Chapter 216 - 215: Cultivation World: Master, Long Time No See

"Your Eminence, I’ll go set up the ambush now."

"Wait a little longer."

Li Jingxuan didn’t believe Chu Liangyu could have that many Spirit Stones. If she couldn’t pay, the auctioned item would go to the previous bidder.

Chu Liangyu had no idea someone was waiting to snatch her item. Just then, there was a knock at her door.

But to her surprise, it wasn’t just the Female Cultivator who had delivered her things earlier. There was someone else.

"Fellow Daoist, my name is Wen Yan. I sincerely wish to befriend you. Please forgive me if I’m disturbing you."

Before she could even get a clear look at him, his self-introduction reached her ears.

Wen Yan?

’It must just be someone with the same name,’ she thought. ’It couldn’t be so coincidental that I’d meet the other *him* from the Cultivation World, could it?’

Chu Liangyu stared unblinking at the visitor until his face came into view.

As he entered, he raised a hand, removed the mask from his face, and looked at her with a broad smile.

It was in that moment that Chu Liangyu’s pupils constricted. This person... really was Wen Yan.

"Fellow Daoist, why are you reacting like that? Do I have something on my face?"

He formed a hand seal, and in the next moment, a Water Mirror appeared before him.

After seeing nothing strange on his face, he breathed a sigh of relief.

’It’s our first meeting, so I’m glad I didn’t make a fool of myself. But this fellow Daoist’s gaze is a little strange.’

’It’s as if she’s looking at an old acquaintance, but there’s some other emotion mixed in.’

"Fellow Daoist?"

Chu Liangyu’s feelings were complicated. Seeing someone who looked identical to Wen Yan again, she felt a bit lost.

’In this world, "she" and Wen Yan had no connection. Their meeting this time was just a coincidence. Once her mission was complete, there would no longer be a Chu Liangyu in the Cultivation World.’

’After all, when she arrived, this world’s Chu Liangyu had already been killed by a demon beast.’

’Judging by his attire, he must be a young master from a Cultivation Family in this world. He seems to be doing well.’

’In that case, it’s better if we don’t get too involved.’

Chu Liangyu’s eyelids lowered slightly, masking the emotion in her eyes. Only then did she speak in a detached tone, "Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist, but I have other matters to attend to. Please, I must ask you to leave."

Disappointment flickered across Wen Yan’s face. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but sensing her cold attitude, he gave up.

He performed a Daoist salute, his tone tinged with apology. "It was impulsive of me to disturb you, fellow Daoist. I’m sorry."

As he turned to leave, he glanced at Chu Liangyu a few more times. Before exiting, he thoughtfully pulled the door shut behind him.

Faintly, Chu Liangyu could hear his somewhat regretful sigh.

"Fellow Daoist, here is your Jade Spirit Grass. Would you like to inspect it?"

The Female Cultivator placed the Jade Box on the table and gently called out to the slightly distracted Chu Liangyu.

A moment later, Chu Liangyu nodded, reached out, and opened the Jade Box. The fragrance of the Jade Spirit Grass wafted into her nose.

In an instant, Chu Liangyu felt her mind clear completely.

"The Jade Box has properties that preserve the herb’s medicinal efficacy. I recommend you don’t open it unnecessarily, so it can exert its greatest effect when you’re ready to use it."

Chu Liangyu glanced at the Jade Box in surprise. ’I can’t believe something that looks so ordinary has such a function.’

’The Cultivation World really is full of treasures.’

"The item is fine."

Chu Liangyu put the herb away. With a wave of her hand, the table was covered with Top Grade Spiritual Stones.

"The Spirit Stones are all here. You can count them."

Based on the 1:100 ratio, one Top Grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to ten thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones. The exchange rate is quite high.

Chu Liangyu had also considered this, wanting the count to be done quickly so she could wrap things up and leave sooner.

Of course, she might have underestimated just how rare Top Grade Spiritual Stones were in the Cultivation World.

The Female Cultivator stared blankly for who knows how long. It wasn’t until Chu Liangyu prompted her that she snapped out of it.

However, her hands trembled as she counted, a mixture of shock and delight, her mind racing with speculation about Chu Liangyu’s origins.

"Hey, I prepared that specially for Li Jingxuan to repair his Divine Soul. You stole it, so what is he supposed to do?"

After putting away the Jade Spirit Grass, Chu Liangyu sat down to one side to meditate. Unexpectedly, a voice sounded in her ear.

Chu Liangyu opened her eyes and saw the Female Cultivator was still counting the Spirit Stones. There was no one else there besides the two of them.

After a moment of thought, Chu Liangyu replied in her mind, "Could it be... you’re the Heavenly Dao of this world?"

"Mhm, it’s me."

Her voice sounded somewhat immature, like a child’s.

Chu Liangyu was inwardly startled. ’So the one trying to compete with me was Li Jingxuan.’

’Perfect. Now’s my chance to go talk to him face-to-face.’

"Is Li Jingxuan still in the room across the way?"

She asked with some hesitation, "What are you planning to do?"

"Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to talk to him directly."

The other party was clearly silent for a moment before finally saying, "He’s still there, but I don’t think it’ll do any good."

"How will we know if we don’t try?"

No matter what, now that she finally had a chance to see him, she had to talk to him.

"How’s the count coming along?" Seeing the woman drenched in sweat, Chu Liangyu paused, then said, "I’m going to the room across the way to find someone. If you’re worried, you can have someone follow me."

But the Female Cultivator just smiled and shook her head. "You may go, fellow Daoist, as long as you don’t leave the Treasure Pavilion. I will find you once I’m done counting, and you’ll be free to come and go as you please then."

Chu Liangyu understood her meaning. There was likely a powerful expert overseeing things, watching everything that happened here. Until the count was finished, she wouldn’t be able to leave the Treasure Pavilion.

"Remember, you can’t reveal your identity."

Chu Liangyu’s steps faltered. She asked in her mind, ’Why?’

"If he finds out, the resulting chain reaction will directly affect the world’s operation."

Chu Liangyu agreed without asking any more questions.

Meanwhile, the subordinate who had been monitoring the situation immediately reported back to Li Jingxuan.

"Your Eminence, the woman has come out. From the looks of it, she seems to be heading our way."

The expression on Li Jingxuan’s face froze. He then looked out the window.

Sure enough, she was walking toward them.

"Chang Qing, you are dismissed."

Chang Qing gave him a confused look but said nothing, quickly departing before Chu Liangyu arrived.

Almost immediately after Chang Qing left, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

’She couldn’t possibly have recognized me. She must be here for some other reason.’

Li Jingxuan’s brow furrowed slightly. As he watched the person enter, his mind raced, trying to figure out her purpose for coming.

"Master, it’s been a long time."

CLANG! The sound of a longsword hitting the corner of the table rang out, nearly knocking the whole table over.

Li Jingxuan shot up from his chair, startled by her address of "Master."

Chu Liangyu reached up and took off her mask. The face she revealed was clearly smiling, yet it seemed inexplicably forced, as if tinged with a hint of sorrow.