"Brother Meng, this..."
Qi Ping looked at the hammer Meng Yan had produced. It bore clear marks of having been tempered through a thousand trials, and these scars had never been repaired. Most striking of all was the Intent residue of the True Meaning of Fire swirling around it.
Such residue was not easily preserved. It was a special phenomenon that only occurred after prolonged nurturing and the sudden flash of insight when one grasped the Laws. Thus, items containing such residue were rare. These objects typically recorded the user's entire process of comprehending the True Meaning, making them far more effective for enlightenment than watching a master manifest the Laws directly.
Furthermore, this residue would gradually dissipate as others drew insight from it, making such items extremely expensive. In some cases, they were even more sought-after than Foundation Establishment Pills. They could be called an alternative path to the Foundation Establishment stage, as once one grasped the True Meaning of Laws, the breakthrough became a smooth journey, and the resulting foundation would be far sturdier and more powerful.
This item held immense significance for Qi Ping. With it, there would be no suspense in his comprehension of the True Meaning of Fire. However, facing such a gift, Qi Ping found himself at a loss for words.
Before this, Meng Yan's help and gifts—such as the Explosive Flame spells and pill recipes—had been within a reasonable range. While precious to Qi Ping, they were easily duplicated and cost Meng Yan little. As for the spirit herbs, Qi Ping was confident he could eventually repay Meng Yan in spirit stones once his Spirit-Nurturing Honey reached mass production. He could also repay him by saving his life in battle. These were balanced investments.
But when this hammer, brimming with True Meaning, was handed to him, Qi Ping fell silent. In the cultivation world, where killing for profit was as common as eating or drinking, this gesture felt surreal.
"Brother Meng, this is too precious. You should keep it. I have done nothing to deserve such a reward; accepting this makes me feel unworthy."
Qi Ping hesitated and ultimately declined. He already owed Meng Yan far too much. Besides, if he obtained a suitable spirit-soul talent, he was fairly confident in his ability to grasp the True Meaning of Fire without having to accept such a heavy burden of gratitude.
However, facing Qi Ping's refusal, Meng Yan laughed heartily.
"Brother Qi, just take it and use it! It's a small thing, not worth mentioning. In all my time in the Qingtian Domain, there are few people I recognize as my peers, but you are one of them!"
"Especially since your Dao-heart Intent shares common ground with my own. Having a trustworthy Dao-companion on the path of cultivation is far more important than these baubles!"
"Everyone encounters trouble eventually. Having one more friend is always more valuable than having a few extra spirit stones. I also know some senior brothers and sisters in the Qingyuan Sect who would likely get along with you; I'll introduce you in the future!"
As Meng Yan spoke, his gaze remained steady, and his intensifying Dao-heart Intent showed not a single ripple of deception. Qi Ping could hear that these words were spoken with complete sincerity.
It was hard to imagine finding such a pure person in the cultivation world. Judging by his Intent, one could truly discern his character. It was indeed this type of seeker who found it easier to clarify their Dao-heart and condense Intent.
Since Meng Yan had put it that way, Qi Ping decided to stop refusing. He agreed with the sentiment; sometimes, a trusted friend was worth far more than wealth. Boss Gao, despite being far weaker than Qi Ping, had provided great convenience and secured a sales channel for the honey.
However, since Meng Yan had gone to such lengths, Qi Ping could not offer nothing in return. Unfortunately, he had few items of value to someone of Meng Yan's status. His various honeys were far inferior to the miraculous pills found within a great sect.
After searching his mind, Qi Ping realized there was nothing in his storage bag that Meng Yan would covet. Then, he thought of the black-robed beetle-tamer he had slain and the mysterious jade pendant he had taken from the altar that birthed the Demon Insect King.
However, the Demon Insect King involved a Nascent Soul Paragon. Qi Ping would absolutely not reveal that until he possessed sufficient strength. But the black-robed cultivator hunted by Lin Qingshu was a risk within controllable bounds. It was better to hand over that secret and the credit for it to Meng Yan as a form of repayment. Furthermore, he could use Meng Yan's channel to understand the secrets behind it; otherwise, being constantly hunted by Lin Qingshu left him uneasy. Knowing the causes and risks would allow him to respond effectively.
"Then I shall thank you, Brother Meng. But before we continue, I wish to ask a few questions."
"Please, Brother Qi!"
"Do you know of a woman named Lin Qingshu?"
"We've crossed paths, but we aren't close. She is a prominent figure in the Qingyuan Sect. Recently, she reportedly gained an epiphany and comprehended Sword Intent; her talent and aptitude are even higher than mine. Do you know her, Brother Qi?"
"I've seen her, but I wouldn't say we know each other. She seemed to be hunting a black-robed marauder recently. That man was killed by me by pure coincidence..."
Qi Ping's words caused a look of mixed laughter and tears to appear on Meng Yan's face.
"Then you must keep that secret well, Brother Qi! Otherwise, she will surely come to settle the score. She was intentionally keeping that man alive, intending to use him to uncover a massive secret. She never expected him to be killed midway..."
"So that was it!"
Qi Ping wore a similar expression. He had always thought the man possessed some incredibly vital item. Through Meng Yan's explanation, he finally understood the hidden details. That beetle-tamer was the only one capable of locating the Demon Insect King's lair, and Lin Qingshu was likely pursuing that same goal. If he hadn't intervened, she might have actually succeeded. Thus, Qi Ping realized he could never let her know the truth.
"In addition, I found a bronze token on that man. It looked like this..."
"A Silver-grade Token of the Shadow-Servant Alliance?"
Meng Yan's face showed a trace of surprise. It seemed the black-robed man had some background to possess a silver token.
"It does have the word 'Servant' engraved on it. Does this token have a purpose? Is there any risk in having killed him?"
This was what Qi Ping cared about most. Having someone to ask, he wouldn't let the opportunity slip.
"As long as you don't reveal it yourself, there shouldn't be an issue. That token is made of a special material; the metal alone is worth about a thousand spirit stones. The Qingyuan Sect also collects them, paying a premium of two to three thousand. It has some value."
Hearing this, Qi Ping let out a sigh of relief. He finally had a baseline for the trouble involving the black-robed man.
"I see. Thank you for telling me, Brother Meng. I will bring that token to you next time as a token of my gratitude."
After a brief conversation, the two parted ways. Meng Yan had successfully completed his sect mission and even found an ancient stone talisman his sect required. As for Qi Ping, with such a heavy harvest, he only wanted to return and work tirelessly on his herbs and his cultivation.