Chapter 897: A Cold Shoulder

"I never expected Xuan City to be so bustling and lively, no less than the outside world," Han Li said, his eyes sweeping around in admiration.

"This is the main city of Xuan City, so it should naturally be so," Gu Qianxun said nonchalantly.

The two soon passed several blocks, and the bustling district gradually gave way to sparser crowds.

After walking a bit further, they arrived near a crimson pagoda built against a mountain and stopped.

The pagoda occupied a large area, seventy or eighty zhang high, divided into nine stories. Its entire surface was inscribed with countless crimson runes, emitting rolling waves of scorching heat, as if standing at the mouth of a volcano.

"Is this Lady Liuhua's residence?" Han Li asked, looking at the crimson pagoda.

"Yes, Lady Liuhua lives on the ninth floor of this Yanyang Pagoda, but it's not easy to gain an audience with her," Gu Qianxun said, gazing at the top of the pagoda.

"Fellow Daoist Gu seems quite familiar with Lady Liuhua. May I ask what kind of person she is?" Han Li asked casually.

"I wouldn't say I'm familiar. Anyone who has been to Xuan City knows the name of Lady Liuhua, the city's foremost master of artifact refinement," Gu Qianxun said, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Is her artifact refinement truly that remarkable?" Han Li raised an eyebrow.

"Of course. It's said that before being imprisoned in the Jilin Void, she once forged a third-grade sacred artifact," Gu Qianxun said.

"A third-grade sacred artifact!" Han Li was astonished.

Sacred artifacts were what the demon race called demonic artifacts. The grading of demonic artifacts followed the same classification as immortal artifacts. Apart from the unknown-grade Vial of the Heaven's Gourd, the most powerful treasures Han Li had seen—the Tianhu Blood-Transforming Blade and the Luozha Pipa—were only third-grade immortal artifacts.

Both of these immortal artifacts felt unfathomable to him, and with his strength, he couldn't comprehend them at all.

Had this Lady Liuhua actually forged an immortal artifact on par with the Tianhu Blood-Transforming Blade and the Luozha Pipa? If so, her artifact refinement skills were truly astonishing.

"Her skills might be unparalleled, but that was outside. Here in the Jilin Void, neither demonic qi nor immortal spiritual power can be used. I'm afraid she can't even bring out one-tenth of her ability," Han Li said, frowning.

"That's true, but Lady Liuhua has devoted herself to developing a method to replace demonic qi or immortal spiritual power with the power of stars. This method is quite unique," Gu Qianxun said, glancing at Han Li.

"Could it be that the star-power-based restrictions I saw in Qingyang City were all created by Lady Liuhua?" Han Li's heart stirred.

"Not only that, but it's also said that Lady Liuhua has found a way to infuse star power into weapons, allowing them to unleash power comparable to sacred artifacts from the outside world. However, forging such a weapon requires a tremendous cost, so we can't hope to obtain one," Gu Qianxun said regretfully.

Han Li nodded thoughtfully, saying nothing.

"Let's go," Gu Qianxun said, stepping forward.

The two arrived before the Yanyang Pagoda. The main door was tightly shut, and a wave of scorching heat emanated from within.

"This Yanyang Pagoda is said to be built atop a volcanic crater. Since demonic qi cannot be channeled in the Jilin Void, artifact refinement relies solely on the power of geothermal fire," Gu Qianxun explained.

Han Li nodded silently and looked around.

The surroundings were utterly still, with not a soul in sight.

"Strange. Since Lady Liuhua is a master of artifact refinement, why is it so quiet here? Doesn't anyone come to request weapons?" Han Li asked, his expression shifting.

"Lady Liuhua is the exclusive artifact refiner for City Lord Ekuai, highly esteemed. She dislikes being disturbed, so generally, few dare to come here to request weapons," Gu Qianxun said, stepping forward to knock on the door.

After knocking for a while, someone finally responded. A short, stout youth with scabby sores on his head emerged.

"What business do you two have?" the stout youth asked impatiently, scanning Han Li and the other with a lazy look.

"We have long admired Lady Liuhua's reputation and have come specifically to request an audience. Please trouble you to announce us," Gu Qianxun said, cupping her hands.

Han Li also bowed.

"Oh, you two have come at an unlucky time. The lady began a seclusion a few days ago and is not receiving visitors. Please go back," the stout youth said, waving his hand dismissively.

"May I ask when Lady Liuhua will emerge from seclusion?" Han Li frowned.

"I don't know. The lady has her reasons for seclusion. At the shortest, she'll come out in seven or eight years; at the longest, perhaps over a hundred years," the stout youth said, turning to go back inside.

"Please wait a moment, young friend. We are..." Gu Qianxun stepped forward, stopping the stout youth.

"Hmph, you're being ungrateful! My lady is of such high status—how could just anyone request an audience? Go, go!" the stout youth said impatiently.

"Exactly. Two Xuan Fighters from Qingyang City, practically slaves, daring to seek an audience with Lady Liuhua—how utterly clueless!" A mocking voice came from behind. A figure in white robes approached leisurely, none other than Feng Wuchen of Xuanzhi City, who had clashed slightly with Han Li earlier in the city lord's hall.

Behind him followed a middle-aged man in Xuanzhi City attire, with a dark face, curly beard, and eyes like copper bells that gleamed, giving off a beastly ferocity.

Han Li frowned slightly but said nothing.

Gu Qianxun remained calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

Feng Wuchen glanced sidelong at Han Li and the other, then nodded slightly to the stout youth, taking out a golden visiting card. "I am Feng Wuchen, sent by my adoptive father, the City Lord of Xuanzhi, to pay respects to Lady Liuhua. This is my card. Please trouble you to deliver it."

"So it's Fellow Daoist Feng. Please wait a moment; I will deliver it for you. However, whether the lady will see you is her decision," the stout youth said, his expression shifting to a fawning look after seeing the signature on the card, though with a hint of apology.

He was merely a gatekeeper and dared not make promises.

"Of course," Feng Wuchen said with a smile, his demeanor full of confidence.

The stout youth nodded to Feng Wuchen again and turned to go inside.

"Please wait, friend. I also have a token here. Please present it as well," Gu Qianxun said, stopping the stout youth. She took out a white bone token with a crack running across it, appearing to be a very old item.

Both sides of the token were inscribed with flowing runes, shimmering with faint white light.

Han Li's eyes flickered with surprise.

Hearing this, the stout youth stopped involuntarily. Looking at Gu Qianxun's calm face, he felt a chill and his previous contempt largely receded. He then looked at the bone token and was about to step forward to take it.

"A broken bone token—that's supposed to be a token? You're just trying to swindle," Feng Wuchen sneered with a glance.

Although he knew Gu Qianxun was not weak, as a mere Xuan Fighter from Qingyang City, she was of low status and beneath his notice.

Hearing this, the stout youth's steps faltered again.

"You are the guard of this Yanyang Pagoda, aren't you? As a guard, you should stick to your duties. Don't be clever and overstep your bounds. If you delay important matters, can you bear the consequences?" Gu Qianxun said coolly.

"You're right. Please wait here as well; I will go report to the lady," the stout youth said, his expression changing. He took Gu Qianxun's token and quickly entered the Yanyang Pagoda.

Feng Wuchen's face darkened. He snorted coldly but did not flare up.

This was Lady Liuhua's residence, and he dared not cause trouble.

Time passed little by little. Half an hour went by, but the stout youth seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Feng Wuchen's face showed impatience.

Just then, footsteps sounded from within, and a figure emerged—the stout youth.

"I'm terribly sorry to keep you waiting. The lady was just doing her morning devotions and dislikes being disturbed, so it took until now. Please, both of you, come in," the stout youth said with a full face of apology, bowing his head.

"No matter. Lady Liuhua is busy with countless affairs. As a junior, waiting a while is only proper," Feng Wuchen said with a smile, stepping forward to enter.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, the lady said she has important matters to attend to today and asks you to come back tomorrow. The 'both of you' I referred to are only Fellow Daoist Gu and her companion," the stout youth said urgently, quickly blocking Feng Wuchen. He dared not look at Feng Wuchen's face and spoke with downcast eyes.

His heart was full of regret; he wished he could slap himself. In his eagerness to apologize, he hadn't spoken clearly, and now this misunderstanding had thoroughly offended Feng Wuchen.

"What did you say?" Feng Wuchen stopped, his face flushing red, then turning ashen.

"Thank you for delivering the message," Gu Qianxun said calmly, as if she had expected this. She nodded to the stout youth and walked inside.

Han Li's eyes showed a trace of surprise as he followed.

"Please, follow me," the stout youth said, glancing at Feng Wuchen. After a moment's hesitation, he finally chased after Han Li and the other.

The main door slowly closed, shutting Feng Wuchen and his companion outside.

"Let's go!" Feng Wuchen's face was extremely ugly. He turned abruptly and strode off into the distance.

The curly-bearded middle-aged man's eyes showed a strange glint as he followed closely behind Feng Wuchen. Their figures soon disappeared into the distance.

...

Han Li and Gu Qianxun followed the stout youth into the Yanyang Pagoda, passing through a long corridor until they reached a spiraling staircase.

"The lady lives on the top floor. Please follow me," the stout youth said respectfully, leading the way.

Han Li and Gu Qianxun followed behind, ascending the stairs.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, since you had that token, why did you say earlier that it was not easy to see Lady Liuhua and insist on bringing me along?" Han Li transmitted his voice, his eyes flickering.

"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Li. That token was left to me by my mother, who said it could be used to see Lady Liuhua. I wasn't sure of that and thought it wouldn't be so smooth, so I asked you to come along," Gu Qianxun replied with a smile.

"Is that so..." Han Li frowned, noncommittal.