Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Sudden Change in the Yun Family

”512 Waters, total output of Large Cyan Fish is 2,700 catties, with an average weight of three catties and seven taels.”

The Chief Ship Steward took out a Storage Pouch and settled Chen Jianghe’s salary.

It was ninety-seven grains of Spiritual Sand again.

The previous year’s pay had also been ninety-seven grains of Spiritual Sand. This seemed to have reached Little Black’s limit.

Large Cyan Fish had not awakened their intelligence, but they could instinctively absorb Spiritual Qi. They had the foundation to be served on Cultivators’ dining tables.

Compared to them, Black Crystal Profound Turtles were much inferior.

Little Black had taken the Spirit Awakening Pill and successfully awakened its intelligence, but its foundation could not compare to the Large Cyan Fish. Although it had completed Energy Introduction, it remained unable to advance into a Spirit Beast.

Large Cyan Fish were naturally violent. During their fry stage, Little Black could suppress them to improve their survival rate, but once they grew up, they were no longer subject to its suppression.

”If I want to make a breakthrough in total output and average weight, Little Black must reach the Entry Tier and become a Spirit Beast.”

Chen Jianghe understood this principle well.

However, the Black Crystal Profound Turtle’s foundation was simply too poor. It was far from what he had originally thought—that it would reach the Entry Tier in at most five or six years.

If the Large Cyan Fish, which could instinctively absorb Spiritual Qi, couldn’t reach the Entry Tier to become Spirit Beasts, it was even more impossible for the Black Crystal Profound Turtle.

After observing for the past year or two, Chen Jianghe felt that if a Large Cyan Fish consumed a Spirit Awakening Pill, it would barely be comparable to the Human Race’s Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root. As for the Black Crystal Profound Turtle, it still fell somewhat short of the Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root.

This made him quite depressed. Setting aside his own Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root, he hadn’t expected his bound pet to have an even worse Spirit Root.

He didn’t even know if a single Qi Nourishing Pill would be enough to help Little Black reach the Entry Tier and become a Spirit Beast.

However, regardless of whether it would succeed or not, he still had to buy this Qi Nourishing Pill for it. This was what he had promised Little Black back then.

If he failed to deliver, damaging his prestige as a master would be a minor issue compared to dealing a major blow to Little Black’s enthusiasm for work. He was still counting on Little Black to help him feed the fish!

If not for Little Black’s help, his annual salary would probably only be a little over fifty grains of Spiritual Sand. It would be absolutely impossible to reach the absurd amount of ninety-seven grains.

Moreover, with Little Black’s assistance, Chen Jianghe finally had the time to practice Magic. This was also the reason why he had managed to master four types of Magic while only at the Second-Layer Qi Refining.

The Small Water Control Technique, Water Avoidance Curse, Water Arrow Technique, and Small Cloud Rain Skill.

Actually, as long as one mastered the Small Water Control Technique, other types of Water Element Small Magic would easily reach the Entry Level.

He originally wanted to practice the Water Escape Technique to master a life-saving method, but his Magical Power was insufficient; he needed to reach at least the Third-Layer Qi Refining.

”Little Black, before I return, hide obediently in the deep mud at the bottom of the lake. You must absolutely not come out.

”When work starts next year, I will reward you with a Qi Nourishing Pill.”

Chen Jianghe transmitted the message to Little Black through the Spirit Turtle Mark on his Spirit Platform. Shortly after, a string of bubbles rushed out from the bottom of the lake.

He rowed the fishing boat, heading toward Port No.1.

”Is something going on here?!”

Chen Jianghe disembarked at the port. Looking at the passing Fishermen and Farmers, his pupils shrank as doubts arose in his heart.

Most of the Fishermen and Farmers at the port looked downcast, their faces clouded with gloom. An indescribable sense of oppression enveloped the entire port.

Walking into the marketplace, the peddlers’ hawking that could usually be heard from afar was completely absent today. The mortals also wore expressions of sorrow, as if some major event had occurred.

”To affect both Fishermen and Farmers as well as mortals simultaneously... could it be that some misfortune has befallen the Yun family?”

All year round, Chen Jianghe lived a monotonous routine, rarely interacting with the outside world. This was especially true during this year’s Fish Sleep Stage. To focus on practicing his new Magic, the Small Cloud Rain Skill, he had been buying a month’s worth of daily necessities at a time.

At the Yuelai Inn.

Gao Peiyao had already arrived.

The current Gao Peiyao was no longer the timid, somewhat malnourished little girl from two years ago. After two years of Cultivation, her aura had undergone a tremendous change.

Although she was wearing the short coarse skirt typical of Fishermen and Farmers, the past two years had allowed her to blossom into a graceful young woman. With skin as smooth as pale jade, delicate features, a straight nose, lips as red as Cinnabar, and a classic oval face, she was undeniably a stunning beauty in the making.

”Second-Layer Qi Refining?!”

Judging from the fluctuations of Gao Peiyao’s Magical Power, her Cultivation had already broken through to the Second-Layer Qi Refining.

Gao Peiyao had stepped onto the Immortal Path merely two years ago, yet she had actually caught up to him and Yu Daniu. While a Four-Element Pseudo Spirit Root was stronger than a Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root, the difference was limited. It was obvious that Gao Peiyao had consumed Qi Nourishing Pills. And more than one.

A single Qi Nourishing Pill was worth two Spirit Stones. For Gao Peiyao to consume two Qi Nourishing Pills in two years, it would have cost four Spirit Stones. It seemed Old Gao had left her with more than just five Spirit Stones.

”Peiyao.”

”Brother Jianghe.”

Gao Peiyao stood up to invite Chen Jianghe to sit down, then poured him a cup of tea. There was no longer any trace of her former timidity on her face.

A short while later, Yu Daniu also walked into the private room.

Once everyone had arrived, Gao Peiyao asked the waiter to serve the dishes. Her speech was elegant and her manners graceful as she took the host’s seat. This year, Gao Peiyao was treating them.

”Peiyao, you’ve broken through to the Second-Layer Qi Refining? That’s truly enviable. Brother Jianghe and I took six whole years.”

Yu Daniu sensed the fluctuations of Magical Power from Gao Peiyao and spoke with some surprise.

”One generation plants the trees, and the next enjoys the shade. It’s entirely thanks to the Spirit Stones my grandfather left behind that I was able to cultivate to the Second-Layer Qi Refining in just two short years.”

Gao Peiyao’s tone was sweet and melodious, her eyes rippling with a gentle light.

At the mention of Old Gao, gratitude appeared in Yu Daniu’s eyes. If Old Gao hadn’t gifted him a Spirit Stone, his breakthrough to the Second-Layer Qi Refining would have likely been delayed by another year.

The food and wine were served. The three of them chatted as they ate, and the topic inevitably shifted to the Yun family.

Chen Jianghe was a homebody, so his information was restricted. Yu Daniu, having been scammed by Wang Kui, had also become introverted around outsiders. When he normally visited the port marketplace, he would quickly leave as soon as he finished buying his daily necessities. It seemed as though he was competing with Chen Jianghe to see who could be more of a recluse.

During her two years in the Outer Waters, Gao Peiyao had actually befriended a few female Fishermen and Farmers. Visiting them in her free time allowed her to gather some news.

”What? The Yun Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor’s lifespan is approaching its limit!”

Yu Daniu exclaimed in shock.

Foundation Establishment Ancestors enjoyed long lifespans, capable of living up to two hundred and twenty years. Combined with the consumption of some life-extending Elixirs, their maximum lifespan could reach two hundred and forty years.

”The Yun Family’s current Ancestor reached Foundation Establishment less than a century ago. He should have at least nearly another hundred years to live. How could he suddenly be nearing his limit?”

It was no secret when the Yun Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor had achieved Foundation Establishment; even Chen Jianghe had heard about it.

”I heard that a Foundation Establishment Pill appeared in the Qinghe Marketplace a month ago. It was won at auction by the Yun Family Ancestor. However, on his way back to Jingyue Lake, he was ambushed and severely injured, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was stolen.”

”What? Ambushing a Foundation Establishment Ancestor—who would dare do such a thing?!”

”To be able to severely injure a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, the attacker must definitely be a Foundation Establishment Ancestor as well,” Gao Peiyao said slowly, her beautiful eyes lifting slightly.

Chen Jianghe finally understood why the Fishermen and Farmers, as well as the mortals at the port, were all shrouded in gloom.

The fact that mortals could earn a large amount of silver at the port to subsidize their household expenses, and that Fishermen and Farmers could have a stable income at Jingyue Lake for Cultivation, all stemmed from the Foundation Establishment Immortal Race, the Yun family.

If the Yun Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor were to perish without a new Foundation Establishment Ancestor emerging, the Yun family would fall from a Foundation Establishment Immortal Race to a mere Qi Refining Family with profound heritage.

Setting aside whether they could continue maintaining their dominant position in Jingyue Lake, even their survival might become a problem.

After all, the Yun family had hostile factions. And their opponents were also a Foundation Establishment Immortal Race.