C39 A Friendship Worth Tens of Thousands of Gold Coins!

"Brother Yu," Zhao Yafu pleaded with eyes full of entreaty, "I will visit you at Colddeath in the Land of Quiescence in the future. Thank you so much. Your kindness will never be forgotten by your little sister."

It was clear that she, too, was hoping Yu Yuan would accept Ann Ziqing's terms.

If Yu Yuan agreed, everyone would be safe.

Ann Ziqing would then assist Yu Yuan in infusing the dragon whelp's spirit into her body, enabling her to claim it as her own.

Once the battle between Yuan Qiufang and Ann Ziqing concluded, the truth was revealed.

The actual key to refining the dragon whelp's spirit was not Yuan Qiufang's fiery power, but rather Ann Ziqing's vital energy.

The flames served merely to severely damage and weaken the dragon whelp's spirit.

Ultimately, it was the orb of bloodlight that played the decisive role.

The energy emanating from it was essential for melding the dragon whelp's spirit into her being.

Thus, the only person who could truly aid her was Ann Ziqing.

"Young Master, take a look, everyone is acting in your best interest."

As the opposing factions faced the threat of death, they all began to urge Yu Yuan. Ann Ziqing wore a knowing smile, as if she had anticipated this outcome. "With that in mind, let's resolve this amicably, shall we?"

"Junior Sister!" another Colddeath disciple exclaimed in anger, "What about my vengeance?"

"We'll set that aside for the moment," Ann Ziqing replied, her eyes cold and distant. "The plan has failed, and we can't gather the materials for you to refine your Lunar Spirit anytime soon. Once we secure the Flame Halberd, we can exchange it for a substantial reward from the Ruby Hand upon our return to the Divine Cult. I assure you, I will prepare all the magic items and herbs necessary for your second attempt at advancing to the Lunar Spirit."

"But I would have succeeded this time if not for the unexpected!" the man protested.

Ann Ziqing remained silent, fixing him with a chilling gaze that seemed to pierce his soul.

Feeling the weight of that stare and recalling his junior sister's usual demeanor, he relented, nodding in agreement, "Fine, fine."

"That's better," Ann Ziqing withdrew her gaze and once again looked at Yu Yuan with a sweet smile. "Young Master, there's no need to ponder any further. See, everyone has already made the decision for you."

Her demeanor towards her senior brother was a stark contrast to how she treated Yu Yuan.

Did Yu Yuan truly merit such esteem from her?

Throughout the entire process, she had cordially invited Yu Yuan to join Colddeath, never once using the lives of the Yu family as leverage.

Maybe it was because she understood Yu Yuan's temperament and knew the fate that befell Lin Hanyu for trying to coerce the Yu family with brute force.

"Grandfather."

Through the throng of people, Yu Yuan's gaze found the elder, Yu Cen.

"Whatever decision you make, I'm behind you," Yu Cen declared, standing tall with a look of pride. "To see you held in such high regard fills me with honor. As for the outcome... that's for you to decide."

"Understood."

Yu Yuan nodded, releasing Zhao Yafu's hand and stepping back with a shrug. "I obtained her in exchange for the Black Dragon Scissors."

"Brother Yu, what are you implying?" Zhao Yafu asked, feeling slighted.

"If you're thinking of using her as leverage to get me to join Colddeath," Yu Yuan explained with a smile, "that's not going to fly. Honestly, I'm quite put off by all the unsolicited advice. To me, it all comes across as rather insidious."

"Here are the Black Dragon Scissors, I'm leaving them behind," Yu Lili said, playing along. Despite her attachment, she took out the scissors and casually tossed them to the ground.

At the entrance to Mount Aureum, Zhao Zhenghao and Zhao Dongsheng exchanged bewildered looks.

"What's the point?" Zhao Zhenghao chuckled nervously.

Yu Yuan's blunt disregard for his granddaughter's welfare was completely unexpected.

"Oh, and one more thing, dear mayor," Yu Yuan suddenly remembered, "regardless of the process, the fire toxin that has plagued your father for years has been thoroughly eradicated. Provided he survives, he should swiftly regain his former strength."

Yuan Lianyao was taken aback. "What are you getting at?"

"I need to make it clear that I've honored the agreement between us. Therefore, I owe you nothing," Yu Yuan stated plainly. "You have no grounds to lecture me. And as for the Colddeath, their treatment of your father and you is beyond my control."

Yuan Lianyao fell silent, her expression complex. After a moment, she spoke, "You've done much for Asvetaesi. I hold no grudge against you."

She pondered deeply, realizing that without Yu Yuan's early warning and his subsequent arrangements, without his help in using thaumaturgy to lead her father into a state of frenzy, what might have become of them?

With the blood sacrifice magic circle in motion, her father was the first to be afflicted, his spirit and vitality drained to sustain the Colddeath envoy.

She herself, along with members of the Zhao and Yu families, would have become mere stepping stones for that individual's ascent to the Lunar Spirit state.

Asvetaesi would have been awash in blood, and countless innocents would have been caught in the crossfire.

Surely, the current dire circumstances were preferable to such an outcome?

Given this, on what grounds could she resent Yu Yuan or demand that he betray his principles?

"A forced melon isn't sweet," Yu Yuan remarked with composure. "If I'm reluctant to practice with Colddeath, why should I compel myself? Besides, my decision not to join Colddeath won't impact the relationship between us."

"Our relationship? What relationship?" inquired Ann Ziqing, her curiosity piqued.

After careful consideration, Yu Yuan replied, "Friendship."

"Friendship?" Ann Ziqing looked at him, skepticism written across her face.

"Indeed. It doesn't matter to me what your origins are or what you're plotting within the Yu family," Yu Yuan affirmed with a nod. "To date, you haven't truly harmed me, nor have you committed any transgressions I find unforgivable. What I remember is your attentive care and kindness towards me."

Ann Ziqing gazed at him, her heart a tumult of emotions.

"Friendship..."

Throughout her years in the Land of Quiescence, she had become infamous for her merciless and bloodthirsty reputation.

Because of her affiliation with Colddeath, those she encountered over the years were either terrified of her or wished for her demise.

The internal struggles among sect disciples were merciless; there was no such thing as camaraderie.

She had never experienced genuine friendship.

"Your friendship is worthless from someone at the mere Spirit Channel Realm!" sneered another Colddeath disciple, his face grim. "If you were a core member of one of the three great upper sects of Euwrea, or the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, with a higher realm of cultivation, then your friendship might actually be of some value."

"Shut up," Ann Ziqing commanded icily.

The man fell silent once more.

"It's a bit hard to swallow, but I actually believe your friendship, Yu Yuan, could be quite valuable."

Suddenly, Ann Ziqing made up her mind and declared, "I accept your friendship! I will no longer wreak havoc in Asvetaesi. I will take the Flame Halberd and leave with my senior brother."

Upon hearing her words, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"The Flame Halberd, you will leave that behind!"

An angry shout erupted from a distance.

As the voice boomed, Mount Aureum trembled, sending stones hurtling through the air.

Yuan Qiufang, held captive by Ann Ziqing's senior brother, felt the flickering embers within him surge with excitement.

"Boom!"

The blood-red tendrils entwined around the Flame Halberd burst apart.

The Flame Halberd soared into the sky.

Ann Ziqing's face paled slightly. She gazed intently at Yu Yuan and said, "If destiny wills it, we shall meet again. Remember, Yu Yuan, you owe me a favor, and you'll have to repay it someday."

"Don't worry, our paths will cross again," Yu Yuan assured her.

"Senior Brother, release him. We're leaving now," Ann Ziqing ordered.

Remarkably, her senior brother seemed to sense the unexpected turn of events and, without wasting a word, dropped Yuan Qiufang and, like Ann Ziqing, transformed into two blood-red streaks of lightning, vanishing from the valley.

The deaths within the Huang family were of no concern to them.

Everyone looked up to the sky in unison.

In the fierce sunlight, a tumultuous fireball blazed forth, and within it, a one-armed elder flickered uncertainly like a wavering flame.

The Ruby Hand's Heavenly Grade Weapon, the Flame Halberd, joyously darted to and fro within the blazing fireball.

"The Lunar Spirit ventures far! Spirit Walk!" Yuan Qiufang trembled with awe and immediately prostrated himself towards the heavens, proclaiming, "I, Yuan Qiufang, have devoted many years to mastering the Crimson Soul Spell. At long last, I am graced with the presence of our sect's esteemed elders."

Below, Yu Yuan looked up at the one-armed elder within the great fireball, his gaze filled with bewilderment.

He had not anticipated encountering someone he knew so soon after his rebirth.

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