C20 Trade

The woman's face was concealed behind a mask, and her waist was encased in sturdy armor. The designer of this armor was truly talented, managing to protect the body without hindering its development.

Tang Yuan took a keen interest in the armor. He suspected that the woman must have a significant background, as such craftsmanship was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary Artifact Refining Master.

"Is this a mask crafted from silver? And could the armor be made of dragon scales?" Tang Yuan marveled after examining the armor. Both materials were of the highest quality, and even the Sword Dynasty might not be able to procure them in full.

"Saving a life and earning a bit of interest seems fair," Tang Yuan whispered, admiring the armor on her and slowly extending his hand.

Removing the armor involved some inevitable contact, but it was a necessary part of the process. After some effort, Tang Yuan held the armor in his hands, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Having moved the woman to a cave he had discovered days earlier, Tang Yuan was ready to depart. He was a man above petty desires, performing good deeds without expectation of reward. What would he do if, upon waking, the woman offered herself in gratitude?

With that thought, Tang Yuan lingered no longer. He turned and left the safety of the cave, confident that the woman would be secure there.

"Where am I?" Qinghuang wondered, aware that she was no longer in the magma, yet still unable to move at all. "That seal is incredibly powerful. After more than a year, I still haven't broken free!"

Qinghuang was the woman Tang Yuan had rescued from the magma. Currently, only her Divine Sense was active; a seal within her prevented any physical movement.

"In two more days, I should be able to open my eyes. Then, I'll find out who it was..." The memory of the hands that had roamed over her body made Qinghuang seethe with the desire to sever them.

But she had been utterly helpless at the time, and even more infuriating was the fact that he had stolen her personal armor. Now, only a sheer veil lay over her skin, as translucent and delicate as white jade.

Over the past two days, Tang Yuan had been diligently refining Spirit Sea Pills. His skills as a Pill Refining Master had reached the first grade, and as he was on the cusp of advancing to the Spirit Sea Stage, these Spirit Sea Pills were indispensable.

Tang Yuan was confident about his breakthrough to the Spirit Sea Stage, but he aimed for a flawless transition.

"Ten Spirit Sea Pills should suffice!" Tang Yuan admired the Spirit Sea Pills before him, each one a paragon of quality.

For most, having even one Spirit Sea Pill to aid in their breakthrough was a rarity, but for Tang Yuan, they were as common as candy.

"I wonder how that woman is faring. Four days have passed; she should be awake by now," Tang Yuan mused. "I should check on her. Such an exquisite mask... Ah, I mean, she's a living person. I have a responsibility to her."

A divine glow emanated from Tang Yuan as he rose and made his way toward the mountain's rear.

Meanwhile, Qinghuang had spent the last two days striving to overcome the restriction placed upon her. Success came that morning, and upon opening her eyes, she found herself discarded in a cave.

Fury welled up inside Qinghuang. She, a celestial beauty, had been cast aside in a cave by some scoundrel.

As she plotted her revenge against the one responsible, Tang Yuan's footsteps approached.

"I'll see who dares to be so audacious!" Qinghuang thought, feigning unconsciousness.

From the cave's entrance, Tang Yuan spotted Qinghuang lying still. He had detected the restriction on her last time and surmised she hadn't managed to remove it.

"Four whole days and yet this minor restriction remains intact. That's just..." Tang Yuan's disappointment was palpable as he approached Qinghuang, relieved that the unbroken seal posed no threat to him.

Qinghuang seethed with indignation upon hearing his words. The seal was of Holy Level difficulty, challenging even for a Saint to undo. And here was this minor cultivator from the Spirit Containing Stage, speaking so arrogantly!

Tang Yuan approached slowly, pausing just a step away from Qinghuang, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"You can hear me, right?" Tang Yuan asked, having just sensed a wisp of Divine Sense brushing against him.

Qinghuang was startled. How had this young cultivator detected her probing so easily?

"So, you're unable to speak?" Tang Yuan's smile deepened, indicating that Qinghuang was still a long way from lifting her restriction.

"Just listen then. I'm the one who saved you, yes, but don't overdo it with the gratitude. I'm not the type to seek repayment. So please, let go of any notion of offering yourself to me!" Tang Yuan declared with conviction.

Qinghuang's Divine Sense quivered with rage, nearly overwhelming her. She was accustomed to Prodigies vying for her favor daily, and now she had to listen to this?

Not seeking repayment? Her armor, which could incite a battle in this forsaken place, had been taken by this despicable rogue!

"How about we strike a deal?" Tang Yuan suggested after a brief silence, squatting down to peer through the veil at Qinghuang's exquisite skin.

Perhaps being reborn had infused Tang Yuan with a touch of youthful vigor, for he seemed more lively than in his past life.

The mention of a deal piqued Qinghuang's interest, though she quickly scorned the idea of what this scoundrel could possibly offer.

Her soul nearly cried out when, to her disbelief, the audacious man placed his hand on her face. Despite the mask's barrier, she could feel the warmth of his palm.

"If he dares to overstep, I'd rather die than not kill him!" Qinghuang resolved. If Tang Yuan harbored any ill intentions, she was prepared to detonate her Divine Sense in a destructive defiance.

"See, women just can't keep their cool," Tang Yuan chided, sensing Qinghuang's surge of resolve.

"You're mistaken. I have no interest in you," he assured her gently. The playful smirk vanished from his face, replaced by a subtle yet commanding presence that took Qinghuang aback.

"I'll lift your restriction, and in exchange, the mask on your face becomes mine!" Tang Yuan declared, swiftly removing the mask.

The face of Qinghuang, once concealed beneath the mask, was now revealed to Tang Yuan.