The Seven Stars Sword
Looking at the two small jade bottles in his hands, Tang Yuan laughed heartily. "The trial in the Barbarian Di Secret Realm more than two months ago really did bring a rich harvest."
One jade bottle held a wisp of fourth-grade, mid-tier Spiritual Qi, the [Jade Gravel Sand Spirit], while the other held a wisp of fourth-grade, mid-tier Spiritual Qi, the [Metal Aluan Qi].
Tang Yuan took stock of his recent gains once more:
The 8,800 beastman canines he had obtained in the Barbarian Di Secret Realm had earned him only 40,000 spirit coins from the sect because of their quality.
He had obtained the Qi Refinement portion of the Purple Cloud One Qi Treatise. Since he had already learned the Early Qi Refinement content of Zhao Xiaode's Purple Cloud One Qi Treatise, he had now achieved minor mastery of the Middle Stage of Qi Refinement in the Purple Cloud One Qi Treatise.
He had obtained the Solar One Qi Divine Light Divine Ability Cultivation Method, but he could only cultivate it after reaching the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.
The restriction on the Weaving Maiden Nether Fire Dao-Extinguishing True Method Divine Ability Cultivation Method he had obtained from Wuma Lin had been undone, but he also needed to reach the Qi Refining Eighth Layer before he could cultivate it.
Of the 40,000 spirit coins, after paying back the loan, having the spirit sword forged, and buying the Late-stage Qi Refinement portion of the Purple Cloud Nine Mysteries Scripture, pills, arrays, talismans, and weapons, I have 35,000 spirit coins left.
Although I'm High Person Li Bai's disciple in name, I'm not a disciple of the six peaks, so the sect hasn't provided me with a private cave abode.
Leaving aside High Person Kui Wood's hostility toward me, he was forced to give me a wisp of [Metal Aluan Qi] that should have gone to Ding Chunqiu. Now Ding Chunqiu hates me to the bone.
Although I've added arrays to this cave abode in the Outstanding Talent Southern Garden, it still isn't safe.
My first priority now is to find a safe cave abode and refine the wisp of fourth-grade, low-tier metal-attribute Spiritual Qi, the [Thunder Metal Gui Sha], that I bought from Luo Ningran in the Demon Realm as soon as possible, so I can reach the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer.
I just don't know whether I can move somewhere near High Person Li Bai's cave abode.
With High Person Li Bai nearby, I doubt Ding Chunqiu would dare harm me. Tang Yuan frowned slightly as he considered his next move.
"Senior Brother Tang Yuan, are you in your cave abode? Qian Xiaobao has come to visit." Qian Xiaobao's voice came from outside the cave abode's courtyard.
Tang Yuan put away the jade bottles, walked into the courtyard, and undid the array.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Tang Yuan. This is a talisman letter from the sect, and this brocade box is from Senior Brother Kou Cheng.
"Please sign this talisman slip to confirm that the delivery has arrived," Qian Xiaobao said, cupping his hands.
Tang Yuan took the talisman letter and the brocade box, signed the talisman slip, and teased him:
"Qian Xiaobao, why aren't you focusing on your cultivation? How did you end up delivering letters and running errands for the sect?"
"Ah, don't mention it.
"I'm not like you, Senior Brother Tang Yuan. You made a fortune in the Barbarian Di Secret Realm.
"I bought quite a few talismans, pills, and arrays beforehand, and now I'm in debt up to my backside.
"Now I have no choice but to put cultivation aside and spend the next five years doing tasks to pay it off." Qian Xiaobao sighed helplessly.
"All right, wait a moment. I'll have a look at the talisman letter. I might have something for you to deliver too." Tang Yuan summoned a pot of spirit tea and invited Qian Xiaobao to sit.
"Mm...
"Good tea, good tea.
"You really did strike it rich, Senior Brother. You can even afford Purple Dragon Tea at a hundred spirit coins per liang.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony..." Qian Xiaobao drank a cup of tea, then picked up the teapot to refill it.
"Take your time. I'll be right back." Tang Yuan smiled and walked into the cave abode.
Inside the cave abode, Tang Yuan undid the restriction on the brocade box and opened it. A perfectly ordinary-looking sword engraved with the pattern of the Big Dipper lay before his eyes.
This Seven Stars Sword was the Silver Snake Sword that had once belonged to Qi Feiming.
Tang Yuan had spent 500 spirit coins to have Kou Cheng find someone to help forge the Silver Snake Sword, which had overflowed with Spiritual Qi, together with special materials into a mortal sword that looked utterly ordinary.
Only when Spiritual Qi was actively injected into it to activate it could the sword unleash the power of a mid-grade spirit sword.
Tang Yuan planned to give the Seven Stars Sword to his eldest son, Tang Tiansong, when he had the chance.
After putting away the Seven Stars Sword, Tang Yuan opened the talisman letter.
To his surprise, the letter was from High Person Li Bai. By the time he finished reading the few words in it, his brows had drawn tightly together.
High Person Li Bai said in the letter that in three days, he would go into seclusion for five years at the Starfall Sea to the east.
He told Tang Yuan to cultivate diligently during those five years and to be cautious and on guard against High Person Kui Wood.
The letter also included one of High Person Li Bai's waist tokens. With it, Tang Yuan could freely enter and leave the sect.
High Person Li Bai must be using a tiny trace of [Mystic Wood Spiritual Qi] from the Purple Jade Huang I gave him to repair his lifebound Dao foundation, the Heaven and Earth Ring.
Once the Heaven and Earth Ring is repaired, High Person Li Bai might reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage in less than a few years. But without High Person Li Bai around to protect me, never mind High Person Kui Wood-even Ding Chunqiu will certainly make a move against me.
I heard Ding Chunqiu has already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. Tang Yuan's hair stood on end, and for a moment he was somewhat dazed.
After Tang Yuan came out of the cave abode, Qian Xiaobao let out a belch and asked with a smile before he could speak:
"Senior Brother Tang Yuan, do you have any close mortal relatives? Any children?"
"I've devoted myself to the Dao. I never married or had children. Why?" Tang Yuan's face was perfectly calm.
"Oh, today is the ninth day of the eighth month in the year 4036 of the New Immortal Calendar. In six days, it'll be the fifteenth of the eighth month, the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Every year, the sect grants special permission to some disciples to visit their close mortal relatives.
"This year, all of us disciples who took part in the Barbarian Di Secret Realm trial have been granted permission to visit our families." Qian Xiaobao poured himself another cup of tea.
"I no longer have any close mortal relatives." Tang Yuan sighed softly.
"I see...
"Oh, right.
"Senior Brother Tang Yuan, you could go to Moonlight Peak to listen to the Dao.
"On the Mid-Autumn Festival in six days, High Person Kui Wood and High Person Wen Dou will be expounding scriptures and preaching the Dao at Moonlight Peak.
"It's just a shame that attending this Dao gathering costs 500 spirit coins." Qian Xiaobao looked dejected.
The corner of Tang Yuan's mouth twitched, and he thought to himself, The Mid-Autumn Festival in six days might be the day I die.
High Person Kui Wood will certainly know when High Person Li Bai leaves for the Starfall Sea in three days.
Once he knows, Ding Chunqiu will know too.
If I go to the Dao gathering in six days, Ding Chunqiu will surely intercept and kill me on the way.
If I don't go to the Dao gathering, Ding Chunqiu will surely come looking for me at the cave abode.
Whether I go or not, I'm dead...
"Ah, I don't have any close relatives left either, and I don't have the money to attend the Dao gathering.
"I think I'll just run a few more errands on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Maybe the pay will be a little better that day..." Qian Xiaobao gave a few bitter laughs.
Tang Yuan pondered for a few breaths, then looked at Qian Xiaobao. "How many spirit coins do you urgently need to pay back right now?"
"A thousand spirit coins. Why?" Qian Xiao counted on his fingers.
"I'll give you 1,500 spirit coins. A thousand of that will be an interest-free loan from me, to be paid back within ten years.
"After a while, I'm going to follow High Person Li Bai out of the sect and go into seclusion for a few years.
"While I'm away, I hope you can find out about changes and news in the sect, especially news about Ding Chunqiu.
"The remaining 500 spirit coins will be your payment for gathering information." Tang Yuan spoke earnestly.
"Many thanks, Senior Brother Tang Yuan. I'll never forget your kindness as long as I live.
"Hehe, I just ordered a pill from Kou Cheng. With your loan, Senior Brother Tang Yuan, I can pay for it and pick it up right now." Qian Xiaobao cupped his hands in salute.
"Come on, let's go back to the sect together.
"There are some things I want to buy from Kou Cheng too..." Tang Yuan nodded and walked out of the courtyard...