Chapter 33: Harvest and Summary
On another battlefield, the fight was nearing its end.
Shen Yunjiao was as light as a swallow. The longsword in her hand unleashed a fiery blade light as her speed suddenly exploded. She became a blur, moving at an incredible pace. Her blade’s edge, like a bolt of highly compressed silver energy, carved out a semicircular Blade Gang, instantly decapitating two people.
That final attack proved that Shen Yunjiao had no hidden injuries. Otherwise, it would never have been so clean and decisive. Her technique and Mana were in perfect sync, yet it also somewhat resembled a Mortal’s Sword Move.
Shen Yunjiao spent less than half a minute collecting the spoils of war before walking up to Zhao Zuo.
"Let’s go, Taoist Friend Zhao."
"Alright," Zhao Zuo nodded in response.
Shen Yunjiao didn’t ask Zhao Zuo why he hadn’t chosen to leave, and Zhao Zuo didn’t ask why she had unleashed an attack far more powerful than usual at the last moment. But it was undeniable that after weathering this crisis together, the seeds of friendship had finally begun to sprout between them.
After closing the door, Zhao Zuo walked woodenly into his bedroom and sat on the plank bed. With no one else around, he no longer had to pretend to be calm and took several deep, gasping breaths.
Before the battle began, he had hesitated for a moment, debating whether to leave or stay.
He hadn’t left because he didn’t want to regret it later. He had promised not to abandon her and that they would help each other. Since he had made that promise in earnest, he had to do everything in his power to keep it.
Achieving Longevity and Vision and becoming an Immortal was his goal, but Zhao Zuo didn’t want to lose his humanity in pursuit of it. He wanted to ascend to immortality as a man, not just become an Immortal named Zhao Zuo.
It was a greedy thought, one that doomed his future path to be difficult and arduous.
As Zhao Zuo’s breathing steadied, he found he didn’t regret his decision to stay and fight. This only strengthened his resolve... When he had to grovel to survive, he would bow and scrape before the powerful, even sacrificing a measure of his dignity. Yet, when it came to keeping his word, he could also cast aside thoughts of life and death for a fight.
There was no contradiction in this; the only difference was whether it was what his heart truly desired.
The MVP of today’s battle was undoubtedly the Sky-Breaking Saber. Its power, slightly surpassing that of a Middle Grade Magical Artifact, was what allowed him to pierce the enemy’s defense in a single strike and finish off the masked brute in under five seconds.
Second was his Body Refining Technique. The masked woman used a Light Body Talisman to escape and was already moving quickly, yet Zhao Zuo, relying on his formidable physique, managed to keep pace. He then used the Sky-Breaking Saber to slow her escape, and upon catching her, immediately used his sword-shaped Magical Artifact to land the finishing blow.
If there was a weakness, it was that he’d been a bit too reckless. He could have been injured if his two opponents had possessed any unexpected trump cards. But this was how most Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators fought; after all, they had to get close to retrieve their Magical Artifacts before they could attack again.
In truth, there was another combat style available at the Qi Cultivation Stage—Magic Skills. However, the number of Magic Skills one could master at this stage was quite limited, and they required extensive practice. In terms of practical effect, they were less direct and effective than the combination of Magical Artifacts and Talismans.
Furthermore, the strength of his Soul allowed him to seize fleeting opportunities.
Overall, today’s battle proved that Zhao Zuo’s development strategy was sound: using Magical Artifacts as his combat core, supplemented by his Body Refining Technique. Therefore, his next primary goal was to upgrade the Sky-Breaking Saber.
He could complete the upgrade by late November.
Zhao Zuo first went to the backyard and drew a bucket of cold water from the well. He scrubbed himself down thoroughly, then drank two large gulps of cool, boiled water before returning to his bedroom to organize his loot.
His haul this time included two Magical Artifacts, a dozen or so Talismans, and several Spirit Stones.
He would upgrade the Magical Artifacts before selling them, and he could keep the Talismans for his own use.
In total, Zhao Zuo had obtained items worth around thirty-five Spirit Stones, all from a battle that lasted a mere thirty seconds. No wonder so many people were willing to take such risks; it was an incredibly fast way to earn Spirit Stones.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
"Taoist Friend Zhao, are you home?" Shen Yunjiao’s voice suddenly called from outside.
"Yes, I am!"
Though puzzled as to why Shen Yunjiao was visiting at this hour, Zhao Zuo immediately opened the door to let her in.
Although the house was over one hundred square meters, a large portion of it was designated for storage. Factoring in the kitchen and hallway, only the bedroom was left... There was no proper space to receive a guest.
Zhao Zuo had no choice but to lead Shen Yunjiao into the bedroom, and he spoke apologetically as he did.
"Taoist Friend Shen, I’m so sorry. I haven’t had a chance to clean up yet."
"It’s fine," Shen Yunjiao said, her eyes glancing at a dusty wooden chair, showing no inclination to sit. Standing in the middle of the bedroom, she continued, "I found two Purifying Spirit Pills on those two. I’ve already tested them. Four Spirit Stones each... interested?"
"I’ll take them." Zhao Zuo wasn’t one to turn down a good deal that came knocking. He took out eight Spirit Stones and handed them to Shen Yunjiao.
"Good. The deal is done."
After the transaction was complete, Shen Yunjiao didn’t leave. Instead, she just looked at Zhao Zuo thoughtfully.
"Taoist Friend Zhao, I have a question, if you’d be willing to answer it," Shen Yunjiao asked.
"Feel free to ask."
"When we were ambushed today, why didn’t you leave?" Shen Yunjiao asked, her curiosity piqued.
’Over the years, many people have tried to get close to me. Most of them were just after my body. Of course, some seemed to genuinely want to be friends at first, but we usually ended up as enemies after a conflict of interest.’
’Today’s situation was more or less part of my plan, but for Zhao Zuo, it was a genuine life-or-death crisis.’
That’s why she was so curious.
"I gave you my word," Zhao Zuo replied.
’It really wasn’t that complicated. I was just keeping my promise.’
"That’s it?" Doubt flickered in Shen Yunjiao’s eyes.
She had considered many possibilities, even concocting sinister motives for his actions. But now, facing his clear, sincere eyes, Shen Yunjiao suddenly felt her defenses crumble. A sense of shame welled up from deep within her, and her face flushed a deeper shade of red.
"That’s all there is to it," Zhao Zuo said. His voice was soft, but it carried an unshakeable conviction.
"Mm... okay." Shen Yunjiao’s voice suddenly grew quiet. A warmth seemed to spread through her heart, but just as quickly... her gaze became firm once more. She didn’t dare press him further, because it felt like a question destined to have no answer.
"Weren’t you afraid I’d abandon you and run off by myself?" Shen Yunjiao asked again.
"I was."
"And yet you still didn’t consider leaving."
"I made a promise. And I trusted you," Zhao Zuo replied earnestly.
"You’re a good person, you know. But I only make friends with people who can help me earn Spirit Stones."
Shen Yunjiao said with a grin, then waved her slender, elegant fingers, signaling that he needn’t see her out.
Before leaving, she left the Demon Beast meat Zhao Zuo had ordered. He hefted the package and realized she had given him an extra five pounds, which didn’t quite fit her money-grubbing personality.
Though she was gone, a faint floral fragrance lingered in the air.
Zhao Zuo casually used a Cleaning Talisman, and both the floral fragrance and the dust vanished. Gazing at the now spotless bedroom, he suddenly remembered he’d forgotten to use one when Shen Yunjiao had been visiting.
Zhao Zuo had sensed that brief shift in Shen Yunjiao’s emotions, but it only made him a little curious. ’Everyone has stories they’d rather not tell,’ he thought. ’No need to pry.’
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