Nineteen nineteen.

"Huge, huge, huge—just how huge is it?"

The Second Senior Brother gave his answer, and the group fell into a long, profound silence.

How sour!

Even the usually composed Eldest Senior Sister couldn't help but lose her composure for a moment, her expression crumbling as she hissed with envy: "I knew the Junior Brother was wealthy, but I never imagined he was *this* wealthy."

The Second Senior Brother nodded. "Aside from the inheritance Master left for each of us before ascending, the conquest of the Chaos Domain was almost entirely the Junior Brother’s own achievement. Even now, the seal relies on him to maintain it. The assets seized from the Demon Lord and the several spirit stone mines in the Chaos Domain are all in his hands. None of the other sects have anything to say about it."

When you can't beat someone, what can you do?

The Second Senior Brother added, "Besides, the Junior Brother doesn't really spend much. His biggest expenses are probably these lanterns. They earn interest every year, rolling over and growing larger and larger."

Silence.

After a while, someone finally caught on: "Wait, why would the Junior Brother transfer such a massive sum of money?"

The Fifth Senior Brother: "Could it be that he dismantled someone’s sect?"

The Third Senior Sister: "This amount of money could buy several Cloud-Rain Sects, couldn't it?"

Another long silence followed.

"Is that woman from the Cloud-Rain Sect? Could she have cast a love charm on our Junior Brother?" the Fifth Senior Brother asked.

The Eldest Senior Sister shot him a sidelong glance: "Do you think there is anyone in the Three Realms capable of casting a charm on him?"

The Fifth Senior Brother: "...Fair point."

The Third Senior Sister asked the Second Senior Brother: "What is the woman’s name?"

"Su Xiaoyuan."

"What a lovely name!" the Third Senior Sister praised. "It sounds like a charming and adorable little beau—"

"Ahem... never heard of her. I have the rosters for the Cloud-Rain Sect, from the Sect Master and the seven Great Elders down to the prominent inner-sect disciples of the last few years. Even if this girl were from the Joyous Union Sect, she isn't on any of the lists."

The Fourth Senior Brother tapped his temple: "Could something have gone wrong with a soul-shifting technique, damaging his mind here?"

The Eldest Senior Sister scoffed: "That’s even less believable than a love charm."

The Third Senior Sister swallowed hard: "Could it be that the Junior Brother has taken a fancy to this girl and is trying to woo her by throwing money at her?"

Everyone shook their heads vigorously at first, but slowly, they came to a stop.

The Eldest Senior Sister stroked her chin and said solemnly: "A great master once said, 'When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'"

She cleared her throat: "Regardless of the reason, the urgent priority is to find the Junior Brother."

The Third Senior Sister: "I truly wonder what kind of extraordinary woman could make our Junior Brother’s iron tree blossom. Whoever goes, remember to take a Recording Stone so we can all watch the excitement when you return! Hahaha... ha... why are you all looking at me?"

She shook her head in horror: "No, no, I can't go! I owe a debt of heart-entanglement in the Cloud-Rain Sect... I’ll die if I go there..."

"Is that so?" The Eldest Senior Sister frowned. "Very well, then it’s decided—you’re the one going."

The Second Senior Brother: "By the way, you might as well bring along that young friend from the Puppet Master Sect. In case there’s something wrong with a puppet, he can take a look."

The Third Senior Sister: "!" Even the Second Senior Brother wouldn't let her off the hook.

The Fourth Senior Brother: "Go ahead, Third Senior Sister. If the Junior Brother silences you, I’ll be sure to erect a monument and write your biography."

The Fifth Senior Brother: "Third Senior Sister, I... I’ll go help you pack your luggage."

The Eldest Senior Sister pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed: "You really should teach that child a thing or two. That’s not how you throw money around; you’ll scare the poor girl away."

...

Su Xiaoyuan and Ruan Mianmian spent the entire day in class.

The day was filled with review sessions, the last of which was held on Elder Qin’s Wanhua Island.

After the lesson, Elder Qin kept the disciples back: "In half a month, it will be the Wushan Festival. Those who have been in the sect for more than a year might know that, according to tradition, each island must choose a Maiden Incarnation to ride the flower boat and cruise for the gods."

Su Xiaoyuan had joined after the Wushan Festival last year, so she hadn't experienced these activities firsthand, though she had heard of them.

"The chosen disciple will receive one thousand high-grade spirit stones, plus an additional one thousand high-grade spirit stones for costumes and accessories," Elder Qin continued.

Ruan Mianmian excitedly tugged at Su Xiaoyuan’s sleeve: "Xiaoyuan, two thousand stones! You have to give it your all—you must get chosen!"

In the past, for a chance to earn this much money, Su Xiaoyuan would have fought for it even if it meant risking social death. But right now, she just couldn't muster the enthusiasm.

"To be fair, let’s hold an anonymous vote," Elder Qin said, distributing a stack of talisman papers.

In the end, Su Xiaoyuan was elected by an overwhelming majority, thanks to her undeniable beauty.

Ruan Mianmian was thrilled the whole way back. Su Xiaoyuan didn't want to dampen her best friend's mood, so she tried her best to act happy.

When they reached the ferry at Wanhua Island, an inner-sect senior sister she knew well called out to her: "Su Xiaoyuan—"

Seeing the anxious look on her face, Su Xiaoyuan felt a pang of panic. "Senior Sister, what’s wrong?"

"There are people from the External Affairs Hall looking for you. They say they're from a city bank, surnamed Zhao. Do you know them?"

The senior sister pursed her lips, looking as if she had more to say.

Su Xiaoyuan’s heart sank. Could the matter of those 300,000 spirit stones be catching up with her?

"I've met them once," she asked cautiously, "What’s wrong?"

The senior sister said anxiously: "You don't owe money to the bank, do you? Or have you offended someone? The manager brought a dozen martial cultivators and blade cultivators dressed in black; they look fierce and menacing. It’s terrifying!"

Su Xiaoyuan felt even more frightened, her voice trembling: "I didn't... I don't think so..."

Were they going to use those 300,000 spirit stones to blackmail her?

In an instant, the cases of fraud and predatory lending she had seen in her previous life flashed through her mind. Her vision blurred, and she nearly stumbled.

Ruan Mianmian quickly grabbed her shoulders: "Don't be afraid, Xiaoyuan, I’m with you! So what if there are a dozen of them? This is our sect’s territory; I don't believe they’d dare cause trouble!"

The senior sister also comforted her: "I’ll go with you. If they really try to get physical, I’ll send a message to the Master to uphold justice."

Su Xiaoyuan thanked the senior sister but didn't let her come along; if things went wrong, she didn't want to drag her into it. She even tried to stop Ruan Mianmian, but she couldn't argue with a determined Gold Core body cultivator.

"If it really comes to a point where we have no choice, I’ll just reveal my identity," Ruan Mianmian said. "They have to show some respect to an heir of the Xie family!"

With trepidation, they arrived at the External Affairs Hall. In the same guest room as before, there were indeed a dozen tall, muscular martial cultivators in black standing in two rows.

When they saw them, the corners of the martial cultivators’ mouths curled into a uniform arc, revealing a mysterious, honeyed smile.

How terrifying!

Su Xiaoyuan’s legs went weak. Just as she was considering turning around and running, Manager Zhao bowed and approached with a face full of smiles: "Fairy Su, I trust you have been well?"

Su Xiaoyuan and Ruan Mianmian exchanged glances, wondering if this was a trap.

"Excuse me, Manager Zhao, what is the purpose of your visit today?" Su Xiaoyuan said cautiously.

Manager Zhao glanced at Ruan Mianmian, looking troubled, and said to Su Xiaoyuan: "Fairy Su, might we step aside to speak?"

Su Xiaoyuan’s internal alarm bells rang.

Ruan Mianmian stepped forward, shielding Su Xiaoyuan like a mother hen: "She doesn't know anything! If you have business, come to me!"

Su Xiaoyuan tried to pull her back, but her best friend didn't budge.

Manager Zhao smiled smoothly: "My apologies, Fairy, but this matter truly can only be discussed with Fairy Su."

The color drained from Su Xiaoyuan’s face, and her lips trembled: "Is... is the owner of those 300,000 stones here? I’m sorry, I really didn't mean to..."

"Three hundred thousand?" Manager Zhao paused. "Oh, you mean the 300,000 from last time. That’s not why I’m here today."

Su Xiaoyuan was almost on the verge of tears: "Aside from those 300,000, I really don't have anything else..."

Manager Zhao said: "This matter is not meant to be public. Please, come inside to discuss it."

Ruan Mianmian insisted on going in, and seeing that Su Xiaoyuan didn't object, Manager Zhao allowed it.

Inside the room, Manager Zhao carefully closed the door and took out a box from the storage pouch at his waist. It was similar in size to the last one, but far more exquisite.

Su Xiaoyuan’s scalp tingled at the sight of it.

Manager Zhao opened the box.

To her surprise, there was no brilliant glow this time. Inside lay three pitch-black objects, similar in shape to the jade slip from last time, looking like sticks of ink at first glance.

As Su Xiaoyuan wondered what they were, Ruan Mianmian gasped: "This, this, this... could it be the legendary..."

Manager Zhao looked surprised: "Fairy has a sharp eye. Most people haven't even heard of this, let alone seen it."

Ruan Mianmian whispered into Su Xiaoyuan’s ear: "This is an 'Ink Slip.' A single one is worth one million high-grade spirit stones!"

Su Xiaoyuan felt as if she were about to crack. The 300,000 hadn't been resolved, so how did another three million show up?

"Is this... also for me?"

Manager Zhao nodded with a smile: "Since our bank doesn't have that much liquid cash on hand, we could only bring the interest for this month to Fairy Su."

Su Xiaoyuan opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

She almost didn't recognize the word "interest" anymore. If three million was just the interest, how large must the principal be?

Manager Zhao continued to explain: "Strictly speaking, it is the interest on the yield."

He paused: "Fairy Su Xiaoyuan, someone transferred a spirit stone mine into your name last night. According to the original owner’s instructions, the annual output of the mine is deposited with our sect. This is the monthly interest generated from the previous year’s output."

Su Xiaoyuan was dizzy.

Ruan Mianmian hadn't gone through nine years of compulsory education, but she had common sense about the cultivation world. She gasped: "My heavens!"

Seeing her best friend still looking blank, she explained: "Xiaoyuan, there is one spirit stone mine in the mortal realm, nine in the Celestial Realm, and I heard there are a few ancient ones in the Chaos Domain, though the exact number is unknown. But after the defeat of the demons, they were all held by the Immortal Venerable Ling Yue—that mine definitely couldn't have anything to do with him."

She paused: "All the spirit stones in the world are produced from those dozen mines. Even if this is the smallest one, you have now joined the ranks of the top ten wealthiest people in the Three Realms."

She asked Manager Zhao: "How much is our Fairy Su’s mine worth?"

Su Xiaoyuan hurriedly said: "Wait, that’s not mine..."

Manager Zhao: "The exact value is unknown, but we can make a rough estimate."

He smiled and stated an astronomical figure.

The two of them stood in a daze for a long time.

Su Xiaoyuan shook her head vigorously: "No, no, no, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, there must be some mistake..."

Ruan Mianmian whispered: "Could you really be the illegitimate daughter of some hidden tycoon of the Three Realms?"

Last time, she could have suspected someone was setting a trap, but who would use an entire mine to frame a young girl?

Su Xiaoyuan didn't know how to explain it; she was about to cry: "It’s impossible, it’s really impossible... who would give me so much money..."

Just then, a thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

She realized who had given her the 300,000 last time, and the mine this time.

She was so slow; how could she have missed such an obvious answer!