Spiritual Objects in this world are often born from a confluence of coincidences.

This is especially true for high-tier materials.

Not only must they form at the center of the earth’s ley lines, but also at the center of a spiritual qi nexus. Only when both conditions are met can a Starfire Stone possibly condense after a millennium of being inundated by both molten flame and Spiritual Qi.

For Chen Che, this was no small matter.

A single Starfire Stone could save him several years of arduous cultivation.

So, it was worth a personal trip.

"What’s the story with this Yu Family?"

Chen Che asked casually from his perch on the Little Chick’s back.

He only knew that they were a Foundation Establishment Clan; everything else was a blank.

"They’re a major Foundation Establishment clan of about three hundred years. They only have two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the clan. The rest number around five hundred, with six at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. The clan leader is named Yu Xiu, and the other one only reached Foundation Establishment within the last ten years."

"The family started out as fishermen. It’s said their ancestor was an expert at fishing and once pulled a cultivator’s corpse from the river, which is how he opened the door to Cultivation. Others say the ancestor murdered that cultivator..."

"But it was a long time ago. No one knows the specifics anymore."

Having had his offer rejected, Rong Zhongxuan was also quite annoyed.

Coupled with Chen Che deciding to go in person, he had already gathered all the latest information. If they couldn’t reach an agreement, they would just take it by force.

"Oh, right. Two years ago, Yu Xiu also participated in the hunt for that Tiger Demon that was terrorizing Chi State. It seems she was injured."

Rong Zhongxuan added.

"Oh?"

Chen Che’s brow lifted, a thoughtful look on his face.

...

WHOOSH!

The Little Chick flapped its wings, and moments later, it was already soaring over Chi State. It passed through the deserted village, and half an hour later, they saw a long river that snaked and curved nine times.

The Yu Family had built their estate along this very river.

It was currently noon.

Boats shuttled back and forth across the great river, and fishermen constantly cast their nets—a bustling scene indeed.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Chen Che’s brow twitched. As his Divine Sense spread out, he felt about four powerful auras concealed among the fishermen.

Within his sea of consciousness, countless flames flickered and shone.

Each flame represented a life force.

A cultivator’s aura was robust, their flame bright. A mortal’s aura was weak, their flame dim. But the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator burned like a torch. No matter how well it was hidden, it was completely exposed under the Divine Sense of a Golden Core Realm expert.

"You just said the Yu Family only has two Foundation Establishment Cultivators?"

Aboard the Little Chick, Chen Che’s gaze swept over the figures.

"Yes, that’s right!"

Rong Zhongxuan nodded, confused.

"These few should be Tribulation Cultivators... Mm, their auras carry a trace of Evil Qi. I’m afraid they’re also here for the Starfire Stone."

The thought flashed through his mind, and Chen Che chuckled softly.

...

SPLASH~

On the great river, several fishermen standing at the bows of their boats cast their nets. They glanced at the streak of light crossing the sky, their pupils constricting slightly.

"That Demon Beast? It’s from Jinyun Valley..."

"The rumors are true. Jinyun Valley is also after this Starfire Stone?"

The men exchanged glances, their Divine Sense communication revealing a shared sense of trouble.

"What do we do?"

Someone was already having second thoughts. "Jinyun Valley is not to be trifled with!"

"Let’s observe the situation first. If Jinyun Valley gets the Starfire Stone, we’ll have no choice but to give up. If they don’t, we make our move tonight!"

One of the Major Cultivators said in a low voice:

"Best not to drag this out. Delays breed trouble!"

A single Starfire Stone was worth 20,000 Spirit Stones.

Even if the five of them split it, they would each get four thousand. It was truly hard to give up on a prize they had been stalking for so long.

’Interesting!’

Chen Che retracted his Divine Sense.

’That’s right.’

’A Starfire Stone is incredibly valuable. If a major clan had obtained it, these Tribulation Cultivators would have surely backed off. But now that it’s in the hands of a clan like the Yu Family, with only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, how could it not attract the covetous gazes of others?’

A moment later.

Chen Che and his companion had stopped before a mansion surrounded by the great river.

The two words "Yu Mansion" were written on the vermilion-lacquered main gate.

Their arrival immediately put the Yu Family cultivators on high alert. Two fully armed squads of cultivators even followed them on Flying Shuttles.

They watched until the two men stopped in front of the mansion.

"Seniors, for what purpose have you come to the Yu Mansion?"

Outside the residence, two Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators asked, their tone seemingly respectful but in fact, extremely wary.

Rong Zhongxuan announced proudly:

"I am the Great Protector of Jinyun Valley, and this is our Valley Master. Have your clan leader come out!"

"...This."

The two guards looked at each other, at a loss.

"Our Valley Master has come in person, and you won’t even let us in the gate?"

Rong Zhongxuan sneered, took a step forward, and infused his voice with True Essence, roaring:

"Fellow Daoist Yu, the Valley Master of Jinyun Valley has come to visit. Please show yourself!"

His voice was like a clap of thunder, churning the river’s surface.

Countless fishing boats rocked as if tossed on a stormy sea, and schools of fish fled in a frenzy. The two guards clapped their hands over their ears and staggered back in horror. The tightly shut gates burst open with a BANG, and dust billowed out like smoke.

"Valley Master Chen, Protector Rong, your presence graces us. Please forgive this old woman for not personally welcoming you!"

A voice drifted over.

Following it, an old woman with a full head of silver hair and a face like wrinkled orange peel floated over.

It was the current leader of the Yu Family, the Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator, Yu Xiu!

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

The two cultivators turned and bowed deeply to the old woman.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, our Valley Master has come in person this time. You should know what this is about! The Starfire Stone, for twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones. Why did you refuse? Was the price not high enough, or do you have other conditions?"

Rong Zhongxuan got straight to the point. His voice wasn’t loud, but his tone was extremely firm.

Hearing this, Yu Xiu’s smile didn’t waver, but her gaze lingered on Rong Zhongxuan for a moment. He was once just a Loose Cultivator who, by some kind of bullshit luck, not only joined Jinyun Valley but even became a Protector.

In the past, he wouldn’t have been qualified to speak to her like this.

But she simply turned her smiling face to Chen Che:

"Valley Master Chen, this is not the place to talk. Why don’t we go inside the clan grounds to discuss this in detail?"

"Very well!"

Chen Che nodded slightly.

With that, he stepped into the Yu Mansion.

Along the way, they saw an endless stream of patrolling cultivators. Some of the clan’s Protective Arrays had even been activated. Seeing this, Rong Zhongxuan’s eyes filled with vigilance. Chen Che also raised an eyebrow slightly, giving Yu Xiu a meaningful look.

"Valley Master Chen, please forgive us."

Yu Xiu cupped her hands slightly.

"After news of the Starfire Stone got out, several Tribulation Cultivators have already tried to infiltrate the clan to steal it. This is a necessary precaution against them."

"Fellow Daoist Yu, I offered twenty-five thousand. I don’t know what you’re still unsatisfied with?"

Chen Che gave her an indifferent glance and spoke slowly, "Pardon my bluntness, but with your clan’s strength, you can’t possibly protect the Starfire Stone. It would be better to sell it sooner rather than later to avoid bringing disaster upon yourselves."

Although Yu Xiu was only just over 240 years old this year, her level of decrepitude was almost on par with Ye Jingzhou’s.

As for the other Major Cultivator, he had reached Foundation Establishment less than ten years ago; he would surely die if he encountered any reasonably strong Foundation Establishment Cultivator. And the clan’s Grand Array, as well as the other Qi Refining Cultivators, were no different from paper in the eyes of Tribulation Cultivators.

The Yu Family possessing the Starfire Stone was like a child carrying gold through a bustling market.

"...Ah, this."

Yu Xiu’s face showed hesitation, a struggle visible in her eyes.

After a moment, she clenched her jaw and shook her head, "Valley Master Chen, please forgive me, but this old woman wishes to keep this Starfire Stone to refine a Magical Artifact for the clan!"

At these words, Chen Che stopped dead in his tracks. He turned his head slightly, looking her up and down.

He stared until Yu Xiu’s skin crawled, then he retracted his gaze and chuckled lightly.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, being too greedy is not a good thing!"

"I don’t understand what Valley Master Chen is talking about..."

Yu Xiu said, steeling herself.

"Playing dumb?"

"Everyone in your Yu Family, from top to bottom, cultivates Water Attribute Techniques. You’re going to use a Fire-Attribute Ore to forge a Magical Artifact?"

Shaking his head slowly, Chen Che said casually, "Fellow Daoist Yu, a Starfire Stone is certainly rare, but its market price is only twenty thousand, floating up by two thousand Spirit Stones at most. My offer of twenty-five thousand was because I didn’t want any extra trouble."

"And yet, at this point, you’re still holding out for a better offer. Do you take me for a sucker?"

!?

Yu Xiu was stunned.

She never imagined that Chen Che would see through her scheme.

It was true.

The moment she got the Starfire Stone, she had intended to sell it. Several influences had come to bid that day. Jinyun Valley’s bid of twenty-five thousand scared all the other bidders away. This also made her guess that Jinyun Valley might be in urgent need of the item.

Now, seeing Chen Che’s anger, she panicked.

"Valley Master Chen, please calm your anger! This old woman agrees!"

"Agreeing now? Don’t you think it’s a little too late?"

Chen Che gave her a deep look. Seeing her stunned expression, her eyes filled with regret and terror, he finally let out a soft laugh.

"Rong Zhongxuan, let’s go..."

"Valley Master!"

"Valley Master Chen!"

"Valley Master Chen, please wait! Twenty-five thousand... I accept."

Seeing this, Yu Xiu hurriedly shouted.

But Chen Che didn’t stop, striding out of the Yu Family estate as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

"We’re just leaving like that?"

Although surprised, Rong Zhongxuan followed closely behind. It wasn’t until they were several hundred feet away that he spoke resentfully.

"That Yu Xiu truly doesn’t know what’s good for her. The Valley Master came in person, and she still tried to hold out for a better offer. However, I’ve already memorized the locations of the Yu Family’s Arrays. I’ll sneak in tonight and steal the Starfire Stone!"

"No need!"

Chen Che shook his head. Seeing Rong Zhongxuan’s perplexed gaze, he said meaningfully, "Someone will get it for us..."

...

"What do I do? I can’t believe I screwed this up!"

That night, in the Yu Family estate.

Yu Xiu paced anxiously, her hands clasped behind her back as she stared at the Starfire Stone sealed by an Array on a stone platform.

The only reason she hadn’t agreed was that she saw how high Jinyun Valley had bid and wanted to use the opportunity to raise the price a little more. If they refused, selling for twenty-five thousand was still an option. But who knew that rejecting them just once would anger them so much.

"Clan Leader, I told you long ago to be greedy in moderation. But you wouldn’t listen!"

The other male cultivator, who had a Fishing Spear on his back, sighed heavily. "Making a deal with a major influence like this is like asking a tiger for its skin... Any hint of greed can lead to disaster. And with this, you’ve also offended Jinyun Valley!"

He was the Yu Family’s second Foundation Establishment Cultivator:

Yu Sihai.

"But... but, how could this old woman have known..."

Yu Xiu continued to pace restlessly.

How could she have known that Jinyun Valley, despite clearly wanting it so badly, could be so decisive, giving it up just like that?

Yu Sihai sighed, understanding Yu Xiu’s thoughts perfectly.

He shook his head again.

Admittedly.

The Yu Family’s growth from a small fishing household to its current state was inseparable from Yu Xiu’s meticulous calculations and layered schemes. However, the Yu Family was now a major clan, and those they dealt with were other Foundation Establishment Influences. Their mindset needed to change.

If she clung to her old ways, it would only harm the family, not help it.

"So what now?" Yu Xiu asked.

"Deliver the Starfire Stone to Jinyun Valley and sell it for only twenty thousand Spirit Stones."

Yu Sihai advised, "The sooner, the better!"

"But... Jinyun Valley originally offered twenty-five thousand..."

Yu Xiu was still reluctant.

BOOM!

Just then, a tremendous roar echoed.

Immediately after, the clan grounds erupted into a clamor of voices, flickering firelight, and endless cries of alarm.

"What’s happening?"

Yu Xiu and Yu Sihai both felt the sudden appearance of several immense auras and were utterly horrified.

’This is bad!’

’Tribulation Cultivators are attacking!’

...

Screams, the roar of consuming fire, bursts of Spiritual Light...

In an instant.

The entire Yu Family clan was plunged into chaos.

"Master, the Tribulation Cultivators have made their move!"

Rong Zhongxuan’s eyes scanned the scene, filled with eagerness. "We can take advantage of the chaos and seize the Starfire Stone..."

"Your thinking is too small!"

Standing with his hands behind his back, watching from across the river, Chen Che glanced at Rong Zhongxuan’s bewildered expression and smiled serenely.

"If you strike now, people will only say you’re looting a burning house."

"But if you wait a little longer before making a move, not only will you be able to take the Starfire Stone openly and make a huge profit, but they’ll also have to thank you for saving their lives!"