Xing Zimo's mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But nothing came out.
Why should the Duan family's spirit farmlands having problems be filled with money that rightfully belongs to our Xing family?
Moreover, the matter Steward Shi just mentioned couldn't even be verified as true or false.
"By the way, regarding the establishment in the north of the city, starting next month, there's no need to trouble your Xing family's people anymore."
Duan Rui'an said.
"Third Young Master, but my Xing family..."
Xing Zimo had just started speaking when Duan Rui'an waved his hand with great impatience and added:
"I already said, times are tough for my Duan family right now too."
Duan Rui'an picked up the bird teasing stick from the table and extended it into the cage to play with the bird a couple of times. The jade thumb ring on this Third Young Master of the Duan family's thumb was particularly dazzling.
Xing Zimo's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.
But he had no recourse, because he, Xing Zimo, was just an ordinary martial artist found everywhere.
Whereas Third Young Master Duan was a genuine cultivator.
Peak Body Forging Realm, impervious to swords and spears, possessing immense strength.
Not to mention the head of the Duan family, the Master, was a genuine Upper Immortal of the Qi Circulation Realm.
"This Xishan Magpie has quite good conformation. The red on its tail feathers is very pure, and the luster is excellent as well."
Chen Yan, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up, his gaze falling on the birdcage beside Duan Rui'an.
Hearing this, Duan Rui'an's eyes lit up, and he shifted his gaze to Chen Yan:
"Fellow Daoist is also interested in this bird?"
"Just a slight dabbling, that's all."
Chen Yan said with a smile.
The Xishan Magpie was an ornamental demon bird bred in the Chenping Continent through generations of crossbreeding between a rather ferocious demon bird native to the continent called the Crimson-tailed Magpie and a bird from the Xishan region in the eastern domain that had a relatively more docile temperament and was more clever. It was quite famous throughout the entire Chenping Continent and had many enthusiasts.
The most rudimentary method of judging its quality was to observe the color of its tail feathers; the redder they were, the purer its lineage.
Of course, for those who truly understood birds, merely having pure tail feather color wasn't enough.
There were very strict requirements regarding the ratio of tail feather length to body length, the color of the beak, the number of feathers, and even the eye color.
The reason Chen Yan knew these things was because back when he was in the Qingjin Ravine of Wind Ravine Valley, the Spirit Plant Valley Elder's usual hobby was playing with birds. It wasn't just Xishan Magpies; including Sound Swift Sparrows and even truly fierce demon beasts like the temperamental Steel-feathered Eagle were all playthings for the Spirit Plant Valley Elder.
And Chen Yan, who was the Spirit Plant Valley Supervisor at the time, would occasionally help the Elder feed those birds.
The Spirit Plant Valley Elder kept a pair of Xishan Magpies. It was said the combined value of those two Xishan Magpies was probably over three thousand high-grade spirit stones.
Even if you added up all the assets of every cultivation family in the entire Yunyang City and multiplied it by ten, it still might not be worth as many spirit stones as that pair of Xishan Magpies raised by the Spirit Plant Valley Elder of Qingjin Ravine.
As for the Xishan Magpie in the cage next to Duan Rui'an, one could only say its tail feather color was very red and it was well-raised.
But if we're talking price, at most it was a specimen worth seven or eight mid-grade spirit stones.
However, for an enthusiast of Duan Rui'an's level, this was basically the best quality he could get his hands on.
"Fellow Daoist, please, have a seat quickly."
Duan Rui'an said with a smile:
"I heard Fellow Daoist has a past connection with my elder brother. May I ask what the connection is?"
At this moment, Xing Zimo was completely left out in the cold by Duan Rui'an, sitting there feeling restless and uneasy.
But he couldn't leave.
If he left now, it would mean the industry in the north of the city would completely kick the Xing family out of the picture.
The Xing family was barely holding on as it was. If they lost their share from the north side, disintegration would be right around the corner.
"Twelve years ago, while I was traveling around Jin'an Country, I heard the Biqiu Sect was the number one cultivation sect in Jin'an Country, so I went to the Biqiu Sect to have a look around."
Chen Yan's tone was very calm, speaking lightly and casually.
However, upon hearing this, Duan Rui'an's expression showed a moment of hesitation as his mind raced.
Although the Biqiu Sect had completely collapsed now, twelve years ago it had Sect Leader Gongsun, who was at the Peak Qi Sea Realm, presiding over it.
But according to this seemingly very young cultivator before him, he visited the Biqiu Sect as if it were no different from visiting a vegetable market... Even if there might be an element of boasting involved, since the other party dared to say this, it meant his cultivation level definitely wouldn't be too low.
At the very least, he must be at the Qi Circulation Realm.
So Duan Rui'an straightened his posture, cupped his hands towards Chen Yan, and said:
"Twelve years ago... that means, Rui'an just now addressing you as 'Fellow Daoist' was truly far too presumptuous. I hope Senior will forgive this offense!"
"Back then, when I was visiting the Biqiu Sect, it was a disciple named Duan Ruijie who accompanied me, which is your second brother."
Chen Yan continued slowly.
"So that's how it is."
Duan Rui'an nodded repeatedly.
At the same time, he was analyzing the information revealed in Chen Yan's words.
The person who accompanied him during his visit to the Biqiu Sect was his own biological elder brother, Duan Ruijie.
And Duan Ruijie at that time was just a cultivator who had recently entered the Qi Circulation Realm. Whether in terms of cultivation or seniority, he didn't rank highly within the Biqiu Sect.
First, under normal circumstances, when external guests visited, cultivation sects would send disciples of equivalent cultivation realm to accompany them. This indicated that twelve years ago, the gray-robed cultivator before him was also only at the Qi Circulation Realm.
Furthermore, Duan Ruijie's seniority was also very shallow back then; he probably held no significant position within the sect. So it was clear the Biqiu Sect didn't place much importance on this gray-robed cultivator either.
The words he just spoke probably contained a larger element of boasting.
Very quickly, Duan Rui'an arrived at this judgment.
"Ruijie was a very perceptive and deeply loyal person. Back then, he often mentioned one person's name to me."
Chen Yan said.
"Might I ask who the person my elder brother mentioned was?"
Duan Rui'an probed.
"Xing Ziang."
Chen Yan said calmly.
Xing Zimo, standing in the corner to the side, also had a stunned expression.
"... Xing Ziang?"
Duan Rui'an, sitting across from Chen Yan, had a slight change in his expression. He hadn't expected Chen Yan to suddenly bring up this name.
The Xishan Magpie in the cage beside him fluttered its wings slightly, revealing the black-and-white underfeathers beneath its wings.
A truly top-quality Xishan Magpie should have pure white underfeathers on the inner side of its wings.
"Ruijie said that Xing Ziang was a once-in-a-century talent for the Biqiu Sect. Usually, Xing Ziang, being a disciple who also hailed from Yunyang City, often mentioned this in the sect and frequently gave him pointers on his cultivation."
Chen Yan spoke slowly:
"So, before I left the Biqiu Sect, he told me that if I ever passed by Yunyang City one day, he hoped I could also lend a helping hand to the Xing family."