Chapter 89: Ninth Level of Qi Refinement

"A man of eight feet should have lofty ambitions, a desire to uphold the world and achieve greatness."

Upon hearing these words, Lord Lü was overjoyed. He nodded at once, thoroughly satisfied. "Good! There are few in this world with such grand aspirations as you, young master."

"When the day comes that I accomplish my great enterprise, I shall return to the Lü residence," Yang Wenhao replied. "Then, the Lü clan will be the most renowned family under heaven."

"Excellent!" Lord Lü nodded. "Then this old man shall await your return."

Lord Lü himself was a man of ambition, and Yang Wenhao's stirring words filled him with excitement and inspiration. In his eyes, Yang Wenhao was a dragon among men, destined for greatness.

Having convinced Lord Lü, a weight was lifted from Yang Wenhao's heart.

"When will you depart, young master?" Lord Lü asked.

"Right now," Yang Wenhao answered.

"And the matter of farewells?" Lord Lü inquired.

Yang Wenhao smiled faintly. "Since I may be gone for a long while, I must trouble you with the farewells, Lord Lü."

Though Yang Wenhao did not state his meaning outright, at Lord Lü’s age and experience, he naturally understood.

Smiling, Lord Lü called for a servant to bring some funds, handing them to Yang Wenhao. "Here is some traveling money—a token of my regard. If you encounter difficulties, return to Pei County. I will surely assist you with all my strength."

"Thank you, Lord Lü." Yang Wenhao nodded and accepted the money without pretense.

That day, when Lü Zhi saw that Yang Wenhao was no longer in the residence, she asked, "Father, where is Young Master Yang?"

"Young Master Yang has already departed," Lord Lü replied.

"What?" Lü Zhi exclaimed in surprise. "He left without bidding us farewell?"

Lord Lü shook his head. "He said that when he returns, the Lü family will be famed throughout the land. I think that will be the day he marries Su."

Lü Zhi was stunned by her father’s words. "What!"

Why would he return to marry Lü Su and not her?

Lord Lü then explained: he felt Lü Zhi’s age was not suitable for Yang Wenhao, whereas Lü Su was just about right.

At this, Lü Zhi felt a chill in her heart for reasons she could not name, and her eyes welled with tears.

Lord Lü, absorbed in the fervor of Yang Wenhao’s grand declarations, failed to notice Lü Zhi’s manner.

Meanwhile, Yang Wenhao had already left Pei County.

He intended to travel the mountains and rivers of the Nine Provinces, to see the world.

After all, there was still a long time before the elixir of immortality could be refined; he was in no hurry.

His immediate goal was to gather as many spiritual treasures as possible, to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage as quickly as he could.

Though he had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, he knew the gap between the ninth level and the Foundation Establishment was as vast as that between mortal and immortal.

That critical step was exceedingly difficult, requiring countless spiritual treasures to cross over.

After refining many elixirs, Yang Wenhao finally managed to take another step forward.

At the ninth level of Qi Refining, it was as if he stood before a river. If he could cross it with all his might, he would reach the other shore and become a true cultivator.

The ninth level of Qi Refining was like the ninth heaven—there was, in theory, no tenth. But once you set foot on the ninth, you were already set apart.

Recently, he had received news: the First Emperor of the Great Qin Empire was to take a woman as his imperial consort.

And, as expected, this woman was none other than the princess of Tu'an.

Upon learning this, Yang Wenhao shook his head. During this period, he had spent points to ask the system about Yi Xiaochuan's situation.

The answer, naturally, was that Yi Xiaochuan was still alive.

With this news, Yang Wenhao felt he would soon be heading to Xianyang.

That night, Yang Wenhao gazed up at the boundless starry sky, feeling a surge of emotion.

"System, why did you choose me to teach immortal arts?"

Before he finished speaking, the system responded.

"You will understand in time, host. At present, this system cannot reveal that information."

"Might as well have said nothing," Yang Wenhao muttered, turning back to his courtyard.

Lately, he had been robbing the rich to aid the poor, killing many bandits. Aside from his swordsmanship, all his other arts had improved significantly.

Yet he had reached a bottleneck; without spending more points, there was no way to advance.

These bandits were a motley rabble; their only contribution was to provide him with some points. As for mastery, after his breakthrough, there had been no further progress.

By now, Yang Wenhao was wealthy, for the homes of the rich abounded with treasures.

Centennial ginseng and hundred-year-old polygonum—all things he needed.

From the moment he left the Lü residence, he had been preparing for his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment.

Xianyang, imperial capital of the Great Qin Empire, city of the Son of Heaven, where all nations paid tribute.

As Yang Wenhao set foot in Xianyang, he could vaguely sense the dragon veins beneath the city.

"Truly extraordinary," he murmured. "Under the First Emperor, Qin truly shines. When the time comes, I'll choose this place for my breakthrough."

With the dragon veins beneath the city, their energy at its zenith, there was nothing but benefit for someone like Yang Wenhao, who gathered the essence of heaven and earth.

Yang Wenhao was about to find a tavern to rest and listen for tidbits of news when he saw a crowd gathered ahead, watching something with interest.

Though a cultivator, Yang Wenhao had not severed his mortal ties; out of curiosity, he joined the crowd.

As he pushed through, the scene within surprised him.

He hadn't expected to see an old acquaintance upon arriving in Xianyang.

"I'll buy him. Name your price," a voice said.

"Heh, money's no object to me. Just give me fifteen of those," came the reply.

Without so much as a glance, a purse was tossed over.

The wealthy merchant, weighing the purse with shining eyes, turned and left.

"Hello there!"

A familiar voice greeted him then.

It was the greeting of a modern man—something the ancients would not understand. But Yi Xiaochuan, being from the modern world, certainly did.

Yi Xiaochuan turned quickly, eyes wide. "Brother Yang!"

Yang Wenhao approached, smiling faintly. "You certainly have leisure, buying such a stout slave."

Though the Great Qin was the first feudal dynasty of ancient China, it had not abolished slavery. The buying and selling of slaves was commonplace.

Yang Wenhao had no sentimental qualms; he only cared about matters that benefited or harmed him.

"I just thought he was pitiful, so I bought him," Yi Xiaochuan said, slightly flushed.

Turning to the fat slave kneeling on the ground, Yi Xiaochuan said, "You're free now. Come, Brother Yang, let's share a drink."

Yang Wenhao and Yi Xiaochuan entered the nearby tavern together.

(End of this chapter)