Gifts Bestowed, the Dao Gradually Taking Shape

A tremor ran through Yang Huai's heart as he said,

"I am unworthy of the praise of being an ancestor of a path. I only hope these little crafts may add splendor to heaven and earth, serve humanity, and benefit the common people!"

Hearing this, Bai Lingzhen could not help but regard him even more highly.

He merely said,

"Such creations, containing the transformations of heaven and earth, can adorn the world. They will surely serve humanity and delight all worthy sages!"

Yang Huai nodded. If that could be so, it would not be bad at all.

Bai Lingzhen smiled faintly, glanced at the Radiant Cloud-Pattern Wood Carving in his hand, then said,

"I heard that one of your Human King Woodcarvings is worth two Millennium Vermilion Fruits. How about two Millennium Purple Lingzhi Fruits for this one?"

Millennium lingzhi and millennium purple lingzhi were not uncommon in the wilderness and could not be considered fine treasures. Millennium Purple Lingzhi Fruits, however, were precious rarities, worth even slightly more than Millennium Vermilion Fruits.

Naturally, Yang Huai had no objection.

Bai Lingzhen immediately took out a rosewood box he had prepared long ago. The entire box gleamed with intense violet light, its wood-element spiritual aura having even formed natural patterns. The rosewood heart alone was extraordinarily precious, to say nothing of the two purple spiritual fruits revealed within after it was opened, brimming with spiritual energy.

Yang Huai gave them a brief look, and his eyes immediately brightened.

This Senior Brother Bai was truly forthright.

Bai Lingzhen then turned his gaze toward the other four Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings displayed beside Yang Huai. Yang Huai had deliberately put them out: two Compassion Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings and two Mighty Yang Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings.

"I'll take these four as well. Two Millennium Lingzhi Fruits for each one, the same price as before. How does that sound?"

Yang Huai's eyes lit up. This Senior Brother Bai was truly wealthy and generous. With such a good deal before him, he naturally agreed at once, wrapping up the four Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings for the man. Bai Lingzhen then put all four away.

He might not necessarily have use for such items himself, but they would be excellent gifts for his subordinates.

It was not as if the Daoist temple lacked other magical artifacts capable of calming the mind and suppressing evil spirits. The strength of these Cloud-Pattern Wood Carvings lay in their excellent quality at a low price. Most similar artifacts required the True Masters to personally refine them, expending enormous effort before they could be completed.

Why would the True Masters lower themselves for a few Millennium Spirit Fruits?

Yang Huai put away the four rosewood-heart boxes, the aloofness on his face gone and replaced by a smile he simply could not suppress.

This Senior Brother Bai was really a rich tycoon.

Far more lavish than Junior Brother Feng Ying.

After a brief pause, Bai Lingzhen spoke again.

"Besides that, if Junior Brother Qingli gains anything else in Slaughter Hall, you may seek out this poor Daoist, or any of the junior brothers at my side."

His gaze settled on Yang Huai as he said seriously,

"Whether it is essence blood, scales and hides, horns and bones from slaughtered exotic beasts, or even their viscera, our alchemy hall can purchase them at a high price. If there are spirit souls, even better!"

Yang Huai's eyes shifted, and understanding dawned in his heart.

This was likely the man's true objective.

Unfortunately, Bai Lingzhen had still underestimated how miserly Martial Uncle Yan was. After slaughtering an exotic beast, that Martial Uncle Yan practically licked the floor clean. What scraps would he leave for Yang Huai to pick up?

Still, Yang Huai nodded.

"Fine. If the price is right, I will come find Senior Brother Bai!"

A trace of satisfaction appeared on Bai Lingzhen's face. Surrounded by the Daoist boys, he turned and left.

Even Daokongzi at the side did not possess such soaring bearing.

Watching this scene, a Daoist boy nearby could not help sighing.

"A young man ought to be like this!"

At that moment, a sinister voice drifted over, like a cold wind blowing into everyone's hearts.

"What are you looking at? Get to work! If you delay the kitchen duties, I'll skin you alive!"

A grim Fireworker Daoist in red robes stood at the entrance, berating them angrily. The two Daoist boys on duty immediately hunched their necks, not daring to slack off as they hurriedly began sweeping the kitchen courtyard.

Wu Feng Daoist's gaze promptly fell upon Yang Huai again. Looking at the pile of wood shavings before him, he said in a strange, mocking tone,

"Qingli, even if you are an inner disciple of the kitchen, you cannot casually waste the kitchen's firewood. If the kitchen's fire vein goes out, will you be the one to relight it?!"

Yang Huai was startled. He had not expected the fire to burn its way onto him. Seeing Wu Feng Daoist repeatedly glance at his waist from the corner of his eye, realization struck him. So he had flaunted his wealth and drawn this Fireworker Daoist's criticism.

After thinking it over, he could only endure the pain in his heart and take two rosewood-heart boxes from his robes, concealing them in his palm as he stepped forward.

"Since entering the kitchen, this disciple has always received the care of all the Daoist masters, especially Martial Uncle Wu Feng. I am truly grateful, yet have no way to repay you. Now that I have obtained a few little trinkets, I offer them to all my martial uncles as a small token of my heart!"

He took out the two boxes and handed them to Wu Feng Daoist.

The Fireworker Daoist glanced at them, casually put them away, and said blandly,

"At least you know what is proper. But use the spiritwood in the woodshed sparingly. If you ruin the kitchen's work, you cannot bear the responsibility!"

"Yes, this disciple understands!"

Yang Huai nodded, though his heart ached terribly.

Yet only the kitchen possessed so much "free" spiritwood, and it was even spiritwood heart. Other places might not have it. He could only pinch his nose and yield a portion of his profits, lest he ruin his future source of wealth.

But on careful thought, the fact that the man allowed him to continue using the spiritwood already counted as tacit approval. Exchanging the woodshed's spiritwood for additional resources and sharing some of the profits with his martial uncles in the kitchen was only proper.

Yang Huai took a deep breath. His Daoist achievement was not yet complete, so he could only use this toothpaste-squeezing method to pry a little from every pocket.

Once his Daoist achievement was complete and he attained the Daoist achievement of a celestial being, he would naturally be able to stand tall.

Seeing that Qingli was sensible, Wu Feng Daoist's expression softened considerably. He casually reminded him,

"I should remind you: it would be best to consume the things you obtained as soon as possible. We few may not covet your belongings, but others may not feel the same!"

Only after saying this did he turn and enter the kitchen.

Behind him, Yang Huai could not help wanting to curl his lip.

You don't covet them? What a load of nonsense.

Still, Wu Feng Daoist's reminder was right. Yang Huai immediately hurried away from the kitchen.

Inquiry Cliff, atop a secluded mountain peak.

Yang Huai sat cross-legged, with three rosewood-heart boxes before him. Each box contained two Millennium Purple Lingzhi Fruits, every one brimming with spiritual energy and immensely pleasing to behold.

Yang Huai put away two of the boxes, then took one fruit from the remaining rosewood-heart box and swallowed it.

The instant he consumed it, he felt a dense violet aura spread from his stomach, transforming into immense vital essence that flowed into his limbs and bones. Yang Huai did not circulate the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method and directly push his Foundation Establishment to great perfection. Instead, he first activated the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, absorbing all the medicinal power into the bones of his left hand and gradually forming an Innate Geng Metal Spirit Bone within them.

Compared with the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method, the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram's sequence was actually somewhat earlier.

Moreover, Yang Huai had a more far-reaching plan. He wanted to see what sort of foundation he could produce if he cultivated the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram to great completion, tempered the Innate Geng Metal Spirit Bones throughout his body to the utmost limit, and then brought the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method to great completion, driving his essence, energy, and spirit alike to their peaks.

Yuan Xiuxiu had mentioned to him that the deeper one's innate vital essence, the deeper the foundation one could forge.

The more powerful one would be in later cultivation.