Longevity through Upgrading Buildings

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Gaining Treasure

Looking at the magical artifacts placed in the mud and then at the freshly obtained Magic Technique Jade Scroll in his hand.

A bold idea instinctively arose in Ji Yuan’s mind... Just this? Why bother farming?

To kill and burn, one gains the golden belt of fortune.

It’s much faster than farming to make money.

Otherwise, with these magic techniques and artifacts, who knows how many months I’d have to save?

But now, one haul was enough.

”Artifact Manipulation Technique, Cloud Rain Technique, and a... Fireball Technique. Damn it, I thought it would be something good, but it’s just some street stall goods.”

Qiu Qianhai joyfully picked up the other two Jade Scrolls, but after a glance, he stuffed them into Ji Yuan’s hands.

”I’ve learned these already.”

Ji Yuan hadn’t learned them yet, so he kept them. Then both of their gazes fell to the ground... The eagerly awaited division of spoils was finally here.

There wasn’t much to argue about; it was all split equally.

There were a total of 46 Spirit Stones; Ji Yuan received 23. As for the remaining elixirs, Ji Yuan got 1 bottle of Hundred Herbs Pill, containing three pills, one Antitoxic Pill, and one Blood Burning Pill, along with several low-grade talismans.

Of the only two mid-grade talismans, the Thunder Strike Talisman and the Water Shadow Talisman, Qiu Qianhai already had a Water Shadow Talisman, so he picked the Thunder Strike Talisman.

After dividing these, the main items left were the magical artifacts, which were the focus.

Two storage bags, each one-foot square in size; two low-grade Dharma Ships; the black-gold short knife and bamboo pole were also low-grade magical artifacts; only that embroidery needle... Qiu Qianhai deduced it was a damaged part of a mid-grade magical artifact.

Ji Yuan took a storage bag and the Dharma Ship of Old Man Wu, and as for the magical artifacts, he chose the embroidery needle for sneak attacks.

Thinking that the black-gold short knife and bamboo pole were all for Qiu Qianhai, he was surprised when Qiu Qianhai still handed him the short knife, choosing only the bamboo pole-like magical artifact for himself.

Spoils divided.

Both of them calmed down from the brief joy.

Ji Yuan no longer felt the previous delight; killing was easy, but dealing with the aftermath was more difficult.

Especially with Liu Laizi.

”Liu Laizi is connected to the Qin Family. For years, he’s been lending money on behalf of the Qin Family, and most of the Spirit Stones he earned went to them, so now that he’s dead, the Qin Family will certainly investigate.”

Qiu Qianhai spoke first.

The Qin Family... Ji Yuan knew of them, considered the top family in Zengtou City.

In Zengtou City, generally, after reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation, one can apply for assessment to join the Water Dragon Sect, but the Water Dragon Sect doesn’t accept just anyone.

If one is too old or has other issues, they might be turned away.

Thus, those rejected often return to Zengtou City, but these rejected late-stage Qi Cultivators in Zengtou City have few foes as long as they don’t provoke the Water Dragon Sect, right?

By recruiting some, sheltering others, and having relationships with a few, they naturally form a small Cultivation Clan.

This is how the Qin Family came to be.

”Liu Laizi’s murders were secretive; it should be hard for them to trace it back to us, shouldn’t it?” Ji Yuan asked.

”Don’t underestimate the local powers like the Qin Family,” Qiu Qianhai shook his head, saying in a deep voice, ”But don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for killing Liu Laizi.”

”What? You?”

Before Ji Yuan could finish, Qiu Qianhai continued, ”I’ve already offended the Qin Family before; I don’t mind offending them again, and I’m tired of staying in Zengtou City anyway, planning to check out other markets.”

”I’ll go back to Zengtou City with you later; wait until this time tomorrow...”

Qiu Qianhai looked around; the sky was dark, and a light rain started to fall in Cloud Rain Marsh.

”Zengtou City will likely be abuzz with the news that Qiu Qianhai killed Liu Laizi.”

Ji Yuan was silent.

Sure, Qiu Qianhai probably genuinely had thoughts of developing in other markets. But he could easily slip away quietly, not openly take the blame.

Moreover, to transit between markets, he would most likely have to use Cloud Rain Marsh.

For him, a fourth-stage Qi Cultivator, to drift from Zengtou City through the vast Cloud Rain Marsh to another market... the risks were foreseeable.

”Are you sure?”

Ji Yuan asked.

”What’s there to be unsure about?” Qiu Qianhai chuckled freely.

Ji Yuan nodded and took out the talismans and elixirs from the storage bag, along with ten Spirit Stones.

”What are you doing?”

Qiu Qianhai’s expression changed slightly.

”Don’t talk so much, just accept what I’m willing to give. You need these more outside than I do.”

Ji Yuan patted Qiu Qianhai’s shoulder, ”Live well, and when we both reach the late stage of Qi Cultivation, we’ll wipe out the Qin Family together.”

At this, Qiu Qianhai couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

”Alright, we’ll destroy the Qin Family, and as brothers, we’ll join the Water Dragon Sect together.”

”Okay.”

Ji Yuan agreed with a smile.

Qiu Qianhai didn’t refuse anymore. After accepting the items, he pondered briefly, then said, ”I’ll go pack up my things soon, then leave directly. I might not come to see you.”

”Next time I return to Zengtou City, I’ll leave a shell at your door, by then...”

Qiu Qianhai stood up and looked around, ”This island has no name, let’s call it Qiuyu Island; at that time, I’ll wait for you on Qiuyu Island.”

”Alright.”

Having found a reliable friend, now came the moment of parting, and Ji Yuan felt a bit reluctant at heart.

But upon deeper thought, the path of cultivation seemed inherently like this.

No matter who it is, one can only walk alongside for a portion of the journey; in the pursuit of immortality, for most of the time, one walks alone.

Qiu Qianhai left.

Ji Yuan had been through a bloody fight. He had a Dharma Ship and artifacts. He took out the Dharma Ship of Old Man Wu, refined it briefly, then cast it into the water, growing with the wind, transforming into a long White Boat.

Not knowing its name, Ji Yuan referred to it as White Boat.

The body of White Boat was slender, with a sharp spike at the bow, adding some speed to it.

Ji Yuan reckoned that the White Boat was nearing the boundary of a mid-grade magical artifact. Naturally, Old Man Wu, earning a living as a Tribulation Cultivator in Cloud Rain Marsh, couldn’t have a poor Dharma Ship.

This White Boat should serve him well for quite some time.

Returning to the shore, Ji Yuan didn’t see anyone else; he stored the Dharma Ship in the storage bag and quietly returned home.

Back home, the first thing he did was activate the effects of various buildings and change into clean clothes to relax a bit.

Drinking the hot tea prepared in the morning, Ji Yuan began reviewing the fight from today.

After careful thought, Ji Yuan felt that surviving today was entirely due to resources. This wasn’t a matter of fighting; it was a matter of resources.

Whether it was the Water Drop Finger that countered Liu Laizi’s magical artifact, the life-saving Golden Body Talisman, or the game-changing Thunder Strike Talisman in the end.

Just these two mid-grade talismans weren’t something an ordinary cultivator could bring out.

So, winning today was simply because he had more resources, and Old Man Wu had even more than him... but wasn’t willing to use them.

He probably thought Liu Laizi could deal with him, then, teaming up with Liu Laizi, they could almost effortlessly take down Qiu Qianhai.

Who would’ve thought that Liu Laizi would fail?

So, having resources is important, but being willing to use them is crucial as well.

As for finally killing Old Man Wu, Ji Yuan had prepared for that long before.

After experiencing betrayal from Old Man Huang, Ji Yuan was now only tentatively trusting Qiu Qianhai, primarily because they had killed together.

Could he trust Old Man Wu, a Tribulation Cultivator?

Thus, in the cultivation realm, fighting skills are important, but the most crucial factor is resources.

Upon reaching this conclusion, Ji Yuan looked at his own interface.

This [Cave Mansion] needs to be upgraded.