The Legend of War

Any gift in life has long been secretly marked with a price... and free gifts are the most expensive.

Qin Ran understood these principles very well.

As he looked at the book in Bai Ruoxi’s hand, he understood in an instant. At first, he thought Bai Ruoxi and Su Changqing wanted to fight, and then he suggested letting Li Shiyin accompany them to fight. He thought he had done them a small favor.

Now it looks like this was not about Li Shiyin accompanying Bai Ruoxi in a fight, but rather Bai Ruoxi accompanying Li Shiyin in a fight. This was a teaching session that Bai Ruoxi gave to Li Shiyin.

This teaching session was originally supposed to be between Su Changqing and Qin Ran.

He had naively thought they were genuinely excited to see him... Now that he thought about it, they were from the Lingnan Immortal Sect. What hadn't they seen before?

Their purpose in coming here was simply to have him be their guide through the Hengduan Mountains.

In exchange for one lesson and one mystical art.

Of course, Qin Ran could pretend he didn't know anything and accept the mystical art in good conscience. Or he could sternly refuse this art.

But if he refused...

That was a complete mystical art from the Lingnan Immortal Sect!

And if he feigned ignorance and accepted the art in good conscience, then...

That would be the most expensive free gift!

This one mystical art would become more and more valuable as Li Shiyin progressed further on her path of cultivation. One day, when Li Shiyin had progressed far enough relying on this art, if Su Changqing came to ask for help, no matter how outrageous the request, they would be unable to refuse.

Qin Ran wanted this mystical art, so he agreed to Su Changqing's request.

Because the cost of paying for this gift was lowest when compensation had just emerged.

At this point, it was an equal transaction not involving the future.

The transaction was that Bai Ruoxi would teach Li Shiyin one lesson, along with one mystical art, in exchange for Qin Ran serving as their guide.

Seeing Qin Ran nod, Su Changqing smiled and cupped his fists, "Many thanks to Brother Qin then."

Li Shiyin still didn't know what was happening. Seeing her master nod, she took the War Spirit Art. She was oblivious to the formidable relationships underlying everything.

"Although the War Spirit Art is just a mystical art created by a Harmonization Stage senior, it is exceptionally profound..."

Seeing Li Shiyin accept the art, Bai Ruoxi began to explain, "When my master passed it on to me, he said it was the strongest battle technique before the Divinization Stage, with unparalleled expositions on techniques, strength, and arts."

Harmonization Stage? What kind of realm was that? Li Shiyin hadn't even heard of it before, so it must be very powerful. And it was the strongest battle technique? The strongest?! How could she possibly accept something so valuable?

Li Shiyin panicked and quickly looked at Qin Ran.

"They gave it to you, so take it!" Qin Ran shook his head.

What was there to panic about? What was there to fret about deserving it or not? They used this art to buy your master's life!

"Time is tight now, I don't know when the Devouring Demon Willow will start harmonizing, so we will be heading to the Hengduan Mountains in the next few days. I hope Brother Qin can prepare in advance."

Su Changqing got up and bid Qin Ran farewell, "We also need to make some preparations. We will take our leave now."

Qin Ran held Chasing the Wind and saw them off politely, "You haven't even had tea yet and Brother Su is leaving already. I really must apologize."

"No no, next time I'll come to have tea," Su Changqing subtly glanced at the sobering tea on Qin Ran's table and laughed, "When this matter is over, I will have tea and wine with Brother Qin again and discuss the mysteries of cultivation."

"For sure, for sure..." Qin Ran replied.

After a few more polite exchanges, Su Changqing left with Bai Ruoxi.

Qin Ran sat down and watched Su Changqing and Bai Ruoxi's backs as they departed. The smile on his face gradually disappeared.

"Master, what about this mystical art?" Li Shiyin asked Qin Ran.

"Cultivate it!" Qin Ran sighed. Seeing Li Shiyin's bewildered expression, he shook his head and told her directly, "You really think it was a gift from others? I bought it with my life!"

"Ah?" Li Shiyin exclaimed in shock, and quickly said, "Then I won't cultivate it anymore. I'll return the mystical art to them right away!"

As she spoke, she wanted to chase after Senior Sister and Brother Su on her flying sword.

"That's enough!" Qin Ran promptly stopped her with a wave of his hand, "Show it to me."

Li Shiyin stopped hesitantly at his words. After a moment of hesitation, she still brought the War Spirit Art over to hand it to Qin Ran.

"Go do what you should be doing. I'll take a look to see if there are any issues with this art," Qin Ran said. "If there are no issues, then keep cultivating it."

"I'm exhausted," Li Shiyin put away her sword and said.

"If you're exhausted then rest," Qin Ran said, placing the spirit array reference on the table. He put the War Spirit Art on the soft and fluffy Chase Wind, and opened the first page.

Li Shiyin thought for a bit before sitting down across from Qin Ran. She reached out and picked up the spirit array reference to read as well.

The War Spirit Art was not any specific metaphysical or mystical technique. Its essence was actually a theoretical study of the fundamental nature of spiritual power. It could be described as a kind of "mystical art" for studying mystical arts...

To use an appropriate example, it was a bit like the Nine Swords of Dugu from Jin Yong's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. Ostensibly it was a metaphysical art, but in actuality it was a theory on how to employ spiritual power in battle.

The War Spirit Art fought with spirit. Something like that.

The most formidable thing about this art was probably that after cultivating it to greater depths, it could make every strand of spiritual power unleash power equivalent to unleashing one's entire spiritual power.

In short, it was surprisingly an art well-suited to Qin Ran's taste.

No one knew where Long Qiqi had gone to boil hot water. Su Changqing and Bai Ruoxi had asked her to boil water when they arrived, and now after they had left, Qin Ran had sat back down to read two more pages while Li Shiyin had nearly fallen asleep reading her book, yet Long Qiqi had only just run back over with a kettle balanced on her head.

"Elder, did you have to go all the way to the Land of Mystery and Vastness to draw that water?" Qin Ran looked over with a laugh.

Long Qiqi's face was a little red. She defended herself cleverly, "Who told you your stove was so hard to use? I spent a long time figuring out how to start a fire."

"You've been here this long and still don't even know how to start a fire?" Qin Ran said in astonishment. His later words were left unsaid, but she was after all a monster beast, nothing to be ashamed of.

Long Qiqi felt ashamed inside, and started to panic a little. In her flustered state, she wasn't paying attention and tripped, falling forward in a dog-eating-shit pose.

Fortunately, Qin Ran reacted swiftly, waving his hand to control the water inside Long Qiqi's kettle on her head. He took hold of the kettle.

"Be careful, the water's hot!" he added.

Long Qiqi had faceplanted on the ground in a dog-eating-shit posture. Looking up to see Qin Ran's actions, she couldn't help but feel wronged. Unable to hold it in, she cried out.

"Waaaah..." Sprawled on the ground, she pouted with an aggrieved and pitiful look.

Li Shiyin was woken up by their noise. Seeing Long Qiqi fallen on the ground while her master was seizing the hot water to make tea, she roughly grasped what happened and couldn't help but admonish Qin Ran, "Master, you're too excessive!"

As she spoke, she went over to help Long Qiqi up and brought Long Qiqi over to sit down.

"Cough..." Not daring to meet Long Qiqi's aggrieved gaze, Qin Ran looked at the War Spirit Art and said, "Can't you see I'm holding Chase Wind? My hands were full..."

"Meow..." Chase Wind let out a soft cry.

"Jerk!" Long Qiqi quietly scolded.