Chapter 212: A True Confidant Is Rare in This World

Entering the cold pool once more, Jiang Changkong traveled by sword, with the Lunar Sword beneath his feet.

Heng Xueyue radiated dense Lunar Cold Energy from her body while simultaneously absorbing the cold energy within the pool.

Heng Xinming was far more low-key, his aura restrained, doing his best not to reveal it.

As if sensing something unusual, Heng Xueyue looked at him with a strange gaze. “You seem to have grown stronger again.”

Jiang Changkong replied modestly, “Just a slight improvement.”

I believe your nonsense—you’re a sly one!

Heng Xueyue didn’t believe for a second that he had only improved slightly.

She couldn’t fully gauge Jiang Changkong’s depth, but she could sense the terrifying Taiyin Star Power emanating from him.

Compared to before, it was incomparably stronger—at the very least, she no longer dared to challenge him to three strikes.

“Later, take out your Moon Laurel Leaf. We’ll walk a circle in the lake,” Heng Xueyue said.

“Moon Laurel Leaf?” Jiang Changkong raised an eyebrow. “Are you thinking of using the Moon Laurel Leaf to trigger a resonance?”

Heng Xueyue nodded. “Yes, Moon Laurel Leaves resonate with each other. If we can obtain it, you won’t be left without benefits.”

As they spoke, the three arrived before the Lunar Lake.

The Lunar Lake had now returned to calm, and the Star Demons had hidden themselves away.

Strange patterns surfaced on Heng Xueyue’s body, outlining the Extreme Yin Star Array.

“Stay close to me later. With me here, the incomplete Extreme Yin Star Array won’t attack randomly, but if you act recklessly, I can only guarantee my own safety.”

After saying this, Heng Xueyue stepped into the lake first.

Jiang Changkong gripped the Lunar Sword, and the surrounding Taiyin water automatically parted around him.

Heng Xueyue looked at his sword with surprise and suspicion. The Moon Laurel Leaf didn’t have such a miraculous property, so the issue must lie with the sword.

To be precise, it was likely the tip of the sword.

“I never expected I’d misjudge it. Your sword is as rare and precious as the Moon Laurel Leaf.”

Heng Xueyue gazed deeply at the Lunar Sword, filled with desire.

But this guy definitely wouldn’t give it up. As a fellow cultivator of Taiyin Star Power, she knew all too well how important a Taiyin weapon was.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Changkong took out the Lunar Yin Blade, the two Moon Laurel Leaves swaying and casting a hazy moonlight.

As the three walked through the lake, a sense of danger arose. A flash of sword light passed by, and a Star Demon turned into an ice sculpture.

Heng Xueyue’s heart tightened. She hadn’t even seen how that sword light was released.

While walking in the lake, Jiang Changkong acted at the first sign of danger.

He was gradually coming to understand the Star Demons in this Taiyin Lake. The strongest were two at the late Star Spirit stage.

There were no Star Spirit Peak Star Demons, but even so, this place could still bury a Star Spirit Peak cultivator.

Buzz—

The two Moon Laurel Leaves suddenly trembled, releasing Moonlight Essence that surged forward.

“We’ve found it,” Heng Xueyue exclaimed joyfully, hurrying forward.

Jiang Changkong’s brow twitched. Was it the Moon Laurel Leaf? But why hadn’t the sword tip reacted?

Only the two Moon Laurel Leaves had resonated, while the sword tip showed no reaction at all.

Puzzled, the three arrived before a set of incomplete, special patterns. The surrounding lake water parted, revealing the scene within.

A silver moonlight glow, the size of a human head, absorbed the surrounding Taiyin lake water, slowly growing.

“What is this?” Jiang Changkong looked at the silver moonlight glow with a hint of surprise.

The power contained within this silver moonlight glow was actually slightly more terrifying than that of his sword tip.

“Taiyin Essence. This is mine.”

Heng Xueyue said excitedly, quickly collecting the silver moonlight glow.

Heng Xinming was also thrilled and hurriedly congratulated her. “Congratulations, Miss. Although we didn’t find the Moon Laurel Leaf, with this Taiyin Essence, you have the main material for a high-tier weapon.”

“High-grade weapons? Main material?” Jiang Changkong blinked—this was really valuable!

Heng Xueyue saw right through his thoughts at a glance: “I know what you’re thinking. I’ll give you a few more Star Stones once we’re out.”

Only then did Jiang Changkong stop talking; his Lunar Blade and Sword weren’t bad either.

This was just the main material. With only this wisp of Moonforce essence, it wasn’t enough to forge a high-grade weapon.

Moreover, without Heng Xueyue, even if he came alone, he wouldn’t be able to take this thing away.

He envied how Heng Xueyue had cultivated some of the Taiyin Star’s Stellar Body characteristics, which prevented her from triggering the sword energy here.

“By the way, how do you cultivate the partial characteristics of the Taiyin Stellar Body?” Jiang Changkong asked.

If he could cultivate it himself, he could take all the treasures here for himself.

“Heng family secret,” Heng Xueyue said, curling the corner of her lips with a hint of pride.

Jiang Changkong pursed his lips, not expecting her to reveal it anyway. Such secret techniques were naturally not shared with others.

The three of them continued searching. Here, they could only rely on the Moon Laurel Leaf’s sensing to find treasures.

There were some areas even Heng Xueyue didn’t dare to tread casually.

If the Taiyin Stellar Body could move freely here, the Heng family would have probably sent a Stellar Body Martial Artist long ago.

Before long, the Moon Laurel Leaf sensed something again. This time, it wasn’t another Moon Laurel Leaf but a stone.

A heart-shaped stone, entirely silver-white, yet emitting no trace of Moonforce.

But Heng Xueyue acted quickly. Jiang Changkong only had time to glance at it before she stored it away.

Jiang Changkong asked, “What is this thing?”

“Moon’s Heart. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand,” Heng Xueyue said vaguely, unwilling to elaborate.

“I suddenly regret coming down here with you,” Jiang Changkong said.

This Moon’s Heart was definitely a treasure even better than the Moonforce essence. Heng Xueyue was worried he might try to snatch it.

She was overthinking it.

He had promised her, and he wouldn’t do such a thing.

Still, when it came to getting good things, he had to ask for a share.

Thinking this, Jiang Changkong said, “Add more Star Stones.”

“No problem,” Heng Xueyue said, narrowing her eyes with great generosity. “How about you come back with me and work for me from now on? I won’t treat you poorly.”

“Not interested,” Jiang Changkong said flatly. “Just give me the Star Stones.”

Heng Xueyue was a bit displeased. “Why are you acting like Jiang Changkong now, like a miser? If you follow me, we can split this Moon’s Heart among the three of us—you, me, and my sister.”

“I’m asking for Star Stones for Changkong,” Jiang Changkong said calmly. “I only work for him.”

“Why are you like this? What’s so great about Jiang Changkong? With your potential, I can secure enough resources for you. In the future, I’ll take you to the Sin Domain and even other places for cultivation resources,” Heng Xueyue said angrily.

“A true friend is hard to find in this world,” Jiang Changkong said indifferently.

Heng Xueyue fell silent, sighed, and said, “Fine. When you change your mind someday, come find me. For now, let’s focus on retrieving treasures.”

After that, none of the three spoke further as they continued searching for treasures.

After walking a while longer, the Moon Laurel Leaf no longer sensed anything. Heng Xueyue stopped and said, “Let’s go, we’re heading back up.”

“There’s still a large area we haven’t explored,” Jiang Changkong said.

In fact, even the areas they had passed through weren’t fully explored; they had only followed the Moon Laurel Leaf’s sensing to find treasures.

“The remaining areas have Taiyin Star Arrays that aren’t severely damaged. We can’t set foot there,” Heng Xueyue shook her head.

Hearing this, Jiang Changkong left with them.

Returning to the Taiyin Cold Pool, Jiang Changkong prepared to leave when Heng Xueyue called out to him, “How can I contact you directly?”

“If fate wills it, we shall meet again. Give the Star Stone to Changkong,” Jiang Changkong replied indifferently.

With that, he wasted no more time and soared into the sky, departing.

“What a pity. Such a rare talent, yet he remains loyal to a miser. It infuriates me.”

Heng Xueyue’s usually cool face flushed with anger, nearly losing her composure.

Heng Xinming sighed softly, “Perhaps it is a bond of genuine friendship. It can only be said that during his time of hardship, he encountered Jiang Changkong, not you, miss.”

Heng Xueyue calmed down and sighed, “Let’s go.”

The two departed, and Jiang Changkong also left. Shedding his black robe, he found a spot near the three major regions and began slaughtering Star Demons.

Drawing blood to attract the Star Demons, a blazing sun hung high in the sky, unleashing boundless blades of light.