Request For Aid From the Heavenly Domain!

Su'en dressed and adjusted his appearance, then pushed open the door and stepped out. Once his aura was back inside him, he reverted to his original manner of a kindly senior–harmless and gentle.

"Senior!"

A slender, beautiful figure arrived in front of him: Ye Lingyun. She had been cultivating the Diamond Mystic Body Technique when she had been awakened by Su'en's aura, and she had known her senior had emerged from seclusion.

"This fearsome aura of yours is gradually expanding. It seems that you've almost finished cultivating the Diamond Mystic Body Technique!" Su'en looked at Ye Lingyun and nodded his approval.

"It's mainly because of the rich medicinal power of the Vajra Pill. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to cultivate to the fifth level in such a short period of time." Ye Lingyun raised her slender wrist, from which radiated streaks of faint golden light.

"That's pretty fast!"

The Diamond Mystic Body had a total of seven levels. Now that Ye Lingyun had cultivated to the fifth level, she should be close to reaching the perfected stage. Her comprehension of cultivation techniques and natural talent were stronger than Su'en's, and her cultivation speed had always been faster than his, too. All she lacked now was resources.

"After settling some matters, we'll head back," Su'en said. "Go have a few words with Chen Ziling."

"Yes, Senior!"

A few minutes later, Ye Lingyun brought Chen Ziling to Su'en. Seeing that his only daughter was about to leave, Chen Wu followed them.

"Thank you, Exalted Disciple!" Chen Wu was a little reluctant, but as the head of the Chen family, he had weighed the pros and cons of the situation, and knew better than to let his emotions show.

"Don't worry, Master Chen." Su'en turned to Chen Wu, smiling.

"Senior, I'm ready to go!" Chen Ziling looked at Suen excitedly. Although she was not much older than Ye Lingyun, she had a far more cheerful and lively personality.

"Alright, let's go!"

Golden Core Realm cultivators could fly in the air at great speeds, so Su'en used his True Qi to carry Ye Lingyun and Chen Ziling. He stood up and flew towards the Heavenly Domain.

"Goodbye, Father!" Chen Ziling shouted, waving back as the Chen family mansion shrank beneath them.

Chen Wu waved back, looking relieved. With his daughter's aptitude, it was too wasteful for her to cultivate in the mortal world. It was a blessing that she could go to the Heavenly Domain.

...

Atop a misty mountain peak, Su'en stared into the distance.

They had been flying for more than half a day now. Although a Golden Core Realm expert could fly, he was only at the early-stages of the realm, and the True Qi in his body didn't restore itself quickly enough yet. Supporting the weight of two others slowed him down too much, so he had no choice but to stop and recover for a while before continuing.

After returning to the Dao Sect, I'll have to visit the Weapon Refining Sect to buy a cloud shuttle. Flying using True Qi alone is too tiring, Su'en mused.

The Weapon Refining Sect was a sect that specialized in refining weapons in the Heavenly Domain; the primary source of weaponry for most people. Even some secular sects would make daily purchases from them. Although their overall prestige and power was beneath that of the high-level sects, they still served a more important function than some of the latter.

I don't have a proper weapon now, either. I'll have to buy one! Su'en thought, glancing at the empty space around his waist.

Weapons could greatly increase one's strength, especially high-quality, versatile ones. Some people could fight opponents of higher ranks, relying not on their own prowess, but their weapons. Some Treasure Weapons could even turn a cultivator's strength against them.

Su'en tilted his head to face Ye Lingyun, who was resting against a rock with her eyes closed. The sword on her back was just an ordinary spirit artifact.

Weapons were divided into grades: Mortal Artifacts, Spirit Artifacts, Bejeweled Artifacts, Great Artifacts, Sacred Artifacts, and Divine Artifacts. Although mortal weapons and spirit artifacts were a little expensive, many cultivators could afford them.

However, Treasured Weapons were different; ludicrously expensive. They were also forged using strange stones with special attributes, which made them emit a unique power. For example, they could summon lightning from the heavens, emit flames, and condense ice.

Su'en didn't have any Treasured Weapons now because he had been too weak to use one. If he wanted to use a Treasured Weapon, he had to at least possess the strength of the Crystallization Realm, which unleashed his True Qi. That wasn't even mentioning their sheer price–the Treasured Weapons forged by the Weapon Refining Sect would cost one-third of the sect's resources.

If only I could encounter an opportunity for weapons! Su'en thought. Or I could give some opportunities to a Qi Refinement expert in exchange for one. Weapons still needed to be prepared properly, or they would give way in battle.

Feeling that the True Qi in his body had almost recovered, Su'en readied himself to continue their journey.

Suddenly, a bright burst of fireworks exploded in the sky, forming a single massive word: 'help'.

"A request for aid from the Heavenly Domain?"

Su'en was puzzled. Although there were all kinds of sects in the Heavenly Domain, they were still considered a collective body. Therefore, the high-level sects had specially formed the Order for Aid to the Heavenly Domain, which disciples could seek out if they were in danger and needed assistance.

"What happened?" Ye Lingyun opened her eyes and saw what was happening.

"A request for help from the Heavenly Domain. A disciple is in danger nearby," Su'en replied.

"Are we going to help them?" Ye Lingyun's manner turned grave at her senior's words.

"Of course. But not you."

Looking at Ye Lingyun, who was clearly ready for action, Su'en felt a little ashamed. Ever since the contest, she seemed to have changed.

"Bring our junior with you and continue back to the Heavenly Domain." Su'en glanced at Chen Ziling. If not for her, he would have brought Ye Lingyun along. But Chen Ziling was only at the late-stage Qi Refinement Realm, and it wouldn't do to have her meet with an accident.

"As you wish." Ye Lingyun understood her senior's concerns and didn't press the matter.

"Listen to your senior," Su'en told Chen Ziling.

"Yes, understood!" Chen Ziling nodded quickly. Although her late-stage Qi Refinement Realm had been considered decent back then, she had left the mortal world, and she was too weak here. Nor could she refuse to obey her senior's orders.

With that, Su'en flew into the air and headed in the direction of the Heavenly Domain's distress call.