018. Honored Guest Visits Just After Seclusion
On the Yellow Dragon River.
The current was swift, yellow water surged. Fish, turtles, snakes, and clams teemed within the river, a unique vitality.
At this moment, on the river surface, a bamboo raft bobbed and drifted amidst the waves.
This raft was dilapidated, battered and scarred. A tattered white sail hung from the simple mast. Under the pounding of the river water, it swayed precariously, looking as if it could fall apart at any moment.
On this raft that seemed ready to disintegrate at any time, sat two youths.
One was a young man, with ordinary features, dressed in black robes, with black eyes and black hair.
The other was a young woman, in white robes, with blue eyes and silver hair, possessing the beauty of an immortal fairy.
They were precisely Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing, having departed from Qing Mao Mountain.
Meanwhile, in Shang Clan City, Nanqiu Garden.
'Calculating the time, Fang Yuan has probably already left Qing Mao Mountain by now! In just over a year, Fang Yuan, Bai Ning Bing, and Shang Xin Ci should arrive at Shang Clan City. Unfortunately, I won't have the chance to wait a year to interact with them this time.'
More than half a year had passed since Qitian arrived at Shang Clan City.
After the battle with Sun Lei, Qitian continued to forcefully defeat several opponents, becoming a dazzling new star in the performance field.
He achieved consecutive victories all the way, without a single loss. Such dominance was quite rare in the history of the performance field.
Now, Qitian had advanced to the third inner city's performance field.
In this half-year, Qitian not only established a firm foothold in Shang Clan City but also accumulated considerable primeval stones from the performance field. His preparations for inheriting the blessed land were mostly complete.
"My Lord, Lord Wei Yang has come to visit and is waiting in the living room," a servant reported just as Qitian exited his secret room.
"Oh! I'll go right away."
Due to Qitian's outstanding performance in the martial field, many people came to recruit him, including several Shang Clan young masters, but Qitian politely refused them all.
Because Qitian now displayed Rank 3 peak stage strength, the few young masters didn't try to force him.
Firstly, the highest combat strength they commanded was only Rank 3; trying to force the issue wasn't guaranteed to succeed. They had heard of Qitian's fierce reputation and felt a trace of apprehension towards him.
Although they were Shang Clan young masters and could use their status to pressure Qitian, if they angered him and he joined an opponent's camp, it would be counterproductive, needlessly making an enemy of a Rank 3 Gu Master.
Furthermore, Qitian not only had strength but, crucially, was also very young; advancing to Rank 4 was only a matter of time. The young masters had to treat a future Rank 4 combatant cautiously.
It was also because of this that Qitian's journey had been smooth so far.
Regarding joining the Shang Clan, Qitian wouldn't choose it, let alone siding with those young masters.
He could ignore those young masters, but Wei Yang was someone Qitian had to pay attention to.
Firstly, Wei Yang's strength deserved respect.
Wei Yang was known as the White Light Bladesman.
His movement speed was like light, fast as lightning, and he was also a flight Gu Master! He could stand undefeated in combat.
Although his aptitude was lacking and his cultivation was only Rank 3 peak stage, even a Rank 4 peak Gu Master like Yi Huo couldn't do anything to him.
Even though Qitian was a flight master, his speed couldn't match Wei Yang's Light Rainbow Gu.
If Qitian went all out, he wasn't certain he could defeat Wei Yang; at most, he could gain the upper hand.
Secondly, Wei Yang's status warranted Qitian's attention.
He was one of Shang Clan's Five Great Generals, controlled the Shang Clan's intelligence organization, Wind Rain Tower, and was a trusted confidant of the clan leader, Shang Yan Fei.
His recruitment offer might very well carry Shang Yan Fei's intention, thus Qitian had to take it seriously.
Lastly, Wei Yang himself was a good person, genuine and valuing loyalty. In the original story, after Fang Yuan left during Gu refinement, Bai Ning Bing escaped capture only because Wei Yang let her go.
"What? There's news about the Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot?" Qitian asked in surprise.
"Correct! I believe younger brother already knows the Yi Clan caravan arrived not long ago. They brought quite a few precious Gu worms and Gu materials this time, which will be auctioned three days from now," Wei Yang slowly explained to Qitian.
The Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot was a precious Gu material. It could only possibly form on Twin Trees that had grown for a hundred years.
Twin Trees are two different trees growing together, their roots intertwined. Under specific conditions, some roots will merge into one.
As time increases, more roots connect. If this exceeds a hundred years, it might nurture a Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot.
However, the two different trees compete with each other. If one grows too fast, surpassing the other, the connected root sections will break off from the weaker side and merge into the stronger one. Thus, the strong get stronger, the weak get weaker. Once the balance of the Twin Trees is broken, the weaker side eventually dies.
The formation of a Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot required this balance to persist for a century. This situation was extremely rare, hence the material was very hard to come by.
The Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot was the main material for refining the Rank 4 Concentric Gu. Concentric Gu could increase the rapport between different Gu Masters. If two Rank 3 peak Gu Masters used Concentric Gu, their coordination could allow them to defeat an ordinary Rank 4 Gu Master.
But Qitian was acquiring this Gu material as an ingredient to upgrade his Connected Qi Linked Branches Gu.
Qitian was confident he could break through to Rank 4 within half a year. After breaking through, he naturally needed to upgrade his Gu worms. He had obtained the Rank 4 recipe for Connected Qi Linked Branches Gu in his previous life, and the hardest material to find was the Hundred Years Twin Heart Knot.
Therefore, Qitian had previously asked Wei Yang to help him keep an eye out for news, unexpectedly receiving information so quickly.
As for how Qitian and Wei Yang became acquainted, it was because Wei Yang came to recruit Qitian after his rise, while also probing Qitian's identity.
And Qitian's performance was similar to Fang Yuan's disguise as Fang Zheng in the original story: showing a straightforward side, recounting the hardships and ruthlessness of the demonic path, combined with a trace of youthful pride and persistence.
And these aspects reminded Wei Yang of his former self. Through his interactions with Qitian, he developed a sense of identification with him, eventually becoming friends.
"Brother Wei, thank you so much this time! I heard there's a newly opened restaurant that's quite good. I'll treat you later as thanks to Brother Wei. You absolutely must grace me with your presence!" Qitian said gratefully.
Wei Yang thought for a moment and said, "Alright! I happen to have time today. But before that, shouldn't we spar with blades first?"
"But of course," Qitian replied. Qitian had previously used the pretext of them both using blades to often spar with Wei Yang. Qitian knew well that genuine people like Wei Yang often became friends most easily through combat – as the saying goes, 'don't fight, won't know each other'.
Subsequently, the two arrived at a small, open plaza.
Watching Qitian take out his jade blade, Wei Yang said, "Your Empty Granary Gu is quite convenient to use. However, upgrading it to the Rank 4 Vast Sky Gu isn't easy; it requires combined refinement with Gu worms from the Eastern Sea. Fortunately, the Gu worms brought by the Yi Clan caravan include quite a few from the Eastern Sea."
"Haha! Thanks for the reminder, Big Brother! I also have this intention, but upgrading to Rank 4 will probably take quite some time," Qitian laughed.
Wei Yang smiled wryly, "Younger brother, don't be modest. In my opinion, it won't take you many years to break through to Rank 4, unlike me, restricted by aptitude and unable to break through."
"Big Brother, you shouldn't worry either. You are an important minister of the Shang Clan; the clan leader won't treat you poorly. If Gu worms are used to improve your aptitude in the future, I believe Brother Wei can also quickly break through to Rank 4," Qitian consoled.
Wei Yang seized the opportunity to recruit again, "Younger brother, since you know the benefits of the Shang Clan, why not join? With your strength, you wouldn't necessarily lose even against Ju Kai Bei and Yan Tu who dominate the performance field. Defending the stage for eighteen matches in the future to become an external clan elder is within reach."
"Big Brother, you know me. I'm used to freedom and dislike restrictions. Although I entered the performance field, it wasn't with the goal of becoming an external clan elder," Qitian politely refused.
"Alright, enough talk about this. Let's fight!" After saying this, Qitian gripped his jade blade and rushed towards Wei Yang.