Chương 240: Chapter 239: The Boss is Pleading Poverty!

Hearing that Li Feihuang was short on spirit stones, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. This was exactly what he wanted. He practically wished every high-multiplier female cultivator was broke, so he could cover all their cultivation needs. Wouldn't that send him soaring? Meeting Li Feihuang's expectant gaze, Ye Chen put on an apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry… To form my ninth-grade Golden Core, I paid a steep price to acquire spiritual items. I'm a bit strapped for spirit stones myself right now." Li Feihuang blinked, caught off guard. Ye Chen was low on spirit stones too? But it made sense. The Phoenix Stone couldn't produce a ninth-grade Golden Core. Ye Chen must have spent a fortune on top-tier spiritual items, leaving him short. It was reasonable. The thought that Ye Chen might be deceiving her never crossed her mind.

After all, he'd given her phoenix blood without hesitation. Mere spirit stones? If he had them, he'd likely hand them over without a second thought. Seeing the guilt on Ye Chen's face for not being able to help, Li Feihuang quickly waved her hand.

"No need to feel bad, Fellow Daoist Ye. It's fine." Still, failing to borrow spirit stones from Ye Chen left her troubled. Was she supposed to hunt demonic beasts for resources? It wasn't difficult, but it was a waste of time—and beneath her status. That time would be better spent improving her cultivation. As she frowned in thought, Ye Chen spoke up.

"I may not have a large sum of spirit stones, but why don't you tell me what you need most right now, Fairy Li? I might be able to help with something smaller." Without hesitation, Li Feihuang replied, "I'm cultivating an attack spell that requires a piece of Star River Purple Sand." Star River Purple Sand was a top-grade material with wide applications—alchemy, artifact refining, talisman crafting, array formation, and even cultivation.

It wasn't naturally formed but refined by Unity Stage powerhouses from the Outer Starry Rivers. A small piece costs 20, 000 high-grade spirit stones. Hearing her request, Ye Chen promptly took out a transmission talisman. Soon, Sun Ye arrived in the courtyard. Seeing Ye Chen, now a Golden Core cultivator, Sun Ye bowed with deep respect.

"Boss, what are your orders?" Ye Chen spoke calmly, "Does the shop have any Star River Purple Sand?" Sun Ye shook his head.

"We don't have it in stock, but Heavenly Evolution Pavilion has some for sale." Ye Chen nodded.

"The shop's liquid funds are tight right now. Go find a partner, offload some inventory at a low price, and buy a piece of Star River Purple Sand to bring back." Sun Ye froze. Tight on funds? How could that be? The shop's current liquid assets could buy ten pieces, let alone one. But he quickly caught on. Glancing at Li Feihuang, he guessed the boss was dealing with someone trying to borrow spirit stones. Sun Ye had used the same "pleading poverty" tactic when old friends came asking.

He'd cry poor louder than anyone, sometimes even claiming he needed to borrow from them. In the cultivation world, lending spirit stones was often a one-way trip. The borrower might die, or if they survived, they'd avoid you, with no intention of repaying. I borrowed it with my own skill, so why should I pay it back? Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. That mindset wasn't rare among cultivators. Clearly, the boss was in a similar bind.

And with the borrower being a beauty, he probably couldn't bring himself to outright refuse. Understanding the situation, Sun Ye put on a troubled expression.

"Boss, our liquid funds are already stretched thin. If we sell inventory at a loss, the shop could go under…" Ye Chen inwardly praised Sun Ye's quick thinking. Sharp guy. Keep this up, and in a few years, he might just reach the Golden Core stage. Li Feihuang, listening, hadn't expected Ye Chen's shop to be in such dire straits. Her lips parted hesitantly, but before she could speak, Ye Chen turned to Sun Ye with a stern glare.

"Just do as I say! I want that Star River Purple Sand in my hands within an hour. If I don't see it, you're done as shopkeeper!" Sun Ye let out a heavy sigh, saying nothing yet conveying everything. His departing figure seemed to slump a little more as he left.

"Maybe forget it…" Li Feihuang said, feeling a pang of embarrassment. Ye Chen had activated the Divine Will Cave Heaven in advance and even given her phoenix blood. Now, he was willing to sell off his assets to buy her Star River Purple Sand, even at the risk of his shop collapsing. Yet Ye Chen wore a nonchalant smile.

"It's a small matter. Fairy Li's cultivation is what's important." Seeing his attitude, Li Feihuang held her tongue. She was now a Golden Core cultivator with a Moon Phoenix Body and had awakened one of the True Phoenix Treasure Techniques. As long as she followed her path diligently, the imperial throne was hers. Ye Chen, it seemed, was wholeheartedly supporting her, no matter the cost. Part of it was likely her own charisma, part admiration, and perhaps a desire to gain merit by backing her rise.

So, she didn't press further. Once she donned the imperial robe, she'd open the Great Chu treasury and let Ye Chen choose a few treasures. Even if his shop went under, he'd come out ahead. The two sat down to drink tea, chatting casually. Li Feihuang downplayed her strength, perhaps to boost Ye Chen's confidence in her, and shared some details about the Moon Phoenix Body's wonders. She also mentioned awakening a True Phoenix Treasured Technique.

Ye Chen nodded, praising her, though Li Feihuang noticed his lack of surprise. She quickly realized he must have anticipated this when he gave her the phoenix blood, given his awareness of her talent. Of course he wouldn't be shocked now. After listening to her boast for a bit, Ye Chen asked curiously, "Is the ninth-grade Golden Core the absolute limit? Haven't any prodigies formed a higher-grade core?" As a royal daughter of Great Chu, Li Feihuang should be well-informed. She nodded.

"Ninth-grade Golden Cores are divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers, based on their luster, divine patterns, and so forth. There's a significant gap between them. The one I formed is an upper-tier ninth-grade Golden Core." Ye Chen waved a hand, uninterested in her specifics.

"I mean, is there anything beyond a ninth-grade Golden Core?" Li Feihuang shook her head firmly.

"I've never heard of such a thing. Some True Immortal chronicles mention wild tales, though. I read a few in the top floor of the royal library. You know of the Chaotic Ancient True Immortal? Undefeated, sweeping through his generation, stepping onto the path of immortality with unmatched prowess. His chronicle has over a hundred versions. One claimed that after his Golden Core breakthrough, his dantian emitted seven-colored divine light, with the sound of galloping horses thundering within.

But only that version mentioned it—others didn't. There was also a fragmented text, no idea which True Immortal it referred to, claiming they formed a five-colored Golden Core. Probably fake. If such a thing existed, ordinary cultivators might not know, but how could the Great Chu Dynasty be unaware?" She scoffed at the notion. If a five-colored Golden Core were real, she'd have formed one herself. Since she hadn't, the ninth-grade Golden Core was clearly the limit. Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

After all, within his own dantian, a five-colored Golden Core floated, rising and falling… An hour passed as they chatted, but Sun Ye hadn't returned. Ye Chen frowned, about to stand and urge him, when Li Feihuang stopped him, telling him not to rush. Another half-hour later, Sun Ye finally hurried back, pulling a jade box from his storage ring.

"Please forgive me, Boss. Others saw us selling inventory at a low price and ganged up to drive it down further, so it took longer." Sun Ye's tone was anxious, but Ye Chen mentally applauded. Well done. He decided to help Sun Ye reach the Golden Core stage someday—let the old man work for him a few more centuries. With a sigh, Ye Chen said, "Fine, go on." Sun Ye scurried off, his back even more hunched than before. Ye Chen handed the jade box to Li Feihuang.

As she thanked him and accepted it, a system prompt echoed in his mind…