Eternal Cultivation Of Alchemy

“It’s really you!”

Even without seeing Hao Ya’s face, Alex could hear the tone of surprise she carried in her voice. She would certainly have to be surprised to find him in a place like this, especially after so many years.

Hao Ya hadn’t ascended yet back when Alex first left for the Immortal Realms. Her ascension had to have happened some years after him. Since she didn’t have the opportunity to leave with her master, she would have to have made the rest of the journey alone.

Although, that likely shouldn’t matter since she was a grand disciple of the Sky God in a way. That sort of status had a certain advantage to it.

“What are you doing out here?” Alex asked. “Is anyone else with you?”

She seemed alone, so Alex couldn’t tell.

Hao Ya removed her veil, her wide eyes looking at him. “I’m all alone,” she said in a stunned voice. “What… what about you?”

“It’s a long story. I arrived here about a year ago and am waiting to go to the Sky God’s Palace next,” Alex said. “Will you be returning as well?”

“Return?” A mirthless smile appeared on Hao Ya’s beautiful face. “I’ve never even been to that place.”

“Oh!” Alex said in surprise. “Why not?”

“I…” she hesitated a little, looking around in an apprehensive manner. Alex could see her fighting with herself before she decided to speak the truth. “Things didn’t end well for me after I arrived in the Immortal Realms. I ascended to the Eternal Isles and did as my master said. I went to the Sky God’s people. But after I told them who I was, instead of helping me, they… they…”

Her body trembled a little, barely enough for Alex to see what was happening.

“It’s alright, sister Hao. You don’t have to say anything,” Alex quickly said. He didn’t understand what had happened to her, but if she was this scared, he wondered what the Sky God’s people could have done to her.

In the first place, what reason did they even have to do anything to her? She was their own people after all. Did they not trust who she was? Or had he misunderstood senior Yang’s status among the Sky God’s people?

Did he have enemies?

Alex found it hard to ask anything regarding the situation with how shaken the woman was, so he changed the topic instead.

“You must’ve been the one who sold my technique then, right?” Alex asked.

“What?” Hao Ya asked, her mind blank for a second before her thoughts caught up. “Oh… yes. I did that. I… I had no other choice. I’m sorry.”

Alex shook his head. “That’s alright. You don’t have to apologize for it. If I had known it would sell for so much, I would’ve sold it myself a long time ago,” he joked.

“I… I didn’t know either,” Hao Ya said in a meek voice. “I only just found out how much it had sold for after visiting the place just now.”

“Oh! You didn’t watch the auction?” Alex asked.

“I… don’t have any money to participate,” she said. She looked quite small speaking just then. “I… I needed the money to buy a ticket to leave this realm.”

“Ticket?” Alex asked for a moment, realizing what she was talking about. “Ah! The interrealm ticket! I have a few of those. I can give you some if you wish. I suppose you now have more than enough spirit stones for it anyway.”

Hao Ya slowly nodded. “I can give you the rest of the spirit stones if you want since it was your technique. I just need enough for the ticket,” she said.

Alex chuckled. “I said it’s fine, sister Hao. You can keep it,” he said. “If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you think the technique was going to sell for?”

Hao Ya’s eyes narrowed a little. “I don’t know,” she said. “They promised me at least 800 Divine spirit stones when I first talked to them. They must’ve decided it was much better than that after testing and placed it up for a higher price.”

“800 Divine spirit stones?” Alex asked, a confused expression appearing on his face. “A ticket only costs 500 Divine spirit stones, you know?”

Hao Ya nodded slowly. “I am aware. I’ve bought it before when I left the Eternal Isles to come to this realm.”

“Did you?” Alex asked. “Then why did you sell the sword?”

Hao Ya appeared confused. “What do you mean?”

Alex was taken aback. He reached into his Soul Space and brought out the Jade Fang, presenting it to Hao Ya. “This is your sword, right?” he asked. He had seen her use it masterfully in the war against the Dragon Emperor.

Hao Ya’s eyes widened in shock as she immediately reached for the sword, grabbing it. “My Jade Fang!” she cried out a little. “How… how did you find it?”

“Find it?” Alex laughed awkwardly. “I was the one who bought it.”

“Bought it?” Hao Ya questioned.

“Yes. From the auction,” Alex said. “That’s how I knew you were here. That’s why I gave you the message to meet me here.”

Hao Ya’s face slowly paled as fear overtook every emotion she had in an instant. “I… I didn’t sell this sword,” she said. “I… I haven’t seen it in over a millennia.”

Alex froze. “What?”

“They took it from me,” she said. “Those people who tortured me, they took it from me, along with everything. If you bought this sword here, then they must be here as well.”

“How… how did you find me then?” Alex asked.

“You were standing right here!” she said. “I happened to see you. Did you call for someone?”

Alex slowly nodded, and slowly turned his eyes a little, looking beyond Hao Ya at a handsome man with long hair that had been looking around.

Hao Ya turned to see where Alex was looking and met the eyes of the man, letting out a gasp.

“Oh no!” she whispered. “That’s him.”