Shouchong took the sheets of paper, scanning them line by line as his lips moved in a silent murmur.
After a moment, he solemnly put the paper away, brought his hands together, and bowed deeply.
“Excellent!” the old monk said. “Thank you for fulfilling my wish, young benefactor! To our Ci'en Temple, this act of yours is of boundless merit!”
Shen Xiuhan quickly stepped aside to avoid the full gesture, saying, “You are too polite, Great Master. I cannot accept such a gesture. It would truly be too much for this junior.”
In truth, he had made an absolute fortune on this deal.
Trading the formula for 『Swift Swan, Swimming Dragon』—a movement technique he already knew by heart and could deduce and upgrade at any time—for five drops of 『Century-Old Earth Stalactite Milk』 for free was practically a gift from the heavens.
Had it been any other Gangjin Rank powerhouse or Arhat Rank master, they could have forced him to hand over the technique with a single word. Who among them would have been willing to trade such a treasure for it?
Having secured these benefits, Old Shen's mind immediately grew active.
Glancing at the ruined temple, he asked curiously, “Great Master, now that you have entered Great Qi territory, how long do you plan to stay in this ruined temple on Thousand Pools Island?”
Seeing Shouchong only smile without answering, Shen Xiuhan cleared his throat and eagerly offered his assistance. “To be honest, this junior holds some authority on this island. If you find this place too harsh and desolate, Great Master, I could send an errand boy over to serve tea, fetch water, and handle any chores for you...”
However, the old monk Shouchong merely smiled and shook his head, looking completely detached from the mortal world. “Amitabha. This poor monk's return to the lands of Qi is entirely guided by karma. Once that affinity has run its course, I shall depart. There is no need for the young benefactor to trouble himself.”
...
Would it kill you not to speak in riddles?
Shen Xiuhan's lips twitched. Unable to hold back any longer, he muttered in his mind, System, Intelligence!
【Notification: Today's intelligence has already been fully consumed.】
Damn it, I completely forgot!
Shen Xiuhan was speechless and cursed inwardly.
He had used up the daily intelligence early on to confirm the matter regarding the Six Cangwu Demons. If he wanted to check again, he would have to wait until tomorrow.
While Shen Xiuhan was grumbling to himself, the old monk Shouchong's expression shifted slightly. His white eyebrows twitched, and he turned his head to look down the hill. “Karma is a cycle; people come and go in a flash. Young benefactor, you should head back. Someone has come looking for you.”
Sure enough, several anxious shouts from afar pierced through the sea of green bamboo and reached Shen Xiuhan's ears. One of the voices sounded somewhat familiar...
Duan Hongling? Did she slay Ding Hong?
With no time to overthink, Shen Xiuhan cupped his hands to the old monk Shouchong and said, “In that case, this junior will take his leave. Please take care, Great Master.”
“Go on, go on!” Shouchong replied with a deep, knowing smile. “The road ahead is long, but this poor monk senses... we will surely meet again!”
...
On Tingquan Island, on the spacious martial arts field outside the Affairs Hall, a figure was leaping and dodging, his sword-force flowing continuously like a surging river.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
He Tunan executed a sharp, fierce strike, finishing with a move called "Flying Waterfall Hanging from the Sky." Pointing his sword diagonally toward the ground, the residual force carved a white groove into the bluestone tiles.
He exhaled a long breath of turbid air. His churning blood qi slowly calmed, and beads of sweat dripped from his chin.
“Excellent!” He Tunan muttered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “My 『Flying Waterfall Sword』 has reached Great Accomplishment! I am not far from opening the ninth acupoint either...”
“With just another two or three months of refinement, my Anjin Rank cultivation will reach Great Perfection. At that point, the Huajin Rank will be within reach!”
In a place like Nanxiang Prefecture, only by breaking through the Huajin Barrier could one truly establish a foothold.
Even those rogue cultivators who lacked sects, clans, or backing would be eagerly invited by major factions and treated as esteemed guests once they stepped into the Huajin Rank.
As for young geniuses, it was even more extraordinary! They might even stand a chance of competing for a spot among the Four Prodigies and Seven Elegances.
“The Four Prodigies and Seven Elegances...” He Tunan sheathed his sword, his eyes burning with intense ambition.
The family pours all its resources into nurturing He Suyi. She gets first pick of all the Precious Herbs and spiritual pills before any reach my hands... And all because she slew a few demon whelps and managed to latch onto the tail end of the Seven Elegances. Hmph!
Once I break through to the Huajin Rank, I will use my Tingquan sword Dao and family inheritance techniques to travel through the counties of Guangwu!
When the time comes, I will slay a few demon sect scoundrels myself. The title of the Seven Elegances will surely have a spot for me, He Tunan!
After indulging in fantasies of himself rising to fame in Nanxiang and basking in glory, He Tunan's agitated mind gradually cooled down.
No, no!
With my noble status, I am destined to sit high above and command the entire situation in the future. How could I lower myself to fight for such empty fame?
Ultimately, my future cultivation resources must still come from the Ji family!
The Ji family... Hmph! A mere merchant family from a lower county with only a few Anjin Rank experts in their clan, yet they dare cut off my He family's annual retainer? They are truly seeking death.
At this thought, He Tunan turned around and called out, “Tian Ji.”
“Senior Brother!”
“How has the Ji Family Elixir Pavilion been reacting lately?”
Hearing this, Tian Ji scanned their surroundings before taking half a step closer and whispering, “Senior Brother, since you put the word out, both the medicine pavilions in the prefecture capital and the water bandits on the lake have naturally received the news.”
“I made some inquiries yesterday. The Ji family has been under immense pressure lately. Their merchant ships are blocked, their elixir pavilion has been cut off from supplies, and they are hitting walls everywhere.”
“Second Young Lady Ji from the Wuji Academy has been running around non-stop, trying to pull strings and sending heavy gifts to preserve their shops in the prefecture capital... But who would dare offend you? Not a single person has dared to help her.”
“The way I see it, the Ji family won't be able to hold out for much longer.”
“Once the waterways are completely cut off and the elixir pavilion has nothing left to sell, a desperate Ji family will have no choice but to obediently hand over fifty percent of their profits to you on a silver platter!”
Tian Ji smiled flatteringly and cupped his hands. “Allow me to congratulate you in advance, Senior Brother, on achieving your desires!”
“Hmph, it is not set in stone yet. What is there to congratulate?”
He Tunan snorted softly. Though he acted reserved, the slight curl of his lips betrayed his true feelings.
He turned around, placing his hands behind his back as he gazed at the evening clouds, his eyes filled with smug satisfaction.
That fellow Shen has to suffer in the Precious Fish pond for half a year. I'd like to see who you, Ji Xue, can find to stand up for your family!
The Ji Family Elixir Pavilion?
Hmph, it is already in the bag!
Right at that moment, a wave of commotion drifted over from the usually quiet and peaceful Tingquan Island.
The noise ebbed and flowed, like a stone cast into a still lake, sending ripples outward until it grew into a deafening uproar.
He Tunan frowned slightly and ordered, “Go and see what is happening.”
“Yes!” Tian Ji complied and quickly jogged off.
Yet, in less than fifteen minutes, he came rushing back in a panic, gasping for breath. “Senior Brother! Senior Brother, this is bad!”
“What are you panicking for?” He Tunan, who had been in an excellent mood while enjoying the sunset, rebuked him with displeasure. “This is a place of quiet cultivation. What is the meaning of all this shouting? Speak slowly.”
Tian Ji's face twitched as he spoke in a panicked, hurried tone, “Senior Brother, something massive has happened at the Precious Fish pond!”
“Six demon sect scoundrels conspired with our sect's disciples to steal Precious Fish! They were discovered by the island guards, and that... that Shen Xiuhan...”
“He, alone with his sword, single-handedly slew five of the demons!!”
“What?!” He Tunan spun around abruptly, his expression instantly freezing!
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