"Stop."
Wang Jianqiang had just stepped out of the Foreign Affairs Hall when a voice suddenly rang out.
In the next instant, his vision blurred, and a figure appeared in front of him.
Ye Fan!
Seeing who it was, Wang Jianqiang's expression shifted slightly.
"What is your relationship with Dong Yue?" Ye Fan's eyes were cold as they locked onto him.
Wang Jianqiang didn't need to guess what Ye Fan was thinking.
The words love-struck fool were practically written across his face.
He really wanted to mock him, but then remembered Ye Fan's terrifying -70 Malice Value, and gave up on the idea.
If he provoked him too much, Ye Fan might lose control and ignore sect rules altogether.
Shaking his head, Wang Jianqiang replied, "There is no relationship at all between Elder Dong and me."
"Impossible!" Ye Fan snorted coldly. "If you had nothing to do with her, why would she smile at you?"
Wang Jianqiang thought for a moment. "Perhaps because I often come to the Foreign Affairs Hall?"
"So you refuse to tell the truth, is that it?"
Ye Fan's face grew colder.
An outer sect disciple—at most he had only known Dong Yue for a few years.
Dong Yue was never warm toward men.
He had known her for over a hundred years, and never once had she smiled at him.
Thinking of this, jealousy nearly drove him mad. His eyes fixed on Wang Jianqiang, a flicker of killing intent leaking out.
Ding! Malice Value decreased. Current Malice Value: -80.
The system's prompt made Wang Jianqiang's heart jolt.
Seriously?
He hadn't even provoked him yet, and this guy was already about to snap?
"Wait, I'll tell you."
"In the mortal world, my ancestors had some ties with Dong Yue's family."
"That's why Elder Dong treats me with some special regard."
Afraid Ye Fan would lose it completely, Wang Jianqiang hurriedly made something up.
Ye Fan's killing intent froze for a moment, then melted away like snow in the sun.
The coldness on his face vanished, replaced by a faint smile.
"So that's how it is. Since you had such ties, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Really?
You didn't believe the truth, but you buy this exaggerated nonsense without a second thought?
How did this brain even reach Foundation Establishment?
Or is it just that "love-struck fool logic" has clouded your mind?
Wang Jianqiang cursed silently, though outwardly he didn't slow down.
"I was afraid it might affect Elder Dong's reputation. After all, I didn't have the best name in the outer sect before, and it wouldn't do for others to spread word about her special care for me."
Hearing his sincere tone, admiration flashed across Ye Fan's face. "Yes, you're right."
As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and a flying sword appeared, hovering in his palm. "Since this is our first meeting, I didn't prepare a proper gift. I can see you've already reached the peak of Qi Refining. This sword is a high-grade artifact, perfectly suited for you. I'll give it to you."
High-grade artifact?
Nothing but trash.
Wang Jianqiang sneered inwardly.
But on the surface, he put on a grateful expression and carefully accepted it.
"Many thanks for the treasure, Elder."
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait."
Just as Wang Jianqiang was about to leave, Ye Fan called out again.
Wang Jianqiang turned back calmly. "Does Elder have further instructions?"
Ye Fan rubbed his hands together. "No instructions… just a request."
"What kind of request?" Wang Jianqiang asked.
Ye Fan coughed lightly, a trace of embarrassment flashing across his face. "You should have noticed—I'm pursuing Rou'er. But she's always been cold to me."
"She treats you much better. Since you have that family connection, I hope you can put in a good word for me."
As expected of a love-struck fool.
Dong Yue's attitude was practically frozen over, yet he still called it "lukewarm"?
Wang Jianqiang sighed inwardly, then put on a sincere smile. "Elder, you overpraise me. It's nothing at all."
"But Elder Dong has her own thoughts. I can't influence her much. Still, I'll do my best to help."
Ye Fan nodded repeatedly, gratitude written all over his face. "I understand."
Wang Jianqiang then excused himself. This time Ye Fan didn't stop him, only watching his departing back with deep regret.
What a polite, considerate junior.
And I was just about to kill him.
I truly deserve death…
Back at his quarters, Wang Jianqiang immediately took out the Foundation Pill recipe.
Ding! Inferior recipe detected. Optimization requires 100 cultivation points. Proceed with upgrade?
The prompt made him click his tongue.
Upgrading a First-Grade Advanced recipe had only cost 30 points.
Yet this Second-Grade low-level recipe required more than three times as much?
But he had already drained his cultivation points upgrading his alchemy.
He could only wait and accumulate more.
Half an hour later.
After several rounds of pill refining, Wang Jianqiang realized that once his alchemy had advanced to Second Grade, refining First-Grade pills no longer granted cultivation points.
"Is it because a Second-Grade Alchemist refining First-Grade pills is considered 'bullying the weak'—no longer true cultivation effort?"
He pondered, then turned to artifact crafting.
This time, it worked as usual—he still gained attribute points.
"Just as I thought."
His suspicion confirmed, he pulled out more crafting materials and continued refining artifacts.
Time flew quickly as he immersed himself in crafting.
Before he knew it, a whole day had passed.
By the end, he had built up 40 cultivation points in one stretch.
Just as he finished and was about to rest, a knocking sound came at the door.
A familiar voice followed.
"Wang Jianqiang, are you there?"
He froze, thinking he'd misheard.
Dong Yue?
No way.
This icy elder almost never left the Foreign Affairs Hall—why would she suddenly come to him?
Puzzled and astonished, Wang Jianqiang opened the door.
Under the moonlight, a breathtaking figure stood outside.
Tall and slender, clad in a simple, elegant dress.
Her waist was bound tightly, impossibly slender, almost fragile beneath the ample weight above.
One couldn't help but worry such a delicate waist might snap under the pressure.
"Elder Dong, please come in."
He quickly invited her inside. Once she was seated, he asked,
"Elder Dong, what brings you here all of a sudden?"
Dong Yue pursed her lips, skipping pretense and going straight to the point.
"I came today to ask you for a favor."
A favor?
Wang Jianqiang blinked. "My strength is shallow. I don't know what I could do for Elder."
Dong Yue paused in thought.
"With your current ability, you may not be ready yet. To be precise, I only came today to ask for your promise."
"And I won't let you suffer for it."
"One promise, in exchange for one condition."
"If you agree, I will grant you a condition in return."