“Nonsense!” Hu Yanzhi barked, wishing he could physically kick the intruder out of the hall.

The mere presence of this country bumpkin made him feel as though the prestige of the entire banquet had been dragged through the gutter.

“Who do you think you are? A mere peasant dares to covet Pavilion Lord Yun?”

Yun He, Yun Wanqing’s father, frowned deeply. “Young friend from the Yunmiao Sect, enough of this foolishness,” he said, his voice dripping with impatience.

Zhang Xian ignored the insult and cupped his hands toward Yun He.

“Uncle, the Immortal Ascension Pill your future son-in-law gifted you was quite effective, wasn’t it? Surely that earns me at least a seat at the table?”

Yun He froze. He had known his daughter procured the pill for him, but he had never known the source. He turned an inquiring gaze toward Yun Wanqing.

She gave a small, graceful nod. “Father, the Immortal Ascension Pill was indeed a gift from Zhang Xian.”

Yun He drew a sharp, cold breath. It seemed this “False Core” cultivator was more than just a loudmouth; he was a walking treasury.

To gift an Immortal Ascension Pill just to court his daughter? Back in the day, the Baoqing Workshop and the Great Xia Dynasty had nearly gone to war over a single one of those pills.

It seemed his daughter’s charm was truly world-shaking.

Zhang Xian finally turned his gaze to Hu Yanzhi, speaking with agonizing slowness.

“My friend, why so agitated? Since we are discussing betrothal gifts, it’s only natural to compare options. Uncle Yun, what is the approximate value of the Workshop’s thirty percent share?”

“Hmph!” Hu Yanzhi was about to erupt, but his cousin, Hu Yanqing, pressed a hand onto his shoulder to keep him seated.

Hu Yanqing looked toward the Yunmiao Sect’s representative. “Brother Wang Ya, does your sect usually allow juniors to disrupt such distinguished gatherings?”

Wang Ya, after a brief moment of silent amusement, offered a thin smile.

“Friend Hu, you are mistaken. This is a fair courtship between peers. How is that a disruption? Since the Baoqing Workshop has stated its price, my Yunmiao Sect must naturally show its own hand so Elder Yun can make an informed comparison.”

The words were soft, but the edge was razor-sharp. Wang Ya had effectively elevated Zhang Xian’s interference to a formal competition between two great sects. Hu Yanqing’s face darkened instantly.

Yun Wanqing’s eyes sparkled. She had spent years avoiding Wang Ya’s feelings, never imagining that he would stand up so firmly for Zhang Xian.

“Fine! Excellent!” Hu Yanzhi laughed, his voice cracking with rage.

“So you’re the rat who tricked Brother Yang out of his Immortal Ascension Pill with a petty scheme. Let’s see what a thief like you is actually worth.”

“Uncle, the calculation please,” Zhang Xian repeated, ignoring the barking dog.

Seeing his daughter staring blankly at Zhang Xian, Yun He felt he owed the boy a serious answer after accepting the pill.

“I would estimate its value at roughly two hundred million mid-grade spirit stones.”

Hu Yanzhi snorted. “More than that! Including the land deeds and the personnel, the market value is at least three hundred million!”

“Three hundred million mid-grade, is it?” Zhang Xian clicked his tongue and waved a dismissive hand.

“Friend, why split hairs over such petty change? I don’t even carry mid-grade stones—they take up too much space. I’ll just convert it for you at the standard hundred-to-one ratio.”

He paused for effect.

“Three million high-grade spirit stones. Actually, I’ll add another million just to keep it even. Four million high-grade stones. As for the betrothal gift, I’ll put down the first half right now.”

“Arrogant!” Hu Yanqing sneered, shaking his head.

The other guests scoffed, treating it as a delusional boast. Only Yun Wanqing pressed her lips together, her eyes locked on Zhang Xian.

Under a barrage of mocking gazes, Zhang Xian rose and stepped into the center of the hall.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of massive weight hitting the floor echoed through the room. Large, heavy chests began to pile up like small hills in the empty space before him.

With a casual wave of his hand, the lids flew open.

BOOM!

The hall was instantly drowned in a blinding, prismatic radiance. A tidal wave of pure spiritual energy erupted, so thick it felt tangible.

Inside the chests were mountain-sized stacks of high-grade spirit stones, each one pulsing with raw power.

The room went silent. The wine cup in Yun He’s hand clattered to the floor, splashing his robes.

These were the most powerful figures in the region, yet they were staring, mouths agape, completely paralyzed by the sheer wealth on display.

“There are forty chests here,” Zhang Xian said, his voice calm and steady.

“Each holds fifty thousand high-grade spirit stones. Exactly two million as an initial deposit. Is this sufficient? On the wedding day, I will provide the rest in full.”

He scanned the crowd, feeling a surge of satisfaction. Saving every penny had finally paid off.

Hu Yanzhi staggered back, shielding his eyes from the glow. “Impossible! Where would a wretch like you get this much money?!”

Zhang Xian offered a mocking salute.

“I truly admire Brother Hu’s performance. You play the role of the ‘impotent, small-minded fool’ perfectly. With you as a backdrop, my gift looks even more impressive.”

Pfft! Yun Wanqing, despite the gravity of the situation, couldn’t help but let out a short, musical laugh.

Hu Yanzhi’s face turned a violent shade of purple. He looked like he was about to choke on his own teeth.

Zhang Xian ignored him, turning back to the stunned Yun He. “Uncle, if I may ask… what is your primary spiritual root?”

Yun He didn’t even bother to correct the ‘Uncle’ address this time. “F-fire,” he stammered.

“Perfect!” Zhang Xian clapped.

“Ephemeral Artifacts like that shield are fine, but they drain the user’s essence and are gone after one use. I, your humble son-in-law, have taken the liberty of crafting something a bit more permanent.”

He flicked his sleeves.

One by one, fire-attribute Spirit Treasures hit the floor.

A war-blade wreathed in eternal flames. Bracers that dripped liquid fire. Even a pair of armored shorts that radiated a scorching heat.

Zhang Xian tossed out a dozen before stopping.

“I won’t bore everyone with the rest. Uncle, we can pick out the best ones in private. I’ll also throw in a few defensive treasures to handle your lightning tribulation. Consider it part of the package.”

“Enough!” Hu Yanzhi roared like a wounded animal.

“You must have robbed some ancient immortal’s tomb to afford this! Fine! The money and the gear—let’s call it a draw! But what about her daughter’s soul? That is an incurable curse! Only the Guiyuan Sect can fix it. What can you do, peasant?”

“A draw?” Zhang Xian laughed. “Brother Hu, your skin is thicker than the Great Xia city walls. But fine, I won’t argue over who’s richer.”

He turned to Yun Wanqing, his expression softening.

“It’s a funny thing, really. In another unnamed ancient cave, I happened to find an immortal pill. The records call it the Creation Immortal Pill.

It is designed to repair foundational damage and recreate the spark of life. Fixing a fractured soul? That should be child’s play for a pill like this.”

Yun Wanqing stood up so fast her chair toppled. “What? The Creation Immortal Pill?”

Her voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and desperate, agonizing hope.

Zhang Xian met her eyes with a steady, protective gaze. “Wanqing, when have I ever lied to you?”