Ji Xuanyuan extended her divine sense into the piece of iron ore.
After a short moment, her eyes snapped open.
Inside the iron ore was a hidden spirit stone of extremely high purity.
With a hint of surprise, Ji Xuanyuan looked at Chu Yuan. “Master Chu, if I am not mistaken, have you… discovered an unexcavated mine?”
Chu Yuan’s tone remained indifferent. “Exactly! Your Highness, it is a mine with a deeply buried spirit vein!”
The Immortal Dynasty was vast and possessed numerous spirit mines, but something like a spirit vein was always the core secret of major factions. A single spirit vein represented a continuous stream of spirit stones, which meant resources and power.
And this youth from a neglected branch of the Chu Clan had actually discovered a spirit vein mine?
How did he find it? Why did he choose to trade with the Immortal Dynasty instead of the Chu Clan?
Ji Xuanyuan’s gaze fell upon the calm face across from her. There was no trace of arrogance on that face; he simply looked at her with a flat expression. It was as if, to the youth before her, what he had discovered was not a spirit vein, but a common weed.
Ji Xuanyuan asked, “Do you wish to collaborate?”
Chu Yuan shook his head with a bitter smile. “Collaborate? No! Given my status, how could I be qualified to discuss collaboration with someone of your stature, Your Highness? At most, this can only be considered a single transaction!”
Listening to the conversation between the two, Fang Henian’s eyes sparkled.
One had to understand that Xuanji City was, in name, the fief of the Chu Clan’s branch family. However, it was ultimately under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Dynasty, which was the very reason for his existence as the City Lord. Regarding the spirit vein resources outside the city, both sides had long established a tacit understanding of “first come, first served.”
If the transaction succeeded, the Immortal Dynasty’s side would naturally be managed by Fang Henian, and the potential benefits he could reap were not small.
In contrast, Ji Xuanyuan found it intriguing. “Master Chu, why didn’t you report such important information to your Chu Clan to claim a reward?”
The bitterness in Chu Yuan’s smile deepened. “To be honest with Your Highness, I am merely an expendable waste within the Chu Clan. If I gave this information to the clan elders, the credit would only be stolen by others. Rather than that, I would prefer to work with another power. This also relies on Your Highness’s keen eye for talent.”
Ji Xuanyuan followed up by asking, “Fine! Name your price!”
Chu Yuan held up one finger. “10 million spirit stones!”
In reality, he only needed 5 million spirit stones to be confident in winning the dragon egg at the auction. The reason he quoted 10 million was entirely as a buffer in case she tried to bargain.
Upon hearing the price, Ji Xuanyuan did not speak. It wasn’t that the price was too high; rather, she was thinking about something else — the System.
It was the [Strongest Dharma Treasure System] that had bound to her after her rebirth. The first divine treasure indicated by the system, the [Divine Treasure Cushion], was the person right in front of her.
If what the system said was true, then practicing while sitting on this person would allow her to bypass the restrictions of the [Tongming Realm]‘s path of emotional insight and increase her cultivation. Especially since the person in front of her might be her junior brother…
Ji Xuanyuan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
‘Should I… give it a try?’
If there was no effect, it would prove the system was truly malfunctioning, and she could simply ignore it from then on. But if it did work… regardless, now was the perfect opportunity to propose a condition.
However, she needed a good reason…
As Ji Xuanyuan pondered, the light from outside the window fell between them. The fragrance of tea curled in the air, mixed with a faint scent of agarwood.
Seeing that the Princess had no reaction, Chu Yuan frowned slightly. He picked up his teacup and took a sip. ‘Could it be that Her Highness doesn’t even want to give 10 million and wants to get it for free?’
‘No!’
‘If that were the case, she would have acted already!’
‘She must be thinking about something else. Even if the Princess truly wanted to make a move, I have nothing to fear!’
Chu Yuan knew very well that he was the true bloodline of the Holy Lord; there were certainly experts from the Sacred Realm lurking nearby. Recalling his previous life, he had been protected by the Supreme Guardian — that fox woman — whenever he encountered danger. It was only after his bloodline was activated and the Holy Lord recognized him that he discovered the woman was actually the world-renowned Thousand-Year Fox Sovereign of the Sacred Realm.
Realizing this, Chu Yuan’s emotions stabilized. He said patiently, “Your Highness, the value of the spirit stones that can be extracted from a mine with a buried spirit vein is at least 100 or 200 million. I am only asking for 10 million as an information fee and will not participate in any subsequent profit-sharing. This is definitely a win-win deal for both of us.”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded slightly. “10 million spirit stones? Very well! However, I have one additional condition.”
Chu Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief. “Please speak, Your Highness!”
The corners of Ji Xuanyuan’s lips curled up slightly, and her gaze moved over him as if inspecting a strange object. “I would like Master Chu to let me sit on you for a moment.”
‘Sit on me?’
Chu Yuan’s body instinctively leaned back, causing the chair legs to scrape against the floor with a soft *screech*. His lips moved as if to say something, but he swallowed the words back down.
‘I didn’t expect this…’
‘The future Empress is actually lusting after my body?’
‘But isn’t my current appearance just that of an ordinary-looking young man? Or is it that Her Highness likes clear-cut, delicate young men like me???’
‘This… doesn’t seem impossible…’
‘No!’
‘Who am I?’
‘The future Holy Son!’
‘How can I let someone take advantage of me so easily… unless… they pay more?’
‘No, no, no!’
Various thoughts swirled through Chu Yuan’s mind.
Just by looking at his expression, Ji Xuanyuan had already guessed the turmoil in his heart. She suddenly felt like laughing. This person, from the moment he walked in, had maintained a composure as if the collapsing of heavens wouldn’t move him.
When he was publicly humiliated by Chu Yunlan, his expression hadn’t changed. When she invited him upstairs, he was neither humble nor arrogant. Even when discussing the spirit vein mine, he remained unruffled. But now, just because she said “let me sit on you for a moment,” he had practically retreated three steps.
The curve of Ji Xuanyuan’s lips widened unconsciously. “Master Chu, do not misunderstand.”
Her tone was cool, yet it held a trace of indiscernible amusement. “I recently found a cultivation technique called the *Yin Yang Harmony Sutra*. It requires a yang-attribute body to act as a cushion, upon which one sits cross-legged to meditate. If this method proves successful, it will greatly increase the speed of daily cultivation.”
Chu Yuan realized the truth. “Oh! So it really is ‘sitting’… Your Highness, I have heard that there are countless male favorites in your palace. Why not use someone from your own residence to test this technique?”
‘Male favorites?’
Ji Xuanyuan’s expression changed instantly. The term “male favorite” was originally used to describe strong, handsome men, but nowadays, it was more often used to refer to handsome male playthings kept by powerful women for entertainment.
Seeing that the Princess was displeased, Fang Henian quickly scolded, “Master Chu, please watch your words! While Her Highness is diligent in her official duties, she has never neglected her cultivation. She has no time to keep any male favorites.”
Thinking that the person before her might be her junior brother, Ji Xuanyuan forced herself to stay calm. “I did not expect Master Chu to believe the rumors outside. I am truly disappointed!”
She subconsciously pulled up her sleeve, revealing the Cinnabar Mole on her jade-like arm.
Seeing this, Chu Yuan realized his mistake and bowed. “That is indeed my fault. I ask for Your Highness’s forgiveness!”
Ji Xuanyuan waved her hand. “Forget it! The reason I took an interest in you is simply because your constitution matches the requirements of the technique. If you mind, then we shall drop the matter.”
Hearing her say this, not only Chu Yuan, but even Fang Henian felt it was a pity. One had to remember that this was a spirit mine with a buried spirit vein; its value was immeasurable.
Fang Henian looked at Chu Yuan and sent a secret Sound Transmission:
[Master Chu, it is rare for Her Highness to be in the mood to find an outsider to test a technique. Other cultivators would break their heads trying to get such an opportunity. You must cherish this chance!]
Chu Yuan naturally knew what to do. He cupped his hands and said, “If it is just a test, then of course it is fine! However, I must set three ground rules.”