The atmosphere in the hall was originally frozen and oppressive. When he made his move, all eyes involuntarily fell on him, but he seemed utterly oblivious. "Nine thousand Spiritual Shells. I’ll take this Han Ye Xuanzhen Grass."
Nine thousand Spiritual Shells! The sheer number left everyone present dizzy and stunned.
Yet this was not the most startling part. Not only did this person have the audacity to step forward, but he also disregarded the face of the Shaoqing Sect’s disciples. Was he courting disaster?
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
To everyone’s surprise, the confrontation they anticipated did not happen.
Chou Kun’s face showed a look of astonishment upon hearing this. He thought for a moment, let out a sigh, and then shook his head with a bitter smile. "Nine thousand Spiritual Shells? I, Chou, cannot afford that. This item is likely yours, fellow Daoist."
Zhang Yan smiled faintly, nodded slightly toward him, and then turned to leave.
The crowd watched in as if in a dream—was this truly a disciple of the Shaoqing Sect? When had they become so reasonable? Could this person be an impostor?
They quickly discarded that thought upon seeing the azure Xuan Guang beneath Chou Kun’s feet, radiant like a dazzling arc. At a glance, it was clearly a secret skill of the Shaoqing Sect.
At this moment, a woman in light robes with her hair styled elegantly approached Chou Kun, treading atop her Magic Artifact. In a soft voice, she said, "If Brother Chou is short on funds, the Chenxiang Sect is willing to assist."
Chou En smiled faintly and said, "Junior Sister Pan, I appreciate your kindness, but even though this Spirit Grass is rare, it’s not worth ten thousand Spiritual Shells. This price is already exceedingly high, and any higher would be to no avail."
"But..." The woman said angrily, "Brother, you traveled far and wide just for this item. Could it really be handed over to that person so easily?"
Chou En laughed lightly and said, "I was just about to pay a visit to this fellow Daoist."
Zhang Yan returned to the desk calmly. Jun Ling’er stared at him with a mix of surprise and fear. This person must have significant backing, but how could it surpass the Shaoqing Sect? To openly defy the Shaoqing Sect’s disciples before everyone, was he not afraid of repercussions?
While she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a clear voice ring out from beyond the prohibition, "I wonder if the fellow Daoist is present? Chou En has come to visit."
Jun Ling’er’s face turned pale, her body trembling uncontrollably. The ship master of this place, though well-connected and with respectable Cultivation, dared not risk offending the Shaoqing Sect. If the Shaoqing Sect’s disciple were to kill Zhang Yan in anger, she would ultimately bear responsibility as the scapegoat.
Just as she was about to speak up and advise against answering, she saw Zhang Yan casually lift the prohibition with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, please enter."
Jun Ling’er suddenly felt as though her world collapsed.
Chou En strode in smiling, exuding a pressure that made Jun Ling’er struggle to breathe despite the absence of hostility or mortal aura from his being.
Zhang Yan glanced at Jun Ling’er and said, "You should leave. I have matters to discuss with this Daoist of the Shaoqing Sect."
Jun Ling’er, as though granted an immense reprieve, dragged her near-exhausted body out of the tower and dared not linger another moment.
When Chou En entered, he didn’t spare Jun Ling’er a single glance. He cupped his hands respectfully toward Zhang Yan and said, "True Disciple Chou En of the Shaoqing Sect greets you, fellow Daoist. May I inquire your name?"
Zhang Yan smiled faintly and clasped his hands in return, saying, "True Disciple Zhang Yan of the Mingcang Sect."
"Ah, so you’re a fellow Daoist of the Mingcang Sect." Chou En nodded with a look of understanding, then smiled apologetically and said, "Had I known Master Zhang was here, I wouldn’t have competed for that Spirit Grass, which was indeed a bit presumptuous of me."
Zhang Yan responded with an ambiguous smile, glanced behind Chou En, and said, "Are those Chou Brother’s companions?"
With the prohibition lifted, everything inside the tower became visible outside. The female disciples of the Chenxiang Sect outside had originally been looking forward to seeing a conflict unfold. However, seeing Chou En not only refrain from seeking revenge but instead chatting amiably, they were left dumbstruck.
Chou En shook his head and chuckled, "As Master Zhang surely understands, they are different from us."
Though he spoke with a smile, his gaze carried an air of innate cold arrogance. Despite maintaining a polite tone when speaking with the members of the Chenxiang Sect, he never placed them on the same footing as himself. Only True Disciples like Zhang Yan, cultivated by great sects, were deemed worthy of comparison and acknowledgment; all others were beneath notice.
Chou En continued, "My uncle, Qing Chenzi, once met Daoist Qi Yuntian of the Mingcang Sect during the Sixteen Sects Sword Competition. Although Daoist Qi isn’t a Sword Cultivator, he fought my uncle to a draw. I wonder, Master Zhang, are you acquainted?"
Zhang Yan smiled lightly and said, "Brother Qi? I’ve seen him frequently and am naturally familiar."
Chou En was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. When he first saw Zhang Yan, he noticed a faint Dao Qi emanating from him and determined that Zhang Yan must hail from a great sect. After learning he was from the Mingcang Sect, he wasn’t surprised—only such a renowned sect could produce such an individual. However, he hadn’t expected Zhang Yan to be a peer of Qi Yuntian. If acquainted with Qi Yuntian, it implied they shared the same lineage or were under the mentorship of the Mingcang Sect’s Four Cave Heaven True Masters. This revelation made Chou En secretly elevate his estimation of Zhang Yan even further.
Pointing outside, Chou En asked curiously, "If I may ask bluntly, was your purchase of this Spirit Grass in preparation for forming a Solidifying Pill?"
Zhang Yan chuckled lightly and said indifferently, "If I required a Solidifying Pill, I wouldn’t need this item."
Though he spoke casually, the confidence emanating from him was so overwhelming that Chou En couldn’t help but feel affected. It even stirred a subconscious urge to step back, as though Zhang Yan’s path forward was unstoppable, destined for greatness.
Chou Kun took a deep breath, steadied himself, and asked again, "Then might it be for your sect brothers, as it is for me?"
Zhang Yan nodded slightly. Spiritual Shells were trivial to him, but the "Han Ye Xuanzhen Grass" was indeed rare and would later be refined into Xuanluo Clear Water, a valuable asset for sect goodwill.
The Mingcang Sect, being a prestigious Xuanmen sect, had numerous members who failed to form their Solidifying Pills. Though the spirit grass would only produce three portions using standard methods, if refined by Zhou Chongju with supplementary Spiritual Medicines, it could yield at least double the amount of Xuanluo Qing Water, possibly providing support for three or four Hua Dan Cultivators in the sect. Though the pill quality wouldn’t rank among the top five, having additional Hua Dan Cultivators would still bolster the sect’s collective strength.
Chou Kun believed Zhang Yan’s explanation, thinking, "No wonder this Zhang Brother is so extravagant. He is surely acting under the sect’s orders. Paying nearly ten thousand Spiritual Shells is no small matter; without financial backing from senior sect members, I couldn’t afford it either."
Though the Spirit Grass could be refined into multiple portions, Chou Kun, having lost at the Treasure Meeting, wouldn’t demand Zhang Yan to share. Such was the pride of the Shaoqing Sect—if defeated, one should let go and move forward. Losing this grass was no great loss; they could simply seek another Han Ye Xuanzhen Grass. Even his sect uncle would likely commend him for acting gracefully and upholding Shaoqing’s dignity rather than sullying its reputation.
After exchanging pleasantries for a bit longer, Chou En excused himself on the pretense of needing to attend to other matters. As he turned to leave, a fragrant breeze swept past, and a slender young maiden rushed forward. Furious, she pointed at Zhang Yan and said, "Brother Chou, that man—he is the one who took our Secret Volume that day!"
Chou En, hearing this, merely replied, "Is that so?"
The young maiden froze, her words stuck in her throat, utterly baffled by Chou En’s reaction.
Chou En chuckled faintly and said, "This is Zhang Brother of the Mingcang Sect. With his superior mysterious skills to cultivate, why would he stoop to covet your Chenxiang Sect’s Secret Volume? Do you not take yourselves too seriously?"
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we warmly invite you to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is our greatest motivation.)