With just a single sentence from Lu Changsheng, Ning Yuxin perked up.
Her father was the wealthiest man in Cangzhou, and Spirit Stones were the very last thing she lacked. In her eyes, if spending money could improve her Sword Dao, that was undoubtedly the simplest method in the world!
“Senior Brother Lu, do you really have a way?”
“It is not a large problem, but the price might be a bit steep!” Lu Changsheng said, appearing somewhat troubled.
Ning Yuxin asked, “How much do you need?”
“Twenty thousand and three Spirit Stones!”
Lu Changsheng held up two fingers.
Drawing from his previous experience, he boldly named an astronomical price.
After all, even a peak master only earned a little over a hundred Spirit Stones a month. This sum was equivalent to their total stipend for over a decade-it was truly no small amount.
He had deliberately left room for bargaining, aiming to earn at least fourteen to fifteen thousand this time.
But he had still underestimated the Ning family’s wealth.
Ning Yuxin did not hesitate for even a moment. She decisively pulled a pouch from her spatial ring, filled to the brim with gleaming Spirit Stones-a full twenty thousand!
“This…”
Lu Changsheng stared blankly. This girl was far too wealthy; she did not even try to bargain!
“Just how much wealth does your Ning family have? Twenty thousand Spirit Stones, and you did not even blink?”
Ning Yuxin replied, “If spending money can improve my Sword Dao, what is a mere twenty thousand?”
Taking the Spirit Stones, Lu Changsheng could only lament his own bitter fate. Reincarnation was truly a skill-being born into the right family directly determined the quality of one’s entire life.
Seeing him put away the Spirit Stones, she asked, “Senior Brother Lu, what should I do next?”
“You do not need to read these books anymore. If you like them, you can keep them as souvenirs. Just go back and get some sleep, then come find me tomorrow morning!”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
“I am the one who should be thanking you!”
Lu Changsheng took a deep breath. He truly had not expected earning her Spirit Stones to be this easy.
At this rate, as long as he kept helping her improve, earning eighty to a hundred thousand would be no problem at all.
Still, he reminded her, “Junior Sister Ning, there is something you must promise me!”
“What is it?”
“No one else can know about this matter between us. Improving your Sword Intent requires asking an old friend of my Master for help, and he does not like to be known. Naturally, you cannot expose me either, or Senior Brother will dislike you, and I will be implicated as well!”
“Alright!”
Ning Yuxin nodded solemnly and gave repeated assurances before finally leaving.
If she had still harbored doubts about the Sword Heart Clarity Pill last time, this time they were completely gone.
She had indeed developed Sword Intent, and even Zhou Qingyu had marveled at its extraordinary quality.
Lu Changsheng also nodded in satisfaction.
He brought the twenty thousand and three Spirit Stones down to Cangyun City, entered a medicinal herb shop, and spent three on ingredients. The remaining twenty thousand was his crafting fee.
Ever since Ning Yuxin came to Qingyun Peak, his quality of life had skyrocketed. Earning twenty thousand Spirit Stones in a single day was something he could not have managed in several months before.
Thinking of this, he considered whether to offer Ning Yuxin a full cultivation plan for comprehensive improvement.
Four levels of Sword Dao plus the ninth layer of Essence Condensation-charging her a hundred thousand would not be excessive, right?
After all, in Lu Changsheng’s view, neither the ninth layer of Essence Condensation nor four levels of Sword Dao were particularly difficult. As long as one’s talent was not exceptionally poor and they had Spirit Stones, it could be done.
It was under his step-by-step guidance that Senior Brother had achieved his current accomplishments.
The path had already been paved; for Zhou Qingyu, it was practically a broad and smooth road.
The more Lu Changsheng thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. He was about to return and draft a plan when, just as he turned around, several figures walked toward him.
“Lu Changsheng!”
A cold voice tinged with resentment rang out.
Lu Changsheng looked over and saw that it was Shi Feng.
Beside him now stood a young man in his mid-twenties, accompanied by an elderly man.
“So it is Brother Shi. It has been a few days, I hope you have been well! Why the face full of resentment?” Lu Changsheng said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Even though the other party was accompanied by a Core Formation expert, he was not flustered at all.
After all, this was Cangyun City, within the territory of the Cangyun Sect. He could basically walk unhindered.
Shi Feng was on the verge of losing his temper. Did Lu Changsheng really not know why he was resentful?
The elderly man beside him, however, smiled and said, “So this young friend is the Little Sword Immortal’s Junior Brother. Truly dignified and refined, a disciple of a renowned sect!”
“You flatter me, Elder!”
Lu Changsheng replied, calm and low-key.
Shi Feng’s face grew even uglier. He could not stand this hypocritical facade-Lu Changsheng had certainly not acted like this when he ordered people to beat him up back then!
Now, with a Core Formation expert present, he was putting on an act of humble courtesy.
The young man gave Lu Changsheng a once-over and let out a light laugh.
“Young friend is too modest,” the old man said with a smile.
Lu Changsheng asked, “Do you have business at my Cangyun Sect?”
“Cangyun backs onto the deep mountains, and beast tides come every few decades. We happened to pass by and wished to lend a hand. We are also taking the opportunity to admire Cangyun’s splendor.”
“I see!” Lu Changsheng gave them a skeptical look and said, “Then I will not disturb you any longer. I have matters to attend to, so I will take my leave!”
But for some reason, under his scrutiny, they felt as if they were being examined like prisoners.
Watching Lu Changsheng leave, the old man said, “The third layer of Spirit Accumulation. Mediocre talent, not much different from the rumors.”
“Elder, do not be fooled by him. This man is incredibly shameless. Earlier…”
Shi Feng recounted his experience of being pinned down and rubbed into the dirt, growing angrier the more he thought about it.
“Do not forget why we are here. Do not dwell on trivial matters and ruin the greater scheme!”
“Yes!”
Meanwhile, Lu Changsheng returned to Qingyun Peak. Recalling their conversation, he found it somewhat ridiculous.
These guys had tried to borrow a knife to kill him before. Would they suddenly be so kind-hearted now?
Heaven only knew what schemes they were plotting.
But he did not care. The Sect was already accustomed to beast tides and had plenty of experience dealing with them.
With just those two or three people, they could not stir up any major waves.
The Sect was not stupid-anyone with eyes could see through this. He did not need to worry about it.
Besides, how could such a trivial matter compare to the importance of earning Spirit Stones?
He then went to the pill room. Taking advantage of Ye Tianyi’s absence, he first refined Ning Yuxin’s Pill. After all, he prided himself on being trustworthy.
If he lost even that bit of credibility, how could he keep swindling Spirit Stones from the wealthy lady?
And if he could not swindle those stones, when would he ever break through to Nascent Soul and escape the torment brought on by cultivation?
No matter what, he had to earn enough Spirit Stones from her to guarantee his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm!
Early the next morning, Lu Changsheng waited on time at the entrance and handed a bottle of Pills to Ning Yuxin.
Ning Yuxin took it, still able to feel the residual warmth radiating from the bottle.
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
“Money and goods… ahem, we are all family now, there is no need for thanks!” Lu Changsheng waved his hand. Instead of leaving immediately, he said, “Junior Sister, the method of usage is different this time. It must be combined with the Sect’s Sword Grotto. I will take you there!”
With that, Lu Changsheng stepped forward to lead the way.
Ning Yuxin nodded and followed behind him, heading straight into the depths of the Sect.
However, looking at Lu Changsheng this time, she increasingly felt that he was different from the rumors.
This level of meticulous care and responsibility alone was not something a wastrel would possess.
As for Lu Changsheng, of course he was meticulous. If the Pill had no effect and Ning Yuxin lost her trust in him, how could he keep earning her Spirit Stones in the future?
After all, in this day and age, wealthy ladies who were this naive and easy to fool were incredibly rare!
…