"Very, very, very big—how big exactly?"
When Second Senior Brother gave his answer, everyone fell silent for a long time.
So sour!
Even the usually composed Senior Sister couldn't hold back—her expression cracked for a moment as she hissed with envy: "I knew Little Junior Brother was rich, but I didn't know he was THIS rich."
Second Senior Brother nodded. "Besides the inheritance Master left each of us before ascending, the conquest of the Chaos Realm back then was almost entirely Little Junior Brother's doing. The seal still relies on him to maintain it. The wealth the Demon Lord hoarded and the several Spirit Stone mines in the Chaos Realm are all in his hands—the other sects have no grounds to object."
Can't beat him, so what can they do.
Second Senior Brother added: "Besides, Little Junior Brother doesn't spend much. His biggest expense is probably these lanterns. The money accrues interest every year, growing bigger and bigger."
Silence.
After a moment, someone finally caught on: "Wait, that's not right—why would Little Junior Brother transfer such a huge sum?"
Fifth Senior Brother: "Did he tear down someone's sect?"
Third Senior Sister: "That amount could buy several Yunyu Sects."
Another long silence.
"Is that woman a member of the Yunyu Sect? Did she plant a gu parasite on Little Junior Brother?" Fifth Senior Brother asked.
Senior Sister shot him a sidelong glance. "Do you think there's anyone in the Three Realms who could plant a gu on him?"
Fifth Senior Brother: "…Fair point."
Third Senior Sister asked Second Senior Brother: "What's that woman's name?"
"Su Xiaoyuan."
"What a lovely name!" Third Senior Sister praised. "Just hearing it, you know she's an adorable little beaut—"
"Ahem… never heard of it. I have the complete roster of the Yunyu Sect—from the Sect Master and seven Elders down to the outstanding inner disciples of recent years. Even if this girl were a Hehuan Sect disciple, she wouldn't be on the list."
Fourth Senior Brother tapped his temple: "Could the Soul Transfer have gone wrong somehow, damaging this area?"
Senior Sister let out a light scoff: "That's even less believable than the gu parasite theory."
Third Senior Sister swallowed hard: "Could it be that Little Junior Brother took a fancy to the girl and just threw money at her?"
Everyone shook their heads vigorously at first, then gradually slowed to a stop.
Senior Sister stroked her chin, speaking gravely: "A great cultivator once said, 'When you have eliminated all impossibilities, whatever remains—however improbable—must be the truth.'"
She cleared her throat. "Regardless of the reason, the priority now is to find Little Junior Brother."
Third Senior Sister: "I really wonder what kind of extraordinary woman made Little Junior Brother's iron tree bloom. Whoever goes, remember to bring an image-recording stone and capture it so we can all enjoy the spectacle together—hahaha… ha… Why are you all looking at me?"
She shook her head in terror: "No no no, I can't go. I owe a romantic debt in the Yunyu Sect… I'd die there…"
"Is that so?" Senior Sister frowned. "Very well then—you're going."
Second Senior Brother: "Oh, and you can bring that young friend from the Yanshi Sect along. In case there's something wrong with the Puppet, he can take a look."
Third Senior Sister: "!" Second Senior Brother wasn't letting her off either.
Fourth Senior Brother: "Third Senior Sister, go with peace of mind. If Little Junior Brother silences you, I'll erect a monument and write your biography."
Fifth Senior Brother: "Third Senior Sister, I—I'll go pack your bags for you."
Senior Sister pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed: "At least teach the boy a thing or two—throwing money around isn't done like that. Don't scare the girl half to death."
…
Su Xiaoyuan and Ruan Mianmian attended classes all day.
Today was another day full of review classes, with the last one on Elder Qin's Huanhua Island.
After class, Elder Qin kept the disciples behind: "In half a month, it will be the Wushan Festival. Disciples who have been in the sect for over a year may know that, according to sect tradition, each island must select a Goddess Avatar to ride the flower boat in the divine procession."
When Su Xiaoyuan joined last year, the Wushan Festival had already passed, so she had never experienced these activities firsthand and had only heard about them.
"The selected disciple will receive one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones, plus an additional one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones for purchasing attire," Elder Qin continued.
Ruan Mianmian excitedly rubbed Su Xiaoyuan's sleeve: "Xiaoyuanzi, two thousand! You better step up and make sure you get selected!"
If this were the past, with such a good opportunity to make money, Su Xiaoyuan would have striven for it even at the cost of social death.
But right now, she couldn't muster much enthusiasm.
"For fairness, everyone will vote anonymously," Elder Qin said, taking out a stack of talisman papers and distributing them.
In the end, Su Xiaoyuan still won by an overwhelming vote, relying on her authoritative beauty.
Ruan Mianmian was excited the whole way, and Su Xiaoyuan, not wanting to dampen her best friend's spirits, tried her best to cheer up as well.
When they reached the ferry of Huanhua Island, a familiar inner sect senior sister called out to her: "Su Xiaoyuan—"
Seeing her anxious expression, Su Xiaoyuan panicked too: "Senior sister, what's wrong?"
"Someone from the External Affairs Hall is looking for you. They say it's the manager of a pawnshop from the city, surnamed Zhao. Do you know him?"
The senior sister pressed her lips together, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Su Xiaoyuan's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the matter of those three hundred thousand Spirit Stones was waiting for her here?
"I've met him once," she asked cautiously, "What's going on?"
The senior sister said anxiously: "You don't owe the pawnshop money, do you? Or did you offend someone? That manager brought over a dozen martial cultivators and saber cultivators in black clothes. They look fierce and terrifying!"
Hearing this, Su Xiaoyuan grew even more frightened, her voice almost tearful: "I don't… I shouldn't, right…"
Would they use those three hundred thousand Spirit Stones to extort her?
In an instant, all the fraud and loan shark cases she had seen in her modern life flashed through her mind.
Her vision darkened, and she nearly lost her footing.
Ruan Mianmian quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulder: "Xiaoyuanzi, don't be afraid. I'm here with you! So what if there are a dozen people? This is our sect's territory. I don't believe they'd dare cause trouble!"
The senior sister also comforted her: "I'll go with you. If they really resort to violence, I'll send a message to find our master to uphold justice."
Su Xiaoyuan thanked the senior sister but didn't let her come along. If something really happened, she might get dragged in.
She even wanted to stop Ruan Mianmian from coming too, but she couldn't sway a determined Golden Core Stage Body Cultivator.
"If it really comes down to it, I'll just reveal my identity," Ruan Mianmian said. "They'll have to give the Xie family heir some face, won't they!"
Nervously, they arrived at the External Affairs Hall—the same reception room as last time. Sure enough, there were over a dozen tall, muscular martial cultivators in black, standing in two rows before the door.
Seeing them, the corners of those martial cultivators' mouths curved in unison, revealing honeyed smiles.
So terrifying!
Su Xiaoyuan's legs went weak. Just as she was considering whether to turn and run, Shopkeeper Zhao bowed, his face full of smiles, and came forward to greet them: "Immortal Su, I trust you've been well?"
Su Xiaoyuan and Ruan Mianmian exchanged a glance, unsure if a trap was waiting for them.
"Sorry, Shopkeeper Zhao, what did you want to see me about today?" Su Xiaoyuan said cautiously.
Shopkeeper Zhao glanced at Ruan Mianmian, his face showing difficulty, then said to Su Xiaoyuan, "Immortal Su, could we speak in private?"
Su Xiaoyuan's internal alarm bells immediately started ringing.
Ruan Mianmian stepped forward, blocking Su Xiaoyuan like a mother hen protecting her chick. "She doesn't know anything. If you have business, take it up with me!"
Su Xiaoyuan tried to pull her back, but her best friend didn't budge an inch.
Steward Zhao smiled smoothly. "My apologies, Immortal. This matter really can only be discussed with Immortal Su."
The color drained completely from Su Xiaoyuan's face, and her lips trembled. "Is it… is it the owner of that three hundred thousand who's come looking? I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to…"
"Three hundred thousand?" Steward Zhao was taken aback. "Oh, Immortal Su means that three hundred thousand from last time. I've come today about a different matter."
Su Xiaoyuan was on the verge of tears. "Besides that three hundred thousand, there really isn't anything else…"
Steward Zhao said, "This matter isn't suitable for public discussion. Please, Immortal, come inside so we can talk in detail."
Ruan Mianmian insisted on going in together, and since Su Xiaoyuan didn't object, Steward Zhao allowed it.
Once inside, Steward Zhao carefully closed the door and, from the Universe Bag at his waist, gingerly brought out a box about the same size as last time—only several notches more exquisite.
Now, whenever Su Xiaoyuan saw this kind of thing, her scalp went numb.
Steward Zhao had already opened the box.
To Su Xiaoyuan's surprise, this time there was no dazzling treasure light. Inside the box lay quietly three pitch-black objects, similar in shape to that jade slip from last time—at first glance, like ink sticks.
Su Xiaoyuan was puzzling over what they were when Ruan Mianmian beside her gasped sharply. "This, this, this… could it be the legendary…"
Steward Zhao was somewhat surprised. "The Immortal has keen eyes. Ordinary people, not to mention having seen this, have likely never even heard of it."
Ruan Mianmian whispered an explanation in Su Xiaoyuan's ear: "This is an 'ink slip.' A single one is worth a million High-Grade Spirit Stones!"
Su Xiaoyuan felt she was truly about to split apart. The three hundred thousand wasn't resolved yet—how had three million appeared now?
"This isn't also for me, is it?"
Steward Zhao smiled and nodded. "Because our establishment doesn't have that much cash on hand, we can only bring Immortal Su this month's interest first."
Su Xiaoyuan opened her mouth but made no sound.
She was about to stop recognizing the word "interest." If three million was the interest, how much was the principal?
Steward Zhao continued explaining: "Strictly speaking, it should be the interest generated by the interest."
He paused. "Immortal Su Xiaoyuan, someone transferred a spirit stone vein to your name last night. According to the original owner's instructions, the vein's annual output will be deposited with our sect. This is the monthly interest generated after last year's output was deposited with our sect."
Su Xiaoyuan was already dizzy and disoriented.
Ruan Mianmian hadn't gone through nine-year compulsory education, but she had the common knowledge of the cultivation world and let out an exclamation: "My heavens!"
Seeing her best friend still looking blank, she explained, "Xiaoyuanzi, the mortal realm has one spirit stone vein, the immortal spirit realm has nine, and the Chaos Realm is said to have a few left over from ancient times—though the exact number is unknown. Anyway, after the Demon Extermination, they're all in Immortal Venerable Lingyue's hands. This one of yours definitely has nothing to do with those."
She paused for a moment: "All the Spirit Stones in the world come from those dozen or so mining veins. Even if this is the smallest one, you're now among the top ten wealthiest people in the Three Realms."
She asked Steward Zhao: "How much is our Fairy Su's vein worth?"
Su Xiaoyuan hastily said: "Wait, that's not mine…"
Steward Zhao: "The exact value is unknown, but we can make a rough estimate."
Smiling, he named an astronomical figure.
The two of them were stunned for a long while.
Su Xiaoyuan shook her head vigorously: "No no no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, there must be some mistake…"
Ruan Mianmian said quietly: "You're not actually some hidden richest person in the Three Realms' illegitimate daughter, are you?"
Last time's three hundred thousand could still be suspected as someone setting up a scheme, but who would use a mining vein to set a trap for a young girl?
Su Xiaoyuan didn't know how to explain, and was almost about to cry from anxiety: "Impossible, really impossible… Who would give me this much money…"
Just then, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind like lightning.
She knew who had given her last time's three hundred thousand, and this time's mining vein.
She was too stupid—she had actually overlooked such an obvious answer!