The Lesser Five Elements Breathing Technique slowly circulated.
A subtle suction force appeared in his right palm, drawing out the warm, moist spiritual energy contained within the spirit sand, channeling it along his meridians into the spiritual energy vortex in his dantian.
He circulated the technique, simultaneously absorbing new spiritual energy from the spirit sand and using his mind as a spindle to continuously compress and condense the originally thin and scattered spiritual mist within the vortex of his dantian.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
...
When the third cycle was completed, two lines of small golden characters suddenly appeared deep within Wang Mengde's consciousness:
[Lesser Five Elements Breathing Technique +1]
[Spiritual Energy +1]
Almost at the same instant the characters appeared, a series of insights surged into his mind.
These were insights into how to operate the Lesser Five Elements Breathing Technique more efficiently and how to compress spiritual energy more precisely.
He subconsciously followed these insights, adjusting his breathing rhythm and the strength of his mental guidance.
Deep within his dantian, the vortex of spiritual mist indeed solidified somewhat.
The edges of the mist became clearer, and its rotation became more fluid and smooth.
The space in his dantian, containing this vortex, also seemed to expand slightly.
Wang Mengde was invigorated. He steadied his mind and continued circulating his cultivation technique.
Four cycles, five cycles.
The luster of the spiritual sand in his palm dimmed, and its texture changed from warm and smooth to dry and rough.
He opened his eyes; the soybean-sized grain of spiritual sand had lost all its spiritual energy and become an ordinary pebble.
Wang Mengde didn't stop. He took out a second grain of spiritual sand from his robes, held it in his palm, and closed his eyes again.
Six cycles, seven cycles… ten cycles.
However, this time, he cultivated for five cycles in one go, absorbing all the spiritual energy from the second grain of sand.
The golden characters in his mind, however, did not appear.
Wang Mengde was not anxious and continued cultivating.
Twenty cycles, thirty cycles…
he cultivated forty cycles in one go. The spiritual mist in his dantian became more solid, and its rotation became more stable.
But the golden characters in his mind still did not appear.
Wang Mengde slowly opened his eyes, about to continue taking the spirit sand, when a clear gurgling sound suddenly came from his stomach.
He paused, instinctively looking up at the window.
Through the gap in the window paper, he could see that it was already dark.
He had been cultivating for several hours.
After dinner,
he told his sister-in-law that he was going into seclusion to break through to the second level of Qi Refining, then went to his room to continue cultivating.
He held the spirit sand, closed his eyes, and circulated his energy.
Time slowly passed.
Forty-one cycles, fifty cycles... eighty cycles. When
one spirit sand was exhausted, he immediately replaced it with the next.
The vortex of spiritual mist in his dantian was slowly but steadily changing under the continuous infusion of new spiritual power and constant compression and condensation.
The mist became more and more condensed, and the spiritual light it emitted as it swirled became clearer and clearer.
At the end of the one hundred and thirteenth cycle, two lines of small golden characters finally appeared in his mind again:
[Small Five Elements Breathing Technique +1]
[Spiritual Power +1]
Immediately afterward,
a profound understanding welled up in his heart.
Almost instinctively, Wang Mengde followed the guidance of his enlightenment, rapidly adjusting the path of his cultivation technique.
Each cycle of his cultivation was smoother and more complete than before.
Within his dantian, the vortex of spiritual mist visibly solidified.
And the space within his dantian, nourished by the more solidified spiritual mist, expanded outwards at a visible rate.
A quarter of an hour.
Two quarters of an hour.
Half an hour later, the changes in his dantian finally stabilized.
The spiritual mist within his dantian was a full thirty percent more solid than before his breakthrough.
The space within his dantian had also expanded by a full thirty percent. His
cultivation had broken through to the second level of Qi Refining.
His breathing became steady, and he once again summoned the golden panel.
[Destiny Master: Wang Mengde]
[Destiny: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Success is Guaranteed)]
[Qi Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 2 (1/200)]
[Physical Cultivation: Body Tempering Level 1 (62/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: Minor Five Elements Breathing Technique Level 2 (1/200)]
[Spells: Spiritual Eye Technique (Minor Success) 0/200; Fishing Technique (Beginner) 98/100; Entangling Silk Technique (Beginner) 99/100]
Qi Refining has broken through to Level 2.
Cultivation Technique has broken through to Level 2.
Along with it, Physical Cultivation has increased by a full ten points.
Wang Mengde slowly opened his eyes.
He got up and slowly paced a few steps in the small room.
An unprecedented feeling of fullness spread from his dantian to his limbs and bones.
This feeling was very good.
Wang Mengde took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
His heart was full of excitement, "I'm
going to..."
A rumbling sound came from his stomach.
A wave of intense hunger washed over him.
With his cultivation breakthrough, the surge of spiritual energy he'd been consuming naturally required replenishment.
What he'd eaten before was merely ordinary food devoid of spiritual energy, offering little to no satiety.
He'd have to find a way to obtain some spirit rice.
However, spirit sand was a major problem.
Last night, he'd refined a full twenty-one pieces of spirit sand in one go.
Now, he only had two pieces and fifty copper coins left.
He was
desperately short of spirit sand.
He needed it to pay off his debts, to pay rent, to eat, and even more so, to acquire cultivation resources.
Suppressing his intense hunger, he pushed open the door.
The blazing midday sun greeted him, forcing him to squint.
The sky was a deep blue, the sun high in the sky.
In the courtyard, Shen Qingyue sat on a stone bench, a sewing basket beside her, but she wasn't mending anything; she was simply gazing quietly towards his door.
Hearing the door open, she stood up almost immediately.
Her gaze swept quickly across Wang Mengde's face, her beautiful eyes gleaming with barely suppressed hope.
She pursed her lips and cautiously asked softly, "Brother-in-law?"
Wang Mengde looked at her and nodded.
The next instant, a radiant smile bloomed on her face, a smile that seemed to rise from the deepest part of her heart, impossible to suppress.
Her eyes then began to redden, but she desperately held them back.
Life was becoming more and more hopeful.
Wang Mengde said, "Qingyue, quickly get me something to eat."
"It's ready, I'll heat it up for you right away." His sister-in-law quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, turned and ran to the stove, her steps as light as a sparrow. Soon
, the food was served.
Four dishes and a soup, three of which were meat dishes.
He picked up his rice bowl and shoveled rice and vegetables into his mouth, wolfing it down; he was indeed very hungry.
His sister-in-law sat across the table, constantly putting food on his plate.
"Brother-in-law, eat this."
"Brother-in-law, fish has fewer bones, eat more."
"Brother-in-law, the steamed egg custard is still warm..."
Her movements were light and quick as she picked up the food, afraid of disturbing his meal, yet she couldn't help but want him to eat more, just a little more.
Wang Mengde quickly finished eating and put down his chopsticks: "I'm going fishing in the nearshore waters."
The weather was nice today, the sky was clear and blue.
Crucially, there was no wind.
Liu Haiwen had mentioned the Golden Thread Spirit Trout; a pound of live fish yielded one spirit sand, and catching just one would earn him twenty or thirty spirit sands.
Shen Qingyue paused slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wang Mengde: "Brother-in-law, please be careful. I'll wait for you to come home."
Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with tender concern, and... a hint of worry.
Although the near sea wasn't as dangerous as the open ocean, there were still demonic fish roaming around.
Last time, her brother-in-law was injured by a demonic fish, almost...
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She hoped her brother-in-law could earn more spirit sand, but she hoped even more for his safe return.
Wang Mengde looked down at Shen Qingyue's concerned gaze, at her delicate appearance, her fragile demeanor.
His heart was filled with pity and a desire to protect her.
And...
he swallowed slightly.
Wang Mengde looked away, his voice low: "Mm."
Shen Qingyue seemed to sense something, the tips of her ears quietly turning a thin blush.
"Brother-in-law, I...I'll go wash the dishes..."
Her voice was soft, tinged with a barely perceptible panic, as she reached out to collect the dishes from the table.
The bowls and plates clinked softly together.
Wang Mengde withdrew his gaze and returned to the west room.
He took down the spirit-patterned fishing rod, fish basket, spare hooks, bait box, and water-dividing spikes hanging in the corner... He
checked each item and packed them into his basket.
He pushed open the courtyard gate and went to Qixia Wharf.
He found his small spirit sampan.
His spirit sampan was not large, about twelve feet long and no more than four feet wide. The hull was made of old teak, the paint was peeling, and there were a few old scratches on the bow.
A palm-sized spirit array plate was embedded in the stern.
It was small and very old.
But it was the most valuable possession of his former self, and now, on Qixia Island.
He untied the rope and stepped onto the deck.
The boat rocked slightly, then stabilized.
He set down the basket, took out a spirit sand from his robes, and embedded it into the spirit
array plate at the stern of the boat. A faint blue light slowly appeared on the spirit array plate.
"Buzz..."
A very slight vibration rippled out from the stern of the sampan
. The sampan broke through the calm sea, leaving a thin white trail as it headed towards the dock.
Wang Mengde stood at the bow, steering the boat.
The Golden Thread Spirit Trout preferred warm currents and reefs, frequenting the area southeast of Qixia Island where the reefs and shoals met.
About half an hour later, they arrived at their destination.
He slowed the boat and looked around.
Scattered across the sea ahead were seven or eight spirit boats, some sampans, others larger single-masted fishing boats.
The cultivators on board sat or stood, holding fishing rods, waiting quietly.
There were quite a few cultivators in this area.
Wang Mengde's gaze swept across the waters, pausing on one of the sampans.
The boat was slightly newer than his, and two burly men with menacing faces sat at the bow:
Chen Dama and Chen Erhu.
Wang Mengde withdrew his gaze and steered the sampan a little further away.
Chen Erhu also caught sight of Wang Mengde and nudged his older brother with his elbow.
"Brother, look over there."
Chen Dahu followed his gaze and frowned. "That good-
for-nothing Wang Mengde... he's broken through to the second level of Qi Refining?" Chen Erhu was taken aback and became anxious. "Brother, Wang Mengde is at the second level of Qi Refining! His earning speed will definitely increase significantly. Even if he doesn't earn much, he might be able to borrow five spirit stones. We won't be able to get that sampan spirit boat."
Wang Mengde's sampan spirit boat, although a bit old, was in excellent condition.
On the secondhand boat market, a sampan spirit boat of that quality might not even fetch eight spirit stones.
If they were to take it back for five spirit stones, it would be a huge loss.
Chen Erhu had already treated the sampan spirit boat as his own private property.
"We've made a huge profit from those five spirit stones," Chen Dahu said casually, glancing at him.
Chen Erhu became even more anxious: "Brother, you promised to give me that spirit boat."
Chen Dahu turned his head, glared at him, and his voice suddenly turned cold: "Who told you, you bastard, to lose your own spirit boat?"
Chen Erhu immediately shrank back, shrinking his neck and not daring to look his brother in the eye, but still muttering:
"I... I just had bad luck... Besides, you're always going to that Warm Fragrance Pavilion to find fairies, spending more than I lost."
"Bad luck?" Chen Dahu sneered: "When have you ever had good luck?"
Chen Erhu shrank his neck, his voice getting lower and lower: "I was just trying to win back my losses..."
"Win back your losses?" Chen Dahu stared at him, his gaze heavy: "Gamblers never have a good ending. Quit it right away, or if I find you going to that gambling den again, I'll chop off your paws."
Chen Erhu didn't dare to talk back, only muttering softly:
"Fine, I'll quit... but if I'm lucky, I can turn things around in one night, and the boat will come back..."
He glanced at his brother's face and muttered,
"It's better than you going to see those fairies... throwing away spirit sand every night, not only is it expensive, but it's also bad for your health."
Chen Dahu slapped Chen Erhu on the back of the head again.
"You don't know anything!"
Chen Erhu covered his head, but his eyes kept following the old sampan in the distance.
Wang Mengde's ship had sailed several dozen feet and was slowly coming to a stop in the shade of a reef.
Chen Erhu stared at the figure, leaned forward, and lowered his voice as if afraid of being blown away by the sea breeze: "Big brother... let's do another job."
Chen Dahu finally turned his head.
He glanced at Chen Erhu, his gaze deep and emotionless, yet it made Chen Erhu's spine tense.
"The opponent is at the second level of Qi Refining," Chen Dahu said. "Our rule is to only target the first level of Qi Refining."
Chen Erhu said, "He just broke through, how strong can he be? Big brother, you broke through to the second level of Qi Refining more than ten years ago, and I've been at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining for many years. If we buy a few talismans and work together, taking him down shouldn't be a sure thing, right?"
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at his brother's expression, and seeing that he didn't immediately object, he became even bolder.
"Besides..." Chen Erhu licked his lips, "Those little lambs at the first level of Qi Refining are all incredibly cautious these days, it's impossible to find an opportunity to strike. How long has it been since we've had a single bite?"
He paused, a hint of a smirk in his voice,
"Those fairies you fancy, brother, they've probably been... worn down to their calluses."
Before he could finish speaking
, Chen Dahu slapped Chen Erhu hard across the back of the head.
"Ouch!" Chen Erhu winced in pain, half his body hunching over.
"Can't you even speak like a human being?" Chen Dahu glared at him, his eyes filled with a murderous glint.
Chen Erhu clutched his head, no longer daring to grin.
But he didn't shut up.
He rubbed his shoulder, his eyes darting around, and then leaned closer again.
This time, his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet every word carried a sticky, cloying quality:
"Brother..."
"That Wang Mengde's sister-in-law..."
"You're not thinking about her anymore?"
Chen Dahu's breath hitched for a moment.
He didn't reply, nor did he make another move.
His gaze swept across the sea, landing on the silhouette of the now-stationary sampan.
After a long while, he finally spoke.
"There are too many people in this area."
Chen Erhu's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Wait until he's alone," Chen Dahu said.
Chen Erhu nodded vigorously, the corners of his mouth already barely concealing a smile.
Wang Mengde chose a spot, anchored the boat,
and took out his spirit-patterned fishing rod. He took
out a bait from the bait box , hooked it onto the hook, and cast the line . He closed his eyes and began his fishing technique. Spiritual energy flowed along the rod, through the line, and onto the hook, finally settling into the bait. The bean-shaped, shrimp-like bait trembled slightly. A faint spiritual energy field emanated from the bait , enveloping the surrounding seawater. At the same time, the shrimp-shaped bait began to sway gently under the pull of his spiritual energy. It wasn't the line pulling it; it moved on its own. A tremor, a pause, a twist— just like the most common shrimp in this sea, swimming in the water. Only the shrimp scent was stronger, permeating a radius of two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Wang Mengde opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips. With his improved cultivation, his fishing skills had also improved considerably. Previously, when he manipulated the bait, the surrounding spiritual energy field only extended to a ten-foot radius, and he had to be extremely careful with the bait's movements each time, as the spiritual energy thread would break if he wasn't careful. Wang Mengde diverted a sliver of his attention, simultaneously activating his Spiritual Eye Technique. His gaze pierced through the clear blue seawater, probing downwards. Reefs, sand, seaweed… a few small fish, no bigger than a palm, swept past the edge of his vision; he ignored them. A moment later, a sea fish about half a foot long swam out from the shadows of the reefs—a Silver-Scaled Red-Gilled Fish. The Silver-Scaled Red-Gilled Fish swam slowly, even somewhat lazily. Wang Mengde manipulated the hook, carrying the bait resembling a "bean-shrimp," and slowly swam towards the fish. Very slowly. As if it had drifted there unintentionally. The bait trembled in the water, the spiritual energy field silently enveloping it, evenly distributing the faint scent of the bean-shrimp. The Silver-Scaled Red-Gilled Fish paused. The fish's fins swayed gently, its head turned, and its two black bean-like eyes focused on the bait. Wang Mengde didn't move. The bait moved slightly in place. The silver-scaled red-gill fish flicked its tail and charged forward . Without any probing or circling to observe, it opened its mouth straight and quickly, swallowing the bait whole. The fishing line suddenly tightened. Wang Mengde's wrist sank. He made a hand seal with his left hand. Entangling Silk Technique. Spiritual energy surged from his fingertips, precisely condensing into an invisible binding force field around the fish across the seawater and a distance of three zhang, quickly pushing the fish towards the fishing boat. At the same instant, he channeled spiritual energy into the spirit-patterned fishing rod. The spirit patterns on the rod shone brightly, and the reel automatically reeled in the line. Wang Mengde held the rod with his right hand to reel in the line, while his left hand controlled the force field to push. Soon, he pushed and pulled the silver-scaled red-gill fish to the side of the fishing boat. Wang Mengde put down the fishing rod, grabbed the landing net at his feet, and scooped it up with his arm. The fish was in the net. It was heavy. He lifted it up to examine it. Its belly was full, and its gills were bright red. This silver-scaled red-gill fish weighed about five pounds. He'd earned over fifty copper coins. Wang Mengde beamed; fishing with magic was incredibly satisfying. Having often come back empty-handed in his previous life, he loved these spells. Of course, this was also due to his improved cultivation; fishing in his previous life was far from easy. At that distance, the binding force field created by his Entangling Silk Technique couldn't control the fish at all. He had to lure it until it was exhausted before slowly reeling it in. Wang Mengde picked up another bait, hooked it, and cast. The bait hit the water, creating ripples. He closed his eyes, activating his Fishing Technique and Spiritual Eye Technique again. ... Soon, he caught a silver needle carp for over forty copper coins. Another gray-finned pomfret for over sixty copper coins. Another silver-scaled red-gill fish for over sixty copper coins. ... Fish after fish were hooked; there was hardly a time when he came up empty-handed. Some fish were cunning, circling the bait twice before taking a bite. Others were clumsy, swallowing the bait as soon as it floated by. But none could escape. He used his Spirit Eye Technique to locate the sea fish. His Fishing Technique to make the fish bite. His Silk Entangling Technique to assist in reeling in the line. Wang Mengde barely moved, and his fish basket gradually filled with his catch. Just as he was about to bait the basket with the sixteenth sea fish, small golden words suddenly appeared in his mind: [Fishing Technique +1] At the same time, subtle insights flooded his mind. The angle of the rod, the timing of reeling in the line, the subtle rhythm of the expansion and contraction of the spiritual energy field…
Those actions he had performed, yet perhaps not truly understood, now settled deep within his consciousness.
Wang Mengde paused for a moment.
He looked down at the spirit-patterned fishing rod in his hand.
The previously somewhat sluggish flow of spiritual energy was now much smoother.
He rebaited and cast the line.
Spiritual energy flowed down the rod, climbed onto the bait, and expanded the spiritual energy field.
Two zhang and three chi.
A chi wider than before.
Wang Mengde checked his own mental energy.
[Fishing Technique (Beginner) 99/100]
[Silk Entangling Technique (Beginner) 99/100]
Just a little short of minor mastery.
He looked up at the sea ahead, anticipation rising in his eyes.
...
A gray-finned pomfret.
Another gray-finned pomfret.
Another fire-egg fish.
Sea fish were successively put into the basket, which gradually sank.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Another sea fish was dragged to the side of the boat by the binding force field. Wang Mengde scooped it up with the net, and the fish was caught.
The small golden characters reappeared.
[Silk Entangling Technique +1]
A large amount of insights flooded into his mind.
The path of spiritual energy flow, the techniques of weaving force fields, how to spread spiritual energy more densely and more resiliently…
all the previously vague, unfamiliar, and inexplicable insights—the realizations of doing things correctly without understanding why—
were now crystal clear .
Wang Mengde lowered his eyes .
He raised his left hand, his fingertips forming a circle.
Spiritual energy surged from his palm, instantly condensing into a binding force field a few feet away from the sea surface.
More solid.
More resilient.
Like a tangible veil.
Wang Mengde looked up.
Under his spiritual eye technique, a gray-finned pomfret weighing about two pounds was swimming out from the shadow of the reef, completely unaware.
He clenched his fingers.
The binding force field silently descended.
The fish's body suddenly froze.
Its fins thrashed wildly, its tail whipped violently.
Wang Mengde pulled his hand back.
The fish, enveloped by the force field, swept towards the fishing boat.
Halfway there.
The gray-finned pomfret struggled violently.
The force field trembled slightly, a crack appearing at its edge.
The fish squeezed out of the crack and fled quickly.
Wang Mengde's brow twitched, and he rapidly channeled his spiritual power, which surged forth, forming an even stronger binding force field that enveloped the fish.
He bound the gray-fin pomfret and dragged it back. The gray-fin pomfret
struggled frantically, but to no avail.
It was dragged to the edge of the sampan.
He reached into the net and scooped up the fish.
The fish thrashed its tail in the net, making the net ring crackle.
Wang Mengde looked down at the gray-fin pomfret.
A minor-stage Entangling Silk Technique.
It could directly catch sea fish.
He couldn't help but grin, his brows and eyes brimming with barely suppressed joy.
This was too amazing.
From two zhang away, he caught a sea fish with a wave of his hand.
Wang Mengde focused his mind and looked inward.
The vortex of spiritual power in his dantian slowly rotated, and the spiritual power was about ten percent less than before.
Wang Mengde clicked his teeth and used all his strength to unleash the minor-stage Entangling Silk Technique. In those few short breaths, it had drained ten percent of his spiritual power.
Using the Entangling Silk Technique to catch fish is convenient, but it consumes too much spiritual energy.
And that grayfin pomfret only weighed two pounds; a five- or six-pound fish would be much harder to catch.
He'd better stick to fishing.
He picked up his spirit-patterned fishing rod. He
baited the hook.
He cast. He used
the Fishing Technique.
The bait hit the water and swayed gently. He used
the Spirit Eye Technique.
...
The fish quickly took the bait.
The moment the line tightened, he made a hand seal with his left hand, channeling strands of spiritual energy to create a small binding force field that enveloped the fish.
He reeled in the line, pushing with the binding force field.
The fish was quickly pulled towards him.
He scooped it up with the net, and the fish was in the basket.
Wang Mengde smiled; even with such a small amount of spiritual energy condensed into the Entangling Silk Technique, he could easily push a fish towards him.
...
A silver needle carp.
Another silver needle carp.
And another fire-egg fish.
...
Wang Mengde gradually reduced the spiritual energy output of the Entangling Silk Technique, exploring the minimum spiritual energy required to move fish of different weights.
His total spiritual energy was limited; conserving it would allow him to catch more sea fish.
One silver-scaled red-gill fish.
Another silver-scaled red-gill fish.
And another silver-scaled red-gill fish
...
When the forty-ninth sea fish entered the tent, Wang Mengde stopped.
He still had 20% of his spiritual energy left in his dantian.
Fishing in near-shore waters was fraught with unknown risks.
Moreover, besides demonic fish, human cultivators were even more dangerous.
He glanced at the Chen brothers and the surrounding low-level fishing cultivators.
To exhaust his spiritual energy was tantamount to suicide.
Wang Mengde didn't hesitate.
He reeled in the line
. He put away the rod.
He headed back.
Fifteen minutes later.
Qixia Wharf.
Wang Mengde moored his sampan and lowered the anchor. Just as the
mooring
rope was secured, a figure approached.
Liu Haiwen rushed forward, his eyes peering into the cabin: "Brother, any Golden Thread Spirit Trout today? The price has gone up; for fish over five catties, I'll give 150 copper coins per catty."
Wang Mengde shook his head: "Didn't find any."
Half of Liu Haiwen's expectation vanished.
He sighed, his gaze inadvertently sweeping into Wang Mengde's cabin, pausing slightly.
"Wow… a big harvest today?"
Wang Mengde smiled faintly: "Luck."
Liu Haiwen straightened up and looked at Wang Mengde again.
His gaze lingered on him for a moment, then he smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "Congratulations on breaking through to the second level of Qi Refining."
Wang Mengde placed the fish basket on the stone slab of the dock and laughed, "Brother, to celebrate, give me something substantial. Offer me a higher price."
"Alright, alright." Liu Haiwen nodded, picked up the fish basket, and carried it to his cart to weigh it.
"A total of three thousand four hundred and forty-seven blood copper coins."
Liu Haiwen looked up at Wang Mengde: "Your breakthrough to the second level of Qi Refining is a joyous occasion, so I'll round it up for you. Here are thirty-five spirit sands as a congratulatory gift."
He took out thirty-five spirit sands from his bag and pushed them towards Wang Mengde.
"Brother, you're so generous. I won't stand on ceremony." Wang Mengde chuckled and carefully put the spirit sands into his pocket.
Liu Haiwen reminded him, "If you catch any Golden Thread Spirit Trout in the future, be sure to come to me immediately."
"Don't worry, I'll come to you first."
Liu Haiwen then smiled and left with the fish.
Wang Mengde touched the spirit sand on his chest, feeling much more at ease.
Thirty-five spirit sands a day—at this rate, he could accumulate five spirit stones in ten days.
Leaving the dock, Wang Mengde didn't go home but went first to Huang Xiaoyan's talisman shop nearby.
Fishing in the near sea inevitably involves encountering demonic fish; he needed to buy talismans for self-defense to improve his survival ability. If his predecessor had had talismans, he would never have been seriously injured by a level-one demonic fish.
In this world, even with a destiny panel, he didn't feel safe. Only
by protecting himself could he earn spirit sand safely.
Stepping into Huang Xiaoyan's talisman shop, a strong medicinal smell hit him.
Behind the counter sat a handsome middle-aged shopkeeper with a square face and thick eyebrows, three bright red scratches on his left cheek.
He was tilting his head back, applying ointment to his face.
He applied it
once. He hissed.
He was also cursing under his breath.
"Shrew...just a shrew...what's the big deal that she scratched you like this..."
Wang Mengde walked into the shop and approached him familiarly: "Uncle Zhang, how did Aunt Xiaoxia scratch you like this?"
He suddenly turned around and glared at Wang Mengde.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
He slammed the porcelain bottle on the counter, his voice rising three degrees.
"What Aunt Xiaoyan? What scratch? This, this is from when I bumped into something."
He pointed to the three bloody scratches on his face that were clearly from fingernails and said stiffly:
"This morning, while moving goods, I tripped on the threshold and bumped into the edge of the basket."
With his Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, how could he not be steady?
Wang Mengde nodded seriously, "I misread it just now, it really was knocked down."
The shopkeeper's expression softened slightly, and he asked, "What do you want?"
"One protective talisman, one golden arrow talisman, one lightness radiance talisman, how many spirit sands in total?"
"Eight protective talismans, seven golden arrow talismans, eleven lightness radiance talismans, twenty-six in total."
"Why has the price gone up again?"
"The wholesale price has gone up." The shopkeeper paused, "The rent has gone up too."
Wang Mengde said, "Give me one of each, and I'll give you twenty-two spirit sands."
"Twenty-four, not one less."
Wang Mengde said, "Uncle Zhang, the most handsome man on Qixia Island, hurry up and give me the goods."
"Alright, alright, I'm afraid of your smooth-talking brat, I'll sell it to you at a loss." The shopkeeper quickly took out two talismans and placed them on the table.
A businessman saying he'll sell you something at a loss? Anyone who believes that is brain-dead.
Reluctantly paying for the spirit sands, Wang Mengde went to the spirit rice shop.
Ordinary food contains no spiritual energy and even has turbid qi; long-term consumption offers no benefit to cultivation.
Now that his money-making speed has increased dramatically, he'll eat spirit rice from now on.
The spirit rice shop owner was a pretty, plump female cultivator who looked to be about thirty years old, with a Qi Refining Level 2 cultivation.
Wang Mengde stepped across the threshold and greeted her familiarly, "Sister, busy?"
The female cultivator was slightly taken aback, looking at Wang Mengde with a puzzled expression. Whose child was this?
Hmm, he looked familiar, but she couldn't quite place him.
She smiled gently, "Little brother, what do you want to buy?"
"Spirit rice," Wang Mengde said. "How much per pound?"
"Eight grains of spirit sand."
"...So much more expensive?"
The shopkeeper sighed softly, "Everything's been going up in price lately—rent, vegetable prices, talismans and pills, but the wholesale price of spirit rice has increased the most."
"How much do you want?"
"One jin."
The shopkeeper's smile faltered.
Why so many questions for just one jin of rice?
She'd thought he was some rich relative's child, but he's from a poor family. Her smile instantly turned cold.
"Eight spirit sands per jin, no bargaining."
Wang Mengde placed eight spirit sands on the counter. "One jin, please."
The shopkeeper took the spirit sands, told her servant to pack the rice, and didn't look at Wang Mengde again.
Wang Mengde was secretly annoyed. What a snob.
Once I earn enough spirit stones... then... at least two jin at a time.
Carrying the spirit rice and carrying the basket on his back, he returned to the courtyard.
Shen Qingyue saw Wang Mengde, her almond-shaped eyes shining brightly. She quickly came to greet him. "Brother-in-law, you're back!"
she said, taking the basket from his back.
Wang Mengde lifted the rice bag in his hand. "Today's fish catch yielded thirty-five spirit sands. I'll steam spirit rice tonight."
Shen Qingyue hugged the basket, blinking her eyes repeatedly.
Her mouth was slightly open, revealing a hint of her pearly teeth, making her look somewhat silly. She
was both cute and beautiful,
evoking a strong protective instinct.
"Brother-in-law, did you catch the Golden Thread Spirit Trout?"
"My Entangling Silk Technique is nearing completion," he said. "Plus, my spiritual power just broke through, so my fishing efficiency has greatly improved. I caught quite a few sea fish, but they were all ordinary sea fish; I didn't catch the Golden Thread Spirit Trout."
"Brother-in-law, you're amazing!"
Shen Qingyue's almond-shaped eyes suddenly lit up. She hugged her basket, her voice soft, yet every word brimming with joy.
"I'll go cook now."
She turned and walked towards the kitchen, her steps even lighter than before.
The food was quickly prepared.
A dish of stir-fried perilla, a plate of steamed threadfin bream, and
two bowls of spirit rice.
The spirit rice was steamed until each grain was distinct, and a pale blue spiritual mist rose from the bowls.
Wang Mengde picked up his bowl and took a small bite of spirit rice.
"Mmm, so fragrant."
Just then,
a loud shout came from the neighboring courtyard.
"You can't even satisfy me, yet you're still out there looking for other women. You shameless bastard!"
Wang Mengde froze.
Before he could even swallow the mouthful of rice, a rush of air shot up his nose.
"Pfft..."
He spat out the rice he was eating, spraying it precisely onto his sister-in-law's face.
Shen Qingyue was completely stunned.
"I'm so sorry, so sorry, Qingyue, I didn't mean to."
Wang Mengde apologized repeatedly, quickly wiping the rice grains off Shen Qingyue's face.
So smooth.
Shen Qingyue's body stiffened slightly.
She felt that large hand on her face, gently wiping away the rice grains from her cheek.
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Her face flushed instantly.
From her ears, the redness spread to her cheeks, even her neck was tinged with a light pink.
"Sister, brother-in-law..."
she said softly, with a hint of panic.
Then she suddenly stepped back, breaking free from his grasp.
"I, I can do it myself."
Just then, the cursing from next door came again.
The cursing from next door continued, even louder than before.
"You shameless bastard! With your meager skills, you dare to go out and embarrass yourself!"
A sharp crack echoed, like a bowl breaking.
"Don't go too far," a male voice, suppressing his anger, rang out.
"Go out and ask around on the entire Qixia Island. Which early-stage Qi Refining cultivator has mastered fishing to a high level? Earning over a hundred spirit sands a day?"
"Don't even mention me finding women. Even if I married two more, I could afford to support them."
Wang Mengde's brow twitched.
Next door, Zhao Youming, at the third level of Qi Refining, was the most famous sea-catcher among the local fishermen.
He had mastered fishing to a high level.
Spells, according to their mastery, are divided into beginner, minor mastery, major mastery, proficiency, perfection, and ultimate achievement, from lowest to highest.
Comprehending spells is related to the strength of one's soul and comprehension.
The higher the strength of one's soul, the easier it is to comprehend.
Spells like fishing...
Almost all early-stage Qi Refining cultivators can master it.
However, only a small percentage of those with good comprehension can cultivate it to the minor completion level.
And those who can comprehend it to the major completion level are extremely rare.
Even after reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, with a significant increase in spiritual strength, it still takes several years to cultivate it to the major completion level.
Wang Mengde stroked his chin, a slight smile playing on his lips.
With the "Heaven Rewards Diligence" panel, he had cultivated two spells to the minor completion level in just a few days, and his fishing technique was almost there too.
He estimated that in at most two months, he could cultivate all three spells to the major completion level.
Three major completion spells.
Anticipation…
A moment of silence fell next door.
Then, the woman's voice rang out again, but this time it was no longer a sharp curse; instead, it was tinged with sobs, grievance, and accusation.
"You, you ungrateful bastard..."
"When you first came to Qixia Island, you couldn't even afford food.
It was my father, my father who took pity on you and took you as his apprentice, teaching you the Silk Entangling Technique, the Fishing Technique, and the Spirit Eye Technique, passing on all his years of experience to you.
If it weren't for his meticulous guidance, how could you have cultivated the Silk Entangling Technique and the Spirit Eye Technique to a minor level? How could you have cultivated the Fishing Technique to a major level?"
"Now that my father is dead, you're bullying me, aren't you?"
The crying grew louder.
"You ungrateful bastard, you bastard..."
The man's voice next door suddenly softened.
"Alright, alright, stop crying..."
The voice became much gentler, with a hint of coaxing.
"I really like you, otherwise why would I be sneaking around? Wasn't it because I was afraid you'd be angry?"
He paused, his voice softening even more.
"Don't worry, the person I love most is you, others... others are just something I'm trying out."
Shen Qingyue stopped wiping her face.
She looked up, staring incredulously at the direction next door.
Wang Mengde: "..."
The woman's sobs subsided, becoming muffled.
"You...you absolutely can't bring those women home..."
"Okay, okay, I won't, I absolutely won't."
The man quickly said, his voice tinged with urgency: "I swear. If I see those women at home, I'll...I'll be struck by lightning."
The next door finally quieted down.
No more gossip to listen to.
Wang Mengde and Shen Qingyue began to eat seriously.
The spirit rice tasted truly excellent.
After a while,
some faint sounds drifted in.
Muffled, suppressed.
Shen Qingyue looked up, her face filled with righteous indignation, and angrily said, "That scoundrel Brother Zhao, why is he hitting Sister Anjuan again? They just made up."
Wang Mengde was stunned.
Looking at Shen Qingyue's indignant expression,
her almond-shaped eyes were full of anger, her cheeks puffed out slightly.
A strange feeling arose in his heart.
He was very angry.
Very…cute.
Wang Mengde's expression became somewhat strange.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something,
then closed it again.
Then he opened his mouth again.
"Even though he's mastered fishing to a high level, he can't bully people like this! Sister Anjuan cried, begging not to!" Shen Qingyue clenched the bowl in her hand, her almond-shaped eyes filled with anger: "That's too mean, too much bullying!"
Wang Mengde: "…"
He was silent for two breaths.
Then he raised his hand and pressed his temples.
Shen Qingyue looked at Wang Mengde, then hesitated and said, "Brother-in-law, please help Sister Anjuan. She's so pitiful."
Wang Mengde pressed his temples again: "It's not easy for others to help with these family matters."
Shen Qingyue pleaded pitifully, "Brother-in-law, please help Sister Anjuan. Brother Zhao likes to drink. If you tell him to drink, he won't hit Sister Anjuan anymore."
"Qingyue."
"Hmm?" "
That..." Wang Mengde paused, carefully choosing his words, "That neighbor... it wasn't hitting."
Shen Qingyue blinked: "If it wasn't hitting, then what is it? I clearly heard Sister Anjuan begging for mercy, she looked very painful."
Wang Mengde: "..."
Shen Qingyue tilted her head, looking at him in confusion.
Her eyes were so clear they could reflect a person's image.
Wang Mengde stared into those almond-shaped eyes for a moment.
Suddenly, he felt very guilty.
Wang Mengde said, "You'll understand later."
Shen Qingyue was even more confused.
After thinking for a moment, she breathed a sigh of relief: "It seems like the beating is over."
Wang Mengde: "..."
After dinner.
Wang Mengde returned to his bedroom, sat cross-legged on a futon, and took out a spirit sand grain, holding it in his palm.
He circulated his cultivation technique and began to cultivate.
One cycle, then another.
After two cycles, the spiritual energy in the spirit sand was completely absorbed.
Wang Mengde was stunned.
When he was at the first level of Qi Refining, one spirit sand grain could sustain him for five cycles of cultivation.
Now, it could only sustain him for two cycles.
He silently did the math.
He needed to cultivate for a hundred cycles to increase his cultivation level by one point.
Two cycles, one spirit sand grain—
to cultivate from the second level of Qi Chain to the third level, he would need a full five thousand spirit sand grains.
He was
desperately short of spirit sand.
However, as long as he could advance to the third level of Qi Chain, five thousand spirit sand grains would be extremely worthwhile.
Many low-level cultivators were stuck at the second level of Qi Chain their entire lives, unable to
make any progress. Although his spiritual root was poor, his cultivation was slow and inefficient, his advantage was that he could steadily improve.
The key was that he had no bottleneck.
However, in twenty-seven days, he would have to repay his debt to Chen Dama.
He needed to gather five hundred spirit sands as quickly as possible to protect his family's small spirit boat.
Wang Mengde circulated his cultivation technique, absorbing the spiritual energy in the air.
Strands of spiritual energy from heaven and earth slowly surged in from all directions, seeping into his meridians through his pores and flowing gently along the path of his cultivation technique. It
was very slow.
Much slower than cultivating with spirit sands.