That night.
The moonlight was bright, the starlight brilliant.
After Ouyang Ye brought Gu Qingfeng back to the manor where she resided, she left to fetch that raw stone, leaving Han Dong to play host.
In the hall.
Han Dong brought over a tray, upon which sat an exquisite white jade bottle and three cups. She then opened the white jade bottle, revealing a crystalline liquid like frost and mist. She gently poured a cup, and with a graceful lift of her slender jade hand, she formed hand seals. Daoist spiritual arts condensed and manifested, instantly freezing the water in the cup, which then began to boil, looking as if ice were burning—a rather profound sight.
Gu Qingfeng watched with interest, nodding in appreciation. He praised Han Dong's skillful technique and the girl's impressive methods. Just from the way she manifested the spiritual arts, it was enough to indicate that this girl's future achievements would be immeasurable. He could tell Han Dong was brewing a kind of jade dew, and curious, he asked, "What is this stuff?"
"Jade dew. Ice-Fire Heartfelt Dew."
Han Dong replied softly, then handed over a cup of the Ice-Fire Heartfelt Dew, saying, "Please taste it, Young Master."
Gu Qingfeng didn't stand on ceremony. He took the cup, sniffed it—the aroma was quite pleasant—and took a sip. Instantly, a marvelous sensation washed over him, like a cool breeze suddenly sweeping through a scorching summer day, or like the sun suddenly rising in the dead of winter. Moreover, this feeling went straight to the heart, very comfortable...
And also very unique.
Without hesitation, he drank the entire cup of Ice-Fire Heartfelt Dew and nodded. "Truly worthy of the name Ice-Fire Heartfelt Dew. Not bad, not bad..." Han Dong poured Gu Qingfeng another cup. Bored, Gu Qingfeng asked, "I heard you are the heir apparent of Yao Yue Palace?"
Han Dong nodded.
Gu Qingfeng had heard more or less about Han Dong's affairs while in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm, knowing that the people of Yao Yue Palace had been ostracizing this heir apparent.
Of course.
Gu Qingfeng had no interest in such matters. His purpose for coming here was solely for Feng Zhuyue. He had considered asking about Feng Zhuyue's situation, but on second thought, he decided against it. When Feng Zhuyue left, this girl hadn't even been born yet, so how could she know about Feng Zhuyue's affairs? However, he did have some impression of her master.
"Your master is Daozun Feiyan of Yao Yue Palace?"
Perhaps because Gu Qingfeng's tone of inquiry was somewhat suspicious, Han Dong asked, "Do you know my master, Young Master?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head, raised a cup of Ice-Fire Heartfelt Dew, and drank it all in one gulp before responding, "I've heard of her."
In fact, he hadn't just heard of her; he knew her. Or rather, within the entire Yao Yue Palace, aside from Feng Zhuyue, Daozun Feiyan was the person he remembered most clearly.
Back when he was taking refuge in Yao Yue Palace, aside from Feng Zhuyue, Daozun Feiyan was the only other person who knew his identity.
Not only that, when his identity was exposed back then, all the elders of Yao Yue Palace decided to eliminate him—except for Daozun Feiyan. Although Gu Qingfeng clearly understood that Daozun Feiyan wanted to protect him for Feng Zhuyue's sake, she had still tried to protect him nonetheless.
In his memory, she was a kind-hearted woman with a good nature. The fact that his injuries recovered so quickly during his refuge in Yao Yue Palace was largely thanks to Daozun Feiyan's care.
That counted as a kindness.
While in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm, he had heard that Daozun Feiyan was severely injured during the great calamity and had not recovered to this day. He wondered how she was doing now. Gu Qingfeng considered finding an opportunity to visit her. If he could help, he would do his best, as a way to repay the kindness of her care back then.
"By the way, why don't I see that Young Master Chiyan?"
Perhaps not expecting Gu Qingfeng to suddenly ask such a question, Han Dong was slightly taken aback before replying softly, "Young Master Chiyan had important matters to attend to and has already returned."
"Is that so?"
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin and asked again, "I heard you two are Dao companions?"
Han Dong hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in acknowledgment, then asked, "Do you know Young Master Chiyan?"
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes with a smile and responded, "I've heard of him."
Ever since learning that someone was impersonating him, Gu Qingfeng knew it must be some mischief orchestrated by Ouyang Ye. After hearing people discuss it in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm, he could more or less guess the general idea. He was about to say something more when Ouyang Ye barged in.
"Well, well, Sister Ouyang, did you bring the item?"
Ouyang Ye shot him an annoyed glare. She was very unaccustomed to this guy calling her "Sister Ouyang," because it always made her think of that person from three years ago.
"Here!
Take a look."
With a thought from Ouyang Ye, a fist-sized stone appeared in her palm.
At first glance, the stone looked very ordinary, almost no different from rocks on a mountain. However, the moment Ouyang Ye took the stone out of her storage bag, a flicker of undetectable surprise passed through Gu Qingfeng's deep, dark eyes. He calmly took the stone and examined it carefully.
"Hey, I didn't lie to you, did I? This is a Great Natural Order raw stone, right?"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng nod.
"What a Great Natural Order raw stone is, you should probably know, right? No need for me to explain further?
I can also tell you, this is a Great Natural Order raw stone from the Remote Ancient Era! How about that?
Didn't expect that, did you?"
Great Natural Order raw stones are hailed as the world's most precious crystals because they contain the most primitive and purest spiritual energy of the Great Natural Order. These raw stones are not formed over endless ages or through natural mutations in later eras; they are born during the revival of the Great Natural Order. Hence, they contain the most primitive and purest spiritual energy.
When does the Great Natural Order revive?
Only under one circumstance: during the era transition after a great calamity, like between the Ancient Era and the Modern Era.
This raw stone belonged to the Remote Ancient Era, meaning it was born during the revival of the Great Natural Order at the end of the Primordial Era and the beginning of the Remote Ancient Era.
Such a raw stone could absolutely be called priceless among priceless treasures.
However, the prerequisite was that the raw stone contained the Primordial Spirit. The Primordial Spirit within this raw stone was no longer pure; not only impure, but it was also very murky.
"This...
Lao Jiu, I don't want to deceive you either. Although this raw stone belongs to the Remote Ancient Era, the Primordial Spirit within it is no longer pure."
Ouyang Ye knew the matter of the murky raw stone couldn't be hidden. Anyone who wasn't a fool could see it, so she simply stated it outright. Then, changing the subject, she added, "However...
Although this raw stone is murky, it contains a mysterious power inside. If you don't believe me, you can probe it with your divine sense!"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng lower his head, concentrating intently on the raw stone, Ouyang Ye felt very anxious inside, afraid this guy wouldn't fancy it. After much thought, the little girl decided to seize the opportunity and spin a little tale.
"Lao Jiu!
It's because I think you're a decent person that I'm willing to trade this raw stone with you. Think about it—this is a Great Natural Order raw stone from the Remote Ancient Era! The Remote Ancient Era! That was a great cultivation era where a hundred flowers bloomed in competition."