Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 63: Chapter 62: Polite Refusal

”A deal?” Chen Jianghe breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that as long as they didn’t ask him to marry into the Yun Family, everything was negotiable. ”Please elaborate, Steward.”

”The complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance in exchange for sixty percent of the profits from your Talisman Making over the next eighty years. You will need to stay on Huxing Island during this eighty-year period, but rest assured, the family will provide you with free accommodation,” Yun Wu said with a chuckle.

Trading sixty percent of his Talisman Making profits over eighty years for a systematic, Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance and eighty years of residency on Huxing Island—one could say the Yun Family was acting with great conscience. For a Cultivator like Chen Jianghe, who had received the family’s favors, this was a tremendous amount of support. The complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance included the drawing techniques and insights for Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans, Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans, and High-Grade Spirit Talismans.

Most crucially, these complete Talisman Dao Skills could be passed on to others. This meant that as long as he accepted the Yun Family’s deal, this Talisman Dao Inheritance would be entirely his. For a Loose Cultivator wanting to establish a Cultivation Family, this was a godsend. It was an exceptionally great opportunity.

Unfortunately, Chen Jianghe had no desire to establish a family—at least, not at present. Moreover, it was impossible for him to stay on Huxing Island for eighty years. Let alone eighty years, if he stayed for another thirty, his secret of never aging would be exposed. The Talisman Dao Inheritance was highly tempting, but he couldn’t trade his secret and his life for it. He absolutely had to leave Jingyue Lake before turning sixty. This was his bottom line. As for the Talisman Dao Inheritance, he would figure out another way later.

”What? Are you unwilling to accept this deal? This is highly advantageous for you.

”By obtaining the complete Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance, you will have the capital to establish a Cultivation Family. It can serve as the foundational heritage for your descendants.” Seeing Chen Jianghe’s hesitant expression and then his shake of the head, Yun Wu was instantly confused, unable to understand his reasoning.

”I don’t have any grand ambitions. Initially, I just wanted to spend my life raising fish in Jingyue Lake, just like Old Gao.

”I never expected to reach the Entry Level in the Talisman Dao by chance. Now, I simply want to accumulate some savings, travel across the Celestial South Domain, and seek my Immortal Fate.

”I will forever engrave in my heart the Yun Family’s grace of guiding me onto the Immortal Path,” Chen Jianghe said sincerely, his tone carrying an apologetic sentiment toward the family.

”You want to travel across the Celestial South Domain?” Yun Wu gave Chen Jianghe a surprised look. Any favorable impression he had of the man instantly vanished, categorizing him as someone who became restless and impetuous the moment they achieved a little success. He had seen many people like this—aiming too high after the slightest accomplishment. The impression Chen Jianghe gave him was that simply because he had become a Lower-Grade Talisman Master, he was actually dreaming of going out to seek his Immortal Fate and pursue Foundation Establishment!

”Have you thought this through?”

”I hope the Steward will grant my request.”

”I originally thought you had some talent and could be entrusted with heavy responsibilities, perhaps even becoming a High-Grade Talisman Master for the family in the future.

”Never mind, distribute the Little Cyan Fish fry to him.” Having said his piece, Yun Wu didn’t spare Chen Jianghe another glance and turned around to enter the inner cabin.

Chen Jianghe smiled helplessly. Under the watchful eyes of several Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators, he finished taking inventory of the Little Cyan Fish fry and released them into the Zone C No.12 Water Area. Then, he leaped off the large ship.

He knew Yun Wu was dissatisfied with him. If it had been any other Loose Cultivator, they would have certainly agreed. After all, a Talisman Dao Inheritance was incredibly rare to come by. A complete and systematic Tier One Talisman Dao Inheritance was especially invaluable; most importantly, it was priceless and could not be bought on the market.

One must consider that the Talisman Dao Inheritance Zhou Miaoyun had taught Yu Daniu in the past was merely a fragmented version, containing only the techniques and insights for drawing Lower-Grade Spiritual Talismans and Middle-Grade Spiritual Talismans. The kicker was that it couldn’t even be passed on to a third person. Even so, it cost half of Yu Daniu’s Talisman Making profits for twenty years.

Thinking about it this way, one could realize just how massive the Yun Family’s support for him truly was. Thus, in the eyes of others, Chen Jianghe appeared somewhat ungrateful.

He thought, ”Given the Yun Family’s way of doing things, combined with my relationship with Daniu, they certainly won’t restrict my freedom. However, the news that I intend to leave Jingyue Lake has been exposed prematurely.” Standing at the bow of his boat, Chen Jianghe watched the departing large ship, unconcerned that the Yun Family would use any underhanded methods. What actually worried him was that the early leak of his departure might prompt certain individuals to entertain crooked thoughts.

Having worked as a Senior Fisherman and Farmer for the Yun Family for many years while also being a Talisman Master, he gave off the impression of a wealthy Loose Cultivator. Once news of his departure leaked, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of Tribulation Cultivators. After all, Huxing Island would become a Marketplace in the future. With an influx of Cultivators, all sorts of unsavory characters would be present.

He calculated in his mind, ”I am thirty-five years old this year. Assuming I do not lack Cultivation Resources, in at most six or seven years, I will definitely be able to break through to Sixth-Layer Qi Refining. The remaining eight or nine years will be entirely sufficient to consolidate my Sixth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation and break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining.”

Chen Jianghe made up his mind. As long as he didn’t exceed fifty-five years of age, he could afford to delay leaving Jingyue Lake by a couple of years, but he absolutely had to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining first. Only by reaching Late-Stage Qi Refining could he possess some means of self-preservation in this cruel Cultivation World.

”Little Black must also reach Late-Stage Tier One. Only then will it be safer for me to leave Jingyue Lake,” he concluded.

Over the next dozen years or so, he couldn’t neglect Little Black’s development. He needed to feed him at least one Spirit-Encompassing Flower a year. His mind set, Chen Jianghe resumed drawing Spirit Talismans to improve his Talisman Dao Skills. Currently, the most pressing matter was earning Spirit Stones to purchase Cultivation Resources and a Storage Pouch.

Little Black also began his work, supervising the Little Cyan Fish as they fed in the lake. Once they were full, he methodically led them around for a swim to digest their food before they resumed eating. At any rate, the Immortal Spirit Rice provided by the Yun Family was plentiful. All he had to do was ensure that as many Little Cyan Fish as possible advanced to the Entry Tier and became Spirit Beasts during the breeding period. Only then would he have the confidence to demand more Exotic Flowers and Herbs from his terribly incompetent and stingy master.

A lifespan of a hundred and twenty years was only half that of his peers. In Little Black’s eyes, he possessed extraordinary Talent and had already stepped onto the Immortal Dao—how could he lag behind his peers in terms of lifespan? He simply couldn’t accept it. Therefore, he had to Cultivate diligently and strive to break through his lifespan limit once more. Step by step, he was determined to become the ’thousand-year-old tortoise and ten-thousand-year-old turtle’ his master often spoke of!

——

Months passed in the blink of an eye. A magnificent houseboat, distinct from ordinary fishing boats, arrived at the Zone C No.12 Water Area.

Now that Yun Bufan had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, the Yun Family had lifted the lockdown on the water areas. Senior Fishermen and Farmers in the Inner Waters were allowed to visit one another and exchange fish-farming experiences. Simultaneously, Senior Fishermen and Farmers could also fraternize with the Hundred Arts Guest Elders, though they were strictly forbidden from trading items or resources privately.

Chen Jianghe was sitting at the bow of his boat, recovering his Magical Power, when he noticed the vessel parked in the lake channel right outside his water area. He recognized it immediately as the boat of a Yun Family Honored Guest Elder. With a thought, he cast a surge of Magical Power to propel his fishing boat over.

”Fellow Daoist, is there something I can help you with?” Chen Jianghe asked in confusion. He didn’t recognize this Honored Guest Elder, who had a silver cloud embroidered on his chest.

”I am Zhu Lang, a High-Grade Talisman Master, and I have the honor of serving as a Yun Family Honored Guest Elder. I’ve come to discuss a transaction with you, Fellow Daoist.”