Chapter 124: Xiao Kai Tian and Zhao Qi Xi

Xiao Kaitian did not care about such a small sum of money. Qixi Media Consulting was a company he had built from the ground up, and he felt even more attached to it than he did to Qingtang Tianxia. He would never skimp on employee benefits.

"So, what is the topic for our next discussion? Do you have any instructions, Mr. Xiao?"

"Let's pause for now. Keep recruiting more personnel," Xiao Kaitian said, tapping his fingers against the window frame. "We have a lot to get started on soon. Keep an eye out—we need to bring in more middle management."

"Xiao Qi is excellent in that regard," Guo Lei said, unable to hide her genuine admiration. "She sits in the office every day, and no matter how much work there is, she handles it perfectly in less than an hour. I don't know where you unearthed such a treasure, Mr. Xiao. The company's operations essentially rely on her alone."

Guo Lei’s own vision and professional level were still developing, so working alongside Zhao Qixi provided her with a perfect opportunity to learn.

Xiao Kaitian was well aware of Zhao Qixi’s capabilities. In truth, he did not know her deeply; he had simply felt a sense of familiarity, as if they were "fellow townsfolk," which was why he had taken her under his wing. He had not expected her to bring him such unexpected surprises.

"Keep an eye out slowly. Things are manageable for now, but think about the future once the entire Future Century project launches, Guo Lei," Xiao Kaitian said, watching the scenery recede past the window. "Have you ever thought about moving up?"

Guo Lei froze. To her, her current position already exceeded her expectations, yet Xiao Kaitian’s words carried the weight of an even greater promise.

The Future Century project under Qingtang Tianxia—the thought alone made her blood race.

"We need to bring in talent, but I prefer to promote from within our own team," Xiao Kaitian said, intending to mentor her. She was a bright young woman with a strong moral compass. "Spend more time on it. It doesn't matter if mistakes are made, as long as you can summarize them and grow. Keep a close watch on the employees."

"Yes, sir." Guo Lei’s face flushed with excitement. Xiao Kaitian’s brief outline had almost sketched out her entire future, and her eyes sparkled with newfound light.

The company was closed for the weekend, so Guo Lei dropped Xiao Kaitian off at home. Upon arriving, he learned that Uncle Zhong had gone fishing, saying they would have it for dinner, and that Bai Kou was upstairs in closed-door cultivation. Zhao Qixi was the only one left, sitting alone in the courtyard.

She sat in her wheelchair, wearing a black chiffon dress, her long hair draped casually over her shoulders. From a distance, her figure appeared thin and lonely. With large black sunglasses and a face mask, she kept herself completely bundled up.

A thick, open book rested on her lap, and her hands lay on the edges of the pages, but she hadn't turned one in a long time. Her attention was not on the book, but on the garden.

A small bee was darting in and out of the sea of flowers in the courtyard, busy and industrious. That was what Zhao Qixi was watching.

*An interesting person,* Xiao Kaitian thought with a smile. He stepped forward, stopped beside her, and with his hands in his pockets, sat down slowly.

Neither of them said a word, watching the bee’s busy work together.

The autumn sun in Haidu felt somewhat weak, casting its light upon them, creating an indescribable sense of harmony.

After a long time, the bee flew off, satisfied. Only then did Zhao Qixi look away and lower her head to the book in her hands.

"I found something good on this trip to Hong Kong," Xiao Kaitian said, sitting on the ground and taking out a jade pendant. "I imagine you are aware of your physical condition. As I said before, it might be hard to imagine, but this dimension—this world—cannot solve your problem."

"I haven't found a good solution yet, but this jade pendant can temporarily alleviate your condition." He held out the pendant. Zhao Qixi did not move for a long time, before finally reaching out to take it.

When his fingers touched hers, they were frighteningly cold. Xiao Kaitian sighed inwardly; his "fellow townsfolk" had clearly suffered a great deal. "But wearing it alone isn't enough. You must follow the method I teach you to extract the spiritual energy within—think of it as a form of power."

"..." Zhao Qixi remained silent. She seemed to study the pendant intently, holding it in her left palm and gently stroking it with her right index finger. After a long while, she seemed satisfied and hung the pendant around her neck.

The pendant already contained a trace of spiritual energy, and after Xiao Kaitian had infused it with the power of the Cold Flame Stone, it became even more potent. As soon as Zhao Qixi put it on, she felt a subtle flow of energy seeping into her body, and she began to feel warm all over.

"Focus your mind. Follow my instructions and slowly try to sense your... Divine Source." Zhao Qixi was also an entity from the central axis universe; she must have a Divine Source, though no one had ever mentioned it, and she herself was unaware of it. "Try searching in your mind, or rather, at the center of your brow."

"..."

Zhao Qixi turned to look at Xiao Kaitian. Seeing his serious expression, she turned her head away again, closed her eyes, and tried to relax to sense this so-called "Divine Source."

After meditating for a while, the scene before her eyes seemed to grow clearer. A nebula-like object appeared at the center of her brow, rotating slowly.

Xiao Kaitian immediately sensed the Divine Source as well. *As expected of a 'fellow townsfolk,' her ability to learn is truly fast.*

"Try to control its rotation. Don't go too fast, then slowly form a vortex. The place where this vortex connects is the pendant; draw the spiritual energy from it." Xiao Kaitian’s voice was soft and soothing. Zhao Qixi seemed hypnotized, following his instructions exactly.

She did not succeed at first; the nebula's rotation was completely uncontrollable. After many attempts, she managed to gain some control, but establishing the connection was another hurdle. Xiao Kaitian remained patient, watching Zhao Qixi with a smile.

Time flowed on. Nearly an hour later, during an accidental attempt, she finally connected to the pendant. Suddenly, the energy contained within it rushed toward the nebula. With every influx of energy, the nebula glowed brighter, and Zhao Qixi felt strength returning to her body.

Xiao Kaitian let out a breath. The first step had been taken. When the time was right, he would slowly teach her techniques related to the Divine Source.

However, just as Xiao Kaitian had anticipated, there seemed to be a black hole at the center of the nebula. Any energy that entered the nebula was absorbed by this black hole after circulating, and Zhao Qixi’s body began to weaken again.

"The power... it disappeared..." Zhao Qixi finally spoke.

"That is normal. It is an inherent problem with your body; I will explain it to you later," Xiao Kaitian said, standing up. "I don't know the specific cause myself, but for now, the pendant will provide some relief."

"...Thank you."

Xiao Kaitian smiled slightly. He did not feel that thanks were necessary.

Upstairs, watching the interaction between Xiao Kaitian and Zhao Qixi, Bai Kou smiled faintly and pulled the curtain shut.