Chapter 8: Another Reward
“Are you sure you want to choose this spell? Would you like to look at others first?”
Xiao Qingya whispered, glancing at the jade slip in Wang Chen’s hand.
“What’s the matter? Is there a problem?”
“I saw the spell description. This spell has strong defensive capabilities—it can block attacks from opponents a whole level above me!”
“Such a powerful spell, and it’s only sixty spirit stones? That’s an incredible bargain.”
Wang Chen said happily. Seeing his expression, Xiao Qingya looked around quickly. When she saw no one nearby, she leaned in close to Wang Chen and said, “It’s true that this spell is powerful, but it has its drawbacks. It consumes a lot of spiritual energy.”
“You won’t be able to sustain it without late-stage Qi Refining strength, and even then, a late-stage Qi Refining expert can only maintain the spell for a dozen breaths or so.”
“That’s why the spell is priced at just sixty spirit stones.”
“To put it bluntly, it’s useless—too strong for the weak, and not valued by the strong.”
“Take advantage of the fact that no one is watching and put the spell back. Choose another one.”
Xiao Qingya urged anxiously.
Wang Chen chuckled. What he lacked was everything except spiritual energy.
A single top-grade Qi Gathering Pill could gather an immense amount of spiritual energy—almost too much for him to use. He wasted over ninety percent of it every time he trained.
No matter how much the golden light shield drained his energy, could it really use more than what a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill provided? If one wasn’t enough, he could just use several.
Compared to safety, consuming some spiritual energy was nothing.
“Xiao Ya, thanks for your concern, but I feel this spell suits me well. I won’t change it.”
“Besides, I’m already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. I can activate this spell.”
“Ah! You’re already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining!”
Xiao Qingya’s lips parted in surprise. Among cultivators, unless one deliberately reveals their aura, it’s difficult to discern others’ cultivation levels at the same stage.
Moreover, Xiao Qingya was only at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, so she couldn’t possibly see through Wang Chen’s true level.
In Ningyue District, Foundation Establishment experts were like gods, and late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were already top-tier figures in the marketplace.
Xiao Qingya never expected that the seemingly plain Wang Chen was actually a late-stage Qi Refining expert.
For a moment, her demeanor grew cautious, losing the ease she had just moments ago.
Weaklings must show respect when facing the strong; this is one of the survival rules in the cultivation world, universally accepted by all cultivators.
After all, offending the strong could easily bring trouble.
Wang Chen naturally noticed Xiao Qingya’s change in expression and smiled gently. “Xiao Ya, why are you suddenly distant with me?”
“You just helped me a lot a moment ago.”
“Now you want to abandon me already?”
Wang Chen teased, making Xiao Qingya blush.
“What nonsense are you saying? Who would abandon you?”
“Pfft, you weren’t really mine to begin with.”
“I just didn’t expect you to have reached late-stage Qi Refining already—it’s a bit hard to get used to,” she explained softly.
Quickly regaining her composure, Xiao Qingya relaxed again.
“All right, Xiao Ya, I have things to do. I’ll go now and come see you another day.”
“Here, take this. Just don’t let anyone see it.”
Wang Chen said goodbye, casually tossing her a porcelain bottle.
Xiao Qingya barely had time to react before instinctively catching it. When she came to her senses, Wang Chen had already disappeared beyond the entrance.
Seeing this, a wave of melancholy rose in her heart.
Only after Wang Chen was out of sight did she look down at the porcelain bottle in her hands.
“What is this? So mysterious?” she murmured.
Opening the bottle, she poured the pill into her palm.
The moment she saw the three cloud patterns embossed on the pill, her face was filled with shock.
A top-grade Qi Gathering Pill!
As a member of the Heaven and Earth Guild, Xiao Qingya didn’t earn much, but her discernment far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators.
She immediately recognized the pill.
An ordinary Qi Gathering Pill was nothing special—just a common medicinal herb for cultivators.
But a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill was different. Its effects far exceeded those of normal pills, and crucially, it carried no pill toxin.
For cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, it was a rare and precious elixir essential for breaking through bottlenecks—something as rare as it was coveted.
A few months ago, the Heaven and Earth Guild had held an auction where these top-grade Qi Gathering Pills appeared.
Ten such pills were auctioned off for tens of thousands of spirit stones!
She remembered this clearly because she had been the one to submit them.
At the time, she had secretly wondered whether she would ever have the chance to experience such a pill.
Unexpectedly, it was now in her possession.
Moreover, judging by the pill’s luster and appearance, it was even better than those ten auctioned months ago!
Such a precious item was casually handed to her by Wang Chen!
For a moment, Xiao Qingya felt as though she were dreaming.
The bustling sounds around her soon pulled her back to reality.
She quickly returned the pill to the bottle, eyes darting cautiously around her.
Afraid anyone might discover she held a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill.
Though she desired it, she dared not take it lightly.
Her plan was to return it to Wang Chen the next time they met.
Tucking the bottle into her bosom, she calmed herself and returned to work.
Though her face showed no emotion, her steps were light and brisk.
Every time she thought about the pill in her possession, she felt a little euphoric.
Even knowing the pill did not belong to her, at least she was the one keeping it for now.
Unaware of the profound impact the pill had on Xiao Qingya, Wang Chen continued to examine his system rewards.
[ Ding! Detected host gifting female cultivator a bottle of top-grade Qi Gathering Pills. Received twentyfold critical bonus. ]
[ Female cultivator: Xiao Qingya ]
[ Appearance: Stunning beauty ]
[ Affection level: 55 ]
[ Host gains twentyfold critical bonus; twenty bottles of perfect Qi Gathering Pills returned. ]
Seeing the system’s reward, a flicker of excitement shone in Wang Chen’s eyes.
Being rated as exquisite by the system was equivalent to a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill in reality!
He could hardly imagine the potency of a perfect-grade Qi Gathering Pill.
If not for the inappropriate occasion, he would have tried it immediately.
Unfortunately, the critical multiplier was only twentyfold—probably due to the low affection level.
But considering they had only just met, Wang Chen was content.
While Wang Chen reviewed his panel and headed home, he remained unaware that someone had already set their sights on him from behind.