The Reincarnated Remnant Soul of an Outer Dao Cultivator

Chen Qinkuai's expression darkened slightly.

Put nicely, she would be going to a wealthy household to enjoy a comfortable life. Put bluntly, she would be sold into the city to serve as a slave!

She would be registered among the lowborn!

Everyone in Liu Family Village avoided Xinqiao like the plague. How could anyone in the city possibly take a liking to her? Liu Yulan's mouth was full of lies.

Chen Qinkuai said in a gruff voice, "Xinqiao isn't going to the city. Mother, Sister-in-law, you should go home."

Liu Yulan's smile stiffened. She tried again, "Brother Qinkuai, think it over. If Xinqiao goes to the city, you won't have to head into the mountains every day, and she'll get to enjoy a comfortable life there. What a wonderful arrangement!"

Chen Qinkuai gave no reply. His meaning was clear.

They were to leave.

The atmosphere gradually froze.

After a long while, the old woman cast a sidelong glance at Chen Qinkuai. Realizing that he was determined and would not yield today, she snorted and turned to leave.

"Some people are not only ungrateful wolves, but don't even know what's good for them. Yulan, let's go."

"Qinkuai, think it over some more. Once you pass this village, you won't find another shop like this."

Liu Yulan hurried after her, turning back to call out.

They had only just stepped outside the Gate and had not gone far.

Liu Yulan could barely contain her impatience. "Mother, that family in the city is willing to pay fifty taels of silver. We can't just give up!"

"Look at you. What's the rush? Can Chen Xinqiao run away on her own? Bring a couple more people tomorrow. Once Chen Qinkuai goes into the mountains, just take her away," the old woman said calmly.

Liu Yulan settled down.

That was right. Chen Xinqiao could not run away. Chen Qinkuai's sudden return today had been nothing but an accident. At worst, they could wait until he went out through the Gate, then get a few people to tie Chen Xinqiao up and take her to the city.

"Mother, I'm only doing this for those fifty taels of silver..." Liu Yulan said, beaming.

She truly wondered whether the family buying Chen Xinqiao had lost their minds.

A useless girl with something wrong in her head, unable to do anything, and mute to boot—and they were actually spending fifty taels of silver to buy her!

A maid with all her limbs intact, capable of washing clothes and cooking, cost only five taels. Even a good-looking one cost ten taels at most.

Fifty taels of silver for a maid was an astronomical price to Liu Yulan.

There were so many better uses for fifty taels. Buying a mute to take home—what was that if not madness?

Still, it worked out perfectly. Once she sold Chen Xinqiao, those fifty taels would be hers.

Just as Liu Yulan was lost in her pleasant fantasies, a crimson figure appeared beside the two women.

Zhang Yuan asked with a smile, "What did you say that wealthy family's surname was?"

Hearing the question, Liu Yulan answered quite naturally, "Mother, have you forgotten? Their surname is Wang. Apparently, someone in their family is an official in the Capital City. They're very influential."

The old woman frowned. "Yulan, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I ask you anything?"

Liu Yulan froze, looking bewildered.

That was right. There were only her and her mother here. Who had just asked her that question?

A cold wind blew past, and Liu Yulan shivered involuntarily. The more she thought about it, the more something felt wrong, so she hurried away with the old woman.

Standing at the Gate of Chen Qinkuai's home, Zhang Yuan watched their retreating backs and nodded in satisfaction.

As a Perfected Being of six-turn qi refinement, his five senses were extraordinarily keen. He had heard every word of the conversation in the Yard, which had put him on guard.

A wealthy household offering a high price for a maid.

There was no need to think twice to know something lay beneath the surface.

Since he intended to stay at Chen Qinkuai's home, Zhang Yuan had used a divine ability to draw out information and prevent the matter from spilling over onto him.

The buyers belonged to the Wang Household of Dragon Creek City, which was not among the Five Surnames and Seven Houses. Even if there was more to the matter, it should not pose much of a problem.

[Severing Past and Present, Leaving No Trace] concealed his figure, while the parasitic connection of [Myriad Coexistence] influenced Liu Yulan's mind and senses. This allowed him to obtain the information he wanted without anyone being the wiser.

However, this method only worked on mortals and cultivators of lower realms. It could not influence anyone whose realm or Dao Status equaled or exceeded Zhang Yuan's own.

After all, [Myriad Coexistence] was not a divine ability specifically designed to beguile the mind.

After seeing Liu Yulan and the old woman off, Chen Qinkuai fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at the girl behind him.

The girl had already risen. Seeing her father, Chen Qinkuai, she remained expressionless and said, "Father."

In truth, Chen Xinqiao was not mute. She could speak, but rarely did. Even when she spoke, she only exchanged a few words with her father, Chen Qinkuai.

Chen Qinkuai nodded. Seeing how thinly she was dressed, he was about to tell her to go inside.

But just then, Chen Qinkuai suddenly slapped his forehead as he remembered something.

Oh no.

The "immortal master" was still outside!

Chen Qinkuai said anxiously, "Xinqiao, go inside and warm up. I still have something to do. I need to step out."

"No need."

Zhang Yuan walked into the Yard and looked around.

The Yard was small, with just enough room for three people to stand. Even one more would have made it feel crowded.

Chen Qinkuai stopped short. Recalling that he had not heard Liu Yulan scream, he felt the stone weighing on his heart drop away.

Although Liu Yulan wanted to sell his daughter, until it actually happened, she was still his sister-in-law—a living human being. He did not want her to come to harm because of him.

"Immortal master, please come inside. I'll brew you some tea right away," Chen Qinkuai said respectfully, quietly shielding his daughter behind him.

Zhang Yuan nodded without looking at Chen Xinqiao.

He still had a strand of [Water Calamity Baleful Force] to refine. Even if there was more to the matter of selling Chen Xinqiao, he had little interest in it.

Chen Qinkuai breathed a sigh of relief and was about to lead Zhang Yuan inside.

Yet, the next moment—

Chen Xinqiao moved, stepping around her father, Chen Qinkuai, and blocking Zhang Yuan just as he put one foot forward.

Chen Qinkuai's face drained of color, his soul nearly frightened out of him.

A little curious, Zhang Yuan asked gently, "What is it, young lady?"

Chen Xinqiao's lips moved slightly. She raised her head and said, "Hello. Could you take me as your disciple?"

Her face remained utterly expressionless, her tone cold. Even her question sounded like a statement.

A disciple?

Zhang Yuan raised an eyebrow at her words. He drew back his foot, retreated a meter, and gazed above Chen Xinqiao's head.

One gold, two purple, and one gray.

[Immortal Spiritual Root] [Reincarnated Remnant Souls of a Great Outer Dao Cultivator] [Innate Knowledge] [Nervous].

An Immortal Spirit Root, and the reincarnated Remnant Souls of a great Outer Dao cultivator, no less. Truly remarkable.

As far as Zhang Yuan knew, those who followed the Outer Qi Refinement Path could only reincarnate after condensing a golden core.

Even if Chen Xinqiao was merely a reincarnated Remnant Souls, with her immortal spiritual root's Bearing, she would certainly be able to condense a core once she embarked on the Outer Qi Refinement Path.

Seeing this, Chen Qinkuai opened his mouth, intending to dissuade Chen Xinqiao.

Zhang Yuan shook his head gently. "I have yet to complete my own apprenticeship. How could I take a disciple? I cannot agree to this. Besides, you and I follow different paths. Even if I took you as my disciple, there would be little I could teach you."

Without a doubt, Chen Xinqiao had excellent talent for the Outer Qi Refinement Path. With just a little nurturing, he could gain a disciple at the Outer Dao Golden Core Realm.

However, taking the Remnant Souls of a great Outer Dao cultivator as his disciple might bring any number of troubles. To be safe, refusing was the better choice.

Inviting needless trouble was a cardinal taboo for a cultivator who followed the cautious approach.