Ruan Mianmian's eyes went wide. "Xiaoyuanzi, you're not secretly some great cultivator's illegitimate daughter, or a sect leader's long-lost heiress, are you?"
Of course, that was impossible. In the original novel, her role amounted to a mere two lines, and the System had casually given her an orphan's background. All her social connections in this world were within the Yunyu Sect.
Though Su Xiaoyuan was innocent, she was still a university student who had been educated in the new era's anti-fraud campaigns. Her first reaction to a sudden windfall was not joy, but fear.
This wasn't some new kind of cultivation-world scam, was it?
It wasn't unreasonable for her to think so. Although the Demon Lord had been vanquished five years ago—his Demonic Cultivators either dead or exiled, with only scattered remnants across the various continents posing no real threat—the cultivation world was still a place where the weak were prey to the strong.
Aside from territories protected by the major sects, law and order elsewhere was poor. Some no-man's-lands were practically like northern Myanmar.
Su Xiaoyuan leaned close to Ruan Mianmian's ear and whispered, "You don't think we've run into a scammer, do you?"
Hearing this, Ruan Mianmian grew alert too. She furrowed her brows and glared at the middle-aged man. "You're not a scammer, are you?"
Su Xiaoyuan facepalmed.
The man didn't seem offended at all. He chuckled. "The immortal maiden jests. This Zhao is the manager of a banking house in the city. Several elders of your esteemed sect know me well. If you have doubts, you may invite your master to verify."
"I'm sorry, that's not what we meant," Su Xiaoyuan said quickly. "But I can't think of anyone who would send me money. Could there be a mistake?"
The man said, "There is no mistake. That patron specifically named the three Jade Slips to be delivered to Immortal Maiden Su Xiaoyuan of the Yunyu Sect's outer sect. Might I ask if there is another immortal maiden by the same name in your outer sect?"
Su Xiaoyuan shook her head in confusion.
Ruan Mianmian said, "Who is your patron? Just tell us and it's settled."
The man looked troubled. "It's not that I'm deliberately concealing it. It's just that this patron used the anonymous channel. The banking house only knows the transaction—we cannot trace the patron's identity."
So it's basically cryptocurrency!
Is the cultivation world's financial industry really this advanced? Su Xiaoyuan was utterly stunned.
She was only human, and she loved money. To say she wasn't tempted by such a huge sum would definitely be a lie. But compared to money, her life mattered more.
A huge sum of unknown origin like this—she wouldn't dare accept it even if you killed her.
"I'm sorry, I can't accept this… You'd better take it back…" She gave the gleaming Jade Slips one last look.
Shopkeeper Zhao smiled and closed the box lid. "If Immortal Maiden Su truly has concerns, this sum can be temporarily deposited with the banking house. You may come to retrieve it whenever you need."
He paused. "By the way, if deposited under an account number, the annual interest is four percent—that is, one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones per month in interest. According to the banking house's custom, I can advance you the first month's interest today, Immortal Maiden Su."
Su Xiaoyuan: "Huh?"
"To put it another way, if one day someone truly comes to demand this money back from Immortal Maiden Su, you need only return the principal."
"Is that really all right? Is it legal?" Su Xiaoyuan was still uneasy.
"Immortal Maiden Su need not worry. This sum is deposited in the banking house under Immortal Maiden Su's name, so the interest naturally belongs to Immortal Maiden Su. In my one hundred and fifty years in this profession, I have never made a single error." As he spoke, Shopkeeper Zhao drew two olive-shaped sapphires the size of fingernails from his sleeve.
Su Xiaoyuan had seen this before—it was a Sea Essence Stone, and one piece was worth five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones.
Although the currency of the cultivation world was measured in Spirit Stones, even cultivators couldn't carry thousands or tens of thousands of Spirit Stones on their person everywhere they went, and cashing them was inconvenient too. Thus, high-value gemstones that could be exchanged for large amounts of Spirit Stones came into existence.
Shopkeeper Zhao made an excuse about having other matters to attend to, left the two Sea Essence Stones behind, and departed.
Su Xiaoyuan still didn't quite dare to touch them.
Ruan Mianmian said, "The shopkeeper already said so himself—the interest shouldn't be a problem. Just take them."
Su Xiaoyuan picked up the gemstone. A cool sensation seeped from the stone into her palm, as if she had dipped her hand into chilly seawater.
She gave one to Ruan Mianmian.
Ruan Mianmian refused to accept it. "This is for you. How could I take it?"
Su Xiaoyuan insisted, "I don't have anywhere to spend money anyway. When next month's interest comes in, I'll buy you a new puppet."
Ruan Mianmian still wouldn't take it. "You need to replace your Puppet Human too. I even bragged that I'd get you a high-end one worth twelve hundred stones."
"The boss ran away, what can you do?" Su Xiaoyuan pulled her hand over and pressed the Sea Essence Stone into it. "Just think of it as helping me share the risk."
Only then did Ruan Mianmian accept it. She threw her arms around Su Xiaoyuan in a hug. "Xiaoyuanzi, how are you so good…"
"Because you're good too."
Suddenly striking it rich, Su Xiaoyuan felt like she was walking on clouds, her whole body dizzy and floating.
The purchasing power of Spirit Stones was rather complicated—it was hard to equate them to real-world money—but thirty thousand Spirit Stones converted to RMB would definitely exceed three million.
Even just the five hundred in her pocket—if she did part-time work after school, taking gigs to walk inner sect disciples' Spirit Pets, she'd have to walk them two hundred times!
At Yunyu Sect, her food and lodging were fully covered by the sect. Occasionally she'd visit the market in Guo City and buy some small trinkets, and the money she earned from part-time work was enough for her spending.
She didn't want to replace her puppet, and even if she did, the nearby Puppet Human specialty shop was gone. Leaving the sect's territory was far more troublesome than just going into the city.
The poor suddenly rich—she really didn't know what to do with this huge sum of money.
Back at the dormitory, she still had an unreal feeling.
When she pushed open the door and saw the devastatingly handsome Puppet Human, Su Xiaoyuan suddenly thought of what she could use the money for.
She could buy clothes, accessories, equipment for her doll, change its look…
Su Xiaoyuan couldn't contain her excitement. "Fu Tingyun, let me tell you some good news—I have money to support you now!"
The Puppet Human glanced at her sideways, seemingly even raising an eyebrow, its expression full of disbelief.
Su Xiaoyuan suspected she was being overly sensitive. She fished the precious Sea Essence Stone out of her Storage Pouch. "Look, this is called a Sea Essence Stone. It's worth five hundred Spirit Stones, and I can get one every month. Ahhh, what's the difference between me and the richest person in the Three Realms, don't you think so, Fu Tingyun…"
"No." The actual richest person in the Three Realms looked at the girl with flushed cheeks and eyes that seemed to hold stars, and answered truthfully.
Getting this excited over five hundred Spirit Stones a month—one didn't know whether to call her lacking in ambition or lacking in worldly experience.
Su Xiaoyuan smiled brightly. "Hey, you're a Puppet Human—you've probably never seen this much money."
She lifted the puppet's long, cool fingers and generously placed the Sea Essence Stone in his palm. "Here, let you feel the magic of big money too."
Fu Tingyun: "…"
Su Xiaoyuan looked at the Sea Essence Stone again and again, played with it some more, then carefully tucked it into her little sachet, stuffed it inside her pillowcase, and only then went to wash her face and change clothes.
Just as she finished changing, Ruan Mianmian called out to her from outside: "Xiaoyuanzi, time for class! Don't forget to bring your Puppet Human!"
Only then did Su Xiaoyuan remember that today she still had to go find Elder Qin to install a Formation on the Puppet Human.
It was like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her, instantly waking her from her get-rich-quick fantasy.
Right—this Puppet Human wasn't just a doll; it also served an important teaching function.
Su Xiaoyuan was the type to constantly make resolutions and would fantasize about charging ahead in one go and climbing into Immortal Venerable Lingyue's bed, then going back to reunite with her parents—but when it came to the actual coursework, that was a different matter entirely.
She slapped her face with cold water and headed out with the Puppet Human.
The first class of the afternoon was "Dual Cultivation Harvesting Safety and Ethics," held at Little Green Hill.
Su Xiaoyuan walked along, giving the Puppet Human a running commentary: "Our sect has seven elders, living on six different islands. Whichever elder's class you're taking, you go to their island.
"Little Green Hill is Elder Bai's island. Elder Bai's true form is a nine-tailed fox, and he also oversees disciples who are spirits of plants and animals."
"There are rainbow bridges between the islands. If you're in a hurry, you can also take the ferry, but it costs a bit of ferry fare.
"I worked part-time poling a boat before—you can earn three High-Grade Spirit Stones an hour, but you have to fight for the slots. I didn't get one this month."
Fu Tingyun: "…" Truly a tale that moved one to tears.
Today, in order to leave early, they hadn't even eaten lunch—naturally, no need to take the boat. They went on foot across the bridge.
As a Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator, Ruan Mianmian could ride the wind, but she was loyal and insisted on walking with her best friend.
Fu Tingyun couldn't comprehend walking for half an hour just to save a single mid-grade spirit stone.
Even in the mortal realm, he had been born into royalty, arriving in this world with a silver spoon in his mouth—his world had never contained poor people.
By the time they reached the schoolroom at Little Green Hill, more than half the students had already arrived.
At Yunyu Sect, you couldn't bring Spirit Pets to class, but you could bring Puppet Humans, because strictly speaking, a Puppet Human also counted as a teaching aid.
The moment Su Xiaoyuan walked into the classroom with her new Puppet, she immediately drew everyone's gaze.
Outer sect disciples she knew greeted her one after another: "Xiaoyuan, is that your new Puppet? So handsome—where did you buy it? It must have been expensive, right?"
Su Xiaoyuan shook her head: "It's alright, not too expensive… I bought it in Guo City, but that shop is gone now…"
She brushed it off vaguely and, with Fu Tingyun, found a seat in the back corner and sat down.
There were still three months until the entrance exam. The coursework had already been taught; now they were in the comprehensive review stage.
After the class bell rang twice, Elder Bai walked in, dressed in red like a blazing fire.
Elder Bai's human form was that of a mature young man who looked twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with gorgeous features, wearing loose robes and a carefree air. His sash was tied loosely, his collar open all the way down to his navel, revealing a broad expanse of ivory, firm chest. His black hair was tied at the ends with a ribbon the same color as his clothes.
Fu Tingyun had never seen such an improper outfit. He glanced expressionlessly at the girl beside him and saw her cupping her face, staring blankly at that flirtatious fox spirit, eyes glazed over, a blush blooming on her cheeks.
Su Xiaoyuan really liked this style. Just thinking about how good her own Puppet would look dressed like that made her heart race.
She definitely couldn't afford Elder Bai's outfit, but she could browse the market for similar styles. Without spiritual power imbued in them, they shouldn't be too expensive.
She quickly glanced at the Puppet Human. Right, she could also get a white fur accessory—it would look great with this outfit!
The more Su Xiaoyuan thought about it, the more excited she became. She couldn't hear a single word Elder Bai was saying.
Just as she was lost in her fantasies, Elder Bai suddenly said, "Su Xiaoyuan, you give it a try."
Su Xiaoyuan shot to her feet, her face blank.
Ruan Mianmian, sitting in the seat in front of her, turned around, cupped a hand around her mouth, and whispered a reminder: "The key point of the first lesson… Sword Cultivator…"
Su Xiaoyuan hastily said, "The key point of the first lesson is… cherish life, stay away from Sword Cultivators."
Elder Bai nodded. "Correct. Expand on that—why should one stay away from Sword Cultivators?"
Su Xiaoyuan's face turned bright red as she fumbled through her notebook: "Because Sword Cultivators… Sword Cultivators…"
She finally found the original notes and let out a breath of relief: "Because Sword Cultivators are usually low-quality but long-lasting, big equipment but poor performance, and nine out of ten swords break."