Chapter 151 – Maintain the relationship

‘Maybe I should wait a bit longer.’ Shu Yang thought to himself, staring at the introduction on display on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

‘No. It’s not just for me. Tianyi also needs a cultivation manual that actually leads all the way to the Foundation stage. If I wait, it might be difficult for her to change course later on.’

Shu Yang knew it wasn’t impossible to change cultivation technique; he himself had changed a few times as he got his hands on more manuals and deduced a suitable one for himself.

But it always set him back somewhat, and he never changed things too drastically.

‘Will Tianyi find this one suitable, though?’

The cultivation manual he had his eyes on was called Illusive Sword of the Wind. It was one of the techniques taught to disciples in the Sword Sect. While it wasn’t anything rare or particularly powerful in the sect, it was a very impressive technique outside.

It was definitely the most powerful one Shu Yang could get his hands on.

‘I’m sure it’s fine. It’s not like there are a ton of options. Besides, even if Tianyi hasn’t comprehended sword intent, she has always liked the sword. And based on the description, it should involve wind somehow. That should suit her.’

Tianyi had learned a wind spell while living in the Song Family, and Shu Yang often saw her playing around with it, showing off to her nieces and nephews.

“I’ll take it. Two copies,” Shu Yang finally said to the attendant by his side.

“Certainly. That will be 4 high-grade spirit stones, and 160 middle-grade stones, young master,” The attendant, a middle-aged man in the Foundation stage, said.

The Treasure Pavilion was owned by several powerful Golden Clans, and had branches all over the Sword Sect Province. It was the only place Shu Yang knew of that actually sold resources at the 2nd stage in bulk. No need for any waiting list, or knowing the right person, or having a certain status. As long as you had the spirit stones, anyone could walk in and buy what they needed.

It was convenient, but terribly expensive.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t.’

Even if he was already aware of the price, hearing it spoken aloud made Shu Yang second-guess himself.

‘I can just take some time and deduce it myself. No need to empty all the family savings just for this.’

“Young master?” The attendant asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

‘No. Money can be earned again. It’s fine. This is important both for Tianyi and me.’

Shu Yang handed over a storage ring with the spirit stones. It was true that he could deduce his own technique, but it would take a very long time, and there were a lot of risks involved when it came to actually building a Foundation.

Having a reference was crucial. Shu Yang would never allow Tianyi to try to break through just from his own deduction.

Since he would have to buy it eventually, it was better to do it sooner rather than later.

Still, spending so many spirit stones hurt. Now, he didn’t have a single high-grade spirit stone to his name anymore, having traded the other three with Bian Fenglin when he arrived in the city.

The attendant accepted the storage ring and handed Shu Yang two jade slips.

“I should remind you not to look if you aren’t the one who will be learning the technique,” The attendant warned. “If a second person tries to peer inside, the jade will break, becoming useless.”

“I understand,” Shu Yang said. He had already been aware of that precaution, or he would have just gotten a single copy and shared it with his daughter.

“Is there anything else you want to look at?” The attendant asked with a servile smile.

It felt a bit strange being served by a Foundation cultivator, but then again, he had just spent an absolute fortune in this place.

“Not for today,” Shu Yang said with a sigh.

‘I need to get home and start thinking about more ways to earn spirit stones. Having such an empty storage ring is uncomfortable.’

He still had over 1000 middle-grade spirit stones, so he was far from dirt poor. But his family’s expenses would eat that up in two or three years.

Thankfully, his Shu Sword Hall now earned enough to cover his family’s expenses, and even profited a little. Otherwise, Shu Yang would have never bought the technique.

But there were always unexpected expenses. And if he had the spirit stones, there were a lot of things he had his eyes on to buy for the family.

Shu Yang was escorted out of the luxurious building, glancing at the various podiums with pills, spells, weapons, and all sorts of things he would have loved to stuff inside his storage ring.

‘Once the Shu Sword Hall opens a branch in the inner city, I’ll come back and take it all.’

On his way back home, Shu Yang had to hold himself back from immediately taking a look at the cultivation technique. It was the first time he would see a cultivation technique of that level. They were just too rare and expensive.

It was a bit unfortunate that his inheritance didn’t contain True Person Jiami’s cultivation technique. Shu Yang guessed that he practiced a technique belonging to the Silver Feather Sect, and couldn’t be put into his inheritance to be passed on to outsiders.

‘One day, I’ll collect hundreds, thousands of techniques. Everyone in the family will be able to pick out the one most suitable for them.’

‘I’ll deduce my own technique, greater in power than that anyone has ever seen.’

Shu Yang was lost in his daydreams all the way back home. When he got close to his own courtyard, he overheard Qianyue talking to someone briefly. But as soon as he heard it, she stopped talking, and no more voices were heard.

“Who was here just now?” Shu Yang asked his wife as he stepped out to the backyard. He had used his divine sense, but couldn’t sense anyone nearby.

“No one,” Qianyue said, looking up at him with a curious expression.

Shu Yang had been married long enough to know all his wife’s faces; she was obviously hiding something.

“Then who were you talking to?” Shu Yang asked.

“Was I talking? Must have been talking to myself; I’m getting to that age, you know,” Qianyue said, sighing dramatically.

Shu Yang could tell she was putting on an act, so he just smiled and shook his head. “Do you really think I’m so easy to fool?”

“Yes,” Qianyue answered immediately, nodding.

Shu Yang sighed and sat down beside her. “I see it’s you who have been corrupting the kids, always acting so cheeky.”

“Pfft,” Qianyue laughed, “Fine. I was talking to…well, it’s a secret.”

Shu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly. There was only one person who could have escaped his notice.

‘What is that fox up to now?’

“How are you feeling?” Baimeng opened her eyes and looked over as her nephew stepped inside the hall.

“Powerful,” Fenglin answered, smiling. “I could use a bit more time to familiarize myself with my new strength, though.”

“Then you should go back into seclusion,” Baimeng said, closing her eyes again. She had summoned her nephew, but only after he exited seclusion; she didn’t want him to experience any side effects.

“How could I go back when I heard my aunt wanted to see me?” Fenglin said with a docile smile. “Tell me what is troubling you. I’ll take care of it.”

Baimeng opened her eyes again and saw Fenglin flexing his arm.

“I can handle everything you throw at me now,” Fenglin said.

“You’re a sword cultivator. Stop flexing,” Bainmeng said. She got on her feet, walked to the side, and started brewing some tea. A task she was still reluctant to delegate to any servants.

“Tell me what you know about Shu Yang,” Baimeng commanded as she got busy.

“Shu Yang? As the Shu Yang I brought back from the Green River Sect?” Fenglin asked.

Baimeng nodded.

Fenglin paused for a moment and then began explaining their relationship; it didn’t differ from what Baimeng had found out on her own.

“What is this about? Did something happen?” Fenglin asked.

“Have you heard about the fight that took place in Bian Immortal City? Involving Elder Renmeng?” Baimeng asked.

“I received a message about it, but I was in seclusion, so I didn’t pay it much mind. What happened?” Fenglin asked.

Baimeng explained the basic situation to him.

“Old Cao just let her go?” Fenglin questioned.

“Or else? She is from the Kong Clan. Besides, she threatened to blow up her core,” Baimeng said.

“She wouldn’t have gone through with it,” Fenglin said.

“Probably not,” Baimeng agreed. “Still. There is no need to make enemies with the Kong Clan.”

“No reason to be pushed around by them either,” Fenglin muttered.

Baimeng poured two cups of tea from the teapot. “Well. It’s done. Our focus shouldn’t be on that either way; we can’t let ourselves be distracted from the Evil West. Their recent movements are troubling.”

“Did anything happen?” Fenglin asked, worried.

“No one has reported anything significant, but I can feel ominous omens from the west,” Baimeng said, frowning slightly. “But what I wanted to talk about is that Shu Yang. You did well in helping him. You should maintain the relationship in the future.”

“I should? Why? Did he do something impressive in the fight?” Fenglin asked.

“No. He was very stupid,” Baimeng said.

“But you think he has potential?” Fenglin asked.

Baimeng paused slightly. She had divined him, but there didn’t seem to be anything special about him. His fortune was about what you would expect from a Foundation cultivator.

“Didn’t you hear what I said about that young master? He was willing to let us kill Kong Hua,” Baimeng said.

“Yeah. It’s a bit strange,” Fenglin said slowly. “Was he also from the Kong family? A rival branch?”

“No,” Baimeng answered, “He’s from the Yide Pavilion.”

“Kong Hua follows someone from the Yide Pavilion around? What ex-” Fenglin suddenly paused, looking at Baimeng with a shocked expression. “He carried a token?”

“He did,” Baimeng said, nodding.

“Why would someone like that come here?” Fenglin asked, flabbergasted.

“Who knows?” Baimeng said, shrugging. “Either way, he felt it was fine for Kong Hua to be sacrificed if it worked to calm Shu Yang’s anger.”

“You think he did it for Shu Yang’s sake? Why?” Fenglin asked, thoroughly confused.

Baimeng didn’t answer. She wasn’t sure of it herself.

“The morning after the fight, he visited Shu Yang,” Baimeng continued.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” Fenglin said, shaking his head. “Do they know each other?”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Baimeng answered, taking a sip of her tea.

“Well, what did they talk about?” Fenglin asked.

“You think Old Cao would dare spy on them?” Baimeng asked.

“I…then what is going on? Has anyone asked Shu Yang?” Fenglin asked.

“That’s why I called you over, no?” Baimeng asked, “Maintain the relationship, and see what you can find out.”