Chapter 46: Chapter 33: Reciting a Poem, Returning Money

At these words, Yang Xun’s sparse brows rose slightly as he set down his chopsticks:

“Oh? A money-making opportunity from the Inner Peak? Tell me about it.”

He had recently spent a good chunk of his “retirement fund” preparing for the Pool of Fire and Water ritual and had even considered selling off some of his properties.

After many years in charge of the Quenching Room, Yang Xun had naturally accumulated a substantial fortune. However, much of it couldn’t be easily converted into cash—things like his share of dividends from the Marketplace downhill, or the storefronts and manors he had purchased long ago.

Besides, Immortal Dao Rituals had always been extremely expensive.

Lately, just gathering the various supplementary materials had cost over a hundred thousand talisman coins.

Watching his savings drain away was starting to strain even Yang Xun.

But he had never revealed any of this to Jiang Yi.

“Well, it’s like this…”

Jiang Yi smoothly laid out his plan: Guanlan Peak’s Heshui Cave was searching for an Essence Nourishing Spirit Drink, and he happened to have the recipe for Cyan Ganoderma Dew. He hoped that with Yang Xun’s network and Wang Heng’s assistance, they could secure a partnership.

“Cyan Ganoderma Dew? A recipe passed down from your ancestors?”

Yang Xun’s knuckles tapped lightly on the table. He said thoughtfully,

“How effective is it, really? Heshui Cave is Elder Xu’s property. The chefs are all hand-picked from down the mountain and taught the art of cooking Spiritual Meals. An ordinary restorative recipe might not be good enough to catch their eye.”

His question was tactful, but the implication was clear: Jiang Yi came from a humble background. He was just a common mortal.

How much could a so-called ancestral recipe of his truly be worth?

“To be honest with you, Grandpa, I’ve tested this recipe on myself. The Tiger and Wolf Ointment wrecks one’s Primordial Essence and drains vitality. It’s thanks to this Cyan Ganoderma Dew that my body wasn’t severely depleted.”

Jiang Yi straightened his back, his expression solemn.

“I can prepare some for you to try first, Grandpa, so you can see its quality.”

He had always believed that to survive and advance in a Demon Dao Dharma Lineage, one should adopt short-term strategies that were fast-acting and highly efficient.

In short, he had to accumulate vast wealth and hoard resources to aid his cultivation.

Besides, the Cyan Ganoderma Dew recipe wasn’t that useful to begin with, and it was only effective for cultivators below the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

Just like the secret recipe for improving the quenching of Bone Material, he wouldn’t feel bad about trading it for talisman coins.

“Good!”

Seeing Jiang Yi’s conviction, Yang Xun felt more at ease.

“Since you have both the will and the means, I’ll go to bat for you. I’ll head to Guanlan Peak tomorrow and speak with an old acquaintance. You should also touch base with Wang Heng as soon as possible. A two-pronged attack is the best way to ensure success.”

He took a light sip of his tea, the weight on his mind lifting.

There isn’t an elder in the world who doesn’t appreciate a capable junior. No matter how much they dote on them, if the junior only ever knows how to take, they’re bound to grow tiresome eventually.

But someone like Jiang Yi, who was not only considerate but also took the initiative to ease his elder’s burdens—how could that not be heartwarming?

Having settled this “business,” the atmosphere between the two grew even more harmonious.

During their idle chat, Yang Xun suddenly asked:

“Ah Yi, you studied Daoism for a few years, didn’t you? How are your literary skills?”

“Just average.”

Jiang Yi was surprised. ’Could it be that the selection for the Inner Peak requires a written exam?’

“When you feel your merit has reached Perfection and you’re about to break through, you might want to try composing a poem beforehand…”

At this, Yang Xun himself seemed to find it a bit funny. He said with a laugh,

“Reciting it at the moment of your breakthrough is said to give your luck a little boost.”

Jiang Yi’s expression was odd. ’There’s such a saying?’

Yang Xun, now more animated, continued as if just making casual conversation:

“Across the Yanfu Vast Land, the Four Great Daoist Lineages—Immortal, Demon, Demon, and Buddhist—stand preeminent. They are the world’s most prominent schools, and anyone can pursue their Cultivation.

“Yet beneath them, there are also many Hidden Daoist Lineages that were once immensely powerful, with countless Dharma Lineages of their own. Whether due to war or internal conflict, their legacies were eventually severed, and their numbers dwindled to almost nothing.”

’For example, the [Sword Dao] that was wiped out by the Buddhist Dao?’

Jiang Yi immediately thought of the legend of the eight thousand Sword Cultivators whose conquest of the Ximizhou Continent had ended in failure when success was just within reach.

“It seems Elder Xu also told you the old story of the [Sword Dao]. Heh, when I first entered the sect, the Skill Transmission Institute on Guanlan Peak often used this old tale to fill up class time and swindle talisman coins. To think they’re still using it.”

Yang Xun laughed and continued,

“Exactly. Once a Dharma Lineage is established, passed down from generation to generation, and supported by all its cultivators, it becomes a Daoist Lineage.

“When such a Daoist Lineage holds sway, its influence can never be erased, regardless of whether it flourishes or declines. For instance, the unparalleled killing power of Sword Cultivators is a legacy of the [Sword Dao].

“Rumor has it that in a bygone era, the [Confucian Dao] was prominent in the world. Confucian Cultivators could cultivate a scholarly aura within themselves. Their words could execute enemies, their poems could annihilate armies. With verbal and written assaults, their Divine Techniques were unfathomable.

“Although the [Confucian Dao] is long gone, a belief has persisted: if you recite a poem at the very moment your cultivation comes to a natural head and you break through to a new realm, you might be blessed by the fortune of heaven and earth.”

“I see!”

A flash of understanding lit up Jiang Yi’s eyes. ’No wonder I had that strange urge to recite a poem when I broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.’

’With my skills as a secretary, if I had ended up in an era when the [Confucian Dao] was prominent… wouldn’t I be like a fish in water!’

Yang Xun’s enthusiasm for the topic faded, and he sighed faintly.

“Of course, this might just be hearsay. Through countless eons, who knows how many Daoist Lineages have vanished with the wind. Only the Immortal, Demon, Demon, and Buddhist have endured.

“There are more strange tales and anecdotes about these lost Daoist Lineages than hairs on an ox, and it’s impossible to tell which are true.”

Jiang Yi chatted idly with Yang Xun for a while longer. Seeing the sky darken, he rose to take his leave.

Outside, the wind and snow had not stopped; in fact, they had grown more intense.

’A miscalculation, a miscalculation. I had no poetic inspiration when I broke through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. I wasted a good opportunity to increase my luck.’

Jiang Yi trudged back to the Big Mixed Courtyard, his feet sinking into the soft snow with each step.

The cold wind whipped flurries of snow down his collar. Fortunately, at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, he was impervious to heat and cold, so he wasn’t afraid of the biting chill.

“Huh…”

From a distance, Jiang Yi saw a slender figure standing at the courtyard gate.

The person wore a simple dress and a rather thin cloak. Her figure trembled slightly in the wind and snow, exuding an air of helpless, lonely fragility.

’Who is she?’

Jiang Yi thought for a moment, then dredged up a name seared into the original owner’s memory.

Luo Qian’er!

Seeing Jiang Yi, Luo Qian’er’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She called out in a soft, weak voice,

“Junior… Junior Brother Jiang… It’s been a long time.”

Her voice was melodious, with just the right amount of tremor.

She was the very picture of pitiable beauty.

“Tsk!”

Jiang Yi instantly understood why the original owner had been willing to work as a Manual Laborer.

’A boy from a small town, no better than cattle and horses, enters the Outer Sect only to run into a max-level succubus.’

’How could he possibly resist!’

A hearty smile bloomed on Jiang Yi’s face as he hurried forward. “Senior Sister Luo? Why have you come on such a snowy day? Why are you just standing at the gate? What if you catch a chill!”

This string of concerned questions made Luo Qian’er’s heart relax. She rejoiced inwardly,

’He really is the same easy-to-manipulate person as before! Seeing me like this, he must feel so sorry for me…’

She was smug in her heart, but her expression grew even weaker. She lowered her head and said softly, “Sister Qin wouldn’t let me in. She said you’d gone out… I just wanted to come see you. I heard from my little brother that you’ve earned the favor of Marshal Yang of the Quenching Room. I’m so happy for you.”

Jiang Yi seemed no different from the submissive boy of the past who would grant Luo Qian’er’s every request. He said, embarrassed,

“Ah, the weather is so cold, how could I let Senior Sister Luo stand outside in the wind? I was just lucky enough to catch Marshal Yang’s eye. With his dedicated nurturing, my cultivation has improved greatly.”

Hearing this, Luo Qian’er felt a surge of inexplicable jealousy. ’To think that she, a direct daughter of the Lianxi Luo Clan, had to put on an act and a fake smile for the likes of Zhou Can just to secure her footing.’

’By what right could Jiang Yi so easily climb the ranks and change his fate?’

’No wonder they always say over in the Dongsheng Continent that the Demon Dao Dharma Lineage favors men too much!’

’If I had joined the Immortal Dao, I would have achieved far more than this!’

Luo Qian’er’s thoughts raced. She felt both resentful and wronged. She was just about to deliver the speech she had prepared to win his sympathy and get some talisman coins.

But Jiang Yi spoke first:

“Speaking of which, I have you to thank, Senior Sister. Back in the Lower Courtyard, if not for your constant encouragement—telling me that though ’poor in pocket, I was not poor in spirit,’ and that I would ’surely have a bright future’—I’m afraid I wouldn’t have made even this meager progress today.”

His smile was gentle and his eyes were clear, as if he were truly grateful for that past.

Luo Qian’er was taken aback. She couldn’t remember if she had ever said those things.

But seeing Jiang Yi being so sincere and earnest, she went along with it and said softly,

“Junior Brother Jiang, why thank me? Those… were my heartfelt words. I always felt you were different from the others, that you were considerate and knew how to be grateful.”

Jiang Yi clapped his hands together, looking deeply moved.

“Senior Sister, you’ve treated me with such sincerity, considering my well-being in all things. It makes me… I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”

He paused slightly, his gaze turning earnest as he looked at Luo Qian’er.

“Since you’re so sincere and always look out for me, Senior Sister, and since I’m currently facing a difficulty, surely you wouldn’t stand by and do nothing, would you?”

Luo Qian’er was put on a pedestal by this “outpouring of true feelings” from Jiang Yi. A sense of foreboding flickered in her heart, but she could only bite the bullet and agree.

“Of course. Junior Brother, feel free to speak. If I can help, I certainly won’t refuse.”

The smile on Jiang Yi’s face grew even brighter. He leaned forward slightly, as if sharing a secret.

“Senior Sister, you know that on the path of cultivation, it’s wealth, companion, technique, and location, with ’wealth’ being first and foremost. I want to fight for a spot in the Inner Peak selection, but unfortunately, I’m extremely short on funds.”

His gaze was burning, his tone light and natural.

“You always used to say you wished me well, Senior Sister. If you could temporarily return some of the talisman coins I gave you bit by bit in the past, to help me overcome this current difficulty, that would be the greatest kindness you could show me!

“Someone as understanding as you can surely appreciate my predicament, right?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep