135: Chapter 135 Jelly Bean

He had long known that Chu Changsheng was unfathomable, but he never expected such a scene—

Qian Wanguan, a figure who could make the Southern Region's business world tremble with a mere stamp of his foot and whom even envoys from top Imperial Dynasties treated with respect, was currently bent so low his waist was almost touching the ground.

His voice carried a suppressed tremor, and he released his breath so softly and slowly, as if the person sitting before him was not a human, but a god who could not be looked upon directly.

As for Xiao, Xuanyuan Zhanxian, and the others, they merely glanced over, their expressions as calm as if they were watching leaves fall in the wind, completely natural.

In their eyes, Qian Wanguan's respect was only natural—how could a mere Mortal compare to someone who could make the First Prince and the Eldest Princess bow their heads and call him Master?

The most shocked of all was the little fatty, Qian Fugui.

His mouth was wide enough to fit an egg, his chin nearly dropped to his chest, and his round eyes were wide open, his eyeballs looking as if they were about to roll out of their sockets.

He looked at his father's back, bent in a way he had never seen before—almost servile—and then turned to steal a glance at Chu Changsheng. The man was simply holding a cup of tea, his expression as plain as a scholar sunning himself on the street, not even moving a fingertip.

His little head felt like it was stuffed with a pot of boiling paste, filled with confusion and shock: This uncle, who looked even more ordinary than the accountant at home... was this powerful? Even his father had to call him "Lord"?

"Ding."

Chu Changsheng finally set down his teacup.

The bottom of the cup touched the bluestone table with a gentle tap. The sound was not loud, but it felt like it struck everyone's heart, and the noisy corner fell silent in an instant.

His gaze fell squarely on Qian Wanguan, his tone as casual as calling out to an old neighbor: "Old Qian, sit down now that you are here."

"Yes! Thank you, Lord!"

Qian Wanguan's face instantly blossomed into a smile. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkled up, and his thick cheeks even trembled slightly. He responded hurriedly, as if he had received an imperial decree.

He carefully moved to an empty seat nearby, daring only to sit on the edge of the chair. His back was held straight, his hands placed properly on his knees, his knuckles turning pale from the effort.

There was no trace of the demeanor of the Southern Region's God of Wealth left; he looked more like a schoolboy afraid of answering the teacher's question wrong, even holding his breath softly and slowly, fearing to disturb the tranquility of this small space.

Before sitting down, he did not forget to turn back and grab the still-dazed Qian Fugui, his voice lowered to the extreme, yet filled with immense urgency: "Why are you standing there like a fool? Hurry up and thank the Senior!"

Qian Fugui was jolted by the tug. His mind was still muddled, but he hurriedly imitated his father, clasping his chubby little hands in front of him and clumsily bowing. His voice was laced with timidity and lingering confusion: "Th... thank you, Senior!"

Chu Changsheng nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on the little fatty's round face for a moment, as if he had seen through him completely, from skin to bone, from sinew to vessel.

Then, his fingertips moved slightly.

A Medicinal Pill, entirely pale green with a faint, flowing glaze-like luster on its surface, quietly appeared in his palm.

He handed it over casually, his tone as light as if he were giving away a piece of candy: "Hmm, your bone structure is acceptable, and your Heart-Nature is considered pure and kind. Take this and play with it."

The Medicinal Pill lay quietly on his fingertips. It had no dazzling Spiritual Qi bursting forth, nor could one feel any surging Spiritual Qi fluctuations. It looked identical to the "Clear Spirit Pill" that could be bought in the market for a few Spirit Stones, or perhaps... it even lacked some of the refined, expensive air.

Qian Fugui subconsciously reached out and took it, his little face full of confusion. His fingers holding the Medicinal Pill moved unconsciously as he muttered to himself: This round thing... what can I play with it? Play marbles?

The surrounding gazes spying from the shadows could not help but shake their heads secretly upon seeing this Medicinal Pill, and some even curled their lips in mockery.

Curling their lips, sneering, and looking disdainful—this "Lord" was simply too stingy, using such an ordinary trinket to dismiss a child. The previously unfathomable image collapsed a little in an instant: "I thought he was something special, turns out he's just putting on a show."

However—the moment the corner of Qian Wanguan's eye caught sight of that Medicinal Pill, his pupils suddenly shrank to pinpricks!

The smile on his face instantly froze, his breathing became ragged, and his voice even changed pitch, rising to a near-piercing shriek: "You fool!! Hurry up and kowtow to thank the Senior for his generous gift!! This is... this is an '8th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill'!!!"

"8th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill?!"

Qian Fugui's chubby little hand shook violently, and the Medicinal Pill nearly slipped from his fingers. He hurriedly gripped it tightly with both hands, the warm, smooth surface of the pill pressing against his fingertips.

The confusion on his little face was instantly swallowed by terror, his round eyes wide enough to nearly split—

Although he was young, he was born into a Cultivator Family. There are nine grades of Medicinal Pills, with nine being the lowest and one being the highest; this common knowledge was already engraved in his bones.

In this Southern Region, let alone an 8th Grade pill, even a 6th or 7th grade one would be enough to make various factions break their heads fighting, setting off bloodbaths. It was a dream that many Cultivators sought their entire lives but never even got to see!

And the "Marrow Cleansing Pill"... was a Saint Grade treasure among pills!

Cleansing the marrow and cutting the veins, reshaping the Foundation, removing the Impurities from a Mortal body, and transforming it into a true piece of raw jade for cultivation—the method for refining such a divine object had long been mostly lost. Most of what circulates in the world today are incomplete formulas with less than one-tenth of the effect. Even a 5th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill is considered rare, a treasure kept at the bottom of the box by various major Families!

A true, perfectly preserved 8th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill... its value could not possibly be measured with Spirit Stones.

This was a peerless treasure capable of completely reversing a Cultivator's fate, allowing a mediocre person to transform into a Prodigy, and even allowing a declining Family to reignite the fire of its rise and forge a future pillar!

The one in his own hand... was actually an 8th Grade one? And the Senior just said... "Take this and play with it"?

This gesture... it was simply like treating a mountain of gold as pebbles and throwing it around for fun!!

The little fatty was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at the Medicinal Pill in his palm, which was warm, lustrous, and contained divine brilliance. He then stiffly raised his head to look at Chu Changsheng—the man still had a plain expression, as if what he had just given away was truly just a candy, not even lingering with his gaze for a second.

At this moment, Qian Fugui's small worldview, built upon gold, silver, and Spirit Stones, collapsed with a roar.

His mouth was wide enough to fit a whole egg, yet he couldn't spit out a single word. He only felt that the Medicinal Pill in his palm was scorching hot and heavy, like a piece of red-hot branding iron, burning so intensely that his heart was trembling.

"Hiss—!!!"

The people around who were previously shaking their heads and mocking him now collectively gasped in cold air!

The gasping sound connected into one, exploding in the crowd like a tidal wave, even suppressing the noise from the distance.

All eyeballs were bulging out as if they were about to fall out, every face was filled with "disbelief," and some even rubbed their ears fiercely—

"8th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill... take it and play with it?? I... I didn't hear that wrong, did I?!"

Looking at Chu Changsheng again, there was no longer any contempt, only a shuddering terror and awe that went deep into their bones.

What kind of existence... could possibly treat such a divine object, capable of causing bloody wars between Sects and disputes between Dynasties... as something to be casually gifted to a child he had never met before?

The previous thought of him being "stingy" had long vanished into thin air, leaving only shame that made them wish they could hide, and a shock that crushed their Souls.

So, in the eyes of a true great power, the treasures they viewed as their very lives and fought to the death for... were really just "trinkets."

Qian Wanguan was so excited that his fat was trembling all over, his voice even choked with emotion, and his eyes were turning red.

He grabbed Qian Fugui and fell to his knees with a thud!

His thick knees hit the bluestone floor with a dull thud.

He bowed deeply toward Chu Changsheng, his forehead nearly touching the cold ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Lord! This... this is too valuable! Junior... Junior cannot accept this!"

His knuckles were clenched pale, and the muscles and bones beneath his brocade robe were trembling uncontrollably.

He was the Southern Region's God of Wealth, controlling a fortune that would make any Dynasty jealous. He had spent half his life believing that "everything can be priced"—but at this moment, looking at the 8th Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill with its flowing glaze-like luster in his son's palm, his throat felt dry and astringent.

How could this be measured by gold and silver? This was a long-lost Divine Pill that even top factions would bleed for!

Chu Changsheng brushed his fingertips across the edge of the teacup, the celadon clinking with a clear sound.

His tone was as light as if he were talking about the clouds drifting past the eaves: "It is just a candy to strengthen the body; why are you losing your composure like this?"

He paused, his gaze falling on the still-dazed little fatty, his voice revealing a touch of casual yet unquestionable gentleness: "This child has a unique bone structure; he is a good seedling. Good Foundation, do not waste it."

"Ca... candy?"

Qian Wanguan's Adam's apple bobbed violently, but what he swallowed was a surging storm.

He knew too well the weight of this "candy"—a normal Cultivator who obtained one such pill would be able to cleanse their marrow, break through the shackles of their Realm, and be reborn;

And for his own child, who was still innocently tugging at his clothes, to obtain it... it was no different than being pushed by an invisible giant hand directly onto the smooth, heavenly path leading to the absolute peak.