44 Chapter 44 – Exchange

When Zhu Xuan walked to the place where the herb garden that belonged to Zhu clan in the Dark Winds Valley, he was shocked to find it was half ruined. He walked inside and found the same elder, Zhu Kun, who came along with him and Zhu Meiying when they entered the valley more than a month ago.

When Zhu Kun saw Zhu Xuan was the one walking out of the valley, he was visibly relaxed. Zhu Jia Li made him search the entire valley in the past month for the trace of Zhu Xuan and told him not to come back unless he found Zhu Xuan. Additionally, the constant attack from the Gold Fire Swift Sparrow in the herb garden and the constant fight with other Qi gathering stage beasts when he was searching for Zhu Xuan had exhausted Zhu Kun too much.

Zhu Xuan walked towards Zhu Kun to inquire about the situation. But before he could ask anything Zhu Kun said with elation "Eighth prince, you are finally here. We have been searching for you for a month."

Zhu Xuan couldn't understand why they were searching for him and asked "Why were you searching for me Elder Kun? And what happened to the herb garden?"

Zhu Kun let out a deep sigh and replied "You don't know this Eighth prince, but a demon bird beast at the Qi gathering middle stage has been attacking the herb garden and all the human cultivators it came across for the past month. Elder Jia Li was worried something might have happened to you and asked us to search for you."

Zhu Xuan was shocked to hear the news. He thought the Gold Fire Swift Sparrow would only search in the depth of the valley for the one who took its things, but he didn't expect it would come out to the herb garden and attack this place. He felt guilty that he is the cause for this, but didn't say it out loud since his standing in the clan is already not good. If they know the reason behind the attack of the sparrow was because of him, they would definitely punish him and his second brother and his lackeys might even do something from the shadows to make things worse at that point.

He said with an apologetic tone "Sorry Elder Kun. I was in seclusion for the past month so I had no idea all this happened in the valley."

Zhu Kun was not an idiot and realized that the attack of the sparrow might be related to Zhu Xuan since the time of his seclusion and attack of the sparrow was at the same time and he is the only person who went into the depths of the valley at the time and entered seclusion, and the rest of the people all returned from the depths of the valley. He just put a smile on his face and replied "I understand Eighth prince, you don't have to apologize to me. Let's return to the clan; Elder Jia Li was very worried about you and the academy selections is also about to start."

"Yes let's return to the clan" replied Zhu Xuan and both of them left the Dark Winds Valley.

Half a day later, both of them reached the Zhu clan. Zhu Xuan left Zhu Kun and moved to the direction of the alchemy pavilion to meet his Aunt. As he got close to the alchemy pavilion, he found his Aunt Jia Li and Zhu Meiying was waiting outside for him.

Zhu Jia Li hugged Zhu Xuan and chided him with tears on her face "Where have you been all this while Little Xuan? We've been worried about you."

Looking at the worried face of Aunt Jia Li and Zhu Meiying, Zhu Xuan felt warm in his heart. He replied with an apologetic look "I'm sorry Aunt Jia Li; I was in seclusion and I didn't know all that happened in the valley at that time."

Zhu Meiying said with a smirk "Do you take us for idiots? I'm sure you are the reason for the attack right?"

Zhu Jia Li stopped Zhu Meiying and said "Don't speak here, let's go in and continue."

Once they were inside Zhu Jia Li's room, Zhu Xuan said with helplessness when looking at his aunt and sister's angry face "I really don't know all this happened in the valley, and I was really in seclusion for the past month breaking through to the tenth level of Body purification stage."

Both of them were shocked to hear that he already broke through to the tenth level and Zhu Jia Li was thinking "Isn't it too fast for a breakthrough? His talent and speed of breakthrough is far greater than that person."

Even though she was happy for Zhu Xuan, she put on a serious face and said "Little Xuan, even though your talent is great and you breakthrough faster, you should lay a good foundation before breaking through each level. If not, it will affect your cultivation in the later stages."

Zhu Xuan also understood this fact and said "I understand Aunt; I know a steady foundation is necessary for my future cultivation."

Zhu Jia Li relaxed after hearing that Zhu Xuan understood the importance of building a strong foundation. Zhu Xuan continued with a sheepish smile "Actually, even though I didn't know the sparrow attacked the herb garden, the reason behind its attack was me. I found its nest when I was moving through the valley and found important resources which helped me with the breakthrough."

As he said that, he took out the void profound fruit, beast cores, fire elemental stones, weapons and pills from his spatial ring and put it on the table in a big pile.

Zhu Jia Li and Zhu Meiying were shocked to see all the materials he took out of the spatial ring and they are even more shocked about the fact that Zhu Xuan owned a spatial ring.

Zhu Meiying stuttered and said "Bro... Brother, Is that a spatial ring?"

Looking at their reaction, Zhu Xuan said "Yes, it is a spatial ring. I found it in the nest of sparrow, not sure how it got there though. All these things were inside the ring."

Zhu Meiying pouted and said "Your luck is too good brother, I wish I could also come across a spatial ring."

Zhu Jia Li also smiled and said "It's truly your good luck to come across something like a spatial ring. But don't tell this to anyone else or it might bring danger to you, and you too Little Meiying."

Both of them nodded in understanding.

Zhu Xuan planned this when he was in seclusion after his second mission. He realized during every mission; he take lots of weapons and pills and various materials from the enemies he kill, and he also found resources that can't be found in Qinglu city or nearby areas. He can't depend on Bai Wuji all the time to sell all his materials, especially weapons and pills. It will be weird if he claimed he found pills and weapons in the Snowcape Demon Mountain. Also, he can't reveal his spatial ring to him; Even though Bai Wuji looked liked a nice person, in front of spatial ring which is rare in Lei Shu Kingdom, he might try to snatch it. Moreover, if he carries all the materials every time he went out and came back, it will cause trouble for him in the clan or by some other thieves and killers. So, he decided to reveal that he owns a spatial ring to his aunt and the materials he found in sparrow's nest is a good excuse for him.

After keeping Void fruit and few high grade fire elemental stones, weapons and pills he needed, he left everything else on the table. He said "Aunt, this is my gift to you and Meiying. There are many materials, herbs which couldn't be found near Qinglu city in there. Use it for yourself."

Zhu Jia Li immediately rejected and said "Little Xuan, we don't need all these, it will be useful for you in your cultivation since the clan is not supporting you."

Zhu Xuan replied with a smile "I have already kept all I need for my cultivation. I don't need any of these. If you don't need any of the materials in there, you can sell or exchange for elemental stones

and herbs and materials I need for pills; I have a use for them. Also, I will be bringing more pills and weapons in the future, it will be great if you can help be selling them, or exchange them for elemental stones, herbs or some pills I need for my cultivation."

After hearing Zhu Xuan, Zhu Jia Li realized he is keeping some secrets from them, but he didn't mind as long as he not in any danger. She replied with a smile "Alright Little Xuan, you can find me anytime to sell those materials. I will help you."

She then took different elemental stones she had with him and various herbs and resources he asked and gave it to Zhu Xuan.

But both of them didn't know that this will be the last time Zhu Xuan will be exchanging materials with his aunt.