Chapter 188

Chapter 188: Buying Robes

On the way back to Hao Ran Sect on the flying boat, Yun Xi did not run into any more trouble. When her flying boat landed outside the sect gates, it was already five days later. There were only half a day left before registration for the tournament closed.

Yun Xi put away the flying boat, flashed into the sect, and rushed straight to the Inner Sect Disciples Hall.

Elder Han had been organizing jade slips. He felt a gust of wind pass in front of him. When he looked up, he saw Yun Xi standing right there. He immediately set down the jade slip in his hand and was about to call her junior sister, but then he noticed that the spiritual energy fluctuations around Yun Xi were far beyond those of a Foundation Establishment disciple.

He said in shock, “Junior Sister Wei, you broke through again?”

Yun Xi smiled slightly and handed over her identity jade token. “I gained a bit of opportunity during this trip and luckily broke through to the Golden Core Stage. I rushed back to join the sect tournament. Is it still in time to register?”

Elder Han smiled back. “Congratulations, Junior Sister Wei. Yes, it’s still in time to register. There aren’t many cultivators participating in the Golden Core matches. I’ll update your identity token first, then I’ll register you.”

“Alright. Thank you for the trouble, Elder Han.”

“No need to be so polite.”

Elder Han personally updated the information on Yun Xi’s identity jade token. From now on, Yun Xi could receive the Golden Core cultivator’s stipend.

After registering Yun Xi for the tournament, Elder Han respectfully returned her identity token and reminded her, “Junior Sister Wei, your timing is tight. The tournament officially begins tomorrow. But since there are many disciples in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment matches, the first three days will eliminate a batch of them. You still have three days. You must prepare well.”

Yun Xi accepted the identity token and cupped her hands in thanks. “Thank you for the reminder, Elder Han. Yun Xi will remember.”

Then she turned and left the Disciples Hall.

Yun Xi had only appeared in the Disciples Hall for about a quarter of an hour, but the news that she had formed a Golden Core at the age of sixteen spread through the Inner Sect in an instant.

The disciples lucky enough to see Yun Xi in person described her as almost mythical. But the main character herself went to Artifact-Refining Peak. She found the same fellow disciple who had helped her refine the Five-Color Python Robe before, hoping the man could repair it. She also asked whether he could upgrade her pill cauldron.

Xi Mu Ran looked at Yun Xi, who used to be someone he had to call junior sister, and he cupped his hands. “Congratulations, Martial Uncle Wei, on advancing to Golden Core.”

“Martial Nephew Xi, you’re too polite. Can this robe still be repaired?”

Xi Mu Ran looked at the Five-Color Python Robe, which was on the edge of being scrapped, and said helplessly, “Martial Uncle, there’s no point repairing this robe anymore. Even if I fix it, it won’t suit you now. You might as well refine a new robe.”

Yun Xi already expected that. She smiled and said, “I hunted that five-color python alone during the beast tide at Bao Hua Mountain, so it means a lot to me. Even if it no longer suits me, you should still help me repair it. I want to keep it as a souvenir.”

“Alright. That’s no problem. If Martial Uncle isn’t in a hurry, I’ll repair it slowly.”

“I’m not in a hurry. Then what about upgrading the pill cauldron?”

Xi Mu Ran looked a little embarrassed. “Martial Uncle Wei, I’m good at refining robes and defensive magic tools. Upgrading pill cauldrons isn’t my specialty. I’ll recommend my master to upgrade your pill cauldron.”

“Your master is?”

“True Lord Yu Lian, the Peak Master of Artifact-Refining Peak.”

“That… is it appropriate?” Yun Xi hesitated. She was only a newly formed Golden Core cultivator. She really felt too embarrassed to trouble a peak master to upgrade her pill cauldron. It wasn’t even a challenging task.

Xi Mu Ran understood his master well. He lowered his voice. “Martial Uncle, the material you’re using to upgrade the pill cauldron is very rare. Master will definitely be interested. If Master takes action, at the very least he can upgrade it into a spirit treasure. If Master has a breakthrough, even reaching the mysterious treasure grade might be worth thinking about.”

Yun Xi was tempted. If the Purple Jade Coiling Dragon Cauldron could be upgraded into a mysterious treasure, it would be enough for her all the way until she ascended to the Immortal Realm. She immediately cupped her hands. “Martial Nephew Xi, please bring the pill cauldron and the upgrade materials to your master for a look. If he agrees to take the job, I’ll offer an upgrade fee that satisfies him.”

She added, “And if possible, pick two or three robes for me from your master’s stock. That way I won’t trouble two people for separate matters.”

After speaking, she handed Xi Mu Ran the storage pouch holding the Purple Jade Coiling Dragon Cauldron and the Purple-Gold Meteorite Iron Stone. She also gave him another storage pouch of spirit stones as a deposit.

After Xi Mu Ran accepted the pouches, he asked Yun Xi to wait and went to find his master.

True Lord Yu Lian was a burly man nearly two meters tall, with a full beard. He was one of the rare cultivators in Hao Ran Sect who looked huge and powerful. Even in robes, his bulging muscles were impossible to hide. He looked less like a cultivator and more like a blacksmith.

After Xi Mu Ran presented the items to his master and explained the situation, True Lord Yu Lian had been planning to refuse. In his eyes, this was using an ox cleaver to kill a chicken. His eldest disciple could do it.

Xi Mu Ran immediately hinted, “Master, don’t refuse yet. Look at the upgrade material first.”

True Lord Yu Lian set down his teacup. He sent his divine sense into the storage pouch. When he saw the Purple-Gold Meteorite Iron Stone, his breathing caught. He immediately beckoned and took out the box holding the meteorite iron stone. After confirming again and again, he said to Xi Mu Ran, “Good disciple, you found something excellent for your master. I’ll take this upgrade job. Tell that little girl to come get the pill cauldron in a month.”

“Yes, Master. Martial Uncle Wei said she also wants to pick two robes.”

Xi Mu Ran added that as well.

True Lord Yu Lian was studying the Purple-Gold Meteorite Iron Stone and did not even lift his head. “Go to the storage vault and pick two. The little girl is Yu Ling’s disciple. She’s not short on spirit stones. Choose the best ones.”

“Yes, Master.”

After getting permission, Xi Mu Ran took a token to his master’s storage vault. As Yun Xi requested, he picked three sets of magical clothing. Each set included a robe, boots, and matching accessories.

When Yun Xi received the confirmed answer, she also received three sets of magical clothing. Xi Mu Ran really did have good taste. One was a black robe with subtle patterns and gold edges, one was a white robe with teal patterns, and one was a red robe with dark-gold patterns. All three were rare low-grade mysterious treasure class outfits.

Xi Mu Ran spoke proudly. “Martial Uncle Wei, Master was busy looking at the upgrade materials, so I went to the storage vault to pick your outfits. These three are the best in there. You can wear them until you ascend to the Immortal Realm without any problem.”

Yun Xi smiled, dimples appearing at her cheeks, and thanked him happily. “I like all three. How much in spirit stones?”

“Ten thousand high-grade spirit stones…”

Hearing that price, Yun Xi’s heart ached. Just as she was about to take out spirit stones, Xi Mu Ran quickly finished his sentence.

“…per outfit. Plus Master’s fee for personally taking action, the total is thirty-five thousand high-grade spirit stones. That’s already a discount. If it were someone else, Master might not even take the job. He says these finished items are like his children…”

Yun Xi stared at Xi Mu Ran’s mouth opening and closing. All she heard clearly were the words “thirty-five thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

In the end, she paid through gritted teeth. It was the largest sum of spirit stones she had ever spent, and it felt like her heart was bleeding.

Yun Xi took the three outfits and the token for retrieving her pill cauldron, then hurried down Artifact-Refining Peak without looking back. She was afraid that if she stayed a little longer, she would not be able to stop herself from flipping Xi Mu Ran over.