Chapter 340: It's You I Want

9th grade spiritual weapon Anchoring Soul Bead. It was an astonishing treasure for soul defense never seen before in Tianyu. It was unique. A defensive treasure everyone was willing to die for.

When Radiant Stage and above experts fought, the emphasis shifted towards the soul. And with the Anchoring Soul Bead, one's soul was safe and sound.

It even had the miraculous ability to simulate one's essence when their soul was gravely damaged.

With Xue Ningxiang's essence stolen for three days, she had collapsed. It was the strength of her soul that waned, unable to support her consciousness. In fact, her soul had yet to fully scatter back then.

If she had the Anchoring Soul Bead then, her life would've been saved.

And with the help of some medicine, she would regain her essence to connect with her soul and regain her consciousness. This was the only way to recover.

Looking at her sleeping face, it was clear that she was saved in the nick of time.

Zhuo Fan was overjoyed, "Edifice Lord Chu, than-"

"Call me Qingcheng!" Glaring at him, Chu Qingcheng snapped, but then her eyes bloomed with joy, "Now you can no longer be depressed."

Flushing, Zhuo Fan scratched his pale face awkwardly and switched topics, "Uh, right, where did you get the 9th grade spiritual weapon, Anchoring Soul Bead? Was Drifting Flowers Edifices hiding it?"

"Of course. We may not be the strongest of the houses, but our treasury has filled over the last thousand of years. Is it that strange? Did you think we only had Bodhi Root?"

Chu Qingcheng held her head high like a proud lady. The powerful image left even Zhuo Fan speechless.

But Zhuo Fan was unable to see the sorrow hidden in her eyes.

Gasping, Zhuo Fan said, "Now we just have to find some ingredients to heal her mind and Ning'er will wake up!"

"Do you know where to find them?" Chu Qingcheng smiled.

Zhuo Fan shook his head and shrugged, but his mind was set, "No, but with Ning'er's soul affixed, we have the time to look for them. I will even search outside Tianyu's borders if I have to!"

Chu Qingcheng looked at the sleeping Xue Ningxiang with envy.

[He will do anything for her. But what will he do for me?]

Chu Qingcheng said, "Zhuo Fan, what were you trying to say?"

"Uh, I want to thank you..." Zhuo Fan looked at her oddly.

Chu Qingcheng smiled, "That's it? How are you going to thank me?"

"Uh, how do you want me to..." Zhuo Fan scratched his white hair clueless.

Chu Qingcheng grinned, "First... close your eyes."

[Eh?]

Zhuo Fan looked at her oddly, but then he saw the glare in her eyes and closed them on the spot.

[What's she planning?]

Chu Qingcheng drew near Zhuo Fan and pecked his cheek.

Shivering, Zhuo Fan was about to open his eyes but only heard Chu Qingcheng's soft voice in his ear, "Don't look!"

Zhuo Fan snapped his eyes tighter than before.

With a graceful smile, Chu Qingcheng rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Hold me."

Zhuo Fan's heart thumped, freezing for a moment, but he did embrace her lovely body in the end.

Held close to his chest, Chu Qingcheng's soft and peaceful voice came, "I want to go back to the time we spent in the run-down house in Drifting Flowers City, just the two of us. Zhuo Fan, you are not allowed to think about other girls at this moment, even Ning'er!"

Zhuo Fan shuddered, and bobbed his head without realizing.

Thus, the two held each other with closed eyes, as their mind drifted to those peaceful days.

After a long time, Chu Qingcheng opened her eyes and flicked his forehead with a smile, "Now you can open them."

Zhuo Fan showed a pair of dazed eyes. Upon seeing the perfect beauty in front of him, his heart felt lost. He didn't want to wake up as his hands still held her delicate waist for a long time.

Boring holes into him with her eyes, Chu Qingcheng giggled, "What's wrong? Are you regretting it now? Too late. That's the last time. From now on we are mere associates. Later you will stay with Ning'er and I'll lead Drifting Flowers Edifices. We will never cross paths again, lest we be led astray."

"Uh, that's what I want as well, ha-ha... ha." Laughing dryly, Zhuo Fan scratched his head awkwardly. But his heart still had the same sense of loss as before.

He wanted to only be cordial with Chu Qingcheng, but after her request, he felt unwilling.

[Men are so despicable! But... since when have I become despicable?]

Zhuo Fan shook his head.

Chu Qingcheng said, "Zhuo Fan, you should go back. Perhaps... you will soon find the way to save Ning'er."

Zhuo Fan looked at her puzzled.

[What's up with her? Being so mysterious all of a sudden. And you need 9th grade ingredients to heal a soul. How can it be so easy?]

[Or is it her way of telling me to shoo off?]

[Probably.] Since she dragged me here and also the one to initiate the kiss, kicking me out could only be her as well. [Really, unlike men, women make no sense at all.]

Zhuo Fan shook his head and sighed inside, "Then, Qingcheng, goodbye."

Zhuo Fan walked out.

Chu Qingcheng watched him go with glistening tears falling down.

Whoosh!

A shadow landed behind Chu Qingcheng, "Girl, remember our deal. When she wakes up, everyone and everything here will no longer concern you."

"I know. I'm fine as long as I could see him." Chu Qingcheng bit her lip.

The shadow vanished once more...

Zhuo Fan was walking down the street, his mind playing Chu Qingcheng's odd words over and over again.

Just then, a whisper sounded in his ear, "Kid, if you want to save the girl, come fifty miles south of the city, in the forest!"

Startled, Zhuo Fan released his divine sense but couldn't sense anything.

His Discerning Field was so strong that he could even detect a Radiant Stage expert. But how was it that he couldn't find a trace of that voice. [What kind of power is that?]

Recalling Chu Qingcheng's odd behavior, Zhuo Fan still couldn't make sense of it. His only choice was to go south of the city and see for himself.

With how strong this man was, not even Li Jingtian could stop him. Since nothing could guarantee his safety, he might as well go and see what tricks were being played on him.

Four hours later, Zhuo Fan arrived. But what he saw were just trees and more trees.

Just then, an eerie voice came from behind, "He-he-he, you came!"

Zhuo Fan whipped his head back to see a gray shadow floating and cried, "Above Radiant Stage, the Ethereal Stage!"

Yes, the Ethereal Stage!

Only this stage allowed one's soul to leave their body. Even if the body died, the soul could linger on. It was a stage attained only by those who cultivated their soul to perfection.

The Radiant Stage employed mere parlor tricks when it came to a soul's power, while only an Ethereal Stage expert could bring out its full potential.

When a soul left the body, its attacks would only be soul based. And their power was at a level no Radiant Stage soul could survive. They'd fall the same way as if being killed with intent.

One could go as far as to say no Radiant Stage expert could take even a finger from this shadow. Because his finger would pierce your soul dead.

Without a way to focus one's soul to attack, the flesh could be as invincible as you want, but it wouldn't pose the slightest problem for an Ethereal Stage expert.

Even if Huangpu Qingtian, the peak of body cultivation, might have reached the peak of Radiant Stage, he'd still be a mere ant before an Ethereal Stage expert.

The gap between the two stages was a gaping abyss.

It was why many people were stuck at peak Radiant Stage and were unable to advance. It was also why for the past thousand years Tianyu had never had an Ethereal Stage expert.

As one transitioned from body to soul, the quality jumped, and the gulf widened...

But Zhuo Fan couldn't understand why an Ethereal Stage expert would appear here all of a sudden.

The shadow cackled knowing his thoughts, "Hi-hi-hi, Zhuo Fan, it's you I want. Now let's talk terms..."