Li Chen's mood was originally good after breaking through to the Second Stage of Qi Refining.
However, Han Mao's arrival to borrow Spirit Stones instantly soured Li Chen's mood.
As dawn broke, Li Chen stepped out, intending to go to the Divine Pill Pavilion to open a furnace and refine his first batch of Medicinal Pills on the path of Cultivation, but as soon as he opened the door, Little Fatty blocked him.
"Brother Chen, I've broken through to the Fourth Stage of Qi Refining, becoming a Middle Stage Cultivator, and can now use Magical Artifacts."
Little Fatty's face was flushed, and his spirits were exceptionally high.
Li Chen narrowed his eyes, chuckling as he encouraged him, "Congratulations, congratulations on becoming a Middle Stage Cultivator, you're one step closer to Foundation Establishment."
Han Mao shook his head, his expression serious as he said, "Brother Chen, you know I don't have grand ambitions, nor have I ever thought of being able to reach Foundation Establishment."
"My biggest wish now is to borrow enough Spirit Stones to purchase an offensive Magical Artifact at the Thousand Refinement Pavilion, and then join a Yao Beast hunting team in the market to hunt Yao Beasts."
"Once I earn enough Spirit Stones, I'll confess my feelings to Sister Chan, become Dao Companions with her, have a son, and then fully dedicate myself to helping my son continue on the Immortal Path."
Seeing Han Mao's face full of anticipation, his eyes shining with hope, Li Chen fell silent.
As expected, Han Mao's next sentence was to ask for Spirit Stones; he rubbed his hands, his voice softening a bit, "Brother Chen, I know you've accumulated some Spirit Stones, can you lend them to your younger brother?"
"Don't worry, I won't borrow the Spirit Stones for free; I'll also calculate interest for you."
"Once your younger brother acquires a Magical Artifact and hunts Yao Beasts with the hunting team, he'll be able to repay you quickly."
Under Little Fatty's expectant gaze, Li Chen remained silent for a moment, then earnestly advised him, "Han Mao, joining a Yao Beast hunting team is very dangerous; you're gambling with your life."
"With your cultivation at the Fourth Stage of Qi Refining, after joining a hunting team, you'll most likely be used as cannon fodder bait."
"Furthermore, are Yao Beasts really that easy to hunt and kill?"
"In Yin Mountain Market, which members of the hunting teams aren't ruthless characters who live on the edge?"
"You should still stay safely in the market and find a job; if you're willing, I can talk to Old Man Fu and let you continue working at the Divine Pill Pavilion."
"Brother Chen, don't try to persuade me anymore."
Han Mao interrupted Li Chen, his expression serious and his tone firm as he said, "Brother Chen, I know you mean well for your younger brother, but my younger brother has made up his mind."
"Staying as an attendant at the Divine Pill Pavilion, with two Spirit Stones a month, one of which goes to rent, I'll never save enough Spirit Stones to become Dao Companions with Sister Chan."
"Although hunting Yao Beasts is dangerous, the rewards are great, and it's easy to save up one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones."
"Brother Chen, if you truly consider your younger brother a friend, then support him and lend him the Spirit Stones to purchase a Magical Artifact."
Meeting Han Mao's hopeful gaze, Li Chen shook his head, his tone calm with a hint of coldness, "I don't have Spirit Stones to lend you."
"Just pretend you don't have me as a friend."
With that, Li Chen ignored Han Mao, whose face alternated between green and pale, and strode towards the Divine Pill Pavilion.
Lending Spirit Stones to Han Mao to buy a Magical Artifact and join a Yao Beast hunting team—Li Chen wasn't that generous yet.
Having been in Yin Mountain Market for over half a year, the Divine Pill Pavilion paid Li Chen two Spirit Stones each month, and combined with the Spirit Stones Li Chen obtained from counter-killing the rogue Cultivator, Li Chen's entire fortune currently amounted to only sixteen Spirit Stones.
Was hunting Yao Beasts that simple?
It wasn't that Li Chen was stingy, but that Li Chen genuinely didn't have high hopes for Han Mao.
For him to go hunting Yao Beasts with his Fourth Stage Qi Refining cultivation, it was basically a one-way trip.
Han Mao was irrational, his head muddled, but Li Chen hadn't lost his reason.
Even if, by some miracle, Han Mao truly succeeded in hunting Yao Beasts and earning Spirit Stones, would he even repay them?
Lending Spirit Stones requires a very strong relationship.
Li Chen didn't believe his relationship with Han Mao was strong enough to lend him his entire fortune.
Watching Li Chen walk away quickly, with no intention of looking back, Han Mao stood frozen in place, his face alternating between green and pale, as he angrily cursed, "Li Chen, I truly misjudged you!"
"Have you forgotten, when you first arrived at Yin Mountain Market, who ran around helping you familiarize yourself with the market, who helped you establish yourself in Yin Mountain Market?"
"You ungrateful wretch, I, Han Mao, was blind to befriend you and acknowledge you as my elder brother."
Hearing Han Mao's curses from behind him, Li Chen's steps paused for a moment, then he quickened his pace and left.
A small kindness earns gratitude, a great kindness earns resentment; the human heart is never satisfied.
He, Li Chen, had already lent Han Mao a Qi Cultivation Pill, but Han Mao still wanted to borrow Li Chen's entire fortune to gamble.
Li Chen couldn't be bothered with Han Mao anymore; such a person, if befriended, would be very dangerous, especially in a place like the Cultivation World.
Seeing Li Chen's figure disappear, Han Mao's expression shifted repeatedly, finally settling into one of utter dejection.
In his initial plan, after breaking through to the Fourth Stage of Qi Refining, he would easily be able to borrow enough Spirit Stones to buy a Magical Artifact and then go hunt Yao Beasts.
He never expected that even Li Chen, with whom he had the closest relationship, would refuse to lend him Spirit Stones.
"Little Brother Han, you don't look well, have you encountered some difficulty?"
Coincidentally, Shu Chan returned pushing a cart full of green bamboo, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at Han Mao, a gentle smile playing on her lips.
Meeting Shu Chan's concerned gaze and seeing the sweat-dampened strands of hair at her temples, Han Mao was captivated, thinking to himself that Sister Chan was truly a virtuous woman, and if he became Dao Companions with her, he would surely be very happy.
"Sister Chan, I'm fine."
"Are you going out to get supplies so early?"
At this moment, Han Mao had forgotten his resentment towards Li Chen; his eyes and heart were filled only with the female Cultivator before him.
Shu Chan brushed aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair by her ear, her smile gentle yet resilient, "For us poor, low-level Loose Cultivators, if we don't work hard, how can we achieve anything on the Immortal Path, how can we obtain what we desire?"
"Little Brother Han, don't you agree?"
Before Han Mao could reply, Shu Chan had already moved the bundles of green bamboo from the cart into the house, then smiled at Han Mao, "Little Brother Han, I need to continue washing the green bamboo to make Spirit Paper, so I won't talk to you anymore."
"Keep it up!"
With that, Shu Chan clenched her fist to cheer Han Mao on, the infectiousness of her gentle smile magnified infinitely in Han Mao's eyes.
Shu Chan had already closed the door, but Han Mao's heart was surging.
He gazed at Shu Chan's closed door, his eyes gradually becoming resolute, and strode towards the Spirit Stone lending shop in the center of the market.
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