Those flowers and plants were nurous in the sea, equivalent to sixth or seventh-grade Immortal Elixirs, useful for concocting Immortal Pills.
The Dragon Clan, cultivating their physical bodies, treated these Immortal Elixirs like wild vegetables, not valuing them much. Corals and crystals, shining with golden light, were what the Dragon Clan loved most. Naturally, they offered what they cherished as precious gifts, not realizing Sha Chen preferred the sea’s flowers and grasses even more. Those could enhance one’s strength.
Sha Chen went down and prepared a grand feast of delicious delicacies, much more enthusiastically than Zhu Bajie and the Spider Spirit had on their respective occasions. After all, this rich second-generation scion truly had money and gave generous gifts. If I don’t treat him well, what if he doesn’t return next ti!
After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes, during the height of the rrint, Sha Chen repeatedly hinted that Ao Lie should bring more seaweed, and flowers from marine trees next ti, and that the other things were quite unnecessary.
Ao Lie was even more moved, thinking Sha Chen was doing this to avoid putting him in a difficult position and to help him save money. He had already decided to bring even more and better things next ti, determined not to disappoint Sha Chen.
Sha Chen thought to himself, With Ao Lie being so considerate, I could invite him over more frequently. Especially since he intimated that while he cultivated at ho, his clan fulfills his every request. I could encourage Ao Lie to cultivate more and make more requests. The excess could then be given to .
"Crown Prince, have you made any progress in your recent cultivation?" Sha Chen asked with concern.
Ao Lie replied, "Thanks to Brother’s guidance, I returned to cultivate for these past dozen or so years. With the clan’s continuous support, my cultivation has now reached the peak of Golden Immortal."
Sha Chen clicked his tongue. Ao Lie’s talent is truly remarkable to have advanced so quickly!
Ao Lie, feeling a bit proud, said, "Brother, I suppose I’ve caught up with you now."
Sha Chen gave a faint smile as the aura of a Greater Primordial Golden Immortal flickered briefly around him.
Ao Lie was montarily stunned. Looking at Sha Chen’s unfathomable deanor, he was shocked, then filled with awed admiration.
"Brother is remarkable to have already stepped into the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm! Your younger brother was too presumptuous," Ao Lie said, cupping his fists.
"It’s nothing. With diligent cultivation, you can achieve it too," Sha Chen replied.
Ao Lie sighed, his eyes flickering as he changed the subject. "Brother, I actually ca this ti to ask for a favor."
Sha Chen imdiately grew cautious. Asking for a favor usually ans trouble. Sending gifts is one thing, and I’ve treated him to a al to return the courtesy. But now he’s making requests!? However, having accepted his gifts, he had to brace himself and ask, "What is it?"
"I knew Brother was a good person and would be willing to help ," Ao Lie said.
Sha Chen was dumbstruck. When did I agree to help!?
Ao Lie continued, "Princess Wan Sheng’s father, Dragon King Wan Sheng, visited my father with his clansn. He claid I tarnished Princess Wan Sheng’s reputation and demanded my father bring people to their Dragon Palace on another day to propose marriage."
Sha Chen frowned. What is Dragon King Wan Sheng up to?
"I think there’s sothing fishy," Ao Lie said. "I’ve been in seclusion, so how could I have possibly damaged her reputation? Besides, when I pursued her before, she made things difficult for . Why would she agree to a marriage proposal now?"
"Do you think soone is trying to harm you?" Sha Chen asked.
"I think she wants to be the fall guy," Ao Lie replied.
As expected of a profligate young master and a seasoned casanova, Ao Lie had a vivid imagination. He instantly suspected Princess Wan Sheng wanted him to be the scapegoat.
Sha Chen’s face twitched. It definitely isn’t that simple. After a mont of careful thought, he asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Brother, why don’t you go and propose marriage on my behalf?" Ao Lie suggested.
Sha Chen imdiately wanted to drive him away. "I won’t leave this place," he said.
"Then I’ll have Dragon King Wan Sheng send his daughter here," Ao Lie said.
If it weren’t for Ao Lie’s extrely generous gifts earlier, I might suspect this fellow was trying to lure into a trap to kill , Sha Chen thought.
Ao Lie sighed. "As expected, Brother doesn’t want to be the fall guy either."
"This has nothing to do with being a fall guy," Sha Chen said. "Think about it carefully. Does the cultivation world even care about reputation? What is Dragon King Wan Sheng—or rather, Princess Wan Sheng—really up to!?"
Ao Lie paused, then started to ponder seriously. He had been too caught up in it to see clearly. With Sha Chen’s hint, he suddenly felt sothing was amiss.
"Brother, are you saying Dragon King Wan Sheng and his people are plotting against ? But I’m just a re Dragon King’s Third Son. Why would they target ?"
"Have you forgotten about the Liuli Dragon Pearl incident?" Sha Chen asked.
Ao Lie’s expression changed slightly. "They still haven’t given up?"
Buddhism must have a hand in this, Sha Chen beca increasingly certain.
Ao Lie’s face turned grim and pale. "Brother, what should I do? I don’t want to be used by Buddhism! I don’t want to beco a traitor to the Dragon Clan!" He was on the verge of kneeling before Sha Chen, begging him for help to resolve the problem.
Naturally, Sha Chen wouldn’t sit idly by. Otherwise, he’d lose a source of inco and, moreover, a buffer against Buddhism. After deep contemplation, he said, "Crown Prince, here’s what you do: counter all their moves by remaining unchanged. If they want you to propose marriage, just say you’re busy with your cultivation."
"What if he cos looking for ?" Ao Lie asked.
"If he shows up, confront him directly. If you haven’t done anything, what’s there to fear?" Sha Chen replied.
Ao Lie was still skeptical. Sha Chen said, "Look at . I counter all moves by remaining unchanged. Has anyone co trying to fra for a marriage?"
Ao Lie’s eyes brightened as realization dawned. Sha Chen is indeed brilliant! He imdiately cupped his fists. "Brother, why don’t I stay here and cultivate with you? If they co looking and can’t find , they’ll give up."
Sha Chen imdiately beca wary. This fellow isn’t planning to eat out of house and ho, is he!? After much persuasion, Sha Chen said, "You’re a grown man, afraid of a woman? How is that worthy of your renown as the Bai Yulong?"
"Just go back and cultivate. Your clan has endless resources," Sha Chen said sternly. "Here, you’d only be drinking the northwest wind."
Ao Lie pointed to the immortal fields. "There’s so much in the fields."
"Those will take several hundred years to mature," Sha Chen retorted.
"That long? But isn’t there a God Source Stone mine over there?" Ao Lie asked.
"Mountains of gold and silver are no match for clear waters and lush mountains," Sha Chen declared. "I plan to plant flowers and grass on the mine. It won’t be exploited."
Ao Lie looked at the pile of God Source Stones in front of Sha Chen’s palace, his face full of doubt.
"Those are just scraps," Sha Chen said.
Suddenly, Ao Lie said, "Brother, I knew it! You truly have my best interests at heart. You must know that my clan will send to the Abyss for training this ti, so you want to go back and face it."
Sha Chen was taken aback. Is that so!?
anwhile, Ao Lie continued, talking to himself, "The Dragon Clan has a tradition. Before reaching the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm, one must go to the Abyss for training to grow better. But I don’t want to go. The clan is forcing , which is why I ca here to hide out for a bit."
"That’s precisely why you must return," Sha Chen stated gravely.
"Alright, Brother," Ao Lie acknowledged. "I was being inconsiderate. I had no idea you were in such dire straits—planting flowers on a mine, growing grass in your fields. Next ti I co, I’ll bring so of our Dragon Clan’s cultivation resources for you." He added earnestly, "You can’t refuse, or I’ll get angry."
Sha Chen feigned reluctance. "How could I bear to make you angry? Next ti, co earlier."
Ao Lie was deeply moved. "Brother, you really do care about !"
Sha Chen was also moved. I care about you... and your resources, he thought inwardly.
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