Lucky Break

Ordinary Low-Grade Spirit Fish sold for between 8 and 15 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

The reason Coldblood Perch was worth so much was that its blood contained a special chill, making it a superior material for crafting Talismans.

Ji Yuan had not expected that this upgrade would evolve the only Half-Spirit Fish in his Fish Pond into a Spirit Fish.

It was likely a benefit brought by upgrading the Fish Pond, triggering a critical hit.

But no matter what, with this Coldblood Perch, his current predicament was resolved.

Ji Yuan did not want to borrow usury loans, but he wanted to die even less... He had transmigrated once and arrived in the cultivation world men dreamed of. No one wanted to die.

Since that was the case, the problem now was getting this Coldblood Perch to the Fish Pen and selling it for Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan sat beside the Fish Pond, looking at the Spirit Fish trapped in the shallow pool... Selling it outright would definitely not do. If someone observant saw it, it would likely arouse suspicion.

Having come to this treacherous, ever-shifting cultivation world, before his strength reached a sufficient level, caution had to come first.

So the best solution was to first make a trip to Cloud-Rain Marsh and pretend he had just caught it.

He acted as soon as he made up his mind.

In the vast Cloud-Rain Marsh, this Coldblood Perch would need only one flick of its tail for Ji Yuan to never catch up again. Unfortunately, it was now trapped in this tiny Fish Pond.

Thus, using the Water Arrow Technique that the original owner had not yet mastered, Ji Yuan effortlessly shot the Coldblood Perch dead with a single arrow.

Once the Spirit Fish died, he hurriedly dragged its corpse ashore. He even applied hemostatic powder to it, lest it lose more blood.

He then went to check the entrance. Only after finding no one around did he carry the Spirit Fish's corpse onto the old awning boat and hide it in the water hold.

The household had originally owned a fishing boat that was a basic magic artifact, but it too had been buried in Cloud-Rain Marsh.

After considering it, Ji Yuan knocked on the courtyard gate of old Huang Laotou next door.

"What, finally thought it through? Going to see Lousy Liu?" Huang Laotou asked with a grin, his toothless mouth gaping open.

"I thought it through. I'll try Cloud-Rain Marsh again instead. Sorry for the trouble, Elder Huang, but please watch over my home. If anyone comes looking, just say I went fishing."

"Fine. Try to stay alive."

Once he heard Ji Yuan was not going to see Lousy Liu, Huang Laotou lost interest.

"Mm."

Ji Yuan turned and boarded the fishing boat. With a push of the oars in both hands, the awning boat sailed into the boundless Cloud-Rain Marsh.

Leaning against the doorframe, Huang Laotou watched his retreating back and let out a faint sigh.

"Merciless Cloud-Rain Marsh, there'll be another drowned ghost now."

After quite a while, Ji Yuan looked back. Only once the shore had completely vanished from sight did he find a small nearby island, cultivate there for most of the day, then steer his boat straight toward the Fish Pen in Zengtou City.

If one had to name the liveliest places in Zengtou City, the first was the pleasure den where male cultivators spent their essence.

The second was this Fish Pen.

Especially this Fish Pen by the shore—fishermen returning from the marsh would basically all come here.

Although Ji Yuan had returned early, around three or four in the afternoon, the place was still packed to the rafters.

"Brother Ye, not bad haul! You actually caught a Sword Yellowfish. That's another ten Spirit Stones in the bag. How about treating your brothers to some fun tonight?"

"A mid-stage first-rank Spirit Fish showed up at Backwater Bay. It injured several people."

"I heard Han Feiyu broke through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining? Then he'll definitely be able to join the Water Dragon Sect this time. He's talent born from our Zengtou City."

With so many mouths and so much gossip, Ji Yuan did not dare linger. Holding the Coldblood Perch, he went straight to the Water Dragon Sect disciple responsible for buying fish and placed the Spirit Fish into the fish basket.

The moment the Coldblood Perch appeared, the surrounding voices quieted considerably.

"Coldblood Perch? Haven't seen one of those in a long time."

"Damn, and it was caught by someone at the Second Layer of Qi Refining? He must've stepped in dog shit all the way here!"

Seeing the Coldblood Perch, the Water Dragon Sect disciple showed some interest as well. "The quality is good, and the blood has been preserved fairly well. I'll count it as 18 Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

What?!

18!

Even Ji Yuan was startled by that price. He had thought 15 Low-Grade Spirit Stones would already be more than enough, yet it was another three higher.

Only when the Water Dragon Sect disciple placed the small handful of Spirit Stones in his palm did he come back to his senses and hurriedly ask,

"I want to pay my Immortal Residence Fee. Can I pay it here?"

Both the Fish Pen and the Immortal Residence Fee were handled "officially" by the Water Dragon Sect. In the past, fishermen preparing to venture into the deep waters of Cloud-Rain Marsh would pay next month's Immortal Residence Fee here in advance.

"Yes."

The Water Dragon Sect disciple answered expressionlessly.

"Room C-16."

Ji Yuan gave his address. The Water Dragon Sect disciple took out a jade slip and glanced at it. "You've already been in arrears for two months. Six Spirit Stones in total."

"Here."

The Spirit Stones had barely touched his hand before a third of them were gone, but Ji Yuan did not feel much heartache. Instead, he felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

This way, at least he no longer had to worry about being driven from Cloud-Rain Marsh at any moment and left without a fixed abode.

After paying the rent, Ji Yuan smiled and cupped his hands toward the nearby fishermen watching the show.

"Lucky, just lucky."

With that, he slipped into the crowd, darted left and right a few times, and vanished from sight.

Only after leaving the Fish Pen by quite a distance did he look back. Once he confirmed no one was following him, he let out a long breath.

Thankfully, the market was fairly safe, especially during the day.

Touching the Spirit Stones in his robes, Ji Yuan glanced at the panel again. If he only wanted to upgrade buildings, his current wealth could upgrade several of them.

But upgrading buildings alone was not enough without other resources.

For example, the Fish Pond needed enough Half-Spirit Fish to properly display its effects.

The remaining [Pigsty] could add a hundred jin of muscle in seven days and also temper the body, but that required Spirit Pigs... another expense.

For now, the best approach was still to purchase some Half-Spirit Fish first and make use of the [Fish Pond]'s effects.

After all, even if they could not evolve into Spirit Fish, the 20% increased growth speed would still ensure he did not lose money.

As for buildings, Ji Yuan planned to upgrade another [Chicken Coop].

Then he would buy a few Green-Yellow Chickens. The Spirit Eggs they laid would not only sustain his daily cultivation, but also allow him to abstain from food.

That would save him a considerable expense as well.

He acted as soon as he made up his mind. Under normal circumstances, these Spirit Stones would most likely have been used to purchase Talismans or Cultivation Pills for going underwater, so that he could risk his life in Cloud-Rain Marsh.

As for now... Ji Yuan's answer was this.

You all can go risk your lives. I'll just raise fish and feed chickens at home.

Before long, Ji Yuan returned to his doorstep in the little awning boat, bringing five Half-Spirit Fish and three Green-Yellow Chickens carrying a trace of Demon Beast bloodline.

Huang Laotou, who was smoking dry tobacco outside his home, saw Ji Yuan return with a full load. He rose in astonishment and said,

"You brat, did you sell your ass?"

You're the one who sold your ass. Your whole family sold their asses... Ji Yuan twitched the corner of his mouth. "Lucky. I came across a badly injured early-stage Spirit Fish."

"You really stepped in dog shit."

There was even a hint of envy in Huang Laotou's voice.

What Ji Yuan described was not something that had never happened in Zengtou City. It was merely rare.

Watching Ji Yuan enter his home carrying fish and chickens, Huang Laotou sneered inwardly... Young, truly too young. The moment he got some money, he thought only of eating and drinking. He did not even know to save it for next month's Immortal Residence Fee.

Did he really think he could be this lucky every day, that he could pick up a badly injured Spirit Fish every month?

Yet as he turned to look at the mist-shrouded Cloud-Rain Marsh, a bold thought inevitably rose in Huang Laotou's heart.

How about I try Cloud-Rain Marsh too?

(An eighteen-year-old newbie's first new book. Please give it your support—please bookmark it, and send recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!)