Chapter 157: Senior Brother is Blessed by Heaven

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Senior Brother is Blessed by Heaven

In the Hundred Affairs Hall, Liu Chen set down the Jade Tokens while holding the ledger Senior Brother Ren had used to keep records, carefully cross-referencing the number of Spirit Stones on each Spirit Contract.

Most of the Spirit Contracts were correct, but a few didn’t match the ledger. The issue wasn’t a shortage of Spirit Stones; it was an excess.

Liu Chen had originally planned for the disciples who activated the light pillars to receive a service fee of one thousand Spirit Stones. Those who lent their Tokens would get a rental fee of five hundred Spirit Stones, and Senior Brother Ren, for his bookkeeping, would receive a daily wage of one hundred Spirit Stones.

In addition, there were the one thousand Spirit Stones spent to purchase the Recovery Technique from Senior Brother Xie. While all this was clearly recorded in the ledger, these expenses were not factored into the Spirit Contracts signed by the various disciples.

"These Spirit Contracts all have issues?"

As Liu Chen placed a handful of Spirit Contract Jade Tokens on the table before Steward Lin, the typically composed steward frowned slightly. ’Surely no one would embezzle Liu Chen’s Spirit Stones, right?’

"They all have issues. The amount of Spirit Stones listed is too high."

Liu Chen nodded. Steward Lin didn’t appreciate formal pleasantries from him. Liu Chen wasn’t sure if that was just Steward Lin’s personality or due to his own special status, but it wasn’t worth looking into.

"Too high?"

Steward Lin, who had been ready to involve the Law Enforcement Hall, looked confused. If the amounts had been short, that would certainly be a matter for the Law Enforcement Hall. But if they were too high... wouldn’t a normal disciple just sign the Spirit Contract and quietly let it be?

’It seems there’s a good reason Liu Chen became Peak Master Mo’s disciple,’ he thought. ’Back in the day, Peak Master Mo may have been aggressive and brilliant, but he would never take resources that weren’t his.’

"It’s like this," Liu Chen began. "The senior brothers and sisters who helped activate the light pillars and lent their Tokens in Fire Dragon Valley are due some compensation. It’s all recorded here in the ledger."

Liu Chen explained casually. Steward Lin gave him a stunned look, then gave the ledger a token flip-through.

"So you want me to adjust it according to the ledger?"

Steward Lin didn’t dwell on the intricacies. Since Liu Chen had made the request, he would simply modify the Spirit Contracts as he wished.

Liu Chen nodded. With the confirmation, Steward Lin revised all the problematic Spirit Contracts in front of him.

After Steward Lin finished the revisions, a drop of Liu Chen’s blood mixed with Spiritual Power split into several portions, falling into the Jade Tokens. One by one, the Spirit Contracts slowly took form.

"These modified Spirit Contract Jade Tokens still need to be sent to the respective disciples for confirmation. As for the unmodified ones, you can take them with you. From now on, when someone repays their Spirit Stones, you can terminate the Spirit Contract yourself."

Having completed this task, Steward Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. These Spirit Contracts represented the largest administrative task following the Fire Dragon Valley trial. With it handled, he felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you, Steward Lin."

Liu Chen collected the relevant Jade Tokens and prepared to take his leave. ’If I remember correctly,’ he thought, ’there shouldn’t be anything else.’

"Not so fast. There’s still the Spirit Contract with the Xiao Family."

Steward Lin, seeing Liu Chen’s intent, slowly retrieved a Spirit Contract Jade Token completely different from the others. Ordinary ones looked quite plain, but this token was purple and engraved with a scene of Purple Bamboo Peak.

"This is what I feel is the most the Xiao Family will concede. Take a look."

Steward Lin said calmly. Liu Chen took the Jade Token and studied it. It clearly stated that if the Xiao Family wanted to buy back the Snowflake Sword, they would have to pay 120,000 Spirit Stones or resources of equivalent value.

Furthermore, their Family Swordsmanship would become Liu Chen’s personal property to teach to whomever he pleased. After the Spirit Contract was finalized, both parties would go their separate ways and not interfere with one another. If the Xiao Family ever moved against Liu Chen, the Purple Cloud Valley’s Law Enforcement Hall would intervene directly.

"This... Will the Xiao Family agree to this?"

Liu Chen was stunned for a moment. This was not only more Spirit Stones than he had expected, but it also settled the matter of the swordsmanship. His plan had been to simply avoid using the swordsmanship in public, but if this Spirit Contract was signed, he could even take it to auction.

"Rest assured, the Xiao Family is in no position to refuse. If the current Xiao Family Patriarch doesn’t agree, their elders certainly will."

Steward Lin spoke calmly. The Xiao Family was not a monolith. The Hundred Affairs Hall’s only concern was ensuring a disciple’s interests were protected; they couldn’t care less if the Xiao Family fell into turmoil because of it.

"In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Steward."

Liu Chen was quite taken aback but didn’t let it show, signing the Spirit Contract immediately.

"That’s everything. You can head back now. Once the Spirit Contracts on these Jade Tokens are finalized, I’ll have someone deliver them to the back of the mountain for you."

Hearing this, Liu Chen bowed and turned to leave.

The walk from the Hundred Affairs Hall to the back of the mountain wasn’t long, and along the way, Liu Chen happened upon a dozen or so Inner Sect Disciples from Purple Bamboo Peak who had participated in the Fire Dragon Valley trial. Among them was Ren Xunchun, who looked a bit weak, but the poison in his system had been completely purged.

"Congratulations on ridding yourself of the poison, Senior Brother Ren. A breakthrough to the Meridian Passage Realm is surely just around the corner for you."

While congratulating Ren Xunchun, Liu Chen discreetly probed his condition. Using his Spiritual Sense, Liu Chen detected numerous minor wounds within Ren Xunchun’s body. ’These must be the side effects of the poison-cleansing process,’ he surmised.

’It seems that steward’s control over Spiritual Qi, or Magic, wasn’t very refined. If I had been the one to treat him, it would have taken longer, but Senior Brother Ren wouldn’t be left to recover from these side effects on his own.’

"I hope you’re right, Junior Brother. If it weren’t for your Spiritual Cuisine, I’m afraid I would have died in Fire Dragon Valley."

Ren Xunchun smiled and nodded. The steward who treated him hadn’t said anything, but according to what his master had found out that morning, the deadliest poison in his system had already been neutralized. Otherwise, he never would have survived.

This undoubtedly confirmed his suspicion that Junior Brother Liu had done something to save his life. It was a genuine, life-saving favor.

"A good man like you makes his own luck, Senior Brother. The Spiritual Cuisine was just a small help."

Liu Chen shook his head, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then turned to leave, heading toward the back of the mountain.

Ren Xunchun watched Liu Chen’s retreating figure, speechless for a long moment. He finally shook his head with a wry sigh. ’Even if Junior Brother doesn’t acknowledge it, I have to show my gratitude. It may not be enough to repay him for saving my life, but it will be a show of my sincerity.’

Back on Purple Bamboo Peak, Liu Chen resumed his practice of the Bright Eyes Technique. Perhaps it was a habit he had picked up in Fire Dragon Valley, but Liu Chen now preferred to fully master one Magic until it evolved into a unique form before he began practicing another.

Ultimately, this was because after advancing to the Meridian Passage Realm, he gained more Proficiency when practicing Magic, allowing him to achieve breakthroughs in a short amount of time. Otherwise, Liu Chen wouldn’t have adopted this method.

Dinner arrived on schedule. By preparing it without any utensils, Liu Chen once again gained fifty points of Spirit Chef Proficiency. If he kept this up, his Spirit Chef Skill would soon reach the Third Grade.

"Come here..."