Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
His Sea of Consciousness had gradually settled.
His mind was crystal clear, as though he had just been reborn after living the life of a Headless Fish.
It felt like a dream, yet not a dream.
Shen Xuan sat cross-legged, keeping his mind guarded as he slowly digested the Headless Fish's [Self-Healing] Talent.
On the Mysterious Jade Talisman, the ancient golden characters kept shifting.
[Talent: Self-Healing Beginner (2/100)]
[Spring Return Talisman: Proficient (24/200)]
[Dao Rhyme: 102]
Most importantly, his Water Spirit Root had improved once more.
[Spiritual Root: Water 14/100]
Shen Xuan was overjoyed.
This time, plundering the Headless Fish's talent had cost him more than three hundred spirit stones in all.
Fortunately, his [Water Control Talisman] skill had reached the Mastery Stage. Otherwise, he really couldn't have afforded it.
"I'm sixty-four now. Next year, I'll be able to break through to Qi Refining Level 5. The future looks bright!"
For the past eight months, Shen Xuan had activated the Spirit Gathering Array every day to cultivate, bought Headless Fish from Zhao Chunsheng, and kept making [Spring Return Talismans] on the side. His income and expenses had just about balanced out.
Looking at his 102 points of Dao Rhyme, Shen Xuan gave it little thought and used them all on his Self-Healing Talent.
[Talent: Self-Healing Proficient (3/200)]
[Spring Return Talisman: Proficient (75/200)]
"As long as I make enough [Spring Return Talismans], I can advance it to the Mastery Stage."
He formed an Ice Blade and lightly nicked his arm.
Then his body healed on its own. The wound closed again in the blink of an eye, right before his eyes, leaving his skin whole as before.
But when he checked the Mysterious Jade Talisman, the proficiency of his Self-Healing Talent hadn't changed at all.
"Looks like I'll have to gather Dao Rhyme to improve my [Self-Healing Technique]."
Shen Xuan had no intention of cutting himself every day and casting [Self-Healing Technique] to raise his proficiency.
He wasn't about to hurt himself for no reason!
After all his hard work, he planned to rest for a while and recuperate.
Today called for a celebration!
That night.
Shen Xuan was especially excited.
The bed creaked and groaned for a long, long time.
At times, the rhythm was fierce; at others, gentle.
It was very rhythmic.
Afterward.
Ding Yuyao lay in Shen Xuan's arms, her whole body limp.
"Husband, I was thinking..."
"If you have something to say, just say it!"
"I want to visit my parents' home!"
A hint of longing flickered in Ding Yuyao's eyes.
Shen Xuan was taken aback.
He and Ding Yuyao had been married for four years, and she had never left the Market.
Let alone returned to her parents' home.
"Where does your family live?"
When she saw that her husband hadn't refused outright, Ding Yuyao immediately perked up.
"My family oversees Two Prefectures and Thirteen Counties. My family home is in Hongcheng County, Songjiang Prefecture. It's very close—only eight hundred li away!"
Shen Xuan thought it over.
He was a reasonable man.
They had been married for four years. It was only right that Ding Yuyao wanted to visit her parents' home.
In the world of cultivation, immortals and mortals were worlds apart.
But deep down, Shen Xuan had always believed that husband and wife were equals and should treat each other with respect.
In the past, he might have politely refused, worried about the dangers of traveling.
But now that his strength had greatly increased, accompanying his wife to the mortal lands under the Ding Family's jurisdiction posed almost no risk.
After all, in the mortal world, there were no Spirit Veins to provide for cultivation. Only low-level cultivators with no hope of advancing on the Dao Path would settle there.
As far as he knew, the highest Cultivation Realm of the cultivators the Ding Family sent to its mortal territories was Qi Refining Level 3.
Even cultivators at the Mid Qi Refining Stage weren't suited to staying long in the mortal world.
"Let's go in two months. I'll accompany you home when autumn comes."
"You're the best, husband!"
Ding Yuyao happily kissed Shen Xuan.
She had been worried Shen Xuan wouldn't agree.
Before she married, she had heard that Shen Xuan was an Ascetic Cultivator who had never left the Market.
After they married, she understood.
Her husband was cautious and never took risks.
It was rare for him to agree to accompany her on a visit home.
Two months later.
Hongcheng County, Songjiang Prefecture.
In a grand Daoist temple nestled among the high mountains behind the county seat.
"Immortal Master, there has been a severe drought this summer. It hasn't rained for two months. The County Magistrate asked me to ask whether you could perform a rainmaking spell as soon as possible."
Hongcheng County Assistant Ding Yifan respectfully offered a gift box.
The Garrison Immortal Master seated high in the temple's main hall took the box and opened it. Seeing only a hundred taels of gold inside, he couldn't help but sneer.
"Why didn't the County Magistrate come himself?"
"The County Magistrate suddenly fell ill and is confined to bed. He entrusted me with the county office's affairs and sent me in his place. I ask the Immortal Master to perform a rainmaking spell for the sake of our shared Ding Family bloodline."
"A mere hundred taels of gold can't make up for the vital essence I'll lose casting the spell!"
The Immortal Master cast a sidelong glance at Ding Yifan.
"County Assistant Ding, I know you're an honest man. Tell the County Magistrate to come speak with me in person! See him out!"
Ding Yifan let out a long sigh, left the temple, and returned home dejectedly.
This man was Ding Yuyao's father.
Back at home.
"Why didn't the County Magistrate go ask the Immortal Master to cast the rainmaking spell himself? Why does he keep using you as a shield?"
Seeing her husband so downcast, Madam Ding couldn't help complaining.
"The County Magistrate is a clever man. He knew he'd hit a wall, so why would he step forward?"
"Then you shouldn't have stepped forward either! I refuse to believe the Immortal Master will just sit by while Hongcheng County suffers a drought!"
"That's a woman's foolish talk! Hongcheng County has a hundred thousand people. Many of them share blood with our Ding Family. How could I leave them to suffer?"
"Then go ahead and help! Can you really do anything?"
Seeing his wife grow angry and tearful, Ding Yifan drew her into his arms and comforted her. "Don't worry, dear. I'll make a few more trips. I'll get it done eventually."
"How can I not worry? The County Magistrate and the Immortal Master are clearly at odds, yet they've wedged you between them!"
Just then—
Knock, knock!
Someone was at the door.
"Coming."
Ding Yifan called back, then went to open it.
"The County Magistrate sent me to ask: has the Immortal Master set a date to cast the rainmaking spell?"
"The Immortal Master is busy these days. It'll have to wait a while."
Hearing this, Captain Li, the messenger, said, "The County Magistrate says the drought in Hongcheng County is severe. He asks County Assistant Ding to hurry things along."
"If the higher-ups hold him responsible, it'll be hard for him to speak up for you."
"Understood. Please tell the County Magistrate I'll take care of it as soon as possible."
Captain Li nodded, smiled apologetically, and returned to report.
Behind Ding Yifan, Madam Ding let out a quiet sigh.
One rank higher was enough to crush a man.
That night.
Clerk Qian of Hongcheng County slipped into the Ding Residence.
"Lord Ding, there really aren't any spirit stones left in the County Treasury."
"Can't we find a way to borrow a few?"
"How could that be easy? Even if someone were willing to lend them, what could the County Treasury use to repay them?"
Clerk Qian said gloomily, "Those are spirit stones, not gold, silver, or grain!"
"The County Magistrate is something else! The whole county is suffering from a drought, and the autumn harvest is about to go up in smoke, yet he's still picking a fight with the Immortal Master!"
"I heard his family is prominent and has produced several Immortal Masters. Can't they even come up with a few spirit stones?"
Clerk Qian was quite indignant.
"That's enough, Clerk Qian. Don't gossip behind his back, or trouble may come of it," Ding Yifan advised.
"By the way, Lord Ding, I heard your younger daughter married an Immortal Master too. Could you ask them to help?"
Ding Yifan shook his head.
"My daughter married four years ago and has been living in Qinglong Bay Market ever since. She hasn't come home once."
"I see!"
After Clerk Qian left, Madam Ding asked in confusion, "Husband, why did Clerk Qian suddenly ask about Yuyao?"
"He's the County Magistrate's man," Ding Yifan said calmly.
"Ah!"
Madam Ding suddenly understood. "Clerk Qian was testing you on the County Magistrate's orders?"
"What do you think?"
Ding Yifan said coldly, "This is an inspection year. If the County Magistrate can't end the drought, he'll lose his post."
"And I've been in Hongcheng County for a long time and built up a solid record. Naturally, the County Magistrate is on his guard against me at every turn."
"And the higher-ups really have lost their minds. How could they let a wolf-hearted scoundrel take the seat at the county office!"
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