2: Chapter 002 Young Master Bai, you need to pay more!

"Chen An, Young Master Bai is giving you a chance, don't be ungrateful!"

"Heh, one thousand yuan crystal is enough to exchange for ten qi condensing pills. With your Aptitude, that's enough for you to Cultivate peacefully for half a year!"

"Chen An, Young Miss Shen is a proud daughter of heaven with extraordinary talent, while you are merely a Mid-grade Martial Bone. Do you really think you are worthy of Young Miss Shen?!"

"Some people just can't recognize reality; a toad lusting after a swan's flesh!"

In a quiet corner of the County Academy, several followers attached to Bai Yifan were crowded around, their faces full of mockery, their words harsh and aggressive.

Their expressions were frivolous, their gazes contemptuous, treating Chen An entirely like an ant that could be trampled at will, cooperating with Bai Yifan to mock and suppress him to the extreme.

However, some people looked at the money bag containing one thousand yuan crystal, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy, wishing they could take his place.

Because, for an ordinary person, one thousand yuan crystal was already considered a huge sum of money.

In this Great Luo Dynasty where martial arts are revered, yuan crystal is the common currency for cultivation in the world, and even more so, the Foundation upon which a Martial Artist relies for survival.

yuan crystal can be used to purchase Medicinal Pill, temper the Physical Body, exchange for martial arts Secret Manual, acquire protective weapons, and can also be used to absorb and refine, nourish Qi and blood, and improve one's cultivation.

Ordinary rural hunters and bottom-tier Mortal might not be able to save up one hundred yuan crystal even after working hard for a whole year.

Even for ordinary Disciple in the County Academy, they only receive a few dozen to a hundred yuan crystal per month, and only by living frugally can they barely maintain their cultivation consumption.

One hundred qi condensing pills are enough for a Qi Condensation Realm Martial Artist to Cultivate diligently for several years; one can imagine how shocking the value of one thousand yuan crystal is.

Such a windfall is enough to change the destiny of a poor Martial Artist, enough to make people tempted and bow their heads.

Precisely because of this, the gazes everyone directed at Chen An held both the mockery of watching a show and secret envy.

In their view, facing such a huge temptation, Chen An, who came from a poor background, simply had no qualification to refuse.

Chen An slowly raised his head, his expression indifferent. His gaze swept lightly over the surrounding followers who were mocking and jeering, and finally landed steadily on the arrogant and contemptuous face of Bai Yifan.

Just as Chen An was about to speak, Bai Yifan raised his eyebrows impatiently and spoke coldly first:

"Add another one thousand!"

He casually took out another small money bag and tossed it onto the ground. The two money bags faced each other, colliding with a crisp sound.

"A total of two thousand yuan crystal."

Bai Yifan raised his chin slightly, the contempt in his eyes undisguised, his tone carrying a sense of condescending charity.

"Take this money, cut off your thoughts completely, and stay far away from Shen Qinglan."

"Don't force me to take action; by then, you won't even get a single penny!"

Looking at the two bulging money bags on the ground emitting a faint Spiritual Qi, the weight of two thousand yuan crystal caused the surroundings to fall into a brief silence.

This time, even all the followers beside Bai Yifan completely changed their expressions, no longer having that overbearing, mocking appearance from before.

Someone subconsciously swallowed, their gaze glued to the money bags, the greed in their eyes almost overflowing, their fingers clenching unconsciously, their throat rolling, filled with unconcealable envy.

Two thousand yuan crystal!!!

Let alone these followers attached to Bai Yifan, even Disciple with decent family backgrounds in the County Academy might not be able to save up this much. It was enough for them to purchase high-level Cultivation Technique, a large amount of Medicinal Pill, and even be more than enough to break through to the Peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.

Others' mockery faded, replaced by a bit of awe. Their gazes toward Bai Yifan became increasingly sycophantic, whispering in low voices, their tone full of flattery:

"Young Master Bai is truly generous! Just a casual offer of two thousand yuan crystal; only Young Master Bai could have such a hand!"

"Isn't that so? This kid Chen An is really lucky. With Young Master Bai's charity like this, if he still doesn't know what's good for him, then he's truly crazy!"

Bai Yifan took in the loss of composure of his followers, a more arrogant smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his gaze looking down from above at Chen An.

Looking at the bulging money bags, Chen An's eyes flickered repeatedly. He then raised his head, looking at Bai Yifan as if looking at a landlord's foolish son, a wicked curve rising at the corner of his mouth, and said:

"Many thanks to Young Master Bai for thinking highly of me, but Qinglan is my childhood sweetheart, my beloved friend!"

"You want me to stay away from her with this little bit of yuan crystal!"

"Young Master Bai, you are underestimating the friendship between Qinglan and me over these ten-plus years!"

Hearing Chen An's words, Bai Yifan, who was leading, had his expression turn cold as well. He looked at Chen An with an icy expression and said, "Chen An, a person must have self-awareness. Do you think I am negotiating with you?"

"Chen An, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

"Chen An, Young Master Bai is giving you face, do you want to die?!"

"Chen An, one must be content. Two thousand yuan crystal, outside the County Academy, is enough to buy a life!"

The few followers behind Bai Yifan also barked like dogs one after another.

"Young Master Bai, you've misunderstood!"

Feeling the cold aura faintly emanating from Bai Yifan, Chen An smiled indifferently, looked at Bai Yifan, and said with a playful tone, "What I meant is..."

"Young Master Bai, you need to add more money!"

"Young Master Bai, Qinglan is a Acquired Realm martial arts expert, outstanding in appearance, with extraordinary talent. She is one of the top proud daughters of heaven in the entire Wurong County, or even Chengtian Prefecture!"

"You want to win the beauty, and you want to use this mere two thousand yuan crystal to buy out the friendship between her and me?!"

"Young Master Bai, could it be that in your heart, Qinglan is only worth two thousand yuan crystal?!"

Hearing Chen An's words, Bai Yifan's face flashed with contemplation. He frowned slightly, his gaze scanning Chen An heavily, as if judging the truth of his words?!

Was he truly greedy, or was he deliberately provoking?

A moment later, he actually slowly withdrew the cold aura from his body, nodded slightly, his tone carrying a bit of impatience, yet also revealing a hint of being manipulated, and said in a deep voice:

"Fine, I'll add more money! Five thousand yuan crystals!"

"This is my bottom line!"

"Take this money, disappear from before me from now on, and you are not allowed to appear beside Shen Qinglan ever again, nor are you allowed to mention even half a word of your so-called 'friendship'!"

"If you dare to push your luck again, don't blame me..."

"Bai Yifan, what are you doing?!"

Before Bai Yifan's words could finish, a clear shout suddenly came from afar, piercing through the air. It was cold and sharp, suddenly interrupting his words.

The next instant, a graceful figure flew over, riding the wind. Her clothes fluttered, her posture as light as a swan, and in a flash, she landed steadily in front of Chen An, firmly protecting him behind her.

The woman was dressed in a water-blue tight-fitting martial arts uniform, cleanly tailored, fitting her figure, outlining a tall and slender physique.

Her skin was fairer than snow, her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting, her nose delicate, her lips like cherries, pure and ethereal.

Her waterfall-like ink-black hair was simply tied up with a plain silk ribbon, with a few stray strands falling onto her shoulders, swaying gently in the wind.

Her body was surrounded by the condensed Qi unique to a Acquired Realm Martial Artist. Her temperament was cold and aloof, with a layer of faint anger gathering between her brows. Her clear eyes coldly locked onto Bai Yifan opposite her, her aura suddenly spreading, instantly causing the surrounding atmosphere to solidify!