Your every vital impulse is in harmony, and you move as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water. I can tell you've taken another step toward the great Dao of longevity."
"Not at all, Senior Brother. You flatter me."
Over the past few years, Chen Shuangbai had frequently dealt with the Expenditure Hall, whether to sell pills or collect mundane assignments.
Many disciples served in the Expenditure Hall, but Lu Zhiyuan had shown foresight and made Chen Shuangbai's acquaintance early on.
Whether on official or personal business, he kept a distance that made Chen Shuangbai feel comfortable. After a while, they had become good friends.
Chen Shuangbai did not mind that Lu Zhiyuan had befriended him with a purpose in mind. Or rather... vast as the world was, no one was perfect. When all was said and done, the very act of dealing with people was never entirely free of ulterior motives.
Besides, Lu Zhiyuan did have a favor to ask of Chen Shuangbai.
He was enamored of Senior Sister Huang Shanglan of the Jade Dew Hall. For more than a year, he had frequently made his feelings known, but he had failed to strike a chord with her, leaving him fretting helplessly.
As it happened.
Now that Chen Shuangbai practiced alchemy, he had close dealings with the Jade Dew Hall. Its representative was Senior Sister Huang Shanglan, who was kind and approachable and looked after him well.
Lu Zhiyuan had therefore asked Chen Shuangbai to act as a go-between, securing opportunities for him and passing along gifts.
After the two exchanged compliments, Chen Shuangbai's eyes rolled, and he explained why he had come.
Hearing that Chen Shuangbai was going to purchase Law Artifacts, Lu Zhiyuan pondered for a moment. "Law Artifacts for flight and protection?"
"Then come with me, Junior Brother. I'll help you pick some out, so you don't make the trip for nothing."
"That would be such a bother..."
Chen Shuangbai was just about to use the Wind Control Technique and ride the wind away when Lu Zhiyuan waved a hand and patted the treasure pouch on his belt instead. A spiritual light appeared at once, followed by a beautifully crafted, splendid-looking flying boat.
"Senior Brother, this is..."
Lu Zhiyuan smiled. "I advanced to the fifth layer not long ago, and my Lineage paid for it. It's called the Golden Light Boat. Hop on, and we'll go to the Expenditure Hall together."
Chen Shuangbai nodded and climbed aboard. Once Lu Zhiyuan had made sure he was standing firm, he formed a Method Formula with his hand, and the flying boat headed for Qia Cloud Peak, where the Expenditure Hall was located. It flew much faster than the Wind Control Technique and remained perfectly steady.
Qia Cloud Peak was neither tall nor short, but there was no space to spare from top to bottom. Palaces and pavilions covered almost the entire mountain. Even from afar, one could see spiritual lights descending and rising from time to time; the place was bustling with activity.
That was hardly surprising. After all, the Expenditure Hall determined Merit Points, issued mundane assignments, and allocated numerous supplies, so it was busy almost every day.
For that very reason, it was the busiest of the sect's peaks, the best informed, and the one with the most disciples coming and going.
The Golden Light Boat landed steadily on a broad plaza halfway up Qia Cloud Peak.
After the two disembarked, Lu Zhiyuan put away the boat and led Chen Shuangbai through the bustling front hall with practiced ease. They turned into a quieter corridor and eventually reached the middle hall, where they stopped before a large door engraved with the words "artifact vault."
"Wait a moment, Junior Brother Chen. I'll fetch the disciple on duty."
Lu Zhiyuan motioned for Chen Shuangbai to wait and headed toward the end of the corridor. Before long, he returned with a stern-faced middle-aged cultivator dressed in the robes of an Expenditure Hall steward.
"Junior Brother Chen, this is Senior Brother Qian Jin. He's one class above me and two above you."
Chen Shuangbai greeted him with a bow.
Qian Jin studied Chen Shuangbai closely. Seeing that his spiritual bearing was restrained, his posture proper, and his straight brows striking, and hearing that he was the Chen Shuangbai whose name had spread far and wide over the past year, Qian Jin's brow relaxed, and he smiled.
"So you're the Junior Brother Chen whom Master Yi holds in such high regard. You truly are a fine-looking talent, with the resonance of the Dao held within."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother Qian."
After a brief conversation, Chen Shuangbai learned the basics of Senior Brother Qian Jin's background.
He was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. He had suffered a hidden injury in his early years that damaged his foundation, leaving him unable to advance an inch for many years. He had therefore put aside that ambition and devoted himself to serving in the Expenditure Hall, where he had worked for many years.
"Are you looking to purchase two Law Artifacts to keep at your side, Junior Brother Chen?" Qian Jin asked.
Chen Shuangbai nodded slightly. "One for flight and one for protection."
Qian Jin nodded and walked to the door of the artifact vault, then turned and led the two of them to a pavilion in the rear hall. He ordered someone to bring tea and pastries, then took a jade board from the treasure pouch at his waist and handed it to Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai had thought Qian Jin was taking him into the artifact vault to make his selection. He had not expected to come here for tea and pastries.
Qian Jin seemed to notice Chen Shuangbai's surprise and offered a brief explanation.
"The Expenditure Hall's many treasure vaults hold countless spiritual materials. Even those of us who have served here for years cannot enter alone, much less someone from outside our hall like you, Junior Brother Chen. I hope you understand."
Chen Shuangbai thought that was more in keeping with the rules. He picked up the jade board and infused it with Law Power. A layer of glowing white light lit up its surface, and images of various implements appeared.
"Take your time, Junior Brother."
Qian Jin made the casual remark, then struck up a conversation with Lu Zhiyuan.
The two were already well acquainted and were good friends, but with Chen Shuangbai present, they spoke by voice transmission.
Looking at the images of the various implements on the jade board, Chen Shuangbai found his eyes dazzled by the dazzling array. He marveled inwardly that this was the foundation of a great sect in a whole nation.
The jade board was extremely convenient, though. It even had the marvelous ability to search.
Chen Shuangbai soon found the category for flying Law Artifacts.
At once, light and shadows shifted.
Illusory images of dozens of flying Law Artifacts in all shapes and sizes hovered above the jade board. Selecting one brought up a detailed description.
Besides flying boats like Lu Zhiyuan's, there were shuttles, handkerchiefs, leaves, rafts, and even shields, towers, lamps, and carpets. If you could imagine it, those smiths could make it.
"This really has opened my eyes."
Chen Shuangbai murmured in admiration, then began to browse carefully.
He had only two requirements for a flying Law Artifact: it had to be fast, and it could not be too conspicuous.
Speed was naturally a requirement because that was the whole reason flying Law Artifacts had been designed in the first place. As for being inconspicuous... who fled with sparks and lightning trailing behind them all the way?
Wouldn't that be like fearing others couldn't see the route they were taking to escape?