Chapter 223: Cangxing Test
When they entered the ancient palace, Yu Nianzhen and Jiang Yue first took a bath.
After the birth, they had a good meal and then went to practice. This went on for a half-day before they came opened their eyes and came out of the ancient palace.
"It’s about time." Jiang Yue said.
He was excited but also solemn.
They had delayed their breakthrough because they wanted a chance to be in the top ten of their category.
If they couldn’t make the top ten, the delay would be futile.
"Don’t worry about it." Yu Nianzhen said and rubbed his husband’s hair.
He also wanted to be in the top ten but he didn’t want Jiang Yue to stress about it.
The only thing they could do is try their best and leave everything else to chance.
"Who is worrying." Jiang Yue grumbled but his mood lightened.
In the end, Yu Nianzhen was right.
They had prepared as best they could. Even if they had more time, they couldn’t do anything better.
If they didn’t make the top ten, there was nothing to regret since they had done their best.
"It’s good if you are not worrying." Yu Nianzhen said and smiled.
As they were talking, the sky darkened.
A moment later, a strong wind swept the land and fist-sized stones rained from the heavens.
"They really fell like rain!" Jiang Yue exclaimed and tried to dodge a stone that was hurtling towards him.
However, the stone changed its trajectory and continued falling toward him.
’Truly mysterious.’ He thought and no longer continued to dodge.
In the blink of an eye, the stone arrived and stopped in front of him.
"Are you ready?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
"You?"
"I am ready."
"I am also ready."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Yu Nianzhen walked away and stopped fifty metres from Jiang Yue.
He didn’t know what would happen when he unleashed his attack but he didn’t want to involve his lover in the attack.
"Azhen, good luck." Jiang Yue called.
"Good luck to you too."
They smiled again before their faces turned solemn.
Yu Nianzhen removed his natal sword from his dantian and held it in his right hand.
After more than eight years of warming in his dantian, the connection between him and the sword was extremely deep.
Although Yu Nianzhen had never used the sword before, he knew the sword would carry out his attack better than other swords.
’Let’s see what you can do.’ He thought and closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it.
When he opened his eyes, they were glowing with a silver light but the aura in his body was more subdued than usual.
Yu Nianzhen glance at the stone in front of him and clenched his hand around the sword.
A moment later, he swung and a silver sword light flew out of the sword.
The light was only momentary but even after it hit the stone and dispersed, the surrounding air felt sharp.
As he put the sword away, a leaf that floated over the sword light’s trajectory split in two and fell to the ground.
When he saw that, Yu Nianzhen smiled and quietly watched as his stone disappeared.
At the same time, a pipa note sounded in the air and Yu Nianzhen turned around.
From the distance, he saw Jiang Yue holding his pipa and strumming it while light blue waves hit the stone.
Soon after, the stone disappeared and Jiang Yue put the pipa away.
"We should find a better weapon for you." Yu Nianzhen said.
Although Jiang Yue’s pipa was a peak-grade silver rank weapon that was appropriate for his cultivation level, it was nothing special.
It was not a growth weapon and didn’t have any unique attributes.
With such a weapon, Jiang Yue was a little at a disadvantage.
"The pipa is not a popular weapon. Unless I especially ask a master to refine one for me, it is difficult to find a pipa." Jiang Yue said and sighed.
He had long wanted to change his weapon but didn’t have a chance.
"Have you thought of what you need to refine a natal weapon?" Yu Nianzhen asked.
"I have." Jiang Yue said and sighed again.
Since Yu Nianzhen refined his natal sword, Jiang Yue had thought of what he needed to refine a natal pipa.
After all, he couldn’t be casual since the weapon would accompany him for the rest of his life.
"I want to combine the wood of the tree of life and that of the soul-raising tree for the body. The heartstrings and beast core of the nine-tailed fox for the strings and plectrum. Other things are relatively easy to find." Jiang Yue said.
When he heard that, Yu Nianzhen was shocked.
If Jiang Yue used the materials, he wanted to refine his natal weapon, the pipa would be uncommonly powerful.
Unfortunately, most of those materials were extraordinarily rare. It was absolutely impossible to gather them in a short time.
"Those things are hard to find but not impossible. We can visit more gambling halls, auctions, and shops to look for them." Yu Nianzhen said.
"Thank you." Jiang Yue said and smiled.
"Do we need to be so polite with each other?" Yu NIanzhen said and flicked his husband’s forehead.
"You are right." Jiang Yue smiled and held his husband’s hand.
"We should have commissioned a pipa for you when we were in the Great Artisan city."
"I thought about it but the time was too tight. I will commission one when we reach Ice Palace city."
"Alright." Yu Nianzhen rubbed Jiang Yue’s hair and the two entered the ancient palace.
"How did you do?" Jiang Yue asked.
"I did my best. How about you?"
"Me too."
"Then there is nothing to worry about. Let’s stay here for a few days and then continue our journey."
"I want you to cook for me."
"What do you want to eat?"
Jiang Yue thought about it and gave a list of more than twenty foods.
When Yu Nianzhen heard the order, his eyes softened and mentally catalogued the ingredients they had.
After making sure they had everything, he smiled and went to prepare the food.
While he was cooking, Jiang Yue sat across him and randomly picked topics to talk about.
"We should find a good alchemist in the Ice Palace region." He said.
"I also think so." Yu Nianzhen agreed.
Since they planned to enter the Nine Treasures secret realm, they both hoped to ally with an alchemist.
In that way, their supply of pills in the secret realm would be guaranteed.
"There is time before the secret realm opens. We should be able to find a reliable partner by then."
"Mmm.’ Yu Nianzhen nodded.
"Do you think Li Futian and Xuan Ke will come to the Ice Palace region?"
"They most likely will." Yu Nianzhen answered.
"It’s been too long since we saw them." Jiang Yue said and sighed.
Cultivators had a long life and not seeing one’s friends for hundreds or thousands of years was normal.
However, Jiang Yue still hoped they could meet more often.
"Do you miss them that much? Am I not enough for you?" Yu Nianzhen teased.
When he heard that, Jiang Yue rolled his arms but couldn’t help but smile.
It was rare for Yu Nianzhen to tease him like that and Jiang Yue played along.
He walked to Yu Nianzhen and looped his arms around his waist from behind.
"How could that be? My Azhen is the most important. If I have you, I have the world." He said and his breath brushed against Yu Nianzhen’s neck.
Yu Niazhen stiffened and the knife in his hand shook lightly.
He slowly put it down and turned about to face Jiang Yue.
"Is that so?" He asked.
His voice was a little hoarse and his eyes were slightly darker.
"Everything I say is true." Jiang Yue smiled and pushed himself against Yu Nianzhen’s chest.
"My Azhen is my whole world." He whispered again and Yu Nianzhen shuddered.
He held Jiang Yue’s chin and titled his head upwards. A moment later, their lips collided and both let out a moan of satisfaction.
"XiaoYue." Yu Nianzhen whispered and deepened the kiss.
His arms pulled Jiang Yue closer and meshed their bodies together so that there was no space for a needle to fall.
"Azhen, I miss you." Jiang Yue said and Yu Nianzhen couldn’t take it.
He turned them about and raised Jiang Yue to sit on the counter.
Jiang Yue snaked his hands over his husband’s shoulders and looped his legs around his waist to pull him closer.
Soon after, their clothes were removed and scattered around their small kitchen.
A moment later, pleasure-filled moans resounded in the area and an ancient dance was staged all over the kitchen.
When they were finally satisfied, Jiang Yue’s bones were weak and he felt like he was about to float away.
