Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 175 - 174: Three Generations of Green Barley Sword (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_1

Chapter 175: Chapter 174: Three Generations of Green Barley Sword (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_1

In the Peach Blossom Pavilion.

Under the peach blossom tree.

"Go!"

Fang Xi pointed at the Green Barley Sword, and immediately it transformed into a streak of flowing light, wandering throughout the garden.

Wherever the sword qi passed, peach blossoms filled the air, as if a shower of flowers had descended.

The big green fish buried its head deep in the mud, fearing that its impulsive master might grab it for a sword test!

Indeed!

The Green Barley Sword!

This was the name Ruan Xingling had given to this middle-grade spiritual instrument.

’It seems... Xingling is somewhat displeased with me passing the Green Barley Sword to Wei Yixi...’

Fang Xi formed a magic spell with his fingers and withdrew the sword light, appearing somewhat helpless.

However, since he had promised the other party, he had to acknowledge it, and thus the sword became the third generation Green Barley Sword!

"In that case... that’s good!"

Fang Xi held the sword in reverse grip, his expression shifting, "Back when I was the Spirit Farmer, struggling to survive, that memory was one of my most precious treasures... With this sword, I wish to smooth out my Taoist path!"

He caressed the wooden grain and the blade that emanated a pale golden color, his expression suddenly shifting again.

The next moment, the Green Barley Sword turned into a streak of light and entered his body, traveling along the meridians to hover over the qi sea and the dantian.

"Does this mean... after blood refining a spiritual instrument, it can be absorbed into the body?"

Fang Xi blinked his eyes.

The magical implements of Qi Refining cultivators and the spiritual instruments of Foundation Establishment cultivators... were typically placed in storage bags, to be taken out when needed.

Even fully refined, it was the same.

Only the treasures of Core Formation ancestors could be absorbed into the body and nourished day and night with dan qi to increase their power continuously... This is why the older a Core Formation cultivator, the stronger they are in magical combat!

But this Green Barley Sword is just a middle-grade spiritual instrument, and it possesses this ability?

’Either it’s due to the power of the tier-three spirit materials Evergreen Wood, or it’s the Ruan Family’s secret method of talisman forging, or the spirit marks...’

’Or perhaps... it’s the combination of these three that led to such an effect?’

’Can this Green Barley Sword be considered a minor treasure then?’

Fang Xi touched his dantian, his expression turning somewhat strange.

But stepping back ten thousand steps, even this was a good thing! A great thing!

’Being able to absorb a spiritual instrument into the body during the Foundation Establishment stage and nourish it with magic power, the instrument’s power will slowly increase... Even if it’s very slow, I have a long lifespan!’

’Perhaps in a few hundred years, even without adding other spirit marks, the sword’s power could rival a true treasure!’

’Of course, if I choose to cultivate the Green Barley Sword, my daily cultivation progress will slow down, which is something that needs to be weighed.’

’However, the matter of this minor treasure needs to be kept secret...’

Fang Xi’s eyes flickered like lightning as he swept his divine consciousness around him for the first time.

The big green fish shivered inexplicably...

...

Fang Xi’s estimate was not wrong.

In the second year, the income of the Pill Tool Pavilion shot up, reaching over three hundred spirit stones.

By the third year, it surged to four hundred spirit stones, then in the fourth and fifth years, it continued to stabilize within the four to five hundred range.

It must be said, for the two Foundation Establishment craftsmen, as long as they focused on their work, they were bound to make gains.

Of course, other Core Formation ancestors had it even better, with their own families or forces backing them, having no need to worry about earning resources. They could concentrate on cultivation and fight on behalf of their families and forces when necessary.

By the fifth year, Dongmen Ying came to sign the lease.

Fang Xi swept his divine consciousness over the man and found that he had actually reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining. He couldn’t help but smile faintly, "Young friend, your magic power has improved greatly, congratulations... "

He knew that after the head of the Dongmen Family had secured a long-term lease for the shop, he went to rent a dongfu in the Inner City Area and engaged in arduous cultivation.

Progress in cultivation was naturally to be expected.

"Thank you..."

But Dongmen Ying’s face showed no joy, instead he looked sorrowful, "Alas... My family has been facing hard times in recent years; we can barely afford the spiritual materials necessary for laying the foundation for newborns. This is my failure as a family head..."

Watching the man lament endlessly, Fang Xi exchanged a glance with Ruan Xingling, knowing the crux of the issue lay ahead.

As expected, Dongmen Ying beat around the bush, mentioning either his own lack of pills for cultivation or his family being on the brink.

In the end, his intentions were clear: he wanted to increase the rent.

Considering the other party was indeed a powerful cultivator, Dongmen Ying spoke very cautiously, "I hope the two of you can accommodate... "

Fang Xi exchanged a glance with Ruan Xingling, then decided to play the bad cop himself, "Hmph... Just a mere Qi Refiner... "

He scolded Dongmen Ying and then said, "If you want to raise the rent, how many spirit stones do you want per year?"

"One hundred and thirty... no, one hundred and twenty spirit stones will do!" Dongmen Ying quickly replied.

"Fine, but this time the lease will be for ten years!"

Ruan Xingling brought down the hammer, sealing the deal.

"Done!"

Dongmen Ying agreed through gritted teeth.

After signing the contract, he walked out of the ’Pill Tool Pavilion,’ fondling the Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag, a trace of joy appearing on his face, "Within ten years, I will definitely break through Qi Refining perfection... Foundation Establishment is hopeful, Foundation Establishment is indeed hopeful..."

...

"What, does Xingling think the price was too high?"

Seeing Ruan Xingling deep in thought after Dongmen Ying had left, Fang Xi teased her.

"The annual rent for the shops nearby is basically around one hundred and thirty or forty Spirit Stones. This man agreed entirely out of respect for our two Foundation Establishment stages; it wasn’t good for Xingling to push the price down any further..."

Ruan Xingling shook her head, "I am considering... Ruan Dan’s Foundation Establishment matters."

Fang Xi was taken aback and looked towards the three busy figures inside the Pill Tool Pavilion, also becoming pensive.

Among the three, Wang Xiaohu could be disregarded—his Spiritual Root was inferior, and now he was stuck in the mid-stages of Qi Refining with little hope.

And Ruan Dan was several years older than Wei Yixi, already over fifty years old, not far from the sixty-year deadline for Foundation Establishment!

"Dan has a special secret method like me to maintain vital energy, but it’s best to establish her foundation before the age of sixty..."

Ruan Xingling said, "As her master, if I cannot buy her a Foundation Establishment Pill, then I can only buy her a Base-building Spiritual Object instead."

Fang Xi calculated with his fingers and realized the Baize Immortal City’s grand auction that occurred once every ten years wasn’t far off, and he couldn’t help but smile, "Is Xingling short on Spirit Stones? I happen to have two or three thousand here..."

"Consider it a loan from me and sign a Spiritual Agreement, borrow fifteen hundred Spirit Stones... Xingling still has some savings; together, it should be enough to buy the girl a Base-building Spiritual Object..."

As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, Ruan Xingling had thought about it, but with her finances, it was impossible to acquire one.

The only hope was to enter the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, then hunt second-order special Monster Beasts to obtain a Demon Pill, and afterward ask a master pill concocter to take action!

Well... this path was actually incredibly dangerous, even for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, with Fang Xi as a partner, Ruan Xingling was somewhat confident, as she knew well that Fang Xi was hiding his true capabilities.

But now, with only a passing mention of the topic, Fang Xi preferred to lend Spirit Stones and didn’t bring up going to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain at all, indicating his attitude.

Ruan Xingling also knew how careful Fang Xi was; she couldn’t bring herself to broach the subject for the sake of a disciple.

She didn’t know that the person beside her was a master pill concoctor capable of making Foundation Establishment Pills!

Fang Xi touched his nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Seeing Ruan Xingling so responsible and considerate for her own disciple made him reflect – he had been paying too little attention to that half-disciple who called him ’uncle’ every day.

At this moment, his Divine Consciousness swept over and discovered that Wei Yixi’s cultivation was around the eighth level of Qi Refining, causing him to shake his head inwardly.

This woman was over fifty years old, and the time was quite pressing for her to break through the ninth and tenth stages of Qi Refining within ten years.

"Is Fang wondering about Yixi’s Foundation Establishment matters?"

Ruan Xingling, with her elegant and gentle nature, glanced over and guessed something, "Now that Dan has reached Qi Refining perfection, there’s no need to sit in meditation to cultivate Magic Power anymore. She can manage the shop, allowing Yixi to focus on seclusion and Cultivation... Sir, if you concoct a few more batches of pills suitable for advancing Magic Power in the later stages of Qi Refining, reaching Qi Refining perfection before the age of sixty shouldn’t be a problem... The only concern is the Base-building Spiritual Objects."

’This is actually quite simple, I just need to take a trip to Great Liang, hunt a few Monster Kings and I’ll have everything I need...’

Fang Xi criticized inwardly, yet his expression remained very calm, "Life and death are predestined... The Dao... is merciless!"

Though with his wealth, supporting one person to achieve Foundation Establishment wasn’t a big deal, he wasn’t going to act as a nanny either.

After all, Wei Yixi could only be considered half a student, not a true disciple.

’Well... let’s see what fate has in store for this woman... I won’t give any guidance either, it all depends on her own initiative. If she is truly dedicated to the Dao and can reach Qi Refining perfection before sixty without my help, I will give her a Foundation Establishment Pill... If she cannot reach Qi Refining perfection before the deadline on her own, then it’s all over...’

He made up his mind.

Heaven helps those who help themselves, and if heaven won’t help, he will!

If Wei Yixi herself doesn’t harbor the will to achieve Foundation Establishment, then why waste resources needlessly?

"Haha... Both sirs are present today?"

Suddenly, a figure flashed at the door – it was Master Huaheng!

At that moment, he was dressed in a new Spiritual Robe, a white second-rank robe adorned with lively cranes, red-capped and long-legged, creating an impressive atmosphere.

"It turns out to be Sir Huaheng... Got yourself a new robe, have you?"

Fang Xi greeted cheerfully with a smile.

"Haha... My last expedition was quite fruitful... I discovered the Dongfu of a predecessor who had attempted Foundation Establishment, along with several Spiritual Instruments, and sold them for a tidy sum of Spirit Stones!"

Master Huaheng took a seat with a beaming smile, "Isn’t that why I’ve come to support both of your businesses once more?"

Adventuring cultivators were either dirt poor or, when opportunity struck, they could strike it rich in one fell swoop and live in luxury.

Master Huaheng was clearly one of the latter.

Fang Xi had also inquired about this man from friends like Prime Taoist Huangsha and Luo Gong.

He learned that in his youth, Master Huaheng was a genius who successfully assaulted Foundation Establishment and then remained an individual cultivator his whole life, never accepting the invitations of major powers. He loved seeking out hidden places and had a profound understanding of the cultivation world’s history. Therefore, every time he made a move, his rewards were substantial, and there were no rumors of him betraying companions.

In conversation, Luo Gong even regretted that Fang Xi had declined the man’s previous offer, saying that if it had been him, he would have gone straight away.

Fang Xi remained silent about this.

One’s luck is another’s fate, and when one already sits atop a mountain of gold, to risk life and limb for a few copper coins is the most foolish of actions.

Even if it meant losing some opportunities, it was an acceptable trade-off!