Chapter 112: The Right Choice

"Senior Sister Bai was the one who dragged me over to sign up," Song Qiaoqiao said bluntly.

When she had free time, she would go to Battle Peak for Magical Combat and sparring, but she wasn’t particularly interested in the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

But at Bai Qinying’s enthusiastic invitation, she thought about it and finally agreed.

"You’re already at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer. If you don’t participate in the Inner Sect Grand Competition this time, you won’t get another chance," Bai Qinying said as if it were a matter of course.

The Inner Sect Grand Competition was watched over by Foundation Establishment Elders, so there was almost no danger during the Magical Combat matches.

Bai Qinying felt that participating in the Inner Sect Grand Competition was for Song Qiaoqiao’s own good, saving her from future regrets after she became an Elder.

"Look, even Junior Brother Fang, who’s only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, came to sign up. What reason do you, at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, have for not participating?"

Bai Qinying was twisting the logic, leaving Song Qiaoqiao momentarily speechless.

Fang Yun chimed in to help, "I’m me, and she’s Senior Sister. We’re not the same, right, Senior Sister Bai?"

"It’s the same, it’s the same," Bai Qinying said with a laugh, then reached out and pulled Fang Yun over. "The two of us are done signing up. Now it’s your turn, Junior Brother."

"Steward, disciple Fang Yun wishes to sign up for the Inner Sect Grand Competition."

Upon hearing this, the Steward immediately began to take down the records, also needing Fang Yun’s Token for further registration.

Once the process was complete, Fang Yun left Celestial Cloud Pavilion with Song Qiaoqiao and Bai Qinying.

"Junior Brother, where are you planning to go now?" Song Qiaoqiao asked after they left Celestial Cloud Pavilion.

She knew it was more likely for Fang Yun to head to Dan Cloud Peak or Artifact Casting Peak than to go back to his residence.

"Back to my residence to cultivate," Fang Yun replied.

"Perfect, we can go back together."

All three of them lived in the Inner Sect A Zone, so this time they were truly heading in the same direction.

"Okay."

The three of them walked back together, with Song Qiaoqiao in the middle and Bai Qinying and Fang Yun on either side.

Soon, Bai Qinying brought up the topic of the Inner Sect Grand Competition, though she was actually alluding to something else.

"Junior Brother Fang, you have to last a few rounds in the Inner Sect Grand Competition." At this, Bai Qinying smiled at Fang Yun. "Maybe after a few rounds, you’ll run into me, and then we can fulfill the agreement between us."

’An agreement?’

Hearing this, Song Qiaoqiao seemed to recall something, and the tips of her ears grew hot.

Before Fang Yun could answer, Bai Qinying noticed Song Qiaoqiao’s unusual reaction.

"I say, Junior Brother, you didn’t tell your Senior Sister Song everything about what’s between us, did you?" Bai Qinying asked in surprise.

She was surprised by Fang Yun’s action.

If he had told Song Qiaoqiao everything, she wouldn’t be able to help Fang Yun in certain ways, because if Song Qiaoqiao knew, she would understand the intention behind some of her actions.

"Ahem, Senior Sister Bai, watch your wording."

Fang Yun reminded Bai Qinying.

The way Bai Qinying said it made it sound as if Song Qiaoqiao belonged to him.

’You can’t just say things like that,’ Fang Yun thought. He knew Bai Qinying was someone who appeared rough but was actually meticulous. He strongly suspected Bai Qinying had said it deliberately to see Song Qiaoqiao’s further reaction.

"I know, Junior Brother, don’t worry. Junior Sister Song understands me; she knows what I really mean." At this, Bai Qinying gave Song Qiaoqiao a light nudge. "Isn’t that right, Junior Sister Song?"

Song Qiaoqiao didn’t answer, merely nodding in response with her head lowered.

"See, Junior Brother?"

"Let’s just forget about the agreement," Fang Yun said, changing the subject. "But I’m still very much looking forward to meeting Senior Sister in the Inner Sect Grand Competition for a real match."

"Get real. Let’s see if you can even take one of my moves first."

"Taking one move will definitely be no problem. By then, I’ll be close to the peak of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer," Fang Yun replied.

"Alright, then I’ll look forward to it, just a little." Seeing Fang Yun’s serious reply, Bai Qinying didn’t give a casual response either.

Then, Bai Qinying nudged Song Qiaoqiao again.

"Junior Sister, look up at the path. What can you see with your head down?"

"Could it be... you’re planning to pretend to fall so Junior Brother Fang has to catch you, letting you fall into his arms?"

Bai Qinying’s words became more and more outrageous, and the head-bowed Song Qiaoqiao finally reacted.

"Ah, Senior Sister, what nonsense are you spouting!"

"Then why aren’t you watching where you’re going?"

"Oh, I know."

Fang Yun glanced at Bai Qinying beside him, only to see her wink at him.

It gave him the feeling she was saying, ’Senior Sister is a pretty good wingman, right?’

Fang Yun understood immediately.

’The requirements of the agreement haven’t even been met yet, and Senior Sister Bai is already starting.’

It was probably because he had told Senior Sister Song Qiaoqiao about their agreement.

Seeing Song Qiaoqiao looking tense and unnatural from the teasing, Fang Yun changed the subject again.

He switched the topic to pill refining, something Bai Qinying shouldn’t be able to chime in on for the time being.

"Senior Sister Song, I’m not far from being able to perfectly refine a Qi Enhancement Pill."

"Junior Brother is so amazing! You’ve already refined five Upper Grade Qi Enhancement Pills." Once the topic shifted to pills, Song Qiaoqiao quickly joined the conversation.

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister."

"Junior Brother Fang, why are you still calling her Senior Sister Song or Senior Sister? You should be calling her Senior Sister Qiaoqiao," Bai Qinying interjected anyway.

Fang Yun had still underestimated Bai Qinying.

Not only had he failed to ease the situation for Song Qiaoqiao, but he had now dragged himself into it.

Fang Yun had a retort in mind, but after thinking about it, his words were too explosive... it wasn’t appropriate to say them.

One was the great-grandniece of a Supreme Elder, while the other’s great-granduncle was his own fake backer. Some things were truly better left unsaid.

Besides, they were on a path. What if a senior brother or sister happened to pass by and overhear him?

It would be bad if those words reached the ears of either Elder Bai Heyan or Supreme Elder Zhong Yankun.

For the rest of the way, after Bai Qinying became more serious, the atmosphere of the trio’s conversation turned more relaxed.

...

「Seven days later.」

Inside Upper-Grade Artifact Refining Room Number Two on Artifact Casting Peak.

The day before, Fang Yun had received one jin of Sulfur Ant abdominal fluid from the Task Hall.

If he hadn’t increased the reward for the task, it would have taken at least half a month to obtain this supplementary material, the Sulfur Ant abdominal fluid.

Using Sulfur Ant abdominal fluid in Artifact Refining increased the Magical Artifact’s instability, but at the same time, it was an excellent material for increasing the power of a Magical Artifact’s self-destruction.

Fang Yun didn’t plan to use the entire jin of Sulfur Ant abdominal fluid at once; instead, he would divide it into four portions.

He would add one liang to the first sword, and for the subsequent three swords, he would add two liang, three liang, and four liang, respectively.

If he added too much on his first try, even with his current skill in Artifact Refining, he couldn’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be problems during the refining process.

It was best to start small. With his current four-star Artifact Refining talent, as long as he could successfully refine one, the subsequent attempts would, barring any accidents, only get easier.

After nearly a full day, Fang Yun barely managed to complete the refining.

"The Sulfur Ant abdominal fluid is too unstable. It was definitely right to test it with just one liang first," Fang Yun said in relief, looking at the pale yellow sword in his hand.

He had made the right choice. Besides, his Artifact Refining talent was no longer at the three-star level.

’A self-destructing Magical Artifact is already powerful on its own. Add to that my two-star Combat Talent...’

Fang Yun could only imagine its power. Unfortunately, he had no target to test it on for the time being.