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n

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n“Final price 30 thousand taels,” Xiao Ran said.

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nThe shopkeeper hesitated. He wouldn’t make much money at this price.

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nXiao Ran put away the painting and prepared to go to another store.

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n“Wait!” The shopkeeper called out hurriedly.

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n“Will 28 thousand do?”

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nXiao Ran turned around and left. The shopkeeper ran after him and stood in front of him. He gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind. “Fine, as you requested, 30 thousand taels.”

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nAfter he took the money,

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nhe left the Fragrant Books Store.

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nXiao Ran was in a good mood. Although the money was little, it was earned without any effort at all.

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nHis current net worth was almost 10 million taels.

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nWith money in his pocket, he wanted to buy a house again.

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nHe found a brokerage. In half a day, he spent a high price of 2 million taels to buy over the two large courtyard dwellings adjacent his unit near where he lived.

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nAfter coming out of the county office, the house deed barely had time to get warm in Xiao Ran’s hands before Little Zhou rushed to him, panting heavily.

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n“Brother Xiao, I’ve been looking all over the place for you.”

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n“Why are you looking for me?” Xiao Ran asked.

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nLittle Zhou shook his head. “I’m not the one looking for you. It’s the Eldest Princess.”

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nHe explained as Xiao Ran’s puzzled gaze fixed on him.

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n“Just now, the Eldest Princess asked someone to look for you in the Divine Sword Guards compound. When you weren’t around, she asked me to look for you. It’s urgent. You are to go over at once.”

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n“How did you find me?” Xiao Ran was full of curiosity.

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n“Hehe!” Little Zhou couldn’t help gloating a little.

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n“Have you forgotten? I’m the local tyrant. I may not know the big shots, but surely I would know a few despicable scoundrels?”

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n“All right! I’ll go over and take a look.” Xiao Ran nodded to him.

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nThe two then went their separate ways.

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nXiao Ran went to the Celestial Dungeon, wondering in his heart whether it could be that her sequelae had erupted again?

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n“That’s not right! Didn’t it just erupted a few days ago? It’s only been a while.”

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nAt the Celestial Dungeon,

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nthe lieutenant saw that Xiao Ran had been promoted. He was wearing a blue sword robe and had a higher official position than him. He bowed warmly and addressed him as “Lord Xiao” affectionately.

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nAfter exchanging greetings,

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nXiao Ran entered the Purgatory and stopped at the Eldest Princess’s cell.

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nHe opened the door and stepped inside. “What urgent matter have you summoned me for in such a hurry?”

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nThe Eldest Princess stood up from the soft bed and bowed solemnly to him.

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n“Don’t be like this! I don’t deserve it.” Xiao Ran waved his hand hurriedly.

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n“Let me finish, okay?” The Eldest Princess begged.

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nShe poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Xiao Ran. After stroking her fringe for a while, she then opened her mouth again.

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n“Do you know the purpose of the Yin Incubation Institute’s visit to the capital city this time?”

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nXiao Ran took a sip of tea and did not reply.

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nThe Eldest Princess continued, “Just now, I received news that they used two precious treasures, the ‘Iron Blood Dragon Horse’ and the ‘Heavenly Secrets Interlinked Crossbow’, as well as the numinous treasures they won from the 3 Great Institutes and other valuables as betrothal gifts to initiate a marriage proposal for Luoran. Their claim that they want to exchange knowledge with the Four Great Institutes was just a false pretext. This is their true goal.”

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n“You have eyes and ears planted everywhere,” Xiao Ran commented.

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nThe Eldest Princess laughed self-deprecatingly. “Do you think I want to do this? If I didn’t, would I have survived until now?”

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nShe saw Xiao Ran was as silent as a grave again, sitting there drinking tea without answering. If not for the fact that she could not defeat him, she really wanted to climb onto him and beat him up brutally to let him have a taste of her strength.

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n“I watched Luoran grow up. After she found out about this, she locked herself in her room and refused to see anyone. Based on my understanding of her, she must be utterly heart-broken by this news.”

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n“They offered too much and the Imperial Court could not refuse?” Xiao Ran asked.

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n“Yes.” The Eldest Princess nodded.

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n“This girl is very stubborn. Once she has made up her mind on something, no amount of persuasion could change her mind. She would rather suffer alone than implicate her family. She didn’t come to me, but as her aunt, I can’t leave her to handle this on her own.”

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n“I’ve finished my tea. I should go now.” Xiao Ran stood up.

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nThe Eldest Princess sprang up from her seat and blocked the cell door to prevent him from leaving.

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nXiao Ran crossed his arms and said with an amused look, “Is your skin itchy again?”

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n“Help me this once!” The Eldest Princess begged.

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n“I don’t want to get involved in your Imperial Family’s business.”

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n“Just this once!”

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nXiao Ran remained silent.

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n“Anything you want, just ask. Whatever it is, I’ll find a way to get it to you.”

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n“If you can get it, can’t I get it myself?” Xiao Ran asked.

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nThe Eldest Princess was speechless.

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n“Don’t waste your time on me. If you have so much time, you might as well think of something else.”

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n“I can think of no one else to help in this matter but you.”

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n“You’re a smart person. You should know that I won’t get involved,” Xiao Ran said.

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nThe Eldest Princess took a step forward. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes were sincere as she pressed on. “Just this once!”

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n“Move!”

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n“Not even once?”

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n“Do I have to do it myself?” Xiao Ran’s attitude was firm.

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n“I can’t stand by without doing anything, or else Luoran will be ruined!”

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nXiao Ran pulled her aside and walked out.

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nSuddenly,

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nthe Eldest Princess rushed forward and hugged him from behind. Like an octopus, she clung to him, refusing to let him go.

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n“I’m begging you!”

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n“If that’s how you want to do this, I’ll oblige to the end.” Xiao Ran simply stopped in his tracks, still resolutely unmoved.

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n“What will it take for you to help me?”

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nXiao Ran was getting impatient. Golden light rushed out and repelled her off his body. Just as she fell to the ground, she quickly rushed over and blocked the door again.

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nGritting her teeth, she made a decision.

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n“I’ll give you a drop of elemental lifeblood!”

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n“Huh?” Xiao Ran frowned in response.

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nThe elemental lifeblood condensed the essence of a person, and each person only had three drops.

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nEvery drop lost would greatly damage the person’s vitality. He could only rely on time to make up for it and only with the use of supplementary valuable exotic natural treasures could he recover his vitality.

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nHowever,

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nthe elemental lifeblood could never be recovered unless with the help of very rare and near-extinct mythical treasures.

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nSuch heaven-defying things were extremely rare. It was hard to encounter such things even once in a thousand years.

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n“Is it worth paying such a huge price for her?” Xiao Ran asked seriously.

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n“She could even venture into the Mount Flaming Inferno to obtain the Nirvana First Revolution Sacred Fruit for me. For her sake, what’s a drop of my elemental lifeblood?” The Eldest Princess said.

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n“What would you do if I don’t agree?”

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n“I will do whatever it takes, use whatever methods available to me, to stop this matter,” the Eldest Princess said.

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n“Let me ask you again. Do you really want me to take action?” Xiao Ran asked again.

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nThe Eldest Princess answered him with action.

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nThe golden phoenix rushed out from above her head. Golden light appeared and illuminated her entire body. The holy fire of the phoenix circulated and burned on the surface of her body. Even though her shoulder bones were sealed, her physique was special and was very powerful.

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nIn addition, the Sacred Manifestation of the Phoenix had awakened once and it could activate some special methods.

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nGolden light converged in her hand as she slapped forcefully onto her chest.

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nPow!

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nShe fell against the wall, her face pale and drained of blood. Her vitality was sapped by a lot. With a great deal of effort, she managed to stand up. In her palm, however, floated a drop of golden blood the size of an egg.

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nImmense power flowed and ebbed, pulsing as if alive.

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n“I don’t regret it!” The Eldest Princess’s gaze was firm.

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nShe handed over the drop of her elemental lifeblood.

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nThe golden blood floated in the air and spun slowly before stopping in front of Xiao Ran.

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nXiao Ran was silent.

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nAs his eyes peered at her with penetrating intensity, he stood staring at her for a long time. Just when she was about to fall into despair, he finally said, “I will help!”

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n“Thank you!” With those words, the Eldest Princess closed her eyes and fainted to the ground.

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