I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 417 - 266: Claiming Precious Treasures

Seeing Fang Qingwei again, her demeanor no longer carried the calm acceptance of favor and disgrace as before, but was filled with respectful excitement.

"Rise!" Li Jizhou waved nonchalantly.

"Your Highness, this old servant has another matter to report: Miss Fang’s father was taken hostage by bandits at the Yunzhou mine, coincidentally saved by our mansion’s guards. Truly a twist of fate." The head steward’s eyes twinkled, eagerly speaking up.

Li Jizhou chuckled lightly, "Oh~ truly a fortunate fate."

Anyway, communication has been sent to Li Yuan; matters of Prince Yun’s Mansion no longer need his attention. With such great deficits, Li Yuan will surely be furious; thus, no bandits kept by Prince Yun will escape.

The head steward sensed the sarcasm in Li Jizhou’s words, momentarily taken aback.

"Miss Fang, is your father truly unharmed?" Although he now possessed two hundred Wood Spirit Stones, Fang Qingwei still owed him a hundred, which could finally balance out.

Fang Qingwei immediately showed gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness, my father has safely returned to the mine."

"Good to hear." Li Jizhou nodded with a smile, and then subtly reminded Fang Qingwei about the owed hundred Wood Spirit Stones.

Fang Qingwei promptly confirmed she would pay.

"Good, good." Li Jizhou was in high spirits.

The head steward watched delightedly; Li Jizhou’s change in attitude was stark, clearly guessing the reasons right this time.

Meanwhile, everyone in the mansion clearly saw everything once the shielding array was removed from the grand hall.

The princess’s eyes sparkled as she exhaled, "Indeed, nearly ruined the mansion’s five millennia of peace for a woman."

However, contrary to initial guesses, it wasn’t Li Qingyun who acted upon thoughts regarding Fang Qingwei; the true orders to target Qi Stone Pavilion came from Prince Yun.

It was Prince Yun who had Qi Stone Pavilion’s owner captured, causing Fang Qingwei to sneak into Black Stone City, leading to the Seventh Prince’s rash actions over a beauty.

No further thought, the princess immediately reported the happenings to Prince Yun.

In the secret chamber, Prince Yun received the report, opening his eyes once more.

"Hmm! A dignified prince, enraged over a mere secular female cultivator! Such foolishness, how can he compete with Chaoyang for the throne? Although our mansion’s dignity has suffered, he has lost far more, and Li Yuan will look down on him."

Prince Yun felt a sense of relief, his mind even stirred with a hint of joy.

Then, the princess sent another message: "Your Highness, the Seventh Prince seems to have calmed down, should we offer more benefits to expedite his departure?"

Upon hearing, Prince Yun immediately agreed, "Yes, not just give, but give generously!"

Bestow upon the Seventh Prince a crime of extorting a Vassal King.

"How many Spirit Stones should we give, according to your will?"

"No, don’t offer actively; take him to the treasury and let him pick himself!" Prince Yun laughed cunningly.

"Take him to the treasury? But... it includes Seventh Grade Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects!" The princess was startled.

"Such foolish thinking! What he takes today must be returned tomorrow!" Prince Yun snorted coldly.

"Understood, as Your Highness commands!" The princess dared not speak further.

-------

With his objective achieved, Li Jizhou had no further interest in lingering at the mansion, now that his Dao Foundation was solidly established; he needed seclusion to properly cultivate, grounding all aspects in his practice.

Confirming the Wood Spirit Stone transaction with Fang Qingwei, he prepared to leave with her.

At this moment, the princess approached slowly, appearing pitiful: "Your Highness, I am guilty, deserving of death a thousand times, begging Your Highness to pardon me."

Li Jizhou glanced at her, "What is this sin of yours? Speak truthfully!"

"I failed in nurturing my child, angering Your Highness, that’s my fault! Please show mercy to my son; I am willing to bear all responsibility." The princess did not explain Li Qingyun’s involvement with Fang Qingwei, only related the Qi Stone Pavilion incident, essentially erasing Li Qingyun’s fault.

Yet, after all, he is her own child, her reliance for the latter part of life, still hoping Li Qingyun could inherit the princely title.

"Haha, great-granddaughter-in-law, Qingyun is my great-great-grandson; how could I harm him? Rest assured, merely putting him through some trials, he’ll surely be returned whole in the future." Li Jizhou said, smiling.

Li Qingyun also being a key witness, though he knew little, his positive stance surely meant not releasing him now.

"With these words, Grandfather, I am reassured. Beat him all you need, and for your kind teachings, I ought to present heavy gifts. But, I am dull in judgement, unsure what could match your stature, thus daringly invite Grandfather to the treasury to pick!" The princess sincerely said.

Upon hearing, Li Jizhou slightly raised his eyebrow.

"Intentions are not pure?"

Initially decided to leave, yet she resorts to such tactics now.

Could it be a setup, aiming to entrap me?

Are you so daring?

Li Jizhou’s mouth twisted with a hint of a smile.

With Celestial Venerable Dharma Realm present, unless a Harmonization Dao Divine Venerable intervenes, they might not stop Li Jizhou from entering a realm.

Otherwise, no one could stop him.

With great potential danger, as long as he retreats into a realm, he can safely wait for the Saint Emperor or Grand General Gongsun’s rescue.

"Alright, then Grandfather shall see how magnificent Prince Yun’s treasury is!" Li Jizhou agreed at once.

The princess was overjoyed,

In exchange for sparing her son from penalties, using the prince’s treasury, the deal was certainly worthwhile.

Soon, the princess escorted Li Jizhou into the mansion’s underground treasury.

Walking along, Hong Luan opened his Primordial Spirit completely.

Li Jizhou continuously connected his Divine Soul with the Yellow Springs Blood Killing Array, ready to enter at any sign of disturbance.

"Boom!" Nevertheless, upon entering the treasury, seeing the dazzling array of high-grade treasures, still none dared make a move.

Could it be they truly intended to gift me?

Li Jizhou slightly surprisedly glanced at the princess.

"Your Highness, feel free to take your pick!"

Li Jizhou found the princess increasingly pleasant.

Capable of becoming Princess Consort Yun, certainly couldn’t be ordinary.

But indeed, with the treasury before him, Li Jizhou was absorbed by its splendor, aside from cautious vigilance, every shred of attention was drawn to the treasures one by one.

Dozens of Tier Five and Tier Six celestial treasures.

A handful of Seventh and Eighth Grade Spiritual Treasures.

Most notably, Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects.

"Hmm?" Suddenly, the vibrant green in the depths of the treasury made Li Jizhou pause abruptly.

"Cyan Lotus?"

"Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus!"

It was actually the Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus Li Jizhou sought a year ago before embarking on cultivation, to lay the foundation for his lifetime’s Golden Core Dharma Aspect.

The princess watched Li Jizhou’s full attention captured by that Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus, sighing softly.

It was acquired by Prince Yun through years of collecting Seventh Grade Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects.

Originally intended for Li Qingyun’s offspring, but was repeatedly rebuked by Prince Yun: "Without Celestial Spirit Root, using such heavenly treasures is sheer waste!"

Yet now, it’s casually taken by the Seventh Prince.

Though Prince Yun claimed the Seventh Prince must return it as he took it, such a treasure, even the Saint Emperor would regard with value; how could it possibly be returned?

Most frustratingly for the princess, over the years Prince Yun secretly accumulated numerous high-grade celestial treasures, yet where they ended she knew nothing.