Master Wei, That'll Cost Extra

"Coo, coo!"

Lu Xuan was cultivating in his cave abode after taking a pill, while the spirit pigeon flapped its wings and returned to the cave abode where Wei Zhixing was staying.

Wei Zhixing was writing furiously, seemingly calculating something. Hearing the pigeon, he immediately lifted the restrictions on his cave abode and let it fly inside.

He then reached out, intending to remove the [Thought Casket Stone], but the spirit pigeon fluttered its wings and dodged away.

Helpless, Wei Zhixing could only take out a handful of green spirit rice and feed it to the pigeon. Only then was he able to remove the [Thought Casket Stone] and the letter attached to it.

He did not rush to read the letter. Instead, Spiritual Sense surged forth as he carefully inspected the [Thought Casket Stone]. Only after confirming that it was undamaged did he let out a slight breath of relief.

This stone was precious. He had borrowed it, and if it were damaged, the loss would make his heart bleed.

Once he had confirmed the stone was intact, he finally had the mood to open the letter and read it.

At first, his brows relaxed, and a pleased look appeared on his face.

For the letter read: "Senior Brother Wei's comprehension is beyond compare; his talent for arts is like that of a celestial."

Lu Xuan was admitting defeat—he had lost to him in the Abyss-Sealing Sea-Calming Art.

Wonderful!

Yet in the next instant, his brows furrowed again.

—Your Spiritual Sense cultivation still requires further effort.

His brow creased tightly as he separated out a thread of Spiritual Sense and sent it into the [Thought Casket Stone].

Boom!!

Within the [Thought Casket Stone], a brilliant yet formless wisp of Spiritual Sense hung at its center like the light of a great sun, radiating dazzling splendor. Sensing the intrusion of Wei Zhixing's Spiritual Sense, it immediately surged toward him.

Yet this Spiritual Sense had been exceedingly weak to begin with. It was merely "proof."

It howled through the stone for an instant before vanishing without a trace.

But the winner and loser had already been decided.

He had lost.

Wei Zhixing put away the [Thought Casket Stone], his brows drawn tight, and they did not loosen for a long while.

After some time, he took out paper and brush and densely covered the page with tiny characters. Yet in the end, he could only sigh helplessly and temporarily set down his brush.

Shaking his head, he activated his Cloud Qi and left his cave abode.

Wei Zhixing's Cloud Qi shone brilliantly, like the radiance of the great sun. He flew along the Heavenly Melody River for an unknown length of time before suddenly plunging downward, streaking straight toward the river like a rainbow.

But his Water-Avoidance Art had already reached great mastery. He could ward off even a thousand zhang of seawater, much less this mere Heavenly Melody River.

Before long, he arrived at the bottom of the Heavenly Melody River.

The riverbed was not a desolate stretch of mud. Instead, it was level ground covered in enormous aquatic grasses, each over a zhang tall.

The grasses twisted and tangled, hollow within, resembling little thatched cottages beneath the water.

"Master Wei is here!"

"The teacher is here!"

"Teacher, teacher, I've already learned the Silencing Art! From now on, whenever I argue with someone, I can let whoever I want speak, and make whoever I want shut up!"

"Teacher, teacher, aren't I amazing?!"

From within those grass cottages, Shellfolk children carrying shells on their backs came cheering and dancing toward him. They clustered around Wei Zhixing, chattering without pause.

"Quiet!"

"You make noise all day long—what kind of behavior is that? The teacher has arrived, so hurry inside and sit properly!"

At that moment, a tall Shell Maiden who looked middle-aged emerged and scolded the children.

"Go, go!"

Seeing this, the Shell Maidens quickly scattered and obediently went into the grass cottages to sit and wait.

"Master Wei, I must trouble you again."

The middle-aged Shell Maiden smiled apologetically.

Wei Zhixing shook his head, then took out the [Thought Casket Stone] and returned it to the Shell Maiden before him.

The Shell Maiden smiled awkwardly, but she still accepted it.

Although her Shellfolk clan in the Heavenly Melody River was somewhat well-off and had enough Spirit Stones to hire an inner disciple of the Heaven-Gazing Sect as a teacher to instruct the clan's children in arts, a rare treasure like the [Thought Casket Stone] was far too valuable to give away lightly.

"Master Wei, what art will you be teaching today?"

After accepting the [Thought Casket Stone], the Shell Maiden smiled and asked Wei Zhixing.

Wei Zhixing pointed with one hand. Water currents immediately surged across the riverbed, forming a single character.

—Suppress!

"It is actually the Suppression Character Formula. We truly must thank Master Wei for the trouble."

The Shell Maiden immediately revealed a delighted expression. She quickly took out an additional ten Spirit Stones and stuffed them into Wei Zhixing's hands.

Wei Zhixing did not stand on ceremony. Smiling, he accepted them.

The delight had yet to fade from the Shell Maiden's face. "Master Wei's comprehension truly surpasses all others. To have comprehended the Suppression Character Formula in such a short time—being able to hire you is truly a blessing for our Shellfolk clan."

The Shellfolk of the Heavenly Melody River did not lack cultivation methods.

This was because their race possessed a special "ability."

After a member of their race died, their shell did not disperse. If it was buried beneath mud and sand, then after enough time had passed, all manner of "character patterns" would emerge upon the shell.

These "character patterns" contained methods within them.

As long as one could comprehend them, one could obtain a method, and it would be exceptionally suited to the Shellfolk.

But the Shellfolk were not some extraordinary race, and few among them possessed exceptional comprehension. Thus, many "character patterns" remained impossible to comprehend.

Most crucially, these "methods" were not profound and mysterious secret arts. Their power was not particularly great, and most were rather ordinary, unable to attract those of outstanding comprehension.

Thus, they could only "spend money to hire people."

That was why Wei Zhixing had come.

No cultivator would ever complain about having too many Spirit Stones.

Moreover, Zhou Xuanpu had required him to break through to the Qi Refining Second Layer within a year. The inner sect stipend and the Culinary Hall alone would not be enough.

He also needed to purchase spiritual items and contend with Lu Xuan in Spiritual Sense.

Thus, his expenses were considerable, and he urgently needed income.

Fortunately, his comprehension was exceptional. In a short time, he had cultivated the Three Water-Suppressing Arts to great mastery and still had leisure to spare. That was why he had come to this clan—to help them comprehend their "character patterns," teach their children, and earn Spirit Stones.

The Suppression Character Formula was one of the more obscure and difficult character patterns among the Shellfolk. Accordingly, if it could be comprehended, it would provide no small benefit to the Shellfolk's cultivation.

Wei Zhixing had only comprehended it naturally after advancing further in the Abyss-Sealing Sea-Calming Art.

The Shell Maiden was delighted, but she seemed to recall something and asked, "Master Wei's talent is truly admirable. I presume the Heart Character Formula has also shown some progress?"

Wei Zhixing immediately fell silent.

The Heart Character Formula was an even more obscure Shellfolk character pattern than the Suppression Character Formula. It had been kept by this clan for a long time, and not only required extremely high comprehension, but also exceptionally superior Spiritual Sense.

He had tried several times, yet had never managed to comprehend it.

But if he could comprehend it, it would not only bring tremendous benefits to the Shellfolk and yield a rare, superior method, but would also be of no small benefit to himself.

After considering it, Wei Zhixing condensed water into words: "This character is obscure. I will continue to comprehend it in my spare time, but I will need some time."

"But rest assured, it will not delay your clan's Red Pine Trial four months from now."

"If I fail, I will invite another junior brother to come. With his help, we will certainly comprehend this character."

"However, this junior brother of mine possesses peerless Spiritual Sense, unmatched among this generation of inner disciples. If I invite him here..."

"—That'll cost extra!"

Wei Zhixing did not bother with pleasantries and directly wrote out the words for additional payment.

The Shell Maiden hesitated for only an instant before immediately nodding. "As long as this character can truly be comprehended, our clan is willing to spend more Spirit Stones!"

Inner disciples of the Heaven-Gazing Sect were not easy to hire. Having finally found such an opportunity, she naturally would not let it slip away.

"It would be best if there were items that could assist Qi Refining cultivation..."

Wei Zhixing formed more words from water.

The Shell Maiden pondered, then nodded heavily. "Our clan still has some Shell-Pearl Spirit Sand in storage. It can aid cultivation."

Wei Zhixing nodded, then walked toward the grass cottage, preparing to teach.

The Shellfolk children within the grass cottage were innocent and carefree, knowing nothing of Spirit Stones or profit. Seeing their teacher enter, they all cheered.

Yet Wei Zhixing remained silent. He merely condensed water into characters and slowly instructed them.

The Shellfolk were naturally close to water, so forming characters from water did not hinder their communication. It could even help them understand more quickly.