12dz Chapter 73: Young Master Chen Pays the Bill for the Entire Audience
Chapter 73: Young Master Chen Pays the Bill for the Entire Audience
Chapter 73: Young Master Chen Pays the Bill for the Entire Audience
Cao Xing was in no hurry to modify the contract information between Chen Xiang and Jin Yuan Dao Ren.
He continued flipping through the pages.
Soon a detailed plan appeared in front of Cao Xing.
Cao Xing skimmed through the document, and even though he had witnessed the ruthlessness of the Yellow Robe Monster and experienced the methods of the Upper Temple, when he saw the plan to harvest tens of thousands of incense smokers, he couldn't help but call out to Heavenly Bodhisattva in his heart.
Are you really gods?
Could it be a monster from Lion Camel Ridge in disguise?
The tens of thousands of people at this incense gathering are all targets for this harvest, and the harvesting method is to guide everyone to participate in a series of activities such as investing props and giving rewards through this incense competition.
Only when the prize pool reaches a sufficient amount will Xin Tianjun and the Three Gods take action and forcibly issue a loan as proof of their success.
When the competition for the incense reaches its most intense moment, Xin Tianjun will drop a sunbird chick that is about to hatch. When the sunbird hatches, everyone will be caught in a state of forced depletion.
According to the plan, under the forced attrition state, if there is insufficient financial support, as long as the overdue attrition fee exceeds three thousand taels, it can be treated as property by Tianluo and directly executed.
If the person being killed still has the potential to improve their cultivation, their cultivation will be forcibly increased before they are killed again.
In other words, this Qionglou Festival was a trap from beginning to end, designed to lure people in and fleece them.
Looking at the contents of the plan, Cao Xing suddenly realized something and was also surprised that these gods were so openly and blatantly reaping the benefits. What was the difference between this and a max-level player swarming a newbie village?
"Star Lord, is there something wrong?"
Seeing Cao Xing's furrowed brows, Qing'e asked softly.
"No, it was a very good deal." Cao Xing looked up, a hint of regret in his voice, "but—"
"Their eating manners are appalling."
"We deities, if we personally participate in this, where is our dignity and authority? Do we really treat the Heavenly Court and its rules as a joke?"
Cao Xing's face showed disdain; "Xin Tianjun and his group's methods are too low-level, I don't like them."
"Does the Star Lord perhaps wish to withdraw?" Qing'e squinted at Cao Xing.
Cao Xing shook his head: "I don't like this kind of undignified thing, so I plan to revise their plan."
.
Cao Xing knew he was just an imposter, a mere figurehead, pretending to be a star lord to get a share of the profits, and no one would doubt him.
However, if he wanted to stop this plan, not only did he not have the ability, but even if he relied on the prestige of the Star Lord and forcibly ordered the three gods of Xin Tianjun to stop, it would probably arouse suspicion, and he would end up in a dangerous situation.
Cao Xing could not do such a selfless act.
Since there was no way to stop it, Cao Xing could only consider how to maximize his own gains in this harvest.
Cao Xing manipulated the bronze mirror with his fingers, beginning to revise the original plan of the three gods, Xin Tianjun, as well as the contract devised by Jin Yuan Daoren and Chen Xiang.
This process was extremely complicated, but for Cao Xing, it was a piece of cake. In a short while, Cao Xing had already modified most of the content of this harvest plan.
Cao Xing did not modify the specific rules and process of seizing the incense, but he changed the way the harvest was done.
Qing'e initially dismissed it, thinking that everyone did it this way, and what did it matter if it was respectable or not? For such low-end projects, it was better to wipe them out in one fell swoop than to care about respectability.
As for being very well-behaved that day, the rules were set by those above. They only apply when those above investigate. When they don't investigate, don't they just turn a blind eye?
But upon further reflection, Qing'e felt relieved.
Ultimately, he was born as a demon immortal.
Even those who hold high positions among the stars must be cautious, lest they be caught out by others.
But this is being a bit too cautious. Even if something goes wrong, it's Xin Tianjun and his group who are responsible. What's there to be afraid of?
However, after seeing the revised version by Cao Xing, Qing'e's attitude immediately changed.
She stared at the harvest plan that Cao Xing had revised and was quite surprised. The plan was so novel and detailed that she was immediately drawn to it.
This was the first time she had ever seen such an innovative way of harvesting.
However, when Qing'e saw that Cao Xing had finally secured the victory against the Shangfang Temple team, she couldn't help but frown: "Star Lord, you seem to really like the Shangfang Temple team. But these disciples have become expendable pawns. With just these few, I'm afraid they won't last long."
Faced with Qing'e's question, Cao Xing confidently replied, "When it comes to gambling, it's always about retreating when others chase and liking when others dislike. You can only make money when everyone is pessimistic. Chasing highs and selling lows is meaningless. It's better to find a dark horse and stir things up."
Cao Xing's words made Qing'e mutter to herself.
The unfamiliar phrases "when others chase, I retreat; when others dislike, I like; buy high, sell low" made Qing'e sense a profound and treacherous truth.
When she looked at Cao Xing again, her eyes couldn't help but show a hint of anticipation.
Let's see how he does things. If he really is exceptional, perhaps we can increase our cooperation in the future.
Qing'e was determined to see how Cao Xing's actions would go.
After Cao Xing revised many clauses and confirmed that there were no major problems, he handed the bronze mirror to Qing'e and said, "If there are any loopholes, please help me fill them in. I am busy with official duties and cannot stay any longer. I will take my leave for now."
After Cao Xing finished speaking, he decisively logged off before Qing'e could even speak.
Seeing Cao Xing leave, Qing'e snorted coldly: "He just dumped his load and left, isn't he afraid something might go wrong halfway through?"
Qing'e looked up at the figures of the audience above, and then at Cao Xing's redesigned harvesting plan.
Qing'e narrowed her eyes: "Could it be that the little wolf cub is hiding in this group?"
After a moment, Qing'e withdrew her gaze and thought to herself, "Forget it, let's see how this star lord handles things. It's just a small project, so let's just consider it a favor. We won't lose too much."
At the foot of Qiongshan Mountain, one can see that the mountain has been surrounded by a huge observation platform built by the Heavenly Net.
Jin Yuan Daoist had already led his disciples to their seats on the observation platform. He glanced at the group from time to time, as if afraid that a disciple might fall behind.
Upon seeing Cao Xing sitting in the chair as if asleep, Daoist Jin Yuan frowned. Just as he was about to reprimand him, Cao Xing opened his eyes, rubbed them, and looked as if he had just woken up.
Seeing this, Jin Yuan Daoist, who had just opened his mouth, could only close it again in frustration.
"You woke up just in time. If you had been any later, Uncle Jin Yuan would have been ready to scold you." Wu Peng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cao Xing wake up in time.
"Haha, we're not participating in the incense-grabbing competition anyway, so there's nothing wrong with taking a nap."
Cao Xing acted nonchalantly, as if he didn't care about the matter of stealing the incense at all.
As he spoke, he looked ahead and saw that the forest below Qiongshan Mountain was covered with countless golden threads.
Where the gold threads are covered, they intertwine horizontally and vertically, like a golden chessboard.
Cao Xing noticed that beneath the chessboard lay a different world: many thick, python-like black veins extended across the ground, somewhat resembling blood vessels on a human body.
Ground network!
Cao Xing stared at these black veins, which were the legendary underground network, now covering the area in front of him.
Now the net is fully in place, just waiting for these fish to crawl in.
"Junior brothers, don't be reckless when we compete for the incense this time. After we enter, the surrounding environment may change due to the blessing of the earth network. Occasionally, there may be some special treasures. It would be best if we could get them, but if we can't, then so be it."
Tang Xiu summoned Zhang Jue, Xing Haitao, and Lu Hao to explain the rules of the incense-stealing contest to them.
Tang Xiu's voice was loud enough that Cao Xing and the others sitting in the back could hear it clearly.
This wasn't meant for Lu Hao and his two companions; it was clearly meant for Cao Xing and his group.
Cao Xing knew perfectly well what was going on, and listened with a nonchalant expression, glancing at Jin Yuan Daoist out of the corner of his eye.
Jin Yuan Daoist was standing at a distance, holding Chen Xiang's hand, whispering to each other. It was unclear what they were saying, but judging from the smile on Jin Yuan Daoist's face, he seemed to be in a good mood.
I wonder if you, old Deng, will still be able to laugh later?
Cao Xing was even starting to look forward to it.
After briefly explaining the rules to everyone, Tang Xiu walked to Jin Yuan Daoist's side and whispered, "Uncle-Master, everything is ready."
"Um.
""
Xin Jinyuan Daoist nodded, his expression gradually becoming solemn.
"Sigh, I hope the patriarch won't blame me when we get back."
This question was directed at Tang Xiu and Chen Xiang. After exchanging a glance, the two immediately understood.
Chen Xiang said, "Master, since you have reported this matter truthfully, Grandmaster will not blame you. As for some outer disciples, what Grandmaster has in his heart is Shangfang Temple, Wuji Kingdom, and the path to immortality."
"Uncle-Master, Junior Brother is right. You are doing this for the sake of Shangfang Temple and the lineage. You can only make these junior brothers suffer a bit," Tang Xiu quickly whispered.
Upon hearing their words, Daoist Jin Yuan turned to look at Cao Xing and the others, his face filled with compassion: "Amitabha!"
"Thump!!"
At that moment, a deep, resonant bell rang throughout Qiongshan, drowning out all the noise.
The sound of the bell came from the tall building on Qiongshan Mountain.
As everyone looked up, they saw a large expanse of auspicious five-colored clouds rising above the magnificent building, their light dazzling.
"The deities have arrived, and the incense-stealing ceremony is about to begin. You must prepare to depart immediately!"
Disciples from various sects and schools gradually began to eagerly await their turn to fight.
"Hehe, this is going to be good. How about we take a gamble?"
At this moment, Wu Peng asked Cao Xing a question.
A shared message popped up in front of Cao Xing. The message expanded to show links to various betting platforms.
Cao Xing glanced around and found that there were about eight forces involved in the incense-grabbing competition.
Jieyang Mountain Juxian Nunnery, Dudi Mountain Qiankun Cave, Jindou Mountain Bailian Sect, Tongtian River Lingsheng Mansion, Baolin Temple, Yalong Cave, Sanqing Temple, and Shangfang Temple.
Why about eight?
Because these eight families were all forces that Cao Xing had seen in books.
Other forces also exist, such as Tianlong Village, Guangyuan Temple, Baixi Temple, and many others.
However, these forces don't even have a named monster behind them, so they can't be called any kind of forces at all. At most, their ancestor is just a True Person from the Upper Realm, someone of that level.
This kind of power would be wiped out with a single sweep of Sun Wukong's staff, and wouldn't even be counted among the eighty-one tribulations.
Cao Xing checked the odds and, as expected, Shangfangguan was at the bottom.
With all three key players dead, it would be strange if Shangfangguan (a trading platform) didn't rank at the bottom.
The odds are naturally the highest.
Hey, isn't it my turn to make this money?
After a moment's thought, Cao Xing threw in 30,000 taels of silver and went all in.
He only had less than five thousand taels of spare cash left, which was enough, since the Chen family would cover everything.
At this moment, golden threads began to fall from the sky. These golden threads seemed to have chosen their target in advance, instantly locking onto Cao Xing and the others.
"Huh??"
Looking at the golden threads wrapped around their bodies, everyone looked at Tang Xiu with a puzzled expression.
"Senior brother, this—"
Some people began to realize something was wrong, and looking around, they found that the other onlookers did not seem to be locked by the golden thread.
Faced with the gazes of his fellow disciples, Tang Xiu could only cup his hands and say, "I entrust this incense-grabbing task to you all."
Everyone: ? ? ?
Before anyone could react, a blinding light burst forth from the golden threads, and the next moment, Cao Xing and the others vanished from the audience.
Watching his disciples disappear, Daoist Jin Yuan closed his eyes and murmured, "Amitabha, Xiang'er, when you get back, you must hurry up and cultivate, break through as soon as possible, and cultivate the Golden Core. Don't let down the blessings your junior brothers have given you."
However, after Jin Yuan Dao Ren finished speaking, Chen Xiang's voice did not respond as expected.
"Um??"
Jin Yuan Daoist opened his eyes and looked around, his expression immediately changing drastically: "Where is everyone??"
"Tick-tock, tick-tock—"
Large raindrops fell on Chen Xiang's face. Chen Xiang raised his head blankly. The sky was gloomy and a light drizzle was falling. He could neither see his master nor the audience seats. He was in a mountain forest.
What am I doing?
Just as Chen Xiang was wondering, several figures emerged one after another from the surrounding woods.
It was the other disciples of the Upper Temple whose expressions were exactly the same as Chen Xiang's.
However, everyone soon understood what was going on.
A comment appeared in front of everyone.
[During the incense-grabbing event, all losses will be reduced by 80%. Participating disciples can purchase special items to increase their chances of winning. The incense-grabbing event will officially begin after one hour!]
[In this round of the incense-grabbing competition, a bottom-ranking elimination system will be implemented. The sect with the lowest score will be eliminated, and all participating disciples will have 30,000 taels deducted as a loss fee. Eliminated sects will be fined an additional 100,000 taels.]
Upon seeing the two bullet comments, some people felt a sudden darkness before their eyes and almost fainted.
"Wait a minute, why are we participating in the incense-grabbing contest? Wasn't it supposed to be Senior Brother Tang Xiu and his three companions? Where is Senior Brother Tang? Where is he??"
Everyone looked around but couldn't see Tang Xiu anywhere.
Some people realized they had probably been scammed, and their faces grew increasingly grim.
"Oh no, we've been tricked!"
Wu Peng slapped his thigh and angrily cursed, "I knew that old scoundrel Jin Yuan was wicked! How could we have been so blinded by greed and believed his lies?!"
Cao Xing also looked bitter and resentful, but his eyes were fixed on Chen Xiang out of the corner of his eye.
When Cao Xing saw the bewildered and shocked expression on Chen Xiang's face, he secretly chuckled to himself.
Young Master Chen, I'm sorry, but it's because your family is rich.
If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for playing tricks on us.
Cao Xing was secretly laughing to himself, while Chen Xiang's mood was so bad that he couldn't find the words to describe it.
[The contract you signed has taken effect. The Chen family will fully cover all expenses for all disciples participating in the Incense-Taking Competition at Shangfang Temple this time, including all penalties incurred during elimination, special items purchased, and expenses incurred during the competition.]
Why?
This is completely different from the contract I signed before??
I want to appeal; this is not the contract I signed!
Chen Xiang immediately filed an appeal through Tianluo.
Sorry, the contract has already taken effect and cannot be appealed.
But I didn't sign this; I've never signed such a contract.
Chen Xiang continued to appeal, but the response was still that his appeal was rejected.
After several attempts, a message popped up in Chen Xiang's eyes: [Malicious appeal, 1000 taels deducted as loss.]
Chen Xiang was truly dumbfounded. He had never heard of such a novel term as "malicious appeal" before, and his face turned bright red.
He opened his mouth several times as if to swear, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to say anything.
Seeing Chen Xiang's expression, as if he was about to burst out laughing, Cao Xing almost couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He was the one who modified the contract.
According to the original contract, Chen Xiang was supposed to cover half of the expenses, but only if you took out a loan first.
Through the manipulation of certain agreements, the disciples who participated in the incense-grabbing scheme actually only received 10,000 taels of silver from the 100,000 tael loan.
To get the rest of the money, several prerequisites must be met, such as killing several Foundation Establishment cultivators or seizing a certain opportunity.
The Chen family's promise to cover half of the expenses is merely to increase your loan limit from 100,000 taels to 150,000 taels. The extra 50,000 taels is theoretically free, but only if you receive the initial 100,000 taels first.
As a price, after their deaths, all their luck and cultivation would be bestowed upon Chen Xiang.
Such a contract is, frankly speaking, nothing short of a scoundrel's act.
Unfortunately, no matter how brilliant Chen Xiang's plan was, he ended up encountering an even bigger rogue, Cao Xing.
Cao Xing may not be as wealthy as the Chen family, but he has the power.
Throughout history, those with power have always been more powerful than those with money.
They directly changed the contract terms for him, so even if Chen Xiang screamed his lungs out, it wouldn't make a difference.
"Senior Brother Chen!"
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Chen Xiang. They were also wondering why Chen Xiang was here.
Chen Xiang reacted very quickly. After a moment's thought, he immediately understood his current predicament.
He turned around and glanced at the group. Including himself, there were nine people: Zhang Jue, Xing Haitao, Lu Hao, Cao Xing, Wu Peng, Yang Shengshui, Zhou Hai, and Li Tong.
If Shangfangguan is eliminated, the fines for the nine people will amount to 270,000 taels of silver, plus an additional fine of 100,000 taels, totaling 370,000 taels of silver.
This is such a large sum of money; even if the Chen family lost all the money they made in this business deal, it wouldn't be enough.
If the Chen family can't come up with the money, then we'll have to pay for it ourselves.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiang felt a sudden sense of mental collapse.
Fortunately, Chen Xiang was calm enough to immediately compose himself after realizing his situation.
He knew that the more panicked he was at that moment, the faster he would die.
In a short moment, he had already devised a plan. Composing himself, he addressed the crowd: “Fellow disciples, do not panic. This incense-stealing event was also part of my master’s plan. If we all participate in the incense-stealing and fight with our backs against the wall, we can succeed.”
"Has Uncle-Master Jin Yuan gone mad? We're going to participate in the incense-stealing?? We weren't even given any warning beforehand, we weren't prepared at all, are we just being sent to our deaths?!"
Yang Shengshui was the first to shout loudly.
Zhou Hai, standing beside him, also said with a face full of indignation, "That's right, I'm only in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Most of the other experts participating in the incense-grabbing competition are in the late-Foundation Establishment stage, or even just one step away from the Golden Core stage. They might break through to the Golden Core stage at any time. Are we supposed to go up there and die?"
Faced with the questions from the crowd, Chen Xiang was not surprised. He did not rush to defend himself, but calmly said...
"Fellow disciples, the Chen family never engages in underhanded dealings. During the incense-grabbing event, I will cover all losses. Furthermore, you can exchange for pills, cultivation techniques, and magical artifacts—all on me!"
Upon hearing this, even Cao Xing couldn't help but look at this young master of the Chen family with new respect.
What a clever move to take advantage of the situation and back down smoothly! This kid is quite something; no wonder he was valued by Daoist Jin Yuan and accepted as a disciple.
"Old Cao! Did I hear that right? We've run into a god of wealth."
Wu Peng was overjoyed. Didn't this mean that a tremendous opportunity had fallen into their laps?
The others also looked delighted. Chen Xiang paid the bill for everyone – what a stroke of luck!
The group, who had previously been full of resentment, now looked at Chen Xiang with burning eyes.
"Um, Senior Brother Chen, I admit my voice was a bit loud just now, please don't mind." Yang Shengshui's attitude immediately became polite.
Zhou Hai and the others stepped forward one after another; "The struggle for incense is precisely the duty of us disciples. Senior Brother Chen, rest assured, we will follow your lead."
"It's so similar, it's really too similar."
Wu Peng looked at Chen Xiang, crossed his arms, and nodded to himself from time to time.
"Like what??" Cao Xing chimed in, playing along with Wu Peng.
Wu Peng exclaimed, "He looks a bit like my long-lost father!"
After saying that, Wu Peng turned to Cao Xing and asked, "Do you think I could become his concubine now that I've removed the gauze?"
"ah???"
Cao Xing was taken aback.
Wu Peng lowered his voice and said, "Don't worry, I'll become his concubine. When I make money, I'll take you with me."
Upon hearing this, Cao Xing was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry.
Wu Peng's bottom line undoubtedly refreshed Cao Xing's worldview once again, but on second thought, even though he was selling his body, he didn't forget about him. He was truly a brother.
"Alright, but don't blame me for not warning you. There are still a lot of people outside looking for you. If you dare to reveal your identity, it's fine if you die here, but if you go back alive, I guarantee that Senior Brother Jin Yuan will definitely sell you for a good price."
Upon hearing Cao Xing's reminder, Wu Peng couldn't help but shudder. After thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense, so he had no choice but to give up the idea.
As the two were talking, Chen Xiang spoke again: "Fellow disciples, don't be stingy with your money. We're all in the same boat now. Exchange some magic weapons and pills for the essentials to improve your strength!"
As soon as Chen Xiang finished speaking, everyone stopped being polite to him and began searching through the purchase list provided by Tian Luo.
Cao Xing and Wu Peng exchanged a glance, and immediately took action, opening the list and quickly starting the purchasing process.
Meanwhile, on the observation deck.
*Smack!*
The harsh sound of the slap drew everyone's attention. They saw that Jin Yuan Daoist's face was frighteningly dark, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Tang Xiu, however, was kneeling on the ground, trembling.
"Idiot, idiot!! You can even mess up such a small thing, Tang Xiu, you deserve to die."
Upon hearing Jin Yuan Daoist's angry rebuke, Tang Xiu was immediately terrified and kowtowed to Jin Yuan Daoist, saying, "Uncle-Master, I don't know what went wrong. Please spare my life, Uncle-Master! For my master's sake, please spare my life!"
Jin Yuan Daoist stared intently at Tang Xiu, wishing he could tear him to pieces.
Chen Xiang is a rare top talent in their Shangfang Temple. He has money and talent. The opportunity for them to break through their shackles and become human immortals lies in this kid.
If things proceed as planned, once this incense-stealing event concludes, Chen Xiang will be able to accumulate the luck needed to advance to the Golden Core stage, thanks to the blessing of the contract.
He placed a heavy bet, betting on Fang Guan's crushing defeat. Because the odds were low, he basically staked all his savings, hoping to reap some compensation.
But now, it's all ruined.
Thinking of this, Daoist Jin Yuan was utterly despondent. After staring at Tang Xiu for a moment, he finally spoke softly, "Child, get up. I don't blame you."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiu felt a chill in his heart, sensing that something terrible was about to happen.
Sure enough, the next moment, Daoist Jin Yuan produced a contract: "Sign this contract."
Tang Xiu glanced at the contents of the contract; it was a loan agreement, and the lender was Chen Xiang.
Tang Xiu raised his head: "Uncle-Master, must I really die?"
"You are in the late Foundation Establishment stage, with one foot already in the Golden Core stage, but you will only reach the Golden Core stage in this lifetime. However, Chen Xiang is different; he was originally in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. You helped him, and this karma is there. In your next life, he will take you into his sect, and you will have the hope of becoming an immortal in your next life."
After saying this, Daoist Jin Yuan said earnestly, "Child, cultivation is not something that can be accomplished in one lifetime. Helping others is also helping yourself. For the sake of the greater good, we still need your help to Chen Xiang. In the next life, I will definitely take you as my personal disciple."
Having said all that, Tang Xiu's face showed despair. Trembling, he took the contract, lowered his head, and silently signed his name.
Meanwhile, on the other side, a group of disciples from Shangfang Temple had already begun making purchases.
High-grade magical artifacts: Dragon Roar Halberd, Five Elements Bottle, Flaming Blade Ruler, Yin-Yang Reversal Banner —
These are all good things.
After flipping through the pages a few more times, everyone was even more astonished to find that there were even magical artifacts among them.
The price is even unusually cheap.
"No way, a low-grade magic weapon only costs ten thousand taels?? Is it free??"
Wu Peng stared at the treasures on the purchase list, his eyes practically sparkling, and he even had no hesitation in wanting to go on a shopping spree.
"Look closely, there's a line of small print below."
At this moment, Cao Xing immediately reminded him. Wu Peng looked down and saw clearly that there was indeed a line of extremely small characters below, so small that they could not be noticed without careful observation.
This magical item is for rent only. If damaged, the rent will be charged ten times the rental price.
Upon seeing this line of small print, Wu Peng froze, only recovering after a moment: "Holy crap, this is a trap!!"
It's not just a pitfall, it's a massive pitfall.
Ten thousand taels is only the rental fee for four hours. Once it exceeds four hours, the price will double, and if there is any damage during the period, the compensation will be ten times the amount.
In other words, if a magical artifact worth 10,000 taels is damaged, the compensation would be 100,000 taels.
Who can afford to rent this?
"Let's just stick to buying pills."
After Wu Peng clearly saw these small characters, he immediately lost much interest in these magical treasures.
"A top-grade Qi-strengthening Pill!"
At this time, someone found the legendary top-grade pill on the purchase list, which was priced at only 1,200 taels per pill.
Even if you were in the Upper Temple, you might not be able to buy a pill of this caliber.
It is said that one pill of this medicine is equivalent to ten high-grade Qi-stabilizing pills, and its medicinal properties are pure and its spiritual essence is abundant, making it the most suitable pill for the Foundation Establishment stage.
"Fellow senior brothers and junior brothers, please don't be shy. Right now is exactly when we need this elixir to help us." Chen Xiang bought one directly and generously reminded everyone to buy with confidence.
Upon hearing this, Wu Peng grinned from ear to ear, overjoyed. This was truly a stroke of good fortune, something he would never have dared to dream of before.
However, he also kept a close eye on things and carefully scanned the list, finally noticing a line of small print at the bottom.
This elixir is for use only during the incense-seizing period, and its effectiveness lasts for only two hours.
"Damn, they're all nearing their expiration date! This is outrageous!"
Wu Peng cursed and swore, his little scheme immediately falling through, and he obediently bought a pill and put it in his mouth.
After taking the pill, he immediately sat down and meditated to cultivate, seizing the time to improve his cultivation level.
The others did the same. Time was limited, and no one dared to delay. After purchasing a pill, they immediately ate it and began to refine its medicinal power.
Cao Xing wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation. He bought two top-grade Qi-stabilizing pills, gave one to his sister who had hidden it in his sleeve, and swallowed the other himself. He then sat down cross-legged and made the most of his time to cultivate.
Chen Xiang watched as everyone hurriedly sat down to meditate and cultivate, and sneered inwardly; "My Chen family has plenty of money. Money paves the way. Even if we let you poor bastards eat as much as you want, how much can you possibly eat?"
Chen Xiang looked at the deduction notifications that kept popping up in front of him, his heart filled with disdain.
After all, they are only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Even with their full effort, they probably wouldn't be able to digest a top-grade Qi-stabilizing Pill in a short time.
As for those magical artifacts and even magical treasures, he was even less worried.
Unless you have a special cultivation method, you can't really use magic weapons effectively during the Foundation Establishment stage. Most people just rent a high-grade magic weapon, which doesn't cost much.
Hmph, if you're not strong enough, even if I gave you mountains of gold and silver, you wouldn't be able to eat them.
Just then, Chen Xiang suddenly felt a surge of energy, sensing a mysterious force empowering him, continuously increasing his luck and cultivation.
"It's my master who's helping me!"
Chen Xiang's heart stirred, and he immediately sat down cross-legged, swallowed a pill, and began to cultivate.
This top-grade Qi-stabilizing pill is extremely potent, with one pill being several times stronger than an ordinary Qi-stabilizing pill. It would take an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple at least two days to fully absorb the medicinal effects of one pill.
But those are ordinary people, not like me.
Chen Xiang made a hand seal, and flames seemed to flicker around his body, as if he were a furnace that had been lit and was burning.
Fire Spirit Body!
The crowd noticed something amiss and opened their eyes to look. Seeing the flickering flames around Chen Xiang, they couldn't help but feel envious.
A legendary talent that is said to be seen only once in a century.
"As expected of a cultivation body that is rare in a hundred years, his own body is like a furnace. It would take us at least three hours to digest a pill, but Senior Brother Chen only needs a cup of tea. No wonder his cultivation speed is so fast."
"No wonder Senior Brother Chen was able to establish his foundation in just half a month. He comes from a wealthy family, has exceptional talent, and with the guidance of Uncle Jin Yuan, it's impossible for his cultivation speed to be slow."
Seeing the strength Chen Xiang displayed, everyone was surprised, but also seemed to have more confidence in this competition for the incense.
After a brief whisper, they all closed their eyes and accelerated their cultivation progress.
Little did Cao Xing know that he had just opened his eyes. "This pill isn't fake, is it? It's gone so quickly?"
Cao Xing opened his eyes. This new version of the Crimson Blood Scripture was too fast at refining pills. After eating one pill and circulating the Crimson Blood Spirit Transformation Technique, it was completely digested in just a few breaths.
Seeing that everyone was still engrossed in their cultivation, Cao Xing did not stop. He bought another batch of top-grade Qi-stabilizing pills, but this time he bought them directly at the price of a bottle.
One bottle cost five thousand eight hundred taels of silver. Cao Xing bought three bottles directly. He put one bottle in his sleeve for his sister to drink, and kept the other two for himself.
Since it wasn't his own money he was spending, Cao Xing didn't feel any pain at all.
Cao Xing purchased so many pills that Chen Xiang naturally received the bill.
—5800 taels, —5800 taels, —5800 taels————
The constant pop-up notifications made Chen Xiang frown.
Who is it?
Chen Xiang opened his eyes with displeasure, glanced at the crowd, and saw Cao Xing sitting cross-legged in the corner, holding two bottles of pills he had just bought.
Chen Xiang squinted and looked Cao Xing up and down, getting a general impression of him, but only recognizing his face.
court death!
Seeing Cao Xing dare to spend his money so recklessly, Chen Xiang couldn't help but feel murderous intent.
He said with slight displeasure, "Junior brother, the pills are good, but they have an effect. You bought so many at once, can you consume them all?"
Upon hearing this, everyone stopped their cultivation and turned to look at Cao Xing. When they saw the gray Taoist robe Cao Xing was wearing, they couldn't help but show disdain on their faces.
"Is Senior Brother feeling the pinch?" Cao Xing asked with a smile.
Chen Xiang shook his head: "I, Chen Xiang, am not afraid of spending money, but I never waste it. The path of cultivation is like a long ladder, and every step is paved with money. Wasting money is a shameful act and a desecration of the path of immortality."
These words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner, which commanded the respect of everyone present.
"In the end, he's just a rogue cultivator, a nobody who can't be brought to the table." Yang Shengshui snorted coldly. He had been responsible for serving dishes in the back during the Conversion Ceremony and had a good impression of Cao Xing, knowing that Cao Xing was a rogue cultivator who had just started out.
"So he's a rogue cultivator. No wonder he doesn't know the rules."
"Kid, Senior Brother Chen won't hold it against you, but isn't it a bit ungrateful of you to waste things like this?"
"Hurry up and apologize to Senior Brother Chen!"
Seeing that Cao Xing had become the target of everyone's anger, Wu Peng immediately stepped in front of Cao Xing and apologized to Chen Xiang: "Senior Brother Chen, my brother here didn't notice the small print below. Please don't hold it against him. When it comes time to seize the incense, we will definitely do our best."
After Wu Peng finished speaking, he turned around and winked at Cao Xing, signaling him to say something conciliatory.
If it were any other time, Cao Xing probably wouldn't have needed Wu Peng to speak up for him; he would have already slid to his knees and admitted his mistake at lightning speed.
But today, Cao Xing doesn't want to pretend anymore.
If others don't know, how could I not know?
It's as if he's being incredibly kind and genuinely giving the money to them to spend.
Cao Xing shook the medicine bottle in his hand, looked at Chen Xiang, and asked, "What my senior brothers said is right, wasting is shameful, so if we eat it all, won't we avoid wasting it?"
Chen Xiang didn't speak, but Xing Haitao mocked, "Eat it all, eat it all and I'll kneel down and call you grandpa."
"Aren't you afraid of stuffing yourself to death? Get lost, or you'll splatter blood all over us." Zhou Hai cursed back.
Wu Peng was furious. His face darkened instantly, and he stared intently at Zhou Hai and the others, a cold glint in his eyes.
Before Wu Peng could get angry...
Cao Xing grabbed him and stared at Xing Haitao: "Grandson, remember to come and kowtow to your grandfather later."
After saying that, Cao Xing swallowed all the pills in the bottle in one gulp, much to everyone's surprise.
"Old Cao!"
Wu Peng immediately panicked. This was a top-grade Qi-stabilizing pill. He would have a hard time refining even one pill, let alone this whole bottle. He would probably die from being overeaten.
"well!!"
Chen Xiang's face showed a strange expression, and he said with a sorrowful look, "Junior Brother Cao, it's a waste, so be it. I didn't really mean to blame you."
But no sooner had he finished speaking than Cao Xing swallowed another bottle of Qi-stabilizing pills in his hand.
This scene stunned Wu Peng, and the others retreated, fearing that Cao Xing would explode at any moment.
However, Cao Xing did not explode. Instead, he sat cross-legged and his crimson true energy surged out, rapidly digesting the pills in his body.
Cao Xing's actions not only attracted Chen Xiang's attention, but also surprised Jin Yuan Daoist, who had been watching Chen Xiang and the others closely from the audience.
When he saw the crimson true energy emanating from Cao Xing's body, and how he was refining the pills he had ingested at an extremely fast speed, a look of horror appeared on his face.
"Who is this kid?! How can he have such potential?!"
After Jin Yuan Dao Ren finished speaking, he wanted to ask Tang Xiu, but as soon as he finished speaking, he remembered that Tang Xiu had already left.
Even though he was itching to get closer, he still didn't know Cao Xing's background.
It's no wonder he didn't recognize Cao Xing. Although he introduced Cao Xing to Gu Su, the two had never met.
He simply heard that there was a person with abundant yang energy who was so powerful that even his own Rakshasa Thousand Maidens Painting couldn't harm him, so he casually sold this person to Gu Su.
Normally, Daoist Jin Yuan would not pay special attention to a junior who was still wearing a gray Daoist robe.
Therefore, at this moment he really didn't know Cao Xing's background.
Cao Xing then ingested another bottle of pills, and a large amount of spiritual energy quickly transformed into surging true qi, flowing into his dantian.
In just a few breaths, five or six fragments of true qi had condensed in his dantian, and his cultivation level soared to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
belch!
In just a short while, Cao Xing had completely digested the pills. He let out a satisfied burp, his mouth still full of the taste of medicinal residue.
This is the first time I've ever eaten pills like this, until I'm full.
He glanced sideways at Xing Haitao: "Grandson, aren't you going to kowtow to your grandfather?"