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Chapter 35: "Foundation Establishment Loan"
Chapter 35: "Foundation Establishment Loan"
The auction continued in an orderly manner, and Chen Qiu found little interest in the next two items, thus refraining from bidding until...
"The eighth item."
"A Heavenly Principle Clause, a special entry, with an effect that can be inherited."
"Starting bid: 100 spirit stones, with increments of 100 spirit stones each."
As the elder on stage finished speaking, Chen Qiu could clearly sense the entire hall falling silent in an instant, and almost simultaneously, the second-floor private rooms began to light up one after another.
"800 spirit stones!"
"1,000 spirit stones!"
"1,300 spirit stones!"
In the blink of an eye, the price skyrocketed from the starting bid of 100 spirit stones to 1,300 spirit stones. The Ask Heaven Market Auction often set a random starting price, and a low starting bid didn't necessarily mean the item was worth that amount.
Of course, there was hardly any chance of getting a bargain. If the highest bid fell far short of the item's actual value, someone from the Ask Heaven Market would buy it back and put it up for auction again at the next event.
The moment the eighth item appeared, it ignited the enthusiasm of the entire venue. Many factions had come specifically for this "Heavenly Principle Clause," a permanent entry that could be passed down. Who wouldn't want that?
Although it required a gamble, not a single person who had risen from humble beginnings to achieve success in this chaotic world considered themselves unworthy of such a blessing.
The hall buzzed with discussions.
"This auction truly has a Heavenly Principle Clause up for grabs. Although I've seen it on the list of items, it's still exciting to see it in person. Not many get the chance to witness such a thing."
"That's true. They say that the Mystic Realm of Heavenly Inquiry in Fufeng City, which will open in a few days, has a good chance of producing a Heavenly Principle Clause. If one is lucky enough to obtain one in the Mystic Realm, they'll instantly become rich beyond measure!"
"Over a thousand spirit stones! It's enough to make anyone envious. Unfortunately, I haven't finished repaying my Foundation Establishment Loan yet, so I don't qualify to enter the Mystic Realm. Otherwise, I'd also like to try my luck in there."
"Foundation Establishment Loan."
A type of loan offered by the Great Xia Nation's Qian Family Treasury, specifically targeting those with a monthly allowance of 5 spirit stones or more and who are members of the Great Xia government offices. The loan amount is set at 300 spirit stones, neither more nor less, just enough to rapidly advance from the first layer of Qi Condensation Stage to the first layer of Foundation Establishment Stage.
To be eligible for this loan, one must meet a condition: they should be a government office member with a monthly allowance of at least 5 spirit stones. The lowest cultivation level among those who meet this requirement is Foundation Establishment Stage.
For a Qi Condensation Stage cultivator to obtain this loan, they must become a member of the Great Xia government offices; otherwise, they won't be eligible. But to become a member of the Great Xia government offices, one's cultivation must first reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.
It seems like a catch-22, but in reality, one can simply find an intermediary to communicate and bridge the gap. The only drawback is that before the loan is repaid, a strand of energy will remain in the Dantian, serving only one purpose: preventing entry into any Mystic Realm.
After all, the death rate in Mystic Realms is incredibly high, and the Qian Family Treasury doesn't want to risk losing all its clients in these dangerous places.
"Oh?"
The man beside him, upon hearing this, paused momentarily, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes. "It's said that the Fufeng City government office recruited less than a hundred new members this year. Could you be one of them? With a monthly allowance of 5 spirit stones and no life-threatening risks, that's quite a sweet deal."
"Sigh...
"The man who spoke up had a hint of pride on his face, but he sighed helplessly, "It's true that I've been lucky to have a patron's help, but in reality, life is still a mess."
"I didn't realize it before, but after entering the government office, my three aunts are heavily ill and need to borrow money. Tomorrow, my parents want to buy a grand house in the village to show off. I also have to maintain good relations with my colleagues and treat them to meals every few days. Although the patron hasn't said anything, you'd still have to show your gratitude, right?"
"Even your good friends from childhood come to drink with you from time to time, hinting that they need your help without explicitly saying it. My wife's family boasts about finding a good son-in-law, and her relatives come to me for help with their problems. You can't refuse, right? If you do, it would be like bursting the bubble my father-in-law has been blowing."
"But if you don't refuse, then every matter you handle requires Spirit Stones as a catalyst."
"I also have to repay the 'Foundation Loan' every month. Brother, you don't know, although my Cultivation Level is much stronger than before, and I have some influence in Fufeng City, I truly feel that life is not as carefree as it used to be."
"Sometimes I think, if I were alone, maybe I could still strive for the Golden Core Period and seek the Golden Core Path in this lifetime!"
"Although Demon Cultivators are despised, I think their approach—"
"One day, when I step onto the Immortal Path, I'll kill my parents and then my child."
"It would truly free me from many attachments."
"Hmm..."
The man who had been envious fell silent, about to offer some comfort, but upon recalling his own troubles, he lost the mood to console.
The bidding continued in the second-floor suite.
The price had skyrocketed to an unprecedented 1700 Spirit Stones.
This price had already surpassed the market value of the Heavenly Principle Clause, which was a highly speculative Entry. It could potentially leave a family with a prosperous legacy or an unremovable flaw.
Typically, 1500 Spirit Stones was the market price for a Heavenly Principle Clause.
"Who's in Room T6, bidding 1700 Spirit Stones without batting an eye?"
"I don't know, but I do know that families with the Heavenly Principle Clause have an extremely intricate marriage ceremony. It's said to be for the Heavenly Mandate's witness, and only the child born from such a ceremony can inherit the Clause. Illegitimate children without this ceremony can't inherit it, and only the Primary Consort's ceremony is recognized by Heaven. Concubines' ceremonies are not acknowledged."
"I can't even imagine how blessed it must be to be born into such a family, starting life several steps ahead of your peers."
"That's not necessarily true. What if your birth mother is a concubine? Then your status in the family..."
"1700 Spirit Stones, third time!"
"Congratulations to Room T6 for winning the eighth auction item, the Heavenly Principle Clause, with a bid of 1700 Spirit Stones!"
Inside Room T6, a middle-aged man excitedly embraced a beautiful woman, saying, "Madam, we've acquired another Heavenly Principle Clause! Our previous two Clauses were excellent, and even if this third one has negative effects, we can still accept it."
"If all three Clauses have positive effects, our child will be far ahead of their peers from birth, and they will surely lead the Zhang family to another level of prosperity!"
"And you will be the First Madam of the Zhang family!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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