Chapter 116 - 101: A Turn for the Better

Chapter 116: Chapter 101: A Turn for the Better

Therefore, Chen Jianghe had to make meticulous plans for every step he took moving forward.

"Two bottles? I was just joking. It wasn’t a real request. Uh, wait—are our days really going to get better?"

Hearing Chen Jianghe personally promise two bottles of Red Mist True Dew a year, Little Black’s Doudou eyes revealed a look of surprise.

He had only asked for three bottles just to mess around. Three bottles every two years was his true wish.

"Things will only get better from now on. Enter the Spirit Beast Space; we’re heading out."

Chen Jianghe took both Little Black and Fur Ball into the Spirit Beast Space. Although the small courtyard in Qinghe Marketplace was very safe, after careful consideration, he still felt it was best to keep Little Black and Fur Ball with him when he went out.

He didn’t go out often anyway. The number of times he stepped out of his courtyard gates in a year could be counted on one hand.

Stepping out of the gates, he paused and placed the two letters in his hand into the post box next to the entrance. This post box belonged exclusively to his courtyard. It was secured with an Array and a Divine Sense Imprint. Aside from him and the Flying Post, no other Cultivator could open it.

He had to admit that living in Qinghe Marketplace was incredibly convenient. However, the mandatory requirement to purchase Fasting Pills was far too unreasonable. He considered it an extremely wasteful and absurd rule.

After leaving his home, he first headed to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He sold the Spirit Talismans he had on hand, then purchased three pieces of Spirit Blood Pig Hide and three boxes of Spiritual Ink for thirty-six Spirit Stones.

He still had some materials left for drawing Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans. He planned to start drawing Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans once he used them all up.

Initially, it might not be as profitable as drawing Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans, but once his Talisman Success Rate for Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans improved, the profit margin would definitely be much higher.

Subsequently, he visited the Spiritual Material Counter, where he purchased two bottles of Red Mist True Dew and four Spirit-Encompassing Flowers for forty Spirit Stones. Finally, he went to the Spirit Pill counter and bought two True Spirit Pills, which helped Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators purify their Magical Power, spending another forty Spirit Stones.

By the time he walked out of the Hundred Treasures Tower, he was left with only fifty-nine Spirit Stones and ten grains of Spiritual Sand.

As soon as he returned to Qingping Lane, someone called out to him.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

The person who stopped Chen Jianghe was a burly man with a physique similar to Yu Daniu’s. He had a square face that carried a certain imposing air, and a ruthless, sharp glint flickered in his eyes. Judging from the aura of the Magical Power fluctuations he exuded, he was a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Great Cultivator.

"Why have you stopped me, Fellow Daoist?"

In the past, he would have had to address a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Great Cultivator as ’Senior’. Now, however, that was no longer necessary. He was also a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator—a ’Senior’ in the eyes of others.

"Do you live in Qingping Lane, Fellow Daoist?"

"I do."

Hearing Chen Jianghe’s reply, the burly man looked delighted. "My name is Ruan Tieniu. I also live in Qingping Lane, at No. 514. May I know your name, Fellow Daoist?"

"Chen Jianghe, No. 512," Chen Jianghe answered simply. His address was not a secret, nor was his name. There was nothing to hide. Furthermore, he had no intention of leaving Qinghe Marketplace anyway.

"Are you an artisan, Fellow Daoist Chen?" Ruan Tieniu chuckled. "Don’t misunderstand, Fellow Daoist Chen. If you aren’t an artisan, I’d like to invite you to join my Demon Hunting Team.

"My Demon Hunting Team has seven members, all of whom are Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators. It’s very safe for us to hunt Demon Beasts together in the Youxian Mountain Range, and the returns are quite good. A four-month trip can earn each person a share of twenty to thirty Spirit Stones."

The Youxian Mountain Range was a massive mountain range southwest of Qinghe Marketplace. It spanned ten thousand miles from east to west and seven thousand miles from north to south. It bordered Qinghe Marketplace to the east, the Immortal Sect Marketplace to the west, and the Beast Taming Immortal Race Zhou Family to the south—a testament to its sheer size.

The source of the Youxian River lay deep within these mountains, which was why it was named the Youxian Mountain Range. Countless Demon Beasts roamed its depths. There was no shortage of Tier Two Demon Beasts among them.

Rumor had it that deep within the Youxian Mountain Range, there were Late-Stage Tier Three Perfect Demon Beasts, as well as the legendary Tier Four Demon Beasts. Even a Great Core Formation wouldn’t dare venture too deeply into the Youxian Mountain Range.

Chen Jianghe wasn’t even willing to leave Qinghe Marketplace, so why would he risk going to the Youxian Mountain Range? Besides, it didn’t seem to pay that many Spirit Stones. It couldn’t compare to the ease and safety of drawing Spirit Talismans.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Ruan, but I have no plans to travel abroad," Chen Jianghe declined with a polite smile.

"So you are an artisan, Fellow Daoist Chen? I wonder what your craft is; perhaps we could do some business."

For a Seventh-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator to live in Qingping Lane in the Southwest District without going out for Demon Hunting meant they could only be an artisan. Clan disciples wouldn’t live in Qingping Lane because the properties here were all single-room courtyards.

"Hehe, I’m afraid we won’t be able to do any business, Fellow Daoist Ruan. I am merely a Lower-Grade Talisman Master."

Chen Jianghe could draw Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans, but since he could only produce one type—the Middle-Grade Water Arrow Talisman—he didn’t qualify as a Middle-Grade Talisman Master yet.

One had to be able to draw at least five types of Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans to earn the title of Middle-Grade Talisman Master. In truth, once a person could draw one type of Middle-Grade Spiritual Talisman, it would only take about half a year of practice to master five.

"A Lower-Grade Talisman Master... then I’m afraid we really can’t do business." Ruan Tieniu shook his head, but still cupped his fists and said, "I wish for your Talisman Dao Skills to advance by leaps and bounds, Fellow Daoist Chen, and that you become a High-Grade Talisman Master soon."

"I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."

"Take care, Fellow Daoist Ruan."

Chen Jianghe watched Ruan Tieniu leave before walking toward Courtyard No. 512.

To do business with a Demon Hunting Team like Ruan Tieniu’s, which was composed entirely of Late-Stage Qi Refining members, one definitely had to be a High-Grade Talisman Master. However, god knew how long it would take for him to elevate his Talisman Dao Skills to the High Grade.

He opened the courtyard gates and walked inside. Just as he was about to hang the "In Seclusion" sign, he saw a boy servant walking briskly toward him.

"Please wait before you close the gates, Senior." The young boy, dressed in a standard coarse tunic, arrived at the entrance and said respectfully, "Senior, Home Travel requests your presence."

"Home Travel?" Chen Jianghe paused, a bad feeling suddenly welling up in his heart. For Home Travel to call for him at a time like this, it surely meant that the courtyard’s previous tenant had returned. He was going to have to vacate the premises.

"Alright, I’ll head over shortly," Chen Jianghe replied.

The boy bowed respectfully, then quickly hurried away.

Chen Jianghe looked around the courtyard he had lived in for over three years. Although it was a bit crude, it was quite convenient. There was also the small pond in the yard that he had dug with his own hands.

If there were no vacant single-room courtyards in the Southwest District of Qinghe Marketplace, and no vacant single or double-room courtyards in the Northwest District either, then he would have no choice but to leave Qinghe Marketplace.

Of course, if he bit the bullet, he could rent a three-room courtyard in the Northwest District for twelve Spirit Stones a year, but it wouldn’t be cost-effective. A year’s rent combined with the cost of Fasting Pills would amount to a staggering twenty Spirit Stones. The expenses were simply too high.

He sighed and closed the courtyard gates. Taking down the Array Disc, he turned and made his way toward Home Travel on Qing Street.

"Little Black, we might have to move again." At this moment, Chen Jianghe could only voice the helplessness in his heart to Little Black.

"Are we going home?"

Little Black was still thinking about returning to Jingyue Lake. In his eyes, that was their true home; only there could he be of real help to Chen Jianghe.

"...We’ll see."

Chen Jianghe soon arrived at Home Travel. Walking inside, he saw forty to fifty Cultivators waiting in line, so he took a seat at the back and joined the queue.

About half an hour later, it was Chen Jianghe’s turn.

"Are you looking for a new rental, or would you like to renew?" This female Cultivator wasn’t the same one from three years ago, but her tone was just as friendly, and she wore a warm smile.

"I live in Courtyard No. 512 in Qingping Lane, Southwest District. Home Travel notified me to come here," Chen Jianghe explained.

"Please wait a moment."

The female Cultivator picked up a Jade Scroll. Ten breaths later, she picked up another Jade Scroll, then looked up at Chen Jianghe with a smile.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Chen.

"Home Travel requested your presence to inform you that the Fellow Daoist who previously left a deposit won’t be returning.

"Therefore, we wanted to ask if you’d be willing to take out a long-term lease on the single-room Courtyard No. 512 in Qingping Lane, Southwest District.

"If you are amenable to a long-term lease, we can sign a new contract right now."

The female Cultivator smiled as she looked at Chen Jianghe. She spoke quickly, but her enunciation was clear, and she radiated an incredible approachability.

Chen Jianghe froze for a second before his face immediately lit up with joy.

"Please convert it to a long-term lease. Thank you."