Chapter 4658 — Presenting the Golden Core

"That much is true. In the past, when only West Island's own disciples took part in the trial, Qi Wenmo's strength at the peak of the Golden Core stage would by no means have counted as weak. But this time is different—those entering the trial are the elite of every island."

"Anyone with the ambition and the daring to set his sights on Ning Xuefei, princess of West Island, is no easy mark. The great majority will likely be at the Nascent Soul stage, and none lower—otherwise, far from ascending to heaven in a single step, it's a question whether they'll even live to see the trial's end."

"And there's another, even more important reason why I don't wish to enter the contest." A strange light suddenly kindled in Qi Wenmo's eyes. This man, ever open and unruffled, now—for the first time in his life—actually flushed, a sight to make anyone's jaw drop.

"Could it be, Brother Qi, that you..." Something stirred in Wei Zhao's heart. That burning look was not unfamiliar to him; almost everyone passed through such a phase.

"Just so. There's someone I've taken a liking to," Qi Wenmo admitted to Wei Zhao, scratching his head a little awkwardly.

"Oh? Since when?" Wei Zhao's interest was instantly roused. When he had left South Continent, there had not been the slightest sign of anything; and with Qi Wenmo's easygoing manner, he surely would not have buried such a thing so deep.

"It happened not long ago. I suppose you could call it love at first sight on my part, but..." Here Qi Wenmo's expression suddenly dimmed, and he said with some dejection, "She's an expert at the Nascent Soul stage, while I am still merely at the peak of the Golden Core. Ah..."

Seeing Qi Wenmo sighing and groaning, Wei Zhao could not help but be amused. "So what if her strength surpasses yours? The only thing that matters is whether she has feelings for you. Carrying on like this, so plagued by gains and losses—that's hardly your style, Brother Qi."

At Wei Zhao's words, Qi Wenmo's old face flushed red, and he said sheepishly, "I know I shouldn't be so anxious over every gain and loss. A true man, when the time comes to strive, must absolutely never shrink back or show the white feather—I understand all these principles. But I just can't govern my own mind; I can't help turning it over and over. After all, she's no ordinary cultivator. She's the daughter of the proprietor of South Continent's Treasure Ship Transport Company."

"The Ship King's daughter?" Wei Zhao was taken aback. While he was in South Continent, he had once chanced to hear this Treasure Ship Transport Company mentioned. If it were merely an ordinary transport company, a man in Qi Wenmo's position as young master of the Skysupport Escort Agency would never feel inferior. But this was the Treasure Ship Transport Company—what stood behind it meant something altogether different.

On these Cloud Terrace Islands, a treasure ship, being a strategic asset, had always been something only the top-tier powers could possess. The converse held equally true: any power that could own a treasure ship was, across all five Cloud Terrace Islands, a force not to be taken lightly. After all, even the Skysupport Escort Agency, hegemon of the South Continent escort trade, was still far from having the qualifications or the deep foundations to own a treasure ship.

Qi Wenmo, young master of the Skysupport Escort Agency, faced with the profound background of the Treasure Ship Transport Company—small wonder he was so tormented by gains and losses, sighing and groaning.

His strength fell short of hers, and his background could not match hers either. Were he to thrust himself forward rashly, to be called a fool who overrated himself would be only natural—and by then, perhaps they could not even remain friends.

"The Ship King? I suppose you could put it that way..." Qi Wenmo was briefly startled. A treasure ship was, after all, the king of ships. The Treasure Ship Transport Company was itself an uncrowned king.

"So that's how it is. Then stop sighing—I have a way." Something stirred in Wei Zhao's mind. He took a small wooden box from his bosom and handed it to Qi Wenmo. "With this, you needn't worry."

"What is it?" Qi Wenmo took the little box curiously and found that, plain and unremarkable as it was, the cool, fresh breath seeping from within lifted his spirits. He hastened to open it—and was thunderstruck. He knew good wares when he saw them. Within lay a Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation!

"Given your strength and foundations, it's truly time you broke through. Take this Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation, and barring the unexpected, it should see you safely into the Nascent Soul stage." Wei Zhao smiled faintly.

With Qi Wenmo's abilities, so long as his strength could stand on equal footing with hers, he would surely no longer feel inferior. After all, strictly speaking, though the Skysupport Escort Agency could not compare with the Treasure Ship Transport Company, it was by no means far behind—it was, after all, the hegemon of the South Continent escort trade.

"This... this is far too precious. Brother Ling, you'd best keep it for yourself. I'm in no hurry..." The Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation was like a scalding hot potato in Qi Wenmo's hands; all at once flustered, he desperately pressed it back upon Wei Zhao.

"You're not in a hurry? You're not in a hurry, but the young lady is!" Wei Zhao shot him a glance and, exasperated, tossed the little wooden box back to Qi Wenmo. "She's the Ship King's daughter, don't you know—who's to say she won't be married off any day now? By then you'll be too late even to cry. And you say you're not in a hurry? Don't blame me, your brother, for not warning you: when a thing like this comes your way, you must seize it tight, or you'll regret it all your life!"

"I..." At Wei Zhao's words, Qi Wenmo was plunged into a dilemma. Of course he knew the principle; and from what he knew, many a young lord had his eye on this sweetheart of his. If he acted too late, he might truly regret it for the rest of his days.

But the value of a Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation—Qi Wenmo knew it all too clearly, especially one of such superior quality. No amount of spirit jade might buy it. However close his friendship with Wei Zhao, he dared not rashly accept a thing so precious.

"What's there to hesitate over? I've never seen you so wishy-washy before. With the friendship between us, can you not even accept a paltry Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation?" Wei Zhao feigned anger.

"Very well. Since you've put it that way, Brother Ling, I'll accept it. But let me say this first: whatever price you paid for this Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation, you must take that much spirit jade from me, or I shall be unable to rest easy." Qi Wenmo nodded.

"Who told you I bought this Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation?" Wei Zhao gave him a peculiar look and smiled faintly. "Have I never told you before that I am a genuine, bona fide alchemist? Every one of these cores was refined by my own hand."

"What?!" Qi Wenmo was stunned. An alchemist was nothing remarkable—there were alchemists of every description these days. But an alchemist capable of refining a Golden Core for Nascent Soul Formation—across all five Cloud Terrace Islands, you could count them on the fingers of one hand, could you not? (To be continued.) R1052