Lin Xiran, who usually stayed within the Lin family residence, rarely ventured out unless for important matters.
His daily meals, cultivation resources, and other necessities were all provided by the Lin family's affiliated industries, which was sufficient to meet his basic needs. However, anything beyond that was difficult to accumulate.
He probably couldn't even muster a hundred taels of gold.
Hmm... the long sword at his waist should be a decent artifact, likely worth one to two hundred taels of gold.
"I don't have that many spirit coins."
Lin Xiran pondered for a moment, then said, "Could you lend me one or two pills on credit? I will repay you within half a month."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan's lips twitched. Without a second thought, he knew exactly what the other party was planning.
Given his current circumstances, there were only two ways for him to quickly gather a substantial amount of wealth.
The first would be to demand it from the Lin family's industries, but given his personality, he likely wouldn't do that.
That left only the other option: to seek out factions with whom he had grievances and directly demand money from them.
If they refused, he would draw the sword at his waist, turning a demand into outright robbery.
The on-credit Five Qi Nourishing Pills were a precaution for the imminent battles, to build up some vital energy beforehand.
"If you do that, you'll eventually incur the wrath of everyone and be besieged to death."
Ji Yuan's expression turned slightly serious.
Although he didn't explicitly state it, Lin Xiran understood his words and fell into a thoughtful silence.
"It doesn't matter."
After a long pause, he slowly replied.
Such an answer made Ji Yuan involuntarily roll his eyes. He then took out a jade bottle and tossed it to the white-haired youth before him.
"There are five Five Qi Nourishing Pills inside. They're on the house, consider it making a friend."
He sighed and shook his head. Then, as if a thought occurred to him, he added a caution, "I said they're free, and they are indeed free. Don't go robbing anyone!"
Without this reminder, he strongly suspected the other party would seek out a couple of enemies to confront as soon as he left.
Lin Xiran looked at the pills in his hand and couldn't help but murmur, "This is too precious."
Hearing this, Ji Yuan inwardly mused that the cost of one Five Qi Nourishing Pill was less than half a spirit coin.
In fact, the materials for one spirit coin were enough to refine three batches of Five Qi Nourishing Pills, and with his alchemical attainments, he could usually succeed in two batches out of three.
Therefore, giving away five pills was not a significant matter for him, considering his current financial situation.
For a cost of less than three spirit coins, he could befriend a cultivator at the early stage of the third realm with formidable combat power. It was undoubtedly a profitable investment.
Although Ji Yuan was somewhat stingy in his daily life, he never hesitated to spend money where it mattered.
"I owe you a favor. I can act for you once."
Lin Xiran remained silent for a long time, then said with a solemn expression, "One strike, capable of killing a cultivator in the Ming Dao realm!"
An extreme confidence emanated from him. Even though he was only at the early stage of the third realm, it seemed as if he could still slay those at the late stage or even peak of the third realm.
Ji Yuan sighed and no longer refused. He knew that the person before him was the type who, once a decision was made, would not easily change their mind.
"If you have no urgent matters, why not sit down and have some spirit tea?"
He thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "I have always been extremely curious about the cultivation technique you practice."
As he spoke, his mind moved, and a sword intent emanated from his body.
Sensing the sword intent from him, Lin Xiran's spirits lifted, and he openly displayed his interest.
Ji Yuan then dismissed the others, leaving only his disciple Zhao Yuebai. After the maids served spirit tea and spirit fruits, he began to converse with Lin Xiran.
Their discussions primarily revolved around the way of the sword, along with their personal cultivation insights and so on.
They talked for more than half a day, only stopping somewhat reluctantly after the moon had risen high in the sky.
After Lin Xiran departed, Ji Yuan stood in his courtyard, filled with countless insights.
The other party was indeed a cultivation genius, with comprehension far beyond that of ordinary cultivators. His vision and insights were also unique.
What impressed him the most was the Earth Fiend Sword Dao that Lin Xiran had cultivated. If not for the severe drawback of consuming true essence, it would undoubtedly be a method capable of being passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years, or even revitalizing a sect.
Ji Yuan stood in the courtyard for an entire night before he could mostly digest the insights in his mind. Although his cultivation showed no obvious improvement, his comprehension of the Dao had advanced somewhat.
As he walked out of the courtyard, he saw Wu Xiong hurrying towards him, informing him that Song Jiuan had arrived with a third-realm cultivator.
He didn't seem surprised. In fact, he had already sensed the two powerful auras outside the residence earlier.
Ji Yuan then received Song Jiuan and the third-realm cultivator in the main reception hall.
This person hailed from a major sect, serving as an elder with considerable authority, and was a long-time friend of Song Jiuan.
Today, Song Jiuan brought him to act as an intermediary, requesting a Divine Observation Heavenly Heart Pill on his behalf.
"It's rather embarrassing to say, but I've been cultivating for over two hundred years. My cultivation has progressed very quickly, but this realm has always been a source of trouble for me."
The old man with a weathered face said with a hint of self-mockery.
Through Song Jiuan's telepathic communication, Ji Yuan had already learned of the other party's background.
This person's elders were all high-ranking members of their sect. From the moment he embarked on the path of cultivation, he lacked no resources, and naturally, his cultivation progressed steadily and rapidly.
However, while his talent was passable, it was still somewhat lacking. Over two hundred years, despite the accumulation of various resources, he was still a step away from breaking through.
But a realm was something that ordinary spiritual items could not compensate for.
Therefore, even though this person was fully prepared, lacking no auxiliary pills and spiritual items for breakthrough, he had been stuck at the bottleneck, unable to truly take that step.
"The Divine Observation Heavenly Heart Pill was originally one hundred spirit coins per pill, but given Song Daoist Friend's face, a discount can be offered."
Ji Yuan, with a smile, took out a jade bottle and directly handed it to the other party.
Upon hearing this, the old man, named Xia Zhi'an, waved his hand dismissively, "One hundred is one hundred. No need for any discount."
He earnestly stated that having Song Jiuan act as an intermediary had already consumed some favor, and there was no need to further deplete their accumulated goodwill over such a trivial matter.
In his opinion, matters that could be resolved with wealth were not worth the expenditure of more precious favors.
Ji Yuan and Song Jiuan couldn't help but smile wryly upon hearing this, and at the same time, they couldn't help but marvel at how truly wealthy this person was.
He could produce a hundred spirit coins on the spot without the slightest hesitation, as if they were mere loose change from a mortal tycoon.
"But speaking of which, is one pill enough?"
Xia Zhi'an furrowed his brow and asked with some unease, "If I were to take another one or two, would it have a better effect?"
At these words, Ji Yuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, but he still nodded truthfully.
Although the effect was greatest upon the first consumption, if taken consecutively, the effect would be significantly reduced, but not entirely absent.
However, doing so would indeed come at a rather steep price.
The cost of a Divine Observation Heavenly Heart Pill was only three or four spirit coins, but that was for Ji Yuan. For outsiders, it cost a full hundred spirit coins.
Even with a discount, one pill would cost tens of spirit coins. If he were to prepare another one or two, the expense would truly be...
However, after receiving another two hundred spirit coins, without any discount, Ji Yuan could only inwardly exclaim: This person is incredibly, inhumanely wealthy!