Chapter 138: The Qilin Jade

Upon hearing this voice, Bai Changqing’s expression shifted instantly. He turned toward the source of the sound and muttered, "Big Brother, I am sorry!"

A black-clad figure descended slowly from the void. His thick, sword-like brows were slightly furrowed, and a natural chill radiated from his body, bearing a striking resemblance to the aura of Xiao Leng.

Long Yun narrowed his eyes, observing the black-clad figure. He sighed inwardly, realizing this must be Leng Wuchang, the head of the Four Young Masters of the West City. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Fusion Realm, just a hair’s breadth away from undergoing the Tribulation.

"Big Brother!" Rong Pian, having also noticed Leng Wuchang, stepped forward to salute him. Whether among the Four Young Masters or the general populace of the West City, Leng Wuchang was held in high esteem.

It was not only due to his formidable cultivation but also because he had been designated as the next City Lord of the West City—a decision reportedly made by the high-ranking officials in the Central City. It was said that he only awaited his breakthrough from the Innate stage to the Yin-Yang Realm to officially ascend to the position. His father, Leng Lingxiao, was the only Yin-Yang Realm expert in the West City and was widely recognized as its strongest warrior.

Consequently, the arrival of Leng Wuchang caused both Rong Pian and Bai Changqing to fall silent immediately; Bai Changqing, in particular, did not even dare to breathe loudly.

Leng Wuchang’s gaze fell upon Long Yun, meeting his eyes directly. He narrowed his own slightly and asked, "Who are you?"

"An irrelevant person," Long Yun replied calmly, showing not a hint of panic in the face of Leng Wuchang’s icy presence.

Leng Wuchang remarked, "At the Spirit-Union stage, yet able to contend with the Marrow-Cleansing stage. Impressive."

Long Yun felt a silent appreciation. Rong Pian and Bai Changqing were arrogant figures with deep, calculating minds, but this top-ranked Leng Wuchang was vastly different. The look he gave while praising him was devoid of impurities; it was direct, sincere admiration. On that basis alone, Leng Wuchang was truly a man of substance.

"It was merely luck. Young Master Bai and I were just sparring to satisfy our competitive spirit. Since you have important matters to attend to, I shall take my leave," Long Yun said with a bow, grabbing Yan Qingqing’s arm, ready to depart.

"Wait a moment," Leng Wuchang said suddenly.

Bai Changqing sneered inwardly, thinking that Leng Wuchang was about to take matters into his own hands; after all, the reputation of the Four Young Masters could not be tarnished by some nobody.

Long Yun turned back slowly and asked with a smile, "Does Young Master Leng have any instructions?"

Leng Wuchang scanned Long Yun once more before finally speaking: "Do me a favor."

At these words, both Bai Changqing and Rong Pian were taken aback. Neither had expected that Leng Wuchang would stop Long Yun just to make such a request.

"Young Master Leng, my cultivation is low. I fear I have little to offer in terms of help," Long Yun said, neither humble nor pushy, stating the plain truth.

"Big Brother!" Bai Changqing attempted to intervene, but Leng Wuchang continued, "A Blood Kirin has appeared in the Haisen Forest of the West City. If we can subdue it, we can obtain the Kirin Jade."

"Kirin Jade?" Long Yun frowned. He had never heard of the Kirin Jade, though he knew a little about the Blood Kirin.

The Blood Kirin was a beast born of bloodlust, formed by absorbing countless essences of life within extremely bloody illusions. It was an inherently malevolent and powerful monster, driven by a maniacal thirst for slaughter.

Leng Wuchang nodded. "My cultivation has gone awry, and my body has begun to generate a freezing, Yin energy. To cure it, I must be purified by the bloody, murderous aura of the Kirin Jade—a case of fighting poison with poison to recover."

"Can the Four Young Masters not handle it together? I wish to help, but my abilities are limited. You overestimate me, Young Master Leng," Long Yun said, frowning inwardly. Though he had a favorable impression of Leng Wuchang, the Blood Kirin was incredibly formidable. A single mistake could cost him his life, and his priority was to find Xiao Leng; he had no time to waste here.

Leng Wuchang sighed. "Your strength is not beneath that of the Four Young Masters, but the true power of the Blood Kirin is such that even experts at the Zhou-Tian Realm would fear it. If the four of us go alone, we have no chance of success."

Long Yun laughed. "I am only at the Spirit-Union stage. I might be able to contend with a Marrow-Cleansing expert through luck, but against a Zhou-Tian expert, I doubt I could take even a single blow. You are making things difficult for me, Young Master Leng."

Leng Wuchang persisted. "It is not just our West City vying for the Blood Kirin this time. Experts from other cities, and even the Central City, are coming. Compared to them, our West City is relatively weak. If you join us, it would bridge the gap in our strength."

Long Yun’s heart stirred. Indeed, while the Blood Kirin was powerful, it would struggle against the combined forces of the Five Great Cities. Leng Wuchang’s goal in inviting him was not necessarily to face the Kirin directly, but to counter the other factions vying for the jade.

Realizing this, Long Yun was even less inclined to wade into these murky waters. He smiled and refused, "I am sorry, Young Master Leng. My sister and I came to the Xuantian Realm only to seek refuge. We have no desire to involve ourselves in extraneous affairs."

"Long Yun, who do you think you are?" Bai Changqing barked, unable to contain his irritation at Long Yun’s attitude. "My brother is asking you for help, and you keep making excuses? Do you really think you’re someone important?"

Long Yun gave a cold laugh. "You know exactly what kind of person I am. If you are not satisfied, we can continue our fight!"

Bai Changqing’s face turned pale. He knew Long Yun’s strength; if they were to fight again, he had no absolute certainty of victory, and the odds of losing were significantly higher.

"Long Yun, think it over," Leng Wuchang said. "The Kirin Jade contains a bloody aura, making it a sacred relic highly coveted by the Demonic Sect. Experts from the Demonic Sect in the Xuantian Realm will also come to seize it. If it falls into their hands, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Long Yun smiled. "Since the Demonic Sect and the righteous path can coexist peacefully in the Xuantian Realm, I assume there are plenty of powerful figures to maintain that balance. I fear this is not something we can worry about. A single piece of Kirin Jade may not be enough to turn the tide."

Seeing that he could not persuade Long Yun, a flash of disappointment crossed Leng Wuchang’s face. He shook his head and said, "Very well. Since you are unwilling, I will not force you."

"In that case, thank you for your understanding, Young Master Leng. I shall take my leave." Long Yun bowed to Leng Wuchang and walked away, taking Yan Qingqing with him.

"Big Brother, why are you humbling yourself to beg him? Is it possible that we cannot succeed without him?" Bai Changqing snorted, his gaze filled with resentment as he watched Long Yun’s retreating back.

Leng Wuchang sighed. "Second Brother, you do not know. When Long Yun fought you earlier, there was a trace of divinity in his aura. That is an attribute not easily possessed by ordinary people. It is said that the genius girl Liu Xiaoxiao, who has just joined the Demonic Sect, has a demonic aura so extreme that even my father is wary of her. If she intervenes, none of us will be able to withstand her attributes. Only Long Yun might have a chance."

Long Yun paused. He knew Leng Wuchang was saying these words for him to hear. If the demonic genius were someone else, he might not have cared, but he had heard the name Liu Xiaoxiao.

Had she also come to the Xuantian Realm? Thinking back to the day Liu Xiaoxiao had left in tears, consumed by grief, a sense of pity stirred in Long Yun’s heart. Although he had pushed her away to protect her, he had always felt her background was tragic.

Yan Qingqing had also heard the name. Feeling Long Yun stop, she looked up at his face, a flicker of displeasure in her beautiful eyes.

Long Yun smiled softly. "Regardless of everything, Xiaoxiao is a disciple of our Jade Sword Sect, and the last time she left, it was because of me. Qingqing, I fear we cannot avoid this."

"Brother, you can go, but you are not allowed to talk to that Liu Xiaoxiao!" Yan Qingqing said, wrinkling her adorable nose.

Long Yun felt a wave of affection. He pinched her delicate, porcelain-like cheek and said, "Don't worry! I know what I am doing."

"Young Master Leng, I agree to go with you," Long Yun said.

A spark of joy crossed Leng Wuchang’s cold face. He nodded, "That is for the best. However, your sister should stay here. She has no cultivation, and it would be too dangerous for her there. Rest assured, I will have Rong Pian assign someone to look after her well."

Long Yun nodded. Sensing Yan Qingqing’s hand tighten around his, he sent a telepathic message: "Qingqing, stay here for now. Keep an eye out for any news of Senior Brother Xiao Leng. Don't worry, I will return very soon."