Chapter 28

Xiao Ran arrived at the City Lord's residence, reported his name, and was then led inside by a servant.

The servant looked at Xiao Ran with great curiosity, unable to fathom why such a prominent figure would want to meet him. After all, Xiao Ran was just an ordinary-looking person!

The City Lord's residence was the City Lord's home, and it was quite magnificent. However, Xiao Ran had no interest in admiring it. He was only thinking about what kind of important person would want to meet him and why.

Could it be that the secret of the martial arts world system he possessed had been exposed? That couldn't be possible!

While lost in thought, Xiao Ran felt a bit uneasy. At this moment, he found himself being led to a room, where a woman in red stood outside!

Her red attire was like the sunset, as if it had dyed the entire world red!

Xiao Ran recognized the woman and was even more surprised!

She was a disciple of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect. Why would such a prominent person want to meet him?

The woman in red bowed respectfully to Xiao Ran and said, "I am Feng Wanqiu. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Xiao!"

"I should have come out to greet you, but I was detained by some matters. Please forgive my rudeness!"

Xiao Ran's unease subsided somewhat, and he returned the bow, saying, "You are too kind, Miss Feng. I wonder why you have invited me here?"

Feng Wanqiu gestured with her right hand, inviting him in, "Please come in and let's talk!"

Feng Wanqiu led Xiao Ran inside, and a servant served them some clear tea. Xiao Ran took a sip without hesitation, feeling a slight bitterness, but after that, his whole body felt as if it were soaking in a hot spring, warm and comfortable. The warmth seemed to transform entirely into essence energy, settling within his body!

Xiao Ran was surprised, "What kind of tea is this? It feels like it can replenish essence energy!"

Feng Wanqiu replied calmly, "This is the Essence-Replenishing Tea from my sect. I noticed that you have just entered the Qi Cultivation stage, and this tea can help replenish essence energy, which I believe would be suitable for you!"

Xiao Ran had taken Essence-Replenishing Pills during his Qi Cultivation, but they didn't have such a noticeable effect!

When someone shows you respect, they must have something to ask of you. However, Feng Wanqiu treated him, a minor figure, with such courtesy, so she must not be difficult to get along with!

Little did he know that if anyone found out that Feng Wanqiu used Essence-Replenishing Tea to entertain a Qi Cultivation first-layer novice, they would cry out that it was a waste of resources. Such tea leaves were usually only found within the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, and if sold outside, a single gram could fetch ten thousand gold!

The Essence-Replenishing effect was excellent, the replenishment process was gentle, and the essence energy gathered quickly, with very slow dissipation!

Xiao Ran was at a loss for words, thinking for a moment before getting straight to the point, "I wonder why Miss Feng has invited me here?"

To his surprise, Feng Wanqiu was even more direct, "I noticed that you had condensed the Eye Aperture while in the Body Tempering stage. Is it the Phoenix-Breaking Eye?"

Xiao Ran was startled, feeling a cold sweat on his back. Even the people from the Extermination Sword Sect wanted to seize this, and the Elder Wang had been hiding in the Xiao family for over a decade because of it. Could Feng Wanqiu be after it for the same reason?

Xiao Ran's reaction did not escape Feng Wanqiu's notice, but her expression remained unchanged. She said, "You don't need to worry. I have no ill intentions. The Phoenix-Breaking Eye is useful for my cultivation, so I would like to exchange it with you.

"In ancient times, when our human race first discovered the secret of spirit apertures, the atmosphere was very open. Whenever someone developed a new spirit aperture, they would share it with everyone, and we would discuss martial arts together.

"Because of this, our human race's strength developed rapidly, and within ten thousand years, we rose to the top hundred among all races.

"I have always admired the ancient ways.

"Times have changed, and now each sect has its own secrets. If I obtain the Phoenix-Breaking Eye from you, I can offer something in return."

Hearing Feng Wanqiu's sincerity, Xiao Ran let out a long sigh. Given her strength, there was no need for her to deceive him!

He said, "That's fine.

"However, this was passed down to me by an elder. This elder suffered internal injuries early on, and there are two sword qi lingering in his body. If I tell you, can you help this elder heal?"

Feng Wanqiu nodded inwardly, impressed by Xiao Ran's character.

He was not greedy for profit and valued his relationships. Such a person was quite commendable, and everyone liked dealing with people of good character.

Thinking of this, Feng Wanqiu said, "I heard that the Phoenix-Breaking True Body Diagram appeared in a market, causing a great commotion. It was eventually seized by a senior from the Extermination Sword Sect, but a small part of the diagram containing the Phoenix-Breaking Eye was taken by a wandering martial artist.

"If not for this, I wouldn't have thought of the Phoenix-Breaking Eye.

"I believe this wandering martial artist is your elder. If he was injured by the senior from the Extermination Sword Sect, I can try to help him."

Her words were filled with confidence.

Xiao Ran felt a chill run down his back. This woman was too perceptive, guessing everything right!

However, it didn't matter much, as they would likely not meet again after today.

If Feng Wanqiu could heal Elder Wang, he would consider his debt to Elder Wang repaid.

But Feng Wanqiu didn't think it was enough. She continued, "In addition, I am willing to offer you the Six-Winged Flowing Light Swallow True Body Diagram. Do you find this acceptable?"

Most spirit apertures were modeled after spirit beasts.

The Six-Winged Flowing Light Swallow True Body Diagram, like the Phoenix-Breaking True Body Diagram, was a diagram showing how to condense spirit apertures in the human body to match those of the spirit beasts. If one could condense a complete set of such spirit apertures, they would possess the abilities of these spirit beasts.

Seeing that Xiao Ran's cultivation path was swift and agile, Feng Wanqiu offered him the Six-Winged Flowing Light Swallow True Body Diagram, showing that she didn't want to take any advantage.

A complete spirit beast true body diagram was very expensive. Even if Xiao Ran's father sold himself, he couldn't afford one!

Given these conditions, it should have been a great deal for Xiao Ran, but he shook his head after some thought.

Feng Wanqiu was slightly surprised and felt a bit annoyed. She didn't expect Xiao Ran to be so greedy, thinking she had misjudged him.

But Xiao Ran said, "I know the Six-Winged Flowing Light Swallow True Body Diagram is very expensive, and your offer is very reasonable for me.

"But I have a request."

Feng Wanqiu felt a bit disgusted but didn't show it on her face. She said calmly, "Please speak, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Ran said, "I heard that the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion has the ability to create spirit apertures from nothing. Could you tell me how they create artificial spirit apertures?"

Feng Wanqiu never expected Xiao Ran to make such a request. Instead of accepting a ready-made spirit aperture, he wanted to create his own. For a martial artist who had just entered the Qi Cultivation stage, this was quite ambitious!

But this idea was naive and foolish!

She didn't know what Xiao Ran was thinking. In the martial arts world, there were no spirit beasts or divine beings. If he spread existing spirit apertures in the martial arts world, development would be slow and difficult to innovate.

But if he had the method to create spirit apertures, even a small breakthrough could bring unexpected surprises!

Just like the invention of electricity, which transformed the world!

Just like how a few casual words from him led Wang Chongyang and others to condense the dantian spirit aperture.

Feng Wanqiu thought for a moment and said, "I am not a disciple of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, but I often interact with their members.

"I don't know their core methods, but I have some knowledge.

"Most of our martial arts are based on existing spirit apertures, such as those found on spirit beasts and divine beings.

"But the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion models after the natural world. They believe that learning from living beings is inferior to learning from nature.

"However, most people don't agree with this view.

"The natural world is part of nature, and the living beings within it are also part of nature. Whether learning from living beings or nature, it's all about learning from nature.

"Each living being that has existed is a product of natural evolution, tested by nature.

"There is no superiority or inferiority between the two."

After saying this, seeing that Xiao Ran was not swayed, Feng Wanqiu shook her head and took out a notebook, saying, "I was once interested in creating spirit apertures and sought advice from a senior of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. This is my notebook of insights. I'll give it to you today."

Feng Wanqiu had once tried to create artificial spirit apertures but found most of her creations to be useless, so she gave up. However, she kept the notebook.

Xiao Ran was delighted, took the notebook, and then asked Feng Wanqiu some questions about cultivation. Feng Wanqiu patiently answered.

Each answer enlightened Xiao Ran, making him realize new possibilities.

Feng Wanqiu was also impressed by Xiao Ran's insight, which was why she was willing to spend time with him.

She thought to herself, "I didn't expect this person to have such ordinary talent but such high insight.

"Since I'll be staying in this city for a while, if he performs well, I can recommend him to the sect."

Next, Xiao Ran told Feng Wanqiu where Elder Wang was and then left the Golden Light City.

He felt something was off, so after leaving the city, he found a small forest, entered it, and activated the Great Martial World system, disappearing inside.

Not long after he disappeared, a black-clothed figure appeared, looked around, and said, "This kid has a pretty good nose. Where did he run off to?

"There are only signs of him entering, but no signs of him leaving. Did he disappear?

"That's impossible!

"What's his relationship with Feng Wanqiu? Why did they talk for so long?

"Never mind, such a minor figure, I could crush him with a finger. He won't affect our plans!

"But disappearing like this is too strange.

"How did he avoid my notice?"

The black-clothed figure couldn't figure it out and, after a while, disappeared into the forest.