The Price of Life

The sight before them was startling.

"One hundred thousand spirit crystals?!" Wei Qingzhu's voice was filled with disbelief, her mouth twitching as she stared at the price tag.

At such an astronomical cost, even selling herself wouldn't be enough to cover it. For a moment, she could only think, Excuse me?!

"Heh, Boss, do we look like people who can afford this?" Song Qiuying shot a glance at Luo Chuan, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

---

On the shelf was a single white jade bottle labeled "Fountain of Life."

"'Fountain of Life' and 'Jelly Dew'… These names are unfamiliar," Lin Wanshuang murmured thoughtfully. "But something that replenishes vitality… that's unheard of."

As the thought settled in her mind, her expression shifted. Her eyes widened as realization struck.

She inhaled sharply.

---

Seeing her reaction, Wei Qingzhu and Song Qiuying looked at her in confusion.

"What's wrong, Wanshuang?" they asked in unison.

Lin Wanshuang smiled faintly, a hint of self-deprecation in her gaze. She had underestimated the significance of the item before her.

"Think about it," Lin Wanshuang began. "What happens to masters at the Origin Mastery or Pathseeker stages when they're too old to break through?"

Wei Qingzhu rolled her eyes, answering without hesitation. "What else? They run out of vitality and succumb to their lifespan."

Song Qiuying nodded. "Every cultivator knows that."

But as the words sank in, the realization struck them too.

Run out of vitality… Replenish vitality?

Could it be that the Fountain of Life had the ability to extend one's lifespan?

---

Their gazes snapped back to the jade bottle, now alight with newfound understanding.

This wasn't merely a potion—it was priceless.

If rumors spread that such an item could restore vitality, wouldn't the reclusive masters at death's door scramble to obtain it?

One hundred thousand spirit crystals?

Yes, it was expensive—astronomically so. But to those facing the end of their lives, no price would be too high. Spirit crystals meant nothing compared to the chance to extend one's existence.

In that moment, the three women could already envision the chaos that would engulf Nine Stars City once news of this item spread.

"Boss, this is… quite the gamble," Wei Qingzhu muttered, a wry smile on her lips.

Luo Chuan remained expressionless.

A gamble?

To him, this was only the beginning. There would surely be items far more valuable than the Fountain of Life in the future.

He couldn't help but wonder—what kind of storms would the Azure Continent face when that time came?

The thought sent a ripple of excitement through him.

---

The sound of footsteps interrupted their musings.

The women turned toward the stairs, their expressions shifting as a figure descended.

A young woman clad in black appeared. Her outfit, though simple, couldn't conceal her exquisite figure. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, ethereal, almost like a fairy from the heavens.

What truly stood out, however, were her purple hair and eyes.

Wei Qingzhu, Song Qiuying, and Lin Wanshuang had spent years hunting in the wilderness around the Nine Stars Mountains and were intimately familiar with such traits.

Purple hair and purple eyes were unmistakable features of the monster royal family.

---

Their instincts honed from countless battles urged them to act.

But their rationality held them back.

If the shop's mysterious owner allowed a member of the monster royal family to stay here, there was clearly no need for alarm.

Still, as the realization dawned that the woman had emerged from the second floor—the Boss's private quarters—understanding flashed in their eyes.

The three women exchanged glances, a mischievous spark passing between them before they spoke in unison.

"Greetings, Madam!"

---

Yao Ziyan, who had been descending the stairs, froze in place, nearly tripping over her own feet.

Madam?!

Her face flushed crimson, the red creeping all the way to her ears.

Luo Chuan's expression remained calm, but a hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

These women… they're quite clever.

For Yao Ziyan, however, it was a different story. As a woman, this was mortifying.

Why me?!

-----

Visit patreon for advanced chapters: pat reon/Siuteo