Chapter 7: A Youth Holds Soaring Ambitions, Once Promising to Be the Best in the World |
Wang Rongyuan held Tang Nianqiu's hand, appearing to whisper something to him.
His older brother, Yulou, was chatting with the head waiter, asking about business at the Flavorful Bistro.
Yu'an sat to the side out of sheer boredom, feeling an inexplicable sense of melancholy.
'Sigh, even though Uncle Rongyuan slaps hard, he paid out of his own pocket to treat us to meals twice. He's still pretty good. A good uncle.'
'If he makes it back from the West Sea alive, when I become an immortal in the future, I'll definitely help him become one too.'
'If he meets with a mishap in the West Sea, when I become an immortal in the future, I'll definitely resurrect him.'
Thirteen-year-old Yu'an didn't understand how difficult it was to become an immortal, nor did he grasp the significance of the Wang Clan failing to produce a single Purple Palace cultivator in twelve hundred years.
He only possessed boundless ambition—to become an immortal before Yulou!
'Hmph hmph, Yulou, I can cultivate for seven hours every day, but you can only cultivate for six.'
'Sixty days equals two months.'
'Foolish Yulou, do you know what this means?'
'It means you're finished!'
'I'll let you be arrogant for now, but wait until I reach Foundation Establishment first...'
'Hehehe, I'll strut in front of you every day and listen to you call me Senior~'
"What are you giggling about? Come here!"
Wang Rongyuan's sharp rebuke made Yu'an tremble all over, snapping him out of his daydream.
Realizing that Yulou and Uncle Rongyuan were both standing next to Tang Nianqiu, all three of them looking at him, he hurriedly walked over.
"From now on, Old Tang will distribute your annual spirit stones. Starting next month, you'll receive one piece each month. You are not allowed to squander them!
Pills will be distributed according to your cultivation base; you'll only receive them once you reach the mid Qi Induction stage. Whether you have pills or not, you must not slack off in your daily cultivation. Understood?"
Wang Rongyuan was quite displeased with Yu'an's erratic behavior, but he didn't plan to unleash another ten-slap combo.
Regardless, Yu'an's biological father would soon arrive at Clear Stream Market with the Patriarch. He had already left a letter for Rongwen.
When that time came, this brat Yu'an would naturally be dealt with by his own father.
"Nianqiu, I leave them in your care. I'll set off tonight."
After instructing the two boys, Wang Rongyuan bid farewell to Tang Nianqiu.
"Brother Rongyuan, traveling at night isn't safe..." Tang Nianqiu expressed his concern.
"It doesn't matter. In fact, traveling at night is perfect. You wouldn't understand, hahaha."
Wang Rongyuan chuckled twice, glared at Yu'an one last time, and walked out of the Flavorful Bistro.
He didn't look back, only raising a hand to signal that they didn't need to see him off.
It wasn't a funeral, after all. He was confident he would make it back alive from the West Sea.
After all, he still had to return to refine Yulou's Black Jade Oil Bead up to the fifteenth layer of restrictions!
You ask why he didn't refine it beforehand?
Hongmei was no simple character. If he used the Wang Clan's secret Earth Nurturing Method restrictions to refine the Black Jade Oil Bead to the fifteenth layer, would Hongmei still properly teach Yulou the fire-elemental metal and stone restrictions?
Upon stepping out of the main gates of Clear Stream Market, the Wang Clan's Breath-Concealing Art smoothly activated.
Quickly, in the eyes of his fellow Qi Refining cultivators, Wang Rongyuan's aura dropped from the late Qi Refining stage down to the mid-stage.
Pulling a gray leaf-shaped low-grade magical artifact with nineteen restriction layers from his storage bag, Wang Rongyuan channeled his spiritual energy to activate three layers of restrictions. He then hopped onto it, pretending to be in a rush.
Time to fish!
In the dead of night, a mid Qi Refining rogue cultivator flying through the sky in a hurry on a shabby, leaf-shaped low-grade magical artifact.
Yes, the bait was perfectly set.
If any bandit cultivators dared to come looking for trouble, they'd be utterly finished in this lifetime.
Growing boys could eat a man out of house and home. Wang Rongyuan planned to take advantage of his journey to the West Sea to do a little fishing to earn some extra funds.
---
"Brother Rongyuan is brave and resolute, and his cultivation base has reached the tenth layer of Qi Refining. You two don't need to worry about him.
Come, follow me to see your living quarters. For many years to come, barring any accidents, you will both be studying and cultivating here in Clear Stream Market—whatever you do, absolutely do not go out on your own."
Seeing Wang Rongyuan disappear around the street corner, Tang Nianqiu turned his head and spoke to the two young men.
Following the head manager, the group passed through the back door of the Flavorful Bistro.
Behind the shops lining the two streets, there was a small alley wide enough for a horse carriage.
Opposite the back door of the Flavorful Bistro was the back door of the Wang Clan's other establishment in Clear Stream Market, the Fortune Source Residence.
It was similar to a mortal inn, but because the Fortune Source Residence had dug a well connected to the Clear Stream of Qin Rhyme, it offered the premium service of specially supplied spiritual energy.
When trying to break through a bottleneck, many rogue cultivators would come stay at the Fortune Source Residence for a few days, purchasing a few mouthfuls of spiritual energy from the seventh-grade spiritual object, the Clear Stream of Qin Rhyme, to add some insurance to their breakthrough.
"I am also in charge of the Fortune Source Residence, but the rooms here need to accommodate guests, so you two will stay in the side rooms out back. Come, take a look."
Smiling, Tang Nianqiu led Yulou into the left side room behind the Fortune Source Residence. Although the furnishings inside were plain, the ambient spiritual energy was noticeably richer than outside, reaching the level of the Wang Clan's estate.
The concentration of spiritual energy could not directly alter a cultivator's cultivation limit, but high-purity spiritual energy could help a cultivator better draw in and refine qi, thereby reducing the mental effort required for cultivation.
There was a distinct difference between exhaustingly absorbing spiritual energy from the world and doing so effortlessly.
"This spiritual energy... thank you, Uncle Nianqiu."
Yulou was somewhat moved, not expecting their living conditions to be this good.
"Ah, it's only right. You don't have to pay rent, either. The good thing about this side room is that it's on the smaller side.
By quietly reducing a bit of the spiritual energy supply to the main building, I can bring the spiritual energy here up to the main building's level. Just rest easy and stay here."
Just as the group was chatting at the door, a young girl wearing a worker's uniform came out of the main building and noticed them.
Seeing Tang Nianqiu there, she hurried over. Looking at the three of them somewhat timidly, she lowered her head and said,
"Manager Tang, I haven't had the time to change the quilts in this room yet. I'll change them right now."
Clasping his hands behind his back, Tang Nianqiu frowned and said,
"Then hurry up and change them. Yu'an, go inside with her and see if you're lacking anything else, and have her arrange it for you."
Yu'an followed the female worker into the room, while outside, Tang Nianqiu pulled Yulou to the side.
"Yulou, what is your relationship with Brother Rongyuan?"
Wang Yulou didn't understand the intent behind this question, but he didn't dare to be careless. He deliberated before answering,
"Uncle Rongyuan is one of the clan uncles I admire most. Although he is strict, he's very good to both me and Yu'an."
Tang Nianqiu sized Yulou up for a moment. Unable to figure it out, he decided not to dwell on it.
Glancing at the side room and seeing that Yu'an had indeed obediently gone inside, he whispered,
"Brother Rongyuan left a sum of spirit stones for you, asking me to arrange half a catty of spirit rice for you every day. Tell me, should we let Yu'an know about this?"
'Uncle Rongyuan left a sum of spirit stones for me.'
'Half a catty of spirit rice every day.'
'Two catties of spirit rice cost one spirit stone, and it equals four hours of cultivation!'
Wang Yulou was not stupid; in fact, he was very smart. He understood what this meant.
At this moment, goosebumps involuntarily broke out across his back.
After transmigrating into this Xianxia world thirteen years ago, for the first time, Yulou truly felt that he was already a member of the Wang Clan.
'My past life is entirely in the past. In this life, I am Wang Yulou, Yulou of the Wang Clan!'
"Uncle Nianqiu, I'll tell Yu'an about this matter. You don't need to worry," Yulou replied respectfully.
Tang Nianqiu was very experienced in handling affairs and considered things thoroughly, but he didn't understand the relationship between Yulou and Yu'an.
Looking at the polite Yulou, whose mind was as deep as an abyss, Tang Nianqiu opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just patted him on the shoulder.
"Go on inside. Cultivate well."
---
In the pitch-black room, Yulou and Yu'an lay in their respective beds.
Tang Nianqiu was right. Though the room was small, it had everything they needed, including two separate beds prepared for them.
"Yu'an, I need to tell you something."
"What is it? You haven't already started keeping score, have you?"
"Keeping score of what?"
"Keeping track of which clan rules I've broken, so you can tattle on me when Uncle Rongyuan gets back! Bro, Uncle Rongyuan only left four hours ago. Aren't you being a bit too fast?"
"Idiot, it's not that!"
"Then what is it?"
"..."
"Hm? You also like Senior Sister Ningyao? No! I mean, I mean, do you like Senior Sister Ningyao?"
"..."
"Bro, say something. I'm getting a little scared."
"Uncle Rongyuan knows that I can hit the Qi Induction limit for my dual spirit roots in just six hours a day. He arranged half a catty of spirit rice for me every day, so that I can finish cultivating earlier and go study the artificing path."
"So what? Your aptitude is worse than mine, and the limit during the Qi Induction stage can't be increased with spirit rice anyway. In the end, you'll still become an immortal later than me~"
"He didn't leave any for you. Are you unhappy?"
"Bro, when I reach Foundation Establishment and need you to refine a handy spiritual artifact for me, would you refuse me?"
"No."
"Then it's fine! No matter how well you study the artificing path, you'll still become an immortal later than me! Hahahaha."
"'A youth holds soaring ambitions, once promising to be the best in the world.' It's a good thing you have the ambition to become an immortal, but you still need to stay grounded. Your practice of the Fire Control Spell was terrible today."
"Come on! You have water and fire spirit roots. Even a single fire spirit root cultivator wouldn't necessarily learn how to ignite a fire underwater faster than you!
If you have the guts, let's compete in melting metal and dissolving stone!"
"...Just go to sleep."
"So, do you like Senior Sister Ningyao or not?"
"..."
"Bro?"
"..."
"Are you asleep?"
"If you don't go to sleep right now, I'm writing it down!"
"Okay..."
"I'm also in charge of Fortune Source Residence. However, the main rooms are needed for guests, so you two will be staying in the side rooms at the back. Come, take a look inside."
Smiling, Tang Nianqiu led Yulou into the left side room behind Fortune Source Residence. Although the furnishings were ordinary, the ambient spiritual energy was noticeably thicker than outside, reaching the level of the Wang Clan's ancestral land.
The density of spiritual energy couldn't directly raise a cultivator's limit, but high-purity spiritual energy could help a cultivator draw in spirit and refine qi more effectively, reducing the mental strain of cultivation.
There was a vast difference between exhaustingly absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth and effortlessly drawing it in.
"This spiritual energy... Thank you, Uncle Nianqiu."
Yulou was genuinely moved, never expecting their living conditions to be this good.
"Ah, it's only right. You don't have to pay rent, either. The good thing about this side room is that it's a bit small.
By secretly reducing the spiritual energy supply to the main building just a little, I can bring the energy here up to the same level. Just stay here and put your minds at ease."
Just as they were chatting at the doorway, a young girl in a worker's uniform walked out of the main building and noticed them.
Seeing Tang Nianqiu, she hurried over. She glanced timidly at the three of them, then lowered her head and spoke.
"Manager Tang, I haven't had time to change the quilts in this room yet. I'll change them right now."
Tang Nianqiu placed his hands behind his back and frowned.
"Then change them quickly. Yu'an, go inside with her and see if you're lacking anything else so she can arrange it for you."
Yu'an followed the maid into the room, while Tang Nianqiu pulled Yulou aside.
"Yulou, what is your relationship with Brother Rongyuan?"
It was a strange question. Wang Yulou didn't understand his intention but didn't dare answer carelessly. He carefully considered his words.
"Uncle Rongyuan is one of the clan uncles I admire the most. Although he is strict, he treats both Yu'an and me very well."
Tang Nianqiu sized Yulou up for a moment. Unable to figure out the underlying meaning, he decided not to overthink it.
He glanced toward the side room. Seeing that Yu'an had obediently gone inside, he lowered his voice.
"Brother Rongyuan left a sum of spirit stones for you, instructing me to arrange two hundred and fifty grams of spirit rice for you every day. Tell me, should we let Yu'an know about this?"
'Uncle Rongyuan left me a sum of spirit stones.'
'Two hundred and fifty grams of spirit rice every day.'
'One kilogram of spirit rice costs one spirit stone, and it equates to four hours of cultivation!'
Wang Yulou wasn't stupid; on the contrary, he was incredibly sharp. He understood exactly what this meant.
Goosebumps involuntarily rose on his back.
Thirteen years after transmigrating into this Xianxia world, for the very first time, Yulou truly felt that he was a member of the Wang Clan.
'My past life is completely behind me. In this life, I am Wang Yulou, Yulou of the Wang Clan!'
"Uncle Nianqiu, I will tell Yu'an about this matter. You don't need to worry."
Yulou replied respectfully.
Tang Nianqiu was experienced and thorough in his affairs, but he didn't understand the dynamic between Yulou and Yu'an.
Looking at the polite Yulou, whose mind was as deep as an abyss, Tang Nianqiu opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately just patted him on the shoulder.
"Go on inside. Cultivate well."
---
In the pitch-black room, Yulou and Yu'an lay in their respective beds.
Tang Nianqiu was right. Though the room was small, it was fully equipped and had two beds prepared for them.
"Yu'an, let me tell you something."
"What is it? You haven't already started keeping a record, have you?"
"A record of what?"
"A record of which clan rules I've broken, so you can tattle on me when Uncle Rongyuan gets back! Bro, Uncle Rongyuan has only been gone for four hours. Aren't you moving a bit too fast?"
"Idiot, it's not that!"
"Then what is it?"
"..."
"Hm? Do you also like Senior Martial Sister Ningyao? No! I mean... I mean, do you like Senior Martial Sister Ningyao?"
"..."
"Bro, say something. I'm getting a little scared."
"Uncle Rongyuan knows that I can hit the daily limit of my dual spirit roots in just six hours of Qi Induction every day, so he arranged for me to have two hundred and fifty grams of spirit rice daily. That way, I can finish cultivating earlier and go study the artificing path."
"So what? Your aptitude is worse than mine, and the daily limit during the Qi Induction realm can't be increased by spirit rice anyway. In the end, you'll still become an immortal later than me~"
"Are you upset that he didn't leave any for you?"
"Bro, once I reach the Foundation Establishment realm and need you to forge a handy spiritual artifact for me, would you refuse?"
"I wouldn't."
"Then there's no issue! No matter how well you study the artificing path, you'll still become an immortal later than me, hahahaha."
"A youth holds soaring ambitions, once promising to be the best in the world... It's a good thing you have the ambition to become an immortal, but you still need to keep your feet on the ground. Your Fire Control Spell practice was terrible today."
"Give it a rest! You have water and fire spirit roots. Even someone with a single fire spirit root might not master generating fire in water as quickly as you!
If you've got the guts, let's compete in melting metal and dissolving stone instead!"
"...Let's just go to sleep."
"So, do you like Senior Martial Sister Ningyao or not?"
"..."
"Bro?"
"..."
"Are you asleep?"
"If you don't go to sleep right now, I'm going to start writing that record!"
"Ugh."
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