Chapter 38: An Unexpected Treasure

Emerald Bamboo Court, deep within the lush grove.

Gu Weiyu and two companions sat in a circle around a stone table, upon which lay a box of pastries purchased from Old Yue House.

"Eleventh Sister, let’s start eating!" Gu Qingyun, unable to restrain himself any longer, eagerly reached his small paw toward the food box.

"What’s the rush? Crescent Sister and the others will be here any minute!" Gu Weiyu reached out and unceremoniously slapped his hand away.

No sooner had she spoken than Crescent, Flowing Light, and Gu Weihuan’s maid Lotus Branch entered, carrying fruit and tea. They filled the stone table to the brim.

"All right, let’s eat!" Gu Weiyu smiled, gazing at Gu Qingyun, who was licking his fingers.

"I want the Crystal Puff!" Gu Qingyun climbed off his stone stool, picked up the Crystal Puff from the wooden box, and took a tiny bite. "Ah, so delicious!"

"Ninth Sister, you should try it too!" Gu Weiyu pointed to the Crystal Puff.

Gu Weihuan was not shy, grabbing a piece and eating it.

Laughter and cheerful voices echoed from within the bamboo grove.

"Burp—" Gu Qingyun rubbed his round belly with satisfaction. "Eleventh Sister, your treats are amazing!"

"If you want more, just come over." Gu Weiyu grinned. Her great-grandfather was so kind, sending her spirit fruits and pastries every few days. The taste was always wonderful, and she loved them.

"The Grand Elder treats you so well!" Gu Weihuan’s face was full of envy. Both she and her twelfth brother had lost their grandfather, who never broke through the Qi Refining stage.

"I heard from Eighth Brother that this year, the young generation of the four main families in our county city will have a big competition!" Gu Qingyun suddenly remembered.

"I also heard the rewards for the top three are quite generous!" Gu Weihuan counted on her fingers:

"First place gets a Foundation Pill, second place an exquisite flying sword, third place a Four Symbols Killing Array. Isn’t that great?"

"Really?" Gu Weiyu, who spent her days training or doing tasks, was behind on such news. Hearing of these generous rewards, she felt her heart stirring.

"Exactly. I’ve just reached the third level, so I’m just there to make up the numbers." Gu Weihuan slumped onto the stone table, listless.

"Eleventh Sister, we’re counting on you!" Gu Qingyun pumped his fist toward her. He and Ninth Sister had little hope, but Eleventh Sister was different.

"Me?" Gu Weiyu blinked her large eyes, suddenly pulling a funny face. "Well, I won’t claim first place, but third is certainly within reach!"

Seeing her antics, Gu Weihuan and Gu Qingyun burst into laughter.

————

The moon quietly climbed atop the wall and tree branches. Gu Weiyu sat alone in her quiet chamber, taking out the Azure Sphere she had obtained today.

A magical artifact must be nurtured with spiritual sense and imprinted before it can obey its master. This was her task now.

She placed the Azure Sphere before her, closed her eyes, and extended her spiritual sense to begin nurturing and familiarizing herself with it.

The chamber was silent, moonlight streaming onto the Azure Sphere.

The dull, unremarkable Black Cloud gradually revealed its mysterious nature as Gu Weiyu nurtured it. A faint purple glow seeped from within, lending it an air of mystique and nobility.

After more than an hour, Gu Weiyu slowly opened her eyes. She raised her hand and softly called, "Azure Sphere!"

The sphere before her slowly rose into the air, growing from palm-sized to as large as a meditation cushion.

Gu Weiyu shook her head, murmuring, "Not big enough, still not big enough..."

The Azure Sphere, seemingly sentient, expanded again—and again—until it occupied almost the entire chamber.

Gu Weiyu, squeezed into a corner, was on the verge of tears. Wasn’t this a bit too much?

"Azure Sphere, it’s better if you’re smaller. Just... about the size of two cushions." She pointed to her meditation cushions.

Amazingly, the Azure Sphere quickly shrank to just that size.

Delighted, Gu Weiyu leapt onto it, pointed toward the window, and declared, "Azure Sphere, let’s go!"

The sphere contracted nimbly and flew out the window, carrying Gu Weiyu ever higher, soaring above Emerald Bamboo Court until it vanished from sight.

"The wind is strong tonight. I should have worn an outer robe." Gu Weiyu sat cross-legged on the Azure Sphere. The night wind was brisk, chilly air invading her. Though she was a cultivator, immune to heat and cold, the early spring altitude left her shivering.

Above the Azure Sphere, a purple shield suddenly appeared, blocking the chill wind.

Gu Weiyu glanced up at the shield overhead, her heart filled with delight. Had she stumbled upon a treasure?

Why did the Azure Sphere feel so advanced? It was far more useful than Uncle Sixteen’s spirit boat. She hadn’t done a thing, and the Azure Sphere took care of everything!

"I am a spiritual treasure. Mere magical artifacts cannot compare!" A proud voice suddenly echoed in Gu Weiyu’s mind.

——

Gu Weiyu jumped in surprise, stunned for a long moment before finally asking, "Who are you?"

Spiritual treasure? Forgive her ignorance—she’d never heard of such a thing!

The Azure Sphere, able to sense her thoughts, quickly explained, "I am the spirit of the spiritual treasure. Magical artifacts are the lowest grade, typically used by Qi Refining cultivators. Above them are spiritual implements, magical treasures, and spiritual treasures..."

"Wow—" Gu Weiyu’s mouth formed an O. She quickly calculated:

Magical artifacts were for Qi Refining, spiritual implements for Foundation Establishment and above, spiritual treasures at least for Golden Core stage. Spiritual treasures—weren’t those the legendary Nascent Soul cultivators’ domain?

Gu Weiyu reclined on the Azure Sphere, which was as soft and comfortable as she had imagined.

Her gaze rose through the purple shield overhead, settling on the boundless night sky:

Stars sparkled brilliantly, nebulae drifted ethereal and unattainable. For the first time, she was so close to them!

Gu Weiyu felt as if she were in a dream. Had she really acquired a flight artifact of spiritual treasure grade?

"I’ll call you Azure Sphere from now on, all right?" As night deepened, Gu Weiyu looked at the waning crescent moon and spoke gently.

She hadn’t known the Azure Sphere had a spirit; now that she did, she wanted its opinion.

"Hmm... I suppose the name suits this handsome and dashing treasure!" The proud voice sounded in her mind again.

Gu Weiyu laughed with joy, curiosity brimming. "Azure Sphere, how fast can you fly?"

"This treasure’s speed would overwhelm you!" Azure Sphere declared loftily.

Ha! Gu Weiyu didn’t believe it. "Are you just boasting?"

Azure Sphere didn’t reply, but Gu Weiyu, lying atop the cloud-like sphere, clearly felt it accelerating.

"Is that all?" she said lazily, her disdain evident.

At first, Azure Sphere sped up steadily, but provoked by Gu Weiyu’s taunts, it began to play—darting up and down, the speed ever increasing.

Gu Weiyu suddenly found herself spinning like a human top atop the sphere, tumbling and swaying wildly...