Chapter 84: It’s a Magical Artifact Now
Chapter 84: It’s a Magical Artifact Now
Ling Yi was already on his way back to the capital at this point, unaware of the mess left behind at the Heaven’s Gate Sect after his departure.
Even if he knew, he probably would have just smiled.
The real Cultivation World was absolutely not what Qian Luoying used to believe—a place where everyone could get along harmoniously.
From small sects to the entire Cultivation World, resources were limited and scarce. If you didn’t fight or compete, others would naturally take them.
Cultivation itself had no inherent nature, but if one had to assign it attributes, it would definitely lean toward selfishness.
Because you cultivated yourself, and what improved… was also yourself!
So, cultivation definitely had nothing to do with nobility.
Just like the relationship between him and the Heaven’s Gate Sect—if they really wanted to sort it out, it wasn’t difficult.
It was simply a case of the Heaven’s Gate Sect seeing wealth, intending to kill, failing, and being killed instead.
In other words, even someone like the silly sister Qian Luoying—if he hadn’t managed to intimidate her that day, if it weren’t for that half of the Cultivation Method—would she really have been willing to befriend a young mundane person like him?
Yes, their relationship was really good now.
But if he had nothing to offer, why would she be good to him?
A normal mundane young man, even if he were so handsome it shook the nation, with Qian Luoying’s personality, she wouldn’t give him a second glance!
Having taken so many resources from the Heaven’s Gate Sect and absorbing a large amount of their Spirit Stones before leaving, Ling Yi only felt happiness, with no trace of guilt.
Once outside the range of the Heaven’s Gate Sect, Ling Yi turned on his phone, which had been off for many days.
As soon as it powered on, many messages popped up.
Ignoring the miscellaneous messages, he first glanced at those sent by Qingqing and Ling Yun, and Ling Yi smiled slightly.
During the time he was away, Great Qin had indeed undergone a complete upheaval.
The Second Prince Qin Xu had gone to a wealthy small city in the south to become its City Lord.
This was essentially equivalent to exile.
That small city was very economically developed and wasn’t near any borders.
It was pretty much like giving him a fiefdom.
If he lived quietly as a leisurely wealthy man from then on, there would naturally be no problem.
But if he remained unwilling to accept it, he would only be digging his own grave.
It was all his own choice.
Sun Qingbo’s interest group had been completely uprooted.
Various news outlets in Great Qin had launched a series of criticisms.
They were thoroughly nailed to the pillar of shame with no way down.
It would probably take another year or two to completely purge that faction, but with the ringleader gone, the underlings naturally couldn’t stir up any waves.
Many things, even Ling Yi at the time, couldn’t see clearly.
For example, why would a big shot of Sun Qingbo’s status and position not have a top-tier guard by his side at that moment?
Only Cai Chunming?
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed unlikely.
But that night in the Imperial Garden, only the voice representing the Monarch was heard!
What did that mean?
Just as Wang Tingjian said at the time—the Monarch had won!
This point was also confirmed by recent news from Great Qin.
The Aged Monarch, who had previously been seriously ill and bedridden, seemingly on the verge of passing at any moment, had started appearing frequently at various meetings.
And he seemed to be in decent spirits, too.
Sitting in a minibus, Ling Yi looked at the messages and news on his phone and couldn’t help shaking his head with a slight sigh.
This was why he stayed away from those matters.
He wasn’t cut out for it.
Just like the silly sister—a person must have some self-awareness.
Boasting in front of others was fine, but one shouldn’t boast alone in front of a mirror.
Deceiving oneself was truly inexcusable.
There were also messages from Gu Tong and Qin Hao on the phone, though not many.
They probably knew that Ling Yi’s departure meant he was gradually leaving the mundane world behind, so they didn’t disturb him too much.
Besides, there were messages from Luo Xue, other classmates, and even one from Qin Jiuyue—
“Your home in Spring City is renovated. Gu the Second has left Spring City. When will you have time to come back and stay for a few days? Let’s get together.”
Thinking of that old house, Ling Yi couldn’t help but smile wryly and shake his head.
Who would have thought things would change so quickly?
In just a few months, he went from a “wasted” Second Stage Acupoint Activation peak to a young Golden Body Expert?
It was incredible.
Who could you reason with?
He didn’t reply to a single message.
Now he somewhat understood how Qian Luoying’s aloof personality came about.
The hustle and bustle of the mundane world really did affect one’s mood.
Just like the saying “once in the jianghu, one is not free.”
There would always be things that could hold you back.
Entering the Capital City again, Ling Yi had transformed into a man in his thirties.
Wearing a baseball cap and a mask, his tall and large figure moved through the crowd. Though still quite noticeable, no one would think of his true identity.
Ling Yi first called Sister Zhao.
“Sister, it’s me.”
On the other end, Sister Zhao immediately became excited.
“Oh, my dear brother, you finally have news! No contact for so long, couldn’t reach you at all, I’ve been worried sick! Where are you now? I’ll send a car to pick you up!”
Sister Dora—still as enthusiastic as ever.
Ling Yi smiled and refused, “No need, sister. Where are you now? I’ll come find you. My current identity isn’t suitable for drawing too much attention.”
Sister Zhao understood and said, “Got it, got it. I’ll give you an address right now, just come over!”
After all this time, what wasn’t clear?
Various versions of what happened that night in the Imperial Garden had already spread.
There were all kinds of stories, but two versions from abroad were the most interesting.
Reportedly spread from the diplomatic mission that came to the Qin State at the time, it was said that that night, Great Qin had already signed the agreement—the Monarch’s seal was even stamped on it! There were photos as proof!
Namely, the famous “Smile of the Prince.”
But then, suddenly, a young man burst in, accompanied by a cold and beautiful woman.
After rushing in, the young man immediately started a massacre. With one sword strike, he killed the Deputy Prime Minister Sun Qingbo and swiftly stabbed the other high-ranking Cabinet officials of Qin State…
It was said that more than one person was scared silly at the time.
Many members of the diplomatic mission still woke up from nightmares every day.
It was terrifying!
Regarding this claim, the Qin State authorities firmly denied it.
They claimed that on that night, Sun Qingbo and others failed in their treason, took Second Prince Qin Xu hostage, and attempted to assassinate the ruler and rebel.
Many people in Qin State naturally didn’t believe such nonsense.
Who could possibly enter the Imperial Garden just like that?
And a young man went in and stabbed Sun Qingbo dead with one sword… Why not say a Flying Sword flashed and took the traitor Sun Qingbo’s head instead?
That would make the story even more thrilling!
However, those who knew a little inside information, like Sister Zhao, immediately thought of Ling Yi!
Especially after this incident, Ling Yi directly disappeared without a trace, which confirmed Sister Zhao’s judgment.
As for this little brother, Sister Zhao admired him to the bone.
This was a real legend!
Traitors like Sun Qingbo deserved to be killed─it was too cheap for him not to be cut into a thousand pieces!
Now that so many days had passed, Ling Yi actually showed up. Sister Zhao was immediately overjoyed and excited. The address she gave was also a place she rarely used.
The environment was average, but it was secure and private!
No one else could know that little brother had returned.
She ordered people to prepare dishes, planning to properly welcome Ling Yi later. Meanwhile, she had someone bring those Spirit Stones over.
She knew that Ling Yi risked contacting her this time surely for the Spirit Stones.
Not long after, Ling Yi arrived at the place agreed upon with Sister Zhao.
After being ushered inside, he saw Sister Zhao.
It had been a while since they last met; Sister Zhao seemed to have gained some weight.
Seeing Ling Yi in disguise, the elder sister was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, “Come, come in quickly.”
Seeing the wine and dishes on the table and the two large suitcases beside them, Ling Yi also smiled and said, “Sister, long time no see.”
Sister Zhao cheerfully invited Ling Yi to sit, then said, “Thanks to you, little brother, I’ve received many orders from the Military Headquarters lately. I’m almost too busy every day!”
Ling Yi shook his head with a smile. “That has nothing to do with me; it’s all your own ability, sister.”
Sister Zhao filled his cup with wine and said with some emotion, “I don’t have much talent. I can’t be powerful and decisive like you, little brother, settling scores and enjoying life. I can only run a small business to support the family. But if there’s anything you need my help with, little brother, just speak up─don’t be polite!”
Ling Yi said, “Sister, you’ve already helped me too much!”
“Being polite with me means treating me as an outsider! Come, little brother, bottoms up!” Sister Zhao reached out her plump hand, held her cup, clinked it with Ling Yi’s wine glass, and drank it all in one go.
After chatting for a while, Ling Yi suddenly asked, “By the way, sister, do you have any extremely high-quality jade items here? Or especially rare metals? Preferably something you like yourself…”
Sister Zhao was stunned. She looked up at Ling Yi, thought for a moment, and said, “Good jade? I think there really is one piece. What, do you want it, little brother? Wait a moment; let me have someone fetch it!”
With that, she picked up the phone and called her assistant.
Ling Yi felt a bit amused but didn’t say much.
Not long after, a capable-looking young woman with short hair, around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, came over and handed a brocade box to Sister Zhao.
Sister Zhao directly pushed the box toward Ling Yi and said, “Here, this one. Someone gave it to me many years ago. I’m a bit vulgar─I just like gold. Big gold chains suit my domineering aura best─they are my favorite! But I haven’t worn them in the past two years.”
“Ah, people said to me, ‘Big sister, you’re someone with status now. Can’t you be less vulgar? Doesn’t your neck get sore wearing big gold chains all day?'”
Sister Zhao rambled on with complaints: “How is wearing gold vulgar? Really, I was never an elegant person anyway─I’m a rough person…”
Seeing Sister Zhao push the box to Ling Yi, the young short-haired woman was quite surprised.
As one of the elder sister’s personal guards and assistants, she knew very well how much Sister Zhao liked this piece of jade.
The reason she didn’t wear it wasn’t that she preferred gold chains more, but because this jade was too precious─she couldn’t bear to wear it!
But now she was giving it away?
The capable young assistant certainly knew Ling Yi, even though he was disguised.
Before, the elder sister was quite infatuated with those young idols. But after recognizing Ling Yi as her little brother, those idols also lost their charm in her eyes.
Outsiders didn’t know, but she heard the elder sister say it herself─”I’ve got to hold back a bit; I can’t let my little brother laugh at me.”
So she knew very well how much the elder sister cared about this brother. But still… such a precious thing, given away just like that?
The little assistant almost couldn’t help reminding Ling Yi of the item’s value.
Then she saw Ling Yi open the brocade box and take out the almost completely transparent emerald-green jade plaque from inside.
“What a good item!”
Ling Yi couldn’t help but praise.
A piece of imperial green glass-type jadeite!
“Uh… it’s a bit garbage, really… At most, it can be used once. This thing looks passable, but you could get a piece of green glass… tell yourself it’s jadeite, and the effect would be the same.”
The Enchantress complained in Ling Yi’s mind.
“…”
Arguing with the Enchantress was particularly unwise, so Ling Yi chose to ignore it.
He took a carving knife from the side of his large backpack.
This carving knife also came from the Heaven’s Gate Sect warehouse.
Then, right in front of the somewhat stunned Sister Zhao and the little assistant, Ling Yi directly used the carving knife to draw lines and patterns on the jadeite.
“Hey, you…” The young assistant almost broke down.
Oh my god! Do you have any idea how much this is worth?
Sure, you, Ling the billionaire, aren’t short of money, but this piece of jade is also worth over a hundred million!
No matter how good your relationship with the elder sister is, you can’t ruin things like this!
Sister Zhao also didn’t know what Ling Yi was doing, but she shook her head at her little assistant, signaling her not to disturb Ling Yi.
She believed that Ling Yi would never be so bored as to tease her in person.
However, she was also very curious. Before, when he needed a Jade Box carved, he sought Master Jiang’s help. Why was he doing this himself now?
Could it be that my little brother is truly an omnipotent genius?
Did he learn carving in just a few days? Does he want to carve a dragon for me on the spot?
This jadeite plaque originally had no carvings. Actually, with jadeite of this quality, carving has its beauty, and leaving it uncarved has its beauty too.
A top-grade treasure looks pleasing no matter what.
Ling Yi was very focused. Although he had drunk some wine, his hand was very steady.
And gradually, Sister Zhao and the little assistant also saw something. The carving knife in Ling Yi’s hand looked extremely sharp, but it actually left almost no marks on the jadeite.
The little assistant was secretly laughing inside: Haha, do you even know the hardness of jadeite? Now you’re embarrassing yourself!
After a while longer, Ling Yi let out a long breath, then raised his head and said to Sister Zhao, “The material is just so-so, so at most, it can withstand one real crisis. But I imagine the security around sister isn’t too weak either.”
“Ah?” Sister Zhao froze; the little assistant beside her also froze.
“If I can find better materials in the future, I’ll give sister something better then,” Ling Yi said seriously to Sister Zhao. “Starting now, wear this jade every day, sister.”
Sister Zhao: “This…”
Little assistant: “Young Master Ling, what do you mean…?”
Ling Yi had long noticed the little assistant questioning him inwardly all along. He smiled and said, “It’s a Magical Artifact now.”
Pfft.
The little assistant directly burst out laughing.