Chapter 9: Ah! I’m Free!

Using the sliver of divine sense condensed from the Ganqi Realm, Chu Yuan peered into the Black Ring and couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.

Within it lay all the various system cultivation techniques, magical treasures, and talismans he had accumulated from three hundred years of acting as a licking dog. Each item was a Divine Treasure of incredible quality; taking even one to an auction would fetch a value of over ten million Spirit Stones.

Because they were so rare, he had no intention of auctioning them off, lest he lose the forest for the trees.

Chu Yuan fell into contemplation.

‘I am, at the very least, a rebirth-type protagonist now. I possess memories of the next three hundred years.’

Xuanji City was a world-renowned commercial hub, and every year, many cultivators made their fortunes there. At this point in time, what business opportunities were available to make money?

Mines… Spirit Stone mines… That’s it!

There was an unexcavated mountain nearby. The volume of Spirit Stones beneath it was exceptionally high, and it wouldn’t be discovered by the Chu Clan disciples for several more years.

It would be impossible for him to mine it secretly on his own, so he could only sell the information.

Sell it to his own family?

No!

He wasn’t favored in the Chu Clan’s side branches; any merit would simply be snatched away by others. It would be better to use his identity as a Chu Clan disciple to sell “insider information” to other factions and take a piece of the pie for himself.

With a plan in mind, Chu Yuan summoned a translucent trench coat from the Black Ring.

[Divine Treasure: Phantom Ethereal Dharma Robe]

Once activated, Chu Yuan could vanish or disguise his appearance. He could even hide his cultivation level and physique, making it difficult for even a Hedao Realm expert to detect him.

As he donned the coat, Chu Yuan felt an invisible barrier wrap around him, even shielding him from the gaze of the Heavenly Dao.

He wasted no time activating the robe and sneaked out, heading toward the mountain.

Along the way, a spring breeze brushed against his face, leaving Chu Yuan feeling refreshed.

The feeling of freedom was so foreign, so luxurious.

There were no system-issued tasks.

There was no “Congratulations, Host, for activating the **[Licking Dog Villain System]**. Please execute the script… Failure to perform will result in your death.”

In this life, he could act as he pleased. He could say what he wanted with his own will.

“Ah! I’m free!!!”

Several hours later.

Chu Yuan entered the mountain range and began excavating.

He dug for three days.

Eventually, he managed to dig out several pieces of iron ore. At a glance, the ore seemed filled with impurities, but if one probed with divine sense, they would detect the Spirit Stones contained within.

Chu Yuan packed them into a cloth bag and set up a formation using an array disk to prevent ordinary cultivators from wandering in and discovering the mountain’s secret.

Once everything was prepared, he returned to Xuanji City and visited the shops of several local factions.

Unfortunately, the shopkeepers either looked down on his status or saw the poor quality of the iron ore. Chu Yuan didn’t even have a chance to explain the secret before being kicked out.

Walking down the street, Chu Yuan sighed and thought, ‘I’ll try a few more places and test my luck. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to disguise myself as a mysterious figure and propose a direct partnership…’

“Young friend, please stay a moment!”

At that moment, a steady male voice came from behind him.

Chu Yuan turned to look. The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in lavish clothing. He recognized him instantly as City Lord Fang Henian and asked in confusion, “May I ask what this is about?”

Fang Henian cupped his hands. “Young friend, are you selling ore? My young lady is interested. I wonder if you would be willing to accompany me to a nearby tea house for a chat?”

Chu Yuan’s expression turned strange.

What did he mean by “my young lady”?

For the City Lord to use such a respectful title, could she be some member of the royal family from the Immortal Dynasty?

Wait! Didn’t this mean… a benefactor had arrived?

With that thought, he returned the gesture. “Then I shall trouble you to lead the way!”

Shortly after, Chu Yuan ascended to the third floor of the tea house.

As soon as the door opened, he saw the elegant and graceful red-haired Crown Prince by the window. He sighed in his heart.

‘As expected of the Empress who was known for her peerless beauty in my past life. That wooden block of a Senior Sister can’t even compare!’

During the ensuing conversation with Ji Xuanyuan, Chu Yuan had initially wanted to bring up the business of the mine.

However, after just a few brief exchanges, the Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty gave him 30,000 Spirit Stones and sent him on his way.

Although Chu Yuan was puzzled, he didn’t make a fool of himself. Furthermore, Ji Xuanyuan’s words had effectively opened a path for him to the City Lord’s Mansion Tribute Department. He could discuss the mine with Fang Henian later, and it would yield much the same result.

Even though he failed to cling to the future Empress—the ultimate wealthy woman—Chu Yuan didn’t feel it was a pity.

One had to remember that in his previous life, three hundred years of experience had given him some knowledge of physiognomy. During their meeting just now, Chu Yuan had seen the Crown Prince’s face clearly.

Ji Xuanyuan’s eyebrows were naturally thick, wild, and slanted upward, known as “Fuxi Brows.” On a man, this feature indicated nobility; on a woman, it indicated strong desire.

Then there were her eyes—the corners slanted toward her temples, typical of “Peach Blossom Eyes” with an “upward flick.” Such eyes indicated deep passion and even deeper ambition.

When normal people fall in love, it is a matter of the heart; when someone like her falls in love, she wants to consume the other person, flesh and bone.

Her straight bridge of the nose indicated self-centeredness and dominance, while her rounded tip indicated materialism and enjoyment.

When those two features were combined, the meaning became: whatever she wants, she must obtain; whatever she obtains, she must thoroughly enjoy.

Not to mention her lips, which were excessively full, with outlines so sharp they looked drawn. When she pursed them slightly, she looked as if she were restraining something; when she relaxed them even a little, they carried three parts laughter and seven parts hook.

These were typical “Lustful Lips.” People with such lips weren’t just passionate; they were filled with desire… Looking at her entire face…

Her brows were blades, her eyes were hooks, her nose was bone, and her lips were fire.

A woman with such a face would be a calamity if born into a poor family; born into a royal family, she was someone even an entire empire couldn’t satisfy.

Especially in a matriarchal society like the Immortal Dynasty, as the Crown Prince, her palace was likely filled with countless male consorts.

If she took a fancy to his talent and locked him away in the depths of her harem, let alone freedom, Chu Yuan feared he would be drained dry every single night.

Thinking this way, he was actually relieved that the Crown Prince hadn’t taken an interest in him.

Leaving the tea house, Chu Yuan walked back along the bluestone street. From a distance, he saw a grand procession slowly approaching.

Leading the way were eight maids in green dresses, carrying incense burners, fly-whisks, and other items. Their steps were light, and they looked straight ahead.

Behind them were sixteen guards in silver armor, riding identical snow-white steeds with long swords hanging from their waists, looking quite majestic.

The entire procession was massive, taking up more than half the street.

Passersby moved aside one after another, and those who knew better whispered among themselves.

“Whose display is this? Even the City Lord’s outings aren’t this ostentatious.”

“Hush, lower your voice! Don’t you see the green bamboo pattern? That’s the Chu Clan’s carriage!”

“The Chu Clan? Such a grand display? Could it be the Head of the Chu Clan?”

“I don’t think so! I heard that a noble guest has been staying with the Chu Clan for the past few days. Apparently, they come from the legendary Taixu Sacred Realm.”

—

Inside the carriage, high-quality ambergris burned in the incense burner.

The elegant fragrance lingered in the small space. The window curtains were drawn tight, leaving only the roof vent to let in a bit of daylight.

The light fell upon two people, one in light and one in shadow, outlining two completely different silhouettes.

Gu Qingwan sat on the left.

She kept her eyes lowered, her hands folded over her lap, her fingertips twisting the fabric of her sleeve.

“Master Chu, I will have to trouble you this time.”

As she spoke, Gu Qingwan looked at the refined gentleman sitting opposite her—Chu Yunlan.