Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 132 - 105: Wealth Is But an External Possession

September 12, 2017, early morning, light rain

In the study, Lu Xin was dumbfounded as he looked at Wang Jiu, shocked by the latest news brought to him, leaving him speechless for a long time.

"...You say, the Patriarch Qian has allocated one hundred thousand spirit stones this time as a special budget for the disciples to utilize Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain? What on earth are they thinking!? One hundred thousand spirit stones, just for such a prestigious competition? If they had so much money, why not invest in the construction of seven major ecological chains?"

After a while, Lu Xin calmed down, thinking from another perspective, it wasn't unreasonable for the Qian Family to have such resolve, because they indeed needed some notable achievements to revive their family honor.

The proposal of the Cyan Cloud's three major families began five hundred years ago. At that time, though the Qian Family was an ancient lineage, they couldn't compare with the Li and Lu Families. However, five hundred years ago, divine fortune befell the Qian Family, giving rise to a group of extraordinary talents, among whom the Patriarch Qian Liexian was immensely talented, unparalleled in both immortal cultivation and financial management, even surpassing the patriarchs of the Li and Lu families. After fifty years of honing and development, the Qian Family finally stood alongside the Li and Lu families, collectively known as the Cyan Cloud's three major families.

Unfortunately, divine fortune doesn't last forever. After Qian Liexian and others ascended, the Qian Family began its decline. The differing accumulations of these thousand-year-old families gradually surfaced, and what remains at the peak, moves forward or retreats stagnantly. The Qian Family then began to widen the gap with the other two families. By Qian Long's generation, there was once a glimmer of resurgence for the family, but it was overshadowed by a brilliant talent like Li Fengyun...

The Qian Family is desperately longing for a chance to break through their shackles. In this Cyan Cloud Competition, both the Li and Lu Families are somewhat lacking, presenting a chance for the Qian Family to establish a reputation.

"However, Mr. Wang Jiu, is your information... accurate? It's not that I doubt you, but who did you obtain the information from?"

Wang Jiu said, "It was from a Qian Family member's letter, the voice part was for one-time play, I already listened to it once, can't replay it, but the text part is still there."

With that said, Wang Jiu handed over the letter written by Qian Yue to Lu Xin.

Lu Xin took it and read it carefully word by word, becoming more and more solemn. According to the abbreviations in the letter, the Qian Family is indeed serious this time; one hundred thousand spirit stones is no small amount, given the Qian Family's character, they wouldn't take out such determination unless they were aiming for certain victory. The plan mentioned in the letter for comprehensive dissemination of Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain also made the budget of one hundred thousand spirit stones appear especially formidable.

The disciples sent by the Qian Family to participate in the competition, excluding those who are just there to make up numbers, total only around forty to fifty people. Sharing one hundred thousand spirit stones means each person gets several thousand spirit stones, which essentially allows unlimited use of Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain! A single competition can easily squander dozens to hundreds, and judging by the destructive power of Qiankun Throw below the Cloud Surge Realm, an outburst of 100 spirit stones is enough to break anyone's defense.

Of course, if the disparity in strength between the parties is significant, relying solely on Qiankun Throw can't reverse the situation. No matter how strong the explosive power is, it's meaningless if it can't hit. In a situation with a large strength gap, the stronger side could completely mislead or evade, causing Qian Family members' spirit stones to fall into the open space. Therefore, in previous Cyan Cloud Competitions, the Qian Family never pinned their hopes on Exotic Techniques like Qiankun Throw, nor did they allocate a huge budget to scheme for this vanity.

But this time, both the Li Family and the Lu Family are awkwardly positioned, and the disparity in strength among their disciples compared to the Qian Family's isn't large. In such circumstances, Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain play a crucial role.

Moreover, in this competition, the Li Family also has high hopes, aiming to achieve better results than before. Being overshadowed by this emerging influence of the Qian Family would signify failure, even just maintaining the same results as last time would count as a failure.

"...Fortunately, the news came early, with more than 3 months until the competition, we still have time to prepare. We really have to thank you this time Mr. Wang Jiu for providing crucial intelligence in a timely manner." Lu Xin said, bowing to Wang Jiu, then smiling and asking, "But, did Mr. Wang Jiu bribe someone from the Qian Family to even get such confidential information… uh."

While speaking, Lu Xin had already seen the end of the letter.

She saw the signature: Qian Yu, along with the bright red lip print beside it.

For a moment, Lu Xin's brain froze.

After a long while, the woman forcibly squeezed out a smile, opened her mouth wanting to speak, but a thousand words spun in her mind, leaving her at a loss.

In her mind, countless images washed over like the Yangtze River. Unbidden, Lu Xin recalled the scenes in a little booklet she secretly read at midnight when no one was around. It was a distinctive booklet borrowed from the literary-enthusiast second wife, Zhou Wenjun, said to be fresh culture originating from the fashion capital, Golden Jade City. When reading at night, Lu Xin blushed at the thought, thinking it was purely whimsical nonsense.

Unexpectedly, art indeed comes from life!

Furthermore, thinking of how Mr. Wang Jiu once mentioned that in the Primordial Era, he was accompanied by the Jiu Immortal Venerables, both male and female, yet the one closest to him turned out to be Li Jiulong, an ancestor of the Li Family...

The more she thought about it, the more unfathomable the Celestial Divine Sword before her seemed!

——

The Qian Family's one hundred thousand spirit stones, in the end, is a significant burden.

At noon on the 12th, Lu Xin gathered several family elders, along with the inner sect chief instructor Li Tingshu, to jointly discuss countermeasures.

The result of the meeting wasn't optimistic.

If it were in previous years, during the times when the Li and Lu Families were still strong, the Qian Family's one hundred thousand spirit stones could only be considered a small problem, but in this particular competition, one hundred thousand spirit stones could almost become a decisive force.

In the hall, a family elder said in a deep voice, "Qian Ye is extremely talented, being exceptionally outstanding among the young generation, surpassing those few 19-year-olds at our mansion's outer sect by far more than just a notch. Combined with Qiankun Throw, the championship leaves little suspense..."

Lu Xin pressed her lips together, without speaking. Regarding the issue of the championship, she wasn't too worried. Wang Jiu had previously guaranteed that Shen Qingming will secure the championship of this competition, although she couldn't understand how this could be achieved, based on the trust in the Celestial Divine Sword, she could at least consider the championship spot as secured.

The trouble lies in the rest of the matches. According to Li Tingshu, Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain are exceptionally effective in battles at lower realms. Plus, the Qian Family has begun arranging intensive training for the disciples participating in the competition. The competition three months later might not be optimistic.

An elder asked, "Is there no way to increase training efficiency?"

Li Tingshu gave a wry smile, "At least I can't think of a way. Maybe Mr. Wang Jiu could come up with a good idea?"

So everyone turned their eyes to Wang Jiu.

Wang Jiu pondered for a moment and said, "Isn't this problem really simple to solve? The Qian Family's use of Qiankun Throw and Flower Rain is ultimately a form of shortcut. And since they can take shortcuts, why can't you?"

"...Huh?"

Wang Jiu said, "Qiankun Throw is one thing, but Flower Rain isn't some highly complex and difficult-to-master technique. As long as the cultivation technique and physique meet the cultivation standards, you can basically get started with a few days of intensive practice. And now there are more than three months until the competition."

After a long while, an elder slowly and with surprise opened his mouth, "Are you suggesting we use similar techniques to counter the Qian Family!? That's simply preposterous!"

Wang Jiu frowned and said, "What, don't you have similar techniques?"

Lu Xin explained, "We do have techniques, but we don't have the bloodline divine techniques that maximize effectiveness like the Qian Family. The same magic using spirit stones as hidden weapons, when used by the Qian Family, is at least thirty percent more powerful."

"Then just throw more money at it to offset their bloodline bonuses."

Lu Xin, both amused and exasperated, said, "...The Qian Family's budget is a hundred thousand spirit stones."

Wang Jiu also chuckled, "Then the Li Family only needs to allocate a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, right?"

As soon as these words came out, they immediately received the elders' agreement, "Makes sense, makes sense. Just allocate a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, and we'll have the competition in the bag..."

"We can't come up with a hundred and fifty thousand!" The keeper of the Li Family Mansion, Lu Xin, had to bang the table to interrupt these irresponsible spendthrifts' wild fantasies.

"Do you think a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones is pocket change? You can just take it as you please!? Yes, as an aristocratic family with a legacy of thousands of years, the Li Family indeed has substantial reserves, but maintaining the operation of the family has never been cheap! Have you ever calculated the monthly stipends we give out to family members regularly? Have you considered the gifts we present every time a family member breaks through a realm? Have you calculated the funds for equipping family members with magical treasures and spiritual objects? The money spent annually on innovating and improving cultivation techniques, with spirit stones and heavenly and earthly treasures flowing like water, have you calculated this part?"

Lu Xin's forceful string of rhetorical questions immediately had the uproarious elders cowering and unable to speak.

"To prevent corruption and waste, family expenditures are strictly audited each year and agreed upon by all elders. The total is limited. If you increase here, you'll have to cut elsewhere. So where do you propose we cut? How about the elders' pensions?"

The assembly hall fell into even deeper silence.

Lu Xin lowered his voice and added, "And competing in wealth with the Qian Family, are you out of your minds?"

A group of people who had lost their minds all lowered their heads, looking at their hands, and remained silent.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wang Jiu, but the solution you just mentioned may not be feasible... Do you have any other ideas?"

Wang Jiu said, "In that case, we'll have to push the disciples to further tap into their potential, crush the opponents with hard power, and make up for the financial gap. Hmm, if I take over and train them with full effort, I should be able to guarantee that in three months, they'll be transformed and capable of crushing the other competitors."

After discussing with several elders, Lu Xin sighed, "If there's really no other way, then we'll have to trouble Mr. Wang Jiu to endure this burdensome task."

——

The outcome of the meeting quietly reached the Inner Sect disciples' ears that very night, immediately causing an uproar.

"What!? That perverted sadist is coming back again?!"

"No, absolutely not! I'd rather die!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"No, isn't it just lack of money? The family doesn't have money, but we do! Can't we pool our resources together?"

"Right! We'll fund it ourselves and bring our own supplies!"

"Isn't it just a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones? We're nearly 50 people here, we'll sell everything we have to raise it!"

"That's right, I'm going to find a rich lady**!"

"Li Xinyu, you better shut up!"