The sword's edge split into three shadows, swiftly striking at the opponent's neck, heart, and qi sea – three fatal points. Yet, the opponent did not dodge, directly taking the brunt of all three strikes!
"Yo, kid, it's been so long, you don't even treat this old man to meat, and now you draw your sword on me?"
"Senior Xiao!"
Yun Ze hurriedly sheathed his sword, looking at the person before him in surprise.
He had never expected Senior Xiao to personally appear within the Guiwu Sword Sect!
This Guiwu Sword Sect had Nascent Soul ancestors guarding it, and formations protecting it from the outside. Yet, this person could enter so easily. What… what was his true realm?
"Yo, you still recognize this old man? Remarkable, remarkable!"
Xiao Hanshi retorted, then walked directly to the stone table and sat down, swinging his legs back and forth. "As expected of a heavenly prodigy who has ascended the Heavenly Rankings. Your memory is indeed good! Your reflexes are quick!"
"Senior Xiao, you flatter me."
Yun Ze quickly smiled. "This junior was merely lucky to have made it onto the Qi Refining Heavenly Rankings. If it weren't for you back then..."
"Enough, enough, this old man doesn't like hearing such things."
Xiao Hanshi waved his hand, directly opening the wooden box beside him. He glanced at the wine and meat inside, then reached in and grabbed a piece, stuffing it into his mouth.
As he bit down, his mouth was slick with oil.
He smacked his lips, looking at the piece of meat with dissatisfaction. "Tsk, this Guiwu Sword Sect's lousy cook still has the same skills, no improvement at all! Not as good as your cooking, it's terrible, terrible!"
He tossed half the meat back into the wooden box and turned his gaze back to Yun Ze. "Kid, roast some meat for me to eat!"
"Yes."
Yun Ze knew the elder was craving something good. He turned and walked towards the outside of the small courtyard. "Senior, please wait. I'll go to the food market to buy some raw meat and live chickens."
"No need to trouble yourself."
Xiao Hanshi casually waved his hand, and three birds with blue-gold feathers instantly appeared on the ground.
They were called birds, but each was as large as a chicken, appearing plump and meaty at first glance. Their taste remained to be seen.
"Here, clean them up, and we'll talk while we eat!"
"Alright!"
Yun Ze directly found some firewood in the courtyard, simply cleaned out the internal organs and feathers, and then skewered the three blue birds on wooden sticks to roast.
Xiao Hanshi sat there, his eyes fixed on the three blue birds, swallowing his saliva countless times.
Despite the elder's gluttonous demeanor, Yun Ze knew he wouldn't have come here solely for a feast.
Yun Ze pondered for a moment, not wanting to waste time, and directly asked, "Senior, why have you come this time..."
"Don't speak, just roast your meat properly!"
Before Yun Ze could finish, Xiao Hanshi interrupted. "Let me tell you, these are spirit beasts I caught from the canopy of the Profound Abyss Tree. They are one of the Ten Great Delicacies, the Azure Feather Kites. If you ruin them for me, I'll deal with you!"
Azure Feather Kite?
Yun Ze had never heard this name before, nor did he know what the Profound Abyss Tree Canopy was. However, since Senior Xiao wasn't in a hurry, he didn't need to press the issue.
He would roast the meat first.
As the skin gradually turned golden, a peculiar sandalwood fragrance wafted from within the Azure Feather Kite.
Yun Ze merely took a light sniff and felt his internal spiritual energy increase significantly!
The last time he felt this way was when he drank the Ascending Immortal Wine… Wait! Could this elder also be here to help him build his foundation?
Yun Ze frowned, but he did not resist. Instead, he breathed in the sandalwood fragrance deeply.
When the sandalwood fragrance reached its peak, Yun Ze quickly extinguished the fire and placed the three Azure Feather Kites before Xiao Hanshi. "Senior, please enjoy."
Xiao Hanshi didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed a leg of an Azure Feather Kite and stuffed it into his mouth!
With a bite, his teeth broke through the crispy skin, and the juices instantly burst forth, mingled with the fragrant sandalwood aroma, making one's appetite soar!
"Hmm, good, good!"
Xiao Hanshi praised, but he had no intention of sharing the Azure Feather Kite with Yun Ze, simply eating it himself.
Since the elder remained silent, Yun Ze didn't dare to speak up and could only stand by and watch.
There were still two more!
Surely one of them would be his!
Xiao Hanshi continued to eat, even glancing at Yun Ze from the corner of his eye, but he still said nothing.
Only after he had finished the entire Azure Feather Kite and wiped the oil from his mouth did he slowly speak. "Kid, do you know about the Heavenly Rankings?"
"I do."
"Then the matter of the Heavenly Prodigies disappearing for a century..."
"The Heaven Building Secret Realm."
"Yo, you know quite a bit."
Xiao Hanshi was surprised, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Yun Ze. "Who told you these things? That woman?"
"Woman?"
Was he referring to Li Po?
No, how would Senior Xiao know Li Po?
"Yes, it could only be her."
Without waiting for Yun Ze's reply, Xiao Hanshi answered his own question, then looked at Yun Ze and asked again, "Are you going?"
Yun Ze nodded.
"Hahaha! You have courage!"
Xiao Hanshi laughed heartily, then praised him. He picked up the second Azure Feather Kite and admired it, but did not put it in his mouth. Instead, he asked, "Do you know what the raw ingredient for Ascending Immortal Wine is?"
"This junior does not know."
"Profound Abyss Tree Fruit."
Xiao Hanshi suddenly began to explain. "This fruit is highly poisonous. Only when adult Azure Feather Kites carry it back to their nests and wash away the surface poison with their saliva can it be refined into wine.
The food of these young Azure Feather Kites is also this fruit, which is why their meat is tender yet not greasy, and their flavor is fresh without being gamey.
You have tasted Ascending Immortal Wine, so drinking it again would be useless. However, if you eat the meat of the Azure Feather Kite, even if you don't reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, you can still make a breakthrough."
Gulp~
Yun Ze swallowed.
Whether it was about cultivation or not, this meat… it smelled so good! To say he didn't want to eat it would be a lie!
"If you want to eat it, you naturally can, but you must agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"Help me retrieve something from the Heaven Building Secret Realm."
Yun Ze remained silent, simply looking at Xiao Hanshi.
"What? You're unwilling?"
Xiao Hanshi retorted, but still smiled as he handed the second Azure Feather Kite to Yun Ze. "Alright, it's fine if you're unwilling. I brought this for you specifically.
You eat first, and then we can talk about other things."
Yun Ze did not take it, merely looking at Xiao Hanshi.
"Yo, what, are you throwing a tantrum?"
Xiao Hanshi gave a wry smile and pushed the wooden stick directly into Yun Ze's hand. "Eat!"
Yun Ze held it but did not eat. Instead, he stared at Xiao Hanshi before him and asked, "Senior, you have spoken incorrectly."
"Hm? I've spoken incorrectly?"
Xiao Hanshi laughed in exasperation, pushing himself up with his hands on the stone table and looking at Yun Ze. "Then tell me, what have I said incorrectly."
"You have shown me two great kindnesses."
Yun Ze's expression was extremely serious, not like he was joking. "The first kindness: helping me avenge myself, killing He Laichao with my own hands, and guiding me to find Chen Xiao.
The second kindness: accompanying me on the path to ascension, hoping for the path of immortality.
These two kindnesses are heavier than mountains. I, Yun Ze, may never be able to repay them in this lifetime.
I know you desire Immortal Jade. If you had asked, I would have offered it with both hands, but you never took it, so I had to keep it with me.
If you are seeking me out this time, and have something you need, just say the word, and this junior will go through fire and water without hesitation!
But you are using this Azure Feather Kite as an exchange?
Your actions are an insult to me!
Unacceptable! Extremely unacceptable!"
Xiao Hanshi had not expected Yun Ze to say such a thing. A figure suddenly flashed in his mind, and he was momentarily stunned.
This tone, these words… they were too similar!
His master had once conversed with someone from the Northern Profound Heaven, and he had been present, serving tea. At that time, that person had a request, and his master had said something similar!
Thinking of this, Xiao Hanshi shivered and instinctively asked, "Then you..."
"Originally, whether to go to the Heaven Building Realm or not was optional for me. Since there is something you desire within, I will bring it to you in three months!"
This was even more similar!
Xiao Hanshi instantly recalled!
At that time, the person from the Northern Profound Heaven wanted his master to kill someone. That person had great influence in the Demon Cave and was not weak.
Originally, the person from the Northern Profound Heaven wanted to invite his master to cooperate and jointly assassinate this person.
But after his master agreed, he said one sentence!
"You want this person's head? Then I will deliver it to you tomorrow."
That person was a powerhouse second only to the Emperor, but in less than a day, his master had entered the Demon Cave alone and killed that person.
The head appeared before the person from the Northern Profound Heaven the next afternoon!
He… could he really be his master?
No!
If he were his master, he would not expose such a weak side to himself, unless his memory had not fully recovered, or this was another reminder for him?
Regardless of the situation!
He had to do something!
Seeing Xiao Hanshi lost in thought, Yun Ze assumed he was contemplating something and secretly speculated.
Had his words struck a chord with him?
If that were the case, would he agree if he were to apprentice himself to him now?
Regardless of anything else, he was at least the most powerful cultivator he had ever seen. If he could become his disciple, surely he wouldn't ignore his disciple's revenge, right?
Even if he didn't act personally, teaching him a few moves would be enough to instantly kill Chen Xiao!
He wouldn't care anymore! Even if it was a bit abrupt, he had to try!
Yun Ze's mind raced. He placed the Azure Feather Kite in his hand on the table, bent his knees, and knelt on one knee!
"If Senior does not mind, this junior is willing to..."
Bang!
Another muffled sound echoed. Xiao Hanshi actually knelt down as well, on both knees!
He directly held Yun Ze's hand and, while Yun Ze was stunned, spoke, "Brother! It was indeed this old brother who spoke incorrectly! We hit it off immediately. Why don't we become sworn brothers!"
Cold sweat streamed down Xiao Hanshi's forehead!
Even after a thousand years, he still harbored a fear of his master. The moment Yun Ze knelt, his heart almost leaped out of his throat!
Whether it was amnesia or a test, this person represented his master's will!
If he accepted this kowtow, his head might end up in a wooden box from now on.
His mind raced. Fortunately, before Yun Ze could finish speaking, he had already established their relationship as brothers!
At least, he wouldn't die!
Yun Ze, however, tilted his head and was completely stunned!
Brother?
I wanted you to be my master, and you want to recognize me as your younger brother?!
This doesn't seem entirely impossible!
In a person's life, even if they were the laziest, with a powerful brother and a beautiful wife, life wouldn't be too bad.
Hmm… something seems off!
He wouldn't care anymore. Since this elder was willing to take a step further with him, it was always a good thing!
Whether it was a brother or a master, he finally had someone to rely on!
"Good!"
Yun Ze immediately agreed. "Big Brother!"
"Second Brother!"
Xiao Hanshi quickly helped Yun Ze up and casually took out a jar of wine from his spatial ring. "Come, the two of us are becoming sworn brothers today. How can we do without fine wine?
Let us now pledge to Heaven and Earth, and toast the Yellow Springs, and swear our brotherhood!"
"Good!"
Yun Ze didn't understand what pledging to Heaven and Earth or toasting the Yellow Springs meant, so he could only echo in agreement.
Xiao Hanshi poured two cups of wine, pulled Yun Ze to face east, and knelt on both knees, raising his cup above his head. "Recite after me!"
"Good!"
"Heavenly Dao above, Yellow Springs below!"
"Heavenly Dao above, Yellow Springs below!!"
"I, Xiao Hanshi!"
"I, Yun Ze!"
"Today become sworn brothers! We do not seek to be born on the same day, month, and year, but only to die on the same day, month, and year!"
"First cup, to the Nine Heavens!"
Xiao Hanshi sprinkled the wine in his cup upwards. Yun Ze followed suit, scattering it vertically!
"Second cup, to the Yellow Springs!"
Xiao Hanshi poured the second cup of wine and simultaneously splashed it horizontally on the ground, forming a cross with the previous vertical splash. Yun Ze also mimicked him.
For the third cup of wine, Xiao Hanshi stood up, faced Yun Ze, cupped his hands, and smiled. "Third cup, to brotherhood!"
"Third cup, to brotherhood!"
The two clinked their cups and drank them down!
"Second Brother!"
"Big Brother!"
The two changed their titles for each other, and a single thought surged in their minds simultaneously.
This time, they had gained immensely!