Chapter 20: The Wang Family's Enticement (Please Collect!)

On an autumn morning, the fog was swirling.

Ning Daoran had plucked a cucumber from the vine in the small courtyard, rinsed it slightly, and then started to nibble on it directly.

Suddenly, he remembered the rural life from his previous life as a child. He would also get up early in the morning and go to his grandmother's cucumber field to check on the cukes, and a sudden urge to recite poetry overwhelmed him,

"Wind and rain cannot change my original intention, cucumbers at two-fifty per pound!"

"Aw???"

Big Stupid Deer, sitting in a recliner eating a cucumber, widened its eyes in surprise. Truly a big brother with culture, creating such a neat poem, something it could never do.

"Hmm?"

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Ning Daoran noticed a surge of energy rushing into the sky from the direction of Spirit Field No. 80.

Someone was having a breakthrough!

Unsurprisingly, the one capable of such a breakthrough aura must be Hong Ming, who had reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and had stepped into the Late-stage Qi Refining realm.

The owners of several spirit fields on Qiongbi Peak went to offer their congratulations.

Ma Quanyou said with a smile, "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Hong on reaching Late-stage Qi Refining. It's truly a joyous occasion. It seems that Fellow Daoist Hong's path is promising, and even Foundation Establishment could be foreseen."

"Too kind, too kind, thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Huang Shan was full of respect and said earnestly, "Fellow Daoist Hong's breakthrough to Late-stage Qi Refining, becoming the top cultivator of Qiongbi Peak, is indeed a joyous occasion. As a member of Qiongbi Peak, I share in this honor."

Hong Ming's expression subtly changed, but he still nodded with a smile: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Ning Daoran bowed slightly, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. May your path to immortality flourish forever!"

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ning!"

Shortly after, Granny Yun Cui also came out with Chen Weimo and politely congratulated him.

The congratulations from everyone were not merely verbal but also included substantial tokens.

Ma Quanyou and Huang Shan each presented two spirit stones as gifts, seeking to build a good relationship with Hong Ming, who was now a significant figure in Late-stage Qi Refining.

Ning Daoran gifted ten kilograms of Green Bamboo Spirit Rice, which by market price, was considerably more generous than the previous two gifts.

Granny Yun Cui did not offer a gift; Chen Weimo had already started cultivating and needed a large number of spirit stones. There was no need to feign generosity at this time, which Hong Ming and his wife, Zhong Yan, understood.

...

When everyone thought life at Qiongbi Peak would continue peacefully, an event suddenly took place.

One afternoon, Hong Ming took some magic tools and a small amount of luggage and hurriedly left his long-resided residence in Spirit Field No. 80.

When people asked about it, Zhong Yan was vague and did not elaborate, only mentioning that Hong Ming had left to gain experience.

Only Ning Daoran knew the reason for Hong Ming's departure.

Everyone has their own destiny, and he did not bother to concern himself.

For him, the good news was that a year had passed and the deaths of two leaders in Black Wind Village had caused no significant uproar.

It was said that after the deaths of the two leaders, the rank and file initially panicked but then rejoiced. They decided to hold elections to choose new leaders among those with spirit roots and cultivation.

However, the constant power struggles and mutual assassination between the leaders eventually led to their deaths.

The rank and file celebrated again and held another election!

This ongoing cycle continued until the cultivators in Black Wind Village were all dead, leaving only ordinary people who could only intimidate the nearby villagers.

Essentially, Ning Daoran's "crime" from a year ago had turned into sinking stones.

Safe at last, it was time to go down the mountain!

On that day, he brought Big Stupid Deer down the mountain, filling his storage bag with various items like Green Bamboo Spirit Rice, low-grade magic tools, and spirit fish.

This visit to the town was to find a way to sell off his goods and to buy a flying artifact.

As a "Half-step Qi Refining Middle Stage" great cultivator, purchasing a flying artifact was quite reasonable.

Upon arriving at Yellow Dragon Square.

He first went to Wind Stopping Tower and delivered fifty kilograms of Green Bamboo Spirit Rice and two five-kilogram spirit fish to Huang Chengyan.

Huang Chengyan was overjoyed and no longer called him nephew, but "noble nephew"! He felt regretful, mentioning that it was a pity that the noble nephew's spirit root was mediocre; otherwise, Foundation Establishment could be achievable, and he could even help get a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Such polite words, Ning Daoran naturally listened and let it pass.

Once he truly reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer Perfection, Huang Chengyan surely would not acknowledge these words.

After all, the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill was clear, capable of changing the fate of a Foundation Establishment family; even within the Chaotic Sect, such pills were not casually distributed.

...

Qingfu Square.

A young woman, about seventeen or eighteen, approached to greet him. Her beauty could not hide the ingenuity in her eyes.

"Fellow Daoist, what would you like to buy? I can guide you."

Her cultivation was evident, at the Qi Refining Second Layer; not too high, but not too low either.

"What may I call you?"

"I am Chen Ping'er. May I know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"

"Ning Daoran, an Outer Disciple of the Chaotic Sect. I'm looking to buy a flying artifact."

"Ah, I see!"

Chen Ping'er smiled with a dimple, "Please follow me, Fellow Daoist. Qingfu Square has a variety of flying artifacts, which should meet your needs."

After entering a shop, the interior was filled with all sorts of flying artifacts.

There were green leaves, palm fans, banana leaves, handkerchiefs, and others ranging from magic artifacts to spiritual artifacts, a comprehensive selection.

Eventually, Ning Daoran's gaze settled on a jade-green bamboo leaf artifact.

"Green bamboo leaf, a First-tier Middle-grade Magical Artifact, crafted from Second Order High Grade thousand-year-old bamboo leaf, extremely fast flying speed, low mana consumption for cultivators."

Chen Ping'er squinted her beautiful eyes and said with a smile, "If Fellow Daoist truly desires it, I can offer a ten percent discount; two hundred seventy low-grade spirit stones will suffice."

Ning Daoran pondered for a moment; the price was indeed fair. Ordinary middle-grade flying artifacts were usually priced at least three hundred spirit stones. This green bamboo leaf was without any damage or defects, the spiritual energy was lustrous and full, and it could still be used for many years.

"Agreed."

He smiled slightly, "Fellow Daoist Chen is straightforward in her dealings, so I will be straightforward as well."

Immediately, he added another sentence, "However, you must give me the spell to control this Green Bamboo Leaf for free."

Normally, when a flying magical artifact is crafted, it comes with a control spell, commonly included with the purchase. However, some unscrupulous shops might sell the spell separately to make an additional profit.

'How is that straightforward?'

Chen Ping'er couldn't help but want to comment, but still, with a smile, she said, "Of course, at Qingfu Square, our business is fair towards both young and old. Please rest assured, Fellow Daoist, here are the Green Bamboo Leaf and its control spell."

Ning Daoran slapped his storage bag and took out two hundred seventy low-grade spirit stones to offer.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, does your place accept Green Bamboo Spirit Rice?"

"We do."

Chen Ping'er smiled and said, "Do you have Green Bamboo Spirit Rice? Our Qingfu Square buys it at the rate of one spirit stone per two jin. How much do you have?"

"One hundred jin."

"Great!"

They immediately struck the deal, and fifty spirit stones were credited, which was a slight replenishment.

As for selling Green Bamboo Spirit Rice at Qingfu Square, Ning Daoran saw no problem with it.

After all, the main income of spirit farmers was from selling Spirit Rice. After paying the annual rent, the spirit farmers of the Chaotic Sect always had some surplus to sell in order to accumulate spirit stones and nourish their cultivation.

Ning Daoran had been growing Green Bamboo Spirit Rice at Qiongbi Peak for several years. Given the yield of four to five hundred jin per mou, it was only reasonable to sell a few hundred jin each year.

Afterward, Ning Daoran moved to a rather chaotic street behind the Yellow Dragon Square.

The black market.

One untidy shop was followed by another, and transactions in the black market were uncertain, here today and gone tomorrow. Each shopfront was shabby, and the roadsides were crowded with loose cultivators peddling their wares.

Ning Daoran merely looked around and inquired about the situation without taking any actions.

The two low-grade magic tools from the Big Master rested in his storage bag, waiting for a disguise change before he would come back to sell the stolen goods!

After wandering around, he returned to the main street of Yellow Dragon Square.

...

"This Fellow Daoist, my Young Master would like to have a conversation with you."

Suddenly, a red-faced man initiated a conversation.

The man had cultivation, clearly a servant from a wealthy household. He was at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, the same as Ning Daoran's outward cultivation, so he spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Your Young Master?"

Ning Daoran frowned slightly, faced with an unexpected situation.

Refusing might irritate the other party, but going could involve complications.

After a moment's thought, he decided to go. The place was under the watchful eyes of the Wind Stopping Tower, so these people would not dare do much.

And even if they dared... Ning Daoran didn't care and was willing to test the power of the broken porcelain.

Mingxiang Pavilion.

A tea house in the core area of Yellow Dragon Square.

The place sold spiritual tea, where a good cup could cost at least two spirit stones, naturally deterring ordinary loose cultivators.

Those who frequented Mingxiang Pavilion were either great cultivators temporarily staying in the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range or so-called cultivation families requiring a high-end setting to maintain their image.

By a window sat a young man in a white robe, who stood up with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Ning, I am Wan Xuantong, the Young Master of the Wang Family of Stone Valley. Pleased to meet you."

The Wang Family of Stone Valley?

Ning Daoran searched his memory and had some impression. It seemed like a Foundation Establishment family in the vicinity of the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, with an ancestor at Early-stage Foundation Establishment and possessing a first-tier top-grade spiritual vein.

"Fellow Daoist Wang seeks me for a matter?"

"Please have a seat first, and we can talk while enjoying the spiritual tea."

Ning Daoran sat down and lightly sipped the tea. The taste was not bad, and he smiled, "Please go ahead, Fellow Daoist."

"The rumor is that despite your young age, you've cultivated the Rain Transformation Technique to the Fourth Layer, and even grown Second Order Green Bamboo Spirit Rice, yet you still remain merely at the Outer Mountain of the Chaotic Sect."

He lightly raised his eyebrows, "If you are willing, my Wang family would offer you the position of Elder. All you need to do is care for eight mou of spiritual fields yielding three thousand jin of Spirit Rice each year.

Rest assured, my Wang family will not treat you poorly. We are willing to offer you three hundred spirit stones annually along with a first-tier middle-grade magical artifact. Additionally, we will open a cave mansion for you in the core area of the spiritual vein, and you can choose any cultivation technique from our family.

As for the matter of a daoist couple, our Wang family has many female cultivators of stunning beauty. You may choose any one you like... or even many, to marry or take as concubines."

The Young Master Wang made a comprehensive offer from wealth to companionship, showing great sincerity.

"Fellow Daoist..."

Ning Daoran's brows locked tightly, "Don't you know I am a disciple of the Chaotic Sect?"

"I know."

Wan Xuantong's mouth curved slightly, "But I also know you're just an outer disciple. Are the generous conditions I have laid out not enough to tempt you?"

"How preposterous."

Ning Daoran spoke indifferently, "Once a disciple of the Chaotic Sect, always a disciple of the Chaotic Sect. Do you think you can talk me into leaving my sect so easily?

When I was merely at Qi Refinement First Level, the Chaotic Sect took me in. I still have the gratitude and intent to repay this kindness.

Please, spare your words. I must take my leave!"

Saying this, he led the Big Stupid Deer downstairs and left without looking back.

...

Wan Xuantong said nothing more, just watched his leaving figure, a glint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

"Young Master, this person..."

"Let it be as if nothing happened today!"

He was not afraid of offending Ning Daoran but was ultimately wary of the mighty power behind him!

...

Wind Stopping Tower.

A great cultivator at Foundation Establishment played with a White Jade Brush Washer, his Divine Sense retracting. His mouth curved up slightly as he muttered, "This lad, having such loyalty to his sect is truly rare..."