New Neighbor

[Cave Abode lv2]

[Spirit Effect: Daytime spiritual energy concentration +10%, nighttime spiritual energy concentration +30%, basic soundproof barrier]

[Upgrade Requirements: Low-Grade Spirit Stone ×50, Clear Spirit Jade ×6, River-Quelling Sand ×10 jin]

Whether by day or night, the spiritual energy concentration had risen by 10%.

At first glance, it did not seem like much of a difference, but over time, it would become anything but insignificant.

Cultivation was a slow grind to begin with. Improving just a little more than others each day would produce a remarkable effect over the long haul.

On top of that, there was now a soundproof barrier.

Ji Yuan reckoned barriers were more or less like Formations.

The dust-avoidance barrier of the Level 1 [Cave Abode] had simply been a basic dust-avoidance Formation.

With a Level 2 soundproof barrier, no matter how much noise he made inside the Cave Abode, no one outside would hear it.

It would make things safer, at least.

Unfortunately, no defensive barrier had appeared. He could only look forward to future upgrades of the [Cave Abode].

As for the upgrade requirements, the fifty Spirit Stones were within Ji Yuan's expectations. But he had never heard of Clear Spirit Jade or River-Quelling Sand, much less knew their value. He could only ask at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion when the time came.

After upgrading the Cave Abode, Ji Yuan felt that even the air in his home had become much fresher.

As far as the eye could see, everything was spotless and dust-free.

The house no longer had that dim, gloomy air from before. Instead, it had become bright and open.

"Now this looks like cultivation."

After admiring it briefly, Ji Yuan dug out a basin of rice grains faintly tainted with spiritual energy from the storeroom... It was time to feed the chickens, and after feeding the chickens, he still had to feed the pigs.

Well, that air of cultivation lasted less than half an incense stick.

Once he finished his chores, Ji Yuan continued studying the "Object Manipulation Technique" at home. No matter what, he at least needed to be able to freely control his artifacts.

Otherwise, even if he had a whole bodyful of artifacts, he would not be able to bring out their effect.

Without realizing it, Ji Yuan's strength continued to improve.

That afternoon.

Ji Yuan had been cultivating in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a door open from the courtyard to his right. That was... Huang Laotou's home.

That bastard isn't dead?!

No matter what, Huang Laotou had caused the original owner's father's death. Ji Yuan could not possibly pretend he knew nothing. He immediately stepped out of his courtyard.

With a thought, he had already drawn upon the Deathbringer Needle inside his Storage Bag.

But when he reached the entrance, he found two middle-aged men in Water Dragon Sect uniform standing outside Huang Laotou's courtyard next door.

When Ji Yuan came out, the two men looked over as well.

"Greetings, honored sirs."

Ji Yuan hurriedly cupped his hands to them.

They merely responded with an "Mm" and said nothing else. Ji Yuan then turned to look into Huang Laotou's courtyard and found two more Water Dragon Sect cultivators inside.

"May I ask, honored sirs, what is this...?"

Ji Yuan could not help asking.

"The fisherman who lived here has died. We are here to reclaim the Immortal Residence. Are you one of his relatives?" One of the Water Dragon Sect cultivators, holding a dharma sword, turned and asked him.

Huang Laotou really was dead... Ji Yuan slowly shook his head.

"No. We were merely neighbors."

The sword-bearing cultivator turned back around and ignored him.

The Lin Family's courtyard gate opened as well. Wu Qin, her face still somewhat pale, emerged while supporting herself on the doorframe. "Ji... Brother Ji."

At some point, she had begun addressing Ji Yuan the way Lin Hu did.

Yet from the way she occasionally looked at Ji Yuan, she still seemed to harbor feelings for him that she could neither name nor explain.

"Mm. Where's Lin Hu?"

Ji Yuan looked at the injured Wu Qin. If she had a Hundred-Herb Pill, she should have recovered long ago.

Moreover, if such an injury was not treated early, the longer it dragged on, the more likely it was to leave behind hidden damage.

But a single Hundred-Herb Pill cost at least five Spirit Stones. Now that Lin Youwei and his wife were dead, the burden of the entire Household had fallen upon Lin Hu alone, who was only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining.

It reminded Ji Yuan of the original owner. He could barely afford the Immortal Residence Fee, much less buy a Hundred-Herb Pill.

"He... he went out on the boat."

Wu Qin glanced toward Cloud-Rain Marsh, her eyes full of sorrow.

After sealing up Huang Laotou's home, the Water Dragon Sect cultivators each mounted their flying artifacts and departed.

Only after they had left did Wu Qin dare ask softly, "Brother Ji, is Huang Laotou really dead?"

"Mm. That's what the Water Dragon Sect cultivators said."

"Good riddance!"

A trace of satisfaction inevitably entered Wu Qin's voice. Even the fingers gripping the doorframe clenched so tightly that they turned pale.

Since the Water Dragon Sect had confirmed Huang Laotou's death, it would not be long before the house was rented out to someone else.

Ji Yuan had no idea what kind of person his new neighbor would be.

But anyone who could rent a house along this shore would at most be at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. Those with higher cultivation had all moved into Zengtou City.

As long as the newcomer was not at the Fifth Layer, Ji Yuan was not too worried now.

That evening, Ji Yuan even heard Lin Hu's laughter from next door, along with repeated shouts of "Heaven has eyes!"

Lin Hu must have just returned from his boat and heard from Wu Qin that Huang Laotou had died.

Ji Yuan had thought it would take at least three or four days for the new neighbor to arrive. Yet to his surprise, the very next day, the newcomer knocked on his courtyard gate.

The visitor was a middle-aged man in a worn white robe, at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. He lived alone, with sunken, darkened eye sockets. He truly looked like a cultivator.

"Hehe, I am Deng Yunliang, formerly a Rogue Cultivator of the Yu Kingdom. By good fortune, I have now come to Zengtou City of the Water Dragon Sect. I hope, Fellow Daoist, that you will look after me in the future."

Ji Yuan returned the gesture and introduced himself as well. He was neither warm nor cold.

Deng Yunliang had even brought a small portion of mung bean cakes as a housewarming gift. They had been bought in Zengtou City, ordinary things that cost no Spirit Stones, so Ji Yuan accepted them.

"I have only just arrived and must pay visits around the area. Fellow Daoist Ji, we shall speak again next time."

"Alright."

"Mm. We are neighbors, after all. We should visit each other more often in the future."

Deng Yunliang cupped his hands again before leaving with a laugh. Soon, Lin Hu's voice sounded from next door.

Compared with Ji Yuan, Lin Hu was far more enthusiastic.

That made sense. Ji Yuan kept to himself all day and rarely interacted with others. Now that a new neighbor had finally arrived, Lin Hu naturally had to be more welcoming.

Ji Yuan did not eat the mung bean cakes Deng Yunliang had given him. He fed them all to the Spirit Pig.

The Spirit Pig ate the mung bean cakes, and he would eat the Spirit Pig in the end. That could not be called wasteful.

Over the following days, Ji Yuan relied on the Level 1 [Cave Abode]'s effects, resting during the day and cultivating at night.

Fortunately, although his spiritual roots were poor, his aptitude for techniques seemed quite good.

After several days, he finally mastered the Object Manipulation Technique completely. When controlling artifacts again, they now moved as easily as his own arms and fingers.

Especially the Deathbringer Needle. Once it flew from his sleeve and was then hidden within the Water Drop Finger, it would most likely strike without fail in a sneak attack.

The Blackgold Blade could be used as a feint.

Though Ji Yuan had not gone out these past few days, he could still hear that Lin Hu and Deng Yunliang had been interacting closely, occasionally visiting each other's homes.

But after only a few days, while taking a walk near his gate, Ji Yuan heard Wu Qin quietly asking him about something.

She said the new neighbor did not go out fishing. Instead, he ran into Zengtou City all day long, and most of the time he slept by day and moved by night. She had no idea what kind of work he was doing.

Ji Yuan naturally did not know either, nor could he be bothered to care.

After raising fish for many days, Ji Yuan finally reaped a great harvest one late night... Two Half-Spirit Fish advanced at once.

Not only that, the other Half-Spirit Fish were also nearly ready for harvest.