Pay-to-Win Cultivation: I Get 10,000x Returns Chapter 22
Despite his long-standing fame, it took Zhao Chengyue some time to calm the roiling blood in his chest after vomiting it up. Eventually, both sides began a new round of combat.
However, after the smoke cleared, despair finally dawned upon the patriarch.
This time, he had been cautious. He hadn't been directly injured by the exploding swords. But Zhang Xian was simply too shameless! Seeing that he couldn't physically harm Zhao Chengyue, Zhang Xian would decisively self-destruct his weapons the moment they made contact with Zhao’s defenses!
It was the tactic of damaging the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred of one's own!
Zhao Chengyue was frequently forced to play his trump cards, resulting in damage to his own foundation. Meanwhile, the result for Zhang Xian was merely the loss of another five top-grade swords, one top-grade defensive weapon, and several talismans.
And then, Zhao saw it again.
Yet another new set of five swords and a top-grade defensive robe appeared around Zhang Xian!
Zhao Chengyue was utterly dumbfounded.
He was trembling uncontrollably, every breath causing a sharp pain in his lungs—a sign of spiritual exhaustion. He hadn't been in such a wretched state for centuries. He stared fixedly at the five floating swords behind Zhang Xian and the glowing cyan robe.
"Fine! Very fine!!"
Zhao Chengyue gnashed his teeth, his voice hoarse as blood dripped from his beard. This battle had not only destroyed most of his protective treasures, but even his Purple Palace Golden Core foundation had been damaged. Meanwhile, his opponent—
Was still swallowing pills!
His resources seemed endless. How was this even possible?!
Hatred surged in his heart, yet he felt helpless. If he continued fighting, let alone killing this brat, he might forfeit his own old life here!
"Today counts as this old man’s defeat." He sighed deeply.
"You honor me." Zhang Xian’s tone was calm, but he didn't relax his vigilance in the slightest.
Zhao Chengyue closed his eyes, then suddenly waved his sleeve. Remnant spiritual power stirred up a gale, and his figure transformed into a crimson streak, fleeing far into the distance. Only his fierce words remained, drifting on the wind:
"When we meet again in the future, I will take your dog life!"
With his departure, the moon set and the sun began to rise. The Star River God-Locking Formation automatically dispelled.
Zhang Xian shook his head, thinking, These people are really uncreative. Don’t they know that fierce talk while running away just sounds lame?
He retrieved the swords and talismans but kept them in hand, fearing the old thing might circle back for an ambush.
Lin Yinyin nestled into his embrace, her eyes full of sweetness. She wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. "Brother, are you okay?"
"No problem. Those weapons and talismans were already refined; activating them consumes very little energy. A few pills and I'm fine."
"I support you."
Only after entering Yiyang City did Zhang Xian completely relax his guard.
"Let’s stay at an inn and rest for a day," Lin Yinyin suggested shyly.
If I speak first, I can suggest just one room, and then...
While she was still fantasizing, Zhang Xian waved his hand and said, "We’ll buy a place directly."
Wherever he stayed, he bought a mansion. It was mainly because inn rooms were too small and he was unaccustomed to them—a habit formed over years in the Great Liang Kingdom.
"Oh." Lin Yinyin was slightly disappointed.
He spent a thousand mid-grade spirit stones and bought a mansion estate.
Lin Yinyin was no longer surprised. After all, her brother had exploded over a dozen top-grade weapons just now; she was somewhat immune to his spending habits.
They hadn't rested for long when they heard a knock at the mansion's main gate.
Zhang Xian was puzzled. They had just settled in—who would be visiting?
"Cloud Raiment Pavilion Internal Affairs Commander, Yun Xi, requests a meeting with Daoist Zhang Xian," a voice called from outside the gate.
Cloud Raiment Pavilion? Zhang Xian seemed to recall something. His fingertips lightly tapped the stone table three times, and the mansion's perimeter restrictions silently dissipated.
He rose and opened the door.
Standing there was a young male cultivator with handsome features, dressed in white brocade robes. Behind him stood two black-robed cultivators carrying a black coffin, from which a faint aura of blood seeped out.
Upon seeing Zhang Xian, the young man politely cupped his hands. "Daoist Zhang, Yun Xi has come to apologize."
Zhang Xian returned the courtesy and welcomed them into the courtyard.
Sensing the moment he saw Yun Xi, Zhang Xian noted that the man's aura was deep and steady. Though suppressed by the Zhou Heaven Protection Formation, Zhang Xian could feel that this man's cultivation was even higher than Zhao Chengyue's!
Lin Yinyin brewed tea in the front courtyard and served them both.
They sat opposite each other in the courtyard.
"To what apology does Daoist Yun refer?" Zhang Xian initiated the conversation.
"Previously, you purchased many items at our Water Cloud City branch. Unfortunately, the steward there was bribed and leaked your information, causing unnecessary trouble for you. This was our Pavilion’s negligence, and we are truly sorry."
After speaking, Yun Xi waved his hand. A box appeared on the ground, the lid opening automatically to reveal countless neatly arranged mid-grade spirit stones.
"Here are three thousand mid-grade spirit stones as compensation."
Zhang Xian merely blew on the steam rising from his tea, not even glancing at the stones. "I do not lack stones."
Yun Xi then gestured to the black-robed cultivator behind him. With a flick of a finger, the coffin lid was flung open violently.
Inside lay a blood-soaked body. It was precisely the steward who had received Zhang Xian at the branch! Now, his eyes had been gouged out and the root of his tongue severed. He could only emit hoarse gasps.
"This person leaked a guest's whereabouts. According to the Pavilion’s rules, he has been stripped of his bones and blood, and his spiritual roots have been destroyed," Yun Xi introduced calmly.
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-robed cultivator produced a short dagger, plunged it into the steward's skull, and stirred it twice. The body was completely silenced.
Gag!
Lin Yinyin, sitting to the side, nearly vomited.
Zhang Xian praised, "Your Pavilion’s rules are strict. I admire that."
Yun Xi smiled and waved his hand again. Another box appeared on the ground. An Ice Silkworm Snow Gauze Dress floated into the air, the skirt flowing like moonlight, seeming to possess a liquid quality.
"This dress is a gift for Miss Lin. Although it is mid-grade, it excels in its exquisite water affinity, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort. Its price is comparable to top-grade artifacts."
Lin Yinyin’s heart raced. She had seen this in the jade slip catalog. It was a limited edition, hailed as a luxury item among dresses, worth a full three thousand mid-grade spirit stones! Instantly, she felt her own hundred-stone gauze dress had lost its appeal.
"The dress is accepted. Please return the stones," Zhang Xian said calmly.
Behind him, Lin Yinyin pouted. Three thousand mid-grade stones... that can buy my life! You don’t want them, but I do! My heart aches!
"This is our sincerity. Please don’t decline," Yun Xi said, bowing deeply, his posture extremely low.
Zhang Xian waved his hands repeatedly. "Truly, I do not lack stones. Just help me with a favor. The previous matters will not only be wiped clean, but we can also cooperate deeper."
"What favor? Please speak freely."
"It’s like this..." Zhang Xian repeated the fabricated origin story he had told Lin Yinyin earlier.
"So that’s how it is," Yun Xi sighed understandingly.
"As a newcomer to this great world, I am unfamiliar with this place. I just request your help to inquire about one matter. I want to know where heaven-and-earth treasures that enhance bone structure or spiritual root aptitude exist. If the Pavilion has such a treasure, I am willing to pay a high price to purchase it."