Zhou Yan met both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner when he was little, but he had not seen both his childhood friends all these years.

As the doors of the hidden chambers opened, he was unable to contain himself.

The once snot dripping, crybabies who used to hide behind the young lad while crying out ‘Brother Zhou Yan’ were now fully grown elegant young maidens.

Those two young lassies were almost uncanny. There were slight hints of shyness yet elegance on their faces.

Both their skins were soft and tender. They seemed to emanate a radiant glow from their bodies as they both wore the same white silk woven dresses. They resembled deities as they were absolutely stunning.

Zhou Yan had encountered a handful of mysteriously unique young maidens, and he knew that the better one’s progress was, the more stunning one would be. This was all due to the mutation one had to undergo as one progressed and ascended into a higher realm. Besides, based on the foreign land known as ‘Earth,’ its ‘science’ had explained that this progress as a genetic mutation, causing one’s body to be gradually perfect.

However, both of the maidens who were in front of this young lad lacked training as they were only in the third rank within the realm of the Blade’s Cardinal. Still, when the duo stood side by side, they could seemingly distract anyone away from their progress as both of them were inhumanly beautiful.

They both looked similar. However, their temperaments were distinctly different. One was as beautiful as the flowers in spring, and the other was as pure as the fall’s moon. This stunned Zhou Yan when he first laid his eyes upon them.

As Zhou Yan took his time analyzing their looks, both young maidens stood at the same spot nervously as they refused to come any closer to him.

“Brother Zhou Yan?” said the spring flower-like young maiden skeptically while staring at him nervously.

On the other hand, the fall’s moon-like young lass stared at him with an emotional gaze as her breathing grew increasingly unstable.

“You’re Liner, and you’re Chaner, I presume. The both of you sure are pretty,” said Zhou Yan while staring at the lassies.

“Um… Brother Zhou Yan, you’re finally in the City of Heavenly Prophecies?”

Xiao Liner seemed not as close as she was before, as she was unsure of what to talk about. She was a little excited previously. However, now that she had finally seen him, she was uncertain of how to interact with the young lad.

At the same time, Xiao Chaner’s face blushed slightly as she, too, was unsure of what to say.

It seemed that they had plenty in mind to speak. However, they were unable to. The close-knit bonds they shared as children seemingly drifted apart as time passed.

“Brother Zhou Yan, Chaner, Liner, let’s head out for some shopping,” suggested Gu Xi at that moment, breaking up the awkwardness between the trio.

“Hmm, if that’s the case, then… Chaner, Liner, it’s been so long, I will buy you both a gift.”

Zhou Yan smiled as he noticed that it was more difficult than he had imagined when facing the duo. It seemed like an invisible wall was built in between their relationship, and it felt significantly different when he first met Gu Xi.

Zhou Yan took no offense to this whole ordeal, as the only thoughts that came to his mind were perhaps it was due to the passage of time and that the two young lassies had indeed grown up, so a change in personality was to be expected. Hence, it was a natural and reasonable response.

“Brother Zhou Yan, you’re still as elegant and casual as you used to be.”

Xiao Liner smiled, revealing her beautiful pearly whites.

…

The Complex of Treasures within the City of Heavenly Prophecies.

The management who ran the Complex of Treasures was an influential person, but not a single soul knew who this person was.

The Complex of Treasures existed in every city, and every product that was sold there was unfathomably luxurious that not even a regular major family would be able to afford such products.

Thus, Zhou Yan brought Xiao Liner, Xiao Chaner, and Gu Xi over to the Complex of Treasures.

“Brother Zhou Yan, this place… we shouldn’t be here, I think we should leave…”

Before they could enter a strictly guarded masonic door, Zhou Yan heard Xiao Chaner’s voice.

Zhou Yan took a quick, curious glance at her, smiled, and said, “It’s fine. Shopping here is something I can afford.”

“But… the cheapest item in here is charged with Spirit Crystals… I… I…” Xiao Chaner looked down in guilt.

“It’s fine. What’s a little crystal going to cost me anyway?” Zhou Yan smiled compassionately at Xiao Chaner, who was blushing.

Xiao Liner, on the other hand, had a cold and uninterested expression on her face. She paid absolutely no attention to what Zhou Yan had said and even glared at her twin sister with disgust. That glare seemingly said, ‘Wow you’re a fool, how could you not see the obvious carefree attitude from Zhou Yan?’

“What’s a little crystal going to cost me? You speak words of an arrogant fool. Do you actually think you’re a Lord of the Zhou family? You’re nothing but a walking breathing useless trash, an abandoned child of the Zhou family.”

At this moment, the voice could be heard reverberating through the air, instantly breaking the stoic and amazing atmosphere they had built.

Zhou Yan turned around, and the young lad noticed a slender looking man with a cold, tense gaze along with a mocking smile on his face.

This man was assaulting Zhou Yan with his words, while his perverted gaze seemingly violated both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner’s bodies.

This gaze was filled to the brim with perversion and hints of intentional offense. This look seemingly startled Xiao Chaner, and almost instinctively, she inched closer to Zhou Yan, sheltering her from that man.

Xiao Liner, on the other hand, was unaffected, as she glanced over to meet the man’s gaze.

“Do you know me?’

Zhou Yan’s eyebrows twitched as the young lad moved his arm subtly. However, he did not reach for the hilt of Sorrow’s Breaker that was hanging by his waist.

This young lad was more than capable of murdering with a single word. However, he willed himself to temporarily suppress his bloodlust.

“The trash of the Zhou family. This abandoned child is nothing more than an imposter using a false status and was merely done to perhaps motivate him by provocation… everyone in Cang Lan City was talking about this, so tell me, why do I not know about it?

“We, the members of the Xie family specialize in the trade of information through the blessing of the Sword’s Master of Smelting. Tell me, do you think this entire ordeal could be kept hidden away from me?”

“So, you are from the Xie family. This explains your arrogance! However, does the Xie family dare to threaten the pupils of the Temple of The Frost Blade?”

Zhou Yan never said a word. It was instead at this moment, Gu Xi stood up, and without hesitation, she used her status as a pupil of the Temple of The Frost Blade.

“You… you’re the special heir, handpicked by the master of the Temple of The Frost Blade, Gu Xi?”

The young lad of the Xie family was shocked as his expression morphed into a horrified look upon hearing Gu Xi’s reply.

“Exactly! If you dare offend brother Zhou Yan with your words again, I will not hesitate to unleash my blade!”

Gu Xi’s words spoke volumes as it was filled to the brim with bloodlust. Judging from her progress, not even Zhou Yan was close to her current level. It did not matter how powerful this young lad of the Xie family was and how far his training went. His entire face turned pale by the sheer pressure of Gu Xi’s words, and he swayed uncontrollably.

“Hmph, trash!”

Gu Xi scoffed, as she turned to Zhou Yan and said in a much gentle and compassionate tone, “Brother Zhou Yan, let’s not be bothered by the likes of him, let’s go!”

“Yes, indeed.”

Zhou Yan nodded. However, this ordeal never affected him as he was not bothered the slightest bit as the man was a sole traveler.

As Zhou Yan turned around, his field of perception had not been deactivated. Hence, he was able to sense a robust burning hatred and bloodlust coming from the lad’s body.

He was unsure as to why this lad thought that way. However, it was not a difficult thing to imagine, as that lad was certain that both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner would be his prisoners.

However, he was not too bothered by that, since all he had to do first was help treat Xiao Zhan’s injuries. With the Lord of the Xiao family’s status, he was not that worried about the insignificant brat of the Xie family.

As the young lad and the trio of maidens approached the Complex of Treasures, at the same moment, an astounding looking young lass in a purple Armor of Spiritual Affinity walked out of the Complex of Treasures.

She glanced at Zhou Yan, as a hint of shock and surprise reflected through her eyes, then looked at both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner and finally, Gu Xi. She bowed in absolute respect towards Gu Xi and said, “It seems the true heiress of the Temple of The Frost Blade had made her grand presence here. Lady Gu, please.”

“Indeed, I have. Please, there is no such need for any formalities. After all, this was my brother Zhou Yan’s proposal. He was about to buy us all a gift!”

Gu Xi cracked a gentle smile as it was evident that she was not affected by that young lad from the Xie family.

“Oh, it is Lord Zhou… my apologies, my apologies. Lord Zhou, this way, please.”

This young lass took another glance at Zhou Yan. Even though she made no effort to sense his level of training, she was staring at him in a very odd manner, and she made no effort to hide it.

Zhou Yan knew that this entire ordeal was due to his exile from the Zhou family. It seemed that news had traveled from Cang Lan City all the way to the City of Heavenly Prophecies. It was apparent that most common-folk too had known about it, and it was through the very gaze of this young lass’ eyes that she was utterly skeptical of his progress, his powers, his identity, and even his purchasing power.

However, the young lad had no such need to explain anything.

“Do you happen to have any better Armor of Absolute Invincibility in store? I would like to have three,” said Zhou Yan in a casual manner.

The Armor of Absolute Invincibility was indeed something easy to obtain. Plenty of scholars were fond of the armor since it was capable of self-mending.

As a pupil from the Temple of The Frost Blades, Gu Xi was indeed worthy of such an artifact. However, she was currently short on funds.

Ever since Zhou Yan made his way here, he thought about gifting the three young maidens this armor after he had first-hand experience with the benefits the armor had provided.

The young lad was calm, however after he had made such a bold statement, even Gu Xi, who had plenty of experiences too, was stunned. Both Xiao Chaner and Xiao Liner were utterly shocked.

“This… this is way too expensive!” exclaimed Xiao Chaner shockingly.

“This… this…” Xiao Liner stuttered slightly as her gaze reflected feelings of complete shock and curiosity.

“Brother Zhou Yan, please, there’s no need for something so luxurious… truly. Look at the clothes we’re wearing now, it’s still fine. Besides, it has some form of resistance ability, too,” said Gu Xi as she covered her mouth.

Hints of skepticism and admiration were reflected through the young lass clad in purple who was their merchant guide as she thought if… that was, in fact, the legendary useless trash which had been given the identity of ‘Zhou Wangchen’s’ son, this man was very different to that adopted and abandoned baby who had been given the name ‘Zhou Yan’ than she had imagined!