Upon hearing Zhang Xian’s request, Yun Qi let out a bitter laugh. “Fellow Daoist Zhang, it is not that I, Yun, am making excuses. Such heavenly treasures—forget my Cloud Raiment Pavilion, even if you were to search the entire Southern Region, one might not appear in a hundred years. And even if one did, the owner would be unlikely to sell it.”

Cultivators valued innate talent above all else. Heavenly treasures capable of enhancing one’s bone structure or spiritual roots were the most precious items in existence.

Yun Qi continued, “Twenty years ago, a buyer commissioned our Cloud Raiment Pavilion to auction a single incomplete Marrow-Cleansing Fruit. It fetched a sky-high price of four hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones and was purchased by a mysterious cultivator.”

Zhang Xian’s expression remained unchanged. “Fellow Daoist Yun need only provide me with the information; consider it a favor I owe you. Whether I can successfully bid for it is my own affair.”

Seeing how casually Zhang Xian dismissed the matter actually made Yun Qi somewhat uncertain.

After speaking, Zhang Xian smiled. “Since this is a partnership, I should also show some sincerity.”

Suddenly, Zhang Xian flicked his sleeve.

Whoosh.

Countless Foundation Establishment Pills poured out like a golden waterfall, piling up into a dazzling mountain on the stone table in the courtyard.

“Our minor world has recently overproduced Foundation Establishment Pills, leading to some stagnation in sales. I would like to trouble your esteemed sect to help sell them. There are nearly six thousand pills here. As a gesture of sincerity, I am willing to forgo twenty percent of the profits.”

Yun Qi casually picked up one pill and saw its quality was actually slightly better than those sold in his own shops. As the Head of Internal Affairs, he understood all too well what this meant. A Foundation Establishment Pill was worth about five mid-grade spirit stones. By offering twenty percent, Zhang Xian was essentially giving up six thousand mid-grade spirit stones in pure profit.

Seeing so many Foundation Establishment Pills, Yun Qi was now completely convinced that Zhang Xian had a minor world backing him.

Without the support of a massive sect, how could one possibly refine so many pills? Moreover, producing this quantity would require an army of alchemists. Even a top-tier immortal sect like Penglai couldn’t produce this many in a single year.

“This is just the first batch. If our cooperation goes smoothly, there will be more later—spirit talismans, cultivation techniques, magical instruments, and the like. Our minor world has plenty of those too, even higher grades. All can be sold to you in bulk for long-term cooperation,” Zhang Xian continued to drop bombshells.

“Higher grades! And sold in bulk?” Yun Qi’s breathing immediately became heavy.

Zhang Xian nodded with an inscrutable expression.

Yun Qi accepted the Foundation Establishment Pills, his heart filled with astonishment. Nearly six thousand pills were worth almost thirty thousand mid-grade spirit stones, yet Zhang Xian hadn’t even blinked. He didn’t ask for a contract or seem worried about Yun Qi embezzling them.

The strength backing him must be immeasurable!

Yun Qi took a token from his robe and offered it forward. “This is our Cloud Raiment Pavilion token. I hope Fellow Daoist will accept it. Henceforth, bearing this token will make you our most honored guest.”

Zhang Xian took the token and examined it repeatedly, fearing there might be some hidden mechanism.

He couldn’t help it; he had died before.

Yun Qi thought he was just being naturally cautious and didn’t comment further.

After some more polite exchanges, they finally parted on good terms. Yun Qi stood up with his subordinates and took his leave.

Once the outsiders were gone, Lin Yinyin immediately and excitedly picked up the Ice Silkworm Snow Gauze Dress to try it on.

The moment her fingertips touched the fabric, the dress automatically wrapped around her like a living thing. The semi-transparent gauze rippled with light, accentuating her graceful figure.

“So cool,” she exclaimed softly.

The moment the gauze touched her skin, snowflake-like spiritual energy flowed along her meridians. Her tied-up hair automatically loosened, the ends dancing without wind. Even the flow of spiritual energy within her body became slightly faster.

The most exquisite part was the design at the waist—twelve strands of ice silkworm silk interlaced into butterfly wings, emitting halos with every step she took. It was exceptionally beautiful.

Lin Yinyin almost wanted to cry; it was devastatingly gorgeous!

Zhang Xian glanced at the chest on the floor containing exactly three thousand mid-grade spirit stones. Originally intended as compensation, it had been left there as a deposit for the Foundation Establishment Pills. He said nonchalantly, “Yinyin, these spirit stones are for you.”

【Ding! Successfully gifted. 2,235 stones exceed Lin Yinyin’s usable limit and are converted and returned as 7,650 high-grade spirit stones.】

【Ding! Current Favorability: 65.】

Only then did Zhang Xian remember that Lin Yinyin’s favorability had been increasing during the battle with Zhao Chengyue earlier. The fight had been too intense; he hadn’t paid much attention.

“Really? Brother!” Lin Yinyin threw herself onto the chest, refusing to get up.

This is the smell of money!

“You forgot—I have mines,” Zhang Xian replied while mentally calculating that he needed to quickly boost Lin Yinyin and Li Miaoyin’s cultivation levels to trigger more returns.

If they found heavenly treasures later but couldn’t afford them, it would be laughable.

“That Yun Qi is the Grand Internal Affairs Commander of Cloud Raiment Pavilion! A Golden Core mid-stage great cultivator—not someone Zhao Chengyue could compare to. Brother can chat and laugh with such a person and even do business with him. So amazing!”

“He is indeed someone remarkable,” Zhang Xian mused. “Clearly they were at fault first, yet he promptly seized the opportunity to turn an enemy into a friend.”

Thinking of this, he smiled self-deprecatingly. “If we hadn’t repelled Zhao Chengyue at Lang Mountain, he wouldn’t have lowered his stance so much. Truly worthy of Cloud Raiment Pavilion—their reach is extensive; they found us right after we settled in.”

As a sect ranked in the first tier within the Southern Region, Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s strength far surpassed what a mere Zhao Family could ever hope to match.

Lin Yinyin felt a lingering fear. Having navigated the cultivation world for years, she naturally understood the key point: only matching strength earns corresponding respect. If she and Zhang Xian had been killed by Zhao Chengyue at Lang Mountain, Cloud Raiment Pavilion wouldn’t have taken any subsequent action.

It all boiled down to benefit.

Thinking this, Lin Yinyin suddenly stepped forward and hugged Zhang Xian. “Brother Zhang Xian, you’re so good to me… At Lang Mountain… I thought several times I was going to die… Sob… And you fearlessly protected me.”

Feeling Zhang Xian stroke her hair, an inexplicable emotion spread through Lin Yinyin’s heart. She had truly fallen for the person before her—not just because of his generosity, but because of his strategic mind and the life-and-death struggle they had shared.

【Ding! Current Favorability: 67.】

“Brother Zhang Xian… I don’t want to be your little sister anymore… I want…” Lin Yinyin looked up; her voice was lighter than the ice silkworm gauze as she gazed at Zhang Xian with misty eyes.

Zhang Xian turned his palm over and revealed his true appearance. His originally ordinary features seemed to shed their disguise abruptly, revealing breathtakingly handsome features: eyebrows like ink paintings, eyes like cold stars, and a jawline clean and sharp—the appearance of a youth just over twenty.

“What do you want?”

Lin Yinyin’s fingertips froze against his neck, overwhelmed by sudden passion, wanting to etch Zhang Xian’s visage into her very bones.

“I want… to give myself to you,” Lin Yinyin whispered, almost inaudibly.

Clearly such a treasure of a male cultivator, yet he can only relieve himself using my personal belongings… So pitiful.

Lin Yinyin decided to help Zhang Xian break his bad habit of fetishism. As an experienced “driver”—though she hadn’t personally experienced much, she knew plenty—she would personally teach Zhang Xian a lesson!

Then, Lin Yinyin pulled Zhang Xian into her room.

Until early the next morning.

Zhang Xian woke up refreshed and clear-headed, ready to read, leaving only Lin Yinyin staring dazedly at the ceiling.

Pinching the red marks on her wrist and feeling her sore, swollen knees, she realized she was the one who had been taught a harsh lesson!

Cheater!

【Ding! Current Favorability: 70.】