Chapter 84: The Desolate Tower
"How much is this little tower?"
Unaware that she had already been exposed, Liu Ruyan, after purchasing the coordinate map, wandered around the marketplace out of curiosity and stopped before a small stall.
Feeling that the tiny tower was extraordinary, she picked it up for a closer look and asked.
"Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones," the stall owner said leisurely, stroking his beard.
"So expensive?"
Liu Ruyan was startled by the price and nearly dropped it.
Having little experience in the world, she didn't know that prices in street stalls could be bargained — nor that sometimes, hidden treasures could be found among such wares.
In her impression, ten thousand high-grade spirit stones was an astronomical sum, one even the village chief could never afford.
But then she remembered the top-grade spirit stones Gu Qing had given her, and her confidence returned.
She scanned the small tower carefully with her divine sense but couldn't determine its material. It couldn't even hold spiritual energy — it appeared to be a dead object.
Just as she was about to give up in disappointment, the little tower suddenly released a faint aura and voluntarily recognized her as its master, transmitting a fragment of memory into her mind.
"An immortal artifact… the Desolate Tower…"
As the information flowed into her mind, waves of shock surged through Liu Ruyan's heart. Without hesitation, she tossed the stall owner a single top-grade spirit stone.
"Alright, I'll take it."
The old man accepted the stone without the slightest trace of joy that one might expect after swindling a naive buyer.
Liu Ruyan's expression had already betrayed that she'd found something precious. How could he still smile?
"Young lady, I misspoke earlier. This little tower actually costs one million high-grade spirit stones," the old man said, his murky triangular eyes gleaming with greed and malice.
It was clear to him that this naive little girl was inexperienced — and who knew how many more treasures she carried?
"Old Li, that's enough," someone nearby interjected. "You're breaking the rules. How are we supposed to do business if you keep this up?"
"That's right. Money paid and goods exchanged — you can't just change the price afterward. Aren't you afraid someone will report you to the City Lord's Manor?"
Some onlookers spoke out to help Liu Ruyan, while others were simply jealous that Li Guang had earned a top-grade spirit stone.
Seeing a fellow merchant profit was more unbearable to them than losing money themselves.
"Silence!"
Li Guang roared furiously, his face darkening.
Of course, he knew he was breaking the city's regulations. Getting caught could mean a heavy fine — or worse, the destruction of his cultivation.
But with a million high-grade spirit stones, who would still waste away in this wretched place?
"Young lady, I'll give you two choices: either return the tower to me, or pay me another million high-grade spirit stones," Li Guang said coldly as his aura erupted.
A phantom of a fierce tiger appeared faintly behind him, radiating murderous intent.
An ordinary youth would have been terrified by such pressure.
But Liu Ruyan was not ordinary.
"Then I'll give you two choices as well," she replied calmly, her cold, world-weary expression unchanging. "Either return my top-grade spirit stone and pay me an additional ten thousand high-grade ones, or I'll fight you to the death."
She stood tall and proud, her voice steady, carrying a hint of cold defiance.
She might not have seen much of the world, but that didn't mean she was foolish.
Judging from the murmurs around her, Liu Ruyan already understood that Li Guang was bluffing — planning to pull this one scam and disappear.
"You…" Li Guang's face twisted in anger. He summoned his spiritual weapon but hesitated to act.
Liu Ruyan, in turn, brought out her own weapon, her expression resolute and ready for battle. There was nothing fake about it.
Li Guang's expression flickered with unease. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "Fine, fine, fine — I'll take this loss today."
He tossed her a storage pouch, packed up his stall, and left without another word.
Liu Ruyan caught the pouch, her heart surging with joy.
She had obtained an immortal artifact for free — and even received ten thousand more spirit stones. It was a heaven-sent fortune.
"Young lady, be careful," an elderly man nearby warned kindly.
"Thank you."
Liu Ruyan naturally understood what he meant. She was being watched — not just by Li Guang but by several others as well.
Greed glimmered in their eyes, barely contained.
If not for the city's strict laws, they would have already made their move.
Offering a polite word of thanks, Liu Ruyan quickly left the market.
Once she exited the city gates, sure enough, Li Guang appeared — and several figures were trailing behind her.
"Hand it over — quickly."
Li Guang's triangular eyes gleamed with malice and greed as his divine sense swept the surroundings.
Realizing there were others following, his heart sank instantly. He shouted in frustration and panic.
"I knew you'd cause trouble again."
A clear, unhurried voice echoed from above.
It was Gu Qing.
As expected of one blessed by fate — wherever they went, trouble followed.
He hadn't entered the city precisely to avoid dealing with small-time villains looking for death.
He had no interest in crushing insects.
"Who's there?"
Several men paled in terror, scanning their surroundings frantically with divine sense.
Before they could react, an invisible force swept across them.
Their bodies froze — and in the next instant, they were erased from existence, not even ashes left behind.
"What do you mean I caused trouble? They were the ones who wanted to rob and kill me," Liu Ruyan protested as she returned to the airship, rolling her eyes.
Her expression, proud yet slightly pouty, was both elegant and adorably childish.
Though only thirteen, her cultivation had accelerated her growth.
Her slender figure had already developed a delicate, graceful shape — like a flower bud just about to bloom.
Her features were exquisite, her dark, shining eyes like jewels set in flawless pale skin, full of spirit and light.
Normally, Liu Ruyan carried a cold and noble aura, but when she rolled her eyes, she suddenly seemed lively and youthful — the contrast was disarming.
Unable to resist, Gu Qing reached out and pinched her soft, fair cheek.
A rosy hue instantly spread across her skin, making her look even more charming.
"What are you doing?!"
Flustered, Liu Ruyan slapped his hand away, her snow-white face now flushed red.
Did he think she was too young to understand?
Her aunt had taught her clearly — men and women must maintain proper distance!
"Tsk, little girl, you've got quite the temper," Gu Qing chuckled, withdrawing his hand. "Do you need to go home for a while? If not, I'll take you to the Central Divine Domain, then back to the Star Temple."
At the word "home," Liu Ruyan's face instantly darkened. Her black eyes turned cold, her body exuding a violent aura like a demon god awakening.
After a long silence, she asked softly, "Will you help me?"
She wanted to return — not for reunion, but to sever all ties with her parents and confront Liu Ruyi, to see if her sister had already refined her Divine-Demon source.
If she hadn't… perhaps there was still a chance to take it back.
"I will."
Gu Qing's lips curved slightly. He was curious about Liu Ruyi — just what kind of villain was her sister?
If she had value, he wouldn't mind getting acquainted.
"Thank you," Liu Ruyan said seriously, bowing her head with sincerity. She silently noted this favor in her heart.
Then she requested several days of seclusion to absorb the inheritance from the Desolate Tower.
Gu Qing agreed, and while she cultivated, he himself quietly continued to comprehend the Chaos Undying Sutra.
Improving strength — that was always the priority.
…
Boom!
The tranquil sky suddenly erupted with a deafening roar. The heavens trembled, and a terrifying aura spread across the land.
Liu Ruyi descended with a group of powerful cultivators. Her gaze swept over the city below, and her face instantly turned grim.
"Where is she?"
Xu Jing quickly contacted the middle-aged cultivator who had reported Liu Ruyan's sighting. After a moment, she replied, "Princess, he's dead."
"Search," Liu Ruyi commanded coldly. "Even if you have to turn all of Desolate Continent upside down — find my sister."
"Yes!"
No one dared delay. Everyone knew how deeply Liu Ruyi loved her younger sister.
Even after the emperor and empress had given up searching for Liu Ruyan, Liu Ruyi had never stopped.
She had even continued collecting rare treasures to heal her sister's injuries one day.
"The eldest princess is truly kind," they all thought in awe.
None of them could imagine doing what she had done.
After all, Liu Ruyi had refined her sister's source essence — though it had been her parents' decision, not hers.
Still, as the one who benefited, she should have eliminated all risks.
"Where are you, my dear sister?" Liu Ruyi murmured, her expression twisting. "Your sister has searched for you so, so long…"
In the air, her delicate face contorted, her eyes turning as black and hollow as an abyss — dark, cold, and bottomless like the depths of hell.
Having finally received news of Liu Ruyan, she would never again allow her sweet, snow-pure little sister to escape her grasp.
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