Chapter 239: The Boss is Pleading Poverty!

Hearing that Li Feihuang was short on spirit stones, Ye Chen couldn’t help but smile. This was exactly what he wanted. He practically wished every high-multiplier female cultivator was broke, so he could cover all their cultivation needs. Wouldn’t that send him soaring?

Meeting Li Feihuang’s expectant gaze, Ye Chen put on an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry… To form my ninth-grade Golden Core, I paid a steep price to acquire spiritual items. I’m a bit strapped for spirit stones myself right now.”

Li Feihuang blinked, caught off guard. Ye Chen was low on spirit stones too?

But it made sense. The Phoenix Stone couldn’t produce a ninth-grade Golden Core. Ye Chen must have spent a fortune on top-tier spiritual items, leaving him short. It was reasonable.

The thought that Ye Chen might be deceiving her never crossed her mind. After all, he’d given her phoenix blood without hesitation. Mere spirit stones? If he had them, he’d likely hand them over without a second thought.

Seeing the guilt on Ye Chen’s face for not being able to help, Li Feihuang quickly waved her hand. “No need to feel bad, Fellow Daoist Ye. It’s fine.”

Still, failing to borrow spirit stones from Ye Chen left her troubled. Was she supposed to hunt demonic beasts for resources? It wasn’t difficult, but it was a waste of time—and beneath her status. That time would be better spent improving her cultivation.

As she frowned in thought, Ye Chen spoke up. “I may not have a large sum of spirit stones, but why don’t you tell me what you need most right now, Fairy Li? I might be able to help with something smaller.”

Without hesitation, Li Feihuang replied, “I’m cultivating an attack spell that requires a piece of Star River Purple Sand.”

Star River Purple Sand was a top-grade material with wide applications—alchemy, artifact refining, talisman crafting, array formation, and even cultivation. It wasn’t naturally formed but refined by Unity Stage powerhouses from the Outer Starry Rivers. A small piece costs 20,000 high-grade spirit stones.

Hearing her request, Ye Chen promptly took out a transmission talisman. Soon, Sun Ye arrived in the courtyard.

Seeing Ye Chen, now a Golden Core cultivator, Sun Ye bowed with deep respect. “Boss, what are your orders?”

Ye Chen spoke calmly, “Does the shop have any Star River Purple Sand?”

Sun Ye shook his head. “We don’t have it in stock, but Heavenly Evolution Pavilion has some for sale.”

Ye Chen nodded. “The shop’s liquid funds are tight right now. Go find a partner, offload some inventory at a low price, and buy a piece of Star River Purple Sand to bring back.”

Sun Ye froze. Tight on funds? How could that be? The shop’s current liquid assets could buy ten pieces, let alone one.

But he quickly caught on. Glancing at Li Feihuang, he guessed the boss was dealing with someone trying to borrow spirit stones. Sun Ye had used the same “pleading poverty” tactic when old friends came asking. He’d cry poor louder than anyone, sometimes even claiming he needed to borrow from them.

In the cultivation world, lending spirit stones was often a one-way trip. The borrower might die, or if they survived, they’d avoid you, with no intention of repaying.

I borrowed it with my own skill, so why should I pay it back?

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That mindset wasn’t rare among cultivators.

Clearly, the boss was in a similar bind. And with the borrower being a beauty, he probably couldn’t bring himself to outright refuse.

Understanding the situation, Sun Ye put on a troubled expression. “Boss, our liquid funds are already stretched thin. If we sell inventory at a loss, the shop could go under…”

Ye Chen inwardly praised Sun Ye’s quick thinking. Sharp guy. Keep this up, and in a few years, he might just reach the Golden Core stage.