PDLP Chapter 14 Mutual Exchange
Chapter 14 Mutual Exchange
"Oh? Brother Changsheng and Brother Ergou are both going to Luogang Town? That's good, it's quiet and peaceful there, but... thirty-six spirit pearls? This reward is probably only a fraction of the value of a single Marrow Cleansing Pill after two months of hard work."
Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of disdain flashed in Li Qingshan's eyes. His expression remained warm, but his tone carried a certain detachment that a scion of a noble family would show towards the hardships of the lower classes.
On the path of spiritual cultivation, one must have no possessions of wealth, companions, Dharma, or land. Independent cultivators can be said to have none of these. For a few pitiful resources, they live like dogs every day, cheating and swindling, risking their lives, and doing all sorts of things.
If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. Even if such a person achieves something, most of them won't live long and are unlikely to die a natural death.
Neither of them possessed any special skills, nor were they particularly gifted in terms of spiritual roots. Furthermore, they had no one to help them, making their ascent on the path of immortality destined to be difficult.
However, since this Immortal Path Mutual Aid Association has just been established, it is impossible to kick the two out immediately; the feelings of the other two must be taken into consideration.
But as time goes on and the gap widens, they will definitely back down obediently. There's no need for them to be the villains and ruin their image in the eyes of the two women.
Su Wanqing nodded slightly, her gaze towards Yang Changsheng and Wang Ergou showing no disdain, but rather a calm understanding. She parted her red lips and said, "Spirit rice is the foundation of cultivation, and planting it is also the Great Dao. It is said that there was a rogue Golden Core cultivator with a mid-grade spiritual root who started out as a spiritual plant grower and eventually founded a celestial city that became a powerful force in the region."
On the path to immortality, there are many who have had extraordinary encounters and soared to great heights, especially young people. But fortunes can change in an instant; who can predict what the future holds?
There's a saying that often circulates in the cultivation world: "To bully an old Nascent Soul cultivator is to not disgrace a young Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Although it's inappropriate to compare them since they're only in the Qi Refining stage, they're only around ten years old and have a lot of potential ahead of them.
"The Liu family of Luogang Immortal Cultivation Town is newly established and in the development stage. There are not many cultivators, and the rules are probably acceptable. However, since we are unfamiliar with the place, we should prioritize safety."
Su Wanqing's words were brief but made her point clear: once outside of Biyue Lake, the environment wouldn't be as pleasant, and she needed to be wary to avoid being targeted.
Even if the Foundation Establishment Lu family is strong, it is impossible to cover everything, especially those wandering Tribulation Cultivators, since they are not in the core ruling area of Biyue Lake.
Those with a bit of guts grab what they can and run, not caring whether they offend powerful forces.
Liu Xiaoying frowned slightly, her pretty face showing worry, and said with concern, "Brother Changsheng, Brother Ergou, it's such a long road, you have to be careful on the way. I heard that it's close to the Qiyun Mountains, and there are occasionally monsters roaming around there."
She didn't want to see someone she knew take risks, but she had no better option than to share the limited information she had with them, while also having another plan in mind.
"Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister Xiaoying. We will travel together and look after each other. Nothing will happen."
Yang Changsheng smiled in response, then looked at Wang Ergou, his dark eyes deep and calm, exuding composure and confidence, and said, "Brother Ergou, what do you say?"
When Wang Ergou saw that Yang Changsheng had taken the initiative to group him with Yang Changsheng, and heard that Su Wanqing showed no sign of disdain, and that Liu Xiaoying's concern was sincere, his heart warmed, and his awkwardness lessened considerably.
He nodded vigorously and said earnestly, "Yes! I'll listen to Brother Changsheng!"
In fact, he was already nineteen years old, older than everyone present, but in the cultivation world, seniority is determined by cultivation level, and the first level of Qi Refining naturally belongs to the lowest position.
During the subsequent brief meeting, Su Wanqing shared some basic tips on cultivating spiritual plants, especially how to identify the loss of spiritual energy in the soil and simple methods for nurturing it.
Spiritual plant cultivation is originally a branch of alchemy, and as someone who has embarked on the path of alchemy, she has naturally dabbled in it and is knowledgeable about many planting techniques.
This knowledge was quite useful to Yang Changsheng and Wang Erge, who were about to plant the spirit field.
Li Qingshan then revealed some recent price fluctuations in the market, several newly opened stalls, and some major events that occurred outside the Bishui Lake area.
Liu Xiaoying mentioned the prices of several common talisman papers, and also mentioned where it would be most cost-effective to buy cultivation resources, which stalls might have bargains, and that although some shops weren't rip-offs, they didn't have any good stuff.
These messages aren't exactly secrets, but the fishermen and farmers at the bottom of society are busy raising aquatic products, practicing meditation, and dealing with the daily necessities of life, so they don't have time to inquire about such things.
Yang Changsheng and Wang Ergou listened quietly, nodding occasionally. They gained a better understanding of many things they had never known before and had a broader perspective on the path to immortality.
Finally, after discussing some cultivation insights at the early stage of Qi Refining for a while, the gathering came to an end.
The five people bid each other farewell and left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
A cold wind blew in, but Li Qingshan had a carriage waiting for him. He got on and quickly disappeared.
Liu Xiaoying was also picked up by the old servant of the family, but before leaving, she inadvertently stuffed a small cloth bag into Yang Changsheng's hand without anyone noticing.
Su Wanqing's large, bright eyes and flowing white dress gave Yang Changsheng and Wang Ergou a slight nod. Her beautiful figure disappeared into the crowd of people in the market.
Only Yang Changsheng and Wang Ergou remained, standing at the entrance of Zuixianlou, preparing to return to their small boats.
"Brother Changsheng... thank you for today. I was really scared. I was afraid they would look down on what I had. If I really withdrew from the Immortal Path Gathering, I would have no hope for the rest of my life."
Wang Ergou looked at Yang Changsheng, his dark face showing gratitude and a lingering sense of unease.
Although he was honest and simple, he wasn't stupid. Compared to exploring cultivation on his own, having a few friends with great potential was naturally much more beneficial.
Yang Changsheng patted his shoulder, the force heavy, yet it made Wang Ergou feel exceptionally reassured. He said, "Ergou, don't overthink it. The path to immortality is long, and everyone has their own destiny. We earn our living through our strength and earn a stable amount of spirit stones. There's nothing shameful about that... Let's go, pack up, and set off for Luogang Town tomorrow. Fellow Daoist Su is right, safety comes first, so we still need to make some preparations."
Before attending the Immortal Path Gathering, he had considered several options regarding where to take short-term jobs, but he only had a vague understanding of the options.
It now seems that this stability is not so easy to achieve.
There might be demonic beasts, or perhaps even cultivators lurking around; I had been too simplistic in my thinking before.
"Um!"
Wang Ergou nodded heavily in response, feeling a sense of recognition and encouragement. He felt the tightness in his chest dissipate considerably, and his confidence grew.
Having grown up farming, he has considerable experience in this area and may even possess exceptional talent.
Looking at Yang Changsheng's handsome yet composed and resolute profile, he thought to himself, "This Brother Changsheng is truly different!"
Despite being only a few years younger than me, he was not only composed and insightful, but also humble and polite, and knew how to advance and retreat with ease. He was like a wise and enlightened person who had experienced many storms and was always calm and collected.
The two parted ways. Wang Ergou rowed his boat to his own waterway, while Yang Changsheng went to the scattered repair shops to buy some small items that might come in handy.