**Chapter 531: Meeting**
On the Back Mountain of Big Bamboo Peak, there was once a dense Bamboo Sea. For a long time, the disciples of Big Bamboo Peak would train by holding woodcutting knives and cutting down Black Bamboo to temper their physiques.
Wind blew through the Bamboo Forest. A white-robed figure stood among the bamboo, watching the swaying forest and listening to the rustling sound of the bamboo. She seemed lost in thought.
She remembered that the Back Mountain of Small Bamboo Peak also had such a Bamboo Forest. She and Senior Sister Wen Min loved practicing their swordsmanship in the Bamboo Forest.
However, later, Senior Sister Wen Min fell for Senior Brother Song Daren from Big Bamboo Peak and always used sword practice as an excuse to meet him in secret.
Slowly, she was the only one left practicing swordsmanship in the Bamboo Forest.
"You've come!" The black-clothed young man sitting cross-legged on the Boulder saw the white-robed figure in the Bamboo Forest. A trace of guilt welled up in his heart.
"Mm."
The woman, whose white robes were like snow and who possessed a cold and ethereal presence, nodded. "I remember it was only thirty years ago when you planted these Black Bamboo. I didn't expect them to grow so quickly!"
"The spiritual energy in the Upper Realm is naturally incomparable to our World!"
The black-clothed man shook his head, stood up, and walked over to the white-robed woman. He reached out and patted a section of Black Bamboo beside them that was as thick as a wrist.
"Bamboo of this thickness in our World could only be matched by those few thousand-year-old bamboo sections. It could even be refined into a decent magic treasure!
I remember Master had a bamboo whip refined from thousand-year-old Black Bamboo. Senior Brother Du was whipped by that bamboo whip quite a bit!"
Mentioning his Master and Senior Brothers, a smile finally appeared on the black-clothed man's troubled face.
His happiest time was the life he spent with his Master, Master's Wife, and Senior Brothers on Big Bamboo Peak.
In his dreams at midnight, he could always see Big Bamboo Peak, his Senior Brothers messing around, Da Huang carrying Xiao Hui to steal food from the kitchen. At that time, besides being troubled by his slow cultivation progress and worrying about embarrassing his Master, he didn't have so many other worries.
"The reputation of your Sixth Senior Brother isn't just within the Qingyun Sect! Those three dice magic treasures are unique even in the Cultivation World. Even some Demonic Cultivators have heard of Du Bishu's great name! No wonder Martial Uncle Tian wanted to teach him a lesson!"
Listening to the black-clothed man recount the past, a faint, knowing smile also appeared on the white-robed woman's cold face. Although it was fleeting, it caused the black-clothed man's expression to freeze! He hadn't seen her smile in a long time.
"I'm sorry, Xueqi!" Looking at the woman, after a long silence, the black-clothed man swallowed thousands of words back down. He mumbled a single sentence.
The white-robed woman looked at the expression of deep guilt on the black-clothed man's face and said calmly, "You don't need to apologize. This is the path I chose myself!"
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to come to this Upper Realm!"
The black-clothed man hesitated to speak. The white-robed woman saw his troubled expression and pursed her lips. "You don't need to say anything more. Let's wait until Biyao wakes up. I won't give up, Zhang Xiaofan. I will compete with her fairly!"
Looking at this woman, who was as cold and ethereal as a snow lotus, the black-clothed man was startled. A bitter smile of guilt appeared on his face. He owed her too much, so much that he could never repay it in several lifetimes.
But Biyao... Thinking of the girl who bravely used her flesh and blood to block the Immortal Slaughtering Sword, the black-clothed man subconsciously stroked the Joyful Union Bell in his embrace.
The white-robed woman noticed the black-clothed man's action. Her gaze darkened.
"I returned to Small Bamboo Peak a few days ago. Master thought I had become an Immortal! She kept asking me what the Immortal Realm was like! I also went to Big Bamboo Peak. Martial Uncle Tian is in good health, and your Senior Brothers are all doing well!"
The white-robed woman looked deeply at the black-clothed man. "Junior Sister Tian had a daughter two years ago! I gave her a gift on your behalf!"
The black-clothed man, Zhang Xiaofan, smiled awkwardly under the white-robed woman's gaze. Senior Sister Tian Ling'er... Forty years passed in the blink of an eye. The girl who once made his heart flutter while dancing with a red ribbon now felt like someone from another era.
"I recently made a friend. She told me she has a method to help Biyao return her soul!"
Two figures, one black and one white, stood on a high slope, overlooking the vast Bamboo Sea covering the mountains.
Zhang Xiaofan's eyebrow furrowed slightly. "Xueqi, after completing a few more missions, I'll have enough contribution points to exchange for the Soul Return Pill!"
Zhang Xiaofan didn't want to burden the person beside him any further because of his own matters.
"Acha told me that given Biyao's situation, the Soul Return Pill from K'un-Lun alone can't save her. We must retrieve her soul from the Underworld Administration!"
"I know that. Asking the Ghost Messengers in the Netherworld to act once costs twenty thousand contribution points. These years, by selling these Black Bamboo, I've also saved up some contribution points!"
The black-clothed man looked at the "Thousand-Year Spirit Bamboo" covering the mountains and plains. Using the reputation of that High Immortal named Wade Wilson, he successfully established a relationship with the people from Heavenly Soldier Valley, a Subordinate of Heavenly Craft Hall.
This variant spirit bamboo, Black Bamboo, could not only be used to make spirit bows and talisman arrows but also for papermaking. This spirit bamboo paper was a top-grade material for drawing spirit talismans.
Although he brought the Black Bamboo from the Zhu Xian World, after decades of wild growth, it was now found everywhere in Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven and wasn't considered rare.
It was only because the Black Bamboo on his mountain had been growing for a long time, coupled with Wade Wilson's connections, that he became a supplier to Heavenly Soldier Valley.
Although Heavenly Soldier Valley's purchase price wasn't high, he and Xueqi were able to establish a foothold here precisely because of this Bamboo Forest.
It's not easy to live in the Heavenly Court. Don't look at how people from Qingyun Sect and Ghost King Sect envy their ascension to the Upper Realm. But in this Immortal Realm, if you want to advance further, whether it's good cultivation methods, spirit pills, or magic treasures, they all have a clearly marked price.
In fact, as long as you have enough contribution points, you can even get those high and mighty Immortals to act for you. However, this also gave Zhang Xiaofan hope of saving his beloved.
Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi stood side by side. A breeze blew, and a strand of black hair brushed against Zhang Xiaofan's face. A strange fragrance filled his nostrils, causing his face to turn red. He couldn't help but turn his head.
"Xueqi, who is this Acha you mentioned, and where is this K'un-Lun she spoke of?"
Seeing the gaze from the person beside him, Zhang Xiaofan quickly found a topic.
Lu Xueqi glanced at Zhang Xiaofan. That cold gaze gave Zhang Xiaofan the illusion of facing the Tianya Divine Sword directly.
Fortunately, Lu Xueqi only looked at him for a moment before reaching up to smooth her hair.
"Not long ago, I went to the Cycle World and met that girl named Acha there. She is also a Reincarnator. She told me that the Soul Return Pill on the contribution ranking comes from K'un-Lun!"
"You went to the Cycle World again! Xueqi, I told you, I can handle Biyao's matters myself. All you need to do is focus on your cultivation!"
Zhang Xiaofan's complexion immediately darkened upon hearing Lu Xueqi's words.
"I didn't go to the Cycle World just for Biyao. You should understand my personality. My sword dao can only become more refined through demon slaying. Don't worry, with the Tianya Divine Sword in my hand, those monsters and ghouls can't do anything to me!"
Lu Xueqi saw Zhang Xiaofan's worried face. A smile appeared on her cold face. She tightened her grip on the blue treasured sword in her hand and gestured towards Zhang Xiaofan.
"The Cycle World is not a safe place. Don't go there anymore!" Zhang Xiaofan said in a deep voice.
"No!" Lu Xueqi shook her head. "I need to temper my sword dao!"
Zhang Xiaofan looked at Lu Xueqi, and Lu Xueqi looked back at him without backing down. Their gazes met, neither yielding.
"Give me your Tianya Divine Sword. I know a few friends in Heavenly Soldier Valley. I'll have them reforge your sword. Stay here obediently during the Heavenly Emperor's lecture on the Dao! Cultivate in peace. Don't go anywhere before the Heavenly Emperor's lecture on the Dao!" Zhang Xiaofan reached out, asking for Lu Xueqi's Tianya Divine Sword.
Lu Xueqi looked at Zhang Xiaofan but was slow to hand over the Tianya Divine Sword in her hand.
Zhang Xiaofan naturally understood her feelings. "Don't worry, I have enough contribution points to reforge a magic sword! It won't delay exchanging for the Soul Return Pill!"
Seeing that Lu Xueqi still hadn't handed over the treasured sword, Zhang Xiaofan was silent for a moment. "Xueqi, I've already lost Biyao. I don't want to lose you too..."
Upon hearing Zhang Xiaofan's words, Lu Xueqi's hand trembled. She raised her hand and handed the Tianya Divine Sword, which she never let leave her side, to Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan took the divine sword. Upon holding it, his complexion suddenly changed. He drew the sword from its sword sheath. The sword body, which was originally smooth and shimmering with blue light like autumn water, was now pitch black and uneven, as if it had been corroded by something.
Not only that, but inside the sword sheath was clearly half a broken sword.
"Xueqi!" Zhang Xiaofan's expression was extremely grim. The Tianya Divine Sword was destroyed to this extent; he couldn't imagine what kind of predicament Lu Xueqi had encountered.
"Are you injured!" Zhang Xiaofan couldn't care about anything else. He reached out and grabbed Lu Xueqi's wrist, intending to give her a physical examination.
"I'm fine!"
Lu Xueqi looked at Zhang Xiaofan's anxious appearance. She felt inexplicably happy in her heart, and a smile bloomed on her face like a snow lotus.
"Don't go to the Cycle World anymore!"
"I'm really fine. I just didn't expect that Tree Demon to fake its death!" Lu Xueqi understated the danger she faced with a single sentence.
She didn't mention that to gather the contribution points needed to buy the Soul Return Pill, she didn't hesitate to enter that chaotic World overrun by Demon Monsters.
It was as if the person who faced the combined attack of the Tree Demon and the Old Black Mountain Demon, and who risked using the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder True Art to perish together with those two Demon Monsters, wasn't her.
If that mysterious Acha hadn't appeared, her soul would have been scattered and spirit destroyed by now! Zhang Xiaofan held the half of Tianya and looked at the cold and thin Senior Sister before him. He understood that in the Cycle World, she must have fallen into an extremely dangerous realm, otherwise, the Tianya Divine Sword couldn't have been destroyed to this extent.
"From now on, let's not separate when doing missions. Let's go to the same Cycle World together!"
Lu Xueqi listened to Zhang Xiaofan's clumsy words and felt the large hand holding hers so tightly, as if afraid of losing her. She smiled.
"Okay!"
"Tsk tsk tsk—the sour smell of love!"
On the Cloud Top above the Bamboo Forest, two guys were lying on the clouds, watching Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi.
Deadpool Wade, wearing a layer of Spider-Man suit over himself, saw their posture and let out a strange, tsking laugh.
Frank kicked him hard in the rear. "Where do you get so many weird things to say? Don't think I don't know, you've had at least a Reinforced Battalion's worth of girlfriends over the years!"
"Boss said you have to handle Death yourself. If you drag us down, he'll castrate you. Don't worry, the kind that won't grow back!"
"Is Boss serious? Does he have to be so ruthless!" Wade Wilson instinctively covered his groin upon hearing Frank's words.
Frank nodded solemnly. "Boss said a jealous woman is terrifying, especially a woman who wields powerful strength like Death. If you really can't control your desires, we can help you—"
"No need, I can handle it, I can coax her!" Wade Wilson shook his head like a rattle-drum.
Frank looked at Wade Wilson teasingly, then tugged at the suit he was wearing. "Wade Wilson, do we really have to wear this getup?"
Wade Wilson looked around furtively, making sure no one was nearby. "Don't forget how much money we've scammed from people. Those guys are still searching for us all over the Heavenly Court! If they find us, we're in for a good beating!"
Frank looked at Wade Wilson speechlessly. "Do you think anyone besides the Old Demon Dragon and Hela can beat me!" Saying this, Frank ripped off his suit.
"No, no, no! They can't beat you, but they can beat me!" Wade Wilson looked left and right, saying nervously.
"Look at how timid you are. Who would dare cause trouble during Boss's lecture on the Dao? Don't worry, since Boss has spoken, it means this matter is over!" Frank shook his head.
Hearing Frank say this, Wade Wilson instantly straightened his back and stood swaggering on the Cloud Top.
"But after Boss's lecture on the Dao ends, whether they'll put you in a sack and teach you a lesson is hard to say!"
"Teach me a lesson? Let them come. They're looking for Deadpool Wade. What does that have to do with me, Spider-Man Peter Parker!?" Wade Wilson tugged at the original Spider-Man suit he was wearing and laughed shamelessly. Frank glared at the guy in annoyance. "Let's go, let's go down and meet them!"
Just as Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi were talking, two cloud radiances suddenly landed in front of them.
"Greetings, High Immortal Wade Wilson!"
Seeing the two people who suddenly appeared before them, Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi immediately recognized one of them as Wade Wilson, who had brought them to this World back then.
"Seriously, you guys can recognize me even like this!"
Wade Wilson ripped off the Spider-Man hood on his head and looked at the two with frustration.
Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi exchanged a gaze. Zhang Xiaofan pointed at the two katanas on Wade Wilson's back.
Wade Wilson reached behind him, put the two blades into his storage bag, and then put the Spider-Man hood back on, disguising himself as Spider-Man again.
"Ahem! We haven't seen each other for decades, and you two have already cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage. Not bad, not bad!"
Wade Wilson cleared his throat dramatically and put his hands behind his back, imitating his Boss.
Frank immediately kicked him. "Stop rambling, get to the point!"
Frank sized up Zhang Xiaofan, then looked at Lu Xueqi. "A few Madame Bosses want to see you. You guys come with us!"
Madame Bosses? See them? Zhang Xiaofan didn't know who Frank was referring to as the Madame Bosses. He instinctively cast a questioning gaze towards Wade Wilson.
"Ahem! Our Boss is the Heavenly Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable you speak of!" Wade Wilson winked at Zhang Xiaofan. "See, kid, I didn't lie to you, my backend is super solid!"
Heavenly Emperor! Great Heavenly Venerable!
As soon as Wade Wilson spoke, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly felt his head spin. Having stayed in Tai Ming Yu Wan Heaven for decades and being a Reincarnator for so many years, he deeply understood what a vast power the Heavenly Court was.
The Heavenly Emperor! Wants to see them! Why? What virtue or ability did they, such insignificant figures, possess to attract the Heavenly Emperor's attention?
Not just Zhang Xiaofan, the cold Lu Xueqi beside him also looked somewhat startled.
(end of chapter)