System crash? I prove it with my control panel!

An order to rectify the situation immediately stirred up a huge wave in the entire Qin family.

The Qin family members who survived the last crackdown immediately summoned their descendants and gave them personal instructions, fearing that they would repeat the same mistakes.

The younger generation of the Qin family immediately complained bitterly, but they also learned about a person: Chen Jingwen, a disciple of the Fifth Ancestor.

Countless young disciples hated him to the core, but because he was a disciple of the Fifth Patriarch, they simply refused to see him.

They even have to bow to each other when they meet, because the other person is of a higher seniority.

They all secretly grumbled, wondering how the Fifth Patriarch had managed to take in so many disciples in recent years...

Unable to deal with Chen Jingwen, all the credit was attributed to Qin Wanrou.

Even if their cultivation was abolished, they were not spared from disaster; instead, they could only be bullied by others.

...

Chen Wen didn't care about any of this.

He clearly understood that he was merely a trigger, an excuse for his master to take action against the Qin family.

"So, is this an apology to myself?"

After returning to his cave, Chen Wen looked at the jade box in his hand and felt a pang of bitterness.

Inside is a second-tier top-grade spiritual material, the Heart of the Pine Tree, which embodies the concepts of withering and flourishing.

After a long silence, he finally sighed, "I still need to become stronger."

Without becoming stronger, one will forever remain a pawn, manipulated by others.

Even when she's angry, people will mistake it for her being affectionate.

He understood this matter when he obtained the jade box.

Qin Wanrou was unhappy that she rejected him and was punished by her master. She was probably scolded again after returning to the Qin family.

Out of resentment, he conspired with Qi Feng to directly report him.

Those blockheads in the Punishment Hall don't care about human relationships or social niceties; there's something sinister going on there.

But he quickly put the jade box into his storage bag, regaining his composure amidst his chaotic thoughts.

In any case, I still came out ahead... at least I got a consolation prize.

He has now collected four spiritual materials, making it nearly halfway complete!

Moreover, he has information on four items, two of which are at Qifeng.

An elder surnamed Jiang possessed a mutated second-tier superior-grade sand scale stem. Just as it was about to mature, it was struck by lightning, which revitalized it and imbued it with a trace of lightning intent.

There is another one in his family.

The other two items are in the Ho family's collection and at an auction, respectively.

Chen Wen didn't think much of the He family's item; he knew they definitely wouldn't give it to him.

However, auctions are worth considering.

The auction is a tradition that Qingming City has maintained for hundreds of years, held once every ten years.

Led by Zixia Pavilion, all the large and small chambers of commerce in the city contributed their resources to hold an auction.

The item Chen Wen mentioned was a second-tier top-grade spiritual material called Wind-Withered Grass. It should have withered away, but for some reason, it regained its vitality.

This item is coveted by many people, so it cannot be removed from the list in advance.

Therefore, Chen Wen was prepared for massive bleeding.

Moreover, it's difficult to contact Qi Feng; he was just ambushed by them, yet he still has to seek them out...

Chen Wen rubbed his temples. Since things had come to this, he should focus on cultivating first.

He took out a jade slip, which faintly emitted a purple aura. This jade slip was the secret manual of Zixia Peak that his master had given him a few months ago.

The technique is called "Secret Records of the Heavenly Cave of Radiant Clouds".

Chen Wen had already read the contents; it was a method for cultivating Qi using the glow of the sunset.

Although he couldn't practice it, it was still a fifth-tier inheritance, along with the insights of True Person Shuiyao.

There are many things in common among them.

As recorded in the Secret Records of Xia Guang Cave, purple clouds are the initial appearance, belonging to Yang, and are the bones of the technique; blue clouds flow and are serene, belonging to Yin, and are the tendons and blood of the technique; white clouds are the source of the convergence of purple and blue, belonging to neutrality, and are the spirit of the technique.

It also contains the principle of the harmony of Yin and Yang.

Chen Wen thus gained a great deal.

And I also understood why my master was always painting.

The form of the painting conveys the meaning of the rosy clouds.

Dark ink is purple, burnt ink is blue, and light ink is like the shimmer of water.

Developing a mastery of calligraphy, writing with a brush, imbuing each character and stroke with spirit and rhythm, can lead to extraordinary skill.

There were quite a few spells among them, which he found quite interesting.

The rosy clouds and phantoms, imbued with the purple aura, once activated, create a sky full of illusions, making it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake.

The glowing light guides the way; this is a combination of magic and talisman. The talisman is made from the glowing light and can be lit in times of crisis to guide one to a path of survival or the place one most desires to go.

...

He selected some and practiced them only briefly.

After all, he doesn't cultivate the radiance of the rosy clouds, and he has no rosy clouds within his body. He can only draw some rosy clouds to make talismans every morning and evening.

He saw the business opportunity in the glowing talisman.

What could be more important than something that can lead you to a way out in times of crisis?

It is especially useful in secret realms and ancient cave ruins.

This technique was passed down secretly by Zixia, and ordinary people naturally cannot access it.

He had never seen anyone he had met, such as Liu Hongchen and Qin Shuiru, use or handle talismans or anything like that.

...It's probably not that they don't want to use it, but that they can't draw it.

Chen Wen happened to be at the first level of perfected talismanic arts, and he could understand the meaning and principles of these talismans after just one glance.

Although one does not cultivate the rosy clouds, there are methods to draw out the rosy clouds, which can also be painted.

"This time, you won't be able to catch me, will you?!"

Chen Wen smiled slightly.

He already had sword pellets to amass wealth, so there was no need to make this kind of talisman.

After all, this talisman is high-end and won't be cheap.

But now, he has set his sights on the high-end market, and this talisman is sold exclusively to members of the Qingming Sect.

Chen Wen examined the talisman that guided the rosy clouds several more times. He was now completely confident.

He took out his identity jade token, found Steward Huang of the Internal Affairs Hall, and sent a message to him.

"Old Huang, send over some rosy clouds, half purple and half blue."

When Manager Huang received the message, he was a little confused. What was this guy up to now?

Could it be that we need to change our cultivation method?

But he didn't dare ask, and could only obediently do as he was told, replying:

"How much does Senior Brother Jingwen want?"

"I'll take as many as you have!"

The message was quickly relayed back.

After reading it, Old Wang immediately concluded that it seemed Senior Brother Jingwen really was going to change his cultivation method.

His cloudy eyes brightened instantly, and he stood up and paced back and forth.

Senior brother needs to change his cultivation method, otherwise there would be no need for so much radiant light.

He instantly realized that this was the time for him to earn merit!

The disciples of Zixia Peak spend their days collecting and refining celestial essence, but they are reluctant to use it themselves and instead sell it.

Very few people probably use the glow of the sunset; only the people of Zixia Peak use it.

Therefore, the inventory backlog is already deep.

However, it is impossible for Zixia Peak not to receive the rosy mist, so the Internal Affairs Hall has accumulated a lot of it.

Senior Brother Jingwen has solved a major problem for the Internal Affairs Hall this time.

Thinking of this, he hesitated again, wondering if this would arouse the dislike of Senior Brother Jingwen.

But thinking about how those massive contribution points would be enough to fill a colossus of evil spirits once they were deposited into the account, the sheer amount of merit alone would be enough to fill a colossus of evil spirits.

Imagine living to be eight hundred years old and becoming a local patriarch...

He immediately waved his hand, "30% off, send it all to Senior Brother Jingwen!"

When the entire Internal Affairs Hall mobilized, filling the boxes with storage bags, and then using spirit beasts to pull the carts full of boxes, they transported them to Luoyun Mountain.

Chen Wen was stunned. "Old Huang, is this... this year's harvest of spirit rice?"

"Senior Brother Jingwen, this is all the rosy glow you wanted."

Old Huang rubbed his hands together, and the wrinkles on his old face seemed to have faded a bit.

"Didn't you say you wanted as much as you had?"

"The Internal Affairs Hall has a total of 1.3 million copies of Glowing Clouds, including 800,000 copies of Purple Glowing Clouds and 500,000 copies of Azure Glowing Clouds. We will give you a 30% discount, which is two spirit stones per copy, for a total of 2.6 million spirit stones. We can also reduce the contribution points by 250,000."

Chen Wen was stunned. He instantly realized that he seemed to have forgotten that Zixia Peak had tens of thousands of disciples and produced an astronomical amount of radiance every day.

He turned to look at Lao Huang, feeling a bit annoyed.

This old bastard is definitely doing this on purpose. Whose side is he on?

Old Huang, sweating profusely at Chen Wen's dangerous gaze, pretended to be oblivious, sensing that Chen Wen was still unsatisfied, and immediately said...

"Senior Brother Jingwen, if you feel it's not enough, I can get more from Zixia Pavilion. Their inventory..."

"Shut up!"

Chen Wen quickly interrupted, clearing his throat lightly.

"That's enough... way enough!"

"But Lao Huang, isn't the way your Internal Affairs Department is behaving a bit too disgracefully?"

Chen Wen realized that Lao Huang was doing it on purpose.

No wonder someone with a Qi Refining skill level can become a manager; they're definitely a top salesperson.

Everyone in the Imperial Household Department was staring at him expectantly.

Since they've said they'll take as much as they can get, how can we not contribute points?

Old Huang was able to completely deny any wrongdoing, claiming that he was just following his senior's instructions.

But my contribution points... are only a little over 100,000!

Old Huang didn't say anything, but glanced around.

Chen Wen immediately understood and raised his hand to create a barrier to isolate the area.

Seeing the barrier fall, Old Huang immediately knelt down and cried out in anguish:

"Brother Jingwen, I am now 160 years old. I was too competitive and aggressive when I was young, and I was injured. I don't have long to live."

"Now that we finally have this opportunity, Old Huang just wants to gamble on that Foundation Establishment chance, even if it offends his senior brother!"

He looked up and pointed to the goods on the truck, saying:

"I surmised that my senior brother was going to change his cultivation method, which must have damaged his foundation and required a great deal of replenishment of his mana, at least a million times. So I took it upon myself to bring my stockpile."

"There are actually 180 million rays of rosy light among them, half purple and half blue. I secretly changed the accounts to apologize to my senior brother."

"If we succeed this time, I am willing to accept the sect's punishment; if we fail, I will not implicate my senior brother. I have already left a will and will not act on my own initiative..."

At this point, Chen Wen understood.

Ultimately, it was his own statement that he wanted as much as he could that misled the old man.

Make him think he's going to change his cultivation method.

Changing one's cultivation method does indeed require consuming a large amount of related magical power in order to minimize damage to one's foundation.

This old guy wants to take a gamble.

"Old Huang, Old Huang, you've really gotten me into serious trouble."

Chen Wen shook his head and sighed.

If we're talking about anger, then it's definitely anger.

After all, it's one thing to be schemed against by those big shots on ordinary days, but now Old Huang is going to set me up again.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a resolute determination to die.

Chen Wen understood that this was someone like him, who would stop at nothing to achieve enlightenment.

Moreover, in the end, he still profited this time. He gained an extra 500,000 strands of rosy energy. Even if he did nothing but resell it, he would still earn 100,000 contribution points.

But the problem is... it's your enlightenment, not mine, so what does it have to do with me!

Chen Wen admired a seeker of the Way.

But while I admire him, I will also contribute my share.

You think you can use my contribution points to benefit yourself? Dream on!

However, she cannot break her established public persona.

Chen Wen pondered for a moment and said, "Old Huang, you only thought about the opportunity to achieve enlightenment, but you forgot about 25 contribution points. Who can come up with that?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Huashi was stunned for a moment, his pupils dimming. "Senior brother... your methods of accumulating wealth are quite sophisticated, this old man..."

Even I can only eat half of it!

Chen Wen raised his hand to interrupt him, took out his identity jade token, and said,

"Look, I only have 15 contribution points in my identity jade token, I'm still 10 contribution points short."

"I don't blame you for having this thought. Everyone looks out for themselves."

"But you should have come to me to discuss things before acting. Now that the rosy aura has been placed right in front of my cave, I won't say where I am, but I can't come up with any contribution points. How do you plan to end this?"

Manager Huang was stunned.

Chen Wen dispelled the restriction. "Take the rosy aura and go back. I have other matters to attend to. Don't bother seeing me out!"

After saying that, Chen Wen turned around and was about to return to his cave.

Just then, Old Huang gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with determination, and suddenly transmitted his voice:

"Senior Brother Jingwen, one contribution point for ten dishes, totaling 13 contribution points, how about it?"

"make a deal!"

Chen Wen answered without hesitation.

He knew perfectly well that Lao Huang was willing to risk everything for that opportunity to build a foundation.

He understood Lao Huang's thoughts.

This year has just begun, but Zixia Peak has to do a yearly accounting.

What he wanted was to sell these rosy clouds, and when he reported the expenses, it would still be 25 contribution points.

As long as he can make up for the contribution points and 500,000 strands of rosy energy by the end of the year, he can rest easy.

Of course, this is based on the premise that he has achieved Foundation Establishment. If he fails to do so, he will die, and there will be no one to hold him accountable.

One contribution point equals ten rays of rosy light, which is practically like picking up money, so Chen Wen had no reason to refuse.

He immediately took out his identity jade token, handed it over, and said with a smile:

"Old Huang, it's time to settle those 25 contribution points!"

"Of course, of course!"

Old Huang nodded repeatedly, seemingly different from usual, except that his cloudy eyes were unusually bright red today.

Soon, Lao Huang deducted 13 contribution points.

Seeing that so much Qi had been successfully sold, the disciples of the Internal Affairs Hall immediately surrounded Old Huang like stars around the moon.

Congratulations!

"Congratulations, Manager Huang! We'll be relying on you for your continued support in the future."

"Since the steward has resolved such a large amount of inventory for the hall this time, he will surely be granted a spot in the Fiend Qi Secret Realm. With this commission, he will probably have all the resources needed for Foundation Establishment."

"Yes, it probably won't be long before we're calling him Uncle-Master Huang!"

"Hahaha~ What a stroke of luck, what a stroke of luck! I'm honored that my senior brother thinks highly of me and has entrusted me with this task..."

Old Huang was all smiles, beaming with pride, all traces of his previous gloom gone.

A hint of worry would occasionally flash in his eyes, but it would quickly disappear.

He was thinking to himself that if he failed, he would not care, but if he succeeded in establishing his foundation, he could simply do a few tasks and buy back the rosy aura from his junior brother Jingwen.

Chen Wen was also very happy.

Although there were some unpleasant moments during the process, the outcome was ultimately good.

With 13 contribution points, I bought 180 million strands of rosy clouds.

One spirit stone for one and a half.

What's the difference between this and giving it away for free?

The key is that ten strands of rosy energy can be used to refine a low-grade guiding talisman, which can be sold for fifty spirit stones.

Thirty strands of rosy energy can be refined into a mid-grade guiding talisman, which can be sold for one hundred and fifty.

Seventy strands of rosy mist, of superior quality, can be sold for four hundred.

As for the best quality? One hundred pieces, one thousand for each!

Of course, this is the selling price; when selling in bulk, the price will naturally be reduced by 10% or 20%.

So here's the question: how many spirit stones and contribution points will this rosy aura earn?

Chen Wen's gaze gradually became intense!

..........