Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 106 - 103: Refusing to Marry In, a High-Stakes Gamble

Chapter 106: Chapter 103: Refusing to Marry In, a High-Stakes Gamble

The Su Family’s situation was perilous.

One could even say the entire Su Family was standing on the edge of a cliff.

For two consecutive generations, they had failed to produce a new late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Worse yet, perhaps because they had grown accustomed to the easy life of catching Spirit Fish in South Lake to trade for Spirit Stones, the Su Family’s Cultivators were far less capable of handling a crisis than those of other families.

During the last Demon Cultivator invasion, Su Anyi, who was responsible for guarding South Lake, deserted his post without a fight the moment he identified the intruder as a Demon Cultivator.

Had Su Ruihe arrived just a moment later, the man would have escaped with a large number of Tier Two Spirit Fish.

Elder Su wanted nothing more than to take his sword and cut Su Anyi down.

But that was his own son, and he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Normally, if his son was a lost cause, he could still focus on raising his grandson. After all, Foundation Establishment Cultivators live long enough for that.

However, while Su Huaitao was excellent in all other aspects, he simply had no talent for cultivation.

His father, Su Anyi, had at least managed to cultivate to the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. Even though he had been unable to break through for a long time, there was still a sliver of hope.

As of now, Su Huaitao was only at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, and the late stage was nowhere in sight.

Considering the circumstances, it was better to pin his hopes on Su Yuanpeng and Su Wanqing than on those two.

The problem was, Su Ruihe no longer had time to protect them until they were strong enough to stand on their own.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator could live for two hundred years, but only in the absence of illness or injury.

No one knew, aside from Su Huaitao.

Su Ruihe now had only five years left to live.

Two matters weighed heavily on his mind.

First, whether the Su Family could hold on to its South Lake enterprise after he was gone.

If not handled properly, what was once a Treasure Basin would become the very fuse that led to the Su Family’s demise.

Second, whether Su Yuanpeng and Su Wanqing could both break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment and restore the Su Family’s glory.

Su Ruihe had been worrying about these two matters for several years.

But he had never found a good solution.

Then, in the latter half of last year, he kept hearing the same name: Xiao Chen.

The speed at which this suddenly prominent young man was advancing was simply incredible.

He completely defied everyone’s expectations and, in the process, broke the Li Huo Sect’s record for the fastest cultivation progress. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

If that were all, Su Ruihe wouldn’t have entertained any other ideas.

After all, Xiao Chen had already become Elder Chen’s disciple. Trying to poach him would come at an immense cost.

Even when Xiao Chen broke through to Foundation Establishment,

Su Ruihe remained unmoved.

But a few days ago, when the news of Xiao Chen killing the Hundred Poison Demon was confirmed, he could no longer sit still.

A newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator capable of killing a Demon Cultivator of the same rank are two entirely different concepts.

The difficulty of killing an opponent versus merely defeating them can’t even be compared.

Furthermore, that kind of real-world combat experience and daring is invaluable.

Su Ruihe calculated that at this rate, Xiao Chen might only need four years to break through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

At that point, equipped with the Su Family’s Top-Grade Magical Artifacts and supported by the family Array, he would be perfectly capable of guarding South Lake and contending with a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Furthermore, if Xiao Chen could later demonstrate his strength via the Demon Extermination Hall,

and if Su Ruihe then helped publicize his achievements, they might be able to scare off potential enemies and win without a fight.

But the question remained: how could he convince Xiao Chen to help?

The answer Su Ruihe finally arrived at was written on the gift list in front of them.

"A Top-Grade Magical Artifact, the Fire-Storage Treasure Gourd; a Top-Grade Magical Artifact, the Fringed Tassel Brocade Handkerchief; eight bottles of Tier Two Beneficial Spirit Pills; fifty bottles of Tier Two Evergreen Pills; fifty bottles of Tier Two Spring Pills."

"Ten thousand Spirit Stones, a ten percent share of South Lake’s profits, a twenty percent share of the Spirit Medicine Garden’s profits, and a forty percent share of Little South Mountain’s profits."

Skipping over a few functional and ceremonial items,

Xiao Chen softly read aloud the nine most important entries on the gift list.

It had to be said, the Su Family was a major clan after all. Very few cultivators could assemble such a gift list, even if they went completely bankrupt.

He first glanced at the contract on the right. It was a Divine Soul Contract.

The terms were quite harsh, requiring the signatory cultivator to guard South Lake for the Su Family for fifty years.

Next, he looked at the marriage certificate on the left. It was a contract for him to marry into the family.

The prospective bride was none other than Su Wanqing!

Xiao Chen maintained a calm facade, but inwardly he was reeling with shock.

’What is the Su Family up to?’

Su Ruihe tapped his finger on the tabletop. "Whether you choose the contract or the marriage certificate, you will receive everything on the gift list."

Huh?

This time, Xiao Chen was truly stunned.

’I originally thought I had to sign both the contract and the marriage certificate to get all those things.’

’So I can get all that just by marrying Su Wanqing?’

’Become a kept man?’

Unaware of Xiao Chen’s thoughts, Su Ruihe added, "The All-Fish Banquet hasn’t ended. I am willing to have all the guests bear witness; I will not go back on my word."

"If you don’t want outsiders to know the contents of this deal, we can also reveal only certain parts and announce it publicly as the grand prize."

"As long as you agree, none of this will be an issue."

’So that’s why. No wonder he picked this specific time to talk.’

’To be fair, the terms the Su Family offered this time were undeniably generous.’

’Even though Su Wanqing is a bit silly, she’s actually quite beautiful.’

’Plus, her talent is excellent, and she has a high chance of becoming a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the future.’

’This life as a kept man actually sounds pretty good.’

"I’m sorry, Elder Su, but I must refuse this deal."

Xiao Chen’s rejection was crisp and clean.

Su Ruihe’s eyes narrowed. Xiao Chen’s refusal was completely unexpected.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered the possibility.

He just hadn’t expected Xiao Chen to be so decisive about it.

Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator would find it difficult not to be tempted by the items on that gift list.

He chose his words with care. "If you have some reservations, we can discuss them."

Xiao Chen shook his head. ’Su Ruihe doesn’t know I have the Augment. So no matter how bold his gamble is, he’s still severely underestimating me.’

’With such a gap in understanding, there’s no way for us to negotiate.’

"Elder Mr. Su, thank you very much for thinking so highly of me. I will help keep what happened today a secret. But as for this deal, please allow me to refuse."

After speaking, Xiao Chen stood up.

"Elder Mr. Su, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

...

Su Ruihe stared silently at the gift list on the table, his gaze unfocused as if he were lost in thought.

Xiao Chen did not rush him, simply standing and waiting quietly.

After a long moment, a look of resolve slowly returned to Su Ruihe’s eyes.

He slowly rose to his feet and reached out, taking back the contract and the marriage certificate.

Then, to Xiao Chen’s surprise, he broke into a smile, pointed at the gift list, and said, "Since you won the grand prize, just consider these things a gift from me."

As he said this, Su Ruihe’s tone was as casual as ever.

It was as if he were giving away nothing more than a single Spirit Stone.

Even for the Su Family, these items represented a significant fortune.

But Su Ruihe had decided to be a gambler for once.

In the moments of silence, over a hundred years of accumulated experience had led him to an astonishing conclusion.

Xiao Chen was supremely confident. When he looked at these treasures, he exuded an air of looking down upon them from a great height.

If Su Ruihe had to describe the feeling, it was something like: ’Even though he has nothing now, it’s only a matter of time before all of this is easily within his grasp.’

Su Ruihe decided to take a risk—to make a true, high-stakes gamble.

He was betting that Xiao Chen’s confidence wasn’t baseless. He was betting that Xiao Chen would one day soar to incredible heights. And he was betting that he would remember the investment made in him today.