Reciting poetry, repaying money

At his words, Yang Xun raised his sparse brows slightly and set down his chopsticks:

"Oh? A way to make money from the Inner Peaks? Let's hear it."

Recently, preparing for the "Water Pool and Fire Marsh" ritual had consumed a good deal of his "retirement savings." He had even considered selling off some of his properties.

Having managed the Quenching Room for years, Yang Xun had naturally amassed considerable wealth. Much of it, however, could not readily be converted into cash, such as his dividend shares in the market below the mountain, and the shops and houses he had purchased in his earlier years.

Besides, Immortal Dao rituals had always been enormously expensive.

Lately, gathering the supplementary materials alone had cost him over a hundred thousand in Talisman Money.

Watching his savings flow away like water had indeed left Yang Xun feeling somewhat strained.

Yet he had never revealed the slightest hint of any of this to Jiang Yi.

"Well, here's the situation..."

Jiang Yi explained at length how Heshui Cave on Wavelooking Peak was seeking an Essence-Nourishing Spirit Drink, how he possessed the Green Zhi Pulp Recipe, and how he hoped to secure a partnership through Yang Xun's connections and Wang Heng's assistance.

"Green Zhi Pulp? A recipe passed down from your ancestors?"

Yang Xun tapped his knuckles lightly against the table and mused:

"Just how effective is it? Heshui Cave belongs to Elder Xu. Its cooks were all carefully selected from below the mountain and taught the techniques of preparing Spirit Cuisine. An ordinary nourishing recipe might not catch their eye."

The question was tactfully phrased, but what he really meant was that Jiang Yi came from humble origins, an ordinary mortal as insignificant as a blade of grass.

How much substance could this supposed ancestral recipe have?

"To be honest with you, Grandpa, I've tested this recipe on myself. The Tiger-Wolf Medicinal Paste ravaged my Primordial Essence and squeezed out my vitality. It was only thanks to this Green Zhi Pulp that my body wasn't severely depleted."

Jiang Yi straightened his back, his expression solemn:

"I can prepare some for you to sample first, Grandpa, so you can judge its quality."

He had always maintained that surviving and advancing within a Demonic Path Lineage called for short-term measures that produced quick results with high efficiency.

Simply put, he needed to amass wealth and build up abundant resources to support his cultivation.

Moreover, the Green Zhi Pulp Recipe was not particularly useful to begin with, and only worked on cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Just like the secret formula for improving the tempering of bone material, trading it for Talisman Money would not pain him.

"Good!"

Seeing how certain Jiang Yi sounded, Yang Xun felt somewhat reassured.

"Since you have both the willingness and the ability, I'll do some legwork for you. Tomorrow, I'll go to Wavelooking Peak and speak with an old acquaintance. You should also approach Wang Heng as soon as possible. Working both ends will make success easier."

He raised his teacup and took a small sip, the weight in his chest vanishing.

No elder in the world disliked a capable junior. However deeply they loved them, if all the junior did was take, resentment would inevitably grow over time.

How could someone like Jiang Yi, considerate toward his elders and willing to take the initiative to share their burdens and resolve their troubles, fail to warm the heart?

With this "business deal" settled, the atmosphere between grandfather and grandson grew even more harmonious.

As they chatted, Yang Xun suddenly asked:

"Yi, you studied at the Dao Academy for a few years. How are your literary talents?"

"Nothing beyond average."

Jiang Yi was inwardly puzzled. Could filling the additional Inner Peaks places require a written examination too?

"If you feel your cultivation has reached completion and wish to seek a breakthrough, you might try preparing beforehand and see whether you can compose a poem..."

At this point, Yang Xun himself found it somewhat amusing and said in a ringing voice:

"Recite it when you succeed. Supposedly, it can bring you a little more good fortune."

Jiang Yi's expression turned odd. There was actually such a claim?

Yang Xun grew more talkative and continued as casually as if discussing household matters:

"Across the Jambudvipa Vast Land, the four great Dao Lineages of Immortals, Devils, Demons, and Buddhas stand side by side. They are the world's prominent teachings, open to all who wish to cultivate them.

"Yet beneath them are many 'hidden Dao Lineages' that once enjoyed tremendous prestige, with Dharma Lineages flourishing in great numbers. Through conquest or internal strife, their transmissions were ultimately severed and their numbers dwindled."

Like that [Sword Dao] the Buddhist Dao wiped out?

Jiang Yi immediately thought of the legend of eight thousand sword cultivators whose expedition against the Western Maitreya Continent had failed on the brink of success.

"It seems Elder Xu has told you about the old history of the [Sword Dao] too. Heh, when I first entered the sect, Wavelooking Peak's Transmission Academy often padded its lessons with that tired old story to swindle Talisman Money. To think they're still using it today."

Yang Xun laughed, then continued:

"Exactly. Once a Dharma Lineage is established, its flame is passed on, and with the support of its cultivators, it becomes a Dao Lineage.

"When a Dao Lineage holds sway over the world, its influence can never be erased, regardless of its rise or decline, survival or destruction. For instance, sword cultivators possess killing power unrivaled in this age. That is the legacy of the [Sword Dao].

"Rumor has it that in ancient times, the [Confucian Dao] flourished openly. Its cultivators could nurture literary talent within their breasts. Their words could slay enemies, their poems annihilate armies. Their tongues condemned and their brushes scourged, with unfathomable Divine Abilities.

"Although the [Confucian Dao] has long since ceased to exist, this saying has persisted: if you recite poetry when your cultivation flows naturally to completion and your realm breaks through, you may win the favor of heaven and earth's fortune."

"So that's how it is!"

Understanding flashed through Jiang Yi's eyes. No wonder he had inexplicably felt the urge to recite poetry during his last breakthrough to the third level of Qi Refining.

With the writing skills I honed as a secretary, if I'd landed in an age when the [Confucian Dao] flourished... wouldn't I have been a fish in water!

Yang Xun's enthusiasm for conversation faded, and he sighed softly:

"Of course, this claim may be nothing more than a jest. Across countless ages, who knows how many Dao Lineages have scattered on the wind? Only Immortals, Devils, Demons, and Buddhas endure undying.

"There are as many curious tales about those Dao Lineages as hairs on an ox, and truth is difficult to distinguish from falsehood."

Jiang Yi chatted with Yang Xun a while longer. Seeing the sky gradually darken, he rose to take his leave.

Outside, the wind and snow had not stopped. If anything, they had intensified.

What a blunder, what a blunder. I wasn't feeling remotely poetic when I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. I wasted a good chance to add to my fortune.

Jiang Yi trudged back to the Large Compound through the soft snow, his feet sinking to uneven depths.

The cold wind swept snow dust down his collar. Fortunately, at the fourth level of Qi Refining, heat and cold no longer affected him, so he had nothing to fear from its biting chill.

"Hm..."

From a distance, Jiang Yi spotted a slender figure standing at the courtyard gate.

She wore a plain, neat dress, with a rather thin cloak over it. Her figure trembled slightly in the wind and snow, giving her a fragile air of loneliness and helplessness.

Who was she?

Jiang Yi thought for a moment and dug a name etched deep into the original owner's heart out of his memories.

Luo Qian'er!

At the sight of Jiang Yi, moisture immediately welled in Luo Qian'er's eyes, and she called softly and weakly:

"J-Junior Brother Jiang... it's been so long."

Her voice was lilting, with just the right touch of a tremor.

She was truly a sight to stir anyone's pity.

"Tsk!"

Jiang Yi instantly understood why the original owner had willingly served as her drudge.

A small-town beast of burden had barely entered the outer sect before encountering a max-level succubus.

How could he possibly resist!

A hearty smile spread across Jiang Yi's face, and he hurried forward. "Senior Sister Luo? What brings you here in such heavy snow? Why are you standing at the gate? What if you catch a chill!"

This string of concerned questions eased Luo Qian'er's heart, and she secretly rejoiced:

Sure enough, he's still as easy to handle as before! Seeing me like this, he must be aching for me...

Inwardly pleased, she looked even more fragile, lowering her head and saying softly, "Sister Qin wouldn't let me in. She said you'd gone out... I just wanted to see you. My younger brother told me Duty Officer Yang of the Quenching Room had taken you under his wing. I'm happy for you."

No different from the boy who had once been meek and submissive before Luo Qian'er, granting her every request, Jiang Yi said bashfully:

"Oh, in weather this cold, how could I leave you standing outside in the wind, Senior Sister Luo? I was just lucky enough to catch Duty Officer Yang's eye. With his wholehearted guidance, my cultivation has improved greatly."

At this, inexplicable jealousy rose in Luo Qian'er's heart. She, a legitimate daughter of the Lianxi Luo Clan, had to put on an affectionate act with the likes of Zhou Can, coaxing him and smiling to please him, just to secure her footing.

Why should Jiang Yi rise step by step with such ease, turning his life and fate around?

No wonder people over on the Eastern Victory Continent often said Demonic Path Lineages favored men far too much!

If I'd joined the Immortal Dao, I would have achieved far more than this!

Luo Qian'er's thoughts raced, filled with resentment and grievance. She was just about to deliver her carefully prepared speech, hoping to win sympathy and obtain some Talisman Money.

But Jiang Yi spoke first:

"Speaking of which, I really must thank you, Senior Sister. Back in the Lower Courtyard, if you hadn't encouraged me so often, saying I was 'poor but not poor in ambition' and would 'surely amount to something someday,' I probably wouldn't have made even this meager progress."

His smile was gentle and his gaze clear, as though he truly felt nothing but gratitude for those days.

Luo Qian'er froze. How could she remember whether she had ever said those things?

But seeing Jiang Yi's heartfelt sincerity, she went along with him and said softly:

"Why thank me, Junior Brother Jiang? Those... were all my sincere feelings. I've always thought you were different from the others, considerate and grateful."

Jiang Yi clapped his hands together, looking deeply moved:

"You've treated me sincerely, Senior Sister, and considered my interests in everything. I... don't know how I could ever repay you."

He paused slightly, then looked earnestly at Luo Qian'er:

"Since you're so sincere and always thinking of me, Senior Sister, I happen to have a difficulty right now. Surely you wouldn't stand by and do nothing?"

Hoisted onto a pedestal by Jiang Yi's "outpouring of heartfelt emotion," Luo Qian'er felt a flicker of foreboding, but could only steel herself and agree:

"Of course. Speak freely, Junior Brother. If I can help, I certainly won't refuse."

Jiang Yi's smile grew even brighter. He leaned forward slightly, as though sharing a secret:

"As you know, Senior Sister, the path of cultivation requires wealth, companions, methods, and land, with 'wealth' coming first. I want to make a bid for one of the additional places in the Inner Peaks, but unfortunately, I'm terribly short of money."

His gaze shone, and his tone was light and natural:

"You always used to say you wanted the best for me, Senior Sister. If you could return some of the Talisman Money I gave you over time, just for now, and help me through this immediate difficulty, that would be the greatest kindness you could show me!

"You're so understanding, Senior Sister. Surely you can appreciate my difficulties, right?"