If You're Giving a Gift, Give a Good One

When the jade box was brought to the stage, Xiao Mingshu's breath hitched almost imperceptibly.

Her back remained ramrod straight, but her hand holding the teacup tightened.

She was a woman, and an extremely beautiful one at that; how could she not be moved? But she could only look at her like that.

Don't be fooled by the fact that it's only three thousand Spirit Stones now; it'll definitely end up costing four or five thousand. Even a princess like her can't afford that right now.

She subconsciously wanted to look at Shen Jingchuan beside her, but she suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

These days, he's been giving me bottles of High-Grade Qi Condensing Pills and Spirit Concentrating Pills, ten at a time. A bottle of these pills would cost at least several thousand Spirit Stones outside, and the key is that they're not even available for purchase. Including the ones he gave Huan'er, the total cost is well over ten thousand.

She already felt she couldn't repay this favor enough, so how could she ask for more? Even if she did ask, he might refuse, but was he really that financially well-off? She didn't want to add to his burden.

Right now, cultivation is still the most important thing. Once I break through to the Foundation Establishment, my appearance can be restored to some extent.

Xiao Mingshu didn't turn her head after all; her gaze remained fixed on the pill below the stage, her eyes filled with barely suppressed eagerness.

Shen Jingchuan, however, was planning something else.

The female cultivators below the stage were all eager to fight, clearly determined to win.

He was determined to get this pill. He only regretted one thing—there was only one. Meng Ke, Qingyao, Ruoli, and others in his family should each have one, but now there was only one left.

Three thousand five.

A man's voice suddenly came from the next private room; it wasn't loud, but it commanded the room.

Shen Jingchuan had noticed this when he arrived; the private room was right next to his, and anyone sitting in that position must be of high status. He scanned the room with his Divine Sense and found it belonged to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

In another private room, a woman's voice rang out, crisp and sharp.

"Hey, Huang Laoxie! What are you doing, a grown man, trying to take this from us women?"

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator like yourself, you think this pill will increase your cultivation? I bet you're just throwing money away, trying to bully people because you have a couple of Spirit Stones!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator, referred to as Huang Laoxie, remained silent.

From his private room, a delicate female voice spoke first, slowly replying.

"Liu Sanniang, is it any of your business?"

"He's willing to buy it for me, are you jealous? If you're so capable, go find someone willing to pay for you too."

"You—" Sanniang choked for a moment, then raised her voice, "Four thousand!"

"Four thousand five." The woman in Huang Laoxie's room didn't even lift her eyelids.

Five thousand!

"Five thousand two."

The two sides bantered back and forth, constantly teasing each other, drawing laughter from the audience and even the private rooms. The auction was turning into a theatrical performance.

"Quiet."

From the backstage direction, two words suddenly uttered heavily.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a hand that instantly silenced the commotion.

It was Steward Wang. Shen Jingchuan could tell from his voice.

Everyone in the arena could tell it was the voice of Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although many people weren't afraid of him, Steward Wang had True Person Moxuan standing behind him, and True Person Mo Xuan was most likely upstairs today. At this moment, no one wanted to risk offending him.

The laughter immediately stopped, and no one dared to argue anymore.

"Five thousand two, any higher bids?" Liu Meiniang seized the opportunity to raise her voice and lift the gavel.

There was no further movement from Sanniang's side; Five Thousand Two was clearly the last straw for her.

The hammer was about to fall.

Five thousand five.

Suddenly, a young man's voice came from the private room in the center, unhurried and calm.

The entire room fell silent as countless eyes turned to the room in the center.

That was the best private room in the entire venue. It had been completely silent, and no one knew who was sitting inside. All that was known was that the person who could be seated there must be even more distinguished than Huang Laoxie next door.

Sanniang was not Qi Ingestion. The door creaked open, and a woman's figure peeked out, tiptoeing to look in this direction. Two waiters in the corridor immediately reached out and politely stopped her.

"Fairy, um... it's inconvenient for me to go there."

Unable to see anyone, she gritted her teeth and shouted defiantly.

Five thousand six!

Six thousand.

Shen Jingchuan didn't even lift his eyelids, too lazy to argue with her in detail.

Inside Huang Laoxie's house, the woman grew anxious.

"I--"

"Alright." Huang Laoxie said indifferently, pulling her back. Six thousand Spirit Stones for an Appearance-Preserving Pill was not worth it; even if he had money in his pocket, he wouldn't waste it like that.

Sanniang opened her mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

"Six thousand Spirit Stones, once—twice—three times, deal!"

The hammer fell, sealing the deal.

Xiao Mingshu turned her head and glanced at Shen Jingchuan.

She wasn't particularly surprised; she already knew he was rich, just not how much.

But she knew perfectly well that his two wives and a group of young girls who had just embarked on their cultivation journey were all closer to him than she was. There was only one pill in total, and no matter how it was distributed, it would never be hers.

She didn't even consider the possibility of it being her own idea, much less be presumptuous.

She simply sighed softly to herself.

Ultimately, it's because I'm poor. If I had an endless supply of Spirit Stones... I can only watch helplessly as they pass by.

Before long, the waiter who had delivered the food earlier came running upstairs, carrying the jade box in both hands into the private room.

"Master, I've brought you the pills you ordered."

Shen Jingchuan counted out six thousand Spirit Stones and handed them over.

The waiter accepted it with both hands, grinning from ear to ear. His gaze fell on Xiao Mingshu beside him, and he immediately followed up with a fawning smile and flattery.

"Master, look at the mistress's angelic beauty. After she takes this Appearance-Preserving Pill, she'll be absolutely stunning..."

Shen Jingchuan stopped him. "Alright, you can leave now."

Xiao Mingshu's hand, holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.

She raised her eyes and glanced at the waiter indifferently.

She neither said yes nor no, a faint smile playing on her lips, but offered no explanation.

Huan'er stood beside her with her head down, her shoulders shrugging as she struggled to suppress her laughter.

The waiter was quick-witted; he knew when to stop, so he smiled apologetically, took two steps back, and scurried downstairs.

The waiter went downstairs, and the private room quieted down again.

Shen Jingchuan held the jade box in his hand, not in a hurry to put it away, thinking to himself: Who should I give this pill to?

He needed Qingyao, Ruoli at home, and Meng Ke from the modern world. But the first person who came to his mind was Xiao Mingshu beside him.

She was also the oldest. A woman's prime years are fleeting, and she couldn't afford to wait that long.

She wasn't his dao companion, but without her, he would have taken countless detours in the ways of the market and cultivation. This affection was no less than anyone else's. Moreover, he might have had feelings for her in his heart as well.

Even if she ultimately refuses to be with him, this pill should be given to her first. Qingyao and the others are still young, with plenty of time and opportunities ahead; but Xiao Mingshu truly cannot afford to delay any longer.

He made up his mind, took the jade box, and was about to turn around.

"Don't give it to me yet."

Xian'er's voice echoed in my mind, carrying a lazy laugh:

"This is just a Low-Grade Appearance-Preserving Pill; it merely freezes a person's current appearance, preventing them from aging."

Shen Jingchuan paused.

"You mean?"

"Throw it into the light orb, level up."

Xian'er: "Upgrading to the middle grade not only fixes her appearance, but also makes her look a few years younger. I know what you're thinking, you little lecher. If you're going to give something, give her something good."

Shen Jingchuan was secretly delighted. "Sister Xian'er, she's been a great help to me, and she's a very good person, um..."

Xian'er: "Alright, stop explaining, I understand."

Shen Jingchuan chuckled awkwardly, remaining impassive, and sent the Appearance-Preserving Pill into the light sphere in mid-air. It upgraded, and a faint green light enveloped the pill.

The upgrade will take some time, but he's not in a hurry. He plans to give it to her after it's finished, so he won't mention it for now.

He remained calm, put the jade box into his Storage Ring, and looked back at the audience.

Xiao Mingshu, who was standing nearby, witnessed this scene.

He put away the jade box and turned back to watch the auction, showing no intention of handing her the elixir.

Just as I expected.

She wasn't disappointed, or rather, she was prepared. This pill was worth six thousand Spirit Stones, and he had two wives at home; it was only natural that they should be given priority in the distribution.

No matter how good their relationship was, there was still a legal barrier between them, and she couldn't possibly overstep the bounds of his legitimate wife.

She understood the reasoning, but a trace of melancholy still swept through her heart, like a ripple on the surface of water, which quickly subsided.

She lowered her eyes, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and tried to comfort herself.

Go back and go into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. Once Foundation Establishment, your lifespan will be extended, and your appearance will age more slowly, making you look younger.

Only...

Her eyes darkened for a moment.

The woman's peak appearance in her life is precisely in these next few years. Once she reaches the Foundation Establishment, even if she can be younger, she will never be able to return to this state.

She smiled faintly to herself. What's the point of thinking about things that can't be forced?