Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Yu Daniu’s Happy Life

”What!”

Chen Jianghe was horrified.

In the next instant, his Divine Sense observed his Spirit Platform internally. The Spirit Turtle Mark on it was exceptionally clear. It was exactly the same as Little Black, down to the identical patterns on the turtle shell.

”Little Black, you have an inherited Cultivation Technique?”

He transmitted his voice to Little Black through the mark on his Spirit Platform. At this moment, he was even worried that his own memory had been mixed up.

”Yes, the Third Transformation Demon Ascension Technique. Didn’t I tell you already? You Two-Legged Beasts have a terrible memory!”

Little Black’s increasingly presumptuous voice transmitted from the Spirit Turtle Mark.

”GASP!”

Chen Jianghe drew in a sharp breath of cold air. He tried hard to suppress the horror in his heart, not daring to show it on his face, for fear of being noticed by the chubby Shopkeeper.

He thought, ”Little Black’s inherited Cultivation Technique, the Third Transformation Demon Ascension Technique, must have been bestowed by the Spirit Platform. The Golden Finger granted to me by the Spirit Platform Mark is Little Black’s lifespan, while what it granted to Little Black is the Third Transformation Demon Ascension Technique—a Cultivation Technique that Spirit Beasts usually don’t possess. Does this mean the technique gives Little Black the potential to break through into a Tier Two Spirit Beast?”

Chen Jianghe felt a surge of joy. As long as Little Black could break through, he would absolutely not have to worry about the issue of his lifespan.

”The Shopkeeper also said that the Black Crystal Profound Turtle cannot awaken Divine Techniques after reaching the Entry Tier. I wonder if Little Black has awakened any Divine Techniques... Never mind, I’ll ask him in detail when I get back,” he decided.

Chen Jianghe’s thoughts spun rapidly within just a few breaths.

At this moment, the chubby Shopkeeper seemed to think of something and said to Chen Jianghe, ”Legend has it that only Great Demons who have undergone Transformation possess Cultivation Methods. That’s beyond what a fellow Cultivator like you could imagine.”

”Right, right, right.”

Chen Jianghe quickly nodded in response, then shifted the topic away from Cultivation Techniques. ”Then... do you buy back Spirit Beasts?”

”Does fellow Cultivator wish to sell a Black Crystal Profound Turtle?” Hearing this, the Shopkeeper narrowed his eyes, revealing a meaningful smile as if he had seen through Chen Jianghe’s thoughts. ”We do. As long as it is a Spirit Beast, this humble shop will buy it back.”

”How much is it worth?”

”Two Spirit Stones.”

”So little!”

The cost to nurture a Black Crystal Profound Turtle Spirit Beast required four Spirit Stones, one Spirit Awakening Pill, and one Spirit-Encompassing Pill. Of course, the cost could also be reduced to one Spirit Stone by only purchasing a Spirit Awakening Pill, but in that case, the nurturing cycle would be extended to eleven or twelve years.

”The bloodline purity of a Black Crystal Profound Turtle doesn’t even make the grade. Apart from its high intelligence and long lifespan, it can be said to be completely useless.

”It can’t even compare to a Little Cyan Fish. Does fellow Cultivator think that selling it to you for twelve Spirit Stones is too expensive?”

The chubby Shopkeeper’s experienced gaze had already discerned that Chen Jianghe was just here to inquire about prices. A Cultivator at the Third-Layer Qi Refining was definitely someone who had just become a Senior Fisherman and Farmer. He simply didn’t have enough Spirit Stones to purchase a Spirit Beast to help him breed Little Cyan Fish.

However, he was not angry. To him, every Senior Fisherman and Farmer was a potential customer. Just because they couldn’t afford it now didn’t mean they wouldn’t be able to in the future.

”There’s something you don’t know, fellow Cultivator. What’s expensive is not the Black Crystal Profound Turtle, but the Unity Lock. If you don’t want the Unity Lock, I can sell you the Black Crystal Profound Turtle for three Spirit Stones.”

Chen Jianghe nodded, revealing an awkward expression. He had actually overlooked the complimentary Unity Lock. If it allowed for simple communication with a Spirit Beast, then it was definitely a Magical Artifact. Even if it wasn’t as good as a Spirit Beast Circle, it was still quite valuable.

”Thank you for informing me, fellow Cultivator,” Chen Jianghe said, cupping his hands.

”It’s no trouble at all. Becoming a Senior Fisherman and Farmer at the Third-Layer Qi Refining means you have a boundless future ahead of you. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to afford a Spirit Beast,” the chubby Shopkeeper said with a chuckle.

Chen Jianghe felt that the atmosphere in the Zhonglou Street Marketplace on Huxing Island was quite pleasant. This Shopkeeper without a Spirit Root had maintained a smile throughout the entire exchange, not showing the slightest look of disdain just because Chen Jianghe lacked Spirit Stones.

After leaving the Spirit Beast Pavilion, he browsed around a few other shops. Just like the Spirit Beast Pavilion, the shopkeepers of these stores were all ordinary people without Spirit Roots. They were undoubtedly mortals from the Yun Family. Moreover, none of them displayed an arrogant attitude; they were extremely amiable to every customer.

He reasoned to himself, ”Since the Spirit Beast Pavilion sells Black Crystal Profound Turtles, this means there must be Senior Fishermen and Farmers who nurture their own Black Crystal Profound Turtles. Once I save up enough Spirit Stones, I just need to buy a Unity Lock.”

For bottom-tier Cultivators, if they could save one Spirit Stone, they were absolutely unwilling to spend an extra one. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about Little Black being exposed either. To outsiders, he would just look like a thrifty Senior Fisherman and Farmer who nurtured his own Black Crystal Profound Turtle and slowly accumulated Spirit Stones to buy a Unity Lock.

But then he remembered that he had only been a Senior Fisherman and Farmer for a year, not even having raised a single batch of Little Cyan Fish. It was best if Little Black’s existence was exposed as late as possible.

After wandering around a little longer, he arrived at a shop that sold Spirit Talismans. It was about fifty square meters with a simple layout—a curved crystal counter in the corner and a long cabinet with rows of small cubbies behind it. Walking up to the counter, he looked at the Spirit Talismans displayed under the crystal glass. Each type had a detailed introduction.

Lower-Grade Protection Talisman: Casts a Five-Element Defense Light Curtain capable of blocking a full-force strike from a Third-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator. Value: two Spirit Stones.

Lower-Grade Water Escape Talisman: Allows the user to travel through water and escape up to two miles after activation. Value: three Spirit Stones.

Lower-Grade Water Arrow Talisman: Releases a water arrow with the power of a full-force strike from a Third-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator. Value: one Spirit Stone.

Middle-Grade Divine Movement Talisman: Doubles flying or running speed for fifteen minutes after activation. Value: ten Spirit Stones.

”Shopkeeper, please get me a Peace Talisman.” Chen Jianghe pointed at the Peace Talisman inside the crystal cabinet. This was an unrated Spirit Talisman with no grade. It belonged to one of the foundational Spirit Talismans. Once used, it could help mortals cure all sorts of illnesses. Its value was thirty grains of Spiritual Sand.

”Here’s your change of seventy-five grains of Spiritual Sand. Please keep it safe.”

Chen Jianghe had handed over one Spirit Stone. Since the Peace Talisman was worth thirty grains of Spiritual Sand, he should logically have received seventy grains of Spiritual Sand in change. Yet this Shopkeeper gave him seventy-five grains of Spiritual Sand.

Obviously, the exchange rate was one hundred and five grains of Spiritual Sand for one Spirit Stone. In the shops on the Yun Family’s Huxing Island, a Spirit Stone could also be used as one hundred and five grains of Spiritual Sand. Outside, a Spirit Stone was only worth one hundred grains of Spiritual Sand. In this aspect, the Yun Family was very good at winning people over, completely treating Senior Fishermen and Farmers and Honored Guest Elders as their own people.

Chen Jianghe spent another ten grains of Spiritual Sand to buy a sachet for dispelling diseases and disasters. According to the sundries shopkeeper, this sachet had been soaked in Spirit Medicine Liquid. Holding it in his hand, he could smell a faint medicinal fragrance. He placed the Peace Talisman into the sachet, left the Zhonglou Street Marketplace, and walked toward the coastal residential area.

”Fumin Residence Number Thirty-Two. This is it.”

Chen Jianghe arrived in front of a small courtyard. Looking at the door plaque above, he confirmed that it was the location Yu Daniu had written in his letter. The coastal residential area had nearly a hundred courtyards, all of which were small terraced houses. The walls were built with grey bricks, providing strong privacy.

Chen Jianghe stepped forward and knocked on the door. Before long, the courtyard door opened, and the person who walked out was none other than Yu Daniu.

”Brother Jianghe, you’re finally here! We’re just waiting for you to start the feast,” Yu Daniu said with a joyful and simple-minded smile when he saw Chen Jianghe.

Chen Jianghe could see quite a few people in the courtyard through the gap in the door, several of whom looked familiar to him. They were Basic-Level Fishermen and Farmers who had married into the Yun Family alongside Yu Daniu. As for the others, he didn’t recognize them.

”Didn’t Xiaoniu just get born? These people are all here to offer their congratulations. You know a few of them too.” Seeing Chen Jianghe glance into the courtyard, Yu Daniu remembered his reclusive personality and explained it to him. Then, Yu Daniu lowered his voice. ”Actually, they’re all here to learn from my experience, hehe.”

Chen Jianghe also laughed heartily seeing Yu Daniu’s happy and secretly delighted appearance. ”Daniu, congratulations. You’ve got a next generation now.”

As he spoke, Chen Jianghe took out the congratulatory gift he had prepared.

”Just a little trinket for my eldest nephew.

”Give my best regards to your wife. I won’t go in.”