4: The annulment of the engagement? A scheme to escalate.

"How this Junior fares is none of your business, is it?"

Lu Xian had no desire to explain.

Chen Changfeng's expression went from overcast to sunny in an instant, and he laughed: "Young Master, that's where you're wrong! When we arranged the engagement with your parents back then, we established a spirit contract. We came today precisely to discuss this matter."

As he spoke, he gave his Dao Companion a look.

Liu Shi understood instantly and also laughed: "That's right, nephew. Yuyun often talks about you at home; she's been thinking about coming to visit you."

Chen Yuyun?

Lu Xian recalled, having a faint impression of this name.

It was about six years ago, when he was only ten, and the two families were close. That seemed to be their daughter.

Could it be that the engagement was set then?

But it didn't matter. Everything belonging to the original owner had long been severed, and as for the fiancée he had never met, that was out of the question.

"The engagement contract went missing four years ago when I moved. Please return, both of you."

After saying this, he closed the door directly.

"Wait..." Chen Changfeng reached out to press against the door panel, whispering, "Young Master, you wouldn't want the matter of you being an unregistered Cultivator discovered, would you?"

"Heh, you two must have misunderstood. I am a licensed Cultivator."

Lu Xian chuckled, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes, as he took out the quasi-immortal jade token and shook it in front of them, then closed the courtyard gate while they looked on in astonishment.

Outside the gate.

The two looked at each other, their expressions ugly.

"Changfeng, what about this matter? Should we still break off the engagement?"

"No rush. Although Yuyun's Quasi-Immortal Certificate is already in hand and she has caught the eye of the Wang Family's third Young Master, it has drained most of our Family's assets! This kid suddenly becoming a Cultivator must have a reason. It's better to keep him on the hook and use this as an excuse to fish for some 'betrothal gifts'..."

A sharp light flashed in Chen Changfeng's eyes.

"Isn't this too dangerous? When we made our fortune back then, it was earned from Brother Lu. If this matter were to be known..."

"What if it's known? At worst, we'll just repeat the script from four years ago! Maybe Lu Xiaoyao had an inheritance we don't know about; otherwise, it doesn't explain how this kid is Cultivating."

Chen Changfeng's tone was ruthless.

"Then... should we let Yuyun come to probe the truth in a few days?"

...

Inside the house.

'Bullshit engagement! The first thing they said when they saw me was to break off the engagement, and they changed their tune immediately upon discovering I was at Qi Refining. They even knew I lost my job? It seems they have been watching me secretly!'

Lu Xian sensed something was wrong.

The fact that the original owner's parents left and never returned was already strange.

Forget it, increasing strength is the fundamental goal.

He composed his mind and thought about which one was better to upgrade next.

[Immortal Cave], [Cultivation Chamber], [Spirit Field].

First, rule out the Spirit Field; he couldn't plant anything for now.

The [Cultivation Chamber]'s 20% speed bonus was okay.

But in terms of comprehensive utility, it had to be the [Immortal Cave]!

Shelter from wind and rain, soundproofing barrier, increasing Spiritual Qi concentration, and recovery speed.

The most critical part was the effect of [+100% Combat Power within Range], which was equivalent to raising his Realm out of thin air!

In the small courtyard, his safety would be better guaranteed!

[Upgrade Requirements: 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, 50 catties of lime mortar, 1000 bluestone bricks, 30 wooden planks]

The latter three were easy to solve; they were all mundane items.

10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones would mean he had to continue selling Jade Marrow Chickens.

Currently, the ways to earn money were too singular. If he just sold Jade Marrow Chickens, he would likely be targeted by someone with ulterior motives after a few times.

Since it was called a Chicken Coop, other poultry should be able to be raised as well.

There was more than one type of Rank 1 Spirit Bird besides the Jade Marrow Chicken. Next time he went to the city, he would buy some Mortal Chickens with other Bloodlines.

Lu Xian was pondering when he remembered he hadn't fed the chickens today.

So he went to the backyard.

He grabbed grain and sprinkled it into the Chicken Coop handful by handful.

Theoretically, each chicken had a 5% chance of evolving daily, with an expected value of 20 days, but to reach over 99%, it required at least 90 days.

It was like a gacha game without a pity system from his past life.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the bodies of two of the hens suddenly expanded.

Double gold!

Luck was good today.

"Heh heh heh, I'll sell one in a couple of days. Which one should I choose?"

Lu Xian was in a great mood.

He stared at the two Jade Marrow Chickens.

A moment later, Lu Xian felt he shouldn't waste time and turned back to the house to practice Spells.

The quasi-immortal jade token recorded six minor Spells:

"Water Avoidance Technique", "Fire Ignition Technique", "Golden Light Technique", "Miasma Cleansing Technique", "Dust Concealment Technique", "Sound Transmission Art".

They were all auxiliary Spells without direct offensive capabilities, which seemed a bit useless to him, as he wanted to improve his self-preservation ability.

The Immortal Dynasty was actually quite nice, giving them away for free.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Xian chose to practice the Sound Transmission Art. Compared to the others like starting fires, lighting, or cleaning, this Spell at least had more use.

Three days passed in a flash.

Lu Xian's meal today was a scorched fragrant fried egg. He skillfully refined and absorbed the Spiritual Qi contained within it and slowly finished his cultivation and stood up.

His Realm at the second level of Qi Refining was now fully consolidated, and the Sound Transmission Art had successfully reached Minor Achievement.

It was time to go out.

Always being a stay-at-home Cultivator wasn't the way.

He killed a chicken and packed it.

There were only six Mortal Chickens left in the coop, and he felt that squeezing in another twenty wouldn't be a problem.

He might as well buy some of other varieties too.

Walking on the road to the city, he had been a Mortal before and couldn't perceive it.

Lu Xian realized that the Shantytown was actually full of hidden talents; passing pedestrians occasionally emitted fluctuations, clearly possessing cultivation!

"I have to be more careful in the future. The chirping of the Jade Marrow Chicken is slightly different from that of a Mortal Chicken. If someone hears it, accidents are inevitable. I must upgrade the Immortal Cave as soon as possible to form a soundproofing barrier!"

He arrived at the Drunken Immortal Tower in the city.

The waitress at the reception on the first floor was the same as last time.

She was very surprised to see Lu Xian: "Young Master, you have entered Qi Refining?"

"Yes, I am still selling Jade Marrow Chicken today, but there is only one."

Lu Xian nodded slightly. Compared to the previous time when he deliberately mentioned "elders in the Family," now that he had stepped onto the path of immortality, there was a bit more genuine composure between his brows.

"Okay, please come in, Young Master. The Shopkeeper has given instructions that you can go directly to the second floor when you come again."

In the private room, as soon as Lu Xian pushed the door open, Kong Shan laughed enthusiastically: "Haha, Young Friend Han, sit down quickly."

Lu Xian sat down and picked up the tea for a sip. The tea was mellow and rich with Spiritual Qi; the quality was more than a notch better than last time.

This old fox really knew how to do business.

"How has business been for Shopkeeper Kong recently?"

"Good! Very good! Thanks to you, Young Friend, last time our shop used the Jade Marrow Drunken Phoenix to entertain two big officials' Young Masters from the county city, and they were very satisfied..."

"Congratulations, Shopkeeper Kong." Lu Xian congratulated him simply.

This was mostly the benefit brought by the [Chicken Coop Level 1] effect of delicious meat.

"Young Friend Han, let's count this Jade Marrow Chicken as 40 Spirit Stones today. In the future, the acquisition price for all Spirit Bird and Spirit Livestock you send will be increased by 20%, and you will get a 10% discount on consumption!"

Kong Shan's smile broadened.

Lu Xian was shocked. How much money had he made?

What he didn't know was that the Kong Family was just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Family in Qingyun County, with only two Foundation Establishment Old Ancestors in the clan.

The Spirit Food made from the Jade Marrow Chicken last time entertained a big figure from the county city, and that Young Master was happy and said a few nice words.

Not only did the Kong Family make a huge profit of 500 Spirit Stones, but by taking advantage of the situation, they released news of using a fox to fake a tiger's power. In just two days, their status in Qingyun County had risen.

Even several families of the same Rank that were hostile before had sent gifts, and the meaning of this, needless to say.

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Kong. This Junior will prioritize supplying the Drunken Immortal Tower in the future!"

"Hahaha, Young Friend is straightforward. You are indeed a young hero, reaching the second level of Qi Refining in three days. The Han Family teaches well."

"Not at all, not at all. Shopkeeper has great management skills; who in Qingyun County doesn't know the reputation of the Drunken Immortal Tower."

"..."

After a good bout of commercial mutual praise, Lu Xian left.

Inside the room, Kong Shan's smile slowly faded.

Just now, he had offered profit sharing and flattery, repeatedly probing for news about the Han Family, but he only received ambiguous answers.

"It seems... he is a lucky wild Loose Cultivator."

"He probably spent all of the one hundred or so Spirit Stones he got last time to buy that Quasi-Immortal Certificate. To be able to get Jade Marrow Chickens one after another, either he found a stable source, or he has special means... Forget it, I, Kong Shan, am just a dutiful businessman. These last few days, I have been a bit carried away."

Kong Shan muttered.

On the other side, on the street.

Lu Xian's heart had sounded an alarm; in the future, he must reduce the frequency of selling resources in the same place!

Gambling once or twice was fine, but if you walk by the river often, how can you not get your shoes wet?

Human hearts... are the hardest to fathom.