Chapter 4: Lend Me Some Source Crystals

Li Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. He knew all too well how headstrong this young lady could be; in her impulsive moments, she was as fierce as a shrew.

"Did I ruin your plans? Were you actually capable of dealing with Wang Zifan with ease from the start, and it was my appearance that caught you off guard?"

Born into a prestigious family, Jiang Qingyue possessed a keen eye that was not to be underestimated. As far as Li Xuan's performance was concerned, it could hardly escape her scrutiny.

Knowing he could not hide it, Li Xuan had no choice but to spill the truth, though he embellished much of it and omitted the crucial details. As for his pretense of being lame, he recounted it with such vivid emotion that he even managed to squeeze out a tear or two.

"Li Xuan, do you really think I’m that easy to fool?"

Jiang Qingyue was skeptical. Her phoenix eyes burned with authority, and her limpid, autumn-clear gaze seemed to peer straight into his soul.

However, since cultivating the *Sacred Emperor Green Lotus Canon*, Li Xuan’s mind had become exceptionally sharp, even capable of perceiving the thoughts of others. Naturally, he seized the opportunity to steer the conversation in a favorable direction.

"Li Xuan, it was pure luck that you were able to handle Wang Zifan. Do not be so reckless and arrogant in the future; do not let down the sacrifices your second sister has made for you!"

Jiang Qingyue’s tone softened significantly, revealing a sense of pity as she kindly warned him not to act impulsively.

The speaker may have been casual, but the listener took it to heart. Li Xuan pressed, "Sister Qingyue, there is more to your words than meets the eye!"

Jiang Qingyue looked dejected, her eyes flickering with sadness as she gazed at him. "Did Xi Xi not tell you? It is no wonder; you were still in a deep slumber at the time, hovering between life and death. How could she have told you? To obtain the 'Tianlan Cardamom' for you, Xi Xi effectively sold herself to the Wang family."

Hearing this, Li Xuan felt a buzzing in his brain as if the sky were collapsing. Trembling, he grabbed Jiang Qingyue’s wrist and asked, "What is this all about?"

Jiang Qingyue’s thoughts were in turmoil. After a brief moment to compose herself, she said, "Xi Xi agreed to a marriage alliance with the Wang family. At this very moment, your brother-in-law-to-be, Wang Teng, is searching for the 'Tianlan Cardamom' in a secret ruin to extend your life. Truth be told, Wang Teng is quite infatuated; he was willing to venture into that deadly, forbidden ground for her sake!"

Jiang Qingyue was visibly moved. Li Chenxi had abandoned her own happiness to keep her brother alive. If a disaster were to strike the Jiang family one day, she, too, would sacrifice herself without hesitation to ensure the family's survival.

Everyone envied the sons and daughters of great families, unaware that their glitz and glamour were built upon the blood and sacrifice of their forefathers.

Li Xuan, of course, knew that Wang Teng was a notorious philanderer. To him, there was only conquest, not love; women were merely accessories on his path to power.

"No! I must stop my second sister from getting married!"

Li Xuan’s jaw tightened, and anger surged within his deep blue eyes.

Jiang Qingyue spoke sternly, "Li Xuan, do you think you have the power to stop this? Not only will the Li family be ruined, but you will also trigger a political upheaval. The Wang family’s influence is not to be trifled with. Furthermore, the Sacred Dao Academy strictly forbids students from causing trouble or disrupting public order. If you do, you will be expelled, and there will be no place for a member of the Li family in the outer star domain."

Li Xuan closed his eyes in sorrow and asked softly, "Sister Qingyue, why tell me all this?"

He longed to find a quiet place to lie down and ignore everything, but he couldn't. That was his beloved sister—the one who had sacrificed her happiness and risked her life to secure a chance for his survival. He could not sit idly by.

Calculating from the time he entered the Sacred Dao Academy, he should have been a fourth-year student, a prospective graduate. Yet, his cultivation was only at the early stage of the Spirit Initiation Realm—two major realms behind the academy's requirements. If he could secure a spot in the top ten, he could appeal to the academy’s high-ranking officials to protect the Li family.

The rules were clear, but he had lost so much time. Could he possibly catch up within half a year?

To bridge two major realms—one might ask the heavens, who in the outer star domain could achieve this, save for the peerless geniuses of the inner star domain?

"Because I am Xi Xi’s best friend. I cannot watch her jump into a pit of fire. As a woman in the cultivation world, one must be the master of her own destiny; she cannot be a sacrificial pawn for anyone!"

Jiang Qingyue was impassioned, her lotus-like cheeks flushed, and her thin, red lips as vibrant as water caltrops. "I had already given up, but after seeing your performance just now, I saw hope. You could create a miracle at the Sacred Dao Academy, secure Xi Xi’s happiness, and revitalize the Li family. After all, the Li family of the past was once a name that struck fear even into the hidden clans of the inner star domain!"

Li Xuan felt his blood boiling with excitement, a surge of ambition like a dragon stirring the seas. He said firmly, "I will do it!"

Jiang Qingyue was secretly pleased, but then Li Xuan said something so abrupt that it felt like playing the lute to a cow.

"Sister Qingyue, could you lend me some operating capital?"

Li Xuan looked at her with hopeful, aggrieved eyes, nearly causing her to collapse to the ground. She roared, "No!"

Li Xuan understood the minds of girls well. After much pestering, Jiang Qingyue finally compromised. "Fine, how much? Let me tell you, the purchasing power of Source Crystals is no small matter. A single high-grade Source Crystal is enough for an ordinary family to live for half a year!"

In the Yaoguang Star Domain, Source Crystals were the symbol of purchasing power, used to exchange for goods of equivalent value.

"Hmm, one million!"

Li Xuan held up his index finger. He expected a quick yes, but what greeted him was a storm.

Jiang Qingyue twisted his ear and scolded him roundly, "You bandit! You dare ask me for a million Source Crystals? Are you tired of living? What exactly are you planning?"

Li Xuan was desperate, yet he spoke with righteous indignation. "Sister Qingyue, listen to me. The Li family has fallen. A noble young lady and master of the Li family can’t go around doing odd jobs for others—it’s exhausting and doesn't earn enough. So, I have a bold idea: to snipe the stone-gambling dens. That is a business with enormous returns!"

It was true that stone gambling could yield massive profits, but it was also a path to destitution. One wrong step, and one would fall into an abyss from which there was no return.

The more Li Xuan spoke, the more Jiang Qingyue refused to lend him the money. To her, a million Source Crystals were not even pocket change, but to save a lamb that had lost its way, she had to be firm.

No matter how he pleaded, Jiang Qingyue refused to budge. The tension between them was palpable.

Li Xuan knew that if he wanted to revitalize the Li family, he needed enough Source Crystals to pave the way, to manage relationships, and to facilitate resource sharing. Everyone wanted quick money, but he lacked a mentor to point the way.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He walked to a corner of the rockery, split a rock with one palm, and brought it to Jiang Qingyue. "How about I sell you this rock for one hundred Source Crystals?"

Jiang Qingyue pouted and rolled her eyes at him. "Take it away. I’m not interested!"

As she turned away in a huff, she heard the sound of stone chips falling, followed by a burst of brilliant white light flowing out like mercury.

Li Xuan acted as if he had found a treasure, shouting like a street peddler, "A piece of Hetian white jade! A family crisis forces me to sell it cheap for one hundred Source Crystals! Don't miss out..."

Jiang Qingyue turned abruptly, her brows knitted. She snatched the jade from his hand. "Trying to fool me?"

As soon as she touched it, a cool sensation flowed through her skin—it felt like spiritual water. The luster alone proved it was high-quality jade.

Jiang Qingyue was a woman, after all, and she couldn't help but admire the precious stone. With a faint smile, she asked, "This Hetian white jade is worth about two hundred Source Crystals, and you're selling it for one hundred?"

She winked at him and changed her tone. "Li Xuan, I am not a fool like Wang Zifan. You didn't have this prepared just to trick me out of my Source Crystals, did you?"

She shook her fist in front of his nose. "Behave! If Xi Xi had asked, it would be one thing, but you? No way!"

Li Xuan smiled, "Sister Qingyue, you have such deep prejudices against me. Watch this!"

He looked around and found a rock with a vibrant, lush blade of wild grass growing on it, full of life. "Sister Qingyue, watch closely!"

Li Xuan struck the rock. It only cracked slightly, so he struck it again, blow after blow, until the rock finally split.

Inside was a small, inch-sized pit filled with clear spring water. Ripples danced on the surface, and wisps of spiritual energy seeped through the cracks in the rock.

What shocked Jiang Qingyue most was a blood-red, bean-sized purple jade in the center of the pool, its texture crystal clear and visible to the naked eye.

For a young girl, it was a priceless treasure.

Jiang Qingyue’s heart raced as she carefully lifted the purple jade from the water. In a split second, the jade vanished into her palm; pure source energy flowed through her skin and into her body, leaving her feeling tingly and incredibly refreshed.

"Sister Qingyue, do you want more?" Li Xuan asked tentatively. "One time might be a setup, but surely not twice!"

Jiang Qingyue was skeptical, but she still couldn't be sure where Li Xuan got his confidence. She pointed to a random spot. "Find one here. If you can find another treasure, I’ll agree to your terms!"

She grabbed his collar and urged, "Well? Hurry up!"

Li Xuan observed for a moment and quickly found a raw stone. "Sister Qingyue, you open it yourself, and I will describe the quality and the veins!"

Jiang Qingyue smiled, her slender fingers applying pressure. As the chips fell away, she kept her hand closed. "Tell me!"

Li Xuan twitched his nose and described what was inside. When Jiang Qingyue opened her hand, the ink-black jade was exactly as he had described, even the veins matched.

Jiang Qingyue pressed her scabbard against his neck. "Li Xuan, tell the truth. You didn't have these skills before, did you? Very well, I agree, but on the condition that I take sixty percent of the profits, and my one million Source Crystals will count as my investment!"

Li Xuan was smart enough to agree. "Deal. Let this be between us—no one else must know! If you agree, let’s seal it with a palm strike!"

Jiang Qingyue, full of spirit, struck his palm to seal the pact. "Go report to the academy now, and don't forget what I told you!"

Before he left, she tossed him a storage pouch. "This is one million Source Crystals. Remember our deal!"

Li Xuan stood stunned, a newfound respect for Jiang Qingyue growing in his heart.

Half a year later, at the Sacred Dao Academy graduation ceremony, perhaps it would be the moment when the clouds parted and the dragon ascended.