Hearing this, Yang Xun’s hairless brows lifted slightly, and he set down the chopsticks in his hand.
“Oh? A source of wealth in the inner peak? Let’s hear it.”
Recently, in order to prepare the ritual of the “Water Pool and Fire Marsh,” he had already spent no small amount of his “retirement money,” and had even begun considering selling off part of his properties.
Having managed the Tempering Room for many years, Yang Xun had naturally amassed a substantial fortune. But quite a bit of it could not be converted into ready cash, such as the dividend shares he held in the market town at the foot of the mountain, as well as the shops and residences he had purchased in his early years.
Moreover, rituals of the immortal path had always been enormously costly.
Just gathering the various supplementary materials during this period had already used up over a hundred thousand talisman coins.
Watching his savings flow away like water had truly left Yang Xun feeling somewhat strained.
Only, he had never revealed the slightest hint of these circumstances in front of Jiang Yi.
“It’s like this…”
Jiang Yi slowly explained how Heshui Cave of Guanlan Peak was seeking a spirit drink to nurture the essence, and how he possessed the recipe for Qingzhi Syrup and hoped to use Yang Xun’s connections and Wang Heng’s assistance to bring about a collaboration.
“Qingzhi Syrup? A recipe passed down from your ancestors?”
Yang Xun lightly tapped his knuckles on the tabletop and murmured in thought:
“How effective is it, exactly? Heshui Cave is Elder Xu’s property. Its cooks are all carefully selected from below the mountain and taught the art of preparing spirit cuisine. An ordinary tonic recipe may not necessarily catch their eye.”
The question was phrased tactfully, but its actual meaning was that Jiang Yi came from a humble background, a mere commoner of no account.
How much weight could this so-called ancestral recipe possibly have?
“To be honest with you, Grandpa, I’ve tried this recipe on myself. The Tiger-Wolf Ointment damaged my vital essence and squeezed out my life force. It was only thanks to this Qingzhi Syrup that my body wasn’t severely depleted.”
Jiang Yi straightened his back, his expression solemn.
“I can prepare some for you to taste first, Grandpa, so you can judge its quality.”
He had always believed that to survive and advance within a demonic-path lineage, one had to employ short-term methods that took effect quickly and efficiently.
In short, accumulate wealth and resources in abundance to support one’s cultivation.
Besides, the Qingzhi Syrup recipe was not especially useful to begin with, and it was only effective on cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refining.
Just like the secret formula for improving the tempering of bone materials, he would not feel pained handing it over in exchange for talisman coins.
“Good!”
Seeing how certain Jiang Yi sounded, Yang Xun also felt a little more at ease.
“Since you have both the intention and the ability, this old man will make a trip on your behalf. Tomorrow, I’ll go to Guanlan Peak and speak with an old acquaintance. As for Wang Heng, you must also make arrangements as soon as possible. Working both sides at once will make success much easier.”
He lifted his teacup and took a small sip, the pent-up heaviness in his chest vanishing at once.
There was no elder in the world who did not like a capable junior. No matter how fond one was of them, if they only knew how to take, then over time, one would inevitably grow weary.
Someone like Jiang Yi, who could both show consideration for his elder and willingly take the initiative to share his worries and solve his problems—how could that not make one feel comforted?
Once this “business” was settled, the atmosphere between grandfather and grandson became even more harmonious.
As they chatted idly, Yang Xun suddenly asked:
“A’Yi studied for several years at the Dao school. How is your literary talent?”
“Only average.”
Jiang Yi was surprised. Could it be that the inner peak supplementary selection required a written examination?
“If you feel your cultivation has reached perfection and you seek a breakthrough, you might as well prepare in advance and see whether you can compose a poem…”
At this point, even Yang Xun himself found it somewhat amusing, and he said with a hearty laugh:
“When the moment of success comes, recite it aloud. It is said to add a bit to one’s fortune.”
Jiang Yi’s expression turned strange. There was actually such a saying?
Yang Xun’s interest in conversation grew, and he spoke as casually as if chatting about household matters:
“Upon the vast land of Yanfu, the four great orthodoxies of immortal, demon, yao, and Buddhist stand side by side. They are the prominent teachings of the world, and everyone may cultivate them.
“Yet beneath them, there were also many ‘hidden orthodoxies’ that once held magnificent prestige and possessed countless lineages. Some were destroyed by conquest, others by internal strife, until in the end their inheritances were severed and their people dwindled.”
For example, that Sword Dao which was beaten into ruin by Buddhism?
Jiang Yi immediately thought of that legend where eight thousand sword cultivators campaigned against Ximi Continent and failed just short of success.
“It seems Elder Xu has also told you about the old affairs of the Sword Dao. Heh, when I first entered the mountain sect, Guanlan Peak’s Instruction Hall often used this old tale to fill class hours and swindle talisman coins. I never expected they’d still be using it even now.”
Yang Xun laughed, then continued:
“Precisely. Once a lineage is established, its flame is passed down, upheld by many cultivators, and it becomes an orthodoxy.
“When such an orthodoxy governs the world, regardless of its rise or decline, its survival or demise, its influence can never be erased. Just as sword cultivators possess unrivaled killing power in this age, that is the legacy left behind by the Sword Dao.
“There is a rumor that in ancient times, the Confucian Dao once manifested in the world. Confucian cultivators could nurture literary qi within their chests; written characters could slay enemies, poems and lyrics could annihilate armies, and condemnation by mouth and brush possessed unfathomable divine abilities.
“Although the Confucian Dao has long since ceased to exist, this saying has always circulated: when one’s cultivation reaches the point of natural completion and one breaks through to a higher realm, reciting poetry may draw the favor of heaven and earth’s fortune.”
“So that’s how it is!”
A look of realization flashed through Jiang Yi’s eyes. No wonder when he had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining last time, he had inexplicably felt the urge to recite poetry.
“With the pen I honed as a secretary, if I had landed in an era when the Confucian Dao manifested… wouldn’t I be like a fish in water?”
Yang Xun’s interest in conversation faded, and he gave a faint sigh.
“Of course, this saying may merely be a joke. Across the ages, who knows how many orthodoxies have vanished with the wind? Only the immortal, demon, yao, and Buddhist paths have endured without extinction.
“There are simply too many strange tales and anecdotes about these orthodoxies, as numerous as ox hairs, and it is difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood.”
Jiang Yi accompanied Yang Xun in idle conversation for a while longer. Seeing that the sky was gradually darkening, he rose and took his leave.
Outside, the wind and snow had not stopped. Instead, they had grown even fiercer.
“What a miscalculation, what a miscalculation. When I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, I had no poetic inspiration at all. I wasted a fine opportunity to add to my fortune.”
Jiang Yi stepped through the soft accumulated snow, one foot sinking deep and the next shallow, as he returned to the communal courtyard.
The cold wind swept snowflakes into his collar, but fortunately, at the fourth level of Qi Refining, he was already unaffected by heat and cold, so he did not fear this biting chill.
“Hm…”
From afar, Jiang Yi saw a slender figure standing at the courtyard gate.
That person wore a plain, simple dress, with a cloak draped over it that seemed somewhat thin. Her figure trembled faintly in the wind and snow, giving her an air of lonely, helpless frailty.
Who was she?
Jiang Yi thought for a moment, then dug out a name from the original owner’s memories that had been carved deeply into his heart.
Luo Qian’er!
The moment Luo Qian’er saw Jiang Yi, tears immediately welled up in her eyes, and she called out softly and weakly:
“Junior Brother Jiang… it’s been so long.”
Her voice was gentle and melodious, carrying just the right tremor.
Truly, she stirred pity at the very sight.
“Tsk!”
Jiang Yi instantly understood why the original owner had willingly become a laborer.
A small-town pack mule had just entered the outer sect, only to run into a max-level succubus.
How could he possibly have resisted!
A bright, hearty smile bloomed on Jiang Yi’s face, and he quickly stepped forward. “Senior Sister Luo? In such heavy snow, why have you come? Why are you standing at the gate? What if you catch cold?”
This string of concern immediately made Luo Qian’er’s heart relax, and she secretly rejoiced.
“Sure enough, he’s still as easy to handle as before! Seeing me like this, he must be aching with pity…”
She was smug inwardly, but on the surface, she appeared even more delicate and weak. Lowering her head, she said softly, “Sister Qin wouldn’t let me in. She said you had gone out… I just wanted to come see you. I heard from my younger brother that you received the favor of Steward Yang of the Tempering Room. I’m happy for you.”
Jiang Yi was no different from the young man of the past who had been submissive toward Luo Qian’er and granted her every request. He said bashfully:
“Ah, with the weather this cold, how could I let Senior Sister Luo stand outside in the wind? I was only fortunate enough to catch Steward Yang’s eye and receive his wholehearted cultivation, so my cultivation has improved greatly.”
When Luo Qian’er heard this, jealousy rose in her heart for no reason. She was the legitimate daughter of the Luo clan of Lianxi, yet she had to put on false smiles and coax the likes of Zhou Can just to gain a firm footing.
On what basis could Jiang Yi climb higher step by step so easily and overturn his fate?
No wonder people over in Dongsheng Continent often said that demonic-path lineages favored men far too much!
If I had entered the immortal path, I would never have been limited to what I am now!
Luo Qian’er’s thoughts turned rapidly, both resentful and aggrieved. She was just about to slowly recite the speech she had prepared and see whether she could win sympathy in exchange for talisman coins.
But Jiang Yi spoke first:
“Speaking of which, I still have to thank Senior Sister. Back then in the lower courtyard, if not for your frequent encouragement, saying that I was ‘poor but not lacking in ambition’ and that I would ‘surely amount to something in the future,’ I’m afraid I never would have achieved even this tiny bit of progress today.”
His smile was gentle, his eyes clear, as if he truly felt grateful for that past.
Luo Qian’er was stunned. How could she remember whether she had ever said such things?
But seeing Jiang Yi so sincere, she went along with it and said softly:
“Junior Brother Jiang, why must you thank me? Those… were all my true thoughts. I always felt you were different from others, someone who understood warmth and hardship, and knew how to be grateful.”
Jiang Yi clapped his hands, appearing deeply moved.
“Senior Sister has treated me with sincerity and considered everything on my behalf. It makes me… unsure how I could ever repay you.”
His tone shifted slightly, and he gazed earnestly at Luo Qian’er.
“Since Senior Sister is so sincere and thinks of me in every way, I happen to have a difficulty at present. Surely Senior Sister won’t stand by and do nothing, right?”
Luo Qian’er was lifted far too high by this display of “true feelings,” and a trace of unease flashed through her heart. Yet she could only brace herself and respond:
“Of course. Junior Brother, just say it. If Senior Sister can help, I absolutely won’t refuse.”
The smile on Jiang Yi’s face grew even brighter. He leaned forward slightly, as if whispering a secret.
“Senior Sister also knows that on the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, methods, and land are essential, with ‘wealth’ taking first place. I now want to fight for a spot in the inner peak supplementary selection, but unfortunately, my funds are truly tight.”
His gaze was bright and intense, his tone light and natural.
“Senior Sister always used to say that you hoped I would do well. If you could temporarily return some of the talisman coins I gave you bit by bit in the past, helping me through this current difficulty, that would be the greatest kindness to me!
“Senior Sister is so understanding. You can surely sympathize with my troubles, right?”
P.S. As before, two chapters released together, still six thousand words. Might I receive monthly votes from my esteemed readers?