"Hard... drive?"

The proprietress looked confused, unable to see how it resembled a disk.

Huangfu Yi picked up the hard drive, studying and fiddling with it for a while. He was certain it was something he had seen in Outer Heaven.

This square metal block could not be penetrated by any Divine Light. It appeared to be a Faraday cage, resistant to explosions, magnetism, and radiation. Its square shape was likely meant for stacking and transport. The slot connectors matched the neural lines of the War Remains armor, indicating it could directly link to read the data stored within.

Although Huangfu Yi didn't know how things from Outer Heaven ended up in Taiji Heaven, he also couldn't understand why the hard drive interfaces from Taiji Heaven seemed compatible with those from Outer Heaven. But evidently, the interesting "thing" wasn't the hard drive itself, but the data stored inside.

"But this is a special Magic Artifact, just a component. It requires other tools to use. Keeping it is useless. How much do you want for it?"

"Magic Artifact component?"

The proprietress eyed him skeptically, guessing the boy thought he could fool her with some incomprehensible nonsense to swindle her out of her treasure. However, seeing his straightforward manner, it didn't seem he was lying or faking. After pondering for a moment, she smiled.

"Well, this seems like a destined item for a Daoist like you. I can't sell it anyway, and since I don't need it, I'll just give it to you."

Huangfu Yi was taken aback,

"Giving it to me? Really?"

"Really, at Linglong Pavilion, we're not short of a few coins. Why not make a good acquaintance with a Daoist..."

The proprietress spoke while sizing up the young man. Seeing his thick eyebrows, big eyes, and regular features, his chest broadened, and his posture straight like a pine, he exuded a hot masculine aura that she couldn't help but admire. She crossed her legs, letting her golden long skirt slide off her knee like a waterfall, showing off her jade-like calf to him.

But to her surprise, he didn't even glance, frowning and politely refusing,

"No need. A debt of gratitude is the most expensive. We don't know each other, and I can't accept your favor for nothing.

Besides, who knows how much fate is tied to this dirty item. Better to settle this with money.

A straightforward transaction is safer."

The proprietress was momentarily stunned by his words.

The young man before her seemed naive but could see through Arrays and barged into her chamber, trying to take something from her treasure trove that even she couldn't recognize—an obvious case of playing the fool to catch the tiger. Clearly, he was a True Inheritor from a major sect, released for experience and crossing the tribulation, backed by a powerful mentor.

She had no desire to offend such a fierce character; her original intent was merely to make a good acquaintance by handing over the item. Yet, who would have thought he'd refuse to forge any connections, even declining a free gift?

Before she could respond, Huangfu Yi stood abruptly, cupping his fist,

"Proprietress, sorry for the intrusion. If this deal can't proceed, then so be it.

But I have one thing to say: this item might be greatly significant, with countless fates, and endless repercussions.

It's best to handle it quickly, or it might lead to bloodshed."

After all, some things, while valuable, were practically less useful to Huangfu Yi than garbage. Even if he obtained it, he couldn't read the data, and thus didn't force the issue.

"What! You refuse it, don't want anything, and now threaten me? What do you want! Must I sell it to you for cheap?"

The proprietress felt a wave of anger wash over her, her brows knitting tightly as she slapped the table but still calculated in her mind.

She couldn't calculate anything, but thinking about it, the prophecy of bloodshed might hold true. Otherwise, how would such a tainted object end up in her possession...

Huangfu Yi thought for a moment,

"Indeed, a few coins would be too little. How about this, I promise to do three tasks for you to settle this fate, how about it?"

The proprietress sneered,

"With your modest cultivation, you want to do work for me? What can you do?"

Huangfu Yi replied calmly,

"Abilities are honed through one's own efforts. Though I'm currently quite destitute and without skills, some people can become Sect Leaders in a few years, with ten years of hard work. Why can't I achieve something similar?

You are also an All-Round Cultivator; can't wait ten years?"

"Impressive ambition, but no need to wait ten years, let's do it now!"

The proprietress's eyes glinted as she suddenly chuckled and tossed a small object his way.

Huangfu Yi caught it and took a closer look—a wordless stone tablet, smooth and cool, its material unrecognizable.

"In the Western Suburb Jujube Forest outside the city, there is a Union Bird, only visible to those who have not lost their Primordial Yang and have never formed a bond of marriage.

Daoist, use this tablet to capture it. Accomplish this, and consider the matter settled; the item is yours."

"Uh... fine, I'll try."

A Union Bird is akin to a Concord Wingbird, resembling a duck, born with one wing and one eye, unable to fly without a partner, only soaring in pairs. Trading it for a hard drive, it's hard to say who's the gainer or loser.

Though Huangfu Yi was indeed an unpaired child with unlost Primordial Yang, such Spiritual Birds and Divine Beasts are not easily encountered even if you wish to. Seeking it is all he can do.

Besides, he had to wait for news from the escort agency, unable to leave immediately, so he decided to try his luck. If it's not meant to be, it's fate; if he finds it, it's fortune—going with the flow seemed best.

Thus, Huangfu Yi set out westward from the city. Within a few miles, he saw a land of crimson clouds in the distance, a ten-mile spread of red haze covering fields, with a thousand intertwined ancient trees and ten thousand drooping red fruits.

At the start of autumn, the jujubes in the forest ripened in patches. Along the way, many villagers wielded long poles, knocking down sweet jujubes from the trees. The forest was alive with birds darting through branches, weaving like shuttle threads, as flocks of black and white Spiritual Birds and Fei Yan leapt from branches, feasting on red fruits, leaving droppings splattered below.

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