Chapter 253: Chapter 128: Taiyi Golden Armor Technique, Tongming Talisman Technique (4)

As a result, she harbored some resentment towards Qian Xiaoyue, who initially insisted on persuading her to leave but chose to follow Zhou Changwang at a critical moment, leaving her without assistance.

"There was nothing that could be done.

When one can barely protect themselves, how can they spare any thought for others?"

Zhou Changwang couldn’t help but console her.

"Don’t worry, I can’t control how Sister Wei’Er thinks of me. I only seek a clear conscience."

Qian Xiaoyue shook her head coolly and said.

Seeing this, Zhou Changwang felt relieved. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

However, at this moment, Gong Bai Xue suddenly walked over and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, I didn’t expect that besides your superior skill with Spirit Plants, your Immortal Technique abilities are also quite formidable.

No wonder you refused to join our Gong Family.

With such abilities, the treatment offered at that time indeed did not match your skills."

"Fellow Daoist Gong overpraises. I don’t have any real power."

Zhou Changwang waved his hand and said.

"Why deceive yourself, Fellow Daoist? I have inquired with your friends. Your abilities, while perhaps not as strong as a Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivator, are not far behind.

You’ve even achieved a record of defeating a Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivator... although it was with the help of a Spirit Talisman, it’s still quite remarkable.

And just now, when you encountered the undead, your speed was such that even Aunt Rong said, had you not brought along a burden, she would not be able to compare and would feel ashamed."

Gong Bai Xue brought up the old topic again, "Therefore, I wish to extend another invitation and ask you to join the Gong Family.

Regarding treatment, everything can be discussed, and it will certainly far surpass the previous offer."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Gong.

However, I truly have no intention of joining your family."

Zhou Changwang waved his hand and directly declined.

"Anyway, there are still ten days’ journey to the Divine Wind Valley Marketplace from here.

Fellow Daoist, you might want to reconsider. Our Gong Family’s strength is not much different from the Chen and Bai families.

It’s just that the main family is not located in the Fengming Dock Marketplace but in the Divine Wind Valley Marketplace."

Gong Bai Xue continued.

Regarding this, Zhou Changwang had some vague knowledge.

Indeed, there was a Gong Family in the Divine Wind Valley Marketplace, and the Patriarch was said to be an Initial-Tier Second Grade Alchemist and a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator.

As for the family’s power and industries, he knew nothing else.

Of course, he wasn’t interested in knowing.

Alchemist families do have broad connections in the Cultivation Realm, and once joined, one would hardly ever lack for Spirit Pills.

But Zhou Changwang’s goal was never about these things.

It was about Foundation Establishment, about eternal life.

Even members of the Gong Family found it nearly impossible to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, let alone an outsider like him.

...

After resting, the group was rejuvenated, no longer fatigued like before.

Then, upon Shen Xinyue’s urging, everyone set forth on their journey once more.

An hour later, they finally emerged from Liangyuan Mountain.

Before them was a vast and magnificent lake.

This lake was Jade Lake, the largest near the Fengming Dock Marketplace.

There is not just one path from Liangyuan Mountain to Jade Lake, but many other routes, though longer, are much safer.

From afar, the group could even see people fishing by the lake, as well as others boating on the lake to fish.

"Is this Jade Lake?

Back then, the Jade Lake fisherman Elder Peng, who owned Advanced Five Elements Skills, reportedly disappeared in the lake thirty years ago."

Staring at Jade Lake, Zhou Changwang inexplicably recalled the story of the Jade Lake fisherman Elder Peng he had heard from ’Brother Xiu’ while searching for Advanced Five Elements Skills.

The last time he was seen was during a fishing trip on Jade Lake, where he vanished without a trace.

No one knows if he perished there or took another route away from the Fengming Dock Marketplace.

...