Everyone nodded in unison, indicating that they wanted to drink the sweet and delicious water.
Seeing that everyone nodded, Liu Xiaoyuan said loudly, "Since everyone wants to drink sweet and delicious water, then give me one hundred mid-grade spirit stones each, and I can let you drink water."
One hundred mid-grade spirit stones—for some cultivators, that's an astronomical sum. It immediately caused an uproar, with many feeling that Liu Xiaoyuan had gone too far.
Liu Xiaoyuan then said with a smile, "If you all think it's too expensive, you don't have to buy it. I won't force you. Doing business is a matter of mutual consent. If you don't want to, I will absolutely not force you."
Everyone hated Liu Xiaoyuan to death when they heard him speak so righteously, but no one could do anything about it.
“We haven’t even seen a water source yet, why should we give you spirit stones?” one of the cultivators asked loudly.
As soon as this cultivator spoke, he immediately received a response from many other cultivators, who all expressed their concerns about what would happen if they handed over the spirit stones but couldn't get any water.
Liu Xiaoyuan said coldly, "I've already said this is a business transaction. If you're willing to pay spirit stones, I'm happy. If you're not, I won't force you."
After hearing Liu Xiaoyuan's words, none of the cultivators present spoke. They looked at each other, realizing that the path before them was one of gambling, and they had no choice but to gamble!
“Okay, we’re willing to pay.” Several of the cultivators immediately took out one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, which Liu Xiaoyuan promptly pocketed.
Some of the cultivators walked up to Liu Xiaoyuan and said, "I don't have that many spirit stones on me. Do you think I can use a magic weapon to defend myself?"
Liu Xiaoyuan waved his hand and said, "Those who don't have that many spirit stones, stand aside for now. After I collect the spirit stones from the cultivators who do have them, I'll settle accounts with you slowly."
Upon hearing this, the cultivators immediately began to stand to one side.
Liu Xiaoyuan said loudly, "Listen up, everyone! Those who have spirit stones on them, stand on the right. Those who don't have enough spirit stones, stand on the left."
"Oh, right, the people from Jade Cloud Pavilion, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Azure Sea Pavilion don't need to pay spirit stones," Liu Xiaoyuan said loudly.
Yang Xin'er belongs to the Jade Cloud Pavilion, and Chen Qiaoling belongs to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Liu Xiaoyuan decided not to accept spirit stones from either of them, since Yang Xin'er and Chen Qiaoling were both his women.
As for the Bihai Pavilion, he was so familiar with Gu Yuxi, and besides, Liu Xiaoyuan had slept with Tan Yanran, the head of the Bihai Pavilion, so he should take care of the disciples of the Bihai Pavilion.
Upon hearing Liu Xiaoyuan's words, everyone's gaze fell upon him. Although they had questions in their hearts, no one dared to ask.
Liu Xiaoyuan was too lazy to explain to these people.
There's a reason why I do things; why should I explain it to you?
Finally, after collecting the spirit stones from those who had enough, Liu Xiaoyuan walked up to the cultivators who didn't have enough spirit stones and asked, "Give me all the spirit stones you have!"
These cultivators immediately took out all the spirit stones they had. Liu Xiaoyuan took all the spirit stones from them and said, "Look at you, and look at those people. Why do you have so few spirit stones when you are all at the same cultivation level?"
The cultivators lowered their heads, too embarrassed to say anything after Liu Xiaoyuan spoke to them.
Meanwhile, the cultivators who had paid their dues were secretly pleased with themselves, thinking to themselves, "Who told you poor bastards to be without spirit stones?"
Although they were all from the same sect, no one was willing to take out spirit stones to help those cultivators who didn't have enough.
In their hearts, the relationships among fellow disciples were utterly worthless; nothing was as reliable as spirit stones. They would never give their own spirit stones to their fellow disciples!
Even the elders leading the group, who had plenty of spirit stones, wouldn't give an extra one to those cultivators who didn't have enough.
Liu Xiaoyuan glanced at the cultivators who had paid their dues in spirit stones and asked, "Don't you plan to lend some spirit stones to your fellow disciples?"
None of the cultivators responded to Liu Xiaoyuan's words, or simply pretended not to see them.
Those cultivators who didn't have enough spirit stones were furious when they saw their fellow disciples behaving like this. They were so-called fellow disciples, they were nothing but rubbish!
Liu Xiaoyuan turned his gaze to the cultivators who didn't have enough spirit stones and asked, "What do you think of your fellow disciples?"
No one spoke, but it was clear from their eyes and expressions that they resented this so-called fellow disciple.
In fact, if the positions were reversed and these cultivators had spirit stones, they still wouldn't be willing to give them up.
Liu Xiaoyuan asked this question to sow discord. After all, these so-called upright people are all talk about benevolence and morality, but who knows what they do behind the scenes.
"Alright, I'm being kind today. If you don't have enough spirit stones, that's fine. As for the magic treasures, I don't need them. You can keep them for yourselves," Liu Xiaoyuan said loudly, waving his hand.
Upon hearing Liu Xiaoyuan's words, the cultivators who didn't have enough spirit stones cheered with joy, but for those who had paid up their spirit stones, it was bad news.
“This isn’t right. It’s not fair to us cultivators who have paid our spirit stones,” one of the cultivators said.
Those cultivators who had paid enough spirit stones all nodded in agreement. If those who hadn't paid enough spirit stones were to join them, why would they bother to pay the full amount?
Those cultivators who hadn't paid their dues in spirit stones immediately glared at the conversation, thinking, "We're supposed to be from the same sect, so is it really okay to kick us when we're down like this?"
Liu Xiaoyuan glanced at the cultivator who had just spoken and said, "If you feel wronged, I can return your one hundred mid-grade spirit stones. After you get the spirit stones, get out of here immediately, okay?"
Upon hearing Liu Xiaoyuan's words, the man immediately shut his mouth obediently.
Liu Xiaoyuan glanced at everyone present and said, "Only I know where the water resources are, so the rules are up to me. If any of you think I'm being unreasonable, you're free to leave me alone, and I can return your spirit stones..."
Liu Xiaoyuan said a lot, and after hearing this, none of the cultivators present dared to say anything.
"Since everyone has nothing to say, that's for the best. I don't like cultivators who talk too much, understand?" Liu Xiaoyuan snorted and glanced at the cultivators present.
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