Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

After seeing off Wang Chen, Qiu Haoran returned to the private room.

He poured himself another cup of Spiritual Tea and tasted it while deep in thought.

To others, the position of the overseer of the North Mountain Cave Mansion seemed glamorous. Controlling the most important cultivation resources of Ten Thousand Cultivators City, one had both prestige and profit.

However, only he knew the actual situation. The North Mountain Cave Mansion was not solely owned by one family but was a shared resource among fifty-seven Purple Mansion clans, and he was simply sitting in this position as a representative of his family.

It was not about having absolute control, not to mention using his position for personal gain required utmost caution.

One needed to be careful not to attract criticism and lose this hard-won position.

In recent years, Qiu Haoran had clearly felt the support from his family waning.

This was because his Cultivation Realm had been stuck at the Primary Tier of the Purple Mansion and he had been unable to break through to the fourth level.

There were more than one or two Superiors in the Qiu Family, and the family's resources were limited; they couldn't keep investing in a Purple Mansion cultivator with bleak prospects.

Qiu Haoran was very clear about this.

Once he lost the support of his family, his position as the overseer of the North Mountain Cave Mansion was absolutely impossible to retain.

In such a situation, Qiu Haoran placed his hopes on Wang Chen, who had just achieved Breakthrough Mansion!

If he could bring this newly-promoted Purple Mansion with the potential of Golden Core into the Qiu Family, his achievement could secure him another ten years.

Most importantly, with this support from inside the family, his influence would surely increase substantially.

As for how to bind Wang Chen to him, Qiu Haoran had already thought of many methods.

Wealth, beauty, Cultivation Techniques, gratitude...

No matter how indifferent Wang Chen was, it was impossible for him to not have any weaknesses.

While Qiu Haoran was thinking, a Messenger Crane suddenly flew in through the open window.

Qiu Haoran reached out and caught it, and with a sweep of his Divine Sense, he understood the contents.

His complexion instantly turned very grim.

The incident of Wang Chen's Breakthrough Mansion causing unusual phenomena between heaven and earth had still spread out.

As the saying goes, it's hard to hide what's under the sun. Even though Qiu Haoran had issued a ban on spreading the news, not all the stewards were on the same page as him and leaks were actually expected.

But now, this added many uncertainties to the Qiu Family's attempt to recruit Wang Chen.

For a potential Golden Core seed, others would not remain indifferent, and among the fifty-seven Purple Mansion families of Ten Thousand Cultivators City, there were several clans on par with, or even stronger than, the Qiu Family.

They could offer better conditions!

The possibility of being outmaneuvered was frustrating to even someone as steadfast as Qiu Haoran.

After pondering, he took out a blank Messenger Crane.

Moments later, Qiu Haoran released the crane.

It wasn't long before Wang Chen, who had just arrived at the entrance of the Four Seas Commerce Association, received a Crane Message from Qiu Haoran.

After reading the content of the message, he thoughtfully stroked his chin.

This member of the Qiu Family had raised the stakes again!

As long as Wang Chen joined the Qiu Family, he would not only gain a cultivation Cave Mansion but also acquire a residence in the city and a shop in a bustling commercial district.

In Ten Thousand Cultivators City, both residences and shops were extremely expensive. Even if one didn't do business themselves, the rent alone could allow for a comfortable life in this city of Loose Cultivators.

And most importantly, Qiu Haoran promised to grant him access to the family's hereditary Cultivation Techniques once he joined the family!

It meant that by simply nodding his head, Wang Chen could have everything within easy reach!

But what was it that made Qiu Haoran so eager?

Wang Chen thought for a moment, pinched the Crane Message between his fingers, and with a gentle shake, the paper instantly turned into flying ash.

The Qiu Family, he would neither consider nor possibly join.

The saying goes, 'When the mountain falls, when the people run.' Rather than seeking a backer, it's better to trust in one's own abilities and confidence!

When Wang Chen entered the Four Seas Commerce Association again, Steward Jin quickly came over.

This steward, who held a high status within the Association, paid homage to Wang Chen as soon as he saw him, "Junior Jin Wuming greets the Senior!"

When Wang Chen was still a Qi Cultivation cultivator, he and Jin Wuming treated each other as equals.

Now that Wang Chen has advanced to the Purple Mansion tier, Steward Jin must address him with the respectful "senior" and can no longer be causally irreverent.

This was unrelated to Wang Chen's age; his cultivation level had reached such a height that any Qi Cultivation cultivator upon meeting him had to show the utmost respect, or else they would bear the stigma of disrespecting a senior.

At the same time, Steward Jin's inner turmoil was nothing short of tumultuous.

Fifteen days earlier, Wang Chen had taken two Aperture Opening Pills from him, which he had ordered half a year ago.

In just half a month, Wang Chen had broken through from Qi Cultivation Perfection to the Purple Mansion, a talent truly one in ten thousand.

Moreover, observing Wang Chen's essence, qi, and spirit, it was nearly flawless!

"Congratulations, senior, on reaching the Purple Mansion. The Golden Core is within sight!"

"Thank you."

Wang Chen said with a smile, "Steward Jin, I have come this time to purchase a few cultivation techniques and spells."

Steward Jin immediately had someone fetch the catalogue of cultivation techniques.
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The catalogue of cultivation techniques was so thick it was over half a foot!

Fortunately, Wang Chen already possessed a photographic memory. He memorized the contents on the spot and then selected several cultivation techniques he needed.

After some careful thought, Wang Chen narrowed down to the five cultivation techniques he needed most.

The most important of these, naturally, was the "Innate Five Elements Skill."

In addition, there were the Clarify Technique, Hidden God Technique, Heavy Light Shield Armor, and Sky Skip!

Clarify Technique was an advanced version of the Spiritual Perception Technique, Hidden God Technique was an upgrade of the Stealth Breath Technique, and unsurprisingly, Heavy Light Shield Armor was an advanced version of the Spirit Light Shield Armor.

As for Sky Skip, that was an essential skill for Purple Mansion cultivators!

However, when Wang Chen selected these cultivation techniques and asked Steward Jin for the price,

The result surprised Wang Chen.

Just for the "Innate Five Elements Skill" alone, he was asked to pay an exorbitant price of thirty-five thousand spirit stones.

And the rest of the spells, all together,

Demanded an additional seventeen thousand spirit stones!

It was simply...

Indescribable!

Wang Chen knew that techniques for those at the Purple Mansion tier were much more expensive than those for the Qi Cultivation level, but he didn't expect them to be this much more!

He couldn't help but ask, "Can it be a bit cheaper?"

Steward Jin replied with a smile, "If you give fifty thousand spirit stones, that will be enough!"

Wang Chen, with his current means, definitely couldn't afford fifty thousand Low Spirits.

But he still had one Aperture Opening Pill in his possession that he hadn't used.

Therefore, Wang Chen proposed a one-for-five exchange, meaning he would trade one pill for all five cultivation techniques!

"No way, no way, that would be too much of a loss for us!"

Steward Jin shook his head like a rattle drum, stubbornly refusing the offer Wang Chen had made.

Having no choice, Wang Chen had to continue to bargain with him.

In the end, for one Aperture Opening Pill plus three thousand spirit stones, he obtained five cultivation technique jade slips.

Knowledge is priceless, yet these techniques were priced sky-high!

With that, Wang Chen experienced the helplessness of a Purple Mansion Loose Cultivator with no backing.

Not only did advancing to a new tier require a massive amount of resources, but purchasing expensive techniques afterward added to the burden.

Spirit stones didn't fall from the sky and were hard to earn!

After this transaction, his storage bag was emptied.

Nonetheless, Wang Chen's determination remained unwavering!

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The second update is here.