When Qin Chu first obtained the Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame, the flames were red, but they are not anymore. The Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame now has a golden-red hue within its flames, which is an effect of its growth.
Because of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame's nourishment, the Vermilion Bird Stone also has a golden-red color.
Qin Chu doesn't know when he will discover the true appearance of the Vermilion Bird Stone, but he feels it will be soon, because the Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame is becoming more and more domineering. With continuous nourishment like this, even a stubborn stone would yield.
Qin Chu stayed safely in Sword North Forest, but the world was not quiet. Qin Lingxi, through the Alchemist Guild and Demon Castle, had spread the news of Qi Qingqing, and the Sacred Martial Enforcement began to arrest Qi Qingqing.
Staying in a forest on the outskirts of Sky Sword City, Qi Qingqing's face was full of anger. She knew her situation had been exposed, and she also knew that the Sacred Martial Enforcement had begun to target her. Now she dared not act rashly. She was unsure how many Sacred Martial Enforcers there were in the Sacred Martial Continent, nor did she know their combat power.
"Qin Chu, this Seat will not let you go. What this Seat wants to do, this Seat will definitely achieve. If I can't catch you in one day, then ten days; if ten days aren't enough, then a year," Qi Qingqing murmured. She had no intention of giving up on Qin Chu.
After thinking for a while, Qi Qingqing removed her veil, and her aura also changed, becoming that of a fifth-rank Heavenly Yuan Realm Cultivator. She possessed a Cultivation Technique for concealing her cultivation, and she planned to go directly under her opponent's nose, to blend into Sky Sword City. Besides dealing with Qin Chu, she also planned to explore Sky Sword Mountain. Her original purpose for coming to the Sacred Martial Continent was Sky Sword Mountain; arresting Qin Chu was a decision she made later.
Staying in Sword North Forest, Qin Chu's daily life was fixed. He felt as if he had returned to his childhood, to the state he was in when he lived with the old man - a stable life, free from so many trivial matters.
The demon Cultivators of Sword North Forest treated Qin Chu as one of their own. They sought Qin Chu for Alchemy, and Qin Chu never refused, even if they didn't bring Materials.
The demon Cultivators of Sword North Forest also had no habit of taking advantage of Qin Chu. If they didn't have specific Materials, they would bring other Materials to substitute. Whether they suffered a loss or not was not important; they didn't want to take advantage of Qin Chu, because Qin Chu truly took care of them.
Qin Chu had been staying in Sword North Forest. Shang Shuyu, who came out of Sky Sword Mountain, came to visit him.
After learning about Qin Chu's encounter, Shang Shuyu just smiled. Having a woman thinking of Qin Chu meant her judgment was good. Now her mindset was also peaceful. When she first learned that something had happened to Qin Chu, she had been worried for quite some time.
Time flowed like water, and in a blink of an eye, a year passed.
In one year, Qin Chu raised his cultivation from Heavenly Yuan Realm Level Seven to Heavenly Yuan Realm Level Nine. It was equivalent to a year of secluded Cultivation. His cultivation caught up with Shang Shuyu, but Shang Shuyu was at the Peak of Heavenly Yuan Realm Level Nine.
Qin Chu had excellent talent and abundant resources, but Shang Shuyu was also not bad. She was the little princess of the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan, and her talent and resources were both excellent.
After a year, Qin Chu planned to leave Sword North Forest. Having reached Heavenly Yuan Realm Level Nine, he now needed to undergo a period of tempering. Only after proper tempering would he have a chance to reach the sixth-rank King Realm.
When Qin Chu was leaving, not only did Great Ape King host a farewell banquet for Qin Chu, but King Azure also came out of seclusion. Although he was in seclusion, he knew the situation in Sword North Forest. Qin Chu had brought a large amount of resources and changes to Sword North Forest. As the King of Sword North Forest, he acknowledged the favor.
"Qin Chu, I have nothing to say. I, Great Ape King, consider you one of our own. Sword North Forest is your home; come back anytime," Great Ape King said to Qin Chu, raising a wine cup the size of a human head.
"Qin Chu has noted it. Thank you for taking care of Qin Chu during this time, and thank you, both Seniors, for your help to Qin Chu," Qin Chu stood up, raised the wine cup in front of him, and drank it all.
King Azure nodded at Qin Chu, "This King has nothing to say. You can come anytime."
Qin Chu cupped his hands at Great Ape King, King Azure, and the other high-ranking members of Sword North Forest, "I'll visit often in the future. I'm leaving!"
After taking a few steps, Qin Chu turned back, picked up the human-head-sized wine cup in front of him, and put it into his Storage Ring. "I need to get used to large wine cups, otherwise, when I come back later, I won't be accustomed to them."
Qin Chu left. After Qin Chu had been gone for a while, Great Ape King slammed the table, "The Jadeite Cup... Qin Chu took this King's Jadeite Cup!"
"Big Brother, he's already far away, should we chase him back?" Zihuan laughed. She knew Great Ape King especially loved his Jadeite Cups. There were four Jadeite Cups in total. This time, Great Ape King, King Azure, and she used three, and Qin Chu used the other one. Now, Qin Chu had taken it with him.
"Forget it, if he likes it, he can take it. It's enough for the three of us to still have some. You all can take the ones in front of you, one for each!" With Qin Chu taking one, the set of Jadeite Cups was incomplete, so Great Ape King simply gave away the remaining two.
Leaving Sword North Forest, Qin Chu headed straight for Sky Sword City. After a year, he could Cultivate Sword Intent again.
By the third month of staying in Sword North Forest, Qin Chu's Body Cultivator cultivation had reached the Late Stage of Heavenly Yuan Realm, which could support the release of Level Seven Sword Intent. When he returned to Sky Sword Mountain, he could Cultivate Sword Intent in the Level Seven Sword Intent area.
Although he hadn't reached the King Realm, Qin Chu was full of ambition.
Halfway through his journey, Qin Chu spotted a beast-drawn carriage, which was transporting Loose Cultivators who had collected Spirit Medicine. Qin Chu stopped it and got on, continuing his journey towards Sky Sword City.
In Sky Sword City, at the outpost of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan, Qin Lingxi and Qingyi were talking.
"I haven't seen Qin Chu in a year. I wonder how he's doing now. I miss him a bit," Qingyi said.
"He's been quiet for a year. Too many things happened in the past, and he was too tired. He deserved a rest, but he should be back soon," Qin Lingxi said.
The silhouette of Sky Sword City appeared in his sight, and Qin Chu smiled. A year ago, when he was being pursued by Qi Qingqing, how much he wanted to return to Sky Sword City! But he just couldn't, and was forced to retreat to Sword North Forest. Now, Qin Chu was back.
Entering Sky Sword City, Qin Chu paid the beast-drawn carriage and went directly to the outpost of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan.
Standing in front of the main gate of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan's outpost, Qin Chu shouted loudly, "I'm back!"
Qin Lingxi and Qingyi appeared. Qin Lingxi hugged Qin Chu, "Now that you're back, stay steady. You scared Auntie last time."
Qin Chu patted Qin Lingxi's arm, "Auntie, don't worry, your nephew remembers. Uncle Qingyi is here!"
"You're here. Heavenly Yuan Realm Level Nine. It seems you haven't been idle this year either. Very good!" Qingyi nodded at Qin Chu.
After gathering with Qin Lingxi and Qingyi, Qin Chu came to the Azure Dragon Castle.
In Azure Dragon Castle, Qin Chu met Shang Shuyu and Granny Yu.
"Qin Chu, you're back, that's wonderful!" Seeing Qin Chu, Shang Shuyu was very happy.
Qin Chu glanced at Granny Yu, then simply held Shang Shuyu's hand, without embracing her.
"Qin Chu, there's no news at all about that Qi Qingqing," Shang Shuyu said.
"No news... that shouldn't be. I'm certain she won't let me go. I need to quickly Cultivate to the King Realm. If I can't fly, I'll just be passively taking hits," Qin Chu said.