ragginovel Chapter 9 Making Friends and Chatting
Chapter 9 Making Friends and Chatting
Su Mixin's gaze first fell on Qi Yunxiao, and she said frankly, "The three of us are not from Yuanwu Kingdom. When we stayed in the market of Tianxing Sect, we happened to hear about Fellow Daoist Qi's reputation. There were rumors in the market that Fellow Daoist Qi's weapon refining skills were exquisite and unique, and he had a good reputation. I inquired repeatedly and learned that Fellow Daoist Qi was living in seclusion near Jinma City."
"I came here specifically because of its reputation, hoping to find an opportunity to visit and learn from it. I never expected to meet you here by chance. It's truly a fortunate thing."
He deliberately omitted the "Divine Weapon Sect" and "ancestral heritage," only mentioning the reputation in the market, which both fit his account of Lu Xin and Li Chongyue and avoided rashly touching on their secrets.
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao showed no joy on his face. Instead, his pupils contracted slightly, and his expression became more flustered and wary.
His ancestors were elders of the Divine Weapon Sect. The weapon-refining technique was secretly passed down by his ancestors before their death. The Divine Weapon Sect has strict rules, and passing on the technique privately is a violation of the law.
Over the years, his family had always been cautious, and he was merely a collateral branch of this ordinary small family, even having been expelled from the household and forced to fend for himself. He only dared to take on odd jobs in private, and in the market he only had a vague reputation as a "skilled craftsman," with no one knowing his lineage or origins.
Su Mixin was able to accurately find him by following his "reputation," which made him uneasy: Had the other party already noticed something more?
Qi Yunxiao suppressed his emotions, his fingertips trembling slightly as he cupped his hands in greeting. His tone grew increasingly cautious as he said, "Fellow Daoist Su, you flatter me. This junior only has a rudimentary understanding of weapon crafting and occasionally does odd jobs to make a living; it's nothing special. However, Fellow Daoist Su possesses an extraordinary bearing, and the two elders beside you also exude a composed aura. May I ask where you come from?"
His words were not unfounded. Most low-level cultivators only knew about the Yuanwu Kingdom and the major sects and local market forces. The three people in front of him came from another country and their temperament was far beyond that of ordinary cultivators, which made him curious and asked more questions.
Su Mixin smiled faintly on the surface, but in her heart she was thinking: Although the six demonic sects of Tianluo Kingdom are famous, the demonic invasion has not yet occurred, and more than a thousand years have passed since the six demonic sects withdrew their forces to Tianluo Kingdom. These three Qi Refining stage cultivators in front of her may not have heard of them.
Moreover, the reputation of the Demonic Path is not very good. Should we just introduce ourselves directly?
Unexpectedly, Li Chongyue couldn't help but speak first, "We come from Tianluo Kingdom."
His tone was quite arrogant.
Su Mixin couldn't help but inwardly rub her forehead. This old Li…
Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin's pupils both contracted. Neither of them were ordinary rogue cultivators. Although their cultivation was shallow, they had inherited knowledge from their ancestors and knew something about the infamous demonic path of Tianluo Kingdom.
The atmosphere instantly became visibly tense, heavy, and awkward.
Leaving aside the complex emotions in Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin's hearts.
Lu Xin silently sipped his spiritual tea and smiled faintly.
Su Mixin took the initiative to break the deadlock, saying, "Gentlemen, this teahouse is crowded and noisy, with ordinary people coming and going. It's not a place for conversation."
"Fellow Daoist Qi, it is indeed a bit presumptuous of us to ask if the three of us would have the honor of visiting your esteemed residence and exchanging ideas about your weapon-refining techniques."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao looked slightly troubled, torn between his inner conflict and indecision, but finally made up his mind.
He spoke with difficulty, saying, "It is an honor that you fellow Daoists have graced my humble abode with your presence. As for exchanging techniques on weapon crafting, my skill is too shallow to be of any use to you."
Xin Ruyin, who was standing to the side, was also in a dilemma. The three people opposite her introduced themselves as coming from Tianluo Kingdom, which was the stronghold of the demonic path.
The demonic path is rumored to be mysterious and unpredictable, and its people are known for their eccentric, even cruel and bloodthirsty, actions. It is unknown whether these three people have come with good or evil intentions.
Continuing to follow is fraught with unpredictable dangers.
Although she had only known Qi Yunxiao for a short time, they had a good relationship. Qi Yunxiao was also a kind, honest, and loyal man. It would be unjust for her to abandon him at this time.
Just as Xin Ruyin was struggling with her decision, Qi Yunxiao turned to look at her and said, "Miss Ruyin, these fellow Daoists are going to my home as guests. You have other matters to attend to at home, so why don't we part ways here today and contact each other again later?"
Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin felt a pang of unease and was about to speak when Su Mixin interrupted.
Just kidding, Xin Ruyin is Su Mixin's main target. Qi Yunxiao is just a dispensable entry point. We can't put the cart before the horse.
"Miss Xin, I happen to have something to discuss with you. If you have time, why don't we go together?"
Xin Ruyin was stunned. Was there something else about her?
However, since that was the case, she decided to comply and replied, "That's perfect, Xiaomei and I will go to Brother Qi's house together."
Qi Yunxiao was getting anxious: "Ruyin, you..."
Xin Ruyin turned her head and looked at him with a calm but firm expression. Qi Yunxiao was speechless for a moment and shut his mouth.
Su Mixin was speechless. Did they really think he was a vicious and hostile person?
But it was not appropriate to continue speaking at this point.
The group left the teahouse and headed towards the west gate of the small town.
The teahouse owner, surnamed Lin, had been keeping an eye on the situation. He put down his work, told the waiter, and hurriedly followed.
To the west of Jinma City lies a range of rolling hills, and Qi Yunxiao's residence is located in a depression between these hills not far away.
The scenery here is serene and tranquil, with a few houses with blue tiles and white bricks, and a few scattered bamboo groves, which is quite elegant. Living here gives one a sense of being a hermit.
Qi Yunxiao led everyone to this place, opened the array restrictions, and everyone filed in.
The house was simply furnished, consisting of a fire chamber, a meditation room, a living room, and three bedrooms.
The house was a bit cramped inside, but fortunately there was a courtyard in front of it with a slightly larger stone table.
Qi Yunxiao led the group, and they were able to sit down in a circle.
The servant surnamed Lin helped serve the spirit tea, and Xiao Mei, Xin Ruyin's maid, stepped forward to help fill everyone's cups.
At this moment, Su Mixin slowly spoke, asking first, "Fellow Daoist Qi, the array formation in this courtyard is full of hidden mysteries and profound secrets. May I ask which array master is behind it?"
He had already secretly guessed that this formation was most likely created by Xin Ruyin, and his deliberate question was intended to steer the conversation toward her.
Sure enough, before Qi Yunxiao could answer, Xin Ruyin spoke first, saying, "I am unworthy of the title of Master. I merely have some family-inherited array formations and have done some research on them."
Su Mixin feigned surprise, "The arrangement of this formation doesn't seem like something someone has studied. I'm surprised that Miss Xin, at such a young age, already possesses such expertise in formations. Forgive my poor eyesight."
Lu Xin and Li Chongyue, who were standing beside him, were also slightly surprised. This art of formations was the most profound and obscure among all the arts of cultivating immortality, and it was difficult to even begin to understand it.
As Golden Core cultivators, the two of them possessed powerful spiritual senses. The formation here held no mystery for them; in their view, it had no difficulty in resisting or blocking ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
For a young female cultivator who is still at the Qi Refining stage to be able to set up such an array demonstrates her extraordinary talent and profound knowledge in the art of array formations, which is extremely rare.
Upon hearing the praise, Xin Ruyin remained calm and composed, bowing her head humbly as she said, "It's just a minor trick, I really don't deserve such praise from you, fellow Daoist."
Su Mixin smiled faintly and shook her head, her fingertips tracing the rim of the cup. Her gaze fell on Qi Yunxiao, and she said in a humble tone, "I have heard that Fellow Daoist Qi has achieved considerable success in the art of weapon crafting, which I have always been quite interested in."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao raised his eyes and saw that the other party's expression was sincere and showed no contempt. He then cupped his hands and replied, "Fellow Daoist Su is too kind. It's just a skill I dabbled in when I had nothing else to do. It's nothing to speak of."
"To have customers in the market actively spread your name is already an achievement."
Su Mixin then changed the subject, "Would I have the honor of seeing some of the finished magical artifacts you've personally crafted? It would broaden my horizons."
Qi Yunxiao laughed heartily: "Fellow Daoist Su, you're too kind. These are just some rudimentary things, not worth mentioning."
After saying that, he reached into his storage bag and took out a long sword-shaped magical weapon.
The longsword was entirely black iron-colored, without any complicated patterns. Only the blade gleamed with a faint cold light, and the hilt was wrapped in the hide of a low-level demon beast, exuding a sense of practical simplicity.
Qi Yunxiao handed over the long sword: "This is something I just forged recently. The materials are ordinary, just some common black-patterned iron and cloud sand. Fellow Daoist Su, please take a look."
Su Mixin took it with both hands, and with her fingertips she condensed a wisp of spiritual energy and probed into the blade. There was no resistance at all; it was clearly a top-tier ordinary-level attack magic weapon.
Black-veined iron is a relatively common material for refining weapons, and cloud sand is even more common. It is already difficult for ordinary weapon refiners to use it to refine high-level magical artifacts.
After completing the investigation, Su Mixin handed the longsword back, her eyes filled with even greater admiration: "Fellow Daoist Qi is too modest."
"Although this long sword magic weapon is made of ordinary materials, it has been refined to the level of a top-tier ordinary magic weapon. This level alone is already a masterpiece of craftsmanship."
He paused, then added, "Moreover, Fellow Daoist Qi is only at the Qi Refining stage now, yet he possesses such skill in weapon crafting, which is truly remarkable. His future is limitless."
Upon hearing the praise, Qi Yunxiao blushed slightly and became somewhat embarrassed. He was at a loss for words and simply shook his head and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
Su Mixin had some understanding of Qi Yunxiao's weapon-refining skills, so she stopped pressing the matter.
Now it's time to get down to business.
He turned to Xin Ruyin and then got straight to the point: "Let's set aside Fellow Daoist Qi's matter for now. Miss Xin, do you know why I just summoned you here?"
Xin Ruyin shook her head. "I wonder, what advice does Fellow Daoist Su have for me?"
Su Mixin didn't keep them in suspense and said, "Judging from Miss Xin's behavior, I'm afraid she's not feeling well?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao, who was standing nearby, couldn't sit still any longer and hurriedly asked, "Is Miss Ruyin unwell? What... what exactly happened?"
Xin Ruyin looked up at Su Mixin with a blank expression and asked, "Fellow Daoist Su, have you figured it out?"
Su Mixin replied, "The young lady's body is faintly radiating heat, her face is pale, and her breathing is slightly weak. She doesn't seem to be in good health."
After saying that, he turned to Lu Xin with a smile and said, "Old Lu, why don't you lend a hand and take a look?"
He then turned to Xin Ruyin with a smile, "May I be so kind as to allow this elder beside me to take her pulse?"
Before Xin Ruyin could answer, Lu Xin interjected, "I have wasted hundreds of years of my life, but I still have some knowledge. Young friend, you can rest assured and let me investigate your background."
After speaking, he no longer concealed his aura, and the pressure of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator rippled through the secluded courtyard.
The next moment, Xin Ruyin, Qi Yunxiao, Xiao Mei, and the servant surnamed Lin all changed their expressions drastically, their hearts trembled, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from their backs.
The group stood up, about to bow in greeting.
Su Mixin shook her head, and she and Li Chongyue no longer concealed their presence.
The two fully revealed their cultivation levels.
Xin Ruyin and Qi Yunxiao immediately bowed, not daring to raise their heads, and respectfully clasped their hands in greeting, saying with trepidation, "Greetings, three seniors!"
Lu Xin raised his hand in a gesture of urging the two to stand up, his expression calm and gentle: "No need for formalities, please sit down."
After everyone was seated again, Lu Xin looked at Xin Ruyin and said slowly, "Young friend, just extend your hand, and I will examine your spiritual veins and blood."
Xin Ruyin had already cleared her mind of all distractions and dared not be negligent in the slightest, obediently extending her fair wrist.
Lu Xin lightly placed his fingertips on the spiritual veins on her wrist, his eyes slightly closed, and his divine sense quietly probed into her body.
After a moment, Lu Xin slowly withdrew his finger, opened his eyes, his expression showing a mixture of understanding and amazement, and nodded slightly without saying a word.
Qi Yunxiao, watching from the side, was extremely anxious. He quickly cupped his hands and asked, "Senior, what exactly is Miss Ruyin's hidden ailment? Is there any way to cure it?"
Xin Ruyin was also filled with trepidation, quietly waiting for what would follow.
Lu Xin did not answer immediately, but turned to look at Su Mixin and gave her a slight nod.
Su Mixin asked, "Has Elder Lu discovered anything?"
Lu Xin shook his head slightly. "Young Master, after careful observation with my divine sense, I found that there are wisps of scorching energy coursing through the spiritual energy in this young friend's meridians, burning the inner walls of the meridians. This scorching energy is not rootless; rather, it seems to come from her innate foundation."
"The more diligently one cultivates, the higher one's cultivation level, and the stronger the spiritual power within one's meridians, the greater the damage to those meridians, which will gradually wither away."
"I suspect this is likely due to some kind of special constitution, but I've never heard of anything specific about it."
Su Mixin finally revealed the answer: "I found a certain spiritual entity in the sect's records that matches this situation."
He looked at Xin Ruyin and said, "This should be the 'Dragon's Roar Body,' a kind of latent spiritual body that cannot be detected at birth but will gradually manifest as one grows older."
"This kind of spirit will continuously generate innate yang energy. If a man obtains this, he will be far superior to those with the 'Three Yang Body' or similar qualities. If he also has spiritual roots with yang attributes such as fire, metal, and thunder, his path of cultivation will be as if aided by heaven."
"However, if this male-specific spirit is mistakenly born into a female body, the trouble will be much greater. The innate scorching yang energy will be unrestrained and unusable, and will continue to accumulate, conflicting with the woman's yin meridians, causing an imbalance of yin and yang."
"If you force yourself to cultivate, your meridians will gradually shrink, and the shrinkage will become faster and faster, and your lifespan will also be shortened."
"Given Miss Xin's condition, if she continues her cultivation, she probably won't live for many more years!"