Qian Duoduo turned around and saw Yu Yixiang standing behind him, smiling.
They had been so engrossed in their grand visions, gesturing wildly towards the manor, that they hadn't noticed when she arrived.
She was still dressed in a simple blue robe, and her face, no longer haggard, had regained its radiance, though her exquisitely beautiful features lacked their usual cold arrogance.
“Dan artifact equipment?” Qian Duoduo had never heard this term before. Liu Boli and Wang Shuhuo hadn't mentioned it to him either.
Yu Yixiang took out an Magic Treasure and handed it to Qian Duoduo.
At the top of the Magic Treasure were three large characters: “Soaring Overlord.” Below them were drawings of three Magic Treasures: the golden ox saddle, the golden ox horn, and the golden ox spear.
The golden ox saddle, a high-grade artisan artifact, was fixed onto the Golden Ox’s body, protecting its vulnerable underbelly. It had stirrups on both sides for the rider to steady themselves and control the Golden Ox, achieving a unity of rider and beast.
The golden ox horn, a high-grade artisan artifact, was one and a half feet long and fitted onto the Golden Ox’s horns, serving as the Golden Ox’s offensive weapon.
The golden ox spear, a high-grade artisan artifact, came in a set of three, each six feet long with a three-sided blade. It served as both the Golden Ox rider’s weapon and could be thrown remotely. It could also be fixed to the Golden Ox’s saddle for charging and breaking through defenses.
When the golden ox saddle, golden ox horn, and golden ox spear were combined, they formed a set that was upgraded to a mid-grade Dan artifact.
Of course, the requirements for equipping this “Soaring Overlord” were not low; it required a battle-beast level Golden Ox, and the rider’s cultivation had to be at least the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation.
However, a Golden Ox and rider equipped with it could contend with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If the rider was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they could even challenge a Golden Core cultivator across cultivation levels.
“Soaring Overlord, truly domineering! This Magic Treasure is precious!” Qian Duoduo exclaimed in admiration. This combination of Magic Treasures gave him great inspiration. A good combination could bring about a qualitative leap.
“It’s for you, but there’s a small condition,” Yu Yixiang said, running her left hand through her long hair.
Wang Meiruo rushed forward, standing in the middle to separate Qian Duoduo and Yu Yixiang. “Just give it to him, don’t add conditions. That’s insincere.”
Yu Yixiang looked at her not-quite-wiped-clean red lips and smiled slightly, as if looking at a child. “Without conditions, it wouldn’t be precious.”
“Hmph. Senior Sister is just scheming, her heart isn’t sincere.” Wang Meiruo tilted her head, full of hostility, enunciating the word “scheming” very clearly.
“What condition?” This Magic Treasure made Qian Duoduo envision a Golden Ox special forces unit, holding golden ox spears, riding sturdy Golden Oxen with horns and hooves, charging in formation, scattering enemies and making them cry for their parents.
Whatever condition Yu Yixiang set, as long as he could meet it, Qian Duoduo would agree.
“When you have time, teach me Artifact Refining.” Yu Yixiang smiled lightly and turned to leave.
Qian Duoduo quickly called out to her, “No, no, this Magic Treasure is truly precious, worth even a fourth-grade item. My teaching you Artifact Refining isn’t worth that much. I’ll buy it with money, or exchange it for Magic Treasures.”
Yu Yixiang’s long hair swayed slightly as she thought for a moment. “I’m not short on money, just refine a Magic Treasure for me.”
“Alright. What kind of Magic Treasure do you want, and how many?” Qian Duoduo breathed a sigh of relief. He had some confidence in Artifact Refining; if one didn't work, he'd refine ten.
“I only want one, the kind that can be used every day. And,” Yu Yixiang turned around and walked down the mountain, “a Magic Treasure that only I can possess.”
As her long hair swayed, Yu Yixiang gradually moved further away. Faintly, he could hear her humming a song. The lyrics were unclear, but it sounded beautiful.
“Hey.” Qian Duoduo received a punch to his waist from Wang Meiruo. “You can’t even see her anymore, and you’re still staring? This Senior Sister is quite alluring, and my silly brother is enchanted by her—what kind of Magic Treasure does she want? So mysterious, and to be used every day?”
Her punch was sudden and strong. Qian Duoduo gave a wry smile. “I don’t know what kind of Magic Treasure it is either. She must have spoken in a riddle; I have to guess.”
“Guess? Why guess? She’s full of cunning thoughts, it’s clearly not a good idea, unlike me, I say whatever I think and never hide anything. Brother Bu Huan, you should ignore her in the future, she’s dangerous…”
Qian Duoduo didn't know why Wang Meiruo had such strong feelings against Yu Yixiang. She stayed by Qian Duoduo's side, helping to plant spirit bamboo and enclose the Golden Bull Garden, spending the entire morning at the manor, and the entire morning speaking ill of Yu Yixiang.
In her eyes, every strand of Yu Yixiang’s hair carried Demonic Qi.
However, no matter what she said, Qian Duoduo felt that it wasn't Demonic Qi, but Immortal Qi—Immortal Qi that could withstand the test of life and death without changing.
Wang Meiruo’s words were just a child’s tantrum, just like how he himself used to be unable to stand Yu Yixiang; no matter what she said or did, it was arrogance, it was wildness.
As the sun just began to set in the west, Wu Binghuo ran over. “Senior Brother Jin, Family Head Jin is requesting an audience outside the mountain gate.”
Qian Duoduo immediately thought that they had come to plead for Jin Buque. According to the Sect Leader’s handling, Elder Bi of the Protectorate should have already locked him in the Jail by now.
“I won’t see them,” Qian Duoduo refused. From beginning to end, Jin Yongqiang had been calculating against Qian Duoduo. First playing the emotional card, then the power card, then the family card, trying to firmly bind Qian Duoduo, this Purple-Gold Disciple, to the Jin Family’s chariot.
But he had never considered that everything the Jin Family had done to Jin Buhuan was not an act of kindness, but rather endless suppression.
A short while later, Wu Binghuo came again. “Family Head Jin and seven Elders have all arrived. They are standing outside the mountain gate, shouting loudly to request an audience with Purple-Gold Disciple Jin Buhuan.”
“Ignore them.” The anger in Qian Duoduo’s heart flared up: You request an audience, why should I necessarily see you? And shouting loudly, trying to stir up public opinion?
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Wu Binghuo rushed back. “Senior Brother, this is bad. They’ve knelt outside the mountain gate, saying they won’t get up until they see you. Dozens of people are already gathered, watching.”
Qian Duoduo sneered, throwing away the spirit bamboo in his hand. “Let them kneel. What does their willingness to kneel have to do with me?”
“Senior Brother, please don’t take offense, but they are your Elders after all. If this continues, it will be bad for Senior Brother’s reputation, as if Senior Brother did something to wrong them,” Wu Binghuo advised softly. “Already, many Cultivators from other Immortal Mountains are asking me if Senior Brother, since becoming a Purple-Gold Disciple, has disowned the Jin Family ancestors…”
Qian Duoduo calmed down. He couldn’t let the infamous reputation of forgetting one’s roots fall upon Jin Buhuan, even if it meant bearing it himself. If he ignored them, the Jin Family would gain the moral high ground.
The Jin Family seeking him had two main objectives: first, to save Jin Buque, either to prevent him from being punished or to lighten his punishment; second, to make him, the Purple-Gold Disciple, acknowledge his Jin Family Bloodline, become a Grand Elder or Young Clan Chief within the Family, and indirectly save Jin Buque while allowing the Jin Family to enjoy the benefits of a Purple-Gold Disciple.
For the first objective, he could push it onto the Sect Leader, and they would have no recourse.
For the second objective, he just needed to crush their hopes, and they would no longer bother him.
The reason they kept bothering him was that he hadn't cut ties harshly enough, or clearly enough.
If this were Jin Buhuan, he would probably have to endure it.
But he was Qian Duoduo, and he couldn't endure it.
Just then, Qian Duoduo’s Jade Slip rang. It was Elder Bi’s aged voice: “During this special period, the Sect Leader has issued a warning order. Regarding the Jin Family matter at the mountain gate, I can intervene, Bu Huan, do you need me to?”