When Luo Chen saw the top-grade Nine Winds Plantain Fan, he was momentarily stunned. He instinctively looked toward Fu Chaosheng. "Senior, this..."

"Don't overthink it. I'm not giving it to you. Even I don't have the authority to hand out the tower's treasures like this." Fu Chaosheng smiled faintly and pointed at the plantain fan. "As you know, I took a look at your attendant earlier. She was lucky enough to take human form, which gives her better prospects than most Demon Kings. But that potential won't save her life when she's in trouble. She clearly wants this enchanted treasure, and we both know that she needs it. You might as well buy it for her."

Luo Chen forced a smile. "But it's too expensive."

"Well, I can't give it to you for free, but I can offer you a good discount. For one million spirit stones, you can take it immediately," said his interlocutor with a smile. His tone left no room for refusal.

Luo Chen opened his mouth, then in the end gritted his teeth and paid the one million spirit stones.

Logically, he had gotten the better end of the deal. This top-grade enchanted treasure was worth at least two million, maybe even the three-million official price, yet he had secured it for only one million. No one would believe it if word got out. And yet, despite the bargain, he looked reluctant! Anyone seeing this would curse him for putting on airs. But the truth was, he really did not want to take this advantage.

At the same time, it was clear that Fu Chaosheng wanted him to take it. Not only that, he immediately turned to Shan Shubao and asked, "Have we been organizing any private gatherings for Adepts lately?"

Shan Shubao replied without hesitation, "We actually have one scheduled for tomorrow night. Everything's already been arranged."

Fu Chaosheng stroked his beard. "Perfect. My young friend Luo Hai was just saying he wants to get some resources and broaden his horizons. He can join as well. I'm sure he'll gain quite a bit from it. Luo Hai, you would join, right?"

***

In front of the Heaven Origin Tower, Shan Shubao looked at the silent Luo Chen and said with a smile, "In all these years, among those Elder Fu has taken a liking to, you'd rank in the top three. If there's a chance in the future, we should get to know each other better."

Luo Chen forced a smile. "Of course. Fellow Daoist Shan, no need to see me off any further. You must be busy at the tower."

"Alright then. I'll see you tomorrow night!"

"See you."

After parting with Shan Shubao, Luo Chen returned to the wooden house in the valley. He remained silent along the way. Heavenjade followed beside him in confusion. "Master, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I need some time to myself."

Luo Chen waved a hand and entered the wooden house alone.

Heavenjade could not make sense of it. On the surface, the visit had been a success. A Sage had received him in person and even sent a late-stage Adept to escort him out. When they left Heaven Origin Tower, many cultivators had looked on with envy. So why did her master seem so weighed down?

Inside the wooden house, Han Zhan appeared. Luo Chen recounted in detail his earlier conversation with Fu Chaosheng. Although he was knowledgeable, his cultivation was still lacking and he did not fully grasp the subtleties of dealing with a Sage. Therefore, he needed Han Zhan to analyze what had happened.

In the end, Luo Chen let out a long sigh. "I didn't want to owe him a favor. I even gave him a piece of Millennial Lightning Essence I'd been saving for years, something I meant to use on another enchanted treasure. But in the end..."

"You still can't figure out what he sees in you, right?" Han Zhan asked calmly.

Luo Chen nodded. "Is it... my so-called potential?"

Han Zhan didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "You say you don't want to owe favors. But do you actually know what a favor is?"

Luo Chen frowned. "A favor is kindness from others. Once you accept it, it becomes a kind of burden. Unless you're completely heartless, you'll have to repay it sooner or later."

"Wrong," Han Zhan said. "A favor is an exchange." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Luo Chen was taken aback.

Han Zhan slowly explained, "He gave you a pill. You returned him a Lightning Essence. That was an exchange. It may feel like you don't owe anything, but a relationship has already formed. After that, he sold you the plantain fan at a low price and even introduced you to a gathering of Adepts. That's another favor, but this time it's much more direct and made from a higher position. If you want to repay him again, you need something more valuable than the Millennial Lightning Essence. Do you have anything? And if you do... are you really willing to give it away?"

Luo Chen suddenly understood. His sense of courtesy had only deepened the exchange of favors. Fu Chaosheng's continued giving came from a position of superiority, imposed in a way that left no room to refuse, forcing him into obligation. It was clear the man had seen through his intentions and refused to let it be.

Han Zhan said calmly, "That's just how things work in this world. It's not just him—you've done the same before, haven't you?"

Luo Chen fell silent and recalled the past. With Yuan Xiaoyue, he had given her a job with generous pay. What he gained was not only profit but also reputation within the Poshan Gang. With Sima Huiniang, he had granted her status and authority, helped her reach Foundation Establishment, and in return gained the full support of the three Sima siblings. Huiniang had even offered herself when she felt she had nothing else to repay him with. More recently, he had shown favor to Cheng Haixin and promised her ample resources, all to secure a path of retreat for himself. Was this not the same? Had he not also been bestowing favors from a superior position?

In the end, things simply went in circles. It was the same pattern, seen from the other perspective. The question thus returned to where it had begun: "What does he want from me?"

Luo Chen had never believed in meat pies falling from the sky. There were no gifts in this world, just invisible price tags. And if that price tag was set by a Sage, he did not know if he could ever repay it.

Han Zhan sighed. "Who knows? When the time comes, just do your best."

That was all he could say.

Luo Chen suppressed the unease in his heart and used divine consciousness to summon Heavenjade. After she entered, he handed her a jade scroll and a small plantain fan. "This jade scroll contains the cultivation technique I tailored for you. It's called the Heavenspan Wing Codex. If you practice it well, it can carry you all the way to the Nascent Soul Realm. As for this Nine Winds Plantain Fan, I think I don't need to explain it. Take it and bind it with your blood first. Later, I'll teach you a few methods for nurturing enchanted treasures. Give it a few years, and you should be able to handle it properly and bring out its full power."

Luo Chen spoke casually. Heavenjade knelt on the ground, unable to contain her excitement. A tailor-made core cultivation technique, a top-grade enchanted treasure perfectly suited to her, and even the occasional pills... Such treatment was beyond what even core disciples of major sects could receive.

Luo Chen's kindness weighed like a mountain to her. At once, she immediately lowered her head and kowtowed three times in succession.

"Thank you for the reward, Master. I'll never forget this kindness. I'll give my all and serve you with everything I have."

Luo Chen's lips twitched. He was about to wave her off, but the sight made him pause as earlier events came to mind. Under such heavy favor, if he ever asked Heavenjade to die for him, she would likely not refuse. Then what about Fu Chaosheng? How was he supposed to repay that in the future? And it wasn't just Fu Chaosheng. Luo Chen's thoughts stretched both far and near. Near enough to reach those beside him!

Han Zhan...

All these years, Han Zhan had stayed by his side. Though he had not provided much direct help, he had guarded him at times and often provided guidance on cultivation and conduct. These accumulated little by little. Luo Chen had once thought this was simply part of their agreement. Now it was clear that some things had gone beyond what he had ever asked for.

Could it be that Han Zhan truly regarded him as a friend worthy of life-and-death trust? He did not think so. Luo Chen only acknowledged Wang Yuan as such a friend. Even with Duan Feng and Chu Kui, things had never reached that level.

He fell silent and cast a quiet glance at the soul banner in the corner. Some things still had to be held back. Not everything could be laid bare before others. This applied not only to external matters but to his own cultivation as well. The so-called Great Dao Oaths only applied on a limited scope, and he could not afford to be careless.

***

On the evening of the second day, Luo Chen arrived at the Heaven Origin Tower alone. He did not bring Han Zhan or Heavenjade. Han Zhan feared being noticed by Fu Chaosheng, so he had avoided traveling with Luo Chen. Heavenjade, on the other hand, had begun practicing her core cultivation technique. She lacked any bloodline inheritance, and she'd always cultivated by pure instinct, nothing more. Now that she had obtained a proper cultivation technique, she needed time and practice to adjust.

After arriving at the Heaven Origin Tower, Luo Chen was personally received by Shan Shubao and brought to the sixth floor. As he stepped into the room, he felt as if he had passed through a curtain of water and entered another world.

"Is this formation based on the Void restriction?" Luo Chen asked.

Shan Shubao looked at Luo Chen in surprise. "Fellow Daoist Luo, are you also proficient in formations?"

"Kind of," Luo Chen replied modestly as he observed his surroundings. Just as he had expected, the sixth floor of the Heaven Origin Tower was indeed covered by a Void formation. The area it covered was not large, but its effect was that... the gathering space was no longer within the tower itself, but in another location. Such things were far beyond the means of ordinary cultivators.

Of course, the Heaven Origin Tower ultimately belonged to the absolute behemoth that was the Heaven Origin Dao Sect. It was not surprising for them to have something like this.

Luo Chen had arrived very early. There were no other Adepts in the room, only some attendants. He had come early out of respect for Fu Chaosheng and did not dare take the invitation lightly. At the same time, this gave him an excellent opportunity to observe those who arrived later.

After instructing the attendants to help Luo Chen make himself comfortable, Shan Shubao went out; his job was to greet the other guests. Before long, another Adept arrived, and he immediately drew Luo Chen's attention. The man wore wide robes with long sleeves and gently waved a feather fan. A tall crown sat upon his head, giving him an aloof bearing. On his sleeve was an eye-catching emblem—a faint immortal mountain emerging through mist above the sea, like a vision from a true immortal realm.

In an instant, a thought arose in Luo Chen's mind. Penglai Island, Penglai Mountain, Penglai Immortal Sect! I came early out of respect for Fu Chaosheng, but the Penglai Immortal Sect is one of the four overlords of the Northern Sea. They don't need to be so attentive, so why is he here so early?

While he was still wondering, the man noticed Luo Chen's refined bearing and stepped forward to greet him. "I'm Yu Gao of Penglai. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

Luo Chen cupped his hands in greeting. "I am Luo Hai, a rogue cultivator. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yu."

Upon hearing that Luo Chen was a rogue cultivator, Yu Gao frowned slightly. He returned the gesture briefly and chose a seat on his own. He appeared somewhat arrogant, in line with the rumors of how members of the Penglai Immortal Sect conducted themselves when traveling outside.

Luo Chen did not mind this demeanor, but the man's appearance actually served to feed some of his earlier doubts.