If it weren't for the fact that Xu Ke had practiced the Heaven-Defying Fate Change Technique—which depleted his cultivation and subjected him to a seal from the mysterious Oath of the dical Path—he would have beco unstoppable in the country by now, given his talent and incredible rate of progress.
"You're exaggerating, Mada Yu," Xu Ke said, a bit embarrassed as he rubbed his nose. "I'm well aware of my own cultivation level. It's nowhere near invincible."
"That's true," Ki Qinyin teased. "Your master is probably still stronger than you."
"A disciple should never surpass their master," Xu Ke said with a chuckle.
Ki Qinyin's expression then turned serious. "That's why, Dr. Xu, I hope you understand. If there is anything you need the Northern Dragon Guard to do, just tell us! Kang An and I will forever owe you our lives!"
Xu Ke's expression changed slightly at her words. "Mada Yu, that's too much!"
The Northern Dragon King himself owes a life… If anyone else heard the Mada Dragon King say sothing like that to , they'd probably pass out from sheer excitent.
But Ki Qinyin looked at him intently, shaking her head. "My words are not an overstatent. We know the great price you paid to treat Han Han's illness. You practically risked your own life to save hers, so how could we not be grateful?
"After you fell into a coma, the dical Saint was furious. If Han Han hadn't still been unconscious, I'm afraid he would have literally blasted down the mountain. For him to beco that enraged, we can only imagine the sacrifice you made."
Xu Ke fell silent at her words, a warmth spreading through his chest as he pictured his master's face. I had no idea he did sothing like that for after I fell into a coma…
Seeing him quiet, Ki Qinyin continued, "So, I hope you understand that there will always be a place for you in the Northern Dragon Guard. Originally, on my way to the gymnasium, I was planning to publicly announce that the Northern Dragon Guard would always be your ally, silencing anyone who looks down on you. But then I saw that your strength, despite having recovered, had stalled at the Postnatal Late Stage. It was clear that sothing was wrong. Out of caution, I decided against making the announcent and thought it better to recruit you into the Northern Dragon Guard instead."
Xu Ke gave a wry smile. "Mada Yu, you are very thorough. If you had really made that announcent, I think Wong Ting might have temporarily dropped everything happening in the Southern Territory to focus all his efforts on having killed."
Ki Qinyin covered her mouth and giggled. "That's exactly right!"
She had been worried that publicly revealing Xu Ke's connection to the Northern Dragon Guard would alarm those who already wanted him dead, pushing them to act sooner. That would put Xu Ke in grave danger. After all, recruiting him could be explained as her simply valuing his potential. However, if word got out that the Northern Dragon King himself, Yu Kangan, wanted to partner with him, the implications would be enormous, and people would treat Xu Ke very differently.
It would send a clear ssage to the world: Yu Kangan was convinced that Xu Ke was destined to beco a colossal figure. If that information spread, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that a group of Innate Great Perfection cultivators might co to assassinate him.
This was precisely why Ki Qinyin had insisted that everyone else wait outside while she and Xu Ke spoke alone in the conference room. She wanted to protect his identity and thank him privately for what he did all those years ago.
* * *
"By the way, what's going on with your strength?" Ki Qinyin asked again, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Since you were able to break the Oath of the dical Path, shouldn't your previous cultivation level have returned imdiately?"
Ki Qinyin had been present back then and heard Ren Gu ntion the "Oath of the dical Path." But as for what it actually was... even for soone as knowledgeable and experienced as the Mada Dragon King, it was a complete mystery.
Xu Ke shook his head. "This Oath of the dical Path is far too esoteric. Even my master isn't entirely clear on it. I only know that while my strength has recovered significantly, it's still restricted. I can't return to the cultivation level I had three years ago."
A look of regret crossed Ki Qinyin's face as she sighed. "This is still our fault for dragging you into this."
Xu Ke waved his hand dismissively. "Mada Yu, if you truly consider an ally of the Northern Dragon Guard, then there's no need to say such things. The purpose of studying dicine is to save people. There's no 'burdening' involved."
"Dr. Xu," Ki Qinyin remarked with a sigh, "the phrase 'a healer's benevolence' must have been coined to describe people like you."
Embarrassed by the praise, Xu Ke quickly denied it.
Ki Qinyin pressed on, "Then how can the restriction on your strength be resolved? Perhaps we can help!"
Xu Ke saying he didn't mind was one thing, but the guilt in Ki Qinyin's heart had never faded. She was determined to seize any opportunity to help him.
Hearing this, Xu Ke was montarily stunned. He mulled it over for a mont before saying slowly, "I need items imbued with Dragon Essence to raise my cultivation again."
Ki Qinyin's eyes lit up. "Items with Dragon Essence?!"
"That's right."
Truthfully, Xu Ke hadn't wanted to ask Ki Qinyin to search for Dragon Essence Items for him. Firstly, they were exceedingly expensive. Even for soone as wealthy as the Northern Dragon King, a sustained search would consu vast amounts of manpower and resources, jeopardizing the Northern Dragon Guard's operational budget. Secondly, it felt a bit like he was cashing in on their gratitude.
But after hesitating, he considered his current predicant. By now, Wong Ting had likely learned that he had destroyed Qian Jun's Dantian. The next assassins sent after him would be more than twice as powerful. Xu Ke fully expected more attempts on his life, which might even endanger people like Wong Qifu. At a ti like this, he couldn't afford to be indecisive or worry about appearances. Hesitation could be fatal. Improving his strength and staying alive was the only thing that mattered.
"A Dragon Essence Item? What's that?" Ki Qinyin asked after a mont of thought.
Xu Ke gave her a rough explanation.
Understanding dawned on Ki Qinyin's face, and she said firmly, "I'll have Kang An start searching for antiques from the Imperial Tombs right away. I'll buy you as many as you need!"
She said it with an air of extravagance, but Xu Ke quickly interjected, "There's no need to rush. Finding Dragon Essence Items is very difficult, and it's easy to throw money down the drain. Relics from the Imperial Tombs are already expensive, and on top of that, only people like us who have practiced the Heaven-Defying Fate Change Technique can determine if they truly contain any Dragon Essence. So, please don't be impulsive with your purchases. I'm telling you this with the hope that if you ever co across information about Imperial Tomb Relics that have been lost abroad, you'll let know. I'll be the one to judge if they're worth buying."
He was genuinely worried that Ki Qinyin and Yu Kangan would spend far too much money.
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