Chapter 165: Then I Can Rest Assured

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Then I Can Rest Assured

"Senior Brother Yuan Hui, what can I do for you?"

Liu Chen walked out of the bamboo forest and saw Yuan Hui standing a short distance away. This was the same unlucky senior brother who had spent twenty thousand Spirit Stones on Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine. Originally, Liu Chen had just seen him as a senior brother who’d lost all reason for the sake of his family’s interests.

However, after their time in Fire Dragon Valley, Liu Chen felt his view had been somewhat one-sided. It wasn’t that his senior brother’s past actions against Senior Brother Yang were necessarily wrong, but it was undeniable that he had fought desperately for the Purple Cloud Valley’s benefit.

If Senior Brother Yang truly hadn’t possessed any Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine back then, none of Yuan Hui’s actions would have been problematic. It was common for Inner Sect Disciples to suppress, or even target, Outer Sect Disciples whose families were at odds with their own.

Be that as it may, Liu Chen still didn’t have much of a relationship with this senior brother. Even the Concentration Technique manual had been purchased for a thousand Spirit Stones. If he had to define their relationship, it was purely transactional.

"There are twenty thousand Spirit Stones in here. Please count them, Junior Brother."

Yuan Hui didn’t bother with excessive pleasantries. After spending time together in Fire Dragon Valley, he did feel this junior brother was a good person. However, since the other party was good friends with Yang Haichen, Yuan Hui didn’t expect him to be overly friendly. He would be satisfied as long as he could purchase Spiritual Cuisine fairly in the future.

"One moment, Senior Brother."

Liu Chen took the Storage Ring and inspected it carefully. After confirming the number of Spirit Stones, he transferred all of them into his own Storage Ring.

"Exactly twenty thousand Spirit Stones."

After transferring all the Spirit Stones, Liu Chen handed the Storage Ring back to Yuan Hui.

"Could I trouble you to tell Junior Brother Yang that I have returned the Spirit Stones? The Spirit Contract should be terminated as well."

Yuan Hui put away the Storage Ring and spoke calmly. He couldn’t bring himself to return the Spirit Stones directly to Yang Haichen. Since the Spirit Stones would end up in Liu Chen’s hands anyway, it was better to handle it all in one step. This way, he could avoid a potentially awkward encounter with Yang Haichen.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’ll take care of it."

Liu Chen nodded. In any case, Yuan Hui’s Spirit Contract Jade Token wasn’t with him. As long as he confirmed that Yuan Hui had returned the Spirit Stones, he could just leave the rest for Senior Brother Yang to handle.

"In that case, I’ll take my leave."

Yuan Hui had no intention of staying long and turned to leave. Liu Chen watched his retreating back and shook his head helplessly. He didn’t know, nor did he want to know, how this senior brother would choose between his family and the Sect in the future. At least he didn’t have to worry about such troubles.

Liu Chen returned to the bamboo forest and practiced the Celestial Thunder Technique for a while. When it was time for dinner, he first prepared Spiritual Cuisine and delivered it to his master and his master’s wife. Only then did he portion out the Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine he had stored earlier and head to the Bamboo Garden, where he saw Senior Brother Yang already waiting.

"Junior Brother, this is a Second Grade Storage Ring that Steward Lin from the Hundred Affairs Hall asked me to deliver. Inside are the one hundred eighteen thousand Spirit Stones from the Xiao Family. This Second Grade Storage Ring is valued at two thousand Spirit Stones according to Marketplace prices, bringing the total to one hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones."

Yang Haichen handed a Storage Ring to Liu Chen. When Steward Lin had approached him, he had found it a bit unbelievable that the Xiao Family had gathered the Spirit Stones so quickly.

"A Second Grade Storage Ring?"

Liu Chen took it and placed it directly on the table, a look of confusion in his eyes. He had never heard of Second Grade Storage Rings before. However, this ring’s capacity seemed identical to the five Storage Rings he wore on his hand. ’Does that mean that apart from the one my master gave me, the rest are all Second Grade Storage Rings?’

"First Grade Storage Rings cost three hundred Spirit Stones. Second Grade Storage Rings were originally priced at three thousand, but Cultivators within the Great Xia Dynasty generally don’t need that much storage space, so the price gradually dropped to two thousand Spirit Stones."

Yang Haichen glanced at the Storage Rings on Liu Chen’s hands. Including this brand-new one, that made seven Storage Rings in total.

Judging by their appearance alone, it was clear they weren’t ordinary First Grade Storage Rings. They were Second Grade at a minimum, and the most unique-looking one might even be a Third Grade Storage Ring.

"I see. Speaking of which, I only spent a total of four thousand Spirit Stones when I bought these four Storage Rings outside of Fire Dragon Valley. That’s actually cheaper than in the Purple Cloud Valley."

Liu Chen’s gaze fell upon the four Second Grade Storage Rings that had belonged to the Black Feather Dynasty’s princes. ’It’s better to make up a story about their origin,’ he thought. ’Everyone left Fire Dragon Valley separately anyway, so it’s plausible I bought them on the way.’

"If I’m not mistaken, those should be the Storage Rings from those few princes of the Black Feather Dynasty. It’s understandable that a Loose Cultivator would be in a hurry to get rid of them, fearing trouble."

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but glance at Liu Chen’s hands again. He had found the rings familiar for a while now. But it wasn’t a problem. Even if Liu Chen had gotten them directly inside Fire Dragon Valley—let alone buying them outside afterward—the Black Feather Royal Family wouldn’t say anything.

"If that’s the case, won’t they bring trouble? Maybe I should sell these Storage Rings?"

Liu Chen asked tentatively. Although he didn’t think it was a big deal, Senior Brother Yang would surely know more about these things. If he thought it was fine, then it most likely was. But if he thought it was a problem, Liu Chen would have to reconsider his plans.

"There’s no need. You’re not the one who killed them. They’re just a few Storage Rings. The Black Feather Royal Family won’t come looking for trouble over something so trivial."

Yang Haichen shook his head. There had been no news from the Black Feather Royal Family since they left Fire Dragon Valley. The entire Black Feather Dynasty was in an uproar, but the Royal Family itself had been completely silent. No one knew if they were plotting something deeper.

"That’s a relief."

Liu Chen nodded. Since the Black Feather Royal Family wasn’t going to make a big fuss over it, he should be fine for the next month or two.

After his master and the others left, Liu Chen wouldn’t be flaunting such conspicuous Storage Rings around anyway, so he’d have even less to worry about.

"Oh, right, Senior Brother Yang. Senior Brother Yuan Hui gave me the twenty thousand Spirit Stones. The Spirit Contract can be terminated."

"Rest assured, Junior Brother. I’ll handle it."

Yang Haichen nodded, took the Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine, and departed. Yuan Hui’s actions were unexpected, but since Liu Chen had already received the Spirit Stones, there was no need for him to hold onto the Spirit Contract. If he didn’t terminate it, he could be investigated by the Law Enforcement Hall, which wouldn’t be worth the trouble.

Liu Chen returned to the kitchen area, finished his dinner, and continued his cultivation as planned.

Before resting, Liu Chen took out the Jade Token with the Spirit Contract he had signed with the Xiao Family and terminated the contract. Although keeping the Spirit Contract would prove he had completed the transaction with the Xiao Family, allowing him to openly use the Frosty Winter Seven Tribulation Sword later, it would become a liability if Liu Chen were to leave the Purple Cloud Valley and become a Loose Cultivator.

’As for where I obtained this swordsmanship technique... that Death Warrior sold it once, he could certainly sell it a second time. Besides, once I become a Loose Cultivator, if I really run into the Xiao Family, there’ll be no need for an explanation anyway.’

Rest had a way of making time disappear. When Liu Chen awoke again, October 4th was history, and October 5th had arrived. After completing his routine cultivation, he saw his two junior sisters in the kitchen area, returning with Bamboo Shoots.

"Congratulations on your promotion to Third Grade Spirit Chef, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong spoke with perfect etiquette, making Ji Suyao—who had just plopped her bamboo basket on the ground and sat down beside it without a care for her image—seem rather out of place.

"What’s with the formality? Go on, rest for a bit. Get ready to eat."