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"Hey, I was just letting Wangxue learn that earning money isn't easy..."

After coaxing Wangxue back to sleep, Yino switched to a more relaxed tone when speaking with the Phoenix Pavilion owner.

His tone was somewhat helpless, but to Xinyao's ears, it made him sound remarkably mature.

For some reason, Xinyao's mood suddenly improved.

When she had just seen Yino treating Wangxue so indulgently, Xinyao thought the treasure she had prepared for Yino might be exchanged for Silver Leaf Grass to give to a little deer.

Honestly, Xinyao had felt quite bitter about it.

She felt her gift to Yino would be wasted and was deeply jealous that he was so affectionate toward a little deer he'd known for barely half a year.

But now Xinyao wasn't bitter anymore.

Because Yino had only pretended to make a purchase, asking about the price to humor the little deer. From his tone, it was clear Wangxue was essentially like a daughter to him.

Since he treated the little deer like a daughter, Xinyao naturally felt happy again.

After all... This wasn't the spirit pet relationship she had imagined.

Looking at it now, that silly little deer was quite adorable and not remotely in the same danger category as that fox with the squeaky voice from before!

"It's no trouble. Wangxue is the guardian spirit of the Snow Village, so we shouldn't neglect her."

"If Wangxue truly likes this thousand-year Silver Leaf Grass, I'll simply gift it to you later."

After learning that Wangxue merely held the status of a little daughter, Xinyao actually felt touched and inexplicably wanted to be generous again to take good care of this legendary nine-colored divine deer.

After all, if Wangxue was Yino's little daughter, then by extension she was also Xinyao's little relative!

This little divine deer was both cute and well-behaved. When brought back to the Grand Tutor's Mansion in the future, she would certainly be a little treasure. Since they were family now, why talk about money? As an aunt, what did it matter if Xinyao gave her future little relative some New Year's money in advance?

"Pavilion Master..."

"You're being far too kind. I truly cannot repay such generosity at present."

Although Yino liked free things, he didn't enjoy taking such small advantages. The Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master's outrageous generosity made him feel genuinely uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Xinyao snapped back from her thoughts about Wangxue.

She looked at Yino and suddenly realized something.

That's right...

I'm currently the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master, not his aunt. Giving things away for free might make Yino suspicious.

The girl in red robes paused briefly, her eyes narrowing behind her mask.

She thought of an idea and, with a deliberate cold laugh, raised her eyebrows and said:

"Yino, that kind of thinking is truly naive."

"This Pavilion Master has been trading in Western Province City for many years. Although I certainly have a life-and-death friendship with your aunt, I'm not running a charity... Moreover, do you really think that when I say you can take today's treasure for the price of three paper kites, it would really be as simple as only charging you three paper kites?"

At these words, Yino stopped in his tracks and looked at the red-robed girl beside him with surprise.

Through her mask, he could only vaguely glimpse her eyes. Honestly, Yino couldn't see through her complex thoughts, just as many players in the Fallen Immortal forums from his previous life could never guess the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master's true identity.

"I'm afraid I don't understand..."

"Do you know what's most expensive in this world?"

Xinyao smiled. She stood with her hands behind her back beneath her red dress while lifting her face to stare directly at Yino's face.

After pondering for a moment, the girl continued with a seductive smile: "The most expensive things in this world are the ones that are free."

"...?"

Yino listened with a confused expression.

From a sensory perspective, Yino felt these words fit the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master's image.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn't find similar lines or plots from the Pavilion Master in the game he remembered.

"Yino, you're still young. It's okay if you don't understand some things yet."

"But you should remember that in this world, all seemingly fortunate blessings have already been secretly marked with a price by that invisible scale."

"Yino."

"Today this Pavilion Master gives you two treasures, and I believe that in the near future, the benefits you bring to me will far exceed the value of these two treasures themselves."

In the end, Xinyao imitated the Beauty Holy Maiden from Western Province City, bringing her hands together in front of her chest, gently closing her beautiful eyes, and curving her lips into a deliberately mysterious smile.

Although Xinyao was making it up, Yino genuinely fell for this kind of talk.

Looking at the meaningful gaze and smile beneath the red-robed girl's mask, he couldn't help but raise his evaluation of the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master's position in his heart.

After all... Three months ago, Yino had indeed heard rumors about destiny from Yuebai.

Indeed, seemingly free blessings all had prices secretly marked on them.

Including Yuebai, how many self-proclaimed chosen ones in this world had become the Celestial Master's pawns one step at a time this way?

Thinking of this, Yino couldn't help but click his tongue, feeling his mind-boggled.

He'd been kept in the dark while playing the game in his previous life.

Who would have thought that even after being reborn, he still couldn't escape the fate of being tortured by the scriptwriters...

"Never mind then, I won't take the Silver Leaf Grass. I'd be content with just one Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal."

Yino waved his hand, ultimately choosing to escape his destiny.

The main reason was that it wasn't worth it. After all, whether the little deer ate Silver Leaf Grass or not would only slightly improve her auxiliary functions.

But Yino truly needed a Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal because this item could help him further break through the demonic bloodline within him!

"Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal..."

"I can give you that."

"But my treasure pavilion is filled with countless wonders. You haven't carefully examined everything since entering, yet you've been fixated solely on this Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal?"

As they chatted, Xinyao's tone slowed down as she suddenly realized something truly strange.

Namely, how did Yino know about the Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal?

The so-called Pure Blood Phoenix Crystal formed when the True Phoenix and True Dragon fought for the Central Plains long ago. Blood from their battles in the clouds above fell to the mortal world.

When True Dragon blood fell to the earth and was absorbed by the ground, it would nurture Pure Blood Dragon Crystals in the rock layers.

Conversely, when True Phoenix blood fell to earth, it would form Pure Blood Phoenix Crystals in the rock layers.