"One hundred and eighty thousand spirit stones,"
Chen Xia counted and found he was not far from gathering three hundred thousand.
During this time, he pondered one question: Was it worth exchanging three hundred thousand spirit stones for Qiong Qi's life?
He realized he was raising the three hundred thousand to buy White Vine Flower, which was essentially purchasing Qiong Qi's entire life.
In the past, he would not have reasoned like this and immediately grabbed the Bronze Sword to hack at Qiong Qi's head. If the Third Elder dared to stop him, Chen Xia would hack at him too.
Never mind if he could beat them or not, hack first and talk later.
Besides, the Blue Sky Sword Sea would not let him die.
Unless their emperor wanted to die too.
But this matter did not just tarnish Chen Xia's reputation, it also ruined the Big Yellow Dog's.
Theft was not a glorious matter to spread about. Returning the money aligned with reason. Then Qiong Qi should repay with his life.
After all, Qiong Qi was his unlucky brother. Chen Xia still hoped the Big Yellow Dog could righteously be a dog in the future.
Chen Xia neatly stored the counted spirit stones and sorted out the IOUs, picking out those with larger amounts for separate keeping.
One worth mentioning was a junior elder Chen Xia had punished before. This time he surprisingly lent two thousand spirit stones.
It was that junior elder Chen Xia taught a lesson to with provocation.
When Chen Xia sent out the message asking to borrow money, he immediately brought funds over. He did not even want the flying sword Chen Xia gifted him. The junior elder only hoped Chen Xia would forgive his previous disrespect.
Look, his worldview expanded in an instant.
Chen Xia naturally immediately forgave him and patted the junior elder's shoulder.
He admitted he had been too impulsive before and apologized to the junior elder. Chen Xia also treated him to some previously refined pills.
The emphasis was on repaying malice with virtue.
Additionally, other disciples and junior elders gave Chen Xia considerable support, which was equivalent to siding with him.
All who were willing to lend Chen Xia spirit stones chose to stand on his side.
But it was still insufficient. He still lacked money.
Chen Xia engaged his clever mind and felt he should borrow from old men, since they had pensions.
He just so happened to know a very old elder.
"How much do you want to borrow?" Old Fisherman asked, hands behind his back, as he looked at Chen Xia who came to visit.
"Not much, one hundred and twenty thousand," Chen Xia replied with a slight smile, his tone casual and indifferent.
It was indeed not much, since he had already borrowed one hundred and eighty thousand.
Old Fisherman silently sized him up several times, then asked,
"Are you planning to abscond with the money?"
"No," Chen Xia shook his head and raised his bandaged right hand, "I want to heal my injuries."
That was his public reason.
Old Fisherman looked him up and down several more times, hands still behind his back. He pointed and said, "Give me twenty thousand spirit stones, and I'll not only heal your injuries, I can even switch out your hand. Add another twenty thousand, and I can switch you to the Supreme Race or Mysterious Race, custom made to your preferences."
"I'm here to borrow money," Chen Xia shook his head and frowned, "Just lend a bit more, it'll also make it convenient for me to cultivate."
Mentioning the word "cultivate" hit Old Fisherman's sore spot. After all, the faster Chen Xia cultivated, the better for the Blue Sky Sword Sea.
But he still shook his head, "I already know you're borrowing money. There's no need to stubbornly gather three hundred thousand spirit stones just to fight with Qiong Qi. What if you really win? Giving three hundred thousand spirit stones to Qiong Qi for medical fees, how could you profit from that? Let alone you might not even beat him!"
Chen Xia did not respond, and did not say the three hundred thousand spirit stones were actually Qiong Qi's funeral fees. He only gave Old Fisherman a reason that could not be refused.
"After this fight, I'll be able to break through to the Sea Inversing Realm."
Old Fisherman was struck dumb and then revealed an amiable smile. He clapped and said,
"I knew my good disciple would not be so petty. Turns out it's to join the Sea Inversing Realm. Then you don't need spirit stones. I will personally arrange this comparison for you."
"No," Chen Xia also smiled, "I want to gather three hundred thousand spirit stones, beat him soundly and fair and square. Otherwise my determination will be impeded and I'll have trouble breaking through to the Sea Inversing Realm."
Old Fisherman's brows raised. Cultivators did have this saying - if determination was obstructed and the matter was not thought through clearly, it was highly probable to be stuck in a realm for a long time.
"Fine, I'll lend them." Old Fisherman readily agreed. But he also asked another sentence, "After this fight, you really will break through to the Sea Inversing Realm?"
Chen Xia nodded, "Possibly."
"Why just possibly?" Old Fisherman did not understand and felt somewhat apprehensive.
"Because if I lose, then I won't." Chen Xia answered matter-of-factly.
This was normal. What cultivator could still break through after losing? Not dropping a realm would be considered not bad.
"You might lose?" Old Fisherman's eyes narrowed sharply as he asked this question.
In his view, since Chen Xia dared to actively propose a fight, then he must have great confidence in winning. Otherwise, why would he actively start a fight?
The corners of Chen Xia's lips raised in a confident smile. His head lifted slightly as he replied in a certain tone, to Old Fisherman's delight:
"Hard to say."
He wanted to trick some of Old Fisherman's savings out.
Old Fisherman's delighted expression froze. He really did not expect Chen Xia to be able to say such words with a confident demeanor. Frowning, he asked again,
"What are the odds?"
"Sixty-forty, in my favor." Chen Xia replied this way.
"Good." Old Fisherman nodded, "I will lend you one hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones and also have the Third Elder not interfere. But my treasures and mystic arts are too profound, it's really not suitable to give to you."
"No problem, I love using profound ones." Chen Xia accepted considerately.
Old Fisherman still did not give him any treasures. He only lent Chen Xia one hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones.
"Master, we don't need IOUs between us master and disciple right? Let's not fuss over these tedious things."
Chen Xia suggested as he accepted the plentiful spirit stones.
"Even blood brothers clearly calculate accounts. Money is something far too likely to cause disputes. It's not that I don't trust you, I really don't want money to damage our relationship."
Old Fisherman disagreed. After all, this one hundred and twenty thousand spirit stones was still a considerable amount even for a near-Saint like him. Lending them was fine, but letting them disappear into thin air was absolutely unacceptable.
Chen Xia let it go. Whether he would pay it back or not was up to him anyway.
If he really had no money to repay, what could Old Fisherman do?
Nothing but watch on helplessly.
Chen Xia returned to his abode, fully satisfied. He counted out the entire three hundred thousand spirit stones, all there without any shortfall.
He filled three storage treasures and set them aside, counting down the days. He planned to pick an auspicious date to use these three hundred thousand spirit stones to purchase Qiong Qi's life.
Leaning on his hand, Chen Xia suddenly had an absurd idea.
He felt his actions really could not be considered human trafficking right?
It should be considered a funeral service package.