Chapter 49

Aah~

When will a Nascent Soul cultivator like me ever rise above the fray?

Jiang Yujiu sighed inwardly, yet her face still wore a sweet smile as she answered each of the audience's questions with a cheerful voice.

Previously, a senior sister had directly performed chest-breaking-with-stone to gain attention.

Honestly, she'd considered that option too, but ultimately gave it up.

What if I shrink down?! Thinking this, she glanced idly to the side.

Hm? That person carrying the water tank… isn't that Chi Jiuyu from the Xiang Jianzong?

If I looked like Chi Jiuyu, I'd definitely get massive attention.

Of course, Jiang Yujiu only thought it—after all, impersonating the mysterious junior uncle of the Xiang Jianzong was no different from seeking death.

During the previous Xian Sect Grand Competition, several of her senior brothers and sisters were outright humiliated by Chi Jiuyu.

She glanced again.

No!

That really is Chi Jiuyu!

Most people might not recognize her, but Jiang Yujiu was a disciple of the Xian Sect and a charming cultivator skilled in observation.

That unique, abstract aura—only she could have it!

Chi Jiuyu was here—and with someone she'd never seen before! Her heart stirred with excitement; this was a perfect chance to piggyback on the hype!

Yet as she took one step forward, Jiang Yujiu halted.

Hmm…

Given Chi Jiuyu's style, if I just walked up to her now, I'd probably end up badly hurt.

She won't hold back just because I'm from the Hehuan Sect as a charming cultivator—she might even hit harder.

In that moment of hesitation, Chi Jiuyu and Xu Xing had already walked toward the opposite side.

Seeing this, she gave up.

Forget it, better to ride the hype of the Ancient Cultivator's emergence.

Immediately, Jiang Yujiu flashed a seductive smile at her phone screen: "Alright, I'm heading to the hotel now—see you later~ (づ￣3￣）づ╭～"

After ending the livestream, she once again summoned her seven-colored mist and slowly rose into the sky.

Most people around looked up at her, their expressions filled with awe.

Though they always claimed to look down on her, how many hadn't secretly criticized her? If no one watched, the Hehuan Sect wouldn't be the most popular sect on the Central Continent.

And this—this was a living Hehuan Sect charming cultivator, not some screen-bound illusion. The last time she'd seen a charming cultivator in Xuanjian City was when the Xuan Yue Pavilion first opened.

Sadly, the mayor had "harmonized" it under the guise of urban beautification.

Feeling the gazes from all directions, Jiang Yujiu felt triumphant—this was exactly the effect she wanted, which was why she'd floated up so slowly.

"Still the same old behavior," Chi Jiuyu muttered, glancing back. "But if she recognized me, why didn't she come over to piggyback on the hype?"

Yes, she'd already noticed her.

"You're waiting for her to come to you, so you'll have an excuse to teach her a lesson," Xu Xing bluntly exposed her.

"How could I be so mean?" Chi Jiuyu blinked innocently.

…………

On the other side, Xiao Fan had just quit his job; since he was an unsignable temporary worker, it was easy.

But he felt a bit bad for Brother Li—he'd always taken good care of him.

Walking along the exit path of the park, he felt a quiet helplessness.

He couldn't return to school, couldn't keep working—right now, it seemed he could only go back and resume cultivation.

Suddenly, a neatly packaged, exquisitely patterned ancient-style cup landed at his feet, bearing the park's logo and a cartoon image of a blazing feather.

It was a souvenir sold by the park.

Just a short distance to his right stood a souvenir shop—this must have accidentally fallen out from inside.

Xiao Fan bent down to pick it up, intending to return it, but the moment his fingers touched it, a strange tremor surged in his heart.

This is a treasure.

A wildly absurd thought appeared in his mind—one he couldn't comprehend.

"I've gone mad."

He shook his head, suppressing the ridiculous notion.

This thing probably just came out of a factory—not a treasure. He assumed he was overthinking, and carried the cup into the souvenir shop.

"You dropped something."

Inside the shop stood only one clerk—a shy girl, about sixteen or seventeen.

"Oh! Sorry, thank you so much!"

"No problem, it's nothing."

Xiao Fan glanced around the shop—besides the few displayed on the counter, a neat row of identical cups lined the shelves.

Clearly, he'd imagined things.

Just as he was about to hand the cup back, another intense tremor surged in his heart.

If I give it away, I'll regret it.

"This cup looks nice—how much is it?"

"Huh? Oh! Five Ling Coins. Look, the pattern here imitates ancient divine artifacts…"

The clerk launched into an endless monologue, her earlier shyness vanished.

From craftsmanship to patterns to the cup's ancient history, she turned an ordinary cup into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

「……」

No wonder she's a sales clerk here—her business skills are solid.

Honestly, after her spiel, even without that absurd thought, he felt a slight tug of interest.

But… he still didn't buy it.

There was nothing he could do!

He only had three Spirit Coins in his pocket, and no discounts were allowed.

Sigh~ Five Spirit Coins.

Even if this really were some treasure, it had no fate with him.

After comforting himself with this thought, Xiao Fan left.

Watching him go, the sales clerk was stunned—she'd feigned shyness, then spun such a long tale, and yet he still didn't buy? Who was this pauper?

She muttered a silent complaint, set the cup back in place, and poured herself a glass of water.

Her mouth was dry from talking—making money these days was truly hard.

Just as she was muttering to herself, another person walked in—ordinary-looking, gentle in aura, wearing casual clothes but polished leather shoes.

"I'll take everything here."

Huh? So rich?

"Of course!" The sales clerk's face lit up with a brilliant smile as she stepped forward. "Eighty-seven thousand nine hundred and six Spirit Coins total—I'll knock off the last three, so eighty-seven thousand nine hundred will do. May I ask your name…?"

"Card payment."

The man pulled out a jade card, bearing a golden miniature sword emblem.

Issued by the Xiang Jianzong. Counterfeits welcome.

"Your taste is truly excellent—every item here is…"

As the sales clerk praised, she retrieved a device and inserted the jade card.

A string of numbers immediately appeared on the screen.

Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, ten—brother, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa! The long string made the sales clerk's eyes spin.

Who the hell is this master?! "Done yet?"

"Almost! Almost!"

For a master like this, the sales clerk dared not entertain any extra thoughts—she deducted eighty-seven thousand, then respectfully returned the jade card.

"Then everything here is mine."

"Of course it is. We can arrange staff to help you…"

"No need."

The sales clerk blinked—when her vision cleared, the supreme master and all the souvenirs in the shop had vanished.

Please collect! Please follow! (End of chapter)