Chapter 185: Meeting the Two Fiends, a Recruitment Offer

Not long after leaving the city, Qin Xiao and his group encountered two familiar people.

It was the husband-and-wife duo, the Heaven and Earth Fiends.

“Greetings, Seniors. What a coincidence. I never expected to run into you two here.”

Qin Xiao was surprised at first, then hurried forward to greet them.

Weren’t these two supposed to be entering secluded cultivation once again? Why were they here?

“What coincidence? We were waiting here precisely for you.”

Li Wuyang was straightforward and stated their purpose directly.

“Waiting for me? Senior, if you have something to say, just speak your mind. If this junior can be of any help, I certainly won’t refuse.”

Sensing that they undoubtedly needed something from him, Qin Xiao readily assured them there was no problem.

“Qin Xiao, it is like this. My wife and I only emerged from seclusion two days ago when we received Miss Ling’s request, so we came to assist. Because of Chen Shunyi’s affair, we had intended to continue our seclusion to break through to the late Body Integration stage, but later we learned that you had recently left Spirit Medicine Valley and very likely obtained Saint Origin Spirit Fruits.”

Tao Tianyuan was much more tactful. Instead of mentioning the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit outright, he skirted around the topic before finally bringing it up.

Hearing this, Qin Xiao understood. They were undoubtedly after the Saint Origin Spirit Fruits to aid their breakthrough.

“I trust your character, Seniors, and you really have helped me a great deal. I won’t hide it: I did get a few Saint Origin Spirit Fruits. If you need them, I can give you two.”

Qin Xiao spoke directly, figuring that since they had helped him, returning the favor was only natural.

“Qin Xiao, you misunderstand. We helped because you paid us Spirit Stones. We will not take your Saint Origin Spirit Fruits for free either. The market price is one billion apiece. We will pay you two billion for two.”

Tao Tianyuan had not expected Qin Xiao to be so generous as to offer them outright, but he decided against taking undue advantage. Items had their price, but human favors were priceless. Rather than accumulating a debt of gratitude, paying with Spirit Stones was far better.

Besides, Ling Ruoxue had already paid them three billion, enough to cover the price.

“How about this? If Seniors have no urgent matters, let us descend and discuss this in detail.”

Conversing mid-air felt rather awkward, and Qin Xiao had an idea forming in his mind, so he suggested landing.

“That is fine as well.”

Tao Tianyuan readily agreed. Having heard that Qin Xiao still possessed quite a few rare materials, he thought there might be other items worth acquiring.

Shortly after, the five of them descended beside a stone pavilion.

The roads to Qingzhou City were broad main routes, with places to rest at regular intervals. After all, most people in the secular world were still mortals.

Their flight path followed these major thoroughfares to ensure they would not lose their way.

The five entered the pavilion and took their seats. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.

Qin Xiao then produced the spiritual food he had purchased earlier and had Yun Man heat it up.

A moment later, the stone table was laden with a spread of exquisite spiritual food.

“Let us eat while we talk.”

Feeling somewhat hungry, Qin Xiao suggested starting with the meal.

His stomach no longer felt hunger, but the sight of spirit food still whetted his appetite.

“Wonderful! After being secluded for so long, I had almost forgotten what spiritual food tasted like.”

Before Tao Tianyuan could reply, Li Wuyang chimed in. Even though she was already at the late Body Integration stage, the spiritual food made her mouth water.

The five of them promptly dug in.

“Seniors, I wonder what plans you have for the future?”

Qin Xiao asked casually between bites.

“We are used to living freely, and plenty of people covet our cultivation methods. Perhaps after we reach Great Ascension, we will find somewhere to settle down. Or if we have no hope of another breakthrough, we might have a child or two and raise a family.”

Tao Tianyuan did not hide his thoughts. He liked Qin Xiao, and this was no secret, so he answered honestly.

“I think that sounds good. The cultivation world is full of fighting and killing. Finding a quiet place to live together, with the person you love, would be wonderful. What better life could you ask for?”

Qin Xiao felt a sudden surge of envy. Conflicts would always exist as long as this world endured.

For cultivators, a stable and tranquil life was a rare luxury indeed.

“You agree with my perspective?”

Tao Tianyuan was somewhat surprised. Most cultivators strove endlessly to climb the peaks, shatter shackles, and attain immortality; even when hope seemed lost, they stubbornly pressed toward that goal.

“Of course. Becoming an immortal or a god is such a distant dream. How many die trying, and how few succeed? To me, a simple, peaceful life is what really matters.”

Qin Xiao truly felt that way. Even with the resources his system produced, he had encountered countless dangers. He wanted to develop safely, but one thing after another kept pushing him onward. He could not stop, which was why he envied a peaceful life.

Though he always managed to turn danger into safety, who could say how long his good fortune would hold? Perhaps one day he would fall prematurely. The system did not grant him direct invincibility; it was merely a tool to achieve it, and the road to invincibility was arduous indeed.

“You truly are growing on me, kid. Come, let us share a cup.”

Delighted, Tao Tianyuan raised his cup.

“Cheers.” This chapter was taken from novelping . com without permission.

Qin Xiao raised his own cup in response.

After a few more rounds, Qin Xiao gathered his thoughts.

“Seniors, I have a proposal and would like to ask for your assistance. Rest assured, I will certainly treat you well.”

Qin Xiao laid out his intentions directly.

“Tell us. I knew you were up to something, treating us to food and offering spirit fruits.”

Tao Tianyuan was unsurprised by the request, nor did he feel any resentment.

“I want to build a faction of my own, and I would like you two to serve as its protectors. Name your terms, and I will do my best to meet them. If you ever want to retire into seclusion, you can leave freely. There will be no obligations binding us, and I won’t order you around.”

Qin Xiao trusted their character, so he would not ask them to sign a contract. He could also help them advance quickly. Once they broke through, the two late-stage Body Integration cultivators, with their unusual cultivation methods, would have nothing to fear even from a peak-stage Body Integration opponent. They could face any faction below Great Ascension without fear.

“Oh? Establish your own force? You certainly have a bold imagination, kid. An ordinary force would be simple enough, but the two of us are at the Body Integration stage. Are you planning to establish a force in the cultivation world or the secular world? Do you have any idea how many restrictions and requirements that entails?”

Tao Tianyuan did not immediately dismiss the idea, pointing out the inherent hurdles instead.

“Is there a difference?”

Qin Xiao looked slightly bewildered. Why would establishing a force involve restrictions and requirements?

“A faction with a Body Integration cultivator starts at the third level. In the cultivation world, it has the standing of a Third-Level Sect; in the secular world, it is a Third-Level Force. Wherever you establish it, it must pass review by the authorities. Only once it meets the requirements will it be recognized.”

Seeing that Qin Xiao really did not understand, Tao Tianyuan briefly explained.

“Is recognition that difficult?”

Qin Xiao had never considered such details. It seemed even the establishment of factions was monopolized, requiring formal applications and approvals.

“The cultivation world is relatively stable because all the First-Level Sects joined together to form the Cultivation Alliance. All factions at the third level or above in the cultivation world fall under its authority, to prevent conflicts between major powers.”

“The secular world is even simpler. The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty holds a complete monopoly over it, establishing an orderly structure. Alongside the dynasty’s official system, there are various secular factions, such as the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. The Rogue Cultivator Alliance originates from the cultivation world, but because its members operate within the secular realm, they remain subject to the dynasty’s governance.”

“The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty enforces strict rules upon these forces as well, for any sudden upheaval among them could inflict devastating losses upon the mortal realm.”

Tao Tianyuan patiently broke down the details for Qin Xiao.

He had once had the same idea. After being expelled from his sect, he had refused to accept it and wanted to found his own sect, one day surpassing his former sect and making them regret their decision. But because he was an expelled disciple, his proposal was rejected outright.

Later, when he studied secular factions, he discovered the administrative headaches were no less daunting than those in the cultivation world. Combined with the constant pursuit by the Tianyi Sect, he had ultimately abandoned the idea.