Two days later, at an inn in Sky Demon Town.
Chao Chen rested his chin on one hand, his gaze falling on Wu Bufan, who sat cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed in meditation. The air around Wu Bufan pulsed faintly, the fluctuations of spiritual energy gradually calming until the atmosphere became still once more.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and they met Chao Chen’s.
Chao Chen blinked, caught off guard, and quickly turned his head away. “You advanced again, didn’t you?”
Wu Bufan’s lips curved slightly, amusement glimmering in his eyes. “Yes.”
He had felt the breakthrough coming not long after they left Xichuan Town, and now it had finally settled. Rising from the bed, he stretched and looked toward Chao Chen. “Want to go out for a walk?”
Since arriving in Sky Demon Town, he had spent every hour locked away inside the inn, focused on his cultivation. Chao Chen had stayed by his side the entire time, rarely stepping outside.
Chao Chen’s eyes brightened instantly. “Alright, let’s go.”
Without hesitation, Wu Bufan reached out and naturally took Chao Chen’s hand. Chao Chen’s cheeks flushed faintly, but he did not pull away.
Wu Bufan hid his faint smile, tightening his fingers slightly as he led him through the bustling streets and into the Heavenly Spirit Treasure Pavilion. He wanted to buy a few spiritual herb seeds things that were not yet growing in his personal space.
A polite attendant immediately stepped forward to greet them. Wu Bufan asked, “Do you have any Tranquil Mind Grass?”
“Of course,” the attendant replied with a smile. “Three gold coins for a single stalk. How many would you like?”
Wu Bufan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he asked about several other types of yellow-tier spiritual herbs. The attendant confirmed they had them in stock, though the prices were all far from cheap.
Wu Bufan frowned slightly. “Do you sell seeds as well?”
A mocking snort sounded from nearby.
A woman with striking features and heavily painted lips stood beside them, arms crossed, her face full of scorn. “Another penniless fool who thinks he can grow his own spirit herbs? If you can’t afford the real thing, then don’t buy it! Do you really think becoming a spiritual planter is that easy?”
Wu Bufan gave her a single indifferent glance, then looked back at the attendant. “If you have them, I’ll take both the herbs and the seeds.”
The attendant’s expression brightened. “Please wait a moment, sir.”
The woman’s face darkened at being ignored. “Do you even know who I am?” she demanded haughtily.
Chao Chen frowned. “And who exactly are you supposed to be?”
The woman lifted her chin proudly. “I am Mu Sisi, the eldest daughter of the Mu family.”
“Oh.” Chao Chen’s tone was utterly flat. “Never heard of you. Are you supposed to be impressive?”
Mu Sisi’s face turned green with fury. “I am a spiritual planter a yellow-tier spiritual planter!” she emphasized through gritted teeth.
Chao Chen blinked, feigning polite surprise. “That… sounds rather impressive, I guess.”
Mu Sisi nearly choked.
By the time the attendant returned, arms full of herbs and neatly wrapped packets of seeds, the tension between them was thick enough to touch. “Altogether, that will be three hundred and twenty gold coins,” he said respectfully.
Mu Sisi folded her arms again, fully expecting to see the two men humiliated. A commoner like Wu Bufan couldn’t possibly have that much money, she thought smugly.
But before she could even finish her smirk, Wu Bufan calmly took out a pouch of gold coins and placed them on the counter.
Three hundred and twenty gleaming gold coins piled together, catching the light with a heavy, dazzling shine.
Mu Sisi’s expression froze, turning a most unpleasant shade.
Wu Bufan ignored her completely. He collected the herbs and seeds, storing them into his spatial ring. Inside, the faint light of a spiritual entity flickered as it tossed the seeds into the spiritual fields.
Watching the newly planted seeds take root and sprout, it gave a smug laugh. “Spiritual planters? Hah! They’re playing at what this grandpa perfected long ago.”
Wu Bufan let the corner of his mouth lift slightly, then turned to find Chao Chen staring at something near the back of the shop the stone gambling area.
“Interested?” Wu Bufan asked as he walked over.
Chao Chen shook his head quickly. He didn’t have that kind of money to waste. Everything they had eaten and used these past days had been paid for by Wu Bufan already, and it left him feeling guilty enough.
If this continued, he thought ruefully, he might really have to sell himself just to repay the debt.
Wu Bufan saw right through him and said gently, “I want to play. Will you help me choose a few stones?”
Chao Chen’s eyes lit up with sudden enthusiasm. He immediately went over and picked out three large stones, his movements confident and quick. He could faintly sense spiritual energy pulsing within them.
Mu Sisi, watching from the side, sneered mockingly. “Better pay first,” she said. “Don’t go crying that you can’t afford them when they turn out to be worthless rubble.”
The three stones together cost a full thousand gold coins. She folded her arms, certain these two paupers couldn’t possibly afford it.
But before her laughter could even form, Wu Bufan once again paid without hesitation.
Chao Chen’s lips pressed tightly together. If he had known those few stones cost so much, he would have stopped him from buying them.
Wu Bufan noticed the worry on his face and chuckled softly, squeezing his hand. “It’s fine,” he said simply.
When the attendant asked if they wanted the stones cut open on the spot, Wu Bufan nodded.
The stonecutter began his work, and a small crowd quickly gathered around to watch. Chao Chen’s heart pounded as he stared at the blade slicing into the first stone. Wu Bufan reached out to lightly pat his back, a small gesture meant to ease his tension.
He had only bought the stones to make Chao Chen happy, never expecting such nerves. Now, he found himself silently hoping that something good would actually come out of it otherwise, Chao Chen might blame himself and lose sleep over it for days.
Chao Chen glanced up at him. “If it turns out to be a loss, I’ll repay you,” he said seriously.
Wu Bufan’s eyes narrowed slightly in amusement. “And if something good comes out, does that mean I should pay you back instead?”
Chao Chen blinked, then shook his head quickly. “Of course not!”
“Then don’t say such things again,” Wu Bufan replied with quiet finality.
Deep down, he didn’t like the idea of Chao Chen drawing a line between them so clearly.
“Oh…” Chao Chen lowered his head, realizing his words might have sounded cold. He didn’t dare speak again.
Just then, a surge of rich spiritual energy burst into the air.
Chao Chen’s head snapped up. The grayish stone had cracked open at the corner, revealing a dazzling, translucent white glow from within.
Gasps erupted all around them.
“Spirit stone! That’s a spirit stone!”
Wu Bufan’s expression shifted immediately. Without hesitation, he swept up the remaining two uncut stones, snatched the freshly opened one from the cutter’s hands, and grabbed Chao Chen’s wrist.
“Come,” he said slowly, pulling him toward the door.
“Stop them!” someone shouted.
“Leave the spirit stone behind!”
“Wait! I’ll pay! I’ll pay for it!”
A commotion broke out as several people rushed after them. The crowd surged toward the door, shouting and stumbling over each other.
Mu Sisi, still standing frozen in place, could only stare blankly at the empty doorway.
Spirit stone… They had actually opened a spirit stone? Just like that? So casually?
The steward of the Heavenly Spirit Treasure Pavilion rushed out from the inner chamber the moment he sensed the violent fluctuation of spiritual energy.
When he learned that someone had actually opened a spirit stone, his face twisted in pain, as though he had just watched his fortune go up in smoke.
“Why didn’t you stop them!” he barked, his voice trembling.
One hundred gold coins equaled a single spirit pearl, and a thousand spirit pearls equaled one spirit stone. The spirit stone that had been uncovered was not some tiny fragment either it was as large as a clenched fist, easily worth ten ordinary ones.
Spirit stones were not just precious for their monetary value. They were pure sources of spiritual energy, perfect for cultivation. Unlike spirit pearls, they carried no impurities and caused no backlash even when used in large quantities.
The shop attendant looked utterly bewildered. “I… I didn’t react in time,” he stammered.
He had been working here for years, yet this was the first time he had ever seen anyone open a genuine spirit stone from those useless-looking piles of rock.
The steward groaned and slapped his thigh hard in regret. “If I had known there was a spirit stone hidden among that batch, I would never have sold them! I could have just opened them myself!”
Meanwhile, after leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Wu Bufan and Chao Chen quickly concealed their spiritual auras. They stayed hidden in a shadowed alleyway, waiting until the crowd of pursuers had rushed past before stepping out again.
Chao Chen looked toward Wu Bufan, his brow furrowed. “We can’t go back to the inn,” he said.
The Sky Demon Town wasn’t large. If anyone was determined to investigate, it wouldn’t take long before they found out which inn they were staying at.
“Then we’ll buy two black robes first,” Wu Bufan replied calmly as he took Chao Chen’s hand. “After that, we’ll grab some food. Once we’re ready, we’ll head straight for the Sky Demon Mountain Range.”
Beyond that mountain range lay Sky Demon State, where a teleportation array led directly to Dragon Fish State. To reach it, they had no choice but to cross the mountains.
Chao Chen glanced sideways at him. “You’re really calm about all this,” he muttered, hesitant. “You’re not mad at me?”
Wu Bufan gave a short laugh. “Mad at you? For what helping me open a spirit stone?”
Chao Chen pouted faintly. “That’s not what I meant.”
They soon found a small, inconspicuous cloth shop. Chao Chen assumed Wu Bufan was only going to buy the black robes, but to his surprise, Wu Bufan ended up purchasing more than ten full sets of clothes and most of them were clearly meant for him.
When they left the shop, Chao Chen’s expression was filled with distress. “Five hundred gold for a few pieces of clothing,” he muttered under his breath, “this place is daylight robbery.”
Before he could complain further, his vision darkened as Wu Bufan stepped in front of him. The man carefully draped the black robe over his shoulders, tying it in place. When he raised his gaze, their eyes met squarely.
Chao Chen’s heart skipped a beat.
The space between them suddenly felt suffocatingly small so close that he could feel the warmth of Wu Bufan’s breath brushing against his cheek.
A soft laugh flickered in Wu Bufan’s eyes as he noticed the blush blooming across Chao Chen’s face. He adjusted the collar of Chao Chen’s robe with a casual, almost teasing gentleness before stepping back.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low and warm. “Time to buy food.”
“Oh. Oh right,” Chao Chen stammered, his mind a little hazy. He couldn’t stop glancing at Wu Bufan as they walked. Something told him that Wu Bufan had done that on purpose.
Dressed in black robes, the two of them walked openly into the largest restaurant in Sky Demon Town. The waiter hurried over with a bright smile.
“Gentlemen, would you like a private room?”
“One private room,” Wu Bufan said quietly, his tone low but commanding.
“Right this way, honored guests! Upstairs, please!” the waiter said enthusiastically.
Wu Bufan and Chao Chen began to ascend the staircase, but halfway up, a familiar voice echoed from behind them.
“Waiter, we’ll take a private room as well.”
Their steps paused for just an instant, and they exchanged a quick, sharp glance.
How hadChao Lingyue and her group arrived so soon?
“I’m terribly sorry,” the waiter said apologetically. “The last private room was just taken by those two gentlemen.”
Ne Lisi turned, her expression composed but authoritative. “You two,” she said coolly, “I am a mentor from the Dragon Fish Sect. Would you be willing to let us have that room?”
Wu Bufan didn’t even look back. His voice was hoarse but firm. “No.”
Ne Lisi’s eyes darkened, spiritual power silently gathering in her palm.
“Mentor Ne Lisi,” came a warning voice at her side it was Bo Yinran.
He frowned as he looked toward the two figures in black. “I can’t see through their cultivation,” he said softly.
Ne Lisi froze.
Bo Yinran was at the late Golden Core stage. If even he couldn’t see through their cultivation, then these two were no ordinary wanderers. They might be ancient cultivators concealing their true strength.
A sheen of cold sweat broke across her forehead. Fortunately, she hadn’t acted rashly.
Chao Lingyue, however, continued to frown, her eyes fixed on the departing pair. Inwardly, she spoke to the system. “Are you certain those two are people blessed with great fortune?”
“Yes,” The system, named Feng Tian, replied. “Their fate energy is unusually strong. It would benefit you greatly to befriend them.”
Chao Lingyue’s lips curled slightly, though there was no warmth in her smile. “And what would I gain from befriending them?”
“Only modest benefits,” Feng Tian admitted. “But if you were to devour their fortune instead, the rewards would be immense.”
Her pupils constricted slightly as a dark light flickered deep within them.
“If they try to seize the fortune beast meant for you,” the system added, “you may not be able to defeat them directly. The best strategy is to befriend them first, then take away the items of fate in their possession. Once that happens, their fortune will naturally become yours.”
Chao Lingyue’s expression cooled, ripples of ambition stirring in her gaze.
“I understand,” she murmured, her tone calm, yet her heart surged with a silent, dangerous determination.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Yes, this is the part where we shamelessly ask for coffee.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind