"Courtesy"

The grand competition was unlike a coming-of-age ceremony. Once the main event was over, there was no sitting around boasting and chatting to build relationships. Besides, the Sect Master was a woman, so all the guests were even less inclined to linger.

Thus, once the grand competition ended, the guests exchanged greetings, rose one after another to bid farewell, and went home to find their mothers.

Still, some guests lingered a little longer, such as Nalan Su, who stood to one side earnestly advising his daughter.

Then there were people like Chen Guan and Jia Xingtian, who had business to attend to.

"Sect Master Yun, could we speak somewhere private? Little Chen has something he needs to discuss with you."

Since Jia Xingtian had spoken, Yun Yun naturally did not refuse.

"This way, please."

Yun Yun led the way toward a side hall.

Chen Guan followed, only to find Jia Xingtian still standing where he was.

"Haha, go talk to her yourself and handle it as you see fit. This old man is no good at negotiations. I haven't visited the Misty Cloud Sect in many years, so I'll admire the scenery while I wait for you."

Chen Guan thought he was teasing him over what had been said on the road, so he paid it no mind. He rolled his eyes and entered the side hall alone with Yun Yun.

Perhaps because she considered his identity and the talent he had displayed, Yun Yun did not look down on him despite being the Sect Master and a Dou Huang Expert. After inviting him to sit, she had someone serve fragrant tea, treating him with utmost courtesy.

After dismissing the disciple who had served the tea and closing the door, they exchanged a few polite compliments before Chen Guan finally brought up the real matter.

"You want Spirit Absorption?"

Chen Guan silently nodded. Since he had come all the way to the Misty Cloud Sect to seek it out, his desire was already plain to see. There was no need to pretend he did not care. Yun Yun was not a fool; that would only be superfluous.

Since he had come, he had already made the psychological preparation to be taken for a ride.

Yun Yun did not answer immediately. She recalled what Gu He had once mentioned: the greatest use of Spirit Absorption was to open a special space within one's body, capable of storing certain special objects.

For example, Heavenly Flames! If Gu He had not brought up such obscure knowledge, even she would not have known it.

Now that Chen Guan had come seeking Spirit Absorption, Yun Yun could not help but wonder whether he had the same intentions as Gu He. "Your information is accurate. My Misty Cloud Sect does indeed possess Spirit Absorption. But since you know of it, you must also understand how precious it is. Its value is no less than that of a sixth-tier pill. What do you intend to offer in exchange?"

"Ten fourth-tier Life Spirit Pills, four fifth-tier Recovery Pills, and one Dragon Strength Pill!"

These pills could be taken from the royal Treasure Vault at any time. Chen Guan offered them first as a test.

It was not a low offer. Though Spirit Absorption was precious, it was not something that could be used casually.

Unfortunately, just as he had expected, Yun Yun shook her head and denied this method of exchange.

That made sense. With Gu He around, the Misty Cloud Sect was even more abundant in pills than the royal family.

In other respects, they were not much worse off either. The things the royal family could offer, the Misty Cloud Sect could generally provide as well.

Chen Guan silently weighed his next option. He had quite a few valuable things on him.

Spirit Nourishing Dust, the formula for Spirit Nourishing Dust, earth-tier Dou Techniques and cultivation methods, the Soul Cultivation Method, Puppet Mastery, and so on.

But all of those were worth far more than Spirit Absorption. Trading any of them for it would make him a complete fool.

Since he was asking someone for help, he could accept taking a small loss, but he could not let himself be butchered like a pig.

Just as Chen Guan was feeling conflicted, Yun Yun spoke.

"I do have an idea, but before that, I would like to know what your true relationship with the royal family is."

This time, it was Chen Guan's turn to shake his head.

With things having reached this point, he knew roughly what Yun Yun was going to say next. He could no longer separate himself from the royal family, so there was no need to continue that conversation.

"Sect Master Yun, my second offer is a Dou Wang-level puppet in exchange for Spirit Absorption. This is the most valuable thing I can offer."

"I obtained this puppet by chance. I went through countless hardships and nearly died several times. The person who forged it was undoubtedly a peerless genius. Not only can it perfectly display the strength of a Two-Star Dou King, but its body is tough and difficult to destroy, no weaker than a magical beast's body. More importantly, once it recognizes a master, it is highly intelligent. Aside from fighting, it can even carry out simple commands, such as this."

Chen Guan took out a puppet and lavished it with praise, then had it refill their tea.

A negotiation naturally required emphasizing the good points. He certainly was not going to tell her that the puppet could not fly.

"It is indeed a fine item, but it only possesses the strength of a Two-Star Dou King, and there is only one of it."

Yun Yun was already tempted. The combat power of a Two-Star Dou King, one that obeyed absolutely, was not of low value.

"Sect Master Yun thinks too highly of it. Obtaining one Divine Puppet like this was already an immense stroke of luck for me. If I had not made up my mind to stay out of the Imperial Capital for the next few years, believing I would not encounter too much danger, I would never have offered it for exchange. Keeping it for self-defense would have been an absolute trump card."

His face was full of reluctance, and Yun Yun almost believed him.

"But I clearly remember that at First Princess Yaoye's coming-of-age ceremony last month, the puppet you used was not this one."

"..."

He had been careless! Having his lie exposed on the spot was truly embarrassing.

Yet Chen Guan's expression did not change in the slightest. His face did not redden, and his heart did not race. So long as he was not embarrassed, the embarrassment belonged to someone else.

"I said a Dou Wang-level puppet. To be honest, I also risked my life to obtain two Dou Ling-level puppets. Both are equivalent to Three-Star Dou Spirits. The one I used at the coming-of-age ceremony was one of them."

"If you are still dissatisfied, I am willing to add one more Dou Ling-level puppet. This is my final bottom line. I need to keep one in case of emergencies. Put yourself in my shoes—if I were Nalan Yanran, Sect Master Yun, you would not want your disciple to encounter danger without any Power to Resist, would you?"

Chen Guan stood up, putting on the appearance that he would leave if she refused. It was a trick he had learned long ago from the aunties at the market while buying vegetables.

Yun Yun sat above him with a strange expression. This exchange had refreshed her impression of the young man again and again.

From a once-in-a-century genius young man, to a little liar who could lie without blushing, to this clever rascal full of twisted logic.

You were you, and Yanran was Yanran. What did he mean by "if I were"?

Still, she had to admit that it worked. Yun Yun's thoughts had successfully been led astray, and she actually somewhat understood why he wanted to keep one puppet as a trump card.

"Fine. Since you are this sincere, this Sect Master will give the royal family some face. One Dou Wang puppet and one Dou Ling puppet in exchange for Spirit Absorption."

Chen Guan looked up, delight and surprise rising in his heart.

Had this Spirit Absorption not yet been given to Gu He? He had assumed Gu He would be involved in this transaction, and that he would likely have to pay an additional price.

Yet it had come so easily? Not exactly easily. It was only much easier than he had anticipated, and the price he paid had not reached his bottom line.

What Chen Guan did not know was that Fama only knew the Misty Cloud Sect had Spirit Absorption in its collection. He did not know they had two pieces. Fearing that delays might bring complications, Chen Guan immediately took out the two puppets and erased his own Soul Imprints before Yun Yun's eyes.

Yun Yun was not one to dawdle either. She told Chen Guan to wait briefly, then left the side hall alone and returned within minutes.

Payment in one hand, goods in the other.

After guiding Yun Yun in successfully making the Dou Wang puppet recognize her as its master, the transaction was completed perfectly.

Just as the young man, in high spirits, was about to make some casual chat, a burst of laughter suddenly rang throughout the entire Misty Cloud Sect.

"Hahaha, Yun Shan, you old man! I knew you weren't dead yet! Have you improved over these years? Come, come, let's have a match!"

Inside the side hall, Chen Guan's expression froze. Someone's promise from noon still echoed in his ears.

"No one understands courtesy better than this old man!"