Chapter 444 - 439: One Look Confirmed It: A Threat

When you receive a gift from someone, whether you want it or not, you still have to pay them a visit to express your gratitude—of course, that’s only when they’re stronger than you.

If Du Youqian were in the dominant position, he naturally wouldn’t need to be so courteous.

But the reality was that the woman, who looked delicate but was sinister and vicious to the core, could take his life at any moment. He had temporarily fooled her with lies, making her believe he was an outstanding disciple of the Holy Blood Sect. That was the only reason for their current truce.

But if she ever found him displeasing, she could strike him down at any time.

After all, the fragile balance between Du Youqian and her was maintained only by her rationality.

But one should never trust a woman’s rationality.

Especially not the rationality of a madwoman from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect who cultivated the Supreme Purity Emotion Scripture.

So, Du Youqian selected a few specialty goods from outside the Endless Desert Sea from his merchandise—even though he knew she wouldn’t lack such things—and went to pay her a visit.

The meeting place was the same garden as last time.

However, Master Su Quan was dressed differently. She wore a rather formal, magnificent palace gown, which gave her a more majestic and solemn air. Yet, her eyes still held a watery tenderness.

She sat on an exquisitely crafted chair made of Tier Three wood, exuding a grand, regal beauty reminiscent of an empress.

"Greetings, sister! Thank you for the gift. This little brother likes it very much and has come especially to thank you!" As Du Youqian feigned a kowtow, Master Su Quan just watched him with a smile, showing no intention of helping him up.

Du Youqian had no choice but to change his kowtow into a deep bow. ’I can’t actually kowtow to this woman!’

He had his pride, after all.

If she were a Divinity Transformation True Monarch, he would have kowtowed without a second thought.

But it was more likely this woman was only at the Nascent Soul Late Stage or Perfection.

Master Su Quan didn’t seem to mind this small detail. She first waved away the Maids attending her, then smiled. "Brother, you’re too polite. It’s just a small gift, not worth mentioning as long as you like it. It seems your merchant trip was quite fruitful, brother?"

’She’s not planning to rob me blind, is she?’ Du Youqian put on a troubled expression. "Sigh, after factoring in all the expenses on the road, the losses from several major battles, and the various tolls and commercial taxes I paid along the way, I barely made a small profit. It’s far from what I was hoping for."

Master Su Quan beamed. "Then don’t go next time. It’s so tiring and dangerous, and you’re not even making a profit. It’s really not worth the trip."

Du Youqian gave a wistful smile. "I still need some income, so I don’t just eat through my savings. I’m just hoping that once I get more familiar with the trade route and build better relationships with the powers along the way, I can pay less in taxes and fees, encounter fewer Tribulation Cultivators, and have fewer battles. Maybe then I’ll be able to earn a little more."

Du Youqian didn’t know what she was plotting, so he remained vigilant and kept his words as vague as possible.

Master Su Quan stood up and sighed. "The world’s resources are finite. It’s said that in the past, the Human World was incredibly prosperous; Tier Four and Tier Five Spirit Medicines, ores, and gemstones were everywhere for the taking. People didn’t need to consume Elixirs for their Cultivation, nor did they need to search for Spirit Veins, because the Spiritual Qi in the world was exceptionally abundant. But as Spirit Medicine Gemstones are continually used and various ores are ceaselessly mined, the world’s Spiritual Qi keeps declining. Now, look around. Forget about the Immortal City Alliance; even Cultivators from major powers have to live frugally and budget carefully."

Du Youqian didn’t know the point of her lamentations. It seemed like she was just venting, so he simply agreed with a few words and didn’t say much more.

The more one talks, the more likely one is to slip up. Du Youqian didn’t want to make a mistake in front of this woman.

Master Su Quan’s tone shifted. "However, your sister here happens to know a way to make money. Since you’re short on funds, brother, I’ll give you a little guidance."

Du Youqian quickly replied, "Good sister, I appreciate the thought, but there’s no need. You should save your opportunities for your fellow sect members. I will slowly build my way up; I can learn a lot from the process."

Master Su Quan glanced at him, then reached out and took his hand. Her smile was warm, but her voice was cold. "Good brother, don’t cling to that pointless pride. Just accept your sister’s help. Otherwise, I might get angry!"

Du Youqian couldn’t shake the feeling that she was threatening him.

Another look at her eyes confirmed it. This was definitely a threat.

Du Youqian forced a bitter smile. "In that case, it would be rude to refuse. I just wonder, what is it that sister wants me to do?"

Master Su Quan’s tone warmed slightly. "I’m a bit busy right now. I’ll explain the details to you in a few days. Don’t go back today; stay here at my place. The Spiritual Qi in my residence is abundant and perfect for Cultivation. If you need a beautiful Kun Cultivator to attend to you, just take your pick..."

At this, her voice dropped low, and her gaze turned flirtatious. "Even if you want to pick me, that’s fine too."

Du Youqian bowed his head. "Thank you, sister. I do need some time to meditate and regulate my breath."

Resistance was impossible.

As long as Master Su Quan didn’t show any obvious malice, Du Youqian wouldn’t break all pretenses with her.

Even if Master Su Quan’s scheme meant he would suffer a small loss, Du Youqian would accept it.

Because if they tore off the facade and came to blows, he would only suffer a much greater loss.

Of course, Du Youqian had also set a bottom line for himself.

When dealing with people from the Demon Sect, if you didn’t set a bottom line, they would take a mile for every inch you gave, bleeding you dry.

However, after Du Youqian had lived in the residence for over ten days, Master Su Quan seemed to have forgotten all about him, as she never once came to see him.

If it weren’t for the three meals delivered on time every day, and the different, beautiful Kun Cultivators who came each night to offer themselves to him, Du Youqian would have truly thought he’d been forgotten.

He had been observing carefully these past few days but had noticed nothing unusual.

Everything in the entire residence seemed to be proceeding as usual; there was no sense of a storm brewing.

’What exactly is Master Su Quan plotting?’

’What does she hope to gain from me?’

Du Youqian mulled it over and over, but he couldn’t figure it out.

However, the few Divinations he performed all yielded good omens, so he wasn’t overly worried.

One day, a light drizzle began to fall early in the morning.

Just before noon, Pu Yu Master suddenly arrived. "Fellow Daoist, the Old Ancestor requests your presence."

"I’ll be right there."

As they walked, an invisible shield seemed to envelop Du Youqian, keeping all the wind and rain at bay.

Pu Yu Master’s Cultivation level certainly allowed her to do the same, but she chose not to. The fine rain fell on her unimpeded, yet it seemed to be absorbed by her skin and hair the moment it landed. Not a single drop of water marked her body.

This amazed Du Youqian.

’Could it be that she has a special Divine Ability?’

"I wonder why the Old Ancestor has summoned me?" Du Youqian asked tentatively.

He hadn’t expected a direct answer; he was just probing, hoping to find some clues to confirm his suspicions.

To his surprise, Pu Yu Master answered directly. "The Old Ancestor has long been dissatisfied with some of Huailai City’s rules and intends to reform them. For example, she wants to place all the Cultivation Practitioners in Huailai City under centralized management."

"She wants to organize them, have Huailai City provide them with raw materials, and then have the city appraise, price, and sell the items they create. The finest pieces would be sold at auctions organized by the city. After Huailai City takes a certain tax, the remaining Spirit Stones and Spiritual Jade from the sales will be given to the Artisans."

"The Old Ancestor hopes to put you in charge of this matter. If you succeed, it will be greatly beneficial for you. You’ll be able to take a cut of the tax revenue."

"Huh?" Du Youqian was flabbergasted. He said diplomatically, "This... I’m afraid many Artisans won’t be very receptive to this idea."

Pu Yu Master said dismissively, "Indeed, many are unhappy. Some have even threatened to move out of Huailai City. But there is nothing the Old Ancestor sets her mind to that she cannot accomplish. Fellow Daoist, you had best start thinking of a way to make people accept it."

’This is impossible to accept.’

’There’s no such rule anywhere in the world.’

If these were Artisans trained by a certain Sect or power, that would be one thing.

The Sect trained you, or the power spent money to buy you an Inheritance and materials to develop you. It would be reasonable for them to squeeze some benefits out of you now.

But the problem was, these Artisans in Huailai City had acquired their Inheritances through their own hard work. They had painstakingly saved money to buy materials and had honed their skills themselves.

They were freelance, so to speak.

’Now you want to exploit them like they’re your personal, in-house Artisans with just a single command? How could they possibly agree?’

’They’ve invested so much of their own resources upfront. This isn’t right.’

’Forget about taking a cut,’ Du Youqian thought. ’I’d rather pay you to let me go.’

’And she called this "a way to make money"! Whoever wants to earn this kind of money can have at it. I certainly don’t.’