When I rise to power, even my dog will have to address him as 'senior'.

As soon as Su Ji entered the room, he saw Su Jiu sitting on the edge of the bed, in the exact same posture as last time.

Not even bothering to change positions?

Su Jiu, of course, had no idea about the messy thoughts running through Su Ji’s mind. Cutting straight to the point, she voiced her confusion: "Senior Brother, weren’t you supposed to exchange for the [Hundred Refined Heavenly Silk]? So… this is…?"

Su Ji chuckled but didn’t answer. Instead, he gripped the hilt of the ancient-looking longsword with one hand and pressed it onto the table with a dull thud. Then, with a subtle flick of his thumb, he tilted the hilt upward.

The blade slid slightly out of its sheath.

In an instant, a cold gleam erupted within the small room.

Su Jiu instinctively narrowed her eyes.

What the hell, Su Ji?

Did he lose his ‘Radiant Spear’ and then spend spirit stones to buy a ‘Radiant Sword’ instead?

But that thought was quickly dismissed.

No…

Unlike the blinding light of the ‘Radiant Spear,’ this was the innate ‘frosty radiance’ of the blade itself…

Something only seen on truly masterfully forged, top-grade magical artifacts.

Watching Su Jiu’s stunned expression, Su Ji couldn’t help but feel smug.

Then, he casually tossed two pouches of spirit stones onto the table.

The pouches landed with a heavy thud.

This time, however, Su Jiu didn’t react as strongly as before.

Su Ji frowned slightly at the pouches.

Not dramatic enough. Let’s try that again.

He picked up the pouch containing the high-grade spirit stones, quietly loosened the drawstring, and then tossed it back onto the table.

This time—

Clang!

Clatter!

The moment the pouch hit the table, hundreds of high-grade spirit stones spilled out, scattering across the surface. A few even bounced off the edge and landed at Su Jiu’s feet.

Watching Su Ji’s deliberate showboating, Su Jiu shook her head helplessly, a faint smile tugging at her lips—one she didn’t even realize was there.

"Pathetic…"

But the next second, her smile vanished.

Even someone with Su Jiu’s discerning eyes couldn’t help but exclaim: "High-grade spirit stones?!"

Hearing her shocked reaction, Su Ji finally plopped into a chair with satisfaction, pouring himself a cup of water.

Ah, his junior sister’s water just tasted better.

Yes, yes.

This was the reaction he wanted.

Now he could relax.

After downing the cup, Su Ji smirked.

"Pathetic."

"It’s just high-grade spirit stones."

"Making such a fuss."

"Never seen the world before?"

Su Jiu: "…"

This wasn’t about whether she’d seen the world or not!

Given enough time, she could probably scrape together a pouch of high-grade spirit stones herself—assuming she had her peak Foundation Establishment cultivation and connections.

But Su Ji?

A Qi Refinement eighth-layer illiterate who knew nothing about the cultivation world?

Gone for less than half an hour?

And now he had a top-grade magical weapon and a pouch of high-grade spirit stones?

Since when could words be arranged like this?

This was a scene she genuinely hadn’t witnessed before.

"Senior Brother…"

Su Jiu carefully chose her words. "Maybe… we should return these things."

Su Ji: "???"

"What do you mean?"

Su Jiu felt like she was worrying for nothing. "Senior Brother, listen. Stealing spirit stones is one thing, but a sword cultivator’s blade? That’s not something you just take. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, they’ll dig you out…"

"A sword cultivator’s offensive methods are too ruthless."

"When the time comes… I might not be able to protect you."

She had a point.

Rumors said many sword cultivators never sought partners, dedicating their lives solely to the pursuit of higher sword dao.

To them, their swords were like their soulmates.

If Su Ji stole someone’s ‘soulmate,’ wouldn’t they hunt him to the ends of the earth?

How was she supposed to protect him?

She wasn’t even a Golden Core cultivator yet.

"Junior Sister, who said I stole anything?"

"Su Ji walks with integrity and sits with dignity."

"Search your conscience—do I look like that kind of person?"

Su Jiu answered instantly: "No."

Su Ji nodded approvingly. "See, Junior Sister underst—"

"You are that kind of person."

Su Ji: "???"

Damn.

Spoke too soon.

Su Jiu clearly didn’t buy his explanation. "If you didn’t steal it, did someone just give it to you?"

At this, Su Ji’s expression turned serious.

Lowering his voice, he crafted an air of mystery. "This wasn’t something I was supposed to tell outsiders."

"But you’re not an outsider."

"I’ll say it casually, and you’ll listen casually."

"Deal?"

Su Jiu’s curiosity was piqued. She leaned forward slightly and cast a soundproofing barrier to prevent eavesdropping. "Go ahead, Senior Brother."

Su Ji began his performance.

"I originally went to that stall owner for a trade. Who knew he was actually a Golden Core cultivator?"

"The moment I approached, he saw through my extraordinary nature."

He pointed at himself, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"He said my bones were uncommonly refined, that I was blessed by destiny—a once-in-ten-millennia genius of Great Xia. He insisted on becoming sworn brothers and giving me everything on his stall."

Su Jiu listened, dumbfounded.

Her fox ears twitched involuntarily.

It sounded absurd, but considering Su Ji’s identity as a "pure-blooded descendant of an imperial clan"…

Well… it almost made sense.

"Am I the kind of person who takes advantage of small favors?"

Su Ji thumped his chest righteously.

"Of course not! Anything too good to be true is suspicious. I refused on the spot."

"I told him I only wanted that silk."

"But guess what?"

He paused for dramatic effect.

"He said the silk wasn’t worthy of my status and forced this sword into my hands. Even threw in these spirit stones for cultivation, saying it was an ‘early investment.’"

"His only tiny request? That when I eventually shatter Great Xia’s ascension barrier, I take him along."

"He said he wanted to see the Upper Realm’s sights, maybe find a chance to break through to Nascent Soul."

"He thinks his own path is set, but I’m different."

"A one-in-a-hundred-million prodigy."

"He even said that right now, while I’m still growing, a few hundred high-grade spirit stones are enough to get my attention."

"But once my rise begins, even the dog I raise will be someone he has to call ‘Senior.’"

Su Jiu fell completely silent.

Her gaze shifted from the now-sheathed sword—its aura withdrawn—to the dazzling pile of spirit stones on the table.

Finally, her eyes settled back on Su Ji’s face, which radiated nothing but "sincerity."

She believed him.

No—perhaps she had always believed Su Ji was extraordinary.

But still… was this the wealth of a Golden Core cultivator?

Had that person also foreseen Su Ji’s future?

Already betting his entire fortune on it?

Well…

Even she had initially helped Su Ji with some selfish motives.

After all, in the cultivation world, kindness rarely came without reason.

But later… Well, never mind that for now.

So this was how it worked for those with great destiny? Opportunities just handed to them?

Though…

This should be a good thing, right?

At least Su Ji wouldn’t have to shamelessly beg her for spirit stones anymore. She needed them for her own cultivation too.

The time spent earning spirit stones greatly delays the progress of cultivation.

Yet why does it feel so unsettling?

Because...

To Su Ji, she was no longer the most special one.

Compared to a true Golden Core cultivator,

the assistance she could offer now seemed pitifully insignificant.

For a moment, an inexplicable sense of loss washed over her.

Even the desire to ask about the [Hundred Refined Heavenly Silkworm Thread] faded away.