Li Xuanqi stared at the Black Tortoise remnant soul for a long time. Then, as if having made a decision, she came to Wang Xiu and said, "Junior Brother, take it!"

Wang Xiu was stunned. "For me?"

"Yes! You contributed greatly to slaying this Big Ao," Li Xuanqi said with an easygoing air. A light smile brightened her beautiful face, making her enchantingly, heart-stoppingly beautiful.

But her heart was bleeding. Even for her, the Saintess of Mount Shu, the Black Tortoise remnant soul was agonizing to part with. The choice was incredibly difficult. Yet, her heart was like a clear mirror. Without Wang Xiu, she would have given up long ago and had no chance to obtain this wondrous item. Especially at the end—without his help, she would never have been able to defeat the Big Ao. By rights, Wang Xiu deserved a share of this Big Ao. In fact, to be more specific, she believed that Wang Xiu deserved the larger share.

Furthermore, this battle had taught her more about Wang Xiu, yet somehow, he seemed even more of a stranger than when she first met him. The man was too mysterious, too inscrutable. His strength was immense, certainly no weaker than her own, yet he always remained unassuming. For such a person, if she could build a good relationship with him, then half of a Black Tortoise remnant soul, as precious as it was, could be sacrificed.

Emmm…

Perhaps there was another reason, one that even Li Xuanqi herself didn't realize. Wang Xiu had called her his goal, the motivation that pushed him to sprint forward and cultivate valiantly. In front of him, she instinctively wanted to display her most charming side. For instance, being unconventional, or treating treasures as if they were dirt. Even though she knew his words might not be entirely true… but… the feeling of being praised by him was simply too intoxicating!

Wang Xiu looked at the delicate hand Li Xuanqi extended toward him. It was as if carved from crystal, its skin like snow, utterly flawless. Even the world's most perfect work of art could not compare.

But the cyan orb of light resting in her palm was an even more precious, wondrous item, one that could unleash a bloody storm across Nanzhou.

Honestly, he hadn't really given the Black Tortoise remnant soul much thought. After all, Li Xuanqi had been fighting desperately from the very beginning. Although he had lent a hand, he had already received his benefits. It seemed perfectly fine for Li Xuanqi to take the larger share. But he never expected her to be so insistent, offering to give the item directly to him.

Smart people can understand each other with just a look. She must have seen a portion of his true strength and wanted to befriend him, to show her goodwill. As expected of the Saintess of Mount Shu—what a grand gesture, what boldness! Even half of a Black Tortoise remnant soul was priceless, yet she was willing to give it up without a second thought!

In his heart, Wang Xiu's estimation of Li Xuanqi rose to a new height.

"Since Senior Sister insists, then I'll graciously accept!" Wang Xiu was direct, pocketing the Black Tortoise remnant soul without any fuss. "However, I can't just take advantage of Senior Sister. I have some Precious Medicines and spiritual materials here that are quite valuable… I hope Senior Sister will accept them!"

With that, Wang Xiu took out a Space Ring and passed it over with a smile.

Li Xuanqi took it and swept its contents with her Divine Sense. She was instantly startled.

Inside, a small mountain of heavenly materials and earthly treasures was piled high, their radiant light dazzling to the eye.

"This… is too much!"

"If Senior Sister refuses, then I can't accept this Black Tortoise remnant soul either…"

"You!" Li Xuanqi's beautiful eyes stared at him for a moment before she shook her head with a light chuckle. "Fine then. We owe each other nothing!"

She was beginning to see that while Wang Xiu appeared easygoing, he was proud to the bone. He was unwilling to owe her a favor. Yet, the more he acted this way, the more her curiosity about him grew.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Li Xuanqi looked at Wang Xiu's perfect features, a smile appearing on her face. "Junior Brother Wang Xiu, have you also become separated from our fellow sect members?"

Wang Xiu nodded with a wry smile. "Yes, I had some bad luck and ended up quite far from my brothers. It's impossible to find them now. I plan to head deeper in and try my luck!"

"That's my plan as well!" Li Xuanqi's large eyes twinkled with a spiritual light as she extended an invitation. "Why don't we travel together?"

Wang Xiu clasped his hands together, feigning surprised delight. "The honor would be mine!"

Now with a traveling companion, the journey was no longer lonely.

Wang Xiu hardly had to lift a finger again. They encountered no more Void Ancient Beasts containing wondrous items, just the occasional lone Void Beast. With just a few words from Wang Xiu, Li Xuanqi would charge forward, brandish her Sun and Moon Golden Wheels, and unleash a fierce flurry of attacks, looking utterly majestic.

If any other prodigies were to witness this scene, they would surely be dumbfounded. The Saintess of Mount Shu, number one on the Golden Core Ranking, had seemingly become Wang Xiu's enforcer.

Truthfully, Li Xuanqi didn't want this either. The problem was, Wang Xiu's flattery was simply too potent. It always made her uncontrollably want to display her full capabilities, to show off her extraordinary charm and power. She once again confirmed her suspicion: Wang Xiu was a menace. Any woman in the world who encountered him was doomed. Although it was a joyful experience, it was easy to lose oneself, to get completely swept up and do things that would later be astonishing even to herself.

After every instance, she would be filled with regret, admonishing herself not to be so impulsive next time, that she absolutely could not let it happen again. However… her warnings were for naught. When the moment came to get carried away, she wouldn't hesitate in the slightest.

One day, they stopped to rest.

They were in a makeshift camp, constructed by the cultivators and prodigies who passed through. It was surrounded by high walls inscribed with runes that could repel common Void Ancient Beasts. Almost every cultivator who had stopped here for shelter would reinforce its defenses in their own way before leaving, whether by leaving behind a Sword Intent, a Talisman, or an entire Formation.

At the moment, there weren't many cultivators in the camp, only a few dozen scattered into small groups, all keeping their distance. They didn't interact with each other, sitting quietly to replenish their consumed mana.

Wang Xiu and Li Xuanqi, shrouded in a hazy light that concealed their features, casually found a spot to sit.

Li Xuanqi sat in meditation to restore her mana. Wang Xiu, meanwhile, looked around.

Thanks to the Supreme Mysterious Directive, he could absorb Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth at any time and convert it into pure Supreme Primordial Qi. As long as he didn't continuously use excessively powerful techniques, his mana recovered far more quickly than it was consumed. He almost never ran low on mana.

Suddenly, a conversation among a few cultivators in the distance caught his attention.

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