Yuan Xiuxiu's Tribulation

Yang Huai saw Yuan Xiuxiu's astonished expression and merely smiled faintly.

What difficulty was there in this? How could such a tiny nameless delusion compare to the terrifying delusions brought about by the Spirit Transformation of heaven-and-earth spirituality?

Now that the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation had taken form, Yang Huai felt as though his soul had put on a layer of clothing, blocking the resonant tremors between his soul and the power of heaven and earth. It had indeed spared him many troubles, leaving his heart even purer and more tranquil.

He looked inward into the depths of his sea of consciousness, where lines of text manifested upon the bronze mirror.

[Name: Yang Huai]

[Age: Fifteen]

[Main Profession: None]

[Primary Fate: Ingenious Craftsmanship (White)] (An inheritance from deep within your bloodline, granting you innate dexterity and ingenuity. You will achieve extraordinary accomplishments in the path of carpentry, and have a small chance of becoming a grandmaster of the carpentry trade (5/20) (Upgradeable)

[Temporary Auxiliary Fate: Descent of a Heavenly God (Red)] (This is a sliver of fate's favor. Whenever you are at a critical juncture, you have a certain chance of breaking through yourself at the crucial moment and returning to your peak)

(20/150) (Upgradeable)

(Note: Gray < White < Yellow < Red < Gold < Cyan < Purple. Immortal-and-god-tier fates are not included among these)

Fixed Requirement: Essence Points 150

Remaining Essence Points: 3

Beneath Main Profession was another collapsible subcategory.

[Lesser Circulatory Cycle Method: 60/100 (Mastery)]

[Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation: 3/100]

He could not help but sigh.

"Wifey, you truly are my fine teacher!"

"Who's your master?"

Yuan Xiuxiu sounded faintly reproachful as she shot Yang Huai a sidelong glance.

Given her status, within the righteous path of the Nine Heavens, if she had wished it, she could have long since had disciples gathered around her in droves.

Yang Huai froze, then gave an awkward laugh. That did seem wrong.

Wouldn't that make him a disciple who had violated his master?

He could only say,

"It's just a figure of speech, that's all. Don't blame me, wifey!"

Yuan Xiuxiu said lightly,

"Cultivate diligently. Once your foundation is established, it may not be impossible for you to attain immortality and realize the Dao!"

Originally, she had merely wished to repay Yang Huai for saving her life over the next few years. But if Yang Huai himself could benefit from it, she might as well guide him toward immortality and rely on him as an aide in the future.

She had not noticed that her attitude toward Yang Huai was gradually changing.

Deep within the shed, the old donkey lowered its head as it watched the scene, secretly musing to itself.

"His Lordship is presently passing through a tribulation, and his qi channels are weak. If he can cultivate a protector, it will spare him many needless troubles!"

But as its large eyes rolled to the side, it saw a slovenly youth in hemp clothes approaching excitedly. It immediately inwardly cried, This is bad!

An eleven- or twelve-year-old boy with dark skin came whistling past from the side. Just then, he happened to see the old donkey's thoughtful look.

"Well now, what are you looking around at, you lazy donkey? Don't tell me you're itching to turn the millstone? Too bad we've run out of soybeans!"

His eyes fixed on the old donkey with great interest. Just as the old donkey inwardly lamented, Yang Huan's ears suddenly twitched. He seemed to hear the sound of camel bells beyond the courtyard wall.

"A peddler has come to our village?"

His eyes lit up at once, and he immediately cheered as he ran toward the gate.

Seeing this, the old donkey heaved a tremendous sigh of relief.

That half-grown little brute was truly hard to deal with.

Yet before long, it grew tense again. The "little brute" had run back, but what made it breathe easy again was that Yang Huan had not come to trouble it. Instead, he hurried excitedly before Yang Huai.

"Big Brother, a peddler has come to the village. Do you want to go take a look?"

Yang Huai glanced at him. The moment the other fellow twisted his backside, Yang Huai knew what sort of fart he was holding in. Two words promptly sprang from his mouth.

"Not looking."

Yang Huan hastily said,

"Big Brother, that peddler has lots of good things in his shoulder pole! Food, toys, and even newly made rouge and face powder! Maybe Sister-in-law could use some!"

His eyes shone with eagerness, and there was a hint of temptation in them as well.

"Not going."

Yet Yang Huai continued to look at him from the corner of his eye, repeating only those two words. One hand pressed down on Yang Huan's head, refusing to let him get close.

Left with no other choice, Yang Huan squirmed and whined in an utterly awkward tone.

"Big Brother, give me some!"

"Give you what?"

Yang Huai casually gave him a hard knock on the head, making Yang Huan cry out in pain again and again.

Watching this from within the courtyard, Yuan Xiuxiu immediately took several copper coins from her bosom and handed them to Yang Huan. His anger instantly turned to delight.

"Sister-in-law is still the best! Big Brother is stingy, so miserly!"

Before Yang Huai could catch him, he bolted out through the courtyard gate.

At the gate stood a peddler wearing a flowered cap. He looked young, but his face was slick and powdered. His shoulder pole was crowded by many children and even women.

The peddler also spotted Yuan Xiuxiu, and his eyes immediately lit up. He shouted,

"Candies, toys, needles and thread, rouge and face powder! Young wives and young ladies, come on over! First come, first served!"

As he spoke, he started toward the courtyard.

But Yang Huai flashed forward and blocked him.

"What are you doing?"

With both hands, he grabbed the peddler as though lifting a chick, hauled him out, and threw him to the ground.

The peddler landed with an "Ow!" and cried out in pain. Just as he was about to protest, Yang Huai's glare forced the words back down his throat.

Yang Huai's sudden burst of strength had thoroughly intimidated the peddler.

Yang Huai stared coldly at the slick-faced peddler. Though peddlers like him, much like carpenters, traveled the streets and lanes, their reputation was far from good. There was no shortage among them of lowlife scum who seduced respectable women into eloping, while others often colluded with bandits, serving as scouts and spies to scope out locations.

Naturally, Yang Huai did not suspect Yuan Xiuxiu. But the peddler's movements were suspicious, and he would never allow such a person into the courtyard so easily. With a stern expression, he rebuked him.

"Did I let you enter the courtyard? Do you know the rules?"

Having been reprimanded, the peddler pursed his lips and cupped his hands.

"This gentleman certainly has quite the temper. Visitors who come to the door are guests. I merely wished to do a little business—why must you make things difficult for me?"

"Besides, with such fine needles and thread, rouge and face powder, why not buy some? Madam is naturally beautiful, and if she uses this newly produced rouge and face powder from Sea Cloud Hall, her complexion will surely become even more radiant!"

He smiled ingratiatingly as he spoke, while his gaze surveyed the courtyard. More often than not, however, his eyes drifted toward Yuan Xiuxiu.

But in the next instant, Yang Huai's body blocked his view.

"Scram. If you keep looking around with those thieving eyes, I'll dig out your eyeballs and use them as bubbles to stomp on!"

Inside the house, Yang Dayuan and his wife heard the commotion and hurried out as well. Both frowned at the peddler, their expressions displeased. His sneaky attempts to peer into the inner courtyard had stirred their dislike.

The peddler could only leave with his tall shoulder pole of sundries, though the children following him did not lessen in number.

Yet whenever he occasionally looked back toward the Yang residence, a sinister glint flickered in his eyes, and hatred rose within his heart.

"You dare humiliate your grandfather? When my brothers return, I'll make you pay!"

Thinking of that beautiful young wife with her distinctive bearing, he felt an unbearable itch in his heart. Still, he soon departed.

To the Yang family, it was merely a farce, and no one took it to heart.

After night fell, everyone went to sleep one after another, preparing for the next day's livelihood.

Within Qingping Daoist Temple, Yang Huai's consciousness returned once more. At this moment, the sun was rising over the Xi Huang Kingdom, the radiance of the sun star shining upon all living things as myriad scenes unfolded between heaven and earth.

As the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman once again aligned with Yang Huai's thoughts, a trace of emotion rose unbidden in his heart.

This mysterious land was truly intoxicating—not only for its profound and wondrous cultivation arts, but also for its endless grandeur and magnificent mountains and rivers.

After a brief sigh, Yang Huai once more focused his mind on refining the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman, attempting to thoroughly turn it into his foundation.

For him, this was a step of utmost importance.

What was a foundation? Some people were ruined after a single defeat, while others could rise again even after countless defeats. That was foundation!

Without a foundation, one might gain astonishing power, yet be unable to endure even one defeat. After that single loss, everything would vanish like wind scattering clouds!

With a foundation, it was different. One could gather the qi of heaven and earth once more for one's own use and start again from the beginning.

Refining the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman required Yang Huai to use the slow grinding work of time, gradually combining it with his essence, qi, and spirit until he refined it into his very root.

At the same time, Yang Huai used his spare time to cultivate the Heavenly Circuit Spirit-Light Protective Incantation once more.

An hour later, Yang Huai left the meditation chamber. Feng Ying had sent someone with a message, asking him to meet at their usual place. It seemed he had finally made up his mind and prepared sufficient bargaining chips to trade with him.