Exchange of Favors 14.1

Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit!

The finale item for the auction was actually a Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit!

It's appearance simply shocked people's souls beyond belief!

It can be said that whoever finds this immensely rare spirit fruit is someone who doesn't just have unbelievably good luck but someone who is just practically blessed by the heavens!

To think that this fruit was actually put on auction, it just blew everyone's mind. This spirit fruit after all isn't like any other rare and difficult to find spirit fruit but is actually a fruit that is just simply impossible to come across with in one's lifetime and to think that a chance to acquire this came by today, it can be said that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit could be said to be one of the greatest medicinal panaceas there is! If simply judging with it's outer appearance, it's already a marvel to look at! It's like a fragile and perfectly carved crystalline fruit figurine with the peel having a glass-like crystal appearance with a golden sheen to it, looking more like a sculpture than a fruit but when one thinks of it's effects, one just can't begin to measure it's worth!

The effects of the Golden Crystal Spirit fruit depends on which part of the fruit you'll be using. From the peel to the seed inside, all had varying yet amazingly potent effects!

The peel has a very strong medicinal property that cleanse the body of any possible impurities, this includes any harmful substances that is detrimental to one's health which includes poisons, impure or negative qi such as death qi or demonic qi as well as potential substances picked up in a person's environment that affects one's physique in a negative way. This results in the overall improvement on the body's physical state an tempering everything from the muscles, bones, veins and meridians to it's utmost peak while at the same time causing their spiritual qi to have a drastic rise in quality and purity which can improve the speed in cultivation as well as make one's foundation even more stable and stronger than before.

As for the flesh of the fruit, it can directly affect a person's cultivation rise in power and immediately help them break and push through bottlenecks no matter what level they are on while stabilizing their qi and ensuring there is no backlash from the sudden breakthrough while stablizing a person's foundation once they rise in rank.

As for the juice or as an alchemist would call it; the spirit fruit essence, this has a direct effect on a person's mind and soul, nourishing it and helping mend and treat injuries caused by spiritual and soul attacks and even improving one's divine sense which are both incredibly hard to do.

As for the seed of the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit, it is pretty straightforward and has no medicinal propeties. What's special about the seed is that once you plant it, given enough time, it should grow into a two-stemmed flower which will produce two more Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit once it blooms but of course this is only if the extremely harsh and strict conditions for cultivating it was met which is actually very challenging since it depends on a very wide-range of factors, especially with it's environmental requirements to even survive the seed's germination yet despite of the difficulties in cultivating it, having one in the first place is enough to help a large family cement their family's foundation and strength since the benefits still outweighs the difficulties and could have a huge impact in their and their families' future.

Anyone who's anyone all felt their blood boil as a fierce determination appeared on their faces with only one thought on their minds.

They must acquire this spirit fruit!

Even Fan Zhu Xia's eyes burned with a scorching fervor as she stared at it while her mind whirled with thoughts on how to get it.

It was at this moment that Fan Yong Rui stirred and let out a pained groan which immediately snapped Fan Zhu Xia out of her thoughts before she hastily stood up and made her way over to where her cousin laid with a worried look on her face.

Despite the pounding headache and feeling of extreme sluggishness that made him feel unbearably weak, Fan Yong Rui felt a pair of soft hands gently lift his wrist and a delicate finger press against his vein to take his pulse.

Struggling to open his eyes, Fan Yong Rui blinked a couple of times to make out the blurry silhouette of a young lady in front of him giving him a worried and apologetic look.

"Second Brother, Xia'er is sorry!"

Second brother?

Since when did he have a little sister?

Groggily shaking his head, Fan Yong Rui tried to clear his mind and remember how he lost consciousness in the first place. When he finally did, his eyes widened slightly as his incredulous gaze snapped back to the girl who still held his hand in hers.

Just as Fan Yong Rui opened his mouth to speak, the young lady beside him suddenly lifted one of her hands and flicked her finger, shooting something into his mouth, almost making him choke.

Her actions not only surprise Fan Yong Rui but also Min Sheng and Chun Hua.

"Young Miss, what did you just flick into Second Young Master's mouth?" Min Sheng asked in surprise as he saw Fan Yong Rui give Fan Zhu Xia a flabbergasted look as if he just couldn't believe what she had done.

And yes, it was true! Fan Yong Rui's face reflected what his wxct thoughts were as of the moment!

He just couldn't believe that a small, delicate-looking girl could first, knock him unconscious with ease and then actually feed him an unknown pill the moment he woke up!

It was just unbelievable! The only reason Fan Yong Rui didn't retaliate was because he initially felt incredibly weak but the moment that he swallowed the pill, albeit almost choking on it, he felt his raging headache slowly disappear and his body feel as if it's just woken up from a refreshing rest while the qi energy in his body felt more dense and vigorous that it even felt like the pill was acting like a stimulant to boost his cultivation.

Unaware of his thoughts, Fan Zhu Xia absent-mindedly answered Min Sheng's question and told him that it was just a pill to help Fan Yong Rui recover and despite knowing all about the pill's effects, Fan Zhu Xia misunderstood Fan Yong Rui's stunned stillness and believed that something was wrong.

"Second Brother are you feeling okay now? Are you still feeling unwell?" Fan Zhu Xia asked in a worried tone but since Fan Yong Rui still felt shock from what he observed in the changes that's happening in his body, he remained silent and didn't answer which not only made Fan Zhu Xia worry but also think that he was mad for what she did to him earlier.

Sighing sadly, Fan Zhu Xia let go of Fan Yong Rui's hand and said in a forlorn yet firm tone, "Xia'er really is sorry about how I acted earlier...it's just that I got angry when you kept saying that I wasn't father's daughter since that's a sensitive topic for me, after all, Xia'er is only adopted but nevertheless Father is Father! He's the only one who was there for me for these past years and I owe him my life! Xia'er understands if you don't want to acknowledge me since that is within your rights and you are correct in some way since I do not have Father's blood running in my veins but despite of this, Fan Hui Zhong is someone very dear and important to me and nothing can change that! So I hope that you can forgive my earlier offense and can only make it up to you in the future."

Taking a deep breath to gather her composure, Fan Zhu Xia then added and vehemently said, "I just want you to know and understand that everything I did was because I dislike people questioning my relationship with him and accusing me of using him. I, Zhu Xia had never once thought of using Fan Hui Zhong! The day I met him, I thought that he was nothing more than a hermit blacksmith who luckily found me and saved my life even when I didn't want him to... He is the reason I was able to see reason in living again and the fact that he took me in and gave me a feeling of having a family again is a favor that I can never repay him enough in this lifetime!"

Realizing that his silence was misinterpreted by the girl in front of him, Fan Yong Rui became flustered and hurriedly tried to explain while waving his hands in panic at what he'd done, especially when he saw the imminent threat of a woman crying when he saw the glimmer of crystalline tears in Fan Zhu Xia's eyes.

Seeing that Fan Zhu Xia was about to move away, Fan Yong Rui's hand reflexively shot out to catch her's to stop her movements and hold her in place.

"No wait, you don't have to apologize, this is a misunderstanding and a huge mistake on my part and if anyone should apologize and owe you a favor should be me! I acted to rashly and let my emotions cloud my judgement and for this, I am deeply ashamed. I may not understand who exactly are you but having Min Sheng here escorting you can only mean that the Fan family has already acknowledged who you are. I really do hope you can forgive my previous actions."

"So you're not mad at me for knocking you out?" Fan Zhu Xia asked as she guiltily looked at him.

Feeling a bit of embarrassment at her words, Fan Yong Rui heaved a sigh and can only curse himself for slacking off in his training before he lightly shook his head and replied, "No I am not mad, it is only my fault for being too weak."

"It's not your fault! Xia'er can clearly sense that you held back and I only took you by surprise and the only reason you even lost consciousness was becaused I drugged you!"

Hearing her say those words with a sincere and straight face, Fan Yong Rui didn't know whether he should laugh or cry. This was the first time he met a girl who could bluntly say without shame that she drugged a man!

Before he can open his mouth to reply, a knock sounded on the door before the voice of an attendant was heard asking for permission to enter. This made all of them turn towards the door's direction while a look of sudden realization manifested on Fan Zhu Xia's face before she hurriedly granted permission to enter.

Upon entering the room, the attendant noticed the ambigous atmosphere in the room and shot a a look at the Fan Yong Rui's hand which still held on to Fan Zhu Xia's before coughing lightly before speaking.

"Please pardon the intrusion but we would just like to ask if these two esteemed guests would like to bid for the Golden Crystal Spirit Fruit?"

Hearing the question, Fan Zhu Xia immediately nodded in assent before opening her mouth to say, "We would like to participate but will you give us a little bit more time to think of what we can bid?"

"But of course, feel free. We shall wait for your decision and come back in half an hour if that's alright?"

"Yes, that is more than enough. Thank you." Fan Zhu Xia replied with a smile while Fan Yong Rui stayed silent.

Giving them one last look, the attendant then bowed and respectfully excused herself.

Frowning slightly, Fan Yong Rui cleared his throat slightly then asked Fan Zhu Xia who's hand he still held, while giving her an inquisitive look as he met her gaze.

"Now that she's gone, what was your name and what's being auctioned again?"