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Ji Yuan had never seen or even heard of any Tri-color Spirit Egg.

But that made sense. A Level Three building was something only those in the Foundation Establishment Realm could possess at minimum. It was perfectly normal for a minor cultivator like him in the Middle Qi Refining Stage not to know about it.

He just did not know how much it was worth... or what it did.

Going by its name, the Tri-color Spirit Egg was surely far superior to an ordinary Spirit Egg. And since there was only one each day, its effects were bound to be exceptional.

There was also the upgrade requirement to use Rotfire Yin Locust to make the Chicken Coop. He had no idea what this Rotfire Yin Locust even was.

And its name carried an air of sinister evil.

As Ji Yuan pondered, he suddenly noticed that, in a corner of the Level Two Chicken Coop, a small mound of soil had gained a faint haze of spiritual energy.

On closer inspection, it even seemed to glimmer with specks of white light.

This was... Spirit Soil!

Ji Yuan immediately used the Object Manipulation Technique and collected the one qian of Spirit Soil.

If he took it to Zengtou City, he could sell it for at least five Spirit Stones.

Spirit Soil itself was not valuable, but the spirit plants it could grow were valuable.

Moreover, unlike Waterbloom Dew, Blood Essence, and other such items, it was not a one-use consumable. It could be reused.

Ji Yuan intended to eventually create a Spirit Field made entirely of pure Spirit Soil for himself, so he had no plans to sell the Spirit Soil produced by the Chicken Coop.

After dealing with the Chicken Coop upgrade, Ji Yuan returned to his Talisman Room to draw talismans and cultivate.

Yet before nightfall, he suddenly heard someone knocking on his courtyard gate.

Someone?

Now that Ji Yuan was already at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement, he no longer needed a Thunderstrike Talisman to bolster his courage. He went to the front courtyard, and before even opening the gate, he had roughly guessed who it was from the aura outside.

It was Wen Ling'er's father next door, Wen Lin.

Ji Yuan had dealt with him several times and had a very favorable impression of him. He was educated, well-mannered, and knew when to advance and when to retreat.

He occasionally took a boat out to fish, but he also seemed to be an alchemist.

Thus, he lived with little pressure in Zengtou City.

Ji Yuan opened the gate, and it was indeed him.

Wearing a cotton robe, Wen Lin smiled and cupped his hands. "Sorry for disturbing Fellow Daoist Ji's quiet cultivation."

"You are too courteous, Fellow Daoist Wen."

Ji Yuan smiled and waited for him to continue.

Wen Lin hesitated briefly. "It is like this. I have prepared a modest meal and some wine at home tonight. I hope Fellow Daoist Ji will honor us with your presence."

Inviting me to dinner... Ji Yuan instinctively wanted to refuse. He never attended such occasions.

But before he could speak, Wen Lin continued, "Rest assured, there is no other matter. We have been living here for so long, yet I have never invited our two neighbors to a meal, so I came specifically to extend the invitation. Fellow Daoist Lin next door has already agreed as well."

Since Wen Lin had put it that way, and Ji Yuan considered these neighbors a respectable household—not the likes of Huang Laotou or Deng Yunliang—he nodded and agreed.

A while later, Ji Yuan entered the Wen Household's courtyard carrying five Spirit Eggs.

For an invitation like this, Ji Yuan naturally could not neglect proper etiquette, especially when they were his closest neighbors.

As for five Spirit Eggs, they were no longer much to Ji Yuan. The Green-Yellow Chickens laid thirty Spirit Eggs every day.

Ji Yuan had even begun trying to steam and fry Spirit Eggs.

"Brother Ji, hehe, wait for me."

Hearing Ji Yuan leave, Lin Hu hurriedly came over with Wu Qin.

Compared with three months ago, Lin Hu had clearly grown several shades darker. The youthful innocence had vanished from his face, replaced by something... lifeless.

Only when he was with Ji Yuan, in the occasional simple words that slipped from his mouth, did his age still show.

Wu Qin, who followed beside him, was much the same. When she looked at Ji Yuan now, the distracting thoughts in her gaze were gone. Like Lin Hu, she now regarded Ji Yuan as the kindly elder brother next door.

After the husband and wife both advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Refining, they had continued going out on the water together. Though they had no Spirit Vessel and did not venture into deep waters,

their lives had steadily improved.

At the very least, they no longer had to worry about the monthly three Spirit Stone Immortal Residence Fee.

Even for today's meal at the Wen Household, Lin Hu had brought a Half-Spirit Fish as a gift... It was rather precious to him, but it also showed his desire to build connections.

Zhao Yuechan's cooking was superb, and with dishes made from ingredients such as Spirit Pig and Half-Spirit Fish,

Ji Yuan rarely ate until he was round as a barrel.

After eating and drinking their fill, they sat in the room to rest. Zhao Yuechan brought out melon seeds and dried fruits as well.

During their casual conversation, Wen Lin inadvertently revealed his origins.

"Brother Wen is from Blackwater City?" Ji Yuan asked in surprise.

Unlike the three market districts of Tai'an, Jing'an, and Jingde, which were all close neighbors of Zengtou City, Blackwater City lay far away.

It was practically opposite Zengtou City, with the entire Cloud-Rain Marsh between them.

"That is correct."

Wen Lin's expression stalled slightly, but he ultimately nodded.

Ji Yuan guessed that they had likely encountered some trouble in Blackwater City and fled to Zengtou City because of it. So he did not press further, merely pondering for a moment before asking,

"Brother Wen, have you heard of something called Rotbone Flower?"

Ji Yuan knew where he could obtain Cold Iron Sand, and he had already bought some.

But he had never heard of the Rotbone Flower needed to upgrade the Pigsty. Now that he had the rare chance to meet a fellow Daoist from afar, he naturally wanted to ask.

"Rotbone Flower?"

Wen Lin frowned and pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

"I have indeed never heard of it."

Just as Ji Yuan thought there would once again be no news, Wen Lin added, "I can point Brother Ji toward a possible lead."

"I would be grateful to hear it," Ji Yuan said hurriedly.

"On the third day of every month, Shop No. A-18 in Zengtou City opens its doors. That group travels among every market city throughout Cloud-Rain Marsh. You can ask there. If they do not have it either, then it means there are no Rotbone Flowers anywhere in the whole Cloud-Rain Marsh."

"Shop No. A-18."

Ji Yuan silently committed the place to memory, then rose and bowed to Wen Lin. "Thank you, Brother Wen."

"It is nothing. It is just that their prices will be somewhat higher, so Brother Ji should be prepared."

"..."

To learn this information from a single dinner was already an unexpected gain for Ji Yuan.

As for the Wen family's secrets, he had no interest in knowing them. The more secrets one learned, the deeper one sank. By the time one came to their senses, it was most likely already too late to turn back.

It was now the nineteenth day of the eleventh month. He could only wait until the third day of the twelfth month.

Ji Yuan cultivated at home for some time longer and saved up a few more Spirit Stones, which he used to purchase a basic Dharma Tool.

The Dharma Tool was called the Dragon Armor Shield. Its name sounded peerlessly imposing, and it cost Ji Yuan a full twenty-five Spirit Stones.

In truth, it was merely a basic Dharma Tool made from a First-tier Spirit Turtle Shell from Cloud-Rain Marsh. It was unremarkable, but practical.

With this, including the Spirit Vessel, Ji Yuan now possessed four Dharma Tools at once.

The White Boat was for escape, the Blackgold Blade for direct offense, the Deathbringer Needle for assassination and surprise attacks, and now the Dragon Armor Shield for protection.

Ji Yuan felt that he could barely be considered a well-rounded fighter now.

The weather grew ever more bitter, so cold that even Lin Hu no longer dared to sail out into Cloud-Rain Marsh. It was in precisely such weather that Ji Yuan arrived at the A-18 Shop Wen Lin had mentioned.

(It was a new week! I want this new book to rank a little higher on the new-book list, so please give it some monthly votes and recommendation votes. Tips would be even better!)