I don't want anything

"It doesn't matter what I want to see—what matters is what you have."

Chen Yi wore a kindly expression, even patting Xie Buruo's shoulder amiably.

"Speaking of which, I truly can't understand. Back then, as I walked along the River of Time, I never had the slightest karmic entanglement with you. So why did you suddenly leap out to strike my knee? Not only that, but you even resorted to the most despicable taunting tactics to try and keep me there? Did I provoke you? I hadn’t even laid eyes on you before!"

"Uh, well... I..."

Under this relentless interrogation, Xie Buruo broke into a cold sweat, stammering and unable to form a proper response.

How could he possibly admit that it was because his survival instincts had slapped him senseless, and the moment Chen Yi appeared, he had already marked him for death?

This was entirely a case of seeking suffering where there was none—bringing trouble upon himself!

His instincts were supposed to guide him toward fortune and away from calamity, yet he had fixated solely on avoiding disaster, seeing threats in every shadow. Naturally, danger seemed to lurk everywhere.

If only he had realized this sooner, things wouldn’t have come to this!

Xie Buruo's heart ached with regret, but there was no undoing what had already happened. All he could do was grit his teeth, dig into his pockets, and pay to avert disaster.

With a wave of his hand, shimmering bubbles slowly materialized, their interiors glowing with the radiance of rare treasures—divine brilliance born of heaven and earth.

One mine, two mines.

Mines warm with affection, years unending, yet parting stains robes with tears.

Thoughts bring sorrow, memories bring sorrow.

The clamor of bygone days hides in dreams, as the setting sun casts light on old corridors.

Xie Buruo's heart bled!

These were resources meant to restore the Divine Realm! Every bit spent diminished their hopes. If they exceeded the limit, even if the Divine Realm revived, it would never return to its former glory!

But then again, if they didn’t use them now, all hope would be lost immediately!

As the last ember of the Divine Realm, the sole keyholder to its treasury, what choice did Xie Buruo have?

He was utterly desperate!

Bearing the hopes of his ancestors, he could not afford to die!

What were mere treasures? If he gave them up now, once his master, uncles, father, grandfather, and grand-uncles revived, they could just take them back, couldn’t they?

As long as the mountain stands, there will always be firewood to gather!

While Xie Buruo rummaged through his treasures to display them, he consoled himself with these thoughts.

Beside him, Ye Wuchen's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He had expected this big fish to be wealthy, but not this wealthy!

The three heavily damaged top-tier mines he had handed over earlier were just an appetizer. He still had two intact ones, seven lightly damaged, and sixteen severely damaged!

On top of that, there were over a hundred veins of immortal-grade ores and treasures. If they hauled all of this back to Ziwei... No, it was too much. Ziwei Immortal Realm couldn’t handle such a massive influx—it would burst!

And this wasn’t even his limit. Since Chen Yi hadn’t called for him to stop, Xie Buruo kept pulling out more!

But then, Chen Yi raised a hand, cutting him off. "Alright, stop. That’s enough."

"Everything here is excellent. I know you’re still holding back, but it’s fine—because I don’t want any of it."

The moment these words left his mouth, Xie Buruo froze, then inwardly panicked.

If Chen Yi had taken the treasures, that would have been manageable. Greed satisfied meant safety secured.

But if he wanted nothing, then he must be after something far greater!

Was one-fifth of the treasury not enough for you?

Two-fifths would already be devastating!

Of course, Xie Buruo didn’t know Chen Yi well, so he assumed the worst.

But Ye Wuchen was different. He knew Chen Yi always meant what he said!

If he said he didn’t want it, then he truly didn’t!

The sky must be falling—since when was the notoriously frugal Chen Yi so generous?

Was Ziwei not in need of development anymore?

The entire realm was starving for resources!

Chen Yi, you’re the one managing the household! When I ask for funds, you refuse, yet when someone offers them freely, you decline? What’s the meaning of this?!

Ye Wuchen’s mind was in chaos. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Brother, are we really not taking any?"

Chen Yi nodded slightly. "We won’t take more. But the portion he voluntarily gave you—keep it as compensation."

"Oh... I see."

Ye Wuchen lowered his head and took a sullen gulp from his wine cup.

Xie Buruo: "..."

Seriously? Weren’t you supposed to be on my side?

What are you even disappointed about?!

It’s not that he doesn’t want it—he clearly has his eyes on something far more valuable!

Xie Buruo’s heart trembled with dread, a sudden premonition that something crucial was about to slip from his grasp.

And sure enough!

Chen Yi’s lips curled into a smirk as he feigned hesitation. "Given your knowledge, I’ll be blunt. Right now, I’m planning to steal something extremely important from an Immortal Emperor of the Upper Realm. But the Emperor’s vigilance is too tight—it’s hard to make a clean escape after succeeding. Do you happen to possess any supreme treasures capable of blocking perception or obscuring causality?"

"Don’t worry, I only need to borrow it for a while. Once I’m done, I’ll return it without fail!"

Oh no—he’s after the Mirror of Primordial Beginnings!

I knew it, I knew it!

This man doesn’t want resources because his ambitions are far grander!

If it were anything else, fine. But the Mirror of Primordial Beginnings is too crucial—more important than my own life! It cannot be risked!

Not even lending it is acceptable, let alone entertaining the thought!

Xie Buruo’s expression turned grave as he sidestepped the question. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible. No one can steal from under an Immortal Emperor’s nose!"

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow.

He hadn’t been entirely sure about the functions of the Divine Realm’s supreme treasure—if its mechanisms weren’t suitable, this would all be for nothing.

But Xie Buruo had just confessed without being pressed!

This meant the Divine Realm’s ancestral treasure indeed possessed the exact abilities he needed!

With this realization, Chen Yi’s gaze grew even more benevolent. "I understand you don’t trust me. But it’s fine—if you won’t lend it, then just accompany me on this mission. You’ll keep your treasure on you the whole time, and I won’t lay a finger on it. How about that?"

Xie Buruo nearly choked hearing this. He shook his head frantically. "No, no—I don’t have such a treasure! How can I cooperate without it?"

Chen Yi sighed deeply. "You definitely have it. I’ve shown you my sincerity. If you keep dodging, I might just lose my temper."

"I don’t have it! If I did, I’d hand it over in a heartbeat—my life matters most!"

"Don’t force me to beat you up while I’m still in a good mood!"

"Even if you beat me to death, it won’t change anything! I can’t conjure what I don’t have!"

Chen Yi frowned and raised a fist the size of a sandbag.

The next moment—

Xie Buruo shuddered uncontrollably, then suddenly grew animated. With solemn reverence, he retrieved an octagonal ancient mirror from between his brows and declared:

"Hold it right there, esteemed sir!"

"This treasure is called the Mirror of Primordial Beginnings. It can shroud causality in mist to block all perception, twist the laws of reality, traverse time and space... among other formidable abilities. Its exact usage requires personal experimentation. I lend it to you for thirty hours. After that, its Chaos Dao restrictions will reactivate, and only I can undo them. I trust you will return it on time!"

With that, he generously handed over the Chaos Supreme Treasure.

Chen Yi accepted it, turning it over in his hands with keen interest before giving Xie Buruo a strange look. "Weren’t you just swearing you’d rather die than part with it? What changed?"

Xie Buruo smiled serenely. "I have complete faith in your integrity!"

Chen Yi: "..."

Do you even believe that yourself?

Though it wasn't entirely clear why Xie Buruo had suddenly shifted his demeanor, Chen Yi vaguely sensed an ethereal ripple of intent just moments ago!

If his guess was correct, it must have been the will of a hidden Heavenly Dao Key lurking in this place!

Honestly, if the other party was even willing to agree to such an outrageous request, why still refuse to show itself?

Too shy, perhaps?

......

Author's Note: Not in the best state today, sending virtual hugs. Only one chapter update for now.