Closed-Door Cultivation (Begging for Continued Reading)

Upon reaching the shore, Wang Mengde sent his sister-in-law home to cook.

Carrying a basket on his back and a net bag in hand, he arrived at Rosy Cloud Pier.

The pier was not large. Several wooden trestles stretched out into the sea, with dozens of spirit-powered fishing boats of varying sizes moored beside them.

The air was thick with the stench of fish and the briny scent of the sea, mixed with sweat and cheap liquor.

People bustled about the pier. Hawkers' cries, haggling voices, and laborers' shouts as they hauled cargo blended into a noisy din.

No sooner had Wang Mengde arrived than he saw a lean middle-aged man approaching with a smile.

This was Liu Haiwen, a fishmonger who bought fish here year-round, with cultivation at the third level of Qi Refinement.

He often joined forces with a group of fishmongers to drive down fish prices and bleed the bottom-tier fishing farmers dry.

"Ah, Brother Mengde, you came quite early today."

Liu Haiwen's face was wreathed in smiles. As he spoke, his gaze swiftly swept over the bamboo basket on Wang Mengde's back and the net bag in his hand.

When he spotted the faintly visible patterned eel in the net bag, an imperceptible gleam flashed through his eyes.

Making small talk, he naturally reached out to take the net bag from Wang Mengde's hand.

"Come, come, let your elder brother carry that. Hurry and let me see how your luck was today."

Wang Mengde subtly shifted aside, skillfully evading Liu Haiwen's outstretched hand. Yet he kept a cheerful smile on his face, without the slightest sign of anything amiss.

"You're too kind, Brother Liu. I can carry it myself." Wang Mengde's voice was calm. "My luck was indeed decent today. I caught some good stuff. Brother Liu, let's discuss the price first."

In his memories, the original owner had been timid, weak, and easy to talk to. Whenever he came to the pier to sell his goods, the fishmongers would always force down the prices and take advantage of him.

Liu Haiwen in particular was exceedingly cunning. The original owner had suffered no small number of losses at his hands.

Good people were bullied; good horses were ridden.

Being too weak would only invite bullying.

Still, when facing a stronger opponent you could not defeat, charging headlong would only leave you at a disadvantage.

You had to use a gentler method.

Liu Haiwen's outstretched hand had grasped at empty air. The smile on his face stiffened slightly before quickly returning to normal, though his eyes now studied Wang Mengde with greater care.

The Wang Mengde before him was still smiling, but that smile no longer held its usual timidity and evasiveness.

This brat... was a little different today?

Liu Haiwen muttered to himself, but the smile on his face only grew broader.

"Oh, Brother Mengde, what are you saying? Would your elder brother cheat you?"

He patted his chest, putting on a forthright air. "Whatever the market price is, that is what I'll give you. And I'll give you the highest price at that. We've worked together for so long—do you still not trust me?"

Wang Mengde merely looked at him with a genial smile. Only after he had finished did he speak.

"Of course I trust you, Brother Liu. Tell me specifically, then—what price are you offering for each of these items?"

Liu Haiwen's heart stirred again. This brat had truly become much sharper.

Keeping his smile unchanged, he craned his neck to inspect the goods in Wang Mengde's basket and net bag. He deliberately took another look at the Spotted Eel as he calculated swiftly.

"These ordinary Green Crabs and Swimming Crabs are five Blood Copper Coins each. Sand-Line Fish are six Blood Copper Coins each. Iron-Shell Snails are counted separately, three for five Blood Copper Coins..."

He quoted the prices one by one, all in Blood Copper Coins.

Blood Copper Coins were the most basic currency in the cultivation world.

One hundred Blood Copper Coins could be exchanged for one Spirit Sand.

Liu Haiwen stroked his chin. "As for the Spotted Eel... the market has been poor lately. How about this? I'll give you seven Spirit Sands."

He was truly pressing the price down hard. As he spoke, he also released a thread of spiritual energy from the third level of Qi Refinement.

In the past, the original owner would be intimidated by the other man's third-level Qi Refinement aura and immediately lose his nerve, accepting the offer and letting himself be taken advantage of.

The original owner had been far too timid and weak. Rosy Cloud Island was one of the sea islands under Evergreen Sect's jurisdiction. To attract Rogue Cultivators to settle there, Evergreen Sect had established strict rules.

Anyone who dared injure someone on the island would not only face severe punishment, but also an enormous fine.

Those unable to pay the fine would be executed outright, their bodies turned into all manner of cultivation materials.

That was why Rosy Cloud Island, despite possessing only a first-rank spirit vein and exorbitant rent, still attracted so many Rogue Cultivators.

There was no other reason: safety was guaranteed.

Fishmongers like Liu Haiwen did not dare harm people casually at all. They could not afford the fine.

Wang Mengde pointed at the eel still faintly wriggling in the net bag and smiled. "My dear Brother Liu, with your eyes worthy of the 'Sea Dragon King,' you must have spotted my Spotted Eel at a glance. This Spotted Eel of mine is no ordinary catch.

Look at its quality, its size—over three feet long, clear patterns, brimming with spiritual energy. Spotted Eels of this quality are rarely seen on the market."

Wang Mengde's expression became even more earnest. "You have broad connections and many channels. Once this Spotted Eel reaches your hands, you can sell it on for no less than seventeen or eighteen Spirit Sands."

After being crowned with such a string of flattering titles, Liu Haiwen felt utterly comfortable from head to toe. He knew perfectly well that Wang Mengde was buttering him up, yet every word sounded pleasing and seemed entirely reasonable.

The title "Sea Dragon King" in particular scratched him right where he itched. He could not help straightening his chest slightly, and a warm smile replaced the one on his face.

When he looked at Wang Mengde again, the poor wretch who had always seemed so timid now appeared much more agreeable.

"Brother, what you said... is honest!"

Liu Haiwen smacked his lips and pretended to ponder. The calculating gleam in his eyes had been greatly diluted by that "Sea Dragon King" and the pleasure swelling in his heart.

For once, Liu Haiwen was unusually generous. "Fine, fine, fine. Your elder brother will take a small loss today. Who asked us to have such a good relationship? I'll buy the other seafood at the price I just quoted. As for the Spotted Eel... I'll give you eleven Spirit Sands."

Wang Mengde's heart settled. He had not expected the price Liu Haiwen offered to be slightly higher than he had anticipated.

At the right moment, surprise and gratitude appeared on his face. He hurriedly said, "Brother Liu is indeed generous. I knew selling seafood to you could never be wrong."

Liu Haiwen said, "But Brother Mengde, if you come across good goods like Spotted Eels again, you must think of me first. When I, Liu Haiwen, do business, I never let my friends suffer losses."

"Of course." Wang Mengde's face was full of smiles as he offered flattering words that cost nothing.

"Brother Liu is a man of loyalty. Rest assured, if I get good goods in the future, I'll definitely bring them to you first. Who doesn't know that you're the most trustworthy businessman around, Brother Liu? Your prices are fair too. If I don't come to you, who would I go to?"

Those costless compliments made Liu Haiwen look even more pleased.

Liu Haiwen secretly clicked his tongue. This brat had changed greatly lately. His tongue was like it had been dipped in honey; every sentence was praising him.

When he pressed prices down in the past, he either faced bitter expressions or dull, silent lumps. When had it ever been this pleasant, like being bathed in spring breeze?

Though he was making slightly fewer Spirit Sands, he felt thoroughly content.

After exchanging a round of pleasantries, the atmosphere between them immediately became harmonious.

Liu Haiwen took Wang Mengde's net bag and began tallying the goods.

Spotted Eel: eleven Spirit Sands.

Two Cloud-Pattern Crabs, fifty Blood Copper Coins each, for a total of one Spirit Sand.

Twelve ordinary Green Crabs, three Blood Copper Coins each, for a total of thirty-six Blood Copper Coins.

Total: twenty-three Spirit Sands and fifty Blood Copper Coins.

From a cloth pouch, Liu Haiwen counted out twenty-three Spirit Sands, each the size of a soybean and glowing with a faint milky-white sheen. He then counted out fifty polished Blood Copper Coins and handed them to Wang Mengde.

"Count them, Brother."

Wang Mengde accepted them and counted carefully. After confirming there was no mistake, he tucked the money into the inner pocket against his chest.

"The amount is right. Thank you, Brother Liu."

With the transaction complete, Liu Haiwen looked at Wang Mengde. "Brother Mengde, lately I've been collecting Golden-Thread Spirit Trout.

The price is extremely high. I'll pay one Spirit Sand per pound for live ones. If you get lucky and encounter any while out at sea or gathering along the shore, be sure to come find me first."

"Alright, I'll remember that." Wang Mengde nodded. "If I catch one, I'll definitely bring it to you first."

"Good." Liu Haiwen patted Wang Mengde's shoulder, smiling broadly. "Then your elder brother will wait for your good news."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Liu Haiwen left with the seafood he had purchased, thoroughly satisfied.

Wang Mengde turned and left the noisy pier. The sea breeze, wrapped in fishy brine, rushed into his face.

The warm smile on his face gradually faded, returning to calmness.

He touched the Spirit Sands in his chest, several more than he had expected, but felt no pride.

Such was the way of the world.

Meeting force with force often left one bloodied and battered, with the matter still unresolved.

But if you found the crucial point and offered a few soothing sweet words, you could quietly protect your tangible gains, dissolve hostility, and perhaps even... weave a web of connections that could be put to use.

Of course, those were all minor paths.

In the cultivation world, strength was what mattered most.

As long as you were strong enough, no one would dare provoke you. They would only flatter and curry favor with you.

If he possessed cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, would Liu Haiwen dare release his third-level Qi Refinement spiritual energy to intimidate him?

He would only shamelessly try to flatter and ingratiate himself with him.

Wang Mengde secretly set himself a small goal.

To become the strongest person on Rosy Cloud Island.

Everyone who saw him would flatter him and seek his favor.

Thinking of that scene, Wang Mengde could not help chuckling.

After returning to the small courtyard.

Wang Mengde called out to his sister-in-law and went to his room.

He shut the door and slid the bolt into place.

He sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion.

A golden panel quietly appeared in his mind:

[Host: Wang Mengde]

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Success Is Certain)]

[Qi Refinement Cultivation: Qi Refinement Level 1 (98/100)]

[Body Cultivation: Body Tempering Level 1 (52/100)]

[Cultivation Art: Minor Five-Element Breathing Art Level 1 (98/100)]

[Spells: Spirit Eye Technique (Minor Accomplishment) 0/200; Fishing Technique (Beginner) 98/100; Entwining Silk Technique (Beginner) 99/100]

His Qi Refinement cultivation was at 98/100. He needed only two more experience points to break through to the second level of Qi Refinement.

The Minor Five-Element Breathing Art was likewise stuck at 98/100, keeping pace with his cultivation realm.

A trace of anticipation flashed through Wang Mengde's eyes.

Once he broke through to the second level of Qi Refinement, his dantian capacity would expand and his spiritual energy recovery speed would increase. Both the endurance and power of his spellcasting would improve.

This was crucial for his upcoming shore gathering and spell practice.

From the inner pocket against his chest, he carefully took out a Spirit Sand.

The Spirit Sand emitted a gentle milky-white luster in his palm. It was roughly the size of a soybean, smooth on the surface, and held a strange sensation—slightly cool, yet carrying threads of warmth.

More importantly, he could clearly sense the thin but exceptionally pure spiritual energy contained within.

Spirit Sands were processed from the fragments produced when low-grade spirit stones were cut.

They were not worth mentioning to high-level cultivators, but to a first-level Qi Refinement cultivator like Wang Mengde, they were precious cultivation resources.

The original owner had been poor and ordinarily could not bear to use Spirit Sands for cultivation, relying instead on the thin spiritual energy between heaven and earth to accumulate progress slowly.

But now, Wang Mengde did not intend to be so miserly anymore.

Wang Mengde no longer hesitated. He held the Spirit Sand in his right palm and formed a simple hand seal before his chest with both hands—the opening stance of the Minor Five-Element Breathing Art.

He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and sank his awareness into his dantian.