Translator: AnubisTL
Snap!
The Spirit Willow Branch before Li Qing had completely withered, reduced to dry twigs that snapped crisply in the wind. Depleted of all its Spirit Wood Essence, it was now indistinguishable from an ordinary dead willow branch.
Li Qing opened his eyes, a fleeting hint of azure flickering within his pupils.
"Hah! No wonder so few members of the Liu Clan cultivate the Precious Wood Body Refinement Manual. The path of physical cultivation truly devours both time and resources—the rumors weren't exaggerated!"
Li Qing stared at the withered branch on the ground, as if watching fifty mid-grade spirit stones vanish into thin air. A pang of heartache struck him.
The Spirit Willow Branch, worth fifty mid-grade spirit stones, had just been completely drained of its spirit wood qi to nourish his body.
It had proven useful, at least. Li Qing could sense his physical resilience had improved slightly, and his Vital Energy flowed with renewed vigor.
Since attaining the level of Grandmaster in the Martial Dao, his physical strength had remained largely stagnant—until now.
This meant Li Qing's physical body had reached its peak in the mortal realm, beyond improvement through ordinary methods.
Having just begun cultivating this newly acquired body refinement secret technique, Li Qing finally experienced a long-awaited breakthrough in his physical strength after consuming a Spirit Willow Branch.
Though the improvement was minimal, Li Qing's precise control over his body allowed him to clearly sense that his physique had grown stronger once more.
"This is too expensive," Li Qing lamented repeatedly. "Fifty mid-grade spirit stones for such a meager improvement!"
However, Li Qing overlooked a crucial detail: his original Grandmaster-level physique was already remarkably robust, comparable to that of an Early Qi Refining Realm body cultivator.
Further strengthening such a foundation would naturally require exponentially greater resources.
The Precious Wood Body Refinement Manual comprised three layers, corresponding to the Early, Mid, and Late stages of the Qi Refining Realm.
Upon mastering the third layer, one could even contend with Late Qi Refining Realm cultivators using only their physical strength.
Moreover, when combined with his already formidable physique, the resulting synergy would be far more potent than simple addition.
"It seems I should prioritize acquiring high-grade spirit wood for my future cultivation plans," Li Qing mused. "Focusing primarily on mana cultivation while supplementing it with physical refinement would significantly enhance my self-defense capabilities."
He envisioned future battles where both he and his opponent had exhausted their mana reserves, teetering on the brink of collapse. In such scenarios, his superior physical strength would undoubtedly give him a decisive advantage.
This approach would also ensure that the years he had spent honing his body through martial arts in the mortal realm wouldn't go to waste.
Having solidified his cultivation direction, Li Qing felt immensely satisfied. As a reward, he grilled himself two spirit fish.
Now a cultivator in the Mid Qi Refining Realm, he had barely attained a rudimentary level of self-sufficiency.
Next, Li Qing turned his attention to the Heavenly River Market.
"However, the rogue cultivator trade fair is next month," he thought. "It wouldn't hurt to wait a bit longer."
And so, after much deliberation, another month slipped by.
Li Qing ventured into the Spirit Stone Mine once more, and his accumulated spirit stones finally surpassed the two-thousand mark!
Adding the mid-grade spirit stone to his collection, Li Qing now possessed a total of two thousand one hundred and thirty-four spirit stones.
Having advanced to the Mid Qi Refining Realm, Li Qing's mana had significantly increased, allowing him to wield the Night Star Pickaxe with greater endurance.
As his income steadily grew, Li Qing became increasingly cautious, deliberately minimizing his presence and maintaining a low profile.
Stealthy development is the key to success!
Upon returning from the Spirit Stone Mine, Li Qing enjoyed a leisurely nap. Afterward, he spent his time visiting and befriending other rogue cultivators while quietly awaiting the biannual trade fair.
During this period, Li Qing discreetly gathered information about the Heavenly River Market by inquiring with several rogue cultivators responsible for escorting goods for the Liu Clan.
Within a courtyard in Block A:
"There's no way around it. Spirit fish are living creatures and can't be stored in storage pouches. The Liu Clan's restaurant in Heavenly River Market insists on receiving them alive and fresh."
"Why not just slaughter the fish on the spot and immediately store them in storage pouches to preserve their spiritual energy? The Liu Clan insists on making things so complicated. Fellow Daoist Li, isn't that just a waste of effort?"
The speaker was Chen Xin, a talkative cultivator with an outgoing personality, about five or six years older than Li Qing. Restless by nature, he had chosen a delivery job for the Liu Clan instead of working in the spirit mines or fields.
The Liu Clan owned a renowned restaurant in Heavenly River Market, and Chen Xin regularly transported their specialties—Lake Willow Fish, Spirit Wine, spirit rice, and other spirit foods—to the establishment.
However, the Liu Clan prioritized the restaurant's reputation and quality. They kept the Lake Willow Fish alive in tanks, not only driving up prices but also providing a unique attraction for visiting cultivators.
"Heh, live spirit fish always fetch a higher price. Besides, keeping them on display adds a unique ambiance to the restaurant," Li Qing remarked casually.
Upon hearing Li Qing's explanation, Chen Xin nodded as if suddenly enlightened, then exclaimed in realization, "That actually makes sense! No wonder the Liu Clan charges such exorbitant prices for their dishes at that restaurant. Thirteen mid-grade spirit stones for a single serving of spirit food made from spirit fish? And people in Heavenly River Market are flocking to it like moths to a flame!"
"Who knew there was such a trick to it!"
"But I'm not going to be a sucker. If I want spirit fish, I'll just buy one myself for six spirit stones and whip up a quick dish. It'll taste just as fresh and delicious."
Chen Xin chattered on incessantly, while Li Qing simply smiled and shook his head.
The Liu Clan's ability to sell spirit fish at such inflated prices in Heavenly River Market was due to more than just this "trick." Factors like the market's prime real estate, the labor costs of transporting the fish, and the salaries of the Spirit Chefs employed by the restaurant were all factored into the price.
However, if one were to pinpoint the Liu Clan's most profitable venture in Heavenly River Market, it would undoubtedly be their shop specializing in formation arrays and talismans.
Among the four most prestigious cultivation techniques—alchemy, artifact forging, formation mastery, and talisman crafting—the Liu Clan excelled above all in formation mastery. They boasted multiple Formation Masters capable of deploying Second-Tier Grand Formations.
For security reasons, many cultivators would install such formations around their cave residences or territories.
But don't mistake this for a one-time transaction. Once a formation was deployed, minor flaws or vulnerabilities would inevitably emerge every few years due to shifts in the Yin-Yang Five Elements of the terrain or other factors.
This provided the Liu Clan's Formation Masters with a steady stream of work, maintaining and repairing these formations and earning them substantial amounts of mid-grade spirit stones.
With such immense profits and the backing of the formidable Heavenly River Sect, the Liu Clan enjoyed an exceptionally comfortable existence, far surpassing the circumstances of other cultivation clans with less prestigious connections.
Yet even this flourishing cultivation clan was destined to weather its share of storms and trials.
"I've heard the female cultivators at the Spirit Phoenix Pavilion in Heavenly River Market are peerless beauties, the kind that could make fish sink, wild geese fall, the moon hide, and flowers blush," Li Qing suddenly remarked. "Fellow Daoist Chen, having frequented Heavenly River Market so often, have you ever paid them a visit?"
Chen Xin, a notorious chatterbox, immediately seized the opportunity.
"Hahaha! I never imagined someone as seemingly earnest and honest as you, Fellow Daoist Li, would be harboring such thoughts!" Chen Xin roared with laughter, wagging a finger at Li Qing.
"Seriously though, the women at the Spirit Phoenix Pavilion are truly breathtaking. I once caught a glimpse from afar, and it was... tsk tsk tsk!"
"But such a gilded den of indulgence is beyond the reach of rogue cultivators like us. It's simply too expensive."
"Fellow Daoist Li, if you truly desire such companionship, I suggest you take a few mortal wives and concubines from the Liu Clan. If you manage to sire even one or two children with Spiritual Roots, you'll be handsomely rewarded!"
"As cultivators, we shouldn't concern ourselves with trivial matters like whether or not we're 'marrying into' another family."
"I plan to keep delivering spirit fish to the Liu Clan for a few more years, save up enough spirit stones, and then casually marry a few beautiful concubines and settle down for a peaceful life," Chen Xin said, his face filled with wistful longing as if he could already envision his future.
His situation was similar to Li Qing's: mediocre aptitude and a late start on the path of cultivation, destined to remain rogue cultivators with their potential capped. Reaching the Late Qi Refining Realm would be the pinnacle of their fortune. As for aspiring to Foundation Establishment or anything beyond, that would be nothing but a fool's dream.
Such was the harsh reality for most rogue cultivators in the immortal cultivation world. They knew of countless higher realms yet would never glimpse their splendor. The Qi Refining Realm marked both their beginning and their end. The Immortal Path they pursued so diligently throughout their lives would ultimately slip through their fingers like water through a bamboo basket.
After a moment of silence, Li Qing was about to inquire about safer routes to the Heavenly River Market when a sudden wave of panicked cries erupted from outside the courtyard of Block A.
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [IR] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c246. [+6/11.4k].
🎁All [2] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [700+] Chapters and [1.42M+] Words.
🔔 Become a member before 8 August to enjoy 50% off. Just $3.