Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
The sea of consciousness had gradually calmed.
His mind was incredibly clear, as if he had just reincarnated from the life of a headless fish.
Seems like a dream, yet not a dream.
Shen Xuan sat cross-legged, guarding his spirit, and slowly digesting the healing talent of the headless fish.
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman, the ancient golden words continued to evolve.
[Talent: Healing Entry Level (2/100)]
[Rejuvenation Talisman: Proficient (24/200)]
[Dao Rhyme: 102]
Most importantly, his Water Spirit Root was enhanced once again.
[Spirit Root: Water 14/100]
Shen Xuan felt a wave of joy in his heart.
This time, stealing the talent of the headless fish cost him over three hundred spirit stones.
Luckily, he had the support of Water Control Talisman at the mastery stage; otherwise, he truly couldn't afford it.
"Sixty-four years old, next year I can break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, the future is promising!"
Over the past eight months, Shen Xuan practiced in the Spirit Gathering Array every day, purchasing headless fish from Zhao Chunsheng, while also making Rejuvenation Talismans, barely balancing revenue and expenditure.
Seeing the 102 points of Dao Rhyme, Shen Xuan didn't think much and used it all on the healing talent.
[Talent: Healing Proficient (3/200)]
[Rejuvenation Talisman: Proficient (75/200)]
"As long as I make more Rejuvenation Talismans, I can elevate it to the mastery stage."
He condensed a Cold Ice Blade and gently cut a small wound on his arm.
Following that, his body automatically repaired, the wound healed at a visible speed, and soon, it was as good as new.
Looking again at the Mysterious Jade Talisman, the proficiency of the healing talent hadn't changed at all.
"It seems, I must collect Dao Rhymes to enhance the self-healing technique."
Shen Xuan didn't want to cut himself daily and then use the self-healing technique to increase proficiency.
He wouldn't self-harm for nothing!
After working hard for so long, he planned to take a break, to nurture his body.
Today calls for a celebration!
At night.
Shen Xuan was exceptionally excited.
The bed frame creaked for a long, long time.
Sometimes intense, sometimes gentle.
It had a great rhythm.
Afterward.
Ding Yuyao lay in Shen Xuan's arms, entirely weak.
"Husband, I want to..."
"Just say it!"
"I want to visit my parental home once!"
A hint of pleading flashed in Ding Yuyao's eyes.
Shen Xuan was stunned.
He and Ding Yuyao had been married for four years, never leaving the market.
Let alone visiting Ding Yuyao's parental home.
"Where is your home?"
Seeing her husband didn't directly refuse, Ding Yuyao suddenly became spirited.
"The Ding Family governs two prefectures and thirteen counties, my home is in Songjiang Prefecture, Hongcheng County. It's quite close, only eight hundred miles away!"
Shen Xuan thought for a moment.
He was a reasonable person.
Married for four years, Ding Yuyao longing to visit her parental home for family visitation was entirely reasonable.
In the cultivation world, the mortal and immortal are different.
But deep down, Shen Xuan always believed husbands and wives should be equal, treating each other with respect.
If it were before, worried about the dangers of going out, he might have politely refused.
Now his strength has greatly increased, accompanying his wife to travel in the mortal realm within Ding Family's jurisdiction posed virtually no risk.
After all, in the mundane world, without Spirit Veins to supply cultivation, only low-tier cultivators with no hope of advancing would reside.
To his knowledge, the highest cultivation realm of the cultivators sent to the mortal world by the Ding Family was merely Qi Cultivation Third Layer.
Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation wasn't fit for long stays in the mortal realm either.
"Let's wait for two months. I'll accompany you back home in the fall."
"Husband is wonderful!"
Ding Yuyao happily kissed Shen Xuan.
She had been worried Shen Xuan would disagree.
Before marrying, she had heard Shen Xuan was an ascetic, never leaving the market.
After marriage, she understood.
Her husband had a cautious character, never taking risks.
This time agreeing to accompany her back home was truly exceptional.
…
Two months later.
Songjiang Prefecture, Hongcheng County.
In an imposing temple behind the county city and mountains.
"Immortal Master, there was a severe drought this summer, it hasn't rained for two months. The county venerable sent me to ask, could the Immortal Master perform a rain-praying spell soon?"
Ding Yifan, the deputy of Hongcheng County, respectfully presented a gift box.
The Guardian Immortal Master, seated in the temple's main hall, accepted the box and opened it, only to see merely a hundred taels of gold, which made him sneer.
"Why doesn't the county venerable come himself?"
"The county venerable suddenly fell ill and is bedridden. He entrusted county yamen affairs to me and sent me to come on his behalf. Please, Immortal Master, for the sake of the Ding family bloodline, perform the rain-praying spell."
"A mere hundred taels of gold cannot make up for the essence I lose when casting spells!"
The Immortal Master glanced at Ding Yifan with disinterest.
"Assistant Ding, I know you're honest. Tell the county venerable to come personally to speak with me! Show him out!"
Ding Yifan sighed deeply, left the temple, and returned in disappointment.
This man was, in fact, Ding Yuyao's father.
Back at home.
"Why doesn't the county venerable go himself to request the Immortal Master's rain-praying spell, always using you as a scapegoat!"
Seeing her husband in dismay, Mrs. Ding couldn't help but complain.
"The county venerable is a smart man; he won't take the lead in something guaranteed to meet with resistance!"
"Then you shouldn't take the lead either! I don't believe the Immortal Master will sit idly by with Hongcheng County's severe drought!"
"Nonsense from a woman! Hongcheng County has ten thousand people, many of them Ding family bloodline. How could I not care!"
"You care! Can you manage it?"
Seeing his wife's anger and tears, Ding Yifan pulled her into his arms to comfort her: "My dear, don't worry. I'll keep at it, and I'll succeed eventually."
"How can I not worry? The county venerable and the Immortal Master are clearly at odds, and you're caught in between!"
In the conversation.
Knock, knock!
Someone was at the door.
"Coming."
Ding Yifan responded and then went to open the door.
"The county venerable sent me to inquire, has the Immortal Master set a date for the rain-praying spell?"
"The Immortal Master isn't available right now, it will take some time."
Upon hearing this, the messenger, Li Headman, said, "The county venerable said the drought in Hongcheng County is severe, urging Assistant Ding to expedite."
"If blame comes from above, it would be difficult for him to intercede on your behalf."
"Understood. Please convey to the county venerable that I will expedite the process."
Li Headman nodded, apologized with a smile, and went back to report.
Behind Ding Yifan, Mrs. Ding gently sighed.
Being in high office oppresses people.
At night.
Hongcheng County Clerk quietly entered Ding Mansion.
"Assistant Ding, the county treasury indeed has no spirit stones left."
"Can we find a way to borrow a few pieces?"
"How could it be that easy! Even if someone were willing to lend them, what could the county treasury use to repay!"
Clerk spoke faintly: "Those are spirit stones, not ordinary gold, silver, or grain!"
"It's ridiculous! With the entire county in drought, the autumn harvest looming, and yet he's sparring with the Immortal Master!"
"Isn't it said that his family's lineage is illustrious, having produced several Immortal Masters, yet they can't muster a few spirit stones?"
The clerk felt very indignant.
"Enough, Clerk, don't gossip behind others' backs; prevent troubles caused by your words," Ding Yifan advised.
"Oh, Assistant Ding, I've heard your youngest daughter married an Immortal Master. Could they possibly help?"
Ding Yifan shook his head.
"My youngest has been married for four years, staying at Cyan Dragon Bay Market, and hasn't been home since."
"I see!"
After the clerk left, Mrs. Ding questioned in confusion: "Husband, why did the clerk suddenly ask about Yao'Er?"
"He's the county venerable's man," Ding Yifan said calmly.
"Ah!"
Mrs. Ding realized and said, "The clerk was probing you on behalf of the county venerable?"
"What do you think?"
Ding Yifan replied with a cold voice: "This year is the assessment year. If the county venerable cannot solve the drought, his official position is at stake."
"And I've been in Hongcheng County for a long time, with quite a few achievements; naturally, the county venerable is wary."
"It's absurd above as well; how can they appoint such a ruthless person to be in charge of the County Government Main Hall!"