CHAPTER 481: NINEFOLD SPRING

Chapter 481: Ninefold Spring

...

Her Eminence Hua Jin didn't quite understand what was happening to herself.

For some reason, she found Chen Huaian's handsome face unusually endearing.

This peculiar feeling was difficult to describe.

After countless reincarnations, she had long since seen through matters of love between men and women, and would absolutely never develop feelings for any man—let alone one whose strength paled in comparison to hers.

Her question today had slipped out in a moment of weakness, a sudden impulse upon seeing Chen Huaian's devastatingly handsome face.

Among all her lifetimes, Chen Huaian's face was the most perfect she'd ever seen.

And someone like Chen Huaian, who could easily rely on his looks alone, undoubtedly possessed exquisite taste.

Thus, she wanted to know how she appeared in his eyes.

...

Chen Huaian was stunned by the question.

Why would Her Eminence Hua Jin suddenly ask him this?

Such an abrupt question left him flustered!

As their gazes locked, Hua Jin was the first to look away, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "If it's inconvenient to answer, then forget I asked," she said, her voice trailing off. "Pretend... pretend I never brought this up today."

Under the astonished stares of Chen Huaian and Wang Shouyi,

the normally composed leader of Kunlun Immortal Palace actually seemed... shy?

"Ahem, Your Eminence, you are the most perfect woman this disciple has ever seen in this world."

Chen Huaian delivered this line without batting an eye.

He wasn't worried about Hua Jin detecting lies—because it was the absolute truth.

Her Eminence Hua Jin was indeed breathtaking.

Both her facial features and figure were peerless.

She carried an air of noble mystique about her.

The combination made her like a walking pheromone magnet, constantly drawing the attention of male Ascenders around her. Yet due to her overwhelming strength, these Ascenders could only look—not a single one dared entertain impure thoughts. ᚱ𝓪Ꞑ𝐨ＢĚṥ

Still, compared to Li Qingran, Hua Jin fell far short.

"Is that so?" Hua Jin's eyes brightened slightly.

Despite her efforts to suppress it, the corners of her lips betrayed her delight.

"Elder Chen, we should refrain from discussing such matters within the sect," Hua Jin suddenly adopted a stern expression, her tone turning serious. "The ultimate goal of cultivators like us is ascension. Without achieving immortality, all is meaningless—just bleached bones left behind after countless years! What significance does romantic love hold?"

With that, Hua Jin turned as cold as a heartless scoundrel after intimacy, her beautiful face expressionless as she retreated to her carriage.

Leaving Chen Huaian and Wang Shouyi utterly bewildered in her wake.

"This woman has some issues..." Chen Huaian's lips twitched as he silently complained.

He'd just complimented her, and she responded by lecturing him? Was this some kind of entrapment?

Wang Shouyi whispered excitedly beside him, "Senior, your fortune is about to change! Haha!" He clapped his hands in congratulations. "Senior, Her Eminence only uses this stern tone with disciples she favors. Think about it—this is clearly a senior's guidance for their junior! Your luck is turning!"

"Really?" Chen Huaian feigned delight.

Internally, he was exasperated. Had all those ascensions addled Hua Jin's brain?

He could only hope Hua Jin wouldn't pull any nonsense.

Please don't tell me after ten thousand years of reincarnations, she suddenly wanted to experience romance?

That would be too intense...

The mere thought sent another shiver down his spine.

Just then, celestial phenomena reappeared in the sky.

Several more Celestial Jade Marrows emerged from the void, their spiritual light illuminating half the heavens.

These newly appeared jade marrow fragments were noticeably smaller, their radiance dimmer than before.

Clearly inferior grade.

The surrounding Ascenders from various sects grew restless, their greed unconcealed.

Yet none dared make the first move.

Because both Kunlun Immortal Palace and Great Thunder Temple were still watching. Surprisingly, neither power moved to claim the treasures, instead maintaining an attitude of calm acquiescence.

These Ascenders weren't fools—they understood the two major factions were conceding the lower-grade jade marrow.

"Disciples of Tai Xuan Sect thank Her Eminence Hua Jin of Kunlun Immortal Palace for her generosity!"

"Tian Yi Pavilion expresses gratitude to Great Thunder Temple's Monk Faming for his compassion!"

The various sects' Ascenders shouted thanks even as they scrambled for the inferior jade marrow.

Everyone present knew if those two powerhouses intervened, they wouldn't even get scraps.

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes, noticing how both Hua Jin and Monk Faming were secretly gathering energy while periodically glancing at a specific point in the sky. Clearly, they were waiting for better opportunities.

As time passed, the celestial phenomena intensified.

Clouds churned, thunder rumbled, and spiritual energy converged wildly between heaven and earth.

"It's coming," Chen Huaian murmured.

Sure enough, a golden light soon pierced through the clouds, its radiance ten times stronger than the previous jade marrow. A superior-grade Celestial Jade Marrow slowly materialized, its immense spiritual energy making every cultivator present shudder.

Hua Jin and Monk Faming could no longer maintain their composure, both rising simultaneously.

"Amitabha," Monk Faming said with surface-level compassion that couldn't mask his sharp tone. "Friend Hua Jin's aura seems unstable—perhaps recent cultivation hasn't gone smoothly. If you insist on competing with this humble monk for the jade marrow, it may drain your vitality. Why not concede to me and accumulate some merit?"

Hua Jin arched an eyebrow. "Monk Faming chants Buddha's name while his heart burns with desire. Shouldn't a Buddhist cultivator be free from worldly attachments? Has decades of ascetic practice ultimately failed against the seven emotions?"

"Friend, you misunderstand," Monk Faming's smile remained. "The Buddha teaches about predestined relationships—this treasure has affinity with Buddhism. Whereas you, nearing ten thousand years yet still trapped in the Void Fusion Realm—if you remain obstinate, breakthroughs may elude you forever."

...

Their exchange resembled children squabbling.

Though no blows were exchanged, their True Essence already clashed violently in the air.

Witnessing this, the surrounding Ascenders paled and retreated in panic.

Only two figures advanced against the tide—Chen Huaian and Wang Shouyi.

"We must help Her Eminence," Chen Huaian said gravely, ducking behind a stone tablet.

"Senior, Her Eminence would be deeply touched to know of your concern!" Wang Shouyi wholeheartedly approved, though he hadn't yet figured out how to assist.

He'd simply follow his senior's lead.

"If Her Eminence Hua Jin truly requires the superior-grade jade marrow, perhaps this..."

Monk Faming suddenly softened his tone, smiling benignly:

"This humble monk can reluctantly concede thirty percent."

Hua Jin responded with a deceptively gentle smile: "This one has always been magnanimous—I can allow you twenty percent, considering the hardships of Buddhist cultivation." Despite her words, sword energy gathered at her fingertips within her sleeves, ready to strike at any moment.

"Thirty percent—not a fraction less!" Monk Faming's smile vanished, his expression darkening.

"Twenty—not a drop more!" Hua Jin stood her ground, her phoenix eyes frosty.

The spiritual energy in the air seemed to congeal, as if time itself had frozen.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Chen Huaian cheered internally.

"Since that's the case—" Monk Faming suddenly roared, his kasaya billowing without wind as his prayer beads transformed into golden light shooting skyward, "then let this humble monk experience Kunlun Immortal Palace's legendary techniques!"

Hua Jin soared to meet him, her hair whipping wildly amid turbulent spiritual energy. With a wave of her jade hand, heaven and earth seemed to shift: "Faming, after eight thousand years of acquaintance, do you think I don't know your capabilities? Today, I'll see what progress you've truly made!"

BOOM——!!!

The two peak experts clashed instantly, terrifying shockwaves of spiritual energy radiating outward.

Chen Huaian dragged Wang Shouyi several steps back.

The stone tablet they'd hidden behind had already been reduced to rubble.

"Senior... can we really help Her Eminence?" Wang Shouyi asked weakly, his face pale as he watched the cataclysmic battle above. "This level of combat seems... beyond our participation..."

But Chen Huaian's gaze remained fixed on the dazzling superior-grade Celestial Jade Marrow floating in the sky.

Fortune favors the bold.

The die was cast.

After today, the entire currency system might change.

Securing this jade marrow meant securing his future ability to splurge freely!

Thus, he wasn't worried about Hua Jin and Monk Faming fighting—he worried they wouldn't fight fiercely enough.

Given their equal cultivation levels, they likely wouldn't battle to the death.

This conflict needed a catalyst.

Chen Huaian opened his Electronic Girlfriend game and began searching through the Righteous Cultivator Store.

As everyone knew, the store sold items confiscated from Demon Cultivators.

When he spotted a particular object, his eyes lit up, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Brother Wang, do you trust me?" Chen Huaian suddenly turned to Wang Shouyi.

"I do." Wang Shouyi blinked, then nodded firmly. "This junior naturally believes in Senior!"

"Good!" Chen Huaian's smile deepened as he opened the purchase interface.

The Bliss Sect's treasure—Ninefold Spring, priced at 9.99 million RMB.

Purchase confirmed!

...