Chapter 30: Transformation

"One Spirit Stone?"

Listening to Lin Ziyu's price, Xiao Zhangqing doubted he had heard wrong.

When did this woman, who is miserly to the extreme, become so generous and voluntarily lower the price?

There was a gap of three Low-grade Spirit Stones in between!

Back then I owed her two Spirit Stones, and she kept a tight eye on me, fearing I wouldn't repay.

Turned over a new leaf?

Lin Ziyu, suppressing her hurt, forced a smile and said, "No matter what, we've been neighbors for several years, so this time I'll take your cost price. But next time, I won't be this generous."

Xiao Zhangqing slightly frowned, thought, then took out four Spirit Stones from his pocket, handed them to his impatient sister Lin Zixi, and said, "There's no need for that; you set up a stall to do business, you have to make a profit. We agreed four Spirit Stones for four, I quite like this jade mat. I think spending four Spirit Stones is worth it."

Paid the money, delivered the goods.

Xiao Zhangqing didn't linger, waved his hand and left.

He couldn't wait a moment; he needed to quickly test the new equipment's effect.

As for why Lin Ziyu voluntarily lowered the price, he still insisted on the original price; the reason was simple.

He thought this woman wasn't one to be taken lightly; having borrowed two Low-grade Spirit Stones from her, he needed to settle the interest, and if he accepted her favor today, future trouble might arise.

Three Low-grade Spirit Stones—he could afford them now.

Better to owe each other nothing, and have no entanglements.

…

…

Lin Ziyu didn't expect it; it was the first time in her life she voluntarily asked for less money, and she even gave up three Low-grade Spirit Stones, yet the other party refused her kindness.

The three Spirit Stones "lost and regained" removed the sting of losing money from her heart.

However.

Was it that night, when she inexplicably contradicted herself, berated someone head‑on, making him dislike her?

Or perhaps, after becoming a Symbol Master at Lingfu Pavilion, her income surged and her outlook changed, so she no longer cared about three Low-grade Spirit Stones?

Regardless of which, Lin Ziyu felt a bit melancholy when she thought of it.

"You scared me! Sis, what are you doing! I was already talking about four Low-grade Spirit Stones, and you voluntarily lowered the price!"

"If it weren't for that Dao Companion just now whose mind was off... no, whose generosity, I'd definitely not be done with you!"

"I've been setting up a stall at Nanshan Fang for so long, and this is the first time I've met a cultivator so generous!"

Lin Zixi's eyes lit up as she looked at the four dull Low-grade Spirit Stones in her hand, as if holding the most splendid treasure in the world, breathtakingly beautiful.

She toyed with them back and forth for a good while, then happily slipped them back into her pocket, keeping them close.

If every day...

No, if each month she could get a fat sheep like this, her income would double!

Later, watching beside her, the sister Lin Ziyu, lost in thought as she watched Xiao Zhangqing's departing direction, turned her eyes and asked suspiciously, "Sis, why are you acting odd today? It seems you're not happy about earning those Spirit Stones?"

Lin Ziyu snapped back, shook her head and said, "I'm naturally happy. But he's just a friend, I originally didn't intend to earn his Spirit Stones."

"What friend, so close that you could forgo Spirit Stones?" Lin Zixi said, finding it hard to understand; in her view, no friend would make her give up Spirit Stones. Regaining her composure, she stared suspiciously at sister Lin Ziyu and asked, "Sis, be honest, what exactly is your relationship with that Dao Companion just now?"

Lin Ziyu didn't hide anything and said, "When I was living in the Peng Hu Qu, he lived next door; we were neighbors for several years."

"That can't be right..." Lin Zixi shook her head and said, "If it's just a neighbor relationship, how could you not plan to take today's three Spirit Stones?"

Immediately, as if she had figured something out, Lin Zixi's eyes brightened, exuding a gossipy aura, and asked, "Sis, be honest, a year ago you brought a letter home saying you might have found a Dao Partner to walk with—was it this person?"

Lin Ziyu frowned and replied irritably, "Where did that idea come from! No way!"

Lin Zixi, regardless, said on her own, "Sis, don't hide it. I think that person just now is quite good. Though his mind is a bit fuzzy, like a patsy, spending four Spirit Stones on a cold‑ice white jade mat... but that shows he has money! His aura isn't weak; he should be far stronger than me, at least mid‑stage Refining Qi. He looks good too, a fine Dao Partner candidate. If you're still interested in him, I think you could make a move and take him! That way the three of us would have a solid foothold in Nanshan Fang." Lin Ziyu knew her sister's personality—mischievous and good at filling in gaps.

If he didn't explain it to her today, she would probably not let it go and might even go tell their mother.

So she gave a brief introduction of Xiao Zhangqing's situation.

From a destitute Scattered Cultivator at first, then discovering a Talisman Path talent, becoming a Basic Talisman Master at Lingfu Pavilion, and finally moving away a year ago, the two have had no contact since.

Today is the first meeting.

"You really weren't Dao Partners before?" Lin Zixi said after listening, still finding it a bit unbelievable.

"Do you want me to swear?" Lin Ziyu gave her sister a cold stare.

"Fine." Lin Zixi waved her hand and commented, "Actually, I think Xiao Zhangqing is quite good. Even as a Symbol Master, albeit a Basic Talisman Master, he's pretty decent. In Nanshan Fang, as long as you don't provoke the major Foundation‑building families, generally no one dares to bully you. If his talisman skills improve and he becomes a First-rank Talisman Master, he'll soar, even have a chance to leave Nanshan Fang for a great immortal city and see a broader world! Sis, think about it seriously; I think he could become my brother‑in‑law."

"Stop talking nonsense. I had no relation with Xiao Zhangqing before, and there will never be any, understand?" Lin Ziyu admonished.

Lin Zixi giggled and asked, "Then I think Xiao Zhangqing is great; if he becomes your brother‑in‑law in the future, sis, what do you think? Could you introduce us, act as the go‑between?"

"You want a fight, huh?"

"No, no, no... I'm joking... seriously, you aren't interested and you won't let me make a move, not reasonable at all..."

The two sisters teased quietly for a moment before stopping.

Lin Ziyu let out a quiet sigh.

Relying on a man to climb up—how easy is that?

Back then she, like her sister, thought she could use her own merits to find a Dao Partner with potential and good background, changing her difficult situation.

Now looking back, she realizes how naive she was then.

In the cut‑throat Cultivation World, the emphasis on matching status is even stronger than in the Mortal World; most Dao Partners are formed on equal conditions.

With low cultivation and humble status, becoming a concubine, others would think it's a special favor! Forming a Dao Partnership is pure wishful thinking.

Just like Hu Yuan back then, after several years of searching, she finally found the most suitable match in all aspects.

The early stage went smoothly; Hu Yuan was proud, but had never faced setbacks, having grown up in a privileged environment, so he was relatively simple.

But after she secured Hu Yuan, and he agreed to become her Dao Partner, his parents immediately appeared, showing her what wishful thinking truly is.

That day at the banquet, Hu Yuan's parents bluntly exposed her motives, trampling her dignity completely.

Hu Yuan initially still wanted to protect her, speak up for her, but soon, under pressure from his parents, he also chose to remain silent.

In the end she fled in defeat, and when Hu Yuan caught up, she still wanted to make a final struggle, forcing Hu Yuan to make a choice……

After a bout of tugging, Hu Yuan not only failed to choose her side, but lost his patience, became irritable, like a disguised beast revealing its true nature, began to humiliate her, even wanting to violate her……

Fortunately she escaped.

So that night Lin Ziyu flew into a rage out of shame, not because Xiao Zhangqing said something inappropriate, but because she was overly sensitive at the time.

Now Lin Ziyu's mindset has completely changed; she has abandoned the idea of seeking a wealthy son-in-law.

In this cultivation world where the strong prey on the weak and everything revolves around mutual benefit, only oneself can be relied upon.

Regarding the Xiao Zhangqing spoken of by her younger sister Lin Zixi, if she had seized the opportunity that night a year ago, there might still have been a chance.

But by now, Xiao Zhangqing is clearly no longer on the same level as her; the other party would rather pay three extra Spirit Stones than show her favor, so Lin Ziyu knows that if she now takes the initiative to approach him, it's likely hopeless.

Likewise.

She also doesn't want her sister to go up to him, lest she invite boredom.

Monday, please vote!

(End of chapter)