6: It's so good to be a kept man.

[Target: Luo Tianying]

[Age: 100]

[Spiritual Qi Affinity: 9 (Outstanding Talent)]

[Realm: Mid Nascent Soul Stage]

[Favorability: 20 (Indifferent and Distant)]

— Scripture Pavilion Steward, Luo Tianying!

Yao Delong's pupils constricted slightly. Mid Nascent Soul Stage! One hundred years old!

With this Realm and this age, she was absolutely a Genius within the Yin Yang Sect!

Looking at her figure and demeanor, she was a total temptress capable of toppling nations!

Looking at that favorability of 20, it revealed an indifference that kept people at a distance deep in her bones.

Luo Tianying seemed to notice someone entering, but she just lifted her eyelids nonchalantly, sweeping her gaze over Lin Qingxue and Yao Delong.

Her gaze paused for half a second on Yao Delong's aged, gaunt face.

Then, a trace of imperceptible contempt and amusement flashed across her eyes, and she lowered her head back into the Jade Slip in her hand, as if the two people before her were merely air.

Lin Qingxue seemed to have long been accustomed to this steward's mannerisms and didn't mind.

She grabbed Yao Delong's wrist and walked familiarly toward the Martial Skill area.

"Senior Brother, what Martial Skill do you want to practice?" Lin Qingxue asked curiously.

Yao Delong scanned the rows of bookshelves, his eyes firm: "The sword, Senior Brother wants to practice the sword!"

He thought to himself: "The sword is invincible when the person reaches the peak, and the novels from my previous life all say the sword is the monarch of all weapons (Yao Delong understood it as the monarch of kings). I didn't have the conditions before, but now that I have the System, I have to give it a try no matter what!"

He directly ignored those profound sword techniques labeled "Profound Rank" or "Yellow Rank".

He walked straight to the bottom floor, the dust-covered "Yellow Rank" area.

After rummaging around, he grabbed a cobweb-covered Jade Slip — "Five Elements Basic Sword Manual" (Medium Grade Yellow Rank).

The name was unadorned, and the content was the most basic application of Five Elements attribute sword moves, simple and direct, just right for him now.

"Senior Brother, are you... sure you want to practice this?" Lin Qingxue looked at the lowest-level Yellow Rank sword technique, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"It's good to build a solid foundation!" Yao Delong said without blushing or skipping a beat.

He wanted to choose better ones too, but the few Spirit Stones in his pocket weren't enough!

Next, he walked toward the sub-profession area. Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talismans, Formations... they were dazzling.

Finally, he chose a Jade Slip named "Alchemy Manual · Volume One" (High Grade Yellow Rank).

The reason was simple: quick money! With the System, his Alchemy proficiency should level up quickly.

Refining some Medicinal Pill to sell for Spirit Stones was better than being dirt poor right now.

The two returned to the registration desk at the entrance of the main hall. Yao Delong placed the two Jade Slips on the rosewood table.

Luo Tianying moved her slender, scallion-like fingers away from the Jade Slips.

She glanced lazily at the items on the table, her vermilion lips parting slightly.

Her voice carried a hint of lazy magnetism but was as cold as ice.

"'Five Elements Basic Sword Manual', Medium Grade Yellow Rank, 200 Low-Grade Spirit Stones or 20 contribution points.

'Alchemy Manual · Volume One', High Grade Yellow Rank, 800 Low-Grade Spirit Stones or 80 contribution points.

Total, 1000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones or 100 contribution points."

1000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones?! Yao Delong gasped! His meager savings, his entire net worth, added up to only 700 Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

He subconsciously looked at his Storage Ring, a look of difficulty and embarrassment on his face.

His gaze drifted involuntarily, with a hint of hope, toward Lin Qingxue beside him.

Clear Snow looked at her Senior Brother's embarrassed appearance, thinking of his eighty years of "poverty."

Thinking of those enchanting storybooks from her childhood, her heart softened slightly.

She didn't speak, directly untying an exquisite green jade Storage Pouch from her waist,

and deftly counting out 1000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones radiating Spiritual Qi.

With a "clatter," they were piled onto the rosewood table.

"Steward, please count them." Her voice was crisp, with a hint of small pride.

Luo Tianying's lazy and charming eyes finally lifted, her gaze pausing for a moment on Lin Qingxue's youthful, vibrant face.

Then it fell on Yao Delong's old face, which was lined with deep wrinkles and full of embarrassment.

The corners of her mouth curled up ever so slightly, the arc filled with undisguised contempt and amusement.

As if saying: Heh, an old cow eating tender grass? Eating soft rice at the expense of his own Junior Sister? Interesting.

At her Realm, a slight sweep of her Divine Sense was enough to count the amount.

She took out a special Jade Slip from under the table, pressed it onto the two Jade Slips, leaving a mark.

"It's done." She pushed the two Jade Slips forward casually, as if discarding some trash.

She leaned back in her seat, picked up the glowing Jade Slip from earlier, and didn't look at the two again.

By the time they left the Scripture Pavilion, the twilight was dim. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the peaks a magnificent golden red.

Lin Qingxue summoned her Flying Sword again, carrying Yao Delong, who clutched the Jade Slips as if holding treasures.

They flew slowly toward his small thatched cottage in a secluded corner behind Luoxia Peak.

Returning to the thatched cottage, which was so simple it only had a bed, a table, and a chair, Lin Qingxue didn't leave immediately.

She stood at the door with her hands behind her back, looking at Yao Delong with bright, almond-shaped eyes.

Her tone carried a hint of coquettish anticipation.

"Senior Brother~ Junior Sister helped you pay for so many Spirit Stones today, you must... show some appreciation!"

Yao Delong was stunned: "Appreciation?"

"Of course, tell a story!" Clear Snow pouted. "The last time, that 'Battle Through the Heavens', you told the part where the protagonist was rejected in marriage, and he shouted that line.

'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young into poverty!' So cool!"

"Then he jumped off the cliff and that was it! It made me unable to sleep for several nights, always wondering if he found the old grandfather or not?

What kind of treasure is at the bottom of the cliff? Hurry up and tell me what happens next!"

Her eyes were burning, full of desire for the unknown plot.

Yao Delong looked at his Junior Sister's expectant face, then touched the two cold Jade Slips in his arms.

He, who had wanted to study the System and the Jade Slips immediately, could only sigh helplessly.

Forget it, if you eat someone's food, you have a short mouth; if you take someone's things, you have a soft hand. Today, this "soft rice" was a bit filling, so if I have to tell a story, I'll tell a story!

He pushed open the creaking wooden door, lit the dim oil lamp on the table, and cleared his throat:

"It is said that the young man was rejected in marriage by Nalan Yanran in public, suffering endless humiliation..."

Under the dim yellow light, Yao Delong's old voice rose and fell, carrying a peculiar infectious quality.

Clear Snow supported her chin, sitting on a small wooden stool, listening entranced, occasionally clenching her small hands in tension.

Sometimes her eyes shone with excitement, and sometimes she was filled with righteous indignation at the young Xiao Yan's plight...

Time passed quickly amidst the ups and downs of the plot.

The bright moon outside the window had already quietly climbed into the center of the sky, and the cold moonlight spilled over the courtyard.

Yao Delong, with a dry throat, finished telling a climactic segment, stopped to drink some water, and looked at the bright moon hanging high outside the window:

"If you want to know what happens next, listen to the next installment! Junior Sister, it's getting late, it's time to go back."

Clear Snow then woke up as if from a dream, her eyes still lingering with excitement;

"Oh! Why did you stop at the critical moment again! Senior Brother, you are too mean!"

She stamped her feet in dissatisfaction, but still stood up obediently.

"Fine, fine, I'll let you off today! But next time! Next time you must finish the part where he subdues the Heavenly Flame!"

She walked out of the thatched cottage, looking back every few steps, stepped onto her Flying Sword, and didn't forget to urge:

"Senior Brother! Remember to practice diligently! And! Next time, I want to hear enough of the story!"

A cyan stream of light cut through the quiet night, disappearing behind the mountains.