Chapter 131: Who Is Zhao Huowang?

Lu Yan had long realized there was a unique connection between the Xianxia Version and the Urban Version.

The Xianxia Version possessed a powerful supernatural system. Once someone embarked on the path of cultivation, their lifespan could extend for hundreds or even thousands of years.

However, that path to longevity was exceedingly difficult. Being able to reach Foundation Establishment before thirty was already the mark of a favored genius. Reaching Core Formation before a hundred? That was a one-in-a-million prodigy. Beyond that, the cultivation stages only became more difficult, each demanding exponentially more time.

In contrast, the Urban Version had no supernatural abilities. Everyone was confined to the natural lifespan of an ordinary human. Once that lifespan ended, they would “die” in the Urban Version—but still exist in the Xianxia Version.

The clearest example of this was the famous writers and celebrities Lu Yan had seen in the Qingwu Sect. They had long since passed away in the Urban Version due to natural causes, yet continued to live in the Xianxia Version with centuries of life remaining.

This created a strange phenomenon—only cultivators under one hundred and twenty years old could appear in the Urban Version.

In the Xianxia Version, this was still considered very young. Reaching the Core Formation stage at that age was already the limit for most.

But the Mu Chunqiu standing before him had not only cultivated a profound technique for preserving youth in a version with no supernatural power, but also possessed an aura that radiated authority without anger—a clear sign of deep cultivation. Lu Yan couldn’t help but associate him with a Nascent Soul cultivator.

A one-hundred-and-three-year-old Nascent Soul cultivator would be unthinkable in any ordinary sect.

But in the Taiyi Sect, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

After all, the Taiyi Sect specialized in feng shui and excavating ancient tombs. If someone had deep enough fortune, they could obtain powerful treasures from these ruins. There were even cases of cultivators reaching Core Formation in just nine years—from Qi Refining to Golden Core in record time.

So a century-old Nascent Soul cultivator… still reasonable.

After sorting out his thoughts, Lu Yan couldn’t suppress the surge of joy in his heart.

Mu Chunqiu had promised him a personal treasure. A Golden Core cultivator’s collection and a Nascent Soul True Lord’s treasure vault were worlds apart.

Especially when that Nascent Soul cultivator was also a feng shui master and one of the main bloodlines of the Taiyi Sect. His wealth was likely beyond imagination.

At this moment, Lu Yan dared not utter another word of refusal, fearing any further modesty would annoy Mu Chunqiu and make him retract the offer.

He immediately nodded and said, “Thank you, Master Mu!”

Only then did Mu Chunqiu stroke his beard in satisfaction.

His willingness to offer a treasured item wasn’t just due to Lu Yan saving He Dongsheng multiple times—it was also because he found the younger man’s respectful attitude quite pleasing.

Having lived through several eras and seen society become increasingly impetuous, Mu Chunqiu rarely encountered someone wealthy and powerful who still treated an old man like him with such reverence. It warmed his heart.

If not for that, he would have just tossed Lu Yan something random instead of granting him a chance to pick from his personal vault.

“However,” Lu Yan added, “I have one small request, Master Mu. I hope you’ll allow it.”

“Speak freely.”

Lu Yan took on a solemn tone. “As I’ve just joined the Archaeology Association, I’m still unfamiliar with many things. I’d like to delay choosing my treasure for a while.”

If he received the treasure now in the Urban Version, there was a high chance it would merely be an antique or collector’s item—with no practical value.

Even if he placed it somewhere before the next version update, it might be lost during a temporal shift.

And even if it did survive, there was no guarantee that the next version would be the Xianxia Version, or that it would be something useful in that new world. The risk was too high.

But if he left it in Mu Chunqiu’s care and retrieved it during a later, high-powered version—especially the Xianxia Version—he could maximize its value.

He might even redeem this promise in a future high-tier world to gain something truly precious.

Mu Chunqiu waved it off without a second thought, “That’s a small matter. Whenever you feel ready, just have Dongsheng bring you to me.”

After giving a few brief instructions to He Dongsheng, Mu Chunqiu didn’t linger. He flagged down a car and left.

Taking advantage of the long-awaited reunion, He Dongsheng dragged Lu Yan to a nearby restaurant.

Over drinks and food, Lu Yan finally learned what had happened to He Dongsheng lately.

At first, Mu Chunqiu had only taken He Dongsheng in without officially making him a disciple. That changed during a later archaeological expedition.

During the excavation of a grand tomb, all the other assistants were injured by hidden traps—except He Dongsheng, who emerged without a scratch and repeatedly found the correct paths.

That’s when Mu Chunqiu realized He Dongsheng had extraordinary fortune and officially accepted him as his disciple.

In this particular Taiyi Sect lineage, fortune was everything. Talent came second.

Thus, He Dongsheng had gone from a scammer selling fake goods to a direct heir of a Taiyi Sect main bloodline—truly a twist of fate.

“Don’t worry, Brother Lu!”

He Dongsheng, now drunk and flushed, clapped Lu Yan on the shoulder.

“You’ve helped me so many times. If there’s anything you want, just say the word. I’ll go steal it from my master’s treasure vault for you!”

Lu Yan nearly choked.

After realizing Mu Chunqiu was a Nascent Soul cultivator, Lu Yan had definitely considered stealing from his vault.

But after weighing the risks, he wisely gave up that dangerous idea.

To steal from a Nascent Soul’s vault—especially one who appeared to be just a normal man in the Urban Version—was to invite disaster.

And even if he somehow succeeded, how many of those stolen items would actually be valuable after several version transformations?

Instead of gambling recklessly, it was far wiser to hold onto a guaranteed reward.

Lu Yan immediately declined, “That’s not something you should say lightly—he’s your master.”

“Oh, come on! Master keeps saying his end is near. Those treasures will all be mine eventually anyway, right?”

Hearing “his end is near,” Lu Yan’s lips twitched.

“At this rate, you’ll probably die of old age while your master is still alive and kicking.”

After several more rounds of drinks, as He Dongsheng grew increasingly drunk, Lu Yan finally asked the question he’d been holding back:

“You once mentioned someone named Zhao Huowang. Did you ever find anything valuable in what he left behind?”

Zhao Huowang had appeared in both the Xianxia and Cyber Versions, and the items he left behind had helped Lu Yan immensely.

Naturally, Lu Yan was eager to know what the Urban Version of Zhao Huowang might have uncovered.

But the drunken He Dongsheng tilted his head, thought for a long moment, then looked at Lu Yan and asked:

“Who’s Zhao Huowang?”

(End of Chapter)