"Valley Master Chen, may your Immortal Dao be eternal! Thank you for saving us!"

As Yu Sihai’s words fell, a chorus of shouts erupted across the Yu Family estate.

Sorrow and awe filled their hearts.

A moment ago, they were certain their family faced annihilation. Yet who could have predicted that these five rampaging Tribulation Cultivators would be slain in an instant? Before this, though they had heard of the Valley Master’s battle record, they hadn’t known the true extent of his strength.

But today, seeing him annihilate five Tribulation Cultivators with a mere wave of his hand, they finally understood just how formidable this Valley Master Chen was.

Chen Che walked across the water, step by step.

With a gesture, the five Tribulation Cultivators’ Storage Rings flew out from the river. His gaze fell upon a silver-gray ring. Even with the restriction of its Divine Sense Lock Seal, he could still feel the scorching aura emanating from within.

He forcibly pushed his Divine Sense inside and saw a fist-sized gemstone within, its surface like Amber Crystal.

But at its core was what looked like a solidified ember. A dense, scorching Fire Element was transforming into Spiritual Light, spreading out in concentric ripples like waves on water.

’The Starfire Stone. I’ve got it.’

A slight smile touched Chen Che’s lips.

His all-night vigil had not been for nothing.

"Valley Master Chen, a moment please!"

Just as Chen Che was savoring his success, he saw Yu Sihai approaching, also walking on water.

"What is it?"

Noticing his gaze sweeping over the rings, Chen Che asked with amusement, "You want this Storage Ring?"

Rong Zhongxuan stood behind Chen Che, his hands respectfully at his sides.

’If Yu Sihai dares to nod, I will strike immediately and kill this insolent fool.’

"...I wouldn’t dare."

Yu Sihai had already guessed that the ring contained the Starfire Stone, but he shook his head decisively, bowed, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"My Yu Family was unable to protect it, which is why the Tribulation Cultivators stole it. Since you killed them, the item is naturally your spoils of war. I merely came to thank you in person, Valley Master Chen, for saving my clan from disaster. I was wondering if Valley Master Chen would be willing to visit our clan’s estate for a moment."

Seeing that Chen Che was about to refuse, he quickly added:

"While my clan no longer has treasures like the Starfire Stone, we do still have several Flame Crystal Stones..."

’Flame Crystal Stone?’

’A Tier Three Middle Grade Spiritual Object, essentially a defective byproduct from a failed attempt to form a Starfire Stone. While not as good as a real Starfire Stone, it still contains a massive amount of Fire Element.’

Chen Che felt a flicker of interest and nodded.

"Very well."

Then, the three of them entered the clan estate, eventually taking a seat in a hall that was still mostly intact.

With Yu Xiu’s death, Yu Sihai was now the most respected figure in the Yu Family.

No sooner had the fragrant tea been served than a clansman hurried in with a tray. On the tray were five gemstone crystals similar to the Starfire Stone, but the flames within them were not pure, containing many impurities.

Yu Sihai pointed to them and said:

"These five Flame Crystal Stones were something I obtained from the Ten Thousand Fire Mountain at the same time I retrieved the Starfire Stone."

"You’re quite lucky!"

Chen Che couldn’t help but remark.

The Ten Thousand Fire Mountain had hundreds of volcanoes with lava flows connecting to the earth’s veins; its terrain was a thousand times more complex than any river system. Finding these few stones would not have been easy.

Luck was a mysterious concept; while many didn’t believe in it, one couldn’t deny that it truly existed.

His smile growing wider the more he looked, Chen Che turned to Yu Sihai and said:

"I’ll take these five Flame Crystal Stones. Name your price."

Although Flame Crystal Stones were inferior to the Starfire Stone, they were still Tier Three Middle Grade Spiritual Objects, each worth four to five thousand Spirit Stones.

Of course, a Magical Artifact of the same grade would be priced differently, as these were merely raw materials.

"Since it is you, Valley Master Chen, who wants them, why shouldn’t I just gift them to you?"

Yu Sihai said, his gaze lowered humbly.

’Unlike Yu Xiu, I’m not so short-sighted as to only think about a one-time deal. A quick profit now would mean sacrificing long-term benefits. Moreover, even with the Tribulation Cultivators gone, the Yu Family is facing an even bigger crisis.’

"What do you want?"

’A smart one,’ Chen Che thought. He spoke, his expression unchanging.

"I’ve heard that Jinyun Valley is recruiting Tributors. I wonder if I might be able to join?" Yu Sihai asked humbly. "Consider these five Flame Crystal Stones my pledge of loyalty!"

Rong Zhongxuan almost laughed out loud.

’Other Tributors get paid Spirit Stones by Jinyun Valley, but this guy actually wants to pay for the privilege.’

"I know what you’re thinking."

But Chen Che saw right through him.

"You want Jinyun Valley to be your backer? That’s not impossible. But you must understand, five Flame Crystal Stones are only worth about twenty thousand Spirit Stones. To think that’s enough to have Jinyun Valley protect the Yu Family for a lifetime... you’re being far too naive."

"I can protect the Yu Family for you, but these few Flame Crystal Stones aren’t enough!"

"Not enough?"

A tremor went through Yu Sihai’s heart.

’Tonight, the family has suffered devastating losses. Yu Xiu is dead, and more than half of our other cultivators are dead or wounded. It will take decades for us to recuperate.’

’But that’s only if the other Foundation Establishment Clans don’t move against us.’

’But how is that possible? Chi State has never produced a great clan on the level of the Meng Family, but it’s home to dozens of smaller Foundation Establishment Clans like ours and the Han Family. Right now, some of those clans are probably already plotting to come and finish us off.’

"That’s right."

Seated in the place of honor, Chen Che held his teacup and unhurriedly sized up the man before him:

"If you want something, you must first pay the corresponding price. With me, there’s no such thing as getting a big reward for a small investment."

Hearing this, Yu Sihai subconsciously glanced at Rong Zhongxuan. ’The man was once just a Loose Cultivator. What price did he pay to earn Chen Che’s trust?’

Seeing the man’s confusion, Rong Zhongxuan lowered his head and said:

"I have signed a Master-Servant Contract and serve the Valley Master as my master."

!?

Yu Sihai was utterly shocked.

He mulled it over for a moment, then gritted his teeth. His decision made, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

"Valley Master Chen, I, Yu Sihai, am willing to serve you as my master! If I ever betray you, may I share the fate of this stone!"

CRACK!

He slammed his forehead to the ground, shattering the stone slab in front of him.

At the same time, a transparent, illusory image rose from his body. Then, his Divine Sense poured out, writing a Master-Servant Contract on the spiritual plane.

"Are you sure about this?"

Chen Che glanced at the contract but didn’t respond directly. Instead, he set down his teacup and said slowly:

"If you become my servant, the entire Yu Family will become an affiliate of Jinyun Valley. If I give the order, even if it is for the entire Yu Family to march to their deaths, you cannot disobey. If you dare to betray me, I will pursue you to the Yellow Springs and Green Depths and raze the Yu Family to the ground!"

His tone was level, yet it was laced with boundless killing intent.

’Whether in this world or on the Earth Element Star, traitors are treated far more severely than enemies.’

Kneeling on the ground, Yu Sihai’s body trembled as he answered:

"My mind is made up!"

By agreeing, he was in effect staking the lives, fortunes, and future of his entire family on this decision.

"Good."

Chen Che nodded and then signed the contract.

Once the contract was formed, Yu Sihai immediately felt a binding force appear in the depths of his Divine Sense—the power of the contract.

"Rise."

Chen Che casually tossed him a bottle of pills:

"This bottle of Celestial Spirit Pills is a first-meeting gift for you. For the next few days, handle your family’s affairs first, then send the children of suitable age from your clan to Jinyun Valley for Cultivation."

Yu Sihai rose from the floor. Rong Zhongxuan immediately cupped his hands and said:

"Congratulations, Master, on gaining an affiliated family."

"Mm."

Chen Che nodded slightly.

’A single tree can’t make a forest. What major power doesn’t have its own network of affiliated families and mutually beneficial relationships?’

’Even in the natural world, hyenas and vultures feed on the lion’s leftovers. But most affiliated families are communities of shared interest built over hundreds of years of cooperation. They prosper as one and fall as one.’

Thus, when one family faced disaster, the others would all lend a hand.

"Since the Yu Family is now affiliated with Jinyun Valley, I will naturally help them in times of crisis. Rong Zhongxuan, you will stay with the Yu Family for a while. Return to Jinyun Valley only after things here are settled."

Chen Che collected the five Flame Crystal Stones, rose slowly to his feet, and added:

"Prepare a private chamber for me. I intend to refine the Starfire Stone and these Flame Crystal Stones."

"Yes!"

Yu Sihai and Rong Zhongxuan cupped their hands.

...

"Fellow Daoist Yu, it won’t be long before you realize how correct your decision today was!"

After escorting Chen Che to a Quiet Chamber, Rong Zhongxuan turned and said this to Yu Sihai.

"I hope so."

Yu Sihai let out a long sigh.

If it weren’t for Yu Xiu’s lapse in judgment, the Yu Family wouldn’t have fallen into such a state, and he wouldn’t have needed to so desperately seek a backer. After all, signing a Master-Servant Contract was equivalent to signing away one’s life. From now on, his life and death rested on a single thought from another.

Cultivators pursued freedom and unrestraint; who would be willing to have their life and death controlled by another?

"Fellow Daoist Yu, you’ll understand in three to five years at most."

Rong Zhongxuan didn’t mock him; after all, he had once felt the same way. "First, let’s repair the Nine Curves Water Dragon Array. If someone does attack, it definitely won’t be just two or three Foundation Establishment cultivators. The scale of the assault might be even more intense than tonight’s."

"Sigh, alright."

Yu Sihai sighed and said no more.

Cultivators fought for themselves, and families fought as a whole, naturally clashing over resources and territory. The Yu Family bordered the Yin, Yue, and Ba Families. Before, the four families kept each other in check, and while there was friction, it was limited to the lower ranks.

Now that the Yu Family had suffered this calamity, the others would certainly not let such a golden opportunity slip by.

...

「Meanwhile, in the Quiet Chamber.」

Chen Che was alone, sitting casually cross-legged on the floor.

A Starfire Stone and five Flame Crystal Stones were arranged in front of him. The moment these six stones appeared, the temperature in the Quiet Chamber shot up, high enough to instantly vaporize water. For Chen Che, however, this heat was unnoticeable.

’Got a Starfire Stone for free, obtained five Flame Crystal Stones, and confiscated the loot of five Tribulation Cultivators. This trip was definitely worth it!’

Chen Che chuckled. This journey had many surprises, but all of them were good news.

However, for him, the greatest pleasant surprise was the Yu Family’s allegiance.

Cultivators in this world valued territory above all else, and "crossing the line" was forbidden. Even the Han Family had only resorted to the Dark Cultivation Dao, using the excuse that a mine bordered their lands to justify their contention with Jinyun Valley.

Even mortals were extremely protective of the ridges of their fields and the land in front of and behind their homes, to say nothing of cultivators.

’With the Yu Family’s allegiance, Jinyun Valley can now enter Chi State openly and justifiably.’

’The larger the territory, the more resources, and the more cultivators under my command. Perhaps one day, we could even replace the Primordial Sect.’

At this thought, Chen Che’s gaze lowered to the six gemstones before him.

’Of course, the foundation supporting all of this is still my own strength.’

"Rise!"

He formed a Seal Technique, and the six crystals trembled, suddenly erupting in a brilliant red glow.