Chapter 9: Ah! I got it for free!

Using a wisp of divine sense condensed in the Qi Sensing realm, Chu Yuan probed inside the black ring and felt a surge of joy.

All the cultivation methods, treasures, talismans, and artifacts he had accumulated over three hundred years of dog-licking were stored within.

Any single item was a divine-grade treasure. Many were artifacts belonging to primordial experts that could easily fetch over a hundred million spirit stones at auction.

With so many ways to make money at his disposal, Chu Yuan had no intention of selling them off. He refused to pick up sesame seeds only to lose the watermelon.

He pondered silently.

After all, I am now a reborn protagonist with memories of the next three hundred years.

Xuanji City is renowned as the world’s foremost trading metropolis. Every year, countless cultivators rise to fortune here.

At this point in time, what business opportunities are available?

Mines… spiritual mines… that’s it!

There is an undiscovered mine nearby.

The spiritual ore reserves beneath it are exceptionally rich and will only be found by Chu family disciples several years later.

With just my own strength, secretly excavating it is impossible. I can only sell this information.

Sell it to my own family?

No!

As a collateral descendant, I am not favored in the Chu family. Any credit would simply be snatched away by others.

It would be better to use my identity as a Chu family disciple to sell this “internal intelligence” to other powers and take a share of the profits.

Having a plan, Chu Yuan summoned a semi-transparent wind cloak from the black ring.

【Divine Treasure · Illusionary Void Wind Robe】.

Once activated, Chu Yuan could conceal or disguise his figure and even hide his cultivation and physique. Not even a Dao Integration realm expert would be able to detect him.

After donning the wind robe, Chu Yuan felt as though he was wrapped in an invisible barrier that even blocked the Heavenly Dao’s prying gaze.

Without delay, he activated the robe, slipped out of the house, and headed toward the mine.

Along the way, the spring breeze brushed his face, leaving him refreshed and carefree.

The feeling of freedom was so unfamiliar, so luxurious.

No system issuing tasks.

No “Congratulations Host on activating the Dog-Licking Villain System. Please follow the script… Failure will result in death and Dao dissipation”…

In this life, he could act freely and say whatever he wanted with his own will.

“Ah! I’m finally free!!!”

Several moments later.

Chu Yuan entered the mountain range and began digging.

He dug for three full days.

He managed to excavate several pieces of iron ore.

At first glance, these iron ores appeared riddled with impurities, but divine sense inspection revealed the spirit stones contained within.

Chu Yuan packed them into a cloth bag. At the same time, he took out an array disc and set up the 【Nine Curves Bewildering Heaven Array】 related to the Three Heavens Goddesses to prevent ordinary cultivators from stumbling upon the mine’s secret.

After preparing everything, he returned to Xuanji City and visited several势力 shops in the city.

Unfortunately, the shopkeepers judged him by his status or dismissed the poor quality of the ores. Before Chu Yuan could even reveal the hidden value, he was thrown out.

Walking along the street, Chu Yuan sighed inwardly.

‘I’ll try a few more places. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to disguise myself as a mysterious person and directly propose cooperation…’

“Young friend, please wait!”

At that moment, a steady male voice came from behind.

Chu Yuan turned around and saw a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes.

He immediately recognized City Lord Fang Henian and asked in confusion.

“May I ask what this is about?”

Fang Henian cupped his hands.

“Young friend, are you selling ore? My young miss is interested. Would you be willing to accompany me to a nearby teahouse for a chat?”

Chu Yuan’s expression turned strange.

What does he mean by “my young miss”?

The only person a city lord would address with such respect… could it be some royal relative from the Immortal Dynasty?

Wait! Doesn’t this mean… a rich patron has arrived?

With that thought, he returned the greeting.

“Then I’ll trouble you to lead the way!”

Soon, Chu Yuan climbed to the third floor of the teahouse.

The moment the door opened, he saw the graceful, red-haired Crown Princess seated by the window and couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

As expected of the peerlessly beautiful Female Emperor of the Immortal Dynasty from his previous life. She truly isn’t someone that wooden block of a senior sister can compare to!

During the subsequent conversation with Ji Xuanyuan, Chu Yuan had still wanted to bring up the mine business.

But after just a few simple sentences, the Immortal Dynasty’s Crown Princess handed him thirty thousand spirit stones and sent him away.

Although puzzled, Chu Yuan did not push his luck.

Still, Ji Xuanyuan’s words had given him a path through the “City Lord Mansion’s Tribute Department.”

It would be about the same if he later approached Fang Henian about the mine through that connection.

Even though he failed to latch onto the future Female Emperor as a rich patron, Chu Yuan did not feel any regret.

After all, three hundred years of accumulated experience in his previous life had given him some basic skill in physiognomy.

During their meeting, he had observed the Crown Princess’s face clearly.

Ji Xuanyuan possessed naturally thick, upward-slanting sword-shaped brows.

Such brows were known in the books as “Fuxi Brows.” On a man they signified nobility; on a woman they signified desire.

Her eyes had upward-slanting tails that flew into her temples—classic “peach blossom eyes” with an upward tilt.

Such eyes indicated heavy romantic and even heavier ambition.

Ordinary people fell in love with their hearts. People like her, once moved, would swallow the other party whole—bones, flesh, and all.

Her straight nose bridge signified self-centeredness and dominance, while her rounded nose tip signified materialism and enjoyment.

Combined, it meant:

Whatever she wanted, she would obtain. Whatever she obtained, she would enjoy thoroughly.

Not to mention her full, well-shaped lips with clearly defined edges. When slightly pursed, they looked like they were holding something back. When relaxed even a little, they carried three parts smile and seven parts seduction.

These were classic “lustful lips.” A person born with such lips was not merely passionate—they were filled with desire.

Looking at her entire face:

Brows like blades, eyes like hooks, nose like bone, lips like fire.

A woman with such features, if born into a poor family, would be a calamity.

If born into an imperial family, even an entire kingdom would not be enough to satisfy her.

Especially in a female-honored society like the Immortal Dynasty, as the Crown Princess, her residence likely housed countless male concubines.

If she took a fancy to his talent and locked him away in the depths of her harem, Chu Yuan could forget about freedom. He would probably be drained dry every single night.

Thinking this way, he actually felt fortunate that the Crown Princess had not taken an interest in him.

After leaving the teahouse, Chu Yuan walked back along the blue-stone long street. In the distance, he saw a grand procession slowly approaching.

Leading the way were eight green-robed maidservants holding incense burners, horsetail whisks, and other items. Their steps were light and their gazes straight ahead.

Behind them were sixteen silver-armored guards riding uniformly snow-white steeds, long swords hanging at their waists, looking majestic and imposing.

The entire procession was grand and occupied more than half the street.

Passersby hurriedly made way. Those in the know whispered.

“Which family has such a grand display? Even the city lord’s outings aren’t this extravagant, right?”

“Shh, lower your voice! Don’t you see the green bamboo pattern? That’s the Chu family’s phoenix carriage!”

“The Chu family? Such a grand procession? Could it be the Chu family head?”

“I don’t think so! I heard a distinguished guest has been staying with the Chu family these past few days. Apparently from the legendary Holy Domain.”

Inside the phoenix carriage, premium dragon saliva incense burned in the censer.

A refined fragrance lingered in the narrow space.

The carriage curtains were drawn tightly, leaving only the ventilation opening at the top to let in a sliver of daylight.

The light fell upon two figures—one bright, one dark—outlining sharply contrasting silhouettes.

Gu Qingwan sat on the left.

She kept her eyes lowered, hands folded neatly on her knees, fingers twisting the fabric of her sleeves.

“Fairy Liu, I’ll be troubling you this time!”

As she spoke, Gu Qingwan looked toward the modest gentleman sitting opposite her—or rather, the female immortal disguised as a man, Liu Biqin.