Chapter 186: The Fiends Agree, Entering Qingzhou City

Hearing Tao Tianyuan speak like this, Qin Xiao roughly understood.

He had never planned to establish a sect in the cultivation world anyway, and he held no particular fondness for the cultivation world either, so that option was immediately cast aside.

As for the secular world, Qin Xiao had a plan. He was now a hidden agent under the Governor-General. He had no idea what task they might need him for, but right now, they needed to help him first.

With the Governor-General as his backer, applying for a Third-Level Force shouldn’t be too difficult.

“I hadn’t considered the issues Senior mentioned. First of all, I certainly won’t establish any force within the cultivation world; my priority lies with the secular world,” Qin Xiao said with a nod.

“Have you forgotten, kid? You just killed a Heavenly Dynasty official. You still expect them to approve your application?” Li Wuyang said incredulously.

“Don’t worry about that, Seniors. I have my own ways. As long as the two of you agree to join, that’s all that matters.”

Naturally, Qin Xiao couldn’t reveal his methods; that was his secret. He could only leave it at that for now.

“Oh? You still have a way? Then I’m curious. Very well, I agree. If you truly manage to secure the application, my wife and I will join your faction.”

Seeing Qin Xiao’s absolute confidence, Tao Tianyuan grew intrigued. He wanted to see just where this young man’s assurance came from.

“Since my husband agrees, I naturally agree as well. But we’ve eaten our fill, so let’s discuss the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit. With it, my husband and I can break through to the late Body Integration stage. If you succeed, having two late Body Integration cultivators by your side will certainly benefit you.” Li Wuyang was as straightforward as ever; since the meal was over, it was time to talk terms.

“Quite right, Senior. Consider these two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits a deposit from me.”

Seeing them respond this way, Qin Xiao wasted no more words. He produced two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits and handed them over.

“Deposit? What do you mean?” Li Wuyang asked, bewildered.

“It means they are yours. Whether I succeed or fail in the end, these two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits belong to you. If I am fortunate enough to succeed, I’m simply counting on the two Seniors to lend a hand.”

Qin Xiao spoke with genuine generosity.

Saint Origin Spirit Fruits were treasures to others, but he had plenty. If two could earn him the goodwill of two Body Integration cultivators, he could hardly lose.

“That won’t do. We must still pay you in Spirit Stones; we cannot take advantage of you.”

Tao Tianyuan disagreed. He admired Qin Xiao, but it was better not to owe favors, especially when they could afford to pay.

“My husband is right. We won’t take advantage of you. Business is business. If you truly succeed in your application, we won’t go back on our word and will join your faction all the same.” You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.

Knowing the weight of such matters, Li Wuyang quickly added her agreement.

“Seniors, you really have misunderstood. Keep your Spirit Stones for now, and let us wait until I have applied. If I succeed, you will be part of my faction, and the fruits will be a welcoming gift. If I fail, you can pay for them then. That will be an ordinary purchase, with no favor owed.”

Qin Xiao had never seen anyone refuse a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit he offered. Even a free gift could be turned down? Then he thought perhaps they had misunderstood and taken it for an attempt to make them owe him, so he hurried to explain.

“Since you insist, we won’t stand on ceremony. If you fail, we’ll pay you the Spirit Stones then.”

Though Tao Tianyuan still wondered where Qin Xiao found such confidence, his reasoning made sense. If he succeeded, they would be joining his force, making the gift entirely natural without any lingering debt of favor. If he failed, a straightforward purchase would keep things clear.

With that, Tao Tianyuan accepted the two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits.

“Since we have our fruits, we won’t travel further with you. We must enter secluded cultivation to break through. Rest assured, once we succeed, we will come looking for you.”

Having settled the matter, Tao Tianyuan rose without further delay.

“Of course. Go and cultivate, Seniors. I will see you off.”

Knowing the business was concluded, Qin Xiao stood up to see them off with due courtesy.

Shortly after, the Heaven and Earth Fiends departed.

After tidying up the stone pavilion, Qin Xiao prepared to resume his journey.

Yun Man flew them on her sword again. Catching a ride was far more comfortable than flying himself, and Qin Xiao had now grown used to it. He no longer felt dizzy on a flying sword.

“Qin Xiao, you certainly throw money around. Two Saint Origin Spirit Fruits, handed over just like that! Back when I asked you for just one as an intermediary fee, you acted like I was cutting flesh from your bones. Aren’t you just being a sycophant? You only flatter people when their cultivation is high.”

Ling Ruoxue complained with mild displeasure.

“Oh, come on! That was then, and this is now. Back then I didn’t have that many, did I? I’ve replenished my stock from Spirit Medicine Valley now. Here, take one yourself. Satisfied?”

With that, Qin Xiao produced another Saint Origin Spirit Fruit and handed it to Ling Ruoxue.

After all, she had saved his life this time; not giving her one would be unreasonable.

“You’re really giving it to me?”

Ling Ruoxue had only intended to vent, never expecting Qin Xiao to actually hand her one.

“Of course. Without you, my profiteering go-between, I never would have found so many helpers. You earned this.” This chapter is updated first at novelping(.)com.

Though Qin Xiao still harbored a slight grievance over her profiteering ways, he couldn’t deny how much he had relied on her.

“Since you put it so nicely, this young lady will reluctantly accept it.”

Ling Ruoxue took the Saint Origin Spirit Fruit and put it straight into her Storage Bag, still keeping up her proud pretense: he had insisted on giving it to her; she had not asked for it.

Qin Xiao gave it little more thought, his mind already turning to how he would face President Ling and what to say so as not to lose face.

Yun Man’s sword-flight technique had improved considerably, and they reached Qingzhou City before dark.

It was called a city, but its size was absurd. Even from the air, they could not see all of it. Countless cities of different sizes stood across the area.

“Impressive, isn’t it? And this is only Qingzhou City. Wait until you see the Imperial Capital.”

Noticing Qin Xiao’s rustic expression, Ling Ruoxue couldn’t resist teasing him.

“It really is impressive. They call it one city, but it looks more like a whole group of cities. Are all these cities, large and small, part of Qingzhou City?”

The outer zone of Qingzhou City lacked a perimeter wall; walls only began at the middle zone. Thus, the clustered townships Qin Xiao saw first were part of the outer expanse.

“Yes. This is Qingzhou City’s outer area, where factions have their branches or headquarters. Their bases gradually grew into little cities, and Qingzhou City did not interfere. Afterward, everyone began building their bases that way.”

Ling Ruoxue offered a brief explanation.

The outer area contained smaller factions, mostly fourth- and fifth-level ones. More numerous still were local families, who had built up their own territories to make them look grander and display their strength.

Strictly speaking, the middle area was Qingzhou City proper, with actual city walls. But its land was limited and could not expand. Even if expansion were possible, ordinary people could not afford to buy land there.

The middle area held the real centers of the families and factions. The outside was for appearances; the inside was where their strength lay.

“Then where is the Immortal Dao Merchant Association’s Qingzhou headquarters?” Qin Xiao asked curiously.

“In the central inner area, close to the Governor-General’s office,” Ling Ruoxue replied with a little pride.

Under Ling Ruoxue’s guidance, Qin Xiao flew directly to the middle area’s city gate. After a token was presented, the three of them formally entered Qingzhou City.