Rogue Cultivator Market

After martial arts reached the Innate Grandmaster Realm, one's strength became extremely formidable, capable even of harming Qi Refining Realm immortals. Thus, it was perfectly normal for cultivators to strike against Innate Grandmasters.

In everyday conversations, Yang Shi discovered that his master, Liu Wuhen, held no fear of immortals.

Year 3, Day 109: After Jiang Xiaobai cast the Spirit Rain Art in Tiger-Leopard Forest, she felt something stir. The spiritual qi of heaven and earth gathered in her dantian, and she broke through to the Second Layer of Embryonic Breath.

Notice: Jiang Xiaobai seemed to find cultivating the "Mystic Stone Qi-Guiding Art" somewhat awkward.

"Hm? What's this about?"

Yang Genshuo opened the notification, and the cultivation art's details appeared on the screen.

Mystic Stone Qi-Guiding Art: A basic earth-and-metal dual-element Qi Refining Art, suited to cultivators with outstanding earth or metal spiritual roots.

"Oh~ So that's how it is."

Yang Genshuo roughly understood why Jiang Xiaobai felt awkward.

Jiang Xiaobai's spiritual root was a Five-Element Spiritual Root (Metal: 17, Wood: 23, Water: 20, Fire: 20, Earth: 20).

Her wood spiritual root aptitude was the highest, and she also possessed the noble Earth Grade talent, Wood Affinity.

Yet she was cultivating an earth-and-metal Qi Refining Art, so naturally it felt awkward.

"Earth gives birth to metal, and metal restrains wood. Her wood spiritual root talent is being suppressed, which is why her cultivation speed is so slow."

Yang Genshuo made a simple deduction based on the Five Elements and felt that this was most likely the case.

"It would be best to find Xiao Bai a Qi Refining Art with a wood element."

"But... where did this 'Mystic Stone Qi-Guiding Art' come from? Does she know any other Qi Refining Arts?"

Yang Genshuo had never asked before, but now that it concerned Xiao Bai's cultivation, he needed to bring it up.

Manifestation

A line of words appeared out of thin air before Yang Shi's eyes.

"Xiao Bai's cultivation art is unsuitable for her, causing twice the effort for half the result. Go ask Xiao Bai whether she knows any other cultivation arts."

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Yang Shi bowed toward the sky, then went to Tiger-Leopard Forest to find Xiao Bai.

Having just broken through, Jiang Xiaobai was delighted. She was playing outside the Spirit Fields with Little Flame.

Little Flame grew at an astonishing rate. Though only two years old, it was already as large as an adult tiger, and flames could even emerge from its claws. It was the king of Tiger-Leopard Forest; whenever it arrived, not a single ferocious beast in the entire forest dared approach Xiao Bai.

It had reached the Second Layer of Embryonic Breath even before Xiao Bai. At that moment, it was rolling beneath the Magma Fruit Tree, its body pressed against the scorching bark as it enjoyed its master stroking its fur. Its eyes narrowed in bliss.

Xiao Bai looked at the three Spirit Fields growing exceptionally well, her face full of pride.

"Once I reach the Second Layer of Embryonic Breath, I can cast the 'Mystic Stone Soil Enrichment Art.' The Spirit Fields' yield will definitely be a little higher than last year."

Following the spell in her memories, wisps of earthy-yellow spiritual qi spread from her into the ground, causing the surrounding soil to tremble faintly as they drew threads of earth-element essence from deep below and blessed the roots of the Spirit Rice and Spirit Wheat.

As she continued casting the spell, sweat gradually formed on Jiang Xiaobai's forehead. When the entire casting was finally complete, she was utterly drained and collapsed against Little Flame Tiger.

"Whew... that was such a struggle. Can the Second Layer of Embryonic Breath only barely manage it once?"

She looked at the three mu of Spirit Fields, feeling unequal to the task.

She still had to cast the "Spirit Rain Art" on these Spirit Fields regularly. Recovering from this overexertion would take her a full day of cultivation to return to peak condition. With her current spiritual power, she simply could not tend to these three mu of Spirit Fields and the one mu at home.

"At most, I can use the 'Mystic Stone Soil Enrichment Art' on one mu of Spirit Fields. This spell feels so awkward to use, and it's so tiring~"

"But for Brother, everything is worth it! Work hard! Cultivate to the Embryonic Breath Third Layer!"

"By then, I should be able to manage four mu of Spirit Fields."

At the thought of Yang Shi, the exhaustion on Jiang Xiaobai's face vanished. Even farming, which she had once hated most, became something she did with great relish.

She did not know what so much Spirit Rice and Spirit Wheat would be for. The two of them could never finish it all.

But she only knew that if she took good care of these Spirit Fields, Brother would be very happy.

"Xiao Bai!"

"Brother, over here~"

Yang Shi arrived and asked directly, "Where did you learn your Qi Refining Art? Ancestor said that your Qi Refining Art does not match your aptitude. Do you know any other Qi Refining Arts?"

Jiang Xiaobai seemed to have anticipated this day long ago, and slowly began telling him about her past.

"I was once selected by Blackstone Sect as an outer disciple and taught the 'Mystic Stone Qi-Guiding Art' along with three spells. Later, I escaped. Disguised as a beggar, I wandered all the way here, starving until I could barely walk. When I saw the mighty righteous aura between Brother's brows and your kind heart, I begged to be taken in under your care."

"Oh? Blackstone Sect, the foremost immortal sect of the Great Nai Dynasty?"

"Yes."

Liu Wuhen had mentioned this Blackstone Sect to Yang Shi before, but only in one sentence: "Blackstone Sect is a true immortal sect. Their words become law, and no one dares disobey."

All the Innate Grandmasters of the Great Nai Dynasty combined would not be enough for one of their spells to kill.

Their strength was terrifying beyond measure!

Yang Genshuo was stunned as well. Where was Blackstone Sect?

Because they had discussed it so little, he sometimes overlooked it while speeding time up.

Yang Shi asked in confusion, "A disciple of an immortal sect—something countless people dream of becoming. Why did you run away?"

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Yang Shi, lowered her head, and said, "I didn't want to cultivate immortality."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

Yang Genshuo and Yang Shi were in perfect sync once again.

How was this any different from receiving guaranteed admission to Tsinghua University, only to say you did not like going to university!

It was a leap across social classes!!!

Yang Shi asked, "Then why are you...?"

"Because I don't want to see Brother being threatened while all I can do is stand blankly at the doorway."

Yang Shi felt a warm current flow through his heart. He remembered how, after returning from killing Zhao Kuangfeng, Jiang Xiaobai had thrown herself onto him and clung to him without letting go, tears streaming endlessly down her face.

"Oh my~ If I don't cultivate immortality, what will happen to all these Spirit Fields our household has? I couldn't bear to let them go to waste."

Jiang Xiaobai put her hands on her hips, looking a little smug.

"So you only know this one Qi Refining Art?"

"Yes. All outer disciples of Blackstone Sect learn this."

Yang Genshuo got his answer, but he frowned as well.

"Then changing Jiang Xiaobai's Qi Refining Art will be troublesome. Liao Cao doesn't have that ability."

"For now, Xiao Bai can only keep using it."

As a result, Xiao Bai's cultivation speed was rather ordinary, completely unable to bring out the advantages of her noble Earth Grade talent.

After receiving the answer, Yang Genshuo continued accelerating the flow of time.

Year 3, Day 178: The Yang Family's Spirit Rice and Spirit Wheat ripened and began to be harvested and dried. With Jiang Xiaobai's meticulous care, the yield rose slightly.

Year 3, Day 190: The Magma Fruit Tree bore fruit once more, though no one knew when it would ripen. Yang Shi still did not know how to use the three Magma Fruits he had preserved last year. Liu Wuhen advised that mortals must not consume such fire-element Spirit Fruits carelessly, or their lives could be at risk.

Year 3, Day 250: Rumors spread through the martial world that a Rogue Cultivator Market would be held near Whitewater River east of Bluestone County one month later. It was said that large quantities of cultivation resources would be traded there, and the flow of visitors through Bluestone County increased markedly.

Yang's Board Game Teahouse was packed to the brim every day.

Year 3, Day 268: Several extraordinary-looking cultivators arrived at Yang's Teahouse.

Yang Genshuo restored time to its normal flow and began observing them closely.