Chapter 145: Chapter 133: Sure Enough, You Can’t Win a Bidding War Against Xiao Chen

Xiao Chen did a quick calculation. Including the ten thousand Spirit Stones he had just received, he now had a total of 32,593 Spirit Stones.

Considering a Top Grade Magical Artifact cost over ten thousand Spirit Stones, he now had a chance to win the Wind and Thunder Dual Swords.

But his chances weren’t guaranteed.

After all, with so many prominent families present, someone else had probably set their sights on the Dual Swords as well.

HSSS... ’This is so frustrating.’

"Junior Brother Xiao, did you not bring enough Spirit Stones?"

Just as Xiao Chen was stewing over his dilemma, Elder Liu walked over from the side.

Ever since returning from the Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range, he had been paying close attention to Xiao Chen.

He had just seen Steward Chen’s group hand over Spirit Stones to Xiao Chen and immediately realized this was a perfect opportunity.

Moreover, as the Liu Family’s cultivator with the highest cultivation, he happened to be holding a large sum of Spirit Stones.

’What a coincidence!’

So, he immediately walked over with a broad smile and asked with concern, "The last time we fought those demons together, I never had a chance to properly thank you, Junior Brother Xiao."

"I happen to have brought some Spirit Stones with me. Why don’t you take them for now, Junior Brother Xiao?"

"Please, Junior Brother Xiao, don’t refuse. This is the perfect chance for me to repay the favor."

Elder Liu’s tone made it sound like he was the one begging Xiao Chen to take his money.

Even though he was clearly the one offering help.

Xiao Chen was a little embarrassed. "Liu, I might be short by quite a lot."

’Something this good is actually happening?’

Elder Liu’s eyes lit up. "No problem. I brought plenty of Spirit Stones with me this time. How many are you short, Junior Brother?"

’The more he needs to borrow, the better.’

’I’m not worried about you asking for too much, I’m worried you won’t ask at all.’

He decisively untied a small Storage Bag from his waist and removed the Spiritual Ban. "I brought some extra Spirit Stones before I came, thinking I might run into something good."

"I didn’t expect to find nothing I liked after looking through the entire catalog."

"Junior Brother Xiao, just take all of it and put it to good use."

No one nearby had expected Elder Liu to simply hand over his entire Storage Bag.

Liu Shi Qing, who was standing beside Elder Liu, stared with wide eyes.

’What is going on?’

’Weren’t we supposed to be buying a batch of Spirit Tea and some Top Grade Spirit Fruits for the family on this trip?’

’How could he just lend out all the Spirit Stones? Are we not going to buy anything during the second half of the auction?’

She was so shocked that she forgot to even ask. Her brain simply froze.

But Elder Liu paid her no mind, simply placing the Storage Bag in Xiao Chen’s hand. "I have an old friend over there I haven’t seen in ages. He’s waiting for me to catch up."

"I’ll go on ahead."

With that, he led a stunned Liu Shi Qing back to the Liu Family’s area.

Xiao Chen sent his Divine Sense into the Storage Bag, which no longer had its Spiritual Ban active. Inside, he found a whopping forty-eight thousand Spirit Stones.

This was clearly the family’s entire bidding fund, gathered well in advance for the auction.

He had been preoccupied with the Wind and Thunder Dual Swords and had only hesitated for a moment.

But Elder Liu had already departed, giving him no opportunity to refuse.

’Oh well. An opportunity like this is rare. I’ll just accept it for now.’

’When I get the chance, I’ll pay him back double.’

Now that he had more than enough Spirit Stones, Xiao Chen finally relaxed. He returned to his seat to wait for the second half of the auction to begin.

Meanwhile, Liu Shi Qing had finally snapped out of it. "Second Uncle, you lent all our Spirit Stones to Xiao! Does that mean we’re not buying anything in the second half?"

She couldn’t understand Elder Liu’s move at all.

"It’s fine."

Elder Liu waved his hand dismissively. "I’ll go pool some together from our other family members. We’ll just have to buy fewer Spirit Fruits to take back, that’s all."

He then went around to the other Liu Family Foundation Establishment cultivators and, bit by bit, managed to scrape together over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

One of the Liu Family’s clan elders heard what had happened and asked with concern, "Zhishui, why did you lend so many Spirit Stones to that young man?"

Elder Liu just smiled. "It’s a long story. In any case, please rest assured, esteemed uncle and everyone else. Once we return, the clan will promptly reimburse you from the treasury." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Another Liu Family clan elder first found Liu Shi Qing to ask about Xiao Chen.

He then commented, pained by the thought of the money, "Even though he has joined the Chen Family, he’s ultimately all on his own. After borrowing so many Spirit Stones, he probably won’t be able to pay them back for decades."

"Zhishui, you were too impulsive. That was far too many Spirit Stones to lend out."

Elder Liu simply smiled without saying a word.

’Too many Spirit Stones?’

’No, no, no. If anything, I’m worried I brought too few.’

’As for him not being able to pay it back?’

’That would be even better. That’s precisely the outcome I’m hoping for.’

’It would be a loss if he paid it back too quickly. It’s much better for the debt to linger and become one of personal obligation.’