Chapter 289

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Chapter 289: Purchasing Techniques

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

He poured himself another cup of spiritual tea, savoring it as he pondered deeply.

To outsiders, the position of North Mountain Cave Dwelling manager appeared immensely prestigious, wielding control over the most vital cultivation resources in the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators, a role that brought both honor and tangible benefits.

However, Qiu Haoran knew the reality: the North Mountain Cave Dwelling was not owned by a single family but was a shared resource among fifty-seven Purple Palace families. He merely occupied this position as a representative of his clan.

Far from having absolute authority, even attempting to exploit his position for personal gain required utmost caution.

He had to tread carefully to avoid criticism and the loss of this hard-earned position.

In recent years, Qiu Haoran had noticed a significant decline in support from his family.

This was because his cultivation level had stagnated at the early Purple Palace stage, unable to advance to the fourth realm.

The Qiu family had more than one or two high-level cultivators, and with limited resources, it was impossible to continue investing in a Purple Palace cultivator with dim prospects.

Qiu Haoran was acutely aware of this.

Without the family’s backing, his position as North Mountain Cave Dwelling manager would undoubtedly be lost.

In this precarious situation, Qiu Haoran pinned his hopes on Wang Chen, who had recently broken through to open a house!

If he could bring this newly ascended Purple Palace cultivator, with his Golden Core potential, into the Qiu family, this achievement could sustain him for another ten years.

Most importantly, with such a powerful ally within the clan, his influence would grow substantially.

As for how to secure Wang Chen’s loyalty, Qiu Haoran had already devised numerous strategies: wealth, beauty, techniques, and favors…

Even if Wang Chen seemed impervious, he surely had vulnerabilities.

As Qiu Haoran was lost in thought, a message crane suddenly flew in through the open window.

Qiu Haoran reached out and caught it; a quick scan with his divine sense revealed its contents.

His expression instantly darkened.

The news of Wang Chen’s breakthrough to open a house, accompanied by a celestial phenomenon, had spread.

As the saying goes, "You can’t hide fire with paper." Despite Qiu Haoran’s earlier ban, not all the managers under him were loyal; the leak was somewhat expected.

However, this development introduced numerous uncertainties into the Qiu family’s efforts to recruit Wang Chen.

For a Golden Core seed, it was impossible for others to remain indifferent. Among the fifty-seven Purple Palace families in the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators, many were equal to or even stronger than the Qiu family.

They could easily offer more favorable terms!

The possibility of being outmaneuvered left even the resolute Qiu Haoran feeling uneasy.

After some deliberation, he took out a blank message crane.

Moments later, Qiu Haoran released the message crane.

Not long after, as Wang Chen arrived at the entrance of the Four Seas Trading Association, he received the message crane sent by Qiu Haoran.

After reading the contents of the letter, he thoughtfully stroked his chin.

This Purple Palace cultivator from the Qiu family was raising the stakes!

As long as Wang Chen joined the Qiu family, he would receive a residence in the city and a shop in a bustling Block, in addition to cultivating caves.

Houses and shops in the City of Ten Thousand Cultivators were extremely expensive; even without running a business, the rental income would allow him to live comfortably in this city of loose cultivators.

Most importantly, Qiu Haoran promised that after Wang Chen joined the family, he would gain access to the ancestral techniques passed down through generations!

This meant that as soon as Wang Chen nodded, everything would be easily within his grasp!

But what made Qiu Haoran so eager?

Wang Chen pondered for a moment, then pinched the letter of crane paper and gave it a light shake, turning the paper into ash in an instant.

He would not, and could not, join the Qiu family.

As the saying goes, "When you lean on a mountain, it may collapse; when you lean on a person, they may run away." Instead of seeking a crutch, he preferred to trust in his own abilities and confidence!

When Wang Chen stepped into the Four Seas Trading Association again, Manager Jin quickly approached.

This manager, who held a prominent position in the association, immediately greeted Wang Chen with a deep bow: "I am Jin Wuming, and I have the honor of meeting you, senior!"

Previously, when Wang Chen was still a Qi Training cultivator, they would have treated each other as equals.

Now that Wang Chen had advanced to the Purple Palace, Manager Jin had to respectfully address him as "senior," no longer casually.

This was not about Wang Chen’s age; once a cultivator reached this level, any Qi Training cultivator had to treat him with utmost respect, or they would earn the label of disrespecting their seniors.

At the same time, Manager Jin’s heart was filled with awe.

Fifteen days ago, Wang Chen had taken two spirit pills that he had ordered six months prior from him.

Now, half a month later, Wang Chen had broken through from perfect mastery in Qi Training to the Purple Palace level, showcasing extraordinary talent!

Moreover, observing Wang Chen’s energy, spirit, and mind, he appeared nearly flawless!

"Congratulations, senior! You have entered the Purple Palace; the Golden Core is within reach!"

"Thank you."

Wang Chen smiled and said, "Manager Jin, I came to purchase a few techniques and spells."

Manager Jin immediately had someone bring over the technique directory.

The directory was surprisingly thick, over half a foot!

Fortunately, Wang Chen had a remarkable memory, allowing him to remember the contents as he browsed, and he selected the techniques he needed.

After careful thought, Wang Chen narrowed it down to five techniques he needed most.

The most important of which was, of course, the Preheaven Five Element Technique.

Additionally, there were the Cave Truth Technique, Spirit Concealment Technique, Spirit Light Shield, and Air Snatching Technique!

The Cave Truth Technique was an advanced version of the Spirit Eye, the Spirit Concealment Technique was an upgrade of the Breath Concealment Technique, and unsurprisingly, the Spirit Light Shield was an advanced edition of the Spirit Light Shield.

As for the Air Snatching Technique, it was an essential skill for Purple Palace cultivators!

However, when Wang Chen inquired about the prices of these techniques from Manager Jin, he was taken aback.

The Preheaven Five Element Technique alone cost a staggering thirty-five thousand spirit stones.

Moreover, the total for the other spells amounted to seventeen thousand spirit stones!

He could hardly believe it!

Wang Chen knew that techniques at the Purple Palace level were much more expensive than those at the Qi Training level, but he never expected them to be this costly!

He couldn’t help but ask, "Is there any chance of a discount?"

Manager Jin answered with a smile, "If you provide fifty thousand spirit stones, that will be enough!"

Wang Chen certainly couldn’t produce fifty thousand spirit stones right now.

However, he still had a spirit pill he hadn’t used.

So, Wang Chen proposed a trade: one spirit pill for all five techniques!

"No, no, absolutely not! That would be too much of a loss for us!"

Manager Jin shook his head vigorously, refusing his offer.

Left with no choice, Wang Chen continued to bargain with him.

Ultimately, he managed to acquire the five Jade Slips for one spirit pill and three thousand spirit stones.

Knowledge is priceless, and these techniques were exorbitantly valuable!

At this moment, Wang Chen truly felt the helplessness of a Purple Palace loose cultivator with no support.

Breaking through to open a house already required vast resources, and now, advancing meant needing to purchase high-priced techniques.

Spirit stones didn’t simply fall from the sky; earning them was tough!

After all this, his storage bag had been emptied.

Despite this, Wang Chen’s determination remained unwavering!