Finding Treasure

Looking at the several Dharma Tools laid out on the muddy ground, then at the still-warm technique jade slips in his hand,

Ji Yuan instinctively had a bold thought... This was it? Why the hell was he still farming?

Murder and arson brought gold belts.

GOOGLE searched TWKAN

It was far more profitable than farming.

Otherwise, with these techniques and Dharma Tools alone, who knew how many months he would have needed to save up.

Whereas now, he had struck it rich in one wave.

"Object Manipulation Technique, Cloud-Rain Technique, and... Fireball Technique. Damn it, I thought there was something good. They're all street-stall junk."

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

"I already know these."

Ji Yuan knew none of them, so he put them away. Then both their gazes fell to the ground... the delightful moment of dividing the spoils had finally arrived.

There was nothing much to argue over. They split everything evenly.

There were forty-six Spirit Stones in total. Ji Yuan received twenty-three. As for the remaining Cultivation Pills, he received one bottle of Hundred-Herb Pills containing three pills, one Detoxification Pill, one Blood-Burning Pill, and 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 were divided, what remained were the Dharma Tools. Those were the real main course.

There were two Storage Bags, each roughly a foot square; two Low-Grade Spirit Vessels; an ebony-gold shortsword and a bamboo pole, both Low-Grade Magical Artifacts; and that Embroidery Needle... Qiu Qianhai surmised that it was a fragment of a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact.

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

He had intended to give both the ebony-gold shortsword and bamboo pole to Qiu Qianhai, but unexpectedly, Qiu Qianhai still gave the shortsword to Ji Yuan and kept only the bamboo-pole-type Dharma Tool for himself.

The spoils were divided.

The two also calmed down from their brief delight.

Ji Yuan no longer felt the joy he had before. Killing was easy, but dealing with what came afterward was rather troublesome.

Especially Lousy Liu.

"Lousy Liu belonged to the Qin Household. All these years, he had been lending money on their behalf, and most of the Spirit Stones he earned went to them. So once he died, the Qin Household would definitely investigate."

Qiu Qianhai spoke first.

The Qin Household... Ji Yuan knew of them too. They could be considered the greatest household in Zengtou City.

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

If one was too old, or had other problems, one could be turned away at the door.

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

They recruited some people, sheltered some people, slept with some people, and naturally formed small Cultivation Families.

That was how the Qin Household had come to be.

"Lousy Liu's murder was supposed to be secretive. It should be hard to trace 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 before. I don't mind offending them one more time. Besides, I'm sick of staying in Zengtou City. I was already planning to visit other marketplaces."

"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 drift through 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 indeed have wanted to seek opportunities in other marketplaces. But he could have slipped away in secret instead of stepping forward to shoulder this matter.

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

At the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, he would have to drift from Zengtou City across the vast Cloud-Rain Marsh to another marketplace... the dangers involved were plain to imagine.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Ji Yuan asked.

"What's there to make up my mind about?" Qiu Qianhai laughed freely.

Ji Yuan nodded, then took out the Talismans and Cultivation Pills he had just obtained 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 so much. If I want 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's shoulder. "Stay alive. Once we both reach Late Qi Refining, we'll wipe out the Qin Household together."

At the mention of this, Qiu Qianhai could not help taking a deep breath.

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

"Alright."

Ji Yuan agreed with a smile.

Qiu Qianhai did not refuse again. After putting the items away, he pondered briefly and said, "Once I go back and pack my things, I'll leave right away. I might not come to see you."

"If I return to Zengtou City next time, 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. I'll wait for you here on Autumn Rain Island."

"Alright."

He had only just found a reliable friend, yet in the blink of an eye, it was time to part again. Ji Yuan felt somewhat reluctant to let him go.

But on careful thought, the path of cultivation seemed to be like this in the first place.

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

Qiu Qianhai left.

After coming out for a fight, Ji Yuan now had a Spirit Vessel and Dharma Tools. He took out Wu Laochuan's Spirit Vessel, refined it slightly, and tossed it into the water. It grew in the wind, transforming into a slender White Boat.

The White Boat had a long, narrow hull, and a spike at its prow that gave it even greater speed.

Ji Yuan reckoned that this White Boat was nearly comparable to a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact. Then again, Wu Laochuan was a bandit cultivator who made his living off Cloud-Rain Marsh. His Spirit Vessel could not possibly be poor.

This White Boat should serve him for quite some time.

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

Upon returning, he immediately activated the effects of every building, changed into clean clothes, and only then relaxed a little.

Drinking the hot tea he had brewed that morning, Ji Yuan began reviewing today's battle.

After thinking it through carefully, Ji Yuan felt that his survival today had depended entirely on resources. What kind of fight had this been? This had clearly been a battle of resources.

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

Those two Middle-Grade Talismans alone were not something an ordinary cultivator 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 he had been unwilling to use them.

He had probably thought Lousy Liu could handle Ji Yuan, then join forces with Lousy Liu to take down Qiu Qianhai with almost no losses.

But 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 in the end, Ji Yuan had naturally prepared for it long ago.

After experiencing Huang Laotou's betrayal, the only person Ji Yuan barely trusted now was Qiu Qianhai, and that was only because they had killed someone together.

Wu Laochuan, a bandit cultivator... could he be trusted?

Thus, in the fighting and killing of the cultivation world, one's 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.