You Brought Incense Too? Agarwood Aloeswood!

Chen Zhiquan's gift box was opened and placed on the table.

The Chen Family relatives and friends nearby could not help stretching their necks to look.

Uncle Shun, seated at the same table, turned and asked Brother An, "An Zi, you've seen a lot. How many Spirit Stones would this Sandalwood Incense cost?"

Brother An replied enviously, "It says Hezhou Xiong Clan on it. This is definitely the finest among High-Grade Sandalwood. One stick alone is worth one Spirit Stone."

Ping Zi was dumbfounded. "Just one box of incense costs Ten Spirit Stones? That's way too expensive!"

The people around them also began discussing it. "Last time at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, custom Incense Sticks only sold for one Spirit Stone per box. Brother Zhiquan is truly generous."

"Isn't that so? Using Sandalwood Incense this expensive, how much would you have to earn before making your money back? You still have to be an Alchemist to make that much."

Listening to the envious praise around him, Chen Zhiquan felt very satisfied. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Xiao Chen had definitely heard the value of this Sandalwood Incense too. He surely wanted it now, but felt it was too precious and was embarrassed to accept it.

Exactly. Only then would it show how much he valued Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen would definitely decline next. Then he would insist on giving it to him, letting Xiao Chen feel his warmth and accept the favor.

But in truth, Chen Zhiquan's guess was just a tiny bit off.

Looking at the gift, Xiao Chen did indeed want to decline it. "Brother Zhiquan, to be honest, I did burn incense at first. But lately, when refining pills, I haven't needed it anymore."

Here it came. Chen Zhiquan perked up.

Then he said righteously, "Junior Brother Xiao, saying that is far too distant of you. We're both Alchemists. I came from the beginner stage too—how could you not need it?"

"Even if you don't need it now, take it first. When you learn new Pill Recipes in a few days, won't it come in handy? You'll need it sooner or later."

Xiao Chen still wanted to demur. "Brother Zhiquan, this Sandalwood Incense is too expensive. I..."

"Hey, stop right there!" Chen Zhiquan cut him off. "For something that helps you learn a craft, what's wrong with it being a little expensive? If you should use it, then use it."

Since he had put it that way, Xiao Chen felt it would be hard to decline further. Fortunately, he had nothing else on him, but he still had a bundle and a half of Agarwood Aloeswood left. It should be enough for a return gift.

So he picked up the gift box. "All right, then I'll shamelessly accept it. Thank you, Brother Zhiquan."

Chen Zhiquan smiled and was about to say a few more words when he saw Xiao Chen wave his hand and place a bundle of Incense Sticks on the table as well.

"I happened to bring some incense too, as a token of my sincerity."

You brought incense too?

Chen Zhiquan focused his gaze on it. Its unique shape immediately drew his attention.

Compared with ordinary incense materials, Agarwood Aloeswood contained richer oils, giving its surface a fine texture. It was a deep black, yet gleamed with luster.

Simply put, one look was enough to tell that it was not cheap.

Then a light breeze passed through, scattering its rich fragrance. A gentle sniff brought a unique sweet, cool sensation, along with a slight calming effect.

Chen Zhiquan was instantly stunned. It had not even been lit, yet it already had such effects. "This is Agarwood Aloeswood from the Far East Land!"

The surrounding Chen Family members looked over curiously, then exchanged glances.

Though they all bore the surname Chen, as members of the family's Branch Lineage and outer circle, many of them had never even heard of such a thing.

Take Brother An and Ping Zi, for instance. Though they wandered the market district every day, they had never seen it before.

Uncle Shun, on the other hand, seemed to recall something. "I've heard of it. Twenty years ago, when the Jiang Family Patriarch came to pay New Year's greetings on the first day of the month, Agarwood Aloeswood was listed on the Gift List."

Prompted by him, another old man remembered as well.

"That did happen back then. I still remember that bundle of aloeswood was simply tied with a golden ribbon like this, placed together with Five-Colored Harmony Origin Pills on a gift tray."

At the mention of Harmony Origin Pills, Brother An understood. "A Five-Colored Harmony Origin Pill costs Ten Spirit Stones each. Calculated that way, one stick of this incense is worth five Spirit Stones."

Chen Zhiquan was even more stunned after hearing that. How much did you say?

Then even the way he looked at Xiao Chen changed. He now wanted to ask like an outsider: using Sandalwood Incense this expensive, how much did one have to earn before making the money back?

But he was an insider, an Alchemist with professional training.

Every insider knew that the profit from refining a single batch of any first-rank pill was absolutely less than five Spirit Stones. This thing simply could not pay for itself.

Every stick burned was not incense—it was money going up in flames.

Chen Zhiquan cast it a reluctant glance and politely refused. "Junior Brother, this won't do. It's too precious. I can't accept it."

Xiao Chen immediately used his own words against him. "Hey, for something that helps you learn a craft, what's wrong with it being a little expensive? If you should use it, then use it."

Chen Zhiquan choked on his words. "No, no, Junior Brother. I haven't burned incense in a long time. I don't need it..."

"Hey, stop right there!" Xiao Chen cut him off. "How could you not need it? Take it first. When you learn new Pill Recipes in a few days, won't it come in handy? You'll need it sooner or later."

"I, you. I..." Chen Zhiquan's lips opened and closed, but no sound came out. He was like a fish breaking the water's surface to gasp before the rain.

The people around them also fell silent. At that moment, no one spoke.

Chen Zhiquan stood there blankly for a moment before refusing again. "In any case, I can't accept it. How could I possibly use aloeswood this expensive?"

"Brother Zhiquan, I didn't prepare anything else."

Xiao Chen pressed a hand against his Flying Sword. "Don't tell me you've taken a liking to my Flying Sword?"

Chen Zhiquan waved his hands. "No, I..."

In the midst of this back-and-forth, another group of people suddenly entered from outside. It turned out that it was already time for the formal meal.

Elder Chen called out to the two standing in the corner. "Zhiquan, Xiao Chen. What are you standing there for? Stop standing around and come sit over here to eat."

Chen Zhiquan immediately explained the situation before him to Elder Chen.

As he spoke, a group of Chen Family elders were left dumbfounded as well.

Elder Chen said frankly, "I don't usually use incense like this even when refining pills. Giving something like this upon our first meeting is still rather inappropriate."

In the eyes of Chen Tianyuan, the Pill Refining Hall Elder, a flash of amazement and appreciation appeared.

Because of the previous dispute with the Jiang Family, he knew about Xiao Chen's background. He knew Xiao Chen had no backing and no resources, and was simply a poor man.

Though he did not know the exact process, preparing such an expensive gift—from finding a place to buy it to saving up Spirit Stones—must have been extremely difficult. Xiao Chen had surely put a great deal of thought into it.

Good. Very good. The Chen Family needed Fresh Blood like this now.

"Since this is a token of Xiao Chen's sincerity, Zhiquan, accept it."

Chen Tianyuan made the decision, then took out a bottle of pills and placed it on the table. "I happen to have a bottle of Five-Colored Harmony Origin Pills here. Consider them Zhiquan's return gift."

"The time has come. That settles it. Put your things away quickly. Let's eat."

Since he had spoken, Chen Zhiquan obediently picked up the aloeswood, while Xiao Chen put away the pills.

Seeing Xiao Chen return to his seat, Elder Chen beckoned. "Why are you sitting there? Come sit at my table."

Before Xiao Chen could decline, Chief Chen beside him came over, grabbed his arm, and pulled him away.

Along the way, Chief Chen whispered into his ear, "Sorry, Junior Brother Xiao. I was too busy earlier and forgot to remind you about this. But I knew you would be fine."

Xiao Chen could not help grumbling inwardly: You've got the nerve to say that!

If Chen Zhiquan had not given him the Sandalwood Incense, he would have made a fool of himself.

But through a strange twist of fate, he had instead gained a bottle of Five-Colored Harmony Origin Pills.