Chapter 4658 — Presenting the Golden Core
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"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.