That's all from the older generations, and it has nothing to do with me.

The third day after leaving the Chaotic Star Sea.

A spirit boat of rather unremarkable design passed through the clouds and slowly descended at the edge of Tianshui Commandery.

“I’m telling you, old geezer—aren’t you eating a little too expensively?”

Su Ji stood at the bow, holding an “Essence-Nourishing Pearl” he had just snatched from some unlucky soul in the Chaotic Star Sea.

It was a treasure powerful enough to drive ordinary cultivators into a frenzy. Yet at that moment, it was visibly dimming at a rapid pace. In the end, it gave a crisp crack and crumbled into dust.

Within his sea of consciousness, the Old Emperor lazily yawned. The sound was that of an old man who had just woken up but was still reluctant to get out of bed.

“Expensive? Boy, do you know how many people once knelt at the foot of Imperial Court Mountain just to beg for a single glance from this Emperor? Now that I’m personally guiding you in your cultivation, you should be thanking your lucky stars.”

“Guiding me?” Su Ji’s mouth twitched. “Besides shouting that you’re hungry, what have you actually done?”

“Don’t I have to stabilize myself first?” the Old Emperor replied righteously. “Besides, there’s something good in that city ahead. I can smell it… Mm, it has a scent that brings back memories.”

Su Ji sighed and looked down.

At the edge of his vision, a magnificent city sprawled across the earth. The Tianshui River ran through it like a jade ribbon. Even in broad daylight, one could sense the surging heat of the mortal world rushing toward them.

Compared with the savagery of the Chaotic Star Sea, where the law of the jungle was written plainly for all to see, this place represented an entirely different extreme—a prosperity built atop layers of order.

“Senior Brother, it’s so lively here.” Su Jiu leaned over the side of the boat, her eyes sparkling. She looked like a country girl seeing a city for the first time.

“It is rather lively.” Su Ji rubbed his chin.

Since they were heading to Imperial Court Mountain and the journey would be a long one, they had to stock up on spending money.

The Old Emperor’s wisp of a remnant soul was like a bottomless pit. Ordinary heavenly treasures could hardly satisfy him at all. They had to find something truly valuable.

And Tianshui City, known as the “Pure Land of Bliss,” gathered half the wealth of the cultivation world. It was the perfect place to replenish their supplies.

…

Night fell over Tianshui City.

Lanterns stretched across the streets like a winding dragon, illuminating the night sky as brightly as day.

The “Merchant’s Way,” located in the most prosperous part of the city center, was a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

The murderous atmosphere of the cultivation world was rarely seen here.

Instead, the shouts of merchants and the crisp clinking of spirit stones rang out without pause.

Yet on this “Merchant’s Way” stood a residence that seemed completely out of place.

Compared with the resplendent Tianshui Money House, the exquisite Spirit Cultivators’ Hall, and the likes of the Spring-Rejuvenation Pavilion…

This residence looked so plain that its entrance was almost shabby.

But whenever passersby—whether wealthy merchants laden with gold or cultivators with eyes high above their heads—passed through the gate, they would instinctively quiet their footsteps. A trace of awe would appear in their eyes.

The reason was simple: the two words written on the plaque.

Tong Residence.

Tong Qiannian.

In Tianshui City, and indeed throughout the entire cultivation world, that name meant one thing:

Money.

A great deal of money.

At that moment, in the reception hall of the Tong Residence…

A rotund, middle-aged man shaped rather like a ball was sprawled in a grand armchair. He held a priceless cup of Yixian porcelain in his hands and absently skimmed the foam from his tea.

He wore a loose silk robe, and his belly rose and fell gently with every breath.

“Still not back?” Tong Qiannian took a sip of tea, his brows furrowing into a deep vertical line. His plump face was filled with a father’s worry.

Standing behind him was the head steward, a woman who appeared to be in her forties and still possessed a mature, alluring grace.

She bowed slightly and said in a low voice, “Master, Miss still hasn’t returned. I heard that Young Master Shu chartered a pleasure boat on the Tianshui River and said he was taking Miss out to admire the moon.”

“Admire the moon?” Tong Qiannian snorted coldly and slammed his teacup down on the table. “The sky is covered in clouds tonight. What moon is there to admire? I think he wants to admire her!”

The head steward’s eyelid twitched, but she did not dare respond.

Their master might present a smiling face to outsiders, but at home—especially when it came to his daughter—his temper was more explosive than a firecracker.

“That old bastard from the Shu family gave birth to a little bastard of his own.” Tong Qiannian rubbed his belly and cursed under his breath. “All day long he puts on airs, writing poetry and essays and pretending to be a gentleman. In reality, his gut is full of schemes.”

The head steward sighed. “Master, Young Master Shu is, after all, the son of an Immortal King. If this marriage goes through, it would be beneficial to the Lin family’s business…”

“Business?” Tong Qiannian shot her a sidelong glance, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes. “You’ve been with me for so many years. How have you still not figured it out? When has my business ever needed me to sell my daughter to pave the way?”

He rose to his feet and paced across the hall with his hands behind his back. His massive body somehow carried the imposing presence of a crouching tiger and coiling dragon.

“I know exactly what the Shu family wants. Isn’t it our wealth—and… that thing?”

At the mention of “that thing,” the head steward’s expression shifted slightly. She instinctively glanced around the room.

“Master, you should be careful.”

“What’s there to fear? Can’t I even speak freely in my own home?” Tong Qiannian waved a hand before sitting back down. His expression turned somewhat desolate. “I’m only worried that silly girl will truly be deceived by that boy’s honeyed words. Feelings are the most hurtful thing in the world. Back then, our ancestor was infatuated with Immortal Venerable Fallen Dragon…”

He stopped there.

The head steward fell silent as well.

“Forget it. Let’s not bring up the past.”

“It was several generations ago. It has nothing to do with me.”