Chapter 15: Betting.
“Three conditions?”
Ji Xuanyuan frowned slightly.
“What conditions does Young Master have?”
Chu Yuan spoke seriously.
“On top of the previous conditions, Your Highness must guarantee my safety and promise not to act against me before or after the matter. Furthermore, these conditions must be confirmed through a soul contract personally established with Your Highness.”
Ji Xuanyuan teased.
“Young Master is truly cautious in your actions.”
Chu Yuan replied earnestly.
“It is only because this one is naturally suspicious. I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”
After all, this was a female-honored society. Who knew whether the Crown Princess before him might suddenly turn dominant while “sitting” and force herself upon him?
Chu Yuan had no desire to be drained dry and ruin his hard-won second life.
Ji Xuanyuan did not mind.
“Very well. Provided that the intelligence in your hands is genuine. Otherwise… do not blame this palace for being impolite!”
“Your Highness may rest assured!”
With that, Chu Yuan summoned a scroll from the black ring.
The so-called 【Soul Contract】 was an agreement formed by both parties using their own divine souls as the medium.
Compared to ordinary paper contracts, violating such a soul contract would cause irreversible damage to the offender’s soul.
Fifteen minutes later.
Once both sides had completed the contract, Fang Henian asked urgently.
“Time is of the essence. Please inform us of the spirit mine’s location so this humble official can send people to verify it.”
Chu Yuan shook his head.
“No. I will personally lead you there. I have set up an array there. Even if ordinary cultivators knew the location, they would find it difficult to break through!”
The array he had used in the mountain was a divine-grade array disc rewarded by the system in his previous life—the 【Nine Curves Bewildering Heaven Disc】.
According to the system, this array disc was related to the 【Nine Curves Yellow River Array】 of the Three Heavens Goddesses from primordial times. After recognizing its owner with blood, one could infuse it with divine sense through the Chaos Pearl, allowing the array to automatically merge with the designated area’s earth veins.
This array could make anyone walking inside eventually return to the entrance no matter which direction they took.
Any attack launched at the array would be redirected elsewhere—possibly to a mountain peak a hundred li away, or even behind the attacker themselves.
Once the array disc fully merged with the earth veins, any cave or dwelling within would gradually shift from “visible” to “overlooked.” Even if seen, it would be instinctively ignored.
Unless the array setter personally dispelled it or someone used a treasure of equal level to break it, the array would remain permanently fixed.
And how many cultivators in the world possessed divine-grade treasures?
At least in Chu Yuan’s view, the officials of Xuanji City did not.
Hearing his words, both Ji Xuanyuan and Fang Henian showed faint traces of disdain.
After all, the youth before them was the least favored disciple of the Chu family, with inferior spiritual roots and almost zero resources.
Reaching the early Qi Sensing realm was already thanks to the protection of his deceased parents in heaven.
What kind of good array could such a cultivator possibly possess?
To the two of them, Chu Yuan’s words sounded like those of a frog at the bottom of a well.
However, as a business partner, Fang Henian could not say it outright.
“Young Master Chu may simply state the specific location. Xuanji City naturally has skilled array breakers who can locate the mine.”
Ji Xuanyuan agreed.
“Indeed. Young Master, you still need to stay behind to help this palace test the technique. Let City Lord Fang’s subordinates handle the search for the mine.”
Hearing the contempt in their voices, Chu Yuan guessed their thoughts.
A clever idea came to him, and he said.
“Your Highness, the array I set up is truly not something ordinary cultivators can break. Since you are so confident, why don’t we make a bet?”
Ji Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow.
“A bet? How does Young Master wish to bet?”
Chu Yuan seized the chance.
“Let us bet whether your people can break my array. If they succeed, I will not take the ten million spirit stones reward. If they lose, you give me another ten million. How about it?”
No one ever complained about having too many spirit stones.
Moreover, he was currently broke and would not miss any chance to earn money.
Fang Henian hesitated.
“Young Master Chu, are you sure you want to bet?”
Chu Yuan nodded.
“Of course! If the two of you do not believe me, we can establish another soul contract.”
Fang Henian cupped his hands toward Ji Xuanyuan.
“Your Highness, I think this bet is rather interesting! What do you think?”
Ji Xuanyuan fell into thought.
Ten million spirit stones was a considerable expense even for a major power. Naturally, it was better to save where possible.
However, seeing Chu Yuan’s confidence, Ji Xuanyuan did not think he was merely being young and arrogant.
Perhaps… this child truly had some assurance?
Especially if he really was her junior brother from the previous life, then behind him stood the Holy Domain.
As one of the superpowers of the True Emotion Realm, it would not be strange for the Holy Son to possess life-saving treasures.
If that were the case, agreeing to the bet rashly would be equivalent to giving away money.
If the mine could be successfully excavated and belonged to the Immortal Dynasty, the ten million spirit stones as an information fee could be handled through official channels.
But with this bet, winning was fine. If they lost, the extra ten million would have to come from her personal treasury.
As the Crown Princess, she was not short of spirit stones, but she did not want to spend them this way.
On this point, Ji Xuanyuan had to be cautious.
“Since Young Master Chu is so interested, this palace shall naturally accompany you! However, ten million spirit stones is truly too high. If Young Master loses, wouldn’t you suffer a total loss? Let us lower it to one million. A small bet for fun!”
Hearing this, both Fang Henian and Chu Yuan felt somewhat disappointed.
Especially Fang Henian, who sighed inwardly.
Ai ya! This is clearly a guaranteed win!
Sigh! Her Highness is still too kind!
Chu Yuan thought similarly.
I didn’t expect the future Female Emperor to be so cautious.
What a shame!
Still, one million is not a small amount!
If I insist on ten million, it might expose something. Let it be!
With that thought, he sighed and cupped his hands.
“Very well. Then we shall do as Your Highness wishes! It is currently noon. Let us set the time before dusk. If you can break the array by then, you win.”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded and glanced at Fang Henian.
“Go ahead, City Lord Fang. Lead the team personally. If you win, that one million spirit stones will be yours!”
To her, one million spirit stones was neither too much nor too little.
Xuanji City was a major source of tax revenue for the Immortal Dynasty.
Winning over the City Lord early would also make future governance easier after she ascended the throne.
Rather than enriching her private treasury, Ji Xuanyuan chose to reward the City Lord.
Fang Henian could not hide his joy. He knelt and saluted.
“Yes! Your Highness, this humble official will definitely not fail the mission!!!”
Fang Henian then looked toward Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan sensibly transmitted the exact location to him.
Fang Henian immediately left the room and hurriedly gathered people to head outside the city.
At the same time, the spy sent by Chu Yunlan was secretly listening to everything.
Upon learning that Chu Yuan’s deal involved a mine with a deeply buried spirit vein, he quickly transmitted to Chu Yunlan.
【…Young Master, the situation is as such. Should this subordinate continue monitoring the target, or follow City Lord Fang out of the city?】
Upon receiving the news, the corners of Chu Yunlan’s lips curled upward uncontrollably.
【I didn’t expect that Chu Yuan to actually do something like this… Go! Follow the City Lord immediately and confirm the mine’s location.】
With that, Chu Yunlan quickly began plotting a vicious scheme in his mind.