Severing Ties

Each standing on a green-leaf Law Artifact, the two flew into the sky above the lake.

Yongyang Commandery's city lay north of Cuiwei Lake.

According to Old Jia, Suzhou and the Guo Household to the north had started a small-scale cultivation war.

So they had no choice but to take a detour to the south, where they rented two spirit steeds at a relay station run by the Han Household.

Half a month later, atop the walls of the city of Yongyang.

Behind them, the city bustled with traffic, while the vast waters of the Huai River lay before them.

Xu Qinghou wore a complicated expression. "Ever since I was a child, I swore I would pass the examinations, become an official at court, and revitalize my lineage..."

"Has life turned out the way you wanted?"

A clear, gentle voice rang out, exceptionally pleasant to hear.

Zhou Ning turned around and saw a woman approaching. She wore a long blue dress, her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her eyes held a tranquil look.

He could just make out the familiar face from years past, though much of its stubbornness and hostility had faded.

"Gu Xiangning?"

Xu Qinghou was astonished. Was she still the frail young girl from before?

Gu Xiangning smiled. "What, after seven years, have I finally caught the eye of the great Scholar Xu?"

Xu Qinghou was immediately embarrassed. He recalled how highly he had thought of himself on their journey in search of immortality, never deigning to look the other immortal seedlings in the eye.

Gu Xiangning had once asked him for advice, but he had held his nose so high that he had mostly brushed her off.

Zhou Ning, on the other hand, had always treated everyone as equals.

"Brother Zhou." Gu Xiangning gave a slight nod. "I've already chosen a place. Come with me."

In the private room with the finest view at the River View Tower.

The table was laden with exquisite dishes.

But rather than focus on the food, Xu Qinghou looked at the presence of Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivation around Gu Xiangning and clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had originally been quite proud of his own cultivation. When Gu Xiangning asked about it, he had made a point of saying modestly that he cultivated rather slowly and had only reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Who would have thought Gu Xiangning would reply, "That is a little slow."

Then she revealed her Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivation.

Xu Qinghou wished he could crawl under the table.

Seeing the ever-proud Xu Qinghou subdued, Gu Xiangning finally felt considerably better.

Zhou Ning had watched it all. He said, "Xiangning, you didn't come here today just to take a few jabs at Scholar Xu, did you? Where are Jiang Xiaohua, Young Master Luo, Princess Tao, and the others?"

Gu Xiangning suddenly gave a quiet laugh. "Brother Zhou, I imagine you already know the answer."

Before Zhou Ning could speak, Scholar Xu grew anxious. "We all agreed back then by the Huai River, and we even sent letters. Why are you the only one who came?"

Gu Xiangning raised an eyebrow. "What, am I not good enough for you?"

Scholar Xu gave an awkward laugh, not daring to say more.

Facing Gu Xiangning and her sharp tongue now, he was somewhat intimidated.

Zhou Ning nodded. "I understand."

People's hearts were quick to change, all the more so after seven years.

Seeing how calm he was, Gu Xiangning felt a little guilty instead.

She took out a jade bottle and set it on the table with a sigh. "Jiang Xiaohua asked me to bring this. She wants you to stop using her name to conduct your affairs from now on."

Jiang Xiaohua was an Earth Spirit Root genius whom a Core Formation elder had taken in as a True Disciple.

For the first two or three years, things had still been fine. She often sought Gu Xiangning out to spend time together and reminisce about their days seeking immortality and the Dao.

After she was brought into her senior sister's new circle, she became increasingly unfamiliar, gradually growing distant even from Gu Xiangning.

Now, at only nineteen, Jiang Xiaohua had reached Late Qi Refining and was on the verge of Foundation Establishment. Why would she make a special trip to see two Aristocratic Clan retainers with no prospects?

"You gave her a silver hairpin back then, and now she's repaying you with a pill."

This also meant that their already slender friendship had been settled in full.

Xu Qinghou suddenly let out a scornful laugh. "Do you know why Zhou Ning wasn't selected?"

Gu Xiangning froze. "Why?"

Zhou Ning frowned. "Say no more. There's no need to bring up the past."

Under Gu Xiangning's questioning gaze, he took the jade bottle. Inside was a Three Flowers Pill.

Zhou Ning shook his head and put it back. "It's too valuable. I gave her the silver hairpin on a whim that day. It was nothing."

Xu Qinghou's earlier contempt likewise gave way to a stunned expression when he saw the Three Flowers Pill. Then, his throat slightly dry, he said:

"Brother, are you sure...?"

"Yes."

Judging by Gu Xiangning's reaction, Zhou Ning thought she probably didn't know about the Su Household's scheme.

But Jiang Xiaohua, with her Earth Spirit Root, was likely surrounded by core members of the Azure Mystic Sect. How could they not know?

Otherwise, why would Jiang Xiaohua have brought out a Three Flowers Pill?

Jiang Xiaohua probably didn't want to get caught up in these struggles and invite needless trouble, so she had simply bestowed a pill on him to settle things once and for all.

With that thought, Zhou Ning recalled one last time the simple-hearted farm girl she had once been.

Her excited cries when she ate meat buns, the earnest way she practiced worldly martial arts, and how, after quarreling with Gu Xiangning, she had pulled him along to apologize with her...

No matter how sincere a person's nature, once they entered the cultivation world, they would eventually become stained by calculations of gain and loss.

Zhou Ning said decisively, "From this day forth, Jiang Xiaohua and I have nothing more to do with each other."

Gu Xiangning was also melancholy. She said softly, "Not all Azure Mystic Sect disciples are like that. At least I'm different."

Watching Gu Xiangning's manner, Zhou Ning grew wary.

He had been unable to see through this woman since seven years ago.

Xu Qinghou raised his wine cup. "Xiangning, it's already very good of you to have come, haha."

The atmosphere grew much more pleasant after that.

Gu Xiangning had the highest cultivation and came from the Azure Mystic Sect, so she made a point of offering some advice.

"Brother Zhou, your cultivation is progressing a little slowly. Pill refinement is difficult, but I won't try to dissuade you."

She took two books from her Storage Bag. "These contain some pill-refining experience. You can take a look, Brother."

After that, she said to Scholar Xu:

"You have a Low-Grade Spirit Root. Don't pursue cultivation speed for the sake of a temporary gain. You should use your resources to buy pills that help you break through layers instead. Otherwise, Late Qi Refining alone could hold you back for decades."

Xu Qinghou thought of Old Jia and readily agreed.

At dusk.

The three climbed the city wall again and gazed out over the railing. The sun sank, dyeing the rolling waters of the Huai River a warm red as they flowed east.

The wind stirred Gu Xiangning's dark hair. "Let's swear by the Huai River again and meet in seven years. What do you say?"

Xu Qinghou couldn't have asked for more. "Of course."

Just then, a gentle breeze passed by, and a young man in fine robes suddenly appeared. "Junior Sister Gu, it's time to return to the sect."

Zhou Ning looked toward the voice and saw that the man was handsome, with an extraordinary bearing and cultivation at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.

Gu Xiangning introduced him. "Zhou Ning, Scholar Xu, this is Senior Brother Ye."

Senior Brother Ye was quite gracious. "I am Ye Menglong of the Ye Household."

"Zhou Ning, a retainer of the Su Household."

Hearing this, Ye Menglong looked surprised.

As far as he knew, most Su Household retainers were Rogue Cultivators with little future, largely cannon fodder.

Did Junior Sister Gu seem to be on good terms with them?

Though he thought little of them inwardly, Ye Menglong observed every courtesy on the surface. "A pleasure to meet you both. If you visit a Ye Household shop to purchase cultivation resources in the future, you may both enjoy a discount."

With that, he handed them two tokens.

Xu Qinghou happily accepted his.

Gu Xiangning pondered for a moment, then a jade box appeared in her hand. "Brother Zhou, since you're determined to refine pills, take these ingredients and use them."

"I wish you both a flourishing path to immortality!"

With that, she sent out a blue spirit boat and departed, cutting through the air.

Ye Menglong followed close behind.

Zhou Ning watched her graceful figure disappear.

He opened the jade box and found a vermilion fruit inside.

He was now an Alchemist and knew this was a hundred-year-old Vermilion Fruit, the principal ingredient for the Spirit Condensation Pill, which helped cultivators break through layers in Late Qi Refining. It was worth one Spirit Stone.

Such a valuable gift...

Zhou Ning truly couldn't understand it. Just what was Gu Xiangning after?

Xu Qinghou didn't recognize its value, but he too felt the fruit was extraordinary.

A little envious, he asked, "Zhou Ning, why is Gu Xiangning so good to you?"

Zhou Ning thought for a few breaths, then replied, "Maybe I'm more handsome."

Xu Qinghou glanced at Zhou Ning and saw that, dressed in black, he stood tall and looked sharp, with keen features. He was indeed handsome.

He then took out a bronze mirror and looked at himself, only to see a somewhat weathered young man.

Xu Qinghou shook his head. "Ah, back in the day, I, Little Xu, was a dashing young beauty renowned for miles around."