With a loud splash Lee landed in the middle of a large lake. He heard loud laughter sowhere above, but when he looked up, the rift had already closed.
"Motherfucker!" Lee cursed, but with a wide smile across his face.
Earlier Elder Ardent explained that he could open a rift only to a place he had been to before, and Lee agreed it didn’t matter as long as he got to the right continent. He didn’t ask for the rift to be on the ground level, though.
He fell over thirty feet and landed in the cool water, and found the long swim to be rather refreshing. Obviously, swimming with clothes on was inconvenient, especially because he had his bag as well. Luckily, the small mountain on items he had stacked the spatial artifacts with didn’t add to his weight, and he got to the shore safely.
On the way he pondered why the elder didn’t relieve him of all his possessions, but realized that if he was in the guy’s place, he would’ve probably done the sa. Besides the fact that basically almost any artifact that was sold at the Celestial Abyss sect’s auction wasn’t usable in public, the man had the world at his feet.
Even though he had beco an elental lord only recently, the most powerful sect in this world invited him to take part in Midsumr celebrations. That showed how much a spatial elental lord was worth in the eyes of others.
While haggling, Lee did press the right buttons and both he and Elder Ardent knew that, but ca to agreent anyway. It was always better to have another friend than a bunch of useless items – you never know when you’ll need an ally.
Of course, Lee was sitting on a pile of treasures – the problem was he couldn’t sell or utilize them.
***
Getting back to the continent where the Nethermoon sect was located did kind of feel like returning ho. Nevertheless, the first thing Lee did was to ask for directions to Xiaogong city.
He didn’t know how many years or even decades had passed after he died, and the best chances to et Xiao Lian were there, not in the sect. The guy was preparing to get married – that ant he and Qin Yujian were about to start a family and unlikely their clans would approve the two talented youths to beco a part of another political power.
Lee didn’t know much about the Qin clan, but Xiao clan was on the level of Han clan – the ones who had the whole alchemist city for themselves. And when a month later Lee got to Xiaogong city, he had to admit that in regards to splendor it left Hantan city in dust.
Everything about it – the beautiful towers, plazas, and even streets, and regular houses were works of art. Apparently, the artificers took any form of creation seriously, not only crafting of artifacts. Even in the Celestial Abyss sect its the outer sect, and especially the slums, were just like in any other place.
In Xiaogong city, though, one couldn’t find a broken window, much less a shack that would fall apart.
To begin with, the city was hidden behind a tall wall, including the outer city. Not only the area it encompassed was much larger than what Lee had seen in the Blackwater sect, the wall itself was a wonder of architecture.
But that ca with a downside. People couldn’t freely enter and leave like regular cities. Everyone had to register their arrival, naming themselves, the place of stay and reasons for the visit. Besides that there was a tax one had to pay upon entering, but that was the least of Lee’s worries.
As he neared the gate, Lee saw two towering statues, each over forty feet tall, standing on either side. Recognizing the faces, Lee could only shake his head and sigh. Turns out that not only he had to think of a way to get in the inner city, he had to get inside the city lord’s mansion!
His damned buddy had all grown up, and now both Xiao Lian and his wife were standing at the city gate, carved in stone, like guardians. Lee had no clue if it was really true, but the mont he saw the statues he was sure that Qin Yujian had to be Xiao Lian’s work. Only he would’ve cared enough to make the minute details right, and carve a statue that looked as fierce. That had to be his work.
As statues the two didn’t look too old, probably in their late thirties, maybe early forties. But knowing that cultivators aged at a different rate, Lee began to feel that much longer ti had passed than he initially expected.
The two were very talented individuals and surely beca elental lords before reaching the age of thirty. And it ant that at least a century had passed.
Lee wasn’t sure if Xiao Lian would rember him after such a long ti – they didn’t hang out that much to begin with. They only did a couple of missions. On the other hand, he did play the role of Lian’s wingman, thus he shouldn’t been completely forgotten, right?
In the end, it didn’t matter. Xiao Lian’s status didn’t allow him to fool around or carelessly travel the world, looking for adventures. He clearly was the head of the Xiao clan, and Lee began to wonder whether his idea to co here was reasonable in any way.
He settled down in a nice inn, not far from the city gate, spent a couple of days in the outer city, enjoying the sights. In one of the many artifact shops he sold a less conspicuous sword and a chest armor from his collection and now had the ans to live without a care. The owner scamd him with a straight face, but little did he know that Lee would’ve given away ten of his items for the sa price – they were useless to him anyway.
After thinking everything over, Lee decided to try to et Xiao Lian after all. He wouldn’t ask his friend anything, just go over to say hi. If Lian didn’t rember him, it would be fine, if he did – even better.
Obviously, Lee didn’t intend to risk his life trying to get into mansion full of elental lords illegally. He did it once, trying to get to Victoria, and learned his lesson.
In few months, during the New Year celebrations, the artisans of the Xiaogong city would accept new apprentices. It was a yearly event and a huge deal in the eyes of the locals, since getting chosen by one the best masters would open the world of endless opportunities for a young talent.
Lee, of course, didn’t intend to slave his life away, although he was curious about crafting. What he eyed were the preliminaries held less than a month from now.
After asking around, he found out that the preliminary crafting competition was popular enough, and the head of the city usually was present among other guests. In theory, Lee could’ve just sent a letter to Xiao Lian in order to et him, but the idea he got seed to be more fun.
***
During the following month Lee did nothing but cultivated in his room, and occasionally went out to enjoy a sumptuous al. Apparently the local cooks were as proud as artificers and in the food that was served, at least in the best restaurants, was also work of art, except for the taste buds.
When the day of the preliminary competition ca, Lee stashed most of his things and headed to the outer city’s central plaza – a massive place used for events like this and for yearly festivals. Now, it was packed with around fifty small smithies, each one modified for this very occasion.
Apprentice candidates were about to show off their skills, and since blacksmithing was the foundation of all crafting – the preliminaries had only a single task. Everyone had to craft an item of their choice within the ti it took for an incense stick to burn.
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