Chapter 738: 702
The crowd below began to stir upon hearing this.
A fat-bellied middle-aged cultivator even rose directly, looking at Jiao Xiuyuan, and arrogantly said: “I don’t believe it. As long as the price is high enough, is there anything that can’t be bought? Ten million contribution points. Is that enough?! If not, let’s add more!”
Before Jiao Xiuyuan could answer, someone in the crowd immediately sneered, “Oh, isn’t this fellow Daoist Zhu Yuhua from the Heavenly Pivot Province? I heard you are quite extravagant, so why are you only bidding ten million contribution points? Who are you looking down on?”
“Heh, with such a small bid, are you trying to buy the [Celestial Spirit True Flower]? I think those imitation copies are well-suited for you!”
Zhu Yuhua’s face changed slightly, looking at the few prominent figures who had spoken out. Ten million contribution points was indeed not a large sum for them.
He swallowed back his complaints. Just as Zhu Yuhua was about to raise his bid, Jiao Xiuyuan took the initiative to step forward and play the peacemaker.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen…”
He raised his voice a few notches, once again attracting the crowd’s attention.
“The master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower is an extremely free-spirited individual. His appearance and demeanor are unmatched in my life experience. Of course, he is absolutely reluctant to sell the world’s only Heavenly Spirit Flower.”
“However…” Jiao Xiuyuan quickly changed his tone.
“He also realizes that such a rare flower, if always kept in a high place for only a handful of people to appreciate, would in itself be a disrespect. After my persuasion, he eventually found a compromise.”
Jiao Xiuyuan paused, then announced: “While still not for sale, this [Celestial Spirit True Flower] can be “rented” out!”
“If any fellow Daoists are interested, you may stay and I will explain in detail.”
“For rent only, not for sale. The owner of the Heavenly Spirit Flower really knows how to do business.” Sun Qi chuckled.
Seeing the swarm of cultivators rushing toward Jiao Xiuyuan, Sun Qi knew he didn’t have the ability to rent the Heavenly Spirit Flower. Shaking his head, he quietly left the Flowers in the Caverns.
The first person Sun Qi visited after leaving was his uncle, Sun Liancheng. After all, the fundamental reason for his breakthrough this time was the [Invitation Among Flowers] given by Sun Liancheng.
After a short wait in his cave mansion, Sun Liancheng hastily arrived.
“Good…good…” Sun Liancheng looked Sun Qi up and down, his excitement greater than Sun Qi himself.
“After so many years, our Sun family’s pride has finally returned.” Sun Liancheng sighed repeatedly.
Sun Qi chuckled self-mockingly, “Pride…”
“I was indeed deserving of that title when I was born with innate Foundation Establishment, and at birth, reached the Gold Core Stage. But now, I am already 213 years old…”
Sun Qi shook his head slightly, “What kind of pride am I? Uncle, you should not call me that anymore. Others have already achieved the Nascent Soul or God Transformation Realm, while I am still lingering in the Golden Core Realm…”
“It will be laughed at if it gets out.”
Sun Liancheng disagreed, “Why does our Sun family need to care about other people’s opinions? Qi’er, you’ve been at the Golden Core for over two hundred years and suddenly broken free today. Under this long accumulation, your future is boundless.”
“Moreover…”
Sun Liancheng’s expression was inexplicable, “It’s not your fault that the breakthrough was so difficult. After all, the bottleneck of the entire clan is shouldered by you alone.”
“Besides, with the [Singular Cosmic Qi] as an accompanying oddity, we naturally suffer multiplied resentment from Heaven and Earth. It’s fortunate enough to be able to break through the Golden Core Stage’s “Heavenly Bane” in one’s lifetime. How many of our ancestors died without reaching the Golden Core Realm? But now…”
Sun Liancheng patted Sun Qi’s shoulder, looking gratified, “The future is promising, ah!”
Sun Qi’s expression remained unchanged.
“The next bottleneck in the ‘Inverse Replication of Heaven and Earth’ is in the Late Stage of God Transformation, right?” Sun Liancheng asked.
Sun Qi nodded lightly.
“Don’t worry, the materials needed for Cave Mansion and Heavenly Marrow will be prepared for you by the clan. All you need to do is focus on your cultivation.”
After a long silence, Sun Liancheng asked in a low tone, “Qi’er, the burden of the entire clan rests on your shoulders, leading to your cultivation stagnation. You can’t complain to anyone, you can only bear it silently. Do you feel wronged, unwilling?”
Sun Qi remained calm, “It’s my mission. Countless ancestors have made sacrifices in silence, and it is precisely because of their contributions that the Sun family is so strong today. How could I feel wronged?”
Sun Liancheng squinted, carefully observing Sun Qi, seemingly discerning the sincerity of his words.
After a long while, he suddenly changed his expression, “There is a guest coming.”
“Then I shall take my leave first!” Sun Qi bowed and turned to leave.
“No matter, stay here. It’s not a big deal.” Sun Liancheng stopped him.
“Hahaha, Lao Sun, we’ve struck it rich this time.” A voice arrived before the person.
Hearing the voice of Jiao Xiuyuan, Sun Qi quietly stood still.
In a short while, Jiao Xiuyuan appeared in high spirits.
“The number of cultivators who came from afar is even more than you expected, haha…”
He stopped midway through his sentence, spotting Sun Qi standing to the side of the room quietly. His eyes flickered.
“Haha, Jiao Daoist, feel free to speak. Qi’er is not an outsider.” Sun Liancheng waved his hand.
Jiao Xiuyuan opened his mouth, eventually smiling lightly, refraining from speaking further.
“Lao Sun, you may have misunderstood. I wouldn’t fail to recognize the relationship between this kid and you. It’s just that when we made the contract, we agreed to keep it confidential.”