Lian Que carefully pocketed the Life Token. Without further words, he asked simply: "What weapon do you use?"
Jiang Chen realized he didn't know how he'd lost his longsword in the Secret Realm. His hands were empty, and the Lian clan of Red Sun Prefecture sounded like formidable weaponsmiths.
Without hesitation, he said: "A sword."
Lian Que nodded. "I'll go prepare materials first. Whenever you have time, come to Nanyao City. I'll forge a sword for you."
With that, he turned and left with characteristic directness.
In truth, he could have departed the moment he left the Secret Realm. But realizing his Life Token was missing, he had waited by the Full Moon Pool.
Lian Que had barely left when Wang Yiwu stepped out of the Moon Gate.
In fact, most of the crowd that hadn't yet dispersed had been waiting for his news.
Counting Lian Que and Fourteen, eight of the fifty who entered the Secret Realm had survived.
Some rejoiced; others grieved.
The Moon Gate sank back into the water and vanished.
The night sky was bright with moonlight but few stars. Only the surface of the Full Moon Pool no longer reflected the moon's image.
Wang Yiwu strode from the Moon Gate directly to Chong Xuan Sheng. "You're fortunate."
"So are you." Chong Xuan Sheng beamed. "Otherwise, how would you have secured a divine skill opportunity just like me?"
Jiang Chen listened to his tone and suddenly thought of a phrase: a knife hidden behind a smile.
Chong Xuan Sheng might not be able to beat Wang Yiwu in combat, but in verbal sparring, he held absolute dominance.
Wang Yiwu's gaze swept across Jiang Chen, Li Longchuan, and Xu Xiangqian one by one.
"You've done well. I'll remember you."
As for Zhang Yong, who had only displayed Cycle realm cultivation, he was ignored entirely.
In truth, Zhang Yong's success caused many to reconsider the Secret Realm's dangers. Perhaps in this realm, luck was more important than strength.
Xu Xiangqian scratched his head. "If you're sick, go to Eastern King Valley for treatment. What's it got to do with me?"
He was from Green Cliff Academy, not a citizen of Qi. He feared Wang Yiwu not at all, and felt no awe toward the War God standing behind him.
"He means..." Chong Xuan Sheng couldn't resist explaining at this moment — it would have been a crime against his eloquence. "Although none of us remember what happened, if the four of us hadn't joined forces in the Secret Realm, there's no way I could have snatched the opportunity right under his nose. In fact, I probably wouldn't have made it out alive."
Though Wang Yiwu's intent was exactly this, some things were better left unsaid. Spoken aloud, they inevitably sparked conflict.
Because some cultivators represented not only themselves, but also the honor of the families behind them.
"Wang Yiwu, you're too arrogant!" Li Longchuan said coldly.
Wang Yiwu didn't bother explaining. He had always been this way. The slight discontent of these people was nothing he couldn't handle.
He only said to Chong Xuan Sheng: "Chong Xuan Sheng, you'd best quit while you're ahead. In truth, a divine skill in the Inner Palace isn't all that special."
"Brother Wang, this is the second time you've warned me. It's not productive to keep doing this." Chong Xuan Sheng remained beaming, the picture of harmlessness. "Why don't you go try persuading my elder brother instead? Perhaps he'll listen."
The elder brother Chong Xuan Sheng referred to was none other than Chong Xuan Zun.
Wang Yiwu said nothing more and turned to leave.
He realized that while he could blast this fatty apart with a single punch ten times over, he would never win in a battle of words.
But the other was a direct-line heir of the Chong Xuan clan — not someone he could simply blast apart on a whim.
...
The moment Wang Yiwu left, Chong Xuan Sheng seized the opportunity, clasping his fists toward the group. "My thanks for all your help in the Celestial Residence Secret Realm!"
As if he had completely forgotten how wary he'd been of Li Longchuan before entering.
He was far more attentive to social graces than Wang Yiwu, not even forgetting to thank Zhang Yong.
No one remembered what happened in the Secret Realm, but cultivating a few friendships never hurt. Especially when these "friends" were all on the verge of acquiring divine skills.
Li Longchuan had no interest in interfering with the Chong Xuan clan's internal power struggles. He smiled politely but said nothing.
Zhang Yong seemed extremely reserved, not quite accustomed to such situations, mumbling: "I don't know how I could have helped. You probably did it all yourselves."
"No, no, no," Xu Xiangqian chimed. He had no idea whether he'd helped or not, but he was magnificently shameless.
Thanks, compliments, praise — as long as they were offered, he accepted.
Jiang Chen stood nearby, silent. But he knew he must have fought in the Secret Realm, because his sword was gone.
Through thousands of miles of marching, his sword had never left his side. It certainly wouldn't have in the Secret Realm.
During those ten thousand miles, he had conceived three embryonic forms: the Sword of Sun, Moon, and Stars; the Sword of Mountains and Rivers; and the Sword of the Vast Sea of Humanity.
They had only reached perfection in the moment of drawing.
This was now his greatest trump card.
But his body's memory had been erased too. He didn't know which sword he had drawn.
The Celestial Residence was over. After a few casual words, everyone dispersed.
The Grand Ceremony of the Celestial Residence, held once every twelve years, drew to a close.
Chong Xuan Sheng looked back. "Fourteen, let's go!"
Fourteen, clad in full armor, followed silently behind him.
Jiang Chen walked alongside. He had never heard Fourteen speak a single word, yet somehow felt an inexplicable harmony between the two.
"We grew up together in open-crotch pants!" Chong Xuan Sheng laughed when he noticed Jiang Chen's gaze.
No wonder he didn't treat Fourteen as a bodyguard.
Two companions raised together from childhood — one became a young lord of a prestigious clan, the other a personal bodyguard. It was enough to make one sigh at fate.
But wasn't that simply how fate worked?
Stepping out of the Full Moon Pool, they were surprised to see Zhang Yong surrounded by a crowd, all talking at once, looking utterly flustered.
Chong Xuan Sheng smiled and explained. "They're fighting over talent."
Though Wang Yiwu had said a divine skill in the Inner Palace wasn't all that special — or perhaps he truly had the arrogance to say so — a future Inner Palace powerhouse with a divine skill was enough to spark a frenzy among various factions.
The reason everyone swarmed Zhang Yong wasn't a lack of interest in the others — it was self-awareness.
Xu Xiangqian belonged to Green Cliff Academy. Li Longchuan hailed from Shi Gate's Li clan. Wang Yiwu was the War God's disciple. Chong Xuan Sheng was a Chong Xuan clan member, and Jiang Chen was naturally assumed to belong to the Chong Xuan side as his invited ally.
None of them could be recruited.
Only Zhang Yong — though his ancestors had been distinguished, the Fengxian Zhang clan had fallen long ago. There was still a real chance.
Watching his panicked expression, Jiang Chen called out: "Zhang Yong! We're still waiting for you!"
Chong Xuan Sheng, the consummate social operator, immediately cooperated by draping an arm over Zhang Yong's shoulder. "We told you to wait inside. You had to come out and wait here. Hurry up — the food and wine will be cold!"
Zhang Yong was thus dopeily "rescued" from the crowd by his companions.
Walking along the streets of Celestial Capital for a while, Zhang Yong said hesitantly: "Um, I... I don't want to join another clan..."
Before finishing, he lowered his head, clearly apologetic.
Chong Xuan Sheng burst out laughing. Perhaps because he himself was so shameless, he greatly appreciated people who had a sense of propriety. "We were battle companions in the Secret Realm — surely our relationship isn't purely recruitment?"
"No, that's not what I meant..."
"All right, I won't keep you for drinks." Chong Xuan Sheng knew when to stop, patting Zhang Yong's shoulder. "Hurry home. Your family must be waiting for you to return in glory!"
Zhang Yong was still stammering.
Jiang Chen teased: "Go on! If you stay, those people will come recruiting again!"
At this, Zhang Yong couldn't even manage proper goodbyes. He darted off in a flash.
Because the world had so many shameless people, those who were shy and reserved could sometimes seem genuinely endearing.
But for some reason, watching Zhang Yong's retreating figure, Jiang Chen was struck by a sudden sense of familiarity.
He just couldn't place where it came from.