Chapter 52

"Uh-uh-uh..."

In an instant, the manager's head shook like a rattle, "The estate is fine, definitely fine. Mr. Qi, if you want to buy it, we can even give you a discount..."

The manager was too eager and blurted out these words.

At that moment, the corner of Qi Xiang's mouth curved into a smile, "How much of a discount?"

"Uh?" The manager was momentarily speechless. It was only then that he suddenly remembered that the estate seemed to be non-discountable, and could only be sold at full price. This damned rule had caused the estate to remain unsold for so long.

"No, I need to find a way to remedy this..."

Under Qi Xiang's gaze, the manager's mind raced. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head, and he immediately said, "Mr. Qi, please wait a moment, I'll go and consult."

"Hmm?" Qi Xiang was a bit puzzled but nodded indifferently, "Alright, go ahead."

"You can go back and have some tea. I'll have them continue with the procedures..." The manager pacified Qi Xiang and hurriedly returned to his office, then called the big boss, explaining the situation in a flurry of words.

During this time, Qi Xiang returned to the VIP room, continued to drink tea, and casually flipped through some documents.

After about ten minutes, the manager walked in with a beaming face and said with a broad smile, "Mr. Qi, I'm truly sorry to have kept you waiting."

"It's fine." Qi Xiang was a bit curious, "Are you done?"

"Done, done." The manager quickly explained, "I just called the big boss and told him about your situation. The big boss decided to give you a 10% discount."

"10%?" Qi Xiang was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, 10%." The manager smiled, "The estate is originally priced at 10 million, so you only need to pay 9 million."

"Really?" Qi Xiang was even more surprised. He knew very well the background of that estate. The 10 million price tag wasn't set by the sales center but by the relevant department.

If the manager dared to offer a 10% discount, wasn't he afraid...

"Wait!"

Qi Xiang's mind stirred, and he suddenly understood a few things. He then smiled lightly, feeling that his luck was good.

As expected, the development company must have felt that the estate was a burden, with the relevant department pressing hard and it not selling for so long, causing them a lot of frustration.

So, at the manager's suggestion, they decided to sell it at a discount, and rather than delay further, they would rather make up the difference on the company's books to avoid any further complications.

After all, for a company of their size, a couple of million wasn't a big deal; what mattered more was their reputation. The estate had been sealed off shortly after it was sold.

Although it wasn't their company's fault, it was still related to them.

In the big boss's view, the estate was like a thorn in the side, and not resolving its issues was like having a fish bone stuck in the throat, very uncomfortable.

So, when the manager suggested it, the big boss immediately agreed. As long as the estate could be sold, he didn't mind subsidizing some of the cost.

Understanding this, Qi Xiang felt pleasantly surprised. A good deal presented itself, and he wouldn't let it slip away. Instead, he nodded and said, "If that's the case, I must thank your boss for his generosity."

"Of course, of course..." The manager was also very happy, as his suggestion had been highly praised by the big boss.

A discount was a win-win for everyone.

After settling the price, the remaining procedures were straightforward. Once the money was transferred, all Qi Xiang had to do was sign and stamp, sign and stamp...

After completing a series of tedious procedures, the estate on the mountain became his property.

With all the handover procedures completed, the manager personally escorted Qi Xiang to the estate on the mountain. Although the estate had been vacant for over a year, everything inside was well-maintained and very clean.

The entire estate was a Chinese-style复古建筑, standing on the side of a majestic mountain, with its eaves and corners reaching out, pavilions and terraces, and intricate carvings, exuding a grand and impressive aura.

At first glance, it looked like an ancient royal palace, with a style reminiscent of the Suzhou gardens.

Of course, compared to the real Suzhou gardens, this estate was somewhat inferior. However, the landscape art of adapting to the terrain, with its winding paths, small spaces that seem vast, and the interplay of reality and illusion, was fully realized here.

Walking through the estate, with the flowers, trees, and walls blocking the view, every five steps revealed a new scene, and every ten steps a new beauty. From different angles, the views were all different.

The winding paths led to secluded spots, and every plant and tree had its own charm. The courtyards, artificial hills, and flowing water were very fresh and elegant.

In short, Qi Xiang was very satisfied.

"Mr. Qi, what do you think?" The manager smiled, "If you have any suggestions, you can tell us now. Whether it's changing the trees or making any adjustments, we can handle it through our property management department."

"I have no complaints; I am very satisfied..."

Qi Xiang stood in a two-story pavilion at the edge of the cliff in the backyard, overlooking the distant mountains and water. He carefully savored the experience, feeling a strong sense of vitality in the air, which was very active.

Subtly, Qi Xiang could even feel his cells becoming very happy with the active vitality.

"Good, good, good, as long as Mr. Qi has no complaints." The manager smiled even more, "Since that's the case... I wish Mr. Qi a happy and prosperous life here, and great success."

"Thank you." Qi Xiang smiled, "If there's anything, I'll let you know."

"Always at your service!"

The manager was very polite and then tactfully left with his people.

For a moment, the vast estate was left to Qi Xiang alone. He no longer hid his true feelings and felt a pang of pain as he touched his wallet.

In the blink of an eye, the money he had just received was gone, and his heart ached.

Of course, he was genuinely satisfied with the estate. So at this moment, he felt a mix of pain and joy, with a very complex and conflicted mood.

"Money spent will come back..."

After self-consoling, Qi Xiang toured the estate again with a joyful heart.

After more than an hour of touring and enjoying, Qi Xiang felt a bit tired and left the estate, starting a shopping spree. In the following days, he swept through the major malls in Huzhou, hiring people to buy many things.

Then, he redecorated the estate inside and out according to his wishes.

Money makes things easier, and after three days, the entire estate was completely transformed. The traces of the original owner were thoroughly erased, and every inch of the estate bore his mark.

"This is home."

The night was cool, and the moonlight was hazy. Qi Xiang sat in the pavilion, enjoying the night view and listening to the wind, feeling the stars twinkling, interweaving the mysteries of law and reason.

The pavilion was comfortably furnished and spotlessly clean.

In a corner, there was an ancient bronze incense burner with a hollow lion holding a ball on the lid. At that moment, a wisp of smoke was slowly rising from the lion's mouth and nose.

The light smoke soon dissipated into the air, filling every corner of the pavilion.

Qi Xiang lay on his side, slightly resting his head on his arm, feeling a sense of peace. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and slowly exhaled and inhaled, breathing steadily and rhythmically.

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in from the window, and the smoke wavered.

In the air, Qi Xiang also floated, his soul leaving his body!

His physical body still lay on the floor, eyes tightly closed, breathing faintly. His soul floated in the air, without joy or sorrow, without anger or sadness, completely detached from the human realm, devoid of any emotion.

However, he had learned from his mistake and dared not leave the range of the smoke, to avoid the near-disaster that happened last time.

After all, last time he was saved by star sand, but if it happened again, he might not be so lucky.

Leaving the body was a very special experience.

It was hard to describe exactly what it felt like; it could only be experienced, not explained.

However, it was definitely a very wondrous experience. He tried moving his soul through the furniture in the pavilion, feeling only a slight resistance as he passed through.

The resistance was like submerging his body in water, slightly viscous but not too strenuous.

Qi Xiang even felt that he could ascend to the heavens or descend to the earth, capable of anything...

But as time passed and the smoke dissipated, Qi Xiang felt his soul becoming unstable, and the cold sensation returned, making him realize something was wrong. He quickly returned to his body.

As his soul returned to his body, Qi Xiang's eyes snapped open, his brows furrowed.

"That's not right..."

Qi Xiang carefully pondered. According to the inheritance from the nameless ancient painting, it recorded a method to凝聚神魂. Logically, after leaving the body, the soul should absorb the essence of heaven and earth, and continuously strengthen itself.

But just now, his soul not only failed to strengthen but also consumed its own power, which was the opposite effect. What was going on?

Qi Xiang thought deeply, carefully analyzing...

"Wait, could it be this reason?"

After a long time, Qi Xiang's mind stirred, and he lit another incense pill, clearing his mind and focusing his spirit, leaving his body again. After leaving, he did not play around but floated above his physical body, trying to mimic the breathing rhythm of his body.

After all, the soul is formless and has no orifices, so it cannot breathe like the body.

Qi Xiang ignored this, despite repeated failures, he did not give up, persisting through repeated attempts.

Even though the soul has no physical form and does not feel fatigue, repeated attempts still consumed his spirit, weakening his soul and making him feel very weak, with his consciousness becoming blurred and confused...

...

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