The Treasure Pavilion stood halfway up Mount Jiuhua, right beside the family's deliberation hall, less than a hundred meters away. It was one of the Han Family's most important places.
It managed all the distribution and exchanges of Spirit Stones, magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans, and other valuables within the clan.
Guarding it was the Han Family's Eighth Elder, Han Jindao—a kindly, plump old man, always smiling and approachable.
Well, except when it came to the Patriarch… ahem.
Han Sen arrived at the Treasure Pavilion. The doors were wide open, so he stepped straight in.
The room wasn't large, simply furnished, with rows of wooden shelves holding jade boxes.
Behind a table sat the rotund Eighth Elder, eyes half-shut, dozing lightly.
"Eighth Grandfather."
Han Sen bowed politely.
"Ah, Little Six," the old man's eyes opened, scanning him from head to toe. His face lit up with approval. "You've broken through? Not bad, not bad."
He chuckled, teasing:
"With your stingy personality, shouldn't you be cultivating diligently instead of coming to my 'Money Pit'?"
"Stingy" referred to Han Sen's notorious frugality—hoarding resources for years, never spending, except on the bare minimum needed for breakthroughs.
As for the "Money Pit," that was the affectionate nickname disciples gave to the Treasure Pavilion.
Han Sen laughed sheepishly and produced the token the Second Elder had given him.
"Second Grandfather asked me to tell you that he's granting me a storage pouch as an exception."
Normally, such pouches were only given once a disciple reached Qi Refining Level 4. Han Sen was only at Level 3, so this was indeed an exception.
"You want to go down the mountain already? Ridiculous!"
At the sight of the token, the Eighth Elder instantly understood. He sat up straighter, expression stern.
"According to family rules, disciples only need to go down the mountain at Mid-stage Qi Refining. That useless Second Brother of mine—always meddling!"
"Eighth Grandfather, you know my aptitude," Han Sen explained quickly. "If I keep cultivating like this, it'll be hard to even reach Qi Refining Level 6.
That's why I want to leave the mountain earlier—to do some work for the family, and also to earn more resources for myself. That way, maybe I'll have a chance at Late-stage Qi Refining."
Hearing this, the Eighth Elder's sternness softened. He gave Han Sen a strange look and sighed.
"You clever brat. No wonder you dared to come digging for a bargain here. That Second Brother of mine—so generous with my stock."
"Hehe."
Han Sen scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly. He knew the Elder had agreed.
"Since you're going down the mountain, you should prepare properly. Don't be stingy with your Spirit Stones.
Outside, it's not like within the clan—no affection, no safety, only scheming and the strong preying on the weak.
Even at Azure Wave Lake, under the clan's protection, danger may still find you."
The Elder's tone was heavy with warning.
"I understand. I won't be stingy. In fact, I came today precisely to spend my Spirit Stones."
Han Sen smiled brightly.
"You rascal."
The Eighth Elder snorted in amusement. "Fine, enough chatter. What do you want to buy?"
"Three mid-grade, first-tier Vajra Talismans."
"Defensive talismans, enough to block a Sixth-level Qi Refiner's strike. Nine Spirit Stones each—twenty-seven in total."
"One mid-grade, first-tier flying sword."
"Standard family issue, thirty Contribution Points."
"One pair of mid-grade, first-tier Cloud-Treading Boots."
"Standard, twenty Contribution Points."
"One mid-grade, first-tier magic robe."
"Standard, twenty-five Contribution Points."
The Elder listed them one by one, then paused, did some mental math, and frowned.
"Wait. You only have seventy-two Contribution Points. That leaves you short by three."
"And also," Han Sen quickly added, "a fishing rod made from green jade bamboo with ten-year jade silkworm silk."
He pulled out all forty-eight Spirit Stones he had saved.
"Hmm? Forty-eight?"
The Eighth Elder glanced at them, counting in a heartbeat. His brow arched.
"You really dare. That fishing rod set costs thirty-two stones—no, let's say twenty-five."
He waved it off with mock irritation. "Fine, I'll deduct the difference from your Contribution Points. You now owe the family a total of seven."
"Thank you, Eighth Grandfather!"
Han Sen bowed gratefully. He knew he had gained a huge advantage.
After all, if these so-called "standard" artifacts were sold on the open market, their prices would easily double. But within the clan, not only were they cheaper, their quality was guaranteed.
Even the fishing rod would normally fetch no less than thirty Spirit Stones. Yet the Elder had adjusted the price mid-sentence after realizing Han Sen was short. Not only that, he let him owe the difference.
This… was family.
"Phew…"
Han Sen sighed dramatically, clutching his chest.
"All gone. My fortune is gone. Penniless. Truly a bottomless money pit."
"You brat, acting pitiful after taking advantage. Get out of here!"
The Elder laughed, tossing him a storage pouch. Inside, three meters in length, width, and height—a standard low-grade storage bag. Everything he had ordered was packed inside.
This storage bag alone would cost a hundred Spirit Stones outside.
Han Sen accepted it with both hands, bowing respectfully. "Then this grandson will take his leave?"
"Go, go, go."
The Elder waved him off, but flicked his sleeve. Sixteen Spirit Stones flew through the air toward Han Sen.
"This year's allowance, given early—so you won't leave the mountain penniless and disgrace our Han Family."
"Thank you, Eighth Grandfather!"
Han Sen caught them, bowed again, and left happily.
The Elder chuckled, shaking his head.
"This boy knows how to seize opportunity. If he had come after reaching Level 4, I wouldn't have given him a single discount. But coming at Level 3, he used his weakness as a weapon. Sharp-minded, that one."
---
Meanwhile, Han Sen descended the mountain, greeting a few acquaintances along the way, then returned to his small courtyard.
There, he poured spiritual power into the storage bag, withdrew its contents, and laid them out on the table.
For a mere Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator, it was quite the dazzling collection.
"If I were outside, I'd look like a fat sheep ready for slaughter, wouldn't I?"
He shook his head.
"These things aren't really mine—they're the family's. Only thanks to the clan's support and the Elders' help do I have any of this. Without them, I'm nothing."
Steeling his heart, he refined the flying sword, magic robe, and Cloud-Treading Boots one after another, then put them on.
Dressed in green, boots light beneath him, Han Sen looked youthful and spirited.
Next, he fastened the storage pouch to his waist. He checked the three Vajra Talismans carefully before placing them back inside—better safe than sorry.
Finally, his gaze fell on the fishing rod.
"From now on, whether I eat meat or porridge depends on you."
He murmured softly, reaching for it.
But the moment his hand touched the rod, something strange happened.
The fishing rod dissolved into a streak of spiritual light and shot into his body.
Han Sen's vision exploded—first black, then dazzling bright.
Before his eyes, a translucent panel appeared, its words startlingly clear:
[Primordial Fishing System Activated. Begin fishing?]