Leaving the port.
Su Ye's face was filled with delight.
He shook the leather pouch at his waist, which produced a crisp clinking sound.
'Two mid-grade Spirit Stones and forty low-grade Spirit Stones...'
After receiving this considerable payment, even after consuming over twenty Spirit Stones on the return journey to quickly break through to the third level of Qi Refining, Su Ye's Spirit Stone reserve had reached two hundred and sixty!
'If I factor in the market premium for mid-grade Spirit Stones, my actual wealth is even higher!'
With this money, things would undoubtedly be much easier for Su Ye.
'Luo Qing'e...' Su Ye's eyes flickered as he fell into thought.
'She was willing to pay me with mid-grade Spirit Stones at their base value. Does the Luo Family's young miss have a good impression of me?'
'Given Luo Qing'e's status in the Luo Family, if I could build some sort of connection with her, a promotion would be a natural next step, considering my recent contributions...'
'Even a higher position might not be out of the question?'
A moment later, Su Ye shook his head, dismissing the tempting idea.
A beautiful woman is a source of trouble!
Given Su Ye's cautious nature, his principle of maintaining a distance would not change for now.
...
On the way back.
A group of cultivators rode their spiritual steeds toward the Luo Clan's estate.
The terrain of Donglong Island gradually rose from north to south.
The northern plains were home to mortals, with ports and market towns established to attract Loose Cultivators and merchant vessels.
The southern mountain range, however, was the Luo Clan's estate, known as Luoyue Mountain.
Beneath Luoyue Mountain lay a second-order Spirit Vein, the true heart of the Luo Family's domain!
Of course, it wasn't just those with other surnames.
Even branch members of the Luo Family were not necessarily permitted to cultivate on Luoyue Mountain.
...
Upon reaching their destination, the group disbanded.
"Mr. Su, are you heading back to the Outer Compound?" Zhao Li asked, peeking out from beside Su Ye.
'The Outer Compound...' Su Ye pondered for a moment.
According to the original owner's memories, the Luo Family had designated a residential area outside their estate specifically for members with other surnames, calling it the Outer Compound.
The original owner had lived in the Outer Compound for four years, cultivating from a mortal to the second level of Qi Refining and setting foot on the path of immortality.
However, Su Ye had no intention of revisiting his old stomping grounds.
The Outer Compound was densely populated and cramped.
Furthermore, even with a Spirit Gathering Array in place, the Spirit Vein's quality was only at the first-order, low-grade level.
For Su Ye, such Spiritual Qi conditions offered very little benefit to his cultivation.
Su Ye waved his hand. "I plan to rent a courtyard in Moon Creek Town."
Outside Luoyue Mountain, near the Luo Clan estate, there were several first-order Spirit Veins.
High-order Spirit Veins were often accompanied by many Sub-tier Spirit Veins.
The Luo Family had built villages and towns on these Spirit Veins, cultivating spiritual fields and developing industries.
Moon Creek Town was one such place.
The Spirit Vein in this town reached the first-order, mid-grade level, which would be of great benefit to Su Ye's cultivation!
It wasn't just Su Ye.
Many non-family members with some spare funds after one or two demon hunts would make the same choice.
A residence like those in the Outer Compound, which only met the standards of a spiritual land thanks to a Spirit Gathering Array, was fundamentally unsuitable for long-term living for a cultivator dedicated to the path of immortality.
The only advantage of the Outer Compound was that it was free.
"Zhao Li, you should consider moving to Moon Creek Town as well. The dense Spiritual Qi will be beneficial for your future cultivation."
"Well..." Zhao Li was tempted, but she still shook her head. "It's too expensive."
Everyone has their own path, so Su Ye didn't insist.
Besides, Zhao Li was only at the second level of Qi Refining and didn't have a pressing need for richer Spiritual Qi just yet.
"That's fine. We'll both be near Luoyue Mountain anyway, so it's not far."
"Once I'm settled in Moon Creek Town, I'll send you my address. You can come find me if you need anything."
"Okay, thank you, Mr. Su." Zhao Li nodded sincerely.
When they reached a fork in the road, Su Ye and Zhao Li parted ways.
He had no intention of making a special trip back to the Outer Compound.
The original owner had been dirt poor.
His residence in the Outer Compound contained nothing more than a set of bedding, a few changes of clothes, and some miscellaneous daily items.
These things were of very little value and could all be bought in Moon Creek Town.
"Mr. Su, have a safe trip!" Zhao Li waved.
Su Ye nodded, traveling light. With a flick of his horsewhip, he headed for Moon Creek Town.
...
Dusk.
Moon Creek Town.
Su Ye stepped into the small courtyard.
He drew a deep breath.
A wave of rich Spiritual Qi washed over him, making his eyes light up.
"This courtyard is equipped with a First-order Protection Array, as well as functions for soundproofing, dust-repelling, and water storage."
The agent's young assistant, adept at reading expressions, quickly added.
Su Ye inspected it carefully. Compared to the other courtyards he had seen earlier, this place was spacious, and Half-Spiritual Plant Jade Green Bamboo was planted within, creating an elegant, tranquil, and beautiful environment.
Quite pleased, Su Ye nodded and said,
"I'll take this courtyard."
"You have excellent taste, sir!"
"Eight Spirit Stones for one year, or fifteen for two. We also accept elixirs and talismans as payment..."
Su Ye clicked his tongue. The price for a courtyard in Moon Creek Town was indeed steep.
A spiritual farmer would probably have to save every penny for two or three years, without eating or drinking, just to afford one year's rent in Moon Creek Town.
"I'll take it for one year for now."
Su Ye took out eight Spirit Stones.
"Right away!" the assistant said cheerfully.
"Here is the rental Spirit Contract and your identification token. Just leave an imprint of your Magical Power, and you'll be able to control the courtyard's Array..."
After completing the Array's aura recognition and registering his identity, Su Ye successfully moved in.
A clean, neat, and comfortably soft bed.
A shower room constructed using water storage and heating arrays combined with metal pipes.
All these features, which added to his comfort, left Su Ye greatly satisfied.
Most importantly, the presence of the Array's restrictions could block Spiritual Sense and sound, ensuring his privacy!
'I could even practice with the Whale-Hunting Spear in here without anyone outside noticing!'
Since it was getting late, it was a bit late to cook.
Su Ye decided to go out, found a tavern, and spent two spirit sands.
He treated himself to a delicious meal of Spiritual Food to celebrate moving into his new home!
Just as Su Ye was settling into his new residence and purchasing daily necessities,
...
「Luoyue Mountain.」
"The Patriarch's injuries... are they really that severe?"
"On the brink of death?!"
Luo Qingjun's face was filled with horror; he could hardly believe what he was hearing.
The Luo Family Patriarch was a powerful cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, with hopes of breaking through to Foundation Establishment!
Luo Qing'e, dressed in a deep blue Magical Robe, sat across from him and nodded with a melancholic expression.
"During the recent naval battle, our family had the upper hand and was about to capture one of the Shu Family's spirit ships."
"But my father was caught off guard. He was injured by a ship-mounted ballista from those villains of the Shu Family. We had no choice but to retreat hastily, and the Yunjin was damaged as well..."
"Hiss..." A chill ran through Luo Qingjun's heart.
A ship-mounted ballista!
Its power was even greater than that of the Whale Hunting Crossbow...
To be hit by a ship-mounted ballista in a fragile human body... the fact that he didn't die on the spot was a sign of incredible luck and tenacious life force.
"According to the physician, he has already exhausted all his methods. My father has, at best... two or three months. At worst, only half a month..."
Luo Qing'e's voice was heavy. She sighed, then continued,
"After my father returned, he forced himself to wake up once. Knowing he was going to die, he entrusted me with a few matters."
"And the most important of them all is the struggle for the Foundation Establishment Elixir!"