Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar
Chapter 64 - 63: The Detestable Dog Tycoon, Hong Yuan (Seeking Investment and Follow-up Reads)

Chapter 64: Chapter 63: The Detestable Dog Tycoon, Hong Yuan (Seeking Investment and Follow-up Reads)

The courtyard was warm as spring, while outside, white snow flurried and frosted.

Carrying a medium-sized storage bag containing more than 4,800 Energy Stones, Hong Yuan donned a warm deerskin coat, held up an oiled paper umbrella, and leisurely walked out of his cozy hut.

As soon as he opened the door, a Cold Wind laden with white snow howled toward Hong Yuan.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH.

This Cold Wind not only failed to make Hong Yuan feel uncomfortable; it actually made him feel a strong affinity for it. It even made him want to throw away the oiled paper umbrella and embrace the wind and snow.

Of course, Hong Yuan didn’t discard the umbrella, but he also dismissed the idea of using the Frost Armor Cultivation Technique to ward off the cold.

Feeling close to ice and snow, it seems my Myriad Silence Origin Skill has advanced significantly again. Is an aptitude of 34 that terrifying?

Hong Yuan stepped forward on the white snowy crust while checking the information recorded on his panel.

[Myriad Silence Origin Skill +13]

[Myriad Silence Origin Skill (Proficiency 772/1000 → Proficiency 785/1000)]

Once his aptitude reached 34, Hong Yuan found the underlying principles of all things suddenly became clear. Past cultivation difficulties, where solutions had seemed ambiguous, were no longer troubling, and he could occasionally have small epiphanies about his Cultivation Technique.

The most direct example was that previously, without any cultivation aids and relying solely on diligent practice, Hong Yuan would at most increase his Myriad Silence Origin Skill proficiency by 10 points.

But after his aptitude reached 34, through diligent cultivation alone, he could gain over 50 proficiency points for his Myriad Silence Origin Skill!

The terrifying aspect of Longevity Martial Arts finally revealed a glimpse of its power!

If it weren’t for suspected drastic changes in the deep-water region, Hong Yuan would not have risked going to the trading market in the heavy snow, specifically to the Wandao Trade Association.

The roads were white with snow, and no one was around. The north wind howled, and the fir trees were frosted. The shops in the trading market also had their doors and windows tightly shut, leaving only an assistant standing outside to prove they were still open for business.

「Wandao Trade Association.」

Hong Yuan stepped into the main entrance of the first-floor hall, then handed the oiled paper umbrella to a warmly dressed attendant for safekeeping. He familiarly headed toward the second-floor hall, seeking Master Liu.

Master Liu had connections and could help Hong Yuan collect scarce medicinal ingredients at a reasonable price, so Hong Yuan often traded with him.

Just upon entering the second floor, Hong Yuan heard a pleading voice.

"Sis, just buy me twenty second-tier Fireball Talismans... With second-tier Fireball Talismans, I can definitely make it to the main competition! I promise I’ll listen to you in the future; I’ll do whatever you say. I will cultivate diligently."

Chen Zhen was pulling on the purple robe of his sister, Chen Qingdai, begging her to lend a helping hand. He had boasted in front of Liu Xiang’er the day before that he would definitely make it to the main competition. For this, Liu Xiang’er had spent an entire afternoon with him looking for ways to enhance his strength, and they finally chose the most suitable second-tier Fireball Talisman.

Chen Qingdai frowned slightly upon hearing this, showing signs of refusal. She might be a True Disciple, but recent years had not been kind; the yield from the Spiritual Fields she managed was limited. Every month, she had to meticulously calculate where each Energy Stone went, stretching every Energy Stone as far as possible.

A single second-tier Fireball Talisman cost seventy Energy Stones, and twenty would cost 1,400 Energy Stones! Though the sum wasn’t massive, it was difficult for her to produce right now, as she had just spent a large amount of Energy Stones to acquire a fourth-tier Cultivation Technique.

If her brother were serious and reliable, Chen Qingdai would certainly make the purchase, but it was clear her brother was driven by a desire for fame. Those Energy Stones would likely be wasted, like throwing them into the sea!

TAP, TAP.

As Hong Yuan’s footsteps sounded, the three people present turned their attention toward him, and Hong Yuan also saw Master Liu, Chen Zhen, and Chen Qingdai.

After just a glance, Hong Yuan’s attention settled on Chen Qingdai. Chen Qingdai’s skin was like snow, her brows dark as ink. Her spirited eyes, like jade pearls, were exceptionally beautiful.

She’s wearing a purple robe with a golden belt—a True Disciple! And with beauty rivaling Lin Yiru, her combat strength must be terrifying. Hong Yuan mused.

Chen Qingdai agonized for a moment but ultimately purchased twenty second-tier Fireball Talismans for her younger brother, Chen Zhen. This left her with just over 300 Energy Stones in her intermediate storage bag. For the rest of the month, Chen Qingdai could accomplish little, as all the halls and palaces currently only retained basic functions and did not open any Cave Heaven Blessed Lands or Secret Realms for exploration.

Master Liu, handling the transaction, cheerfully collected the Energy Stones. Liu Xiang’er had asked him just yesterday to stock extra second-tier Fireball Talismans, and unexpectedly, they had indeed come in handy.

"Let’s go, A’Zhen."

"No hurry, Sister. Wait a moment. I want to see what this blacksmith is going to buy." Chen Zhen held his head high with pride, staring at Hong Yuan. Last time, because of Hong Yuan, he had lost some face in front of Liu Xiang’er. This time, he refused to believe he would lose to Hong Yuan again. He had just spent a whopping 1,400 Energy Stones! A man’s peculiar competitiveness surged within him...

"Master Liu, could you help me gather these materials?" Hong Yuan took out a piece of paper listing ingredients for a medicinal cuisine. This recipe would be useless to others without Hong Yuan’s unique Great Glutton Nation culinary techniques—it was just a piece of waste paper!

Master Liu glanced over the list and could not help but stand up from behind his desk, hesitatingly saying, "Artisan Hong, these medicinal ingredients are currently overpriced. Are you sure you need them?" He dared not deceive Hong Yuan. Hong Yuan was not like Chen Zhen; Hong Yuan’s astuteness and capabilities were alarmingly formidable.

Overpriced! Chen Zhen, standing nearby, visibly brightened at this, feeling a sense of triumph at Hong Yuan’s apparent misfortune.

Hong Yuan glanced at Chen Zhen expressionlessly, then turned to Master Liu and said, "Give me an estimate. How many Energy Stones for one set of these materials?"

"Let’s say 450 Energy Stones for you," replied Master Liu respectfully, a stark contrast to the composure he had shown with Chen Zhen.

Hearing that one set of recipe materials would cost 450 Energy Stones, even True Disciple Chen Qingdai couldn’t help but turn her gaze from outside to look at Hong Yuan intently.

One set of materials for 450 Energy Stones! That must be for a fourth-tier Cultivation Technique, maybe even fifth-tier!

Four hundred fifty Energy Stones... tsk, tsk. Some True Disciple he is! Chen Zhen thought with a sneer, shaking his head complacently. Even as his sister Chen Qingdai pinched his ear sharply in reprimand, he still inwardly disdained Hong Yuan. Chen Zhen knew he shouldn’t belittle Hong Yuan in person, but seeing a mere blacksmith surpass a Spirit Plant Garden Disciple like him in earning Energy Stones made him feel upset.

"A’Zhen, don’t be so rude. Apologize to this gentleman right now," Chen Qingdai said sternly.

Her brother wasn’t usually like this. Why has he become so materialistic?

"It doesn’t matter; everyone has their moments of youthful arrogance," Hong Yuan said gently, defusing the tension. He then turned to Master Liu and requested ten sets.

Before Chen Zhen could retort further, Chen Qingdai forcefully cut off his impending tirade—using physical means.

A short while later, as Hong Yuan descended from the second-floor hall and vanished into the heavy snowfall beneath his oiled paper umbrella, Chen Zhen’s legs buckled. He stumbled back several steps and collapsed, falling flat on his face as the twenty talismans scattered everywhere.

Impossible, absolutely impossible. How could a brawling blacksmith turn into a Dog Tycoon? This is unreasonable!

Chen Zhen kept shaking his head, unwilling to accept that he had been outdone by Hong Yuan in terms of spending.

Chen Qingdai stood by silently, quietly observing her spoiled younger brother.

I really want to kick my younger brother a few more times. What does his wealth in Energy Stones have to do with you?

A sparrow may not understand the ambition of a swan.

For Hong Yuan, a mere few thousand Energy Stones meant nothing to him; he had long outgrown the stage of agonizing over a few hundred Energy Stones.

To put it plainly: I’m not interested in the games you play; and the games I play, you can’t afford!