363: Chapter 363 Arrival at the Vermilion Bird Empire

"Of course, the key to the Azure Dragon Vault," the woman said.

"We don't have that."

Old Wu spread his hands; he hadn't found any tasks related to keys. For miscellaneous items like that, equipment was rarely forged.

"How could you not have it?" the woman rebuked.

Old Wu frowned. "Watch your tone. If Old Zhao hadn't brought you here, you wouldn't even have made it through this door."

Min Huaixun said helplessly, "Envoy Jiang Hong, don't be anxious. I'll handle the communication."

"Section Chief Wu, could you please check again carefully?"

"I've checked. There's no key. It's a miscellaneous item, and there are no tasks scheduled for it. Or do you have a blueprint number? I'll check again."

Min Huaixun looked at Section Chief Zhao.

Section Chief Zhao shook his head repeatedly. "I don't know either. Like I said, I'm only responsible for receiving you; other departments handle these matters."

Min Huaixun sighed inwardly. He knew perfectly well now that this was clearly intentional.

"Section Chief Wu, we don't know the blueprint number either," Min Huaixun said.

Old Wu said, "Then I'm powerless. As the saying goes, one cannot make bricks without straw. Without a blueprint and without a task scheduled, I can't give you so much as a needle, let alone a key."

"In your situation, you should go to the Design Department first, get things sorted out, and then come back to see me."

"Fine," Min Huaixun said, then turned to Section Chief Zhao. "Sorry for the trouble, thank you for your hard work."

"Alright, let's go."

Section Chief Zhao led the three of them away.

The group left the third floor.

Old Wu dialed a number. "Old Yang, those people have left; they're heading your way."

"Yeah... yeah... they just left. They'll probably be there in three minutes."

"Mhm, Old Zhao is leading them."

Old Wu hung up and threw a sneer in the direction the group had gone.

"Do you think this is your Azure Dragon Island? Idiots."

Then.

Old Wu took down the 'Equipment Department' sign from the door, revealing the original sign: 'Integrated Mechanical Maintenance Department'.

...

Aboard a fiery red aircraft.

"Mhm..."

"Going to the Vermilion Bird Empire will probably take two months..."

"I know, don't worry. Cultivate well, I'll definitely visit you when I get back..."

After hanging up with Wei Lan, Xiao Weiqing also told Qian Yi about his trip to the Vermilion Bird Empire.

Having settled things with both of them, Xiao Weiqing looked out the porthole. This was his first time going abroad.

"Scumbag."

Yin Linna's cold voice rang out, her tone filled with contempt.

Xiao Weiqing retorted, "None of your business! You're eavesdropping and yet you think you're in the right?"

"When was I eavesdropping? I just happened to be passing by," Yin Linna said. "I really didn't expect that a wolf in sheep's clothing like you would actually be two-timing. Scumbag."

Yin Linna tossed her hair and turned to leave.

She nearly collided head-on with another young man.

He also said contemptuously, "Scumbag!"

The young man didn't care at all and walked over to Xiao Weiqing's side, saying:

"What's up?"

"Got caught two-timing?"

"Want me to give you some tips so you can successfully three-time?"

Xiao Weiqing said irritably, "Lou Xiaoxing, mind your own business. Are your injuries healed?"

The young man was named Lou Xiaoxing. The two had met just the day before yesterday. Lou Xiaoxing would also follow Xiao Weiqing into the No. 9 Civilization Ruins of the Vermilion Bird Empire to undergo Constructing a Divine Body.

When they met, Lou Xiaoxing was being chased by a woman from the Dongfang Family; supposedly, she was Dongfang Xuan's cousin.

As for the reason for the pursuit, it was because Lou Xiaoxing had been caught two-timing.

"This body of mine was fine by yesterday."

Lou Xiaoxing thumped his chest loudly.

Xiao Weiqing couldn't be bothered with Lou Xiaoxing and looked out the window.

"Hey, tell me, what is your Divine Soul Rank?"

That's right.

Lou Xiaoxing had also cultivated a Soul Embryo Prototype; they had both realized this the first time they met.

Xiao Weiqing had seen through Lou Xiaoxing at a glance, whereas Lou Xiaoxing had guessed based on strength.

Because the Dongfang Family told Lou Xiaoxing that for this entry into the No. 9 Civilization Ruins, he was to follow Xiao Weiqing's arrangements, as Xiao Weiqing's strength was a level above his.

Hearing those words.

Lou Xiaoxing had been unhappy at the time. With his Peak Seventh Realm strength, his cultivated Divine Soul, and his companion weapon, he had once slain a Demon Sovereign.

This person, who looked six or seven years younger than him, was actually stronger than him—and by a whole level?

However.

When Lou Xiaoxing provoked Xiao Weiqing, Xiao Weiqing only gave him a single glare, and Lou Xiaoxing immediately behaved.

That pressure coming from the level of the Divine Soul was no joke.

Xiao Weiqing did not answer Lou Xiaoxing's question.

"How about this, I'll tell you my Divine Soul Rank, and we'll trade?"

"You have a Second-Grade Divine Soul."

"How did you know?" Lou Xiaoxing asked.

"I can tell," Xiao Weiqing said flatly.

"Then why can't I tell yours?"

"Too weak."

"Holy crap, what kind of thing is that to say?"

"I'm too weak?"

Lou Xiaoxing laughed out of sheer anger. In all these years, this was the first time someone had said that to him.

"I'm telling the truth."

Xiao Weiqing's tone was flat, simply stating a fact.

Lou Xiaoxing: "..."

"Has anyone ever told you that talking like that is really annoying?"

"Yes."

"More than one person."

"F*ck!"

Lou Xiaoxing was completely dumbfounded and walked away grumbling.

...

...

The aircraft sped along, crossing nearly half of the Blue Planet.

Finally.

At dusk, they arrived at an incredibly prosperous city, which was even more magnificent than Great Xia's Jingdu Prefecture.

"Xiao Weiqing, we're here."

Yin Linna walked over.

"Alright, I'll go call Lou Xiaoxing."

Xiao Weiqing found Lou Xiaoxing's room and was about to knock when the door opened.

"Let's go."

Lou Xiaoxing straightened his clothes.

Xiao Weiqing looked on in confusion. "What are you doing? Why are you dressed so formally?"

Lou Xiaoxing dusted off non-existent dust from his suit and said, "You don't know?"

"We're going to see the Empress in a moment. Of course I have to dress a bit formally. If the Empress takes a liking to me, I'll be set for life."

Xiao Weiqing said helplessly, "The Vermilion Bird Empress must be in her forties or fifties by now."

"That's where you're wrong. Although the Vermilion Bird Empress is ranked alongside Dongfang Baichen and Ye Sinan as one of the Blue Planet's top three experts, she's actually a generation younger. She's only 33 this year, exactly 6 years older than me—I can 'carry two gold bricks'." Lou Xiaoxing raised an eyebrow.

"Then why are you still wearing sneakers? Why didn't you change into leather shoes?"

"I don't like wearing leather shoes; they're uncomfortable."

"What about you?"

"Don't you want to change? That combat suit of yours is too ordinary. Standing next to me, you look a bit like my bodyguard."

Xiao Weiqing shook his head. "No need, this is fine. I'm not here for a blind date."

"Heh... those words of yours are a bit like a full man not knowing the hunger of a starving one. You already have two; I just lost one the day before yesterday."

The two chatted as they walked.

Lou Xiaoxing asked again, "Hey, does your Wei Lan have any sisters? Introduce one to me. Who knows, maybe we can be relatives in the future."

Xiao Weiqing thought for a moment. "There is one, but our relationship isn't very good."

"Uh... then never mind." Lou Xiaoxing quickly declined. If Xiao Weiqing said the relationship wasn't good, they were basically enemies. He didn't want to gain such a powerful enemy for no reason.

The two stepped out of the hatch, where people were already waiting for them.