Zhou Ning, Get Aboard

The sun was neither harsh nor scorching today. The morning mist had cleared, and sky and water embraced.

Luyou Island was about a hundred and twenty li away. It was not far, but the journey had to be made by water, and rowing a boat was far too slow.

Zhou Ning put away his map, a plan already formed in his mind.

He cast the Light Body Technique and employed his lightness skill, landing directly on the lake. A white streak swept out behind him as he raced across the water.

Zhou Ning sped all the way toward Luyou Island.

Retainers hunting fish on the lake were startled at the sight. "He's using spiritual power like that? Isn't he afraid of falling in?"

Then they took a closer look with the Spirit Eye Technique.

"No, that's not right. There's hardly any fluctuation of spiritual power around him. Is that... a martial arts grandmaster from the mortal world?"

They were Qi Refining cultivators, and they could also walk on water using the Light Body Technique. Even so, few did it unless there was an emergency.

For one thing, it consumed spiritual power rapidly. For another, who knew what lurked beneath the lake? If a fierce Demon Beast leaped out, wouldn't they end up in its belly?

Someone who knew Zhou Ning recognized him and teased, "Whoa! It's Grandmaster Zhou!"

"We pay our respects to the young grandmaster!"

Everyone laughed. Martial arts grandmaster sounded impressive, but before cultivators like them, such a person could be killed with a casual spell.

No one paid it any mind.

Zhou Ning cupped his fists in response, then put his head down and continued on his way.

He stopped to rest on a small island along the way, then continued across the water.

A red silk ribbon streaked across the sky.

A woman with her dark hair tied up stood aboard a vermilion flying boat, looking valiant and dashing.

Su Yunjin had been cultivating with the Duan Household of artifact refiners for three years. Recently, she had received word from her clan that her youngest uncle, Su Yanghao of the Azure Mystic Sect, had returned.

Now that the Lei Household was at war with the Jade Countenance Sect, and the Guo Household's False Core patriarch to the south had perished, it was an excellent opportunity to claim a share of the benefits. The patriarch had decided to take advantage of her uncle's return to convene a clan meeting.

"It's been three years. Cuiwei Lake has barely changed since the year I left. Home still feels dear to me."

The Duan Household's fire vein was strong, which benefited her cultivation of fire techniques. Trade also flourished there, and scions of Aristocratic Clans and sect True Disciples often came to have artifacts refined. It had opened her eyes and broadened her horizons far beyond what they had been before.

But in the end, she was living under someone else's roof, and her heart could find no peace.

"After I see the patriarch, Uncle, and Big Brother, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay more than a few days."

"As for Aunt..." Su Yunjin thought of the woman, blessed with nature's finest gifts but frail and sickly since childhood, who had now severed ties with the Su Household.

"Alas, Patriarch, you were wrong..."

In the end, she put the thought aside. It was better not to see her again, lest she upset her aunt.

"The Lei Household... we must eradicate them in our generation."

Su Yunjin made up her mind.

Unfortunately, whenever the Lineage discussed its affairs, she was usually no more than a spectator. She knew nothing of clan business, and her elders only told her to focus on breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

As she pondered, she caught sight of a white streak across the lake. It was a figure racing over the water.

She gave a soft exclamation, and the vermilion flying boat suddenly swooped toward the lake.

Zhou Ning, who was still on his way, had spotted her earlier. After all, his Divine Sense was comparable to half that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He immediately recalled what Xu Qinghou had said two years ago.

His Middle-Grade Spirit Root qualifications had failed to win him a place in the Azure Mystic Sect because Su Yanghao of the Su Household had secretly arranged it.

He had used Zhou Ning to forge a bond of goodwill with Jiang Xiaohua, who possessed an Earth Spirit Root.

"Zhou Ning, get aboard." A voice like a spring in a mountain gorge rang out.

The vermilion flying boat was less than ten meters above the lake.

Zhou Ning had not believed Scholar Xu at first, but hearing those words, he became somewhat more certain.

He slowed down and said humbly, "How could I dare trouble you, Young Miss?"

Su Yunjin's expression did not change as she thought of the move her youngest uncle in the Azure Mystic Sect had casually made back then.

She said again, "Get aboard."

Her tone was calm, but it brooked no objection.

"Thank you, Young Miss!"

Zhou Ning pushed off with one foot, kicking up a spray of water. His body rose, and he landed steadily aboard the flying boat.

He cupped his fists respectfully. "It's been three years, Young Miss. Your bearing is even more impressive than before."

This woman had already reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, and the presence around her was powerful.

According to the rumors around the lake, she was probably only twenty-five or twenty-six. Her progress was truly astonishing.

She would probably reach Foundation Establishment in less than ten years.

Su Yunjin, meanwhile, glanced him over. Third Layer of Qi Refinement.

She frowned. "Your cultivation has improved too slowly. Have you been slacking off?"

Zhou Ning said shamefacedly, "I'm dull and untalented..."

"Mm. Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"I've always been fascinated by pill refinement, so I'm planning to buy some herbs and cultivation supplies on Luyou Island," Zhou Ning replied.

"You, refine pills?" Su Yunjin frowned. It was sheer fantasy.

How difficult was pill refinement?

The cost of training an Alchemist was almost as great as the cost of training her, and that was only for a first-tier Alchemist.

Her youngest uncle, Su Yanghao, had only just managed to become a second-tier Alchemist with the support of the entire clan and a flood of resources from the Azure Mystic Sect.

How could a rootless, drifting cultivator like Zhou Ning hope to touch it?

She said mildly, "Pill refinement is no easy matter. You should focus on cultivation and not aim too high."

Hearing this, Zhou Ning looked humble and cupped his fists.

"You're right to admonish me, Young Miss. Thank you for pointing it out. I didn't think it through."

Once he got off the boat and they went their separate ways, could the Young Miss still tell him what to do?

Su Yunjin was quite pleased to see this. The young man knew when to advance and when to retreat; he was teachable.

She said, "You cultivate the Clear Flame Heart Method, don't you? Demonstrate it for me."

Zhou Ning's heart tightened. He had not expected her to test him.

Fortunately, he had cultivated the Flowing Light Concealing Shadow Technique, which could conceal unusual phenomena when he cast spells. Otherwise, he might well have failed to hide them today.

Zhou Ning's thoughts turned, and Xu Qinghou's words seemed to replay as though spoken yesterday.

"If you stay with the Su Household and receive their kindness, Jiang Xiaohua will surely remember your old ties in the future..."

So the Su Household must want me to be deeply indebted to them...

Last time, the Young Miss even gave me a big Fuluo Eel...

With that thought, Zhou Ning decided to try a little trick.

He activated his technique, and a fireball flared to life with a bang.

Then he flicked his hand, and the fireball took the shape of a little bird in midair. It flapped its wings and plunged headfirst into the lake, exploding into a cloud of white mist.

He asked modestly, "What do you think, Young Miss?"

Su Yunjin gave it only a cursory glance, and a fist-sized fireball appeared at her fingertip.

The next moment, the fireball began to shrink steadily until it was only the size of her fingertip. The air around it warped slightly.

She flicked her finger, sending the fireball shooting out at tremendous speed. It struck the water, and violent spiritual power burst apart with a roar. The water exploded like oil in an instant, sending waves surging upward.

Zhou Ning stared for a moment. Could the Fire Bullet Technique be used like that?

Only then did Su Yunjin speak. "With spells, what matters is holding your edge in reserve, not showing off for attention. Concentrate it into a single point and use that point to overcome an entire surface. That is the proper way."

Zhou Ning said admiringly, "Young Miss, you've seen so much battle and refined your spells to such a degree. My flashy tricks can't begin to compare. I've learned a great deal!"

Su Yunjin was quite pleased to hear it.

Her elders had high expectations of her, and her elder brother was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. They mostly encouraged her to cultivate diligently and rarely gave her such praise.

She nodded slightly, then suddenly asked, "Did you think you had a talent for pill refinement just because you mastered a couple of flame-manipulation tricks?"

Zhou Ning saw that she had indeed "fallen for his scheme."

So he acted even more admiring. "Young Miss, your insight misses nothing. You're absolutely right."

Su Yunjin pondered for a moment. She was a direct descendant of the family and possessed uncommon knowledge.

Being able to change the shape of the Fire Bullet Technique did suggest that his Divine Sense was somewhat extraordinary.

After all, controlling fire was a vital part of pill refinement.

She suddenly asked, "Do you have a Pill Furnace?"

Zhou Ning rejoiced inwardly. Did it work?

He hurriedly said, "No. I was planning to see if I could rent one on the island."

Su Yunjin patted her Storage Bag, and an ancient bronze Pill Furnace flew out. It was the size of a washbasin, with three legs and two handles, and had a simple, antique appearance.

Only two shallow chips marred one side of the furnace, their edges slightly scorched.

She gazed at the Pill Furnace, seemingly lost in memory. She too had once dreamed of becoming a pill refiner and easing the Lineage's burdens.

But her talent had been all too ordinary. She had blown up furnaces several times and nearly injured herself, so she could only give up.

She said, "I used this furnace when I was learning pill refinement. Later, I had too many other matters to attend to, so I gradually set it aside."

"Although it's a little damaged, the firebox is intact. It's just right for a beginner, so I'll lend it to you for now."

With that, she pointed a finger, and the Pill Furnace flew over to Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning rejoiced inwardly. Good heavens, the Young Miss really does spend money on you!

Although she had only lent it to him, not given it to him.

But could the Young Miss bring herself to ask for it back?

He reached out and lifted the Pill Furnace. It was cool to the touch and heavy, and though old, it had a newness about it. It was definitely the Young Miss's own firsthand possession.

He hurriedly said, "Thank you, Young Miss! If I achieve anything in pill refinement someday, I'll never forget your kindness!"

Zhou Ning was genuinely happy. He had been worrying about how to get a Pill Furnace. It was not that he could not afford one, but as a fisherman, he could not bring one out and use it. Pill Furnaces were expensive and probably priced in Spirit Stones.

A lowly fisherman like him would definitely attract attention if he brought one out.

Now things were different. The Young Miss had given him exactly what he needed in one stroke.

Zhou Ning happily hugged the Pill Furnace.

Su Yunjin was in a good mood, so she said no more and focused on steering the flying boat.

After a while, she saw that Zhou Ning was still holding the Pill Furnace and suddenly asked, "Isn't it heavy? Why don't you put it away?"

Hearing this, Zhou Ning opened his bundle and wrapped it around the Pill Furnace. With a grin, he said, "There, it's put away."

Su Yunjin was taken aback. She suddenly remembered that a lowly retainer like Zhou Ning could not afford a Storage Bag at all.

For a moment, she was speechless.