A Word Worth Ten Thousand Gold

Chen Qing followed the shopkeeper up to the second floor, thinking to himself, This person knows old Immortal Dynasty affairs, perhaps I can inquire about them, but I must guard against deception. What if it's a trick...?

As he was thinking, he saw a young man in brocade clothes sitting by the window, engrossed in a book.

The shopkeeper said respectfully, "Young master, I've brought the person."

"Old Zhou, you may go down first." The young man finally looked up, sizing up Chen Qing. "I am Bai Shaoyou. May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?"

"Chen Qing, from Hidden Star Gate."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you just mentioned the Primordial Immortal Dynasty?" Bai Shaoyou put down his book. "Where did you hear about it?"

Chen Qing calmly took a seat and replied, "I happened upon some ancient records."

"Ancient records?" Bai Shaoyou leaned forward. "Are you willing to sell them? Name your price."

"They are already lost," Chen Qing shook his head. "However, I still remember some of the content."

"Bring tea!" The young man heard this, called for someone to serve tea, then took out three pieces of Spirit Marrow from his sleeve and pushed them over. "I am eager to hear the details."

What kind of instant power-up is this!

Chen Qing's gaze swept over the Spirit Marrow, his eyelids twitching. He suppressed the urge to take them and asked, "Didn't you go to listen to stories?"

"Ha!" Bai Shaoyou let out a scoff. "Those people surround me all day, only wanting rewards. It's bothersome, and it interrupts my reading. I had Old Zhou spread rumors that I wanted to hear stories, so they all naturally ran to the tea house to wait." He patted the book in his hand. "As for you, Fellow Daoist Yu, although you also came for profit, at least your stories are fresh."

This young master is sharp and not easily fooled!

Chen Qing pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? I'll tell you a secret tale of the Immortal Dynasty, and if you find it interesting, you can tell me the old stories you know. We can exchange information, what do you say?"

"Excellent!" Bai Shaoyou's eyes lit up. "Please, Fellow Daoist, begin."

"This story begins in the early years of the Primordial Immortal Dynasty..."

Chen Qing lowered his voice and recounted the experiences from his dream, from the downfall of the Star Pivot Sect to escaping the Mysterious Prison, from cultivating in Tingfeng City to meeting the Tenth Princess, only omitting that these were his personal experiences.

Bai Shaoyou listened intently, even calling for a servant to record it.

When Chen Qing reached the part where Chen Xu realized the key to cultivation, he deliberately paused and took a sip of his tea.

Bai Shaoyou, already engrossed, saw Chen Qing stop and urged, "What happened next? Since Chen Xu had insights, he must have been valued by that Elder, right? And that Xu family girl, following the trope of monster stories, she must have taken a special liking to Chen Xu, her heart secretly pledged to him, right? Did she climb through his window that night?"

"Cough, cough, cough—"

Chen Qing nearly choked and forced himself to calm down. "Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this story?"

"Wonderful!" Bai Shaoyou slammed the table and stood up. "The details are so vivid, as if I experienced it myself! And the parts about abolishing the hundred sects and suppressing the Mysterious Prison, they align perfectly with the Immortal Dynasty system recorded in my family's ancient texts!"

Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "Does your family truly have ancient Immortal Dynasty texts?"

"Naturally," Bai Shaoyou smiled mysteriously. "My family has a copy of 'Immortal Dynasty Anecdotes' brought from the South Flame Continent, which records many secrets of the Primordial Immortal Dynasty. If you are interested, Fellow Daoist, after you finish your story, I will have someone fetch it from my home for you to read."

"We'll see then." Chen Qing was greatly tempted but did not show it too eagerly. He then continued Chen Xu's subsequent experiences. However, when he mentioned the Tenth Princess's title, "Xiyao," Bai Shaoyou's eyebrows shot up, and he suddenly interrupted!

"You said the Tenth Princess's title was Xiyao?"

"Precisely."

Bai Shaoyou recalled for a moment. "How strange! A fragmented scroll of my family's heirloom, 'South Flame Records,' also mentions a figure named 'Xiyao,' but that person was not an Immortal Dynasty Princess, but a nine-tailed Heavenly Fox who caused chaos in the region and was eventually suppressed. However, it did not mention the name Chen Xu."

"What?"

Chen Qing immediately asked, "When did this Heavenly Fox you mentioned cause trouble?"

Bai Shaoyou shook his head. "There is no specific time recorded."

Chen Qing frowned immediately.

Could the events in the dream have traces in reality?

But, could the Heavenly Fox Xiyao mentioned by Bai Shaoyou be Princess Xiyao?

A nine-tailed Heavenly Fox... Qingqiu bloodline...

Just as he was lost in thought, Bai Shaoyou suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, I will buy the rights to these stories of yours for fifty pieces of Spirit Marrow! As long as you write them down today."

Chen Qing's fingers trembled, and he almost dropped his teacup.

Fifty pieces of Spirit Marrow!

In the mortal world, this would be worth more than ten thousand gold! Enough for Hidden Star Gate's expenses for half a year!

But at this moment, what concerned him more was the phrase "Heavenly Fox Xiyao."

He suppressed his thoughts and asked, "What are the details of that Heavenly Fox?"

Bai Shaoyou narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Fellow Daoist Chen seems particularly interested in this Heavenly Fox."

Chen Qing calmly replied, "I am naturally curious about strange tales and anecdotes."

"Alright, let me see." Bai Shaoyou took out a broken Jade Slip from his embrace and unfolded it. "Heavenly Fox Xiyao, possessing the Qingqiu bloodline, once broke through seals three times, stirring up vast waves and freezing thousands of miles, finally being suppressed by the method of 'Five Dragons Dismemberment'!"

Five Dragons Dismemberment?!

Chen Qing's pupils contracted.

"Is that all?"

"That's all," Bai Shaoyou put away the Jade Slip. "The history of the past is like a long river. Even the most brilliant figures are but a drop in the ocean. Coupled with the erosion of time, it is fortunate enough to have one or two lines of record survive."

Chen Qing listened and felt it made sense.

"However," Bai Shaoyou suddenly lowered his voice, "my Bai family's secret vault still hides an item related to the Heavenly Fox."

Chen Qing immediately asked, "What item?"

"I don't know that myself; I haven't inquired in detail," Bai Shaoyou said, then changed the subject: "Once Fellow Daoist finishes writing the story, I'll have someone ask. How about that?"

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I only know the first half of this story. If I find the continuation in the future, I will definitely share it with you."

Bai Shaoyou sighed regretfully, but then unfastened the green jade token from his waist and said, "Since that's the case, I'll gift this Five Qi Token to Fellow Daoist. With this token, you can come find me anytime. If you have a new story, the price will be doubled."

Chen Qing took the token and saw the character "Bai" engraved on the front, while the back depicted five Qi swirling.

"Great!"

By the time he walked out of the Five Qi Pavilion, Chen Qing had five Spirit Marrows, one Earth Marrow, and half a Lightning-struck Wood in his sleeve. This was the deposit Bai Shaoyou had insisted on giving him.

However, Chen Qing's mind was now on "Heavenly Fox Xiyao."

Was the Tenth Princess in his dream this Heavenly Fox Xiyao?

If so, was her ending truly so tragic?

In a private room on the second floor, Bai Shaoyou leaned against the window, watching Chen Qing's figure disappear around the street corner.

"Old Zhou," he called without turning his head.

The brocade-clad shopkeeper quickly stepped forward. "Young Master Seven, what are your orders?"

"Investigate Fellow Daoist Chen's background," Bai Shaoyou pointed outside. "Especially his Hidden Star Gate, and whether it's related to the Immortal Dynasty's legacy."

Old Zhou frowned slightly. "Young Master Seven, the Master sent you to South Coast to familiarize yourself with trade routes and people..."

"I know," Bai Shaoyou interrupted, turning around. "But these account books and invoices are truly boring." He picked up the booklet on the table. "If I can find the Immortal Dynasty's legacy and cultivate the great Dao of eternal life, isn't that better than fiddling with an abacus all day?"

Old Zhou hesitated to speak.

"Don't worry, I won't neglect important matters," Bai Shaoyou waved his hand. "Also, go ask at the ancestral home about the Heavenly Fox item in the treasury. If it's not too valuable, send it to me."

Old Zhou sighed and was about to withdraw.

Bai Shaoyou thought of something else and instructed, "Also, check if there is a name 'Chen Xu' in the Immortal Dynasty's records."

Old Zhou said helplessly, "This is clearly a fictional character. That person just now likely knew some things about the Immortal Dynasty and used that as a basis to concoct a story."

Bai Shaoyou's smile faded. "Just go and ask."

"Yes."

There was a family matter today, so the update is a bit late.