harleyscars Chapter 46 A Terrible Idea
Chapter 46 A Terrible Idea
Chapter 46 A Terrible Idea
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere at the table became increasingly lively. Liu Chenggang, beaming, began to recount his adventure at the bottom of the lake.
"That day, we had just broken through the outer ice wall when two second-tier ice pythons suddenly sprang out! Senior Dong used his flying sword to slay one, but the other was enraged and chased after us relentlessly," Liu Chenggang described vividly. "Just at the critical moment, I risked my life and crawled into an ice crevice, only to find a hidden paradise inside."
The audience listened intently, occasionally letting out gasps of amazement. Chen Yi quietly sipped his spirit wine, a faint smile always on his face.
"Brother Chen," Liu Chenggang suddenly turned to Chen Yi, his tone tinged with regret, "it's such a pity you didn't go this time. Although the bottom of the lake is dangerous, there are many opportunities! Fellow Daoist Hao and Fellow Daoist Hu also gained a lot, exchanging it for medicinal resources, and their cultivation has improved."
Chen Yi followed the gaze and saw that Hao Youren and Lao Hu were both smiling and nodding.
Chen Yi looked at Old Hu sitting next to him with surprise:
"Senior Hu, what brings you here?"
Chen Yi knew Lao Hu's personality; he was very cautious and wouldn't go unless the reward was huge and the risk was minimal.
Old Hu quietly whispered in Chen Yi's ear, and even used telepathy:
"Hehe, this time our group has four Foundation Establishment cultivators leading the way, and those second-tier and above demonic beasts have already been driven away."
Moreover, I recently learned a water-based technique. When I unleash its full power, my underwater escape ability surpasses that of ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. I'll also stay in the back, ready to retreat at the first sign of danger.
Go into the water with the main group to explore opportunities. There's no need to be at the forefront. Just be quicker to escape than others in times of crisis.
Xiao Chen, how about it? Do you want to come down with us next time? I feel more at ease with you by my side.
I can sell you that water-walking technique for 100 spirit stones.
Chen Yi congratulated him with a smile. He was very interested in the water-based technique and, after some haggling, bought it for 50 spirit stones.
He also thanked the group:
"Thank you all for your kindness. However, my cultivation level is low, I am not good at swimming, and I dare not risk going into the water. Besides, I am quite satisfied with my current job in the spirit kitchen, and my life is quite stable, so I will not compete with you for this opportunity."
Chen Yi noticed that several of his old friends had opportunities to gain something.
Perhaps, by choosing to hide away in the Myriad Sounds Pavilion as a spirit chef instead of joining the others in the water, he did indeed miss an opportunity.
But Chen Yi felt neither regret nor jealousy.
He chose the path of seeking stability and practicing the Way of the Dead, so he had to learn to take things lightly. Missing opportunities might become commonplace for him.
"Sigh, Old Chen, you're almost 40, and you're only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. If you push yourself, you might still have a chance to reach the late stage of Qi Refining. Then you'll be treated like a high-ranking official in any small market or cultivation family."
If you haven't made a breakthrough by the time you're sixty, and your physical functions decline, then you really won't have another chance.
Hao Youren and the others tried to persuade him again. They had all grown up from ordinary martial artists in the Li family and felt it was a real waste for Chen Yi to just drift through life like this.
Chen Yi simply smiled and shook his head, offering no further explanation.
One month later,
The second-tier spiritual vein cave dwelling was completed.
The array blueprints were designed by the array master, while Dong Chang'an provided the manpower and resources. He spent a considerable amount of spirit stones and resources, and also mobilized dozens of Qi Refining cultivators to barely complete the construction of the second-tier spirit vein cave dwelling.
Looking at the brimming spiritual energy of the second-tier spiritual vein, he, a market owner and a Foundation Establishment cultivator over 150 years old, felt distressed that he couldn't enter to cultivate.
After it was completed, he reported the good news to Xu Shixian.
Xu Shixian couldn't wait to send a message, inviting Qin Chengcheng to a private banquet to discuss the relocation of Miaoyin Pavilion.
As for Dong Chang'an's final question, "Young Master, when can I go to this spiritual vein cave to cultivate?", Xu Shixian didn't even listen.
Dong Chang'an felt bitter.
Qin Chengcheng looked at the gilded invitation on the talisman and showed a troubled expression. Xu Shixian, that persistent pest, had a powerful family background, had successfully established his foundation before the age of thirty, and possessed so many magical artifacts that he couldn't possibly use them all.
Now they've come to this market supposedly for an inspection, but they're not leaving. They've even had a formation master rebuild their second-tier cave dwelling, ostensibly as a gift for a beauty.
Everyone knows what he meant: he wanted to pursue Qin Chengcheng.
"Chen Yi, you're full of clever ideas, how should we handle this kind of situation?"
She worried that if she didn't accept Young Master Xu's offer, she would not only lose her second-tier cave dwelling, but he could also make it impossible for Miaoyin Pavilion to stay in this market with just a few words.
When the time comes, she will naturally leave. Even if Chen Yi is willing to go with her, she can break away from Young Master Xu by settling down somewhere else.
Besides, even if he were to leave Young Master Xu, wouldn't there be other Young Master Wangs or Young Master Lis?
She left her sect's Miaoyin Pavilion for two reasons: one was to seek an opportunity to break the restrictions on her soul, and the other was to escape the pressure of an arranged marriage.
However, the matter concerning Young Master Xu is currently very difficult to handle.
Chen Yi wasn't very concerned about Qin Chengcheng's distress.
As he drew the array and calculated, he casually gave a perfunctory answer:
"Why don't you agree to go to a private dinner with him?"
Chen Yi didn't care about Qin Chengcheng's private relationships. Although he thought Qin Chengcheng was a wonderful fairy, he never thought of becoming her Daoist partner. Such a celebrity was far too dangerous.
Even working as a cook for her, Chen Yi felt he was being spied on much more lately, so he decided to stay away as soon as Qin Chengcheng's soul restriction was lifted.
"Chen! Yi!" Qin Chengcheng slammed his fist on the zither table in anger.
"Be serious! I'm asking you because I don't want to! If he weren't so persistent, I would have left long ago!"
"Oh. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm not a fairy, I've never been pursued before, I don't have much experience."
"A while ago, a newly-advanced second-tier Frost Jade Dragon was spotted near the Sea Lake. I was thinking, if you're interested, I could ask for it and let you practice your cooking skills."
Judging from your attitude now, there's no need to ask for that second-tier Frost Jade Dragon anymore; I'd still have to do you a favor.
Qin Chengcheng's face turned cold.
Hmm? A second-tier Frost Jade Dragon?
Chen Yi sat up straight, his eyes lighting up. He hadn't devoured a second-tier demonic beast since arriving in this world.
"Ahem—, let me think..."
"He's just a simp, easy to deal with."
Chen Yi began to recall seriously. Although he had never personally experienced such a thing, he had seen many similar examples in his previous life:
"You should peel off the sugar coating, fire back at him, accept the second-tier cave he offered, move into the Myriad Sounds Pavilion, but don't agree to have a private dinner with him."
Qin Chengcheng: "If you say it like that, won't my reputation be ruined? And you make it sound so easy!"
"Xu Shixian has the Jade Dragon Sect elders behind him. If I do this, and the Jade Dragon Sect elders blame me, I'll have no choice but to sacrifice myself."
"You can try a different approach. Don't accept it in your own name, but in the name of the entire Miaoyin Pavilion, or even your sect's Miaoyin Workshop."
This escalates the matter from a private one to a public one.
Chen Yi said while thinking.
"Of course, Young Master Xu will most likely still be dissatisfied, but you can offer him some emotional support!"
Qin Chengcheng asked in confusion, "What emotional value? I could never agree to a private agreement with him."
"If you do this, wouldn't the entire Miaoyin Pavilion have acquired a second-tier cave dwelling and relocated?"
To give back to the market, you should organize a concert for all members of the Myriad Sounds Pavilion, the kind that charges admission fees. You can sell the tickets at a higher price so that cultivators with spirit stones can come and listen.
Then set up one exclusive private room, ten deluxe private rooms, and the other ordinary seats are randomly divided into several levels from near to far, with different ticket prices for each level.
After that, the only exclusive private room was given to Mr. Xu as a token of gratitude.
That simp... cough...that young master, he's not short of money, he cares about face. Just think, the only exclusive room in the entire place was given to him, and it was even given to him for free. This kind of thing is incredibly prestigious if word gets out in the entire cultivation world.
He will surely be pleased.
This way, the favor of being a simp is repaid directly.
You can sell the remaining ten premium private rooms to whoever wants them, or use them to settle any outstanding favors you owe them. In short, make use of them.
At the same time, rules were also established that if someone wanted special treatment from you, the starting standard would be a second-tier spiritual vein cave or a second-tier mutated demon beast.
That way, those without real power won't bother you anymore. As for those who are truly powerful and willing to fawn over you, you can simply hold another event and set up more exclusive private rooms.
Wouldn't this solve everything by killing two birds with one stone?
After Chen Yi finished speaking, Qin Chengcheng was dumbfounded.
(End of this chapter)