Investment from the Mite'er Family

Hearing Xiao Yuan's question, Ya Fei's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly as she feigned displeasure. "Did little brother Xiao Yuan come here just to pick something up?"

Xiao Yuan smiled at this. "I could have had my men pick it up. Since we agreed that I would come in person, I naturally also wanted to see Sister Ya Fei again. Right now, my cultivation progress lags far behind others. Once I have the resources, I'll need to focus on cultivation, so I'm afraid I won't be visiting Sister Ya Fei as often in the future."

With that, Xiao Yuan casually carried a chair over to Ya Fei's side and sat down.

"That's true. In three years, you still have to annul your engagement with Nalan Yanran. Here, these are the things you need. There's also a highest-tier Purple-Gold Card inside."

Ya Fei nodded and handed Xiao Yuan a Storage Ring.

"Huh, it's even a mid-grade Storage Ring? Sister Ya Fei, is this a gift for me?"

Xiao Yuan took the silver-white Storage Ring and probed it briefly before asking with a smile.

"Consider it your sister's investment in you. Mainly because Wutan City has limited resources—being able to find a mid-grade Storage Ring is already quite good!"

Ya Fei chuckled and nodded. Then, changing the subject, she said, "By the way, if I remember correctly, the best cultivation technique in your Xiao Clan should be the Mysterious Rank Mid Level Furious Lion Rampage belonging to your father, Clan Leader Xiao, right?"

"That's right."

Xiao Yuan nodded, looking at Ya Fei with some confusion.

"What a coincidence. Just yesterday, a hunter delivered a Profound Rank High Level cultivation technique called the Wind Scroll Skill. It seems to have been left behind by some predecessor, so there shouldn't be any safety concerns. If little brother Xiao Yuan wants it, I can give you the starting price—two hundred thousand Gold Coins!"

Ya Fei said to Xiao Yuan with a beaming smile.

Profound Rank High Level, Wind Scroll Skill... Xiao Yuan froze for a moment. It did sound somewhat familiar. This seemed to be the cultivation technique the Gale Family had bid for.

But two hundred thousand was nearly two years' worth of the Xiao Clan's profits. Where would he get that much money?

Well... not necessarily! Seeing the meaningful smile on Ya Fei's face, Xiao Yuan quickly imprinted the Storage Ring with a Soul Seal, then took out the Purple-Gold Card. His Soul Strength swept through it.

"Five hundred thousand Gold Coins? Sister Ya Fei, I remember only giving you ten thousand Gold Coins at the beginning?"

Xiao Yuan said in astonishment.

"It's only five hundred thousand Gold Coins. What's the big deal? The profits you've brought to our Mite'er Family far exceed that!"

Ya Fei waved her hand and continued, "Two years ago, when you told me you could help me return to the Imperial Capital and even become the head of the Mite'er Family, I had some doubts. But now, it seems that it truly is possible."

"Oh? So things have been going smoothly with the bank?"

Xiao Yuan asked with a smile. Regarding the idea of opening a bank, he had only briefly explained the concept to Ya Fei—it was nothing more than the usual bank operations. As for the actual implementation, Ya Fei had handled far more of it. His actual contribution had merely been investing ten thousand Gold Coins.

"Yes. Before long, a Mittel Bank should open in Wutan City as well. The Purple-Gold Card I gave you can be used throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and it grants you the most distinguished status. It counts as the Mite'er Family's investment in you.

Actually, those Medicinal Herbs were prepared that very afternoon. But sending back the news that you could cultivate, allowing the family to reassess your potential and invest in you, really took quite some time. Everything was only fully settled yesterday. As for the Wind Scroll Skill, if you need it, our auction house can simply buy it out directly and give it to you."

As Ya Fei spoke, she turned her palm over. Light flashed across her Storage Ring, and an azure scroll appeared in her hand.

"Oh? I'm only at the third stage of Dou Qi. Am I really worth the Mite'er Family's—" Xiao Yuan was initially puzzled, but then he understood and added, "Sister Ya Fei, you didn't falsify the information, did you?"

"Yes. I said that you began cultivating half a year ago, that you've already reached the seventh stage of Dou Qi, and that you'll break through to become a Dou Zhe within a year. I said you possess exceptional talent."

Ya Fei nodded, her phoenix eyes narrowing into slender crescents as she smiled brightly.

"Sister Ya Fei, aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

Xiao Yuan put away the Purple-Gold Card and asked with a blink.

Ya Fei smiled and shook her head before explaining, "Actually, the family has always wanted to invest in you. They simply needed a reasonable excuse. If you could come up with an idea like that and seek cooperation with the royal family, it would be no small blow to our Mite'er Family!

But if you were an ordinary person incapable of cultivating, you wouldn't be able to keep too much money or too many resources anyway. Some of the elders also had considerable objections, so the matter was left aside.

But now that you can cultivate, and are even a genius, let alone this small amount of Gold Coins—Medicinal Herbs, pills, cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, everything you need can be provided by the Mite'er Family. Once you advance to become a Dou Wang, or even a Dou Emperor, the Mite'er Family and the Xiao Clan will be the best of allies."

"As for whether the information was concealed or not, it doesn't matter. If you really were a good-for-nothing and something happened to you—if you died—the Mite'er Family could conveniently deal with whoever killed you. That way, they wouldn't lose too many resources, while also having ample justification in name. It's simply a win-win situation."

Xiao Yuan nodded in realization, understanding the mechanics behind it.

"Hehe, little brother Xiao Yuan really does speak bluntly!"

Ya Fei did not deny it. Business was business. Though she and Xiao Yuan had maintained a good relationship over the years, she would never place Xiao Yuan above the interests of her family. Xiao Yuan understood that as well, and he would not treat Ya Fei as his entire world. Both of them had their own matters to attend to.

"However, I really did give you that Storage Ring as a gift. It matches your usual style of dress."

Ya Fei added with a smile.

"It is indeed quite nice. I trust Sister Ya Fei's taste."

Xiao Yuan nodded in deep agreement. Most of his white robes had been custom-made in various styles with Ya Fei's help.

It couldn't be helped—who told the Xiao Clan's standard-issue clothing to always be primarily black? Ya Fei nodded in satisfaction and added, "By the way, the Wind Scroll Skill is a Wind Attribute cultivation technique. You're still at the Dou Qi stage, so your Dou Qi attribute cannot be determined for now. But since your father has the Wind Attribute, there is naturally a high chance that you do as well. Still, if you don't, remember to tell me your Dou Qi attribute after advancing to Dou Zhe. I'll find a suitable cultivation technique and Dou Technique for you from the family."

Xiao Yuan shook his head with a smile. "Sister Ya Fei should put the Wind Scroll Skill up for auction. I reckon the Gale Family is determined to get it, and when the time comes, they'll naturally bleed heavily. Besides, the cultivation technique will become mine sooner or later anyway. Let them keep it for me first. But I really do need Dou Techniques, so I'll have to trouble Sister Ya Fei to put more thought into it."

Ya Fei put away the Wind Scroll Skill and nodded with a smile. "All right, I'll discuss it with the family. At the very least, it will be a Mysterious Rank Dou Technique."

"Mm, that would be for the best."