From Family Fisherman to Water Virtue Immortal

The Third Elder's cave residence was quite spacious, with minimal extravagant decorations. The paths were paved with black boulders, giving it a simple yet majestic aesthetic. 

Fortunately, Li Kunli was home and had a servant lead them inside. 

Deep within the cave, there was a cliff overlooking the sea, where the sound of waves crashing could be heard, and the turbulent waters were visible. 

"Greetings, Hall Master (Third Elder)!" 

Both Li Quanqing and Li Quanlin bowed respectfully, showing proper etiquette. 

Li Kunli stood on the cliff with his back to them, laughing. "Come over and take a look. How do you like my fish pond?" 

They took a few steps forward and were immediately greeted by a breathtaking sight. 

Below the cliff, large reefs stood like razors, with undercurrents converging and turbulent waves rising and falling, forming a natural bay. 

As the Third Elder scattered fish food, shimmering ripples appeared, and dozens of massive Azure Jade Carps swam against the waves, their backs adorned with golden scales. 

The light reflected off their scales like scattered gold, creating a dazzling spectacle. 

Li Quanqing couldn't help but feel envious. This bay was an excellent fish pond. 

Just the view of the islands from this vantage point was a thousand times better than any Class B fish pond. 

He took out the fish basket he had brought and handed it to the Third Elder. 

Li Kunli reached in and pulled out the male Azure Jade Carp, glancing at it. 

The lazy fish, unaware of its impending fate, stared blankly with its lifeless eyes, innocently blowing bubbles. 

"Although its cultivation level is a bit low, it's still a Golden-Striped variant. How about fifty spirit stones?" 

The Third Elder, with his considerable wealth, immediately met Li Quanqing's highest expectations. 

To avoid future trouble, Li Quanqing felt compelled to warn him. "Elder, this Azure Jade Carp is quite lazy and not very diligent in its cultivation." 

"That's just because it's had an easy life. Once it faces fierce competition and goes hungry from being outcompeted for food, it'll naturally start putting in the effort." 

Li Kunli laughed heartily and tossed the male Azure Jade Carp into the fish pond below the cliff. 

Li Quanqing could only wish the fish good luck. 

The female Azure Jade Carp was also sold to the Third Elder for five spirit stones. 

"I heard from Quanlin that you're ready to join the Artifact Refining Hall?" 

Li Kunli turned around, his towering figure exuding an imposing presence. 

Li Quanqing nodded. "I think the Elder is right. There's more than one way to obtain the family's foundational scripture." 

"That's the spirit! Now, pay the tuition fee." 

Li Kunli spoke bluntly and directly. "Fifty spirit stones, with an additional twenty spirit stones every year after." 

Li Quanqing winced as he handed over the spirit stones. 

The money from selling the two Azure Jade Carps was gone in an instant. 

But if he wanted to make money from refining artifacts, this was a necessary expense. 

"I'll add your name to the hall's registry. Quanlin, take him to get his things." 

Li Quanlin bowed his smile now much warmer. "Junior Brother, please follow me." 

They went to the supply hall to collect the standard equipment for Artifact Refining Hall disciples. 

This included a jade slip containing the "Basics of Artifact Refining," two sets of low-grade robes exclusive to hall disciples, and an iron badge engraved with his identity information. 

Li Quanqing changed into robes, which had fish and dragon patterns surrounded by flames embroidered on the chest. The robes were impervious to water and fire and repelled dust. 

Li Quanlin pointed to the fish and dragon patterns on his sleeves and shoulders, explaining, "Formal refiners have dragon patterns on their sleeves, while mid-grade refiners have additional patterns on their shoulders. Don't mix them up in the future." 

"Come, I'll take you to the Book Hall to meet your future brothers and sisters." 

As they walked, Li Quanqing skimmed through the contents of the jade slip. 

The amount of knowledge was overwhelming, equivalent to over a thousand books, and this was just the basics of refining. 

By the time they reached their destination, he had already gone through the summaries of all the content. 

"As expected, it's identical to the knowledge from the experience sphere. What I lack now is hands-on practice." 

Li Quanqing suppressed his excitement. With his cheat, he could easily pass as a refining prodigy. 

The Book Hall was quite crowded, with over two hundred disciples divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. 

Li Quanqing was naturally placed in the lowest Yellow level, where he would learn the most basic skills like ore identification and weapon analysis. 

"Li Quanqing from Qingpan Island, greetings to everyone." 

When he introduced himself in the classroom, he was surprised to see a familiar face. 

His cousin, Li Quanzhu. 

The boy sat on a cushion at the back, looking equally shocked to see him. 

A fish farmer trying to become an artifact refiner? 

Aside from him, however, the other clansmen were quite friendly, mostly showing kindness or indifference. 

"Since we have a new clansman, I'll use this lesson to review the most common spiritual ores found in this sea region..." 

Li Quanqing sat in a corner, listening to the instructor while observing his classmates. 

The Yellow level was for foundational learning, so all the students were young, without the older folks who had been studying refining for decades without success. 

Since they were all around the same age, from the "Quan" generation, and mostly from branch families, Li Quanqing quickly became a familiar face in the class within ten days. 

Moreover, with his fish pond, he was considerably wealthier than most of his peers, who still relied on their parents for money. 

One day after class, Li Quanqing stopped a young woman. "Senior Sister Quanshu, I heard that hall disciples sometimes hold private trading gatherings?" 

Li Quanshu wore an elegant water-blue cloud-patterned dress. Her bright eyes and delicate features, though not stunning, were complemented by her captivating, watery gaze. 

She was also at the third level of Qi Refinement, nineteen years old. 

"Oh? Junior Brother wants to broaden his horizons?" 

Li Quanshu smiled gently, her demeanor graceful and her words soft, making her quite likable. 

It was said that her father, though a wandering cultivator who had married into the Li family, had worked hard and now managed a shop in the Baoqing Market established by the family. 

Thus, the young woman was considered quite well-off among her peers. 

"As a fish farmer, I'm quite interested in raising spirit beasts, so I'd like to trade for some spirit beast eggs or cubs." 

Li Quanqing explained his intentions. 

He wanted to experiment with more spirit beasts to unlock a wider variety of light spheres and increase his foundation. 

The Li family, being a cultivation family, operated on a familiar society basis. When someone obtained spirit beast cubs, they usually traded privately with friends and family, as the family treasury didn't deal in such items. 

"What a coincidence. I've hosted a few private gatherings myself. Would you like to join?" 

Li Quanshu tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fragrance wafting gently as she smiled. 

"I'd be delighted." 

Li Quanqing's heart leaped with joy, and he walked out with the young woman, chatting and laughing. 

... 

The next evening, Li Quanqing arrived at Qinghe Island, the largest of the seven subsidiary islands, as agreed. 

Vast fields of Green Lotus Spirit Rice stretched out before him, rooted in muddy ponds. The plants resembled lotus flowers, with emerald-green leaves and plump, pearl-like spirit rice grains in their seed pods. 

Spirit farmers, mostly tenant laborers hired by the family, returned from their work in the fields, carrying hoes. Very few were actual Li family members. 

Compared to spirit farming, raising spirit fish was undoubtedly a more lucrative business. 

Li Quanshu's cave residence was near the coast, with stunning scenery. Behind it, on a sea cliff, grew a large grove of fiery red peach trees. 

The trading gathering was held in this peach grove.