28-year-old Three Friends
Jiang Chen sneezed, rubbing her red nose, and asked, "What are you talking about? You're laughing so hard." She'd heard the two of them whispering, but she couldn't hear clearly due to her drunkenness. "What can women talk about when they get together?" Wen Xuanqing asked. "The universe, ideals, the changes and desolations of the past and present." Jiang Chen perked up, stood up straight, and drunkenly raised her hand, declaring, as if swearing, "One day I'll refine an elixir!" Her bold words didn't seem like a joke to the two beside her. Though their pursuits differed, they essentially shared the same goal. Perhaps this was the reason they met. Wen Xuanqing took a half step forward, raised her head, and spoke firmly, "I will refine a divine artifact." Feng Jingluo raised an eyebrow, as if she should also make a bold statement. She smiled and said, "I will become an immortal." Wen Xuanqing supported Jiang Chen's unstable body with one hand and placed the other on Feng Jingluo's shoulder. "Why are your words so concise?" She took a deep breath, carrying the dazed Jiang Chen and the unresisting Feng Jingluo up the roof and sat on the tiles. After clearing the reek of alcohol, Jiang Chen regained his composure, stretched out, and lay on the tiles, crossing his legs. "What did you two say while I was unconscious? Why didn't you let me hear it?" Wen Xuanqing didn't answer, but instead asked, "Why do you want to refine an elixir?" Jiang Chen's smile faded, and after a long silence, he said, "I'm not talented, and my cultivation is destined to be unknown." She scoffed, "But I won't accept this. How can a broken stone determine my future?" Every sect has a stone used to test each person's spiritual roots and aptitude. Jiang Chen possessed dual spiritual roots of wood and fire, but her aptitude was average, not comparable to those gifted with exceptional constitutions. But so what? She sat up straight, her arms draped over her legs. "I, Jiang Chen, am a genius!" She had tried diligently to cultivate, but her aptitude kept her falling behind. Unwilling to resign herself to this, Jiang Chen, leveraging her dual spiritual roots perfectly suited to alchemy, entered the Dan Pavilion and became an alchemist. Unwilling to live her life to the standards of others, she persevered in researching unique elixirs, repeatedly walking on the brink of life and death. With a resolute determination that risked everything, and sharing her talent for alchemy, Jiang Chen gradually gained a reputation. She repeatedly stirred up trouble in the secret realm, rising to prominence as one of the prodigies. "I'm still young," she said, supporting herself on the tiles with her hands, gazing upwards. "Sooner or later, my elixirs will be like your spiritual treasures, attracting crowds simply by the mere mention of them." The youthful energy on her face reminded Wen Xuanqing of his youth...
Jiang Chen sneezed, rubbed her red nose and asked, "What are you talking about? You are laughing so happily." She heard the two of them whispering to each other, but she didn't hear clearly because she was drunk.
"What can women talk about when they get together?" Wen Xuanqing asked. "They talk about the world, their ideals, the changes and desolations of the past and present."
Jiang Chen perked up instantly, stood up straight, raised his hand drunkenly, and said as if swearing, "One day I will refine the elixir!"
Her bold words were no mere joke to the two men beside her. Though their pursuits differed, they ultimately shared the same goal. Perhaps this was the catalyst for their meeting.
Wen Xuanqing took a half step forward, raised his head, and said firmly, "I will refine a divine weapon."
Feng Jingluo raised an eyebrow. It seemed like she should also make some bold statements. She smiled and said, "I will become an immortal."
Wen Xuanqing supported Jiang Chen's unstable body with one hand and placed the other on Feng Jingluo's shoulder. "Why are your sentences becoming more concise?"
She took a deep breath and carried the confused Jiang Chen and the helpless Feng Jingluo up to the roof and sat on the tiles.
After getting rid of the smell of alcohol, Jiang Chen regained his clarity of mind, stretched himself and lay on the tiles with his legs crossed.
"What did you two say while I was unconscious? Why didn't you let me hear it?"
Wen Xuanqing didn't give an answer, but asked, "Why do you want to refine the elixir?"
Jiang Chen suppressed his smile and remained silent for a while before saying, "I don't have much talent, and my cultivation journey is destined to remain unknown."
She sneered, "But I won't accept it. How can a piece of broken stone determine my future?" Each sect has a stone to test everyone's spiritual roots and qualifications.
Jiang Chen has both wood and fire spiritual roots, but his aptitude is average and cannot compare to those geniuses who are born with special physiques.
But so what?
Sitting up straight with her arms on her legs, she said, "I, Jiang Chen, am a genius!" She had tried to practice hard, but her aptitude made her fall behind others repeatedly.
Jiang Chen was unwilling to give up, so he used his dual spiritual roots that were just right for alchemy to enter the Dan Pavilion and become an alchemist.
But she was unwilling to make others successful throughout her life, so she kept researching strange elixirs and repeatedly walked on the edge of life and death.
With his determination to risk everything and his talent in alchemy, Jiang Chen gradually became famous.
He caused trouble in the secret realm many times and became one of the geniuses.
"I'm still young," he said, supporting himself on the tiles with his hands and looking up at the sky. "One day, my elixir will be like your spiritual treasure. Just hearing my name will attract people."
The vitality on her face reminded Wen Xuanqing of himself when he was young.
As a child, she stumbled into a forging shop and saw metal changing shape in a raging fire. Hammered into the desired form, it was imbued with layers of magical patterns, granting it unfathomable abilities.
It felt like she was creating a creature that only she knew about. Even though it had no life, could it really not have life? As long as she could refine a divine artifact, she could give it life, turning it into a spirit.
Wen Xuanqing ignored all obstacles and took a gamble on the path of a weapon refiner. She became famous at a young age, but after many years, she had already refined a heavenly spiritual treasure, but she still could not reach the threshold of a divine artifact.
With a flick of his finger, a small, square wooden table appeared beside him, along with a pot of tea and three teacups. Wen Xuanqing poured the tea and handed it to the two of them.
"Then I wish that you and I, the three of us, can all achieve our long-term wishes."
They raised their glasses and drank together, and their laughter could be heard from far away.
Feng Jingluo suggested, "The paths you two are taking are both unusual. Why don't you discuss and promote each other? Perhaps you can forge a new path together."
Wen Xuanqing was surprised and asked Jiang Chen about her method of alchemy. The latter shyly told her about her various research.
Wen Xuanqing's eyes lit up little by little as she pleaded, and in his excitement he even held Jiang Chen's hand tightly.
"To be Feng Jingluo's friend is truly special." She spoke so quickly that Jiang Chen was stunned. "You have provided me with a very interesting idea. I have studied ancient books and tried to find a method that can be applied to my own practice from the experience of the predecessors."
“But we forget that the road must be constantly opened up, so that future generations can explore it, and we can also carve out a path that is unique to us.”
"That's right." Wen Xuanqing clenched his fists. "I have always been refining tools with tools, and have never added any strange things. Let it undergo countless changes. Perhaps within these changes, new mysteries will be born."
She put her arm around Jiang Chen's shoulders and said with a smile, "Little Jiang Chen, why don't you come with me to the retreat and study the art of refining weapons and alchemy together. Perhaps you and I will be compatible and find a path that no one could have imagined."
Jiang Chen was tempted. Not only was the other party a renowned weapon refiner, but he was also a genius. If they could complement each other, they might be able to create something very interesting.
"The forbidden area is about to open..." Jiang Chen hesitated, "I must participate."
"No problem." Wen Xuanqing waved his hand nonchalantly. It was just a matter of waiting for a while. "Then I'll watch you guys go on the forbidden land trip. When you come out, come with me to the retreat!"
"Okay!" Jiang Chen agreed immediately and clapped his hands with Wen Xuanqing as an oath.
None of the three returned to their residence, but chatted on the roof all night, their laughter accompanying the heavy snow.
Xu Mobai pushed the door open and came out. Bai Yuge had gotten up early to practice swordplay, and Yun Ruchen was not in the yard. He went to look for Feng Jingluo and the others, and happened to see Wen Xuanqing and Jiang Chen whispering in the yard, their smiles dazzling.
The harmonious atmosphere between them made Xu Mobai unable to interrupt. He walked over to Feng Jingluo who was sitting at the table and talking to Yun Ruchen and asked.
She glanced over there and said, "They are discussing how to combine each other's strengths and jointly research the art of refining weapons and alchemy."
Xu Mobai had a strange expression on his face. He slowly turned back to stare at the two of them, and a shudder ran down his spine. He felt that if the two of them met, it would bring unpredictable danger to the world.
Feng Jingluo controlled the flying boat and sped all the way. There was still more than a month before the forbidden area was opened.
They could stay in the Snow Country for at least another week. During this time, the national treasure would once again protect the Snow Country. After Xue Qingtang finished handling state affairs, he would come to the courtyard to talk with the few people.
For her, Feng Jingluo and the other two were another life, and she particularly admired Feng Jingluo's strength. Every time the internal force surged into her body to resist the absorption of the broken national treasure, the strength and power within it made Xue Qingtang astonished.
With plenty of time, Wen Xuanqing and Jiang Chen were in the alchemy room, studying how to combine the strengths of both families to jointly refine the medicine.
Xu Mobai was bored being alone, so he pulled Yun Ruchen to play chess, while Bai Yuge was still practicing sword.
Feng Jingluo wanted to go back to his room to practice, but Xue Qingtang came to visit. After looking around, she felt relieved to see that there was no one else. She had been looking for an opportunity to meet Feng Jingluo alone.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" Feng Jingluo asked, standing inside the doorway, looking at Xue Qingtang. She was taller, so she could clearly see the snow-white hair hanging softly on her cheeks.
"Thanks to you, I was able to return to the Snow Country safely. Come to think of it, I have never thanked you individually." Her eyes were as clear as ice, not indifferent, but still revealing shyness and timidity.
Xue Qingtang had been with her since childhood only her mother, Xue Rong, and Xue Yunlan. She had few opportunities to interact with her peers, so when she met Feng Jingluo in private, she was afraid of offending him and didn't know what to say.
Feng Jingluo made way, went to the table, poured some hot tea and put it on the table.
The hem of her skirt brushed past the threshold as Xue Qingtang sat quietly at the table, stroking the teacup in her hand.
"I heard from Jiang Lang that Miss Feng is a disciple of the Wentian Sect, and a very powerful swordsman." Her eyelashes trembled, and she half raised her eyes to observe Feng Jingluo's expression.
Feng Jingluo nodded and accepted the compliment. She was indeed very strong and there was no need to be modest. This was an objective fact.
Xue Qingtang raised his teacup and took a sip of tea, a little absentmindedly, "If... I could be as strong as you, I wouldn't need a national treasure to protect my people."
There are some things that she cannot tell to people close to her, but Feng Jingluo, who seems indifferent in front of her, allows her to reveal her inner feelings without any scruples.
"You are already very powerful."
Xue Qingtang looked up in surprise. Feng Jingluo supported her cheeks and tilted her head to look at her. Even though she was in a casual posture, she still did it with dignity.
Xue Qingtang was sure that anyone would be shaken, but the person before him never seemed to have that feeling. When he looked at someone, he would always look them in the eye, no matter how he evaded his gaze, he would always capture it.
She had no choice but to lower her eyes.
"Miss Feng, you're joking. If I were strong enough, why would I have to go to Qinzhou City?"
"Not everyone can sacrifice themselves for others when faced with difficulties."
"A strong heart is stronger than strength born of violence."
Xue Qingtang sighed, thinking Feng Jingluo was just trying to comfort her. She had simply done what a king should do, and she didn't deserve any praise.
A hand reached out, with blue veins bulging on the back of the hand. The index finger gently supported the chin, allowing Xue Qingtang to raise his head.
"A state of mind can be cultivated over time. But an unshakable heart cannot be created out of thin air; it is far more precious."
The admiration in her eyes was as hot and bright as fire, which instantly made Xue Qingtang's cheeks blush and she could no longer deny herself.
"I...but I still want to become as strong as you." After this incident, Xue Qingtang admitted that instead of relying on external things, she would rather rely on her own abilities to accurately protect her people.
Putting down his hand, Feng Jingluo stood up, resting his palms on the table and looking down at her, "I'll teach you."
Xue Qingtang opened her eyes wide, "I..." She just expressed her wish and didn't think she could learn a single move.
After all, how could a cultivator easily tell others about his own techniques and skills?
"That's not what I meant." Xue Qingtang explained hurriedly.
But Feng Jingluo had already walked to her side, urging her with a gentle look. Guided by this look, Xue Qingtang followed her into the yard.
Feng Jingluo broke off the branches and removed the unnecessary twigs. He deliberately slowed down his pace and as his body stretched out, he used the sword to stab, chop, and lift slowly and normally.
Invisible forces gathered and flowed around Feng Jingluo. Xue Qingtang seemed to see a continuous mountain range, but when he focused his attention, he could see that it looked like layers of overlapping and rolling waves.
It was a vast, ever-changing force, like a seed, transforming and growing with the passing of the seasons. Finally, all things in the world unfolded before Xue Qingtang's eyes.
She was completely stunned.
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