Gaining Treasure [Please Keep Reading]

Looking at the few artifacts laid out on the muddy ground, then at the still-warm jade slips of techniques in his hand,

Ji Yuan unconsciously had a bold thought... This was it? Why bother farming at all?

Murder and arson brought golden belts.

It made money far faster than farming ever could.

Otherwise, who knew how many months he would have had to save up for these techniques and artifacts?

Unlike now, when he had struck it rich in one wave.

"Object Manipulation Technique, and another Cloud-Rain Technique... Fireball Technique. Damn it, I thought there'd be something good, but they're all just street-stall junk."

Qiu Qianhai happily picked up the other two jade slips, only to stuff them both into Ji Yuan's hands after a single glance.

"I already know these."

Ji Yuan knew none of them, so he put them away. Then both their gazes fell upon the ground... the eagerly anticipated division of spoils had finally arrived.

There was nothing much to argue over. They simply split everything in half.

There were forty-six Spirit Stones in total. Ji Yuan received twenty-three. Of the remaining cultivation pills, he got one bottle of Hundred-Herb Pills, containing three pills, plus one Detoxification Pill and one Blood-Burning Pill, as well as several low-grade talismans.

Of the only two Middle-Grade Talismans, the Thunderstrike Talisman and Water Shadow Talisman, Qiu Qianhai already had a Water Shadow Talisman, so he chose the Thunderstrike Talisman.

Once those had been divided, all that remained were the artifacts. Those were the real prize.

There were two Storage Bags, each roughly a foot square; two low-grade Spirit Vessels; and the dark-gold short blade and bamboo rod were also low-grade artifacts. Only that Embroidery Needle... Qiu Qianhai judged it to be a damaged fragment of a middle-grade artifact.

Ji Yuan took one Storage Bag and Wu Laochuan's Spirit Vessel. As for artifacts, he chose the Embroidery Needle meant for sneak attacks.

He had originally planned to give both the dark-gold short blade and bamboo rod to Qiu Qianhai, but unexpectedly, Qiu Qianhai still gave the short blade to Ji Yuan and kept only the rod-shaped artifact for himself.

The spoils had been divided.

The two of them also calmed down from their brief delight.

Ji Yuan no longer felt the joy from before. Killing had been easy, but dealing with the aftermath was rather troublesome.

Especially where Lousy Liu was concerned.

"Lousy Liu belonged to the Qin Household. For years, he lent money on their behalf, and most of the Spirit Stones he earned went to them. So once he dies, the Qin Household will definitely investigate."

Qiu Qianhai spoke first.

The Qin Household... Ji Yuan knew of them as well. They could be considered Zengtou City's foremost family.

In Zengtou City, cultivators who reached Late Qi Refining could generally apply to be assessed for entry into the Water Dragon Sect, but the Water Dragon Sect did not accept just anyone.

If someone was too old, or had other issues, they might be turned away at the door.

Thus, those rejected would choose to return to Zengtou City. But among Zengtou City's fishermen at Late Qi Refining, so long as they did not provoke the Water Dragon Sect, how many rivals could they possibly have?

They recruited some people, sheltered some people, slept with some people, and naturally became small cultivation families.

That was how the Qin Household had come to be.

"Lousy Liu's murder was a secretive matter to begin with. It should be hard for them to trace it back to us, right?" Ji Yuan asked.

"Don't underestimate a local tyrant like the Qin Household." Qiu Qianhai shook his head and said solemnly, "But don't worry. I'll take responsibility for killing Lousy Liu."

"What? You?"

Before Ji Yuan could finish, Qiu Qianhai continued, "I've already offended the Qin Household, so I don't mind offending them one more time. Besides, I'm sick of Zengtou City anyway. I'd already been planning to visit other markets."

"In a while, I'll return to Zengtou City with you. By this time tomorrow..."

Qiu Qianhai looked around. The sky was dim now, and a fine drizzle had begun to fall over Cloud-Rain Marsh.

"Zengtou City will probably be spreading word that I, Qiu Qianhai, killed Lousy Liu."

Ji Yuan fell silent.

To be fair, Qiu Qianhai might truly have intended to seek opportunities in other markets. But he could have slipped away in secret instead of stepping forward to shoulder this matter.

Besides, if he wanted to sneak between markets this time, he would most likely have no choice but to pass through Cloud-Rain Marsh.

He was only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. To drift from Zengtou City across the vast Cloud-Rain Marsh to another market... the dangers involved were self-evident.

"Are you sure?"

Ji Yuan asked.

"What is there to be sure or unsure about?" Qiu Qianhai laughed freely.

Ji Yuan nodded, then took out all the talismans and cultivation pills he had just acquired from his Storage Bag. After thinking for a moment, he took out another ten Spirit Stones.

"What are you doing?"

Qiu Qianhai's expression changed slightly.

"Quit talking nonsense. If I'm willing to give them to you, then take them. You need these things far more than I do out there."

Ji Yuan reached out and patted Qiu Qianhai on the shoulder. "Stay alive. Once we've both reached Late Qi Refining, we'll wipe out the Qin Household together."

At the mention of that, Qiu Qianhai could not help drawing a deep breath.

"Fine. We'll destroy the Qin Household, then us brothers will join the Water Dragon Sect together."

"Fine."

Ji Yuan agreed with a smile.

Qiu Qianhai did not refuse again. After putting the items away, he pondered for a moment before saying, "Once I go back and pack my things, I'll leave immediately. I may not come see you."

"If I return to Zengtou City again, I'll place a Seashell outside your door. Then..."

Qiu Qianhai rose and looked around. "This island has no name. From now on, let's call it Autumn Rain Island. When the time comes, I'll wait for you here on Autumn Rain Island."

"Fine."

He had only just found a reliable friend, and now, in the blink of an eye, it was time to part ways again. Ji Yuan could not help feeling somewhat reluctant.

But on careful thought, the path of cultivation seemed to have always been this way.

No matter who it was, they could only walk side by side for part of the journey. On the great path toward longevity, most of the time, one walked alone.

Qiu Qianhai left.

After a fierce battle, Ji Yuan now had a Spirit Vessel and artifacts as well. He took out Wu Laochuan's Spirit Vessel, refined it slightly, then tossed it into the water. It grew with the wind, transforming into a long, narrow White Boat.

The White Boat's hull was slender, and a spike protruded from its bow, adding even more speed to it.

Ji Yuan estimated that this White Boat was nearly a middle-grade artifact. That made sense. Wu Laochuan was a rogue cultivator who made his living off Cloud-Rain Marsh, so his Spirit Vessel could not possibly be poor.

This White Boat should be enough for him to use for quite some time.

When he returned to the shore, Ji Yuan did not see anyone else. He put away the Spirit Vessel in his Storage Bag and silently returned home.

After returning, he immediately activated the effects of every building, changed into clean clothes, and only then relaxed slightly.

Sipping the hot tea he had brewed that morning, Ji Yuan began reviewing the battle from earlier that day.

After considering it carefully, Ji Yuan felt that his survival today had depended entirely on resources. What kind of fight had that been? They had clearly been fighting with resources.

Whether it was the Water Drop Finger that countered Lousy Liu's artifact, the life-saving Golden Body Talisman, or the Thunderstrike Talisman that turned the tide at the end.

Those two Middle-Grade Talismans alone were not something ordinary cultivators could produce.

So, his victory today had been nothing more than relying on having more resources. Wu Laochuan had even more resources than he did... but the man had been reluctant to use them.

He had most likely thought Lousy Liu could deal with Ji Yuan, after which he could join forces with Lousy Liu and take down Qiu Qianhai with almost no losses.

Yet he had never expected Lousy Liu's boat to capsize.

So, one needed resources, but one also had to be willing to use them.

As for killing Wu Laochuan at the end, Ji Yuan had naturally been prepared for that long ago.

After experiencing Huang Laotou's betrayal, Ji Yuan barely trusted anyone now except Qiu Qianhai, and that was only because the two of them had killed someone together.

Wu Laochuan was a rogue cultivator... could he be trusted?

Thus, in the cultivation world's fights and killings, one's own combat awareness was certainly important, but what mattered most was still resources.

With that thought, Ji Yuan looked toward his panel.

This [Cave Abode] was due for an upgrade.