A Path to Wealth, Grandfather and Grandson

[Supplicating the Heavenly Book: show me a viable path to wealth!]

Back in his shack in the Large Compound, Jiang Yi lay down fully clothed and closed his eyes, concentrating.

Before drifting off to sleep, he focused his thoughts and once again put his question to the mysterious golden page.

[Matter queried: wealth]

[Derivation time: ten hours]

Light flowed across the golden page, and the writing gradually became clear.

"Ten hours. That isn't long."

Looking at this page of the Heavenly Book, Jiang Yi felt thoroughly reassured.

The wine he had yet to metabolize rose to his head, finally granting him a sound, tipsy sleep.

"That hit the spot!"

He slept deeply, waking naturally only when the sun stood high.

He felt refreshed and clearheaded, his mouth fragrant, warmth suffusing his organs and every bone, his True Qi circulating smoothly and without obstruction.

Presumably, after yesterday's hearty nourishment of Copper Juice and Iron Pellets, his Fourth Level of Qi Refining had stabilized completely.

He estimated that his cultivation progress should now be at eighteen percent.

"Time to see Duty Officer Yang, pay my respects, and show some filial devotion. I can ask for a few pointers while I'm there."

Jiang Yi rolled out of bed and pushed open the shack's wooden door.

Daylight flooded in. It was a rare, brilliantly clear day.

"Old He and Old Li have been diligent."

The snow in the courtyard had already been shoveled into a corner and neatly piled up.

He stepped into the kitchen as usual and, sure enough, saw two large bowls turned upside down on the counter.

He lifted them to look.

Well! Dumplings!

Jiang Yi rubbed his hands and eagerly tasted two.

One bowl held beef-and-radish dumplings, the other chive-and-pork dumplings. Having sat warming on the stove for so long, their wrappers were a little dry, and they fell far short of Heshui Cave's Spirit Cuisine in nourishing flesh and blood.

But each bite filled his mouth with savory richness and the solid, comforting savor of everyday life.

"Sister Qin really does look after me."

Jiang Yi polished off both large bowls of dumplings in no time, leaving his belly full and his whole body invigorated.

Then he straightened his Daoist robe, stepped outside, and headed toward the Quenching Room on Crimson Flame Peak.

It was the beginning of the month.

There was little work on the Outer Sect's Four Peaks, and even the Mortal Laborers seemed more lighthearted at work, their usual grumbling and complaints much diminished.

With the year's end approaching, everyone was figuring out how to stockpile more food, clothing, and other winter necessities before the heavy snow sealed off the mountains completely.

Of the artifact blanks and spirit materials produced on the four peaks under the Qianji Sect's jurisdiction, eighty or ninety percent went to the Market Ward below the mountain.

But with the New Year approaching, the shops would all have to close for a break, and the Market Ward would grow quiet too.

Without demand from outside, the Inner Peaks had no need to press them relentlessly, and there was no need to rush through the work day and night.

Generally, the Mortal Laborers had two choices at year's end: take leave to descend the mountain and reunite with their families, or remain in the sect and wait for spring.

Roughly half chose each.

"Brother Yi, Duty Officer Yang happened to come round today. He's resting upstairs."

Seeing Jiang Yi enter the Quenching Room, He Laohun hurried over to greet him.

"How's this month's progress?"

Jiang Yi asked casually.

Ever since he had offered that secret formula, the Quenching Room's work had ceased to be as grueling as before. Coupled with Duty Officer Yang Xun's lack of a harsh, exploitative disposition, this place had actually become more popular than the grinding-and-engraving and forging workshops.

"Not bad. The Inner Peaks told us to prepare extra material before year's end so there won't be a shortage come spring. But Duty Officer Yang is kindhearted. He only told us to work a little harder next month, without driving us like beasts. Talisman Money comes easily now, and everyone remembers what you've done for us, Brother Yi."

He Laohun had shed his former dispirited air and gave a detailed account.

Jiang Yi nodded slightly.

For all his ferocious looks, Yang Xun was actually quite humane, far better than the duty officers in the other workshops.

Taking his leave of He Laohun, he went straight upstairs.

The young Daoist Attendant serving Yang Xun did not stop him, but instead handed over the pot of Returning-Sweetness Vine Tea he was holding.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Holding a bright red note of Talisman Money between two fingers, Jiang Yi deftly slipped it into the Daoist Attendant's robe.

These past few days, he had been busy cultivating and traveling to and from the Inner Peaks. Worried that Yang Xun might feel "neglected," he had specifically instructed the young Daoist Attendant to attend to him.

Each day, he was to brew a pot of Returning-Sweetness Vine Tea and prepare some sweet snacks to satisfy his cravings.

That way, even without Jiang Yi at his side, Yang Xun could still feel that meticulous "filial devotion."

"Don't disturb Grandpa. I'll wait right here."

Seeing Yang Xun nestled in his rocking chair, snoring softly, Jiang Yi lowered his voice.

Having followed his former superior for many years, he had learned quite a few useful, effective principles.

One was to "show the greatest possible respect to benefactors who bring you benefits."

Although he had reached the Fourth Level of Qi Refining and become acquainted with direct descendants of local clans such as Wang Heng, Lu Yun, and Li Ruohan, securing one of the additional Inner Peaks places would be far from certain without Yang Xun's wholehearted assistance.

At that thought, Jiang Yi tempered some of the soaring confidence that came from standing at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining above all the Mortal Laborers on Crimson Flame Peak, and once again silently recited his watchword: "steady."

Clang, clang, clang!

The bells of Wavelooking Peak rang out melodiously. Yang Xun, who had been sleeping soundly, lifted his eyelids and happened to see Jiang Yi.

The boy obediently held the teapot, concern in his eyes:

"Grandpa, are you thirsty? Would you like to wet your throat?"

Heat billowed through the Quenching Room, and staying there too long inevitably left one's mouth and throat dry.

Yang Xun paused, his eyes briefly distant. "Jiang Yi, you're here."

He slowly raised his hand to take the teapot and gulped down several great mouthfuls straight from the spout.

The dryness in his heart was moistened, and even the tea's bitterness and astringency turned sweet.

"I've been busy consolidating my cultivation lately. Now that I've finally taken another step forward, I came to pay my respects, Grandpa."

Jiang Yi smiled, no longer as cautious as before, and familiarly took a handful of dried lychees from the food box, chewing them gently.

This easy, unreserved closeness, just like that of a younger member of his own family, pleased Yang Xun all the more.

He nodded and said:

"Mm, cultivation is the foundation. That's as it should be. Competition for those few Inner Peaks places next spring is bound to be fierce. It's been days since I saw you. Jiang Yi, you should already be in the late Third Level of Qi Refining..."

Before Yang Xun finished, his fierce face with its sparse brows suddenly changed, astonishment mingling with joy.

"The fourth level?!"

Jiang Yi let just the right amount of youthful pride show. "Yes, Grandpa. I was fortunate enough to cross the threshold yesterday."

Yang Xun could not help drawing a sharp breath. Counting carefully in his mind, he recalled that Jiang Yi seemed to have been only at the Qi Refining Second Stage when he first caught his attention.

Later, with his permission, Jiang Yi had learned the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art, smoothly broken through to the third level, crippled Zhang San, and killed Dong Si.

And now, through organ tempering and viscera refining, he stood at the fourth level.

All in little more than a month!

"Such bold, rapid progress must have cost you quite a bit of Talisman Money?"

Yang Xun subdued his delight, took Jiang Yi's hand, and grew solemn.

"Use those tiger-and-wolf medicinal plasters as little as possible! Excessively forcing your body drains the very foundation of your Destiny Nature.

"The road of cultivation is long. Becoming an Inner Peaks disciple doesn't mean you can rest your head on a high pillow without a care. There's a long future ahead. You must leave yourself some room, not hollow your body out completely."

Naturally, Yang Xun assumed Jiang Yi's swift cultivation came from the impatient method of draining the pond to catch the fish.

Before the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, so-called sinew tempering and bone tempering, blood exchange and marrow renewal, and organ tempering and viscera refining all involved using every possible means to strengthen oneself and forge a sturdy cauldron for cultivation.

It was not necessarily difficult.

The direct descendants of Dao Clans belonging to the "Sect-tier" Dharma Lineages of Northern Mang Ridge began laying their foundations at ten, taking all manner of precious medicines to condition their bodies.

Once their muscles and bones took shape at fourteen or fifteen and their Qi and Blood flourished, they could ascend to the fourth level in just a few days.

The true hurdle of cultivation was the fifth level: opening the Inner Mansion of the Origin Gate and gathering and refining the Spirit Chance of heaven and earth.

But Jiang Yi had, after all, come from nothing more than a Mortal Laborer under a "Men"-rank Dharma Lineage. Without abundant resources to rely upon, what could he count on to catch up except risking his life in the struggle?

Affection deepened in Yang Xun's eyes. More than ever, he felt that his judgment was sound and that investing in this boy's development had indeed been wise.

The boy had not simply waited for resources to fall from the sky. He knew how to seize opportunities and was willing to stake heavily on fighting for a future.

Such clearheadedness and ruthlessness were wholly different from those local-clan youngsters who held their noses in the air, cherished their own hides, and sought only personal gain. There was something of his own younger self in him!

"I'm very gratified that you understand the principle that, in the end, you must rely on yourself in all things."

Yang Xun looked pleased, no longer regarding Jiang Yi merely as a substitute to fill some regret.

Feeling the roughness and warmth of Yang Xun's palm, Jiang Yi quietly put away his feigned pride, his expression turning sincere:

"I've always kept your teachings firmly in mind, Grandpa. I use those tiger-and-wolf medicinal plasters very little now. Mostly, I rely on the Fire-Control Art to refine my Primordial Essence, strengthen my foundation, and advance my cultivation.

"Recently, I also made a few friends over at Heshui Cave and spent money on food and drink to nourish my body. I crossed into the fourth level in one push."

Hearing this, Yang Xun's approval deepened.

He had truly been right to take on this adoptive kinship in his old age.

Those words alone warmed the heart. What elder would not want such a sensible junior who knew how to show filial devotion?

"Set your mind at ease. I'm already preparing the Water Pool and Fire Marsh ritual. We're still missing a few principal ingredients that can't be found on the mountain, so I'll have to look in the Market Ward outside."

Seeing how well Jiang Yi was doing, Yang Xun offered him some reassurance.

"Once everything is ready, you'll sit within it and undergo refinement by water and fire. Both mind and body will be cleansed and nourished. It should replenish the Primordial Essence and vitality you previously depleted."

Jiang Yi was naturally endlessly grateful.

The more he dealt with people like Wang Heng and Yang Xun, the more he understood the importance of backing and connections.

Under the Qianji Sect's rules, filling additional Inner Peaks places was by no means as simple as "the capable shall have them."

Without someone to guide him up, he might not even reach the threshold.

"There's no need for such polite words from now on." Yang Xun narrowed his eyes, his tone gentle but firm. "Since you're willing to call me Grandpa, I certainly won't treat you poorly or let you lose out."

Jiang Yi chuckled and accompanied Yang Xun out of the empty Quenching Room, returning with him to the residence at the peak for a meal.

As grandfather and grandson sat facing each other over their meal, a golden gleam flickered in Jiang Yi's eyes.

Without betraying anything, he lowered his head and scanned the tiny, tadpole-shaped characters appearing in the Heavenly Book.

[Derivation results follow]

[Example one: in recent months, the Market Ward appears to have been purchasing large quantities of Cicada-Wing Gauze, Flowing-Cloud Satin, and Purple-Shadow Thread produced on Sewing Peak. You may take the opportunity to stockpile them...]

[Example two: with heavy snow sealing off the mountains, several Class Yi medicinal fields on Herb-Gathering Peak will suffer damage and require irrigation with Fire Essence Spirit Pulp. You may take the opportunity to buy it...]

Jiang Yi silently committed them to memory, mentally selecting several viable options.

These opportunities to buy and resell were good, but they all required capital, and what he lacked most at present was precisely "startup funds."

Do I have to ask Grandpa?

As Jiang Yi hesitated, his thoughts shifted, and he asked the Heavenly Book again.

[Supplicating the Heavenly Book: show me a way to make money that I can put into practice immediately, without risks or future repercussions?]

Golden light flowed, and the writing vanished before appearing again.

[Matter queried: wealth]

[Derivation time: twenty breaths]

When the selection criteria were limited to what Jiang Yi himself could accomplish, the web of cause and effect seemed to become exceptionally straightforward.

[Derivation result: Heshui Cave on Wavelooking Peak intends to introduce cultivation-nourishing supplements to attract direct descendants of local clans and Inner Peaks disciples. You may use Duty Officer Yang Xun and Wang Heng of Soul-Nourishing Peak as intermediaries to discuss cooperation and sell Green Zhi Pulp...]

Oh? This could work!

Jiang Yi wiped his mouth, suddenly raised his head, and spoke in a natural tone:

"Grandpa, I seem to have found a path to wealth in the Inner Peaks. I'd like you to help me think it through and see whether it's sound."