Chapter 24: Chapter 22: Loose Cultivation Market
After reaching the innate grandmaster level in martial arts, one becomes extremely strong, and can even cause harm to cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm, so it's quite normal for immortal cultivators to take action against innate grandmasters.
In daily conversations, Yang Shi realized that his master Liu Wuheng... harbored no fear of immortals.
[3 years 109 days, Jiang Xiaobai felt enlightened in Tiger and Leopard Forest after casting the Spiritual Rain Skill, gathering spiritual energy in her dantian, and broke through to the second layer of the Fetal Breathing Stage.]
[Prompt: Jiang Xiaobai's practice of "Xuan Stone Energy Attraction Skill" seems somewhat awkward...]
"Hmm? What's going on?"
Yang Genshuo clicked on this prompt, and a "Cultivation Technique Information" screen popped up.
[Xuan Stone Energy Attraction Skill: A basic Earth and Gold Dual Element Qi Cultivation Skill suited for cultivators with prominent Earth or Gold Spirit Roots.]
"Oh~ I see."
Yang Genshuo roughly knew why Jiang Xiaobai felt awkward.
Jiang Xiaobai's Spirit Root is the Five Spirit Roots (Gold:17, Wood:23, Water:20, Fire:20, Earth:20)
Her Wood Spirit Root has the highest talent, and it even comes with the noble Earth Level talent "Wood Element Affinity."
And she is practicing an Earth and Gold Qi Cultivation Skill, naturally, it would feel awkward.
"Earth generates Gold, Gold overcomes Wood, her talent for Wood Element is being suppressed, that's why the cultivation speed is very slow..."
Yang Genshuo simply deduced from the Five Elements aspect and felt that this was probably the case.
"It would be best to find a Qi Cultivation Skill with the Wood Element for Xiaobai."
"However... where did this 'Xuan Stone Energy Attraction Skill' come from? Does she know any other Qi Cultivation Skills?"
Yang Genshuo had never asked before, but now it concerns Xiaobai's cultivation, he needed to mention it.
[Manifestation]
Words appeared out of thin air in front of Yang Shi.
"Xiaobai's cultivation method is incorrect, working hard for minimal gain, go ask Xiaobai if she knows other techniques."
"Yes, great ancestor!"
Yang Shi bowed toward the sky and then went to Tiger and Leopard Forest to look for Xiaobai.
Having just made a breakthrough, Jiang Xiaobai was very happy, playing outside the Spirit Field with Xiao Huo.
Xiao Huo was growing rapidly. At only two years old, it was already the size of a full-grown tiger, and flames would emerge from its paws. It was the king of the Tiger and Leopard Forest; whenever it arrived, no fierce beast in the entire forest dared to approach Xiaobai.
It had reached the second layer of Fetal Breathing even before Xiaobai. Currently, it was rolling under the Magma Fruit Tree, its body leaning against the hot bark, enjoying as its master stroked its fur, squinting its eyes happily.
Xiaobai looked at the three patches of very well-growing Spirit Fields with pride.
"Now that I've reached the second layer of Fetal Breathing, I can cast the 'Xuan Stone Fertile Soil Skill.' The yield of the Spirit Fields will definitely be higher than last year."
She cast the spell according to the technique in her memory; streams of earthy yellow spiritual energy spread out from her center into the ground, causing the surrounding soil to tremble slightly as it drew in streams of Earth Element essence to enhance the roots of the Spirit Rice and Spiritual Grain.
As she cast the spell nonstop, Jiang Xiaobai began to sweat profusely until she completed one entire casting and collapsed on top of the Flame Tiger, exhausted.
"Huff...huff... so difficult, can I only barely use it once at the second layer of Fetal Breathing?"
She looked at the three acres of Spirit Fields, feeling somewhat helpless.
Keep in mind she still needed to cast "Spiritual Rain Skill" on these fields regularly. This overexertion meant she would need a whole day of cultivation to return to peak condition, and with her current level of spiritual power, she simply couldn't manage these three acres of Spirit Fields and the one acre at home.
"I can only use 'Xuan Stone Fertile Soil Skill' on one acre of Spirit Field at most... This skill is so awkward to use, it's so tiring~"
"But for my brother's sake, it's all worth it! Let's work hard! Cultivate to the third layer of Fetal Breathing!"
"By then, I should be able to manage four acres of Spirit Fields."
Whenever Jiang Xiaobai thought of Yang Shi, the fatigue on her face vanished, and she even took to the farming she used to hate with relish.
She didn't know why they needed to grow so much Spirit Rice and Spiritual Grain; the two of them couldn't possibly eat it all.
But all she knew was... if she took good care of these Spirit Fields, her brother would be very happy.
"Xiaobai!"
"Brother, over here~"
Yang Shi came and directly asked, "Where did you learn your Qi Cultivation Skill from? The ancestor said your Qi Cultivation Skill doesn't match your innate talent. Do you know any other Qi Cultivation Skills?"
Jiang Xiaobai seemed to have anticipated this day and slowly began to unveil his origins.
"I was once chosen by the Xuan Stone Sect to be an Outer Disciple. They taught me the 'Xuan Stone Energy Attraction Skill' and three spells. Later, I escaped and disguised myself as a beggar, wandering here. I was so hungry I couldn't walk anymore. When I saw the brother's righteous aura and kind heart, I begged to be taken in under your door..."
"Oh? The Xuan Stone Sect from the Danai Dynasty, the number one Immortal Sect?"
"Mhm."
This Xuan Stone Sect, Liu Wuheng had mentioned to Yang Shi in passing, with just one sentence: "The Xuan Stone Sect is a true Immortal Sect. Their commands are the law, and no one dares to disobey."
Not even all of the innate masters of martial arts from the entire Danai Dynasty combined could withstand a single spell from them.
Their power was terrifying!
Yang Genshuo was also stunned. The Xuan Stone Sect, what kind of place was that!
Because it was rarely discussed, sometimes when things moved too quickly, it was overlooked...
Yang Shi asked in confusion, "An Immortal Sect Disciple, something many people only dream of—why would you run away?"
Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Yang Shi and said with a lowered head, "I don't want to practice Immortal Cultivation..."
"What?"
"What?"
Yang Genshuo and Yang Shi were once again in perfect sync.
This was like getting an unconditional offer from Tsinghua University and then saying you don't like college—what's the difference!
It was a leap in social class!!!
Yang Shi: "Then why are you now...?"
"Because I don't want to stand idly by the doorway when I see brother being threatened..."
Yang Shi felt a warm current flow through his heart, recalling how after he returned from killing Zhao Kuangfeng, Jiang Xiaobai leapt onto him and clung there, incessantly shedding tears.
"Oh no~ If I don't practice cultivation, what will become of our family's many Spirit Fields? I can't bear to let them go to waste."
Jiang Xiaobai, with hands on hips, appeared a little smug.
"Hmm... So you only know this one Qi Cultivation Skill?"
"Yes, this is what all Outer Disciples of the Xuan Stone Sect learn."
Yang Genshuo got his answer, but he also furrowed his brows.
"Then it'll be troublesome to switch Jiang Xiaobai to another Qi Cultivation Skill... Liao Cao certainly doesn't have this ability."
"For now, Xiaobai can only continue using it."
As such, Xiaobai's cultivation speed would be quite average, completely unable to leverage the advantage of his noble Earth-Level talent.
After getting the answer, Yang Genshuo continued to accelerate time.
[3 years and 178 days, the Yang Family's Spirit Rice and Spiritual Grain are ripe, beginning harvest and airing. With Jiang Xiaobai's meticulous care, the yield has slightly increased.]
[3 years and 190 days, the Magma Fruit Trees bear fruit again, but it's unknown when they will mature. The three Magma Fruits that Yang Shi preserved from last year still have no known use. Liu Wuheng advised that these Fire Attribute Spirit Fruits should not be consumed lightly by mortals, as they could be life-threatening.]
[3 years and 250 days, it's rumored in the Jianghu that a Loose Cultivation Market will open near White Water River to the east of Qingshi County in a month. It is said that a large amount of Cultivation Supplies will be traded there, and the flow of visitors to Qingshi County has significantly increased...]
[Yang's Tabletop Game Tea House is packed every day.]
[3 years and 268 days, several remarkable cultivators visited Yang's Tea House...]
Yang Genshuo restored the flow of time to its normal speed and began to observe carefully.