C14 Huang San's Generous Gift

Qin Buyi remained silent, his Probing Eye fixed on Huang San.

A flurry of question marks materialized before him, reminiscent of their first encounter at the Wang family's residence.

This could only mean one thing: Huang San's strength far surpassed his own.

The Probing Eye was adept at discerning the intricacies of enemies with comparable power.

But when faced with an adversary whose might vastly exceeded his own, detection was futile.

Every detail about Huang San remained shrouded in mystery.

Upon their initial meeting, Huang San had extended a gesture of goodwill, presenting Qin Buyi with a Jade Plate, suggesting it might save his life in dire times.

Yet, even when locked in a mortal struggle with Tang Zhentian, Qin Buyi refrained from using the Jade Plate. After all, surviving would merely grant him an additional three months of life.

Failing to complete his mission by the deadline would result in his elimination regardless. More crucially, Qin Buyi felt that such an existence would leave him unable to confront his own conscience.

After obliterating the Tang family with the formidable aid of the Killing Saber, Qin Buyi couldn't be certain whether Huang San, driven by inner greed, might pose a threat.

This concern was precisely why he had made haste to the Falling Star Mountain Range after departing from the Tang family.

The battle with the Tangs had drawn intense scrutiny, with all of Azure Sun City speculating about his extraordinary encounter.

Observing Qin Buyi's wary demeanor, Huang San let out a sigh and said, "Mr. Qin, there's no need for such animosity. I bear you no ill will."

Then, with earnest eyes, Huang San continued, "Mr. Qin, my true intention is to sincerely invite you to join our cause."

Qin Buyi responded skeptically, "Join? The whole of Azure Sun City must be abuzz with tales of a Golden Core Stage cultivator decimating the Tang family, all vying for the miraculous fortune I possess. And you're not interested?"

"Indeed, such fortunes are coveted by many, but they are meant for those of virtue. Rest assured, I harbor no covetous desires for the wonders you carry, Mr. Qin."

"I conduct myself with integrity; if I truly desired your extraordinary fortune, I wouldn't stoop to using deceitful words. Besides, if that were my intention, you'd already be encircled by more than just me."

Huang San replied, pausing briefly as if to emphasize his point, a touch of pride lacing his tone, "And what some might consider treasures or serendipitous opportunities, I might find utterly mundane and unworthy of my attention."

No sooner had he finished speaking, Huang San felt compelled to clarify:

"Just to be precise, I'm currently at the Nascent Infant Stage, specifically the Middle Period. It's hardly noteworthy for someone of my level to eliminate the Tang Family, who are merely in the Early Period. It saves a lot of trouble, too."

Qin Buyi responded, "It seems I've underestimated the generosity of your spirit, Brother Huang. In that spirit of candor, please, share your identity and intentions."

"Haha, surely with your intelligence, Mr. Qin, you've already deduced the answer. Why bother asking?" Huang San chuckled.

"I am the Third Prince of the Ming Dynasty, ranking third among my brothers, hence my alias, Huang San. My birth name is Ying Zhi."

"I extend a heartfelt invitation for you, Mr. Qin, to join and support me."

Observing the clarity and earnestness in Ying Zhi's gaze, Qin Buyi remained silent for a long while before speaking, "I'm about to embark on a journey for training, and I'm afraid I won't be of much help to you."

"Is it a great distance?" Ying Zhi asked, his voice free of skepticism.

Qin Buyi nodded, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "It's quite far, extremely so. I may never return."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Ying Zhi's eyes, but he quickly masked it and inquired, "Then, what assistance do you require? What can I offer you?"

"Your offer is much appreciated, Mr. Zhi," Qin Buyi graciously declined.

After a moment's contemplation, Ying Zhi removed the storage ring from his finger and pressed it into Qin Buyi's hand, saying with a smile:

"One must always be prepared when traveling. The assets within this ring might just provide the aid you need at a crucial moment."

With his cultivation not on par with Ying Zhi's, Qin Buyi couldn't refuse. Holding the storage ring, he asked with mixed emotions, "Why are you inclined to help me?"

"Haha, Mr. Qin and I hit it off from the start. As friends, helping each other out is only natural, right? Take care, Mr. Qin. If you run into any trouble, the Storage Ring has a way for you to reach me."

No sooner had he spoken than Ying Zhi vanished from Qin Buyi's view.

"Friends?" Qin Buyi murmured to himself.

Since becoming an assassin, that word had grown distant to him.

Ying Zhi had spoken without a hint of suspicion, as if he never doubted Qin Buyi's intentions or reluctance to join him.

Upon examining the Storage Ring left by Ying Zhi, even Qin Buyi was taken aback by the wealth of resources it held.

Rows upon rows of Low Grade Spirit Stones were meticulously organized within the ring—ten thousand per chest, one hundred chests in total.

Above the Low Grade Spirit Stones, there were ten chests of Middle Grade Spirit Stones and one chest of Top Grade Spirit Stones.

A Middle Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for ten Low Grade ones, and a Top Grade Spirit Stone for ten Middle Grade ones.

In total, that amounted to a staggering three million Low Grade Spirit Stones.

"This gift is exceedingly generous..."

Beyond the Spirit Stones, there was a letter and a jade talisman inside the ring—presumably, the means Ying Zhi had mentioned for contacting him.

Qin Buyi unfolded the letter, which detailed how to use the jade talisman.

"A Sound Transmission Jade Talisman?"

He took out the talisman and sent a message with his Divine Consciousness, but it was like casting a stone into the sea—no response came.

Qin Buyi flew back to Azure Sun City. As he approached the city, he saw City Lord Nan Tianlong and Wang Zong awaiting him in the sky.

"In such a short time, you've reached the Nascent Infant Middle Period?" Wang Zong's face was a picture of astonishment as he gazed at Qin Buyi.

Nan Tianlong, a bit more composed, still betrayed his agitation with the trembling fingers hidden in his sleeves.

Nan Tianlong spoke up, "Young Master Qin, my young lord has already departed from Azure Sun City. He instructed me to tell you, should you come looking for him, that there's no need to search. Friends shouldn't stand on ceremony."

Wang Zong chimed in from the side, "That's just how the Third Prince is. You'll get used to it."

Qin Buyi was eager to ask more, but noticing the tight-lipped stance of the two, he realized that even if he asked, they wouldn't divulge anything. He bowed respectfully and turned to depart.

On his journey back to the Falling Star Mountain Range, Qin Buyi felt a weight in his heart.

He believed in not accepting rewards without merit, especially one as significant as this.

He hadn't touched the Low Grade Spirit Stones in his storage ring, planning to return them to Ying Zhi in person after completing the Epic Level mission.

Qin Buyi retrieved the Star Compass and infused it with his Divine Consciousness to activate it.

Once activated, the previously still needle began to whirl.

After a quarter of an hour, the needle's rotation slowed and finally came to a halt, pointing in one definitive direction.

Meanwhile, deep within the Falling Star Mountain Range.

A majestic snow-white fox with nine tails stood out as an extraordinary sight.

Its eerie gaze seemed to pierce through the void, fixating on Qin Buyi's location as it murmured to itself,

"A Star Compass? In the possession of a Nascent Infant stage human?"

The giant fox lifted its paw ever so slightly.

With a snap, strands of stellar energy emerged around it.

The stellar force connected the giant fox to a glowing orb, the size of a basketball, hovering above it.

"Curse it! This star core has clung to its instincts even after the star's destruction, confining me here for over three hundred years as its source of sustenance."

The giant fox's eyes shimmered with cunning as it contemplated, "This human youth with the Star Compass might just be the key to a well-devised scheme..."