"What?!"
Yesterday, after hearing Qiu Qianhai explain the situation on Maple Island, Ji Yuan was already contemplating whether his two neighbors might encounter trouble.
But at the time, it was merely speculation. Never did he expect that today it would become reality...
Upon landing, Lin Hu cautiously helped Wu Qin ashore. Only then did Ji Yuan notice that Wu Qin seemed to be injured, with blood faintly seeping from her waist.
Lin Hu stored the fishing boat away and gave Ji Yuan a bitter nod.
"I’ll come by Brother Ji’s house to talk later."
Ji Yuan hesitated slightly but nodded, "Alright."
"..."
After a while, Lin Hu, having settled Wu Qin at his home, came over to Ji Yuan’s place. They didn’t enter the house but sat in the front yard.
At that moment, Lin Hu still appeared a bit shell-shocked. Although he said he came to talk to Ji Yuan, it was more about seeking solace.
"In the first few days after we arrived, having Old Man Huang with us was a relief. Although we encountered danger a few times, we managed to avoid it."
"Back then... the chaotic battles hadn’t started yet, and Old Man Huang still considered us one of his own."
As Lin Hu spoke, a hint of regret crossed his eyes, and his hands, resting on his knees, clenched into fists.
"Later, for some unknown reason, the people from Taian Square suddenly banded together and started killing anyone from Jingde Square they could find. Naturally, we from Zengtou City thought we could take advantage of the situation, hoping to watch the tigers fight from atop the mountain."
"Once the people from Jingde Square realized this, they suggested to the Taian Square people to kill us from Zengtou City first, to avoid us snatching any benefits... and so they joined forces."
"We weren’t foolish either, so we joined with the Taian Square against Jingde Square. In the chaos, everyone was killing wildly; it didn’t matter where someone was from. It became a free-for-all."
"We were weak in strength, so we decided to flee."
"Dodging left and right, we still got noticed by a Level 6 Qi Cultivator."
At this point, Lin Hu’s voice trembled.
Ji Yuan didn’t know how to comfort him, so he sighed and said, "In the Cloud Rain Marsh, it’s big fish eating little fish, but isn’t it the same on land? Cultivation itself is a struggle against the heavens, the earth, and other people."
"Brother Ji speaks the truth... That Tribulation Cultivator’s Dharma Ship was better than ours, and we were about to be caught. In that critical moment, Old Man Huang threw me back onto my parent’s Black Wood Boat."
Lin Hu punched his thigh hard as he spoke.
"That bastard!"
"..."
Lin Hu didn’t say what happened next, but Ji Yuan could guess.
"Did Old Man Huang survive?"
"I don’t know." Lin Hu shook his head, "After my parents held off that Tribulation Cultivator, we fled for our lives and didn’t see any sign of Old Man Huang along the way. Hopefully, he’s dead, without a trace left behind."
Indeed, although Ji Yuan didn’t say it, he also felt there was something wrong with Old Man Huang.
He wasn’t decent.
While it might be said, ’better a friend dies than me,’ being so blatant about selling out your companions to survive... It’s best to keep a distance and not get involved with him in the future.
Of course, that’s if there’s a future to be had.
Lin Hu returned home, and although furious, he retained some reason and didn’t rashly break into Old Man Huang’s place.
According to the rules of the Water Dragon Sect, as long as you pay the Immortal Residence fee, the house is under the sect’s protection. If Lin Hu dared to break in... that would mean clashing with the Water Dragon Sect.
If you win, naturally, it’s fine. Not just a small Zengtou City, even the Sect Leader of the Water Dragon Sect is at your mercy.
But if you lose, then no apologies; the Water Dragon Sect will teach you a lesson.
After Lin Hu left, Ji Yuan sat at the same spot for a while longer. The death of Lin Youwei and his spouse had somewhat impacted him.
Competing for immortal fate, succeed if you can, or die if you fail.
If it were just about competing, it would be fine, but you also have to watch out for people like Old Man Huang... Going out adventuring is just too dangerous.
Even if I barely advanced to the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, so what?
Both Lin Youwei and the original owner’s parents were also at the fourth level, but when it’s time to die, they still perish.
So be it; farming is still more important!
With that thought, Ji Yuan stood up, locked the courtyard gate, then went to the backyard, looking at the words floating above the pigsty.
[Pigsty: lv0]
Everything needed for Spirit Stones was prepared, and with a thought, Ji Yuan watched the 0 roll into a 1.
Immediately, the Spirit Stones in his hand turned into powder, and a new upgrade condition for the level 2 Pigsty popped up on his panel.
[Pigsty: LV2]
[Spirit Effect: Produces half an ounce of Blood Essence daily, enhanced effect on flesh and blood]
[Upgrade Conditions: Low-grade Spirit Stones ×50, Rot-Bone Flower ×3 plants, inscribe Purification Runes]
Blood Essence!!
This is the core material for refining ’Qi Blood Pill’, which is an excellent healing elixir during the Qi Cultivation Stage.
Its effect is much better than the Hundred Herbs Pill.
The Hundred Herbs Pill is extremely effective for early-stage Qi Cultivation injuries, but if injured during the later stages, using it yields little result.
For more severe injuries, they use Qi Blood Pill.
The level 2 Pigsty produces half an ounce of Blood Essence daily, and Ji Yuan remembered that in Zengtou City, Blood Essence sells for 20 Spirit Stones per ounce.
Half an ounce is worth 10.
Generating 10 Spirit Stones daily, with the Fish Pond upgraded to level 2, producing one drop of Water Dew each day, adds yet more Spirit Stones to his income.
Ji Yuan hardly dared to imagine what kind of life he could lead by then, perhaps... never having to eat eggshells again?
Even Spirit Eggs could have a different taste, like steamed or boiled?!
For now, though, that’s definitely not possible; no matter how small a mosquito leg is, it’s still meat.
Daily, Ji Yuan would crush the Spirit Egg Shell into powder, swallowing and refining it.
Once the Pigsty upgrade was completed, Ji Yuan took 3 Spirit Eggs and the remaining 1 Spirit Stone and headed to Zengtou City.
First, he found the familiar Chicken Cultivator, sold the 3 Spirit Eggs, exchanging them for 1 Spirit Stone and 5 pieces of Broken Spirit.
Finally, he took these 2.5 Spirit Stones to Zengtou City’s Pig Cultivator... Spirit Dolphin shop.
The Loose Cultivator in Zengtou City dealing with Spirit Dolphins is named Luo Tong, a friend of Ji Qingyun, whom Ji Yuan learned about from Old Man Huang.
The Dharma Ship that originally belonged to Ji Qingyun is currently with Luo Tong.
Upon reaching the location, before Ji Yuan could speak, the broad and tall Luo Tong, wearing a blood-stained apron, glared at him saying, "What’s up, kid, so long and you haven’t come to see your Uncle Luo."
"Have you forgotten me?"
Ji Yuan quickly smiled and said, "How could I, it’s just that lately..."
"Running low on Immortal Residence fees? Here, I have them, take these to pay your dues first." Luo Tong didn’t wait and handed over 3 Spirit Stones.
Ji Yuan looked up at this big and burly man with a warm feeling rising in his heart.
In the deceitful Zengtou City, it’s rare for someone outside to treat him so well.
"Thank you, Uncle Luo, for your kindness. I had some good fortune, found an injured Spirit Fish, and have already paid the Immortal Residence fee."
"That’s good, let me know if you’re short."
Luo Tong didn’t waste words, retrieved the Spirit Stones, and then picked up a four-to-five-pound piece of Spirit Dolphin meat from the counter, "Take this meat back to eat and nourish yourself."
"No need, no need, I’ve actually come to Uncle Luo for a reason today."
"Oh? What’s the matter?"
"..."
After Ji Yuan explained the situation, Luo Tong went to the backyard and eventually brought out a piglet in a cage.
"Spirit Stones?! If you still consider me your uncle, take it back. If you mention Spirit Stones again, I’ll slap you so hard you’ll turn into a Spirit Dolphin."
Faced with such an "unreasonable" uncle, Ji Yuan had no other choice and temporarily accepted the gesture, planning to repay the favor by bringing some extra Spirit Eggs next time.
What he didn’t expect was that after sending off the Spirit Dolphin, Luo Tong pulled him inside, lowering his voice and saying:
"I bought your father’s Willow Leaf Boat. Once you advance to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, bring 10 Spirit Stones to find me, and I’ll return the Willow Leaf Boat to you."
10... Even the cheapest Dharma Ship costs 20 Spirit Stones, and that’s for damaged ones. 10 is almost like giving it away.
Before Ji Yuan could speak, Luo Tong patted his shoulder.
"As for anything else, we’ll talk once you reach the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, if you can’t... focus on fishing, sigh."