An opportunity

The harbor meeting grounds.

Several dozen senior fisher-farmers left resolutely, without the slightest hesitation, steering their boats back to the Inner Waters.

It had already come to this.

Any senior fisher-farmers who had wanted to leave would have left long ago. Since they were still with the Yun Household, they had already prepared to live or die alongside it.

Most of these several dozen senior fisher-farmers were at the mid Qi Refining stage; only seven or eight were at the late Qi Refining stage.

They knew full well that unless they could find a suitable new patron after leaving the Yun Household, life in the cultivation world would be miserable.

They merely had a decent talent for fish farming and possessed no other skills.

If they went to the Market Ward, they would most likely become demon hunters. Then they really would be living with their heads tucked into their waistbands, staking their lives on every day.

The retainers weighed their options. After a moment's hesitation, six guard retainers and two craft retainers left.

They had plenty of choices.

The guard retainers were all at Qi Refining, seventh layer or above. After leaving the Yun Household, they could not only head to the Market Ward and find work on a guard squad.

They could also become demon hunters, or serve as retainers for another foundation establishment immortal clan.

If they had some savings, they could even go elsewhere and establish a qi refining aristocratic clan.

The craft retainers had even more paths open to them.

With a trade in hand, they would be warmly welcomed whether they went to the Market Ward or another foundation establishment immortal clan.

"Daniu, have you heard exactly what the Yun Household plans to do with the junior fisher-farmers?" Zhou Miaoyun asked quietly.

By now, no senior fisher-farmers or retainers remained at the meeting grounds. Only four hundred or so junior fisher-farmers were left.

Everyone whispered with their friends, discussing why the Yun Household had kept the junior fisher-farmers behind.

"All I know is that there'll be a major change, and it'll benefit junior fisher-farmers. I don't know anything else," Yu Daniu replied.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Yun Zhonghou, the Yun Household's fifth elder, gave a light cough and pressed his hand downward, signaling for silence. Once the grounds fell quiet, he spoke.

"Those from qi refining aristocratic clans may leave."

"Hm?"

Zhou Miaoyun's heart tightened, and a hint of disappointment appeared in her beautiful eyes. Everyone knew there would be a major change that would benefit junior fisher-farmers.

Naturally, she wanted to benefit too.

"Yaoyao, I'll wait for you outside."

Nearly a hundred junior fisher-farmers left the grounds at once, their expressions downcast and their eyes showing reluctance as they departed.

On the raised platform, Yun Zhonghou and Yun Bufan spoke quietly for a while, then instructed the Outer Waters steward to announce, "Next, those who meet the requirements may step forward."

"Junior fisher-farmers whose total Big Blue Fish yield exceeded twenty-six hundred jin, with an average weight of at least three jin and seven liang."

Chen Jianghe looked around and saw more than thirty junior fisher-farmers step forward.

That meant there were over thirty junior fisher-farmers earning annual wages as high as ninety-odd grains of spirit sand.

Although he did not know what the Yun Household intended, Chen Jianghe still stepped forward.

His total Big Blue Fish yield that year had been twenty-eight hundred jin, with an average weight of three jin and nine liang, already meeting the requirements the Outer Waters steward had stated.

Besides, this was no secret. The Yun Household only needed to check the fish collection records to find out.

Deliberately hiding it would do him no good.

"Male junior fisher-farmers over sixteen and under twenty-five who entered the path of cultivation through the Yun Household's benevolence," the Outer Waters steward's voice rang out again.

At once, another dozen or so fisher-farmers stepped forward.

Yu Daniu was among them.

What is the Yun Household planning?

Chen Jianghe glanced at the thirty-odd junior fisher-farmers who had stepped forward first and saw two of them take another step.

He hesitated for only an instant before also stepping forward again in response. "All right, those who do not meet the requirements may leave the grounds and go about their business." The Outer Waters steward waved away the two hundred or so junior fisher-farmers.

"Brother Jianghe, Brother Daniu, Sister Miaoyun and I will wait for you at the Welcoming Inn."

Gao Peiyao pressed her lips together and gave a bitter smile.

"All right."

Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu both nodded.

By now, uncontainable delight shone in Yu Daniu's eyes. He knew that the Yun Household's changes concerned junior fisher-farmers and were very likely an opportunity.

He had never expected it to fall into his lap.

A short while later, only fifty-two junior fisher-farmers remained at the grounds, thirty-five of whom had met the fish-farming requirements.

"Those who received the Yun Household's benevolence, stand on the left. Those who met the fish-farming requirements, stand on the right."

The Outer Waters steward's gaze fell on Chen Jianghe and the other two, who had each stepped forward twice.

Not only had they met the fish-farming requirements, but they had also entered the path of cultivation through the Yun Household's benevolence.

"You three can stand in the middle."

After giving this instruction, the Outer Waters steward turned and invited Yun Zhonghou to preside.

Yun Zhonghou looked at the fifty-two junior fisher-farmers on the grounds. His aged eyelids were half lowered, a dark golden sheen resting deep within his pupils. His gaze was as deep as an abyss and as sharp as a blade, the lines at the corners of his eyes seeming carved by knife and axe. His unfathomable pressure carried a cold gleam tempered by the years, and an innate majesty accompanied his sweeping gaze.

"You are all very good, the future pillars of the Yun Household. Now that our Yun Household faces hardship, are you willing to weather this crisis alongside us?"

"We are willing to share the lineage's honor and disgrace!"

The junior fisher-farmers shouted in unison.

Chen Jianghe's heart sank, an ominous feeling rising within him. Why did it feel as though this Yun Household elder might be brainwashing them?

Although something felt wrong, he could only steel himself and shout along.

"Mm."

Yun Zhonghou's gaze softened, and he said to Yun Bufan beside him, "Bufan, go ahead and choose your people."

Choose people?

What did that mean?

All the fisher-farmers looked toward the platform in confusion, unsure what Yun Zhonghou meant by choosing people.

Yun Bufan stepped forward and looked at everyone with a faint smile. "I imagine you've all heard some rumors. That's right, we have indeed gathered you here to grant you an opportunity."

"I now serve as the Inner Waters steward. With senior fisher-farmers currently in short supply, I proposed to the lineage that we select the best junior fisher-farmers to fill those vacancies."

"Those who met the fish-farming requirements will be senior fisher-farmers from this day forward and begin raising Small Blue Fish."

Yun Bufan pointed at Chen Jianghe and the other two. "You three, stay behind for now. The others who have been appointed senior fisher-farmers may leave first. Gather here in three days to accompany me to the Inner Waters."

At once.

The junior fisher-farmers whose total Big Blue Fish yield had reached twenty-six hundred jin, with an average weight of three jin and seven liang, all looked delighted and surprised.

Becoming senior fisher-farmers ahead of time would bring them an additional five or six spirit stones in income.

Moreover, given the Yun Household's current situation, the Inner Waters were far safer than the Outer Waters.

There was another particularly important point.

Spiritual energy.

The Inner Waters were rich in spiritual energy, reaching the concentration of a first-tier middle-grade spiritual vein, far surpassing the Outer Waters.

The abundant spiritual energy in the Inner Waters was the main reason senior fisher-farmers had a chance of breaking through to the late Qi Refining stage.

Thirty-two junior fisher-farmers left the grounds in high spirits.

Chen Jianghe looked at the other two junior fisher-farmers who, like him, had met the requirements and stayed behind.

He could see excitement in their eyes, along with anticipation for an even greater opportunity.

(End of chapter)