Chapter 70 Resource Trading, Snow Falls Silently

[Changlin Park, on the frozen lake surface.]

“A transaction?”

You looked at Liu Xiyue, your expression calm.

“Tell me about it.”

Liu Xiyue bit her lip and spoke quickly.

“I know that the liquid funds I brought this time are considerable.”

“But for a divine object of this level, it might not be enough.”

“However, I promise that I will mobilize all resources that the Liu Family's direct lineage can currently access.”

“To fully help you advance to the Origin Opening Realm!”

“Whether it’s 'kaiyuan stone,' or the most top-tier Yuan Wu Dharma Gate, or auxiliary Cultivation potions...”

“As long as you want it, as long as I have it, I can provide it to you!”

Speaking of this, she glanced at Wu Changhe beside her, her tone solemn.

“How about this, Teacher Wu will be a witness.”

“Tonight, I will draft the transfer agreement and resource allocation document, and tomorrow morning we will sign the formal contract.”

How about it?”

You looked at her eyes, filled with longing and determination, and nodded inwardly.

This was indeed the greatest sincerity she could offer.

For you now, money was just a number.

You already had the Heavenly Sea Vast Waves Body Spirit Seed Origin Art.

What you lacked was precisely a hard currency like “kaiyuan stone” that could assist in a Breakthrough.

You could also take this Opportunity to look at other water-element Yuan Wu Dharma Gate Cultivation Techniques treasured by the Liu Family.

As a prominent family in Sea City, even if the Liu Family had declined, their heritage was not something a commoner like you could compare to.

Moreover, Liu Xiyue becoming stronger would have no impact on your future plans.

This was also an Opportunity to gain a powerful ally.

“Alright.”

You did not hesitate too much, nor did you bargain.

You directly tossed the golden light cluster, which contained the “mystic ice twin lotus,” to Liu Xiyue.

“Deal.”

Liu Xiyue was stunned, seemingly not expecting you to agree so readily.

She frantically reached out with both hands to catch the light cluster, and upon feeling the cold Qi, her eyes instantly reddened.

“Thank you...”

She didn't say any superfluous words, because she knew that every second was precious now.

She sat cross-legged on the ice, holding the light cluster in her hands, and began to Cultivate her family's Cultivation Technique.

“Crack!”

The golden Yuan force Seal shattered.

The crystal-clear ice lotus instantly transformed into a blue mist carrying extreme frost.

It seemed to have found its destination, quickly drilling into Liu Xiyue's body.

“Boom—”

In an instant, Liu Xiyue's Qi and blood violently surged!

After all, she was not like you; she didn't have the higher-grade heavenly river water lotus Origin suppressing her body.

This immense energy from an unknown dimension caused a huge impact on her Meridians.

Violent cold Qi overflowed, and the surroundings instantly formed hard ice crystals.

Seeing this, Wu Changhe immediately stepped forward, his Yuan force expanding to form a translucent protective shield.

Protecting the three of you within, preventing the aura from leaking out and attracting unnecessary trouble.

Time passed minute by minute.

You watched Liu Xiyue's rapidly increasing aura, silently calculating in your heart.

“The next goal is clear.”

“Quickly convert the resources harvested this time into my own strength.”

“Use kaiyuan stone and Yuan Wu Dharma Gate to quickly Breakthrough to the Origin Opening Realm.”

“After successfully Origin Opening, I will fight in Sunset Canyon again!”

You recalled the embarrassment of being chased by Tannan Heavy Industry's offerings in Sunset Canyon during the last simulation.

“This time, I won't flee in such a sorry state again.”

“This time, I must make a big fortune in the treasure land of Sunset Canyon!”

Ten minutes later.

With the final rumble, the surging Qi and blood around Liu Xiyue finally began to gradually calm down.

“Buzz!”

A faint, ice-blue Crimson Gauze slowly appeared on her body, although it was still very unstable.

But.

The shackles were broken, and the chasm became a smooth path.

She no longer needed to refine her Qi and blood.

Next, after a 24-hour golden absorption period.

She would be able to completely stabilize her Realm and officially begin her Breakthrough to the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood.

This was the wondrous power of dimensional secret treasure.

The Opportunity that countless people sought their entire lives but could not obtain, was now blossoming on this young girl.

Liu Xiyue slowly opened her eyes. Although energy was still overflowing from within her, it no longer affected her movements.

She clenched her fists, feeling the new power within her, and the gloom in her heart dissipated considerably.

She stood up and bowed deeply to you and Wu Changhe again.

“Teacher Wu, Li Ang, words cannot express my gratitude.”

Wu Changhe waved his hand, his expression a little tired.

“Alright, since the matter is done, let's quickly leave this troublesome place.”

He turned his head, his gaze falling on the lonely corpse lying on the ice not far away.

Principal Liao Xianyu.

This once glorious principal, now with all his limbs broken and his face twisted, lay silently dead in this wind and snow.

Wu Changhe walked over, grabbed Principal Liao Xianyu's corpse with one hand, as if carrying a worn-out piece of clothing.

“Let’s go.”

He said to you and Liu Xiyue, “Tomorrow morning, come with me to the police station to give a statement.”

As for why not go to the Alien Cult Investigation Bureau... that's because Jiangnan Province only has three Investigation Bureaus.

They are located in Wuyue City, Ningzhou, and the general bureau in Suhang City respectively.

Small places like Longnan did have branch offices decades ago, but they were withdrawn as the cults became dormant.

The three left Changlin Park.

Outside the park, a black sedan had been waiting for a long time.

The car door opened, and a haggard middle-aged beautiful woman with tear stains at the corners of her eyes rushed out.

“Xiyue! Xiyue!”

That was Liu Xiyue's aunt, Yan Yan.

She looked to be in her thirties, just an ordinary Qi and Blood Realm Martial Artist.

She was originally a writer living a peaceful life, but some time ago, her sister and brother-in-law met with an accident.

Yan Yan, as Liu Xiyue's true “relative,” took on the responsibility of caring for her niece.

Ever since receiving Wu Changhe's call, learning that her niece had been attacked by a cult.

She immediately rushed here, waiting for Liu Xiyue, her heart filled with anxiety.

Seeing Liu Xiyue walk out unharmed, Yan Yan's suspended heart finally settled, and she hugged Liu Xiyue tightly.

They briefly exchanged a few words.

After respectfully bowing and thanking you and Wu Changhe, Yan Yan took Liu Xiyue into the car.

They quickly left this place, which she considered very dangerous.

And you, you got into Wu Changhe's car.

On the way back to the Teachers Apartment, Wu Changhe remained silent, listening to you explain the whole story.

While driving, he occasionally glanced at the corpse covered with a black cloth in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

He had a general understanding of what happened tonight through the Divine Thought the Great Grandmaster had infused into him earlier.

But after hearing your detailed account of the events, he still felt both shocked and angry.

He was shocked by the cult's power, that they actually laid such a huge plot against his student in Longnan.

And that the Heart-Eroding Cult had even come out in full force.

He was angry at his old comrade—Principal Liao Xianyu.

“Old Liao, oh Old Liao...”

Wu Changhe's fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white.

“We've worked together for decades, and you've diligently served as principal for so many years.”

“How could you, at the very end, do such an utterly foolish thing?!”

“Colluding with a cult, persecuting students... you're going to ruin all your life's achievements in the dirt!”

“Thankfully, Li Ang is fine! You are truly too muddled!”

Wu Changhe's suppressed growl echoed in the car.

But gradually, his anger dissipated, leaving only deep dejection and powerlessness.

He remembered Principal Liao Xianyu's face, which even in death still carried a hint of relief.

“I know, you did it for your granddaughter.”

“But... some things, once they happen, cannot be undone.”

Wu Changhe looked at the streetlights ahead, his eyes slightly red, lost in endless regret for his old friend's misguided path.

But he also knew what the true underlying tragedy was.

Tonight, Principal Liao Xianyu died.

And the granddaughter he sold his Soul to protect had actually died in that purification by the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce.

In those raging golden flames, she turned into a cold white bone bead.

Her life, too, vanished with the wind.

Principal Liao Xianyu willingly became a cult's lackey for his granddaughter.

However, if he had spent more effort on his orphaned granddaughter earlier.

And understood her life more, how could things have come to this?

No... perhaps some people would think so, but this was merely superficial.

The true root cause was—

Even if she hadn't been bewitched by the cult, what then?

When the massive cult machine began to operate, when powerhouses of the Mountain-Sea Realm and Soaring Realm turned their gaze here.

Could Principal Liao Xianyu, with only Origin Opening Realm cultivation, have protected his granddaughter?

He couldn't protect her.

This was the root of the problem.

...

The car stopped downstairs at the Teachers Apartment.

“We're here.”

Wu Changhe took a deep breath, returning to his usual demeanor, though his voice was still a bit tired.

“Get some rest. Tonight's matter... let's leave it at that for now.”

“We still have to go to the police station tomorrow, so get some rest.”

With that, he waved goodbye to you and drove away.

You knew he was going to the crematorium.

To send off his old friend one last time, and to deal with this regrettable ill-fated relationship.

Back in the room.

You closed the door and turned on the light.

You sat quietly at your desk, listening to the wind and snow outside the window, your mood gradually calming.

“It's over.”

“This grand play against the Heart-Eroding Cult has finally ended.”

“The Heart-Eroding Cult's stronghold in Longnan has been uprooted, Principal Liao Xianyu's hidden danger is eliminated, and Liu Xiyue has become an ally.”

The Great Grandmaster and Cold Kite have also gone to deal with their own matters.

After experiencing the dizzying events of tonight, you finally had time to properly tally your gains!