Qi Mengdie sat gracefully on the White Jade Lotus Throne, exuding an ethereal aura.

Seeing Chu Xiu enter the hall, she instinctively tightened her white robe, breaking her composure in an instant.

Her brows furrowed slightly: "Rebellious disciple, why did you hide it from your master?"

"What has this disciple concealed from Master?" Chu Xiu stepped up the jade stone stairs, feigning confusion.

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"You found the Primordial Sword Intent." Qi Mengdie's delicate body instinctively moved back.

"Oh? How did Master know?" Chu Xiu looked surprised.

Regardless of whether his master agreed or not, he sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her slender waist. A faint fragrance filled his senses, intoxicating him.

Qi Mengdie struggled a bit, but to no avail, her brows knitted tightly: "The Holy Lord is a Saint King Realm overlord, almost mastering the rules of space. The fluctuations when you were comprehending the intent couldn't escape her perception."

'So that's how it is.'

Chu Xiu nodded, revealing a bright smile.

"And then? Is the Holy Land planning to heavily cultivate this peerless genius of mine?"

"Heh!" Qi Mengdie's beautiful face showed a disdainful sneer: "In Taisu Holy Land, nothing comes for free. Even if you are the reincarnation of an ancient Great Emperor, you must rely on your own strength to fight and seize. Flowers raised in a greenhouse can't withstand the wind and rain."

"Yes, this disciple completely agrees. Resources, after all, are more 'fragrant' when seized by oneself."

"Master, it's getting late. Let's rest!"

Qi Mengdie's beautiful face turned pale, her chest heaving with anger: "Rebellious disciple, no, not today..."

"We're already here."

"Anyway, there's nothing else to do, let's improve our aptitude."

An hour later, a refreshed Old Demon Chu left the Peak Lord's Hall.

His master, panting and flushed, lay weakly on the White Jade Throne.

【Wow, Host, you're really naughty, dual cultivating with your master again, triggering a special reward, Sixth-Tier Crane-Top Poison x1 bottle】

【Cultivation Aptitude +100】

【Cultivation Aptitude +100】

【Cultivation Aptitude +100】

【Host's aptitude has reached 917 "Heaven Grade," cultivation speed increased by thirty-one times】

【Ding, Host's cultivation "essence" has progressed, just half a step away from Wheel Sea, Fifth Layer. Strive for excellence, keep up the good work... hehehe】

"The effect is getting worse."

It's estimated that the aptitude needs to reach 2000 points to break through to Immortal-Grade Aptitude.

Chu Xiu frowned, a bit dissatisfied.

"The Celestial Fragrance Physique shouldn't be so useless!"

"Could it be because Master's cultivation base is sealed?"

"Maybe next time, I'll remove her seal and..."

Chu Xiu shook his head, temporarily suppressing this dangerous thought!

Returning to his cave dwelling, he set up various soundproofing and divine sense prevention restrictions around it.

Chu Xiu took out all the gains from today.

Clatter~

Profound artifacts, heavenly and earthly treasures, and essence stones piled up like a mountain, emitting various treasures' light, dazzling the eyes.

He picked up a Mortal-Grade Broadback Blade and chose to exchange it.

【Consumed Mortal-Grade Broadback Blade—obtained 1 Breakthrough Point】

Chu Xiu frowned: "System, get out here. Last time I consumed a Mortal-Grade item, I got 5 Breakthrough Points. Why is it 1 this time?"

【Hehehe... As the Host's cultivation base increases, the quality of items consumed for Breakthrough Points naturally increases too】

【Let me tell you a secret, Breakthrough Points also have quality!】

【If the Host wants to rely on low-quality items to accumulate Breakthrough Points, this system can only say sorry, hahaha~】

【Also, essence stones can't be directly exchanged for Breakthrough Points. Don't ask why, just because I don't want to calculate the ratio】

"You damn thing."

Chu Xiu cursed, standing up and leaving the cave dwelling.

He planned to sell these cheap items and then buy high-quality items for exchange.

Only in this way could he maximize his benefits.

Treasure Gathering Peak~

The department responsible for managing the Holy Land's industries.

Externally, they are merchants, establishing various industries in different dynasties, archaic noble clans, holy lands, and major sects' territories, exchanging resources and generating income for the Holy Land.

Internally, they are stewards, responsible for managing the distribution of the Holy Land's resources.

Treasure Gathering Peak might not have strong combat strength, but it holds a high status in Taisu Holy Land. Except for Taisu Peak and Heaven's Punishment Peak, everyone has to give them some face.

After all, they control the purse strings!

Following his memory, Chu Xiu arrived at the Treasure Pavilion on Treasure Gathering Peak.

The black gold-embroidered cloud robe he wore immediately caught the attention of the inner disciples at the Treasure Pavilion.

A pretty young woman with a charming smile approached him.

She wore a grass-green dress with a pattern of ingots on the back.

She slightly bowed in front of Chu Xiu: "Inner disciple of Treasure Gathering Peak, Chu Xiaoran, greets Senior Brother Chu Xiu."

Chu Xiu wasn't surprised that she recognized him.

His attire was unique to Cloudmist Peak, and the black gold-embroidered cloud robe was the mark of a Chief True Disciple of Cloudmist Peak.

"Is the person in charge here?"

Chu Xiaoran smiled sweetly: "Senior Brother Chu is here to sell items, right?"

"Oh?"

Chu Xiu extended his right hand, playfully lifting her smooth chin with his index finger, a faint smile on his lips.

In a teasing tone, he said: "How did Junior Sister know I came to sell items? Did you learn mind-reading?"

A blush appeared on Chu Xiaoran's delicate face, and she stepped back slightly, lowering her eyes and softly said: "Senior Brother displayed great might on the Life-and-Death Platform at Heaven's Punishment Peak today, winning countless essence stones from many true disciples. This news has spread throughout the Holy Land."

"Now that you've come to the Treasure Pavilion, it's easy to guess you're here to sell those items."

"Please follow me, Senior Brother."

Chu Xiaoran turned, walking gracefully with an elegant posture.

Chu Xiu followed her, his eyes scanning Chu Xiaoran's graceful figure from behind.

A mocking smile appeared on his lips.

He pondered, a Divine Ability Realm cultivator pretending to be an inner disciple of Treasure Gathering Peak.

I just arrived, and she showed up on her own.

Not reacting to my earlier teasing, it's clear she has some intention in approaching me.

Sensing the unabashed, aggressive gaze from behind, Chu Xiaoran quickened her pace slightly.

The two arrived at a private room on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

There, they met the person in charge of the Treasure Pavilion.

The short, plump man before them, wearing a loose green robe and sporting a mustache, with one eye smaller than the other, was named Meng Dacai.

Despite his unremarkable appearance and cliché name, his cultivation was not low, being a Fifth Layer Lesser Saint.

It's said that before cultivating, he was an ordinary merchant in a mortal dynasty.

After a family tragedy where his entire family was killed by the demon race, he survived by luck and, by chance, embarked on the path of cultivation, joining Taisu Holy Land.

Due to his high business acumen and decent cultivation talent, he broke through to the Lesser Saint Realm and became one of the three elders of Treasure Gathering Peak.

He oversees the main branch of Treasure Gathering Peak, managing the Treasure Pavilion.

"Elder Meng~" Chu Xiu slightly cupped his fists.

Meng Dacai cheerfully stood up, returning the gesture.

Without considering cultivation, in terms of status, Chu Xiu, as the Chief True Disciple of Cloudmist Peak, was equal to him, so Meng Dacai had to give him some face.

As a businessman, Meng Dacai lacked the majesty typical of strong cultivators.

Instead, he had more of a worldly air than other strong cultivators.

Chu Xiu didn't waste words, taking out two storage pouches and dumping their contents onto the floor.

Clatter~ forming a mountain.

Beside him, Chu Xiaoran's eyes widened, her delicate oval face stunned.

"This... the quantity is terrifying!"

"Please, Elder Meng, appraise them."

Chu Xiu pulled over a chair and sat down.

In this competition, he won a total of 3 million essence stones, and another 13 million worth of items were here.

Meng Dacai's powerful Lesser Saint divine sense spread over the treasure mountain, estimating for about five breaths.

Meng Dacai stroked his mustache with a smile: "12.45 million top-grade essence stones."

Chu Xiu nodded, the estimate was close to the 50,000 difference from Heaven's Punishment Peak.

He didn't suspect Meng Dacai of taking a cut.

The prices on the Firmament Continent constantly fluctuate.

In this regard, the elders of Heaven's Punishment Peak naturally weren't as professional as Meng Dacai.

"We won't settle with essence stones for now."

"I want to purchase some items from the Treasure Pavilion."

"Alright~"

Meng Dacai rubbed his hands, revealing a merchant's characteristic sly smile:

"Xiaoran, accompany Chu Xiu!"

"Yes~"

Chu Xiaoran elegantly bowed.

"Senior Brother Chu Xiu, please follow me..."