[Cave Mansion Level 2]
[Spirit Effect: Daytime Spiritual Qi concentration +10%, Nighttime Spiritual Qi concentration +30%, Basic Silence Barrier]
[Upgrade Conditions: Low-grade Spirit Stone ×50, Clear Spirit Jade ×6 pieces, River-Settling Sand ×10 pounds]
No matter day or night, Spiritual Qi concentration rises by 10%.
At first glance, it doesn't seem like much of a difference, but over time, it's significant.
Cultivation is a gradual process; progressing a little more each day leads to noticeable results in the long run.
Plus, there's an added Silence Barrier.
Barriers, as Ji Yuan estimates, are similar to arrays.
The Dust Avoidance Barrier of the Level 1 [Cave Mansion] is just a simple Dust Avoidance Array.
If there is a Level 2 Silence Barrier, even if something loud happens inside the cave, others won't be able to hear it.
This provides a bit more safety.
It's a pity that there isn't any defensive barrier; one can only hope for further upgrades of the [Cave Mansion].
Regarding upgrade conditions, 50 Spirit Stones weren't beyond Ji Yuan's expectations. However, he's never heard of Clear Spirit Jade and River-Settling Sand, nor does he know their value, so he'll have to ask at the Hundred Treasures Tower later.
After upgrading the cave mansion, Ji Yuan noticed the air in the house became much fresher.
Looking around, everything was clean and spotless.
The previously gloomy atmosphere in the house had turned into a very bright and welcoming one.
'Now this is what it looks like to be a cultivator.'
After a brief appreciation, Ji Yuan dug out a pot of slightly spirit-infused rice from the storage room... time to feed the chickens, and after feeding them, he had to feed the pigs.
Well, the feeling of being a cultivator only lasted less than half a stick of incense time.
After finishing his chores, Ji Yuan continued at home studying the "Artifact Manipulation Technique"; at the very least, he needed to be able to control magical artifacts at will.
Otherwise, having a collection of magical artifacts wouldn't be effective.
Unconsciously, Ji Yuan's strength continued to improve.
...
In the afternoon.
While cultivating in the courtyard, Ji Yuan suddenly heard the sound of a door opening from the courtyard next door—Old Man Huang's house.
He hadn't died?!
Having caused the death of the original owner's father, Ji Yuan could never just ignore it; he immediately stepped out of the courtyard.
His heart thought already linked to the death needle in the storage bag.
When he reached the entrance, he saw two middle-aged men in Water Dragon Sect attire standing outside Old Man Huang's courtyard.
As Ji Yuan came out, they looked over.
"Greetings, sirs."
Ji Yuan quickly cupped his hands towards them.
They only responded with a simple "Hmm," without saying much else, prompting Ji Yuan to turn his gaze towards Old Man Huang's courtyard, where he noticed two other Water Dragon Sect cultivators.
"May I ask, sirs, what is this about..."
Ji Yuan couldn't hold back from asking.
"The fisherman residing here has died; we're here to reclaim the Immortal Residence. Are you his kin?" One Water Dragon Sect cultivator holding a magic sword turned around and asked.
Old Man Huang was indeed dead... Ji Yuan slowly shook his head.
"No, I'm just his neighbor."
The sword-wielding cultivator turned back without further response.
The Lin Family's courtyard gate then opened, and a pale-faced Wu Qin emerged, supporting herself against the door frame, "Ji... Brother Ji."
Uncertain when, she had started addressing Ji Yuan like Lin Hu.
However, judging from her occasional glance at Ji Yuan, she had some inexplicable thoughts towards him.
"Hmm, where's Lin Hu?"
Looking at the injured Wu Qin, Ji Yuan thought, if there were a Hundred Herbs Pill, she would have recovered already.
Moreover, if such an injury isn't treated promptly, the longer it drags on, the more likely it will leave lingering damage.
Yet, a Hundred Herbs Pill costs at least 5 Spirit Stones; now that Lin Youwei's parents have died, the entire burden fell on Lin Hu, who was only at Qi Cultivation Level 2.
This reminded Ji Yuan of the original owner, as he could barely pay the Immortal Residence fees, let alone buy any Hundred Herbs Pill.
"He went out fishing."
Wu Qin glanced at the Cloud Rain Marsh, her eyes appearing somewhat sad.
After the Water Dragon Sect cultivators sealed Old Man Huang's house, they each flew away on flying magical artifacts.
After they left, Wu Qin dared to ask, "Brother Ji, is Old Man Huang really dead?"
"Yes, that's what the Water Dragon Sect cultivators said."
"Good riddance!"
Wu Qin's voice involuntarily carried a hint of satisfaction, her fingers squeezing the door frame so tightly they turned slightly white.
Since the Water Dragon Sect had confirmed Old Man Huang's death, it wouldn't be long before this house would be rented to someone else.
Ji Yuan wasn't sure what his new neighbor would be like.
But those who could rent a house by the riverside would at most be at Qi Cultivation Level 4; those with higher cultivation generally moved into Zengtou City.
As long as it isn't someone at Level 5, Ji Yuan isn't too worried right now.
In the evening, Ji Yuan heard laughter coming from Lin Hu next door, repeatedly shouting "The heavens have eyes."
It seemed that Lin Hu, who had just returned from fishing, heard of Old Man Huang's death from Wu Qin.
...
Ji Yuan initially thought the new neighbor would take three or four days to arrive, but unexpectedly, the very next day, the new neighbor knocked on his courtyard door.
The visitor was a middle-aged man in tattered white robes, with Qi Cultivation Level 3, living alone, with sunken dark eyes, truly resembling a cultivator.
"Hehe, I'm Deng Yunliang, originally a loose cultivator from the Yu Kingdom, now luckily arrived in the Water Dragon Sect's Zengtou City. I hope Daoist Friend will look after me in the future."
Ji Yuan returned the greeting, introducing himself, neither warm nor indifferent.
Deng Yunliang also brought a small gift of green bean cakes as a meetup present, bought in Zengtou City, ordinary items without using Spirit Stones; Ji Yuan accepted them.
"I just arrived and need to visit others nearby. Daoist Friend Ji, let's chat next time."
"Alright."
"Yes, we're neighbors, we should keep in touch more often."
Deng Yunliang cupped his hands again, laughed, and left; soon, Lin Hu's voice could be heard next door.
Comparatively, Lin Hu's voice was much more enthusiastic than Ji Yuan's.
Seems logical too, Ji Yuan often stays indoors, rarely communicating; now that a new neighbor finally arrived, Lin Hu naturally should be enthusiastic.
The green bean cakes Deng Yunliang gave, Ji Yuan didn't eat and instead fed them to the Spirit Dolphin.
After the Spirit Dolphin ate the green bean cakes, he eventually ate the Spirit Dolphin himself, not wasting the effort.
In the following days, Ji Yuan leveraged the effects of Level 1 [Cave Mansion], resting during the day and cultivating at night.
Luckily, despite his limited Spirit Root, he seemed to have a decent aptitude for spells.
After several days, he finally mastered the Artifact Manipulation Technique. When controlling magical artifacts again, it felt like an extension of his own arm.
Especially the death needle, released from his sleeve, concealed within the Water Drop Finger, likely guaranteeing success in a sneak attack.
The Black Gold Saber could be used as a feigned attack.
Though Ji Yuan hadn't gone out these days, he could hear Lin Hu and Deng Yunliang frequently interacting, visiting each other's doors from time to time.
But after several days passed, during a walk outside his door, Ji Yuan heard Wu Qin quietly asking him.
She mentioned the new neighbor Deng Yunliang, who didn't go out fishing, but instead frequently visited Zengtou City, mostly being active at night and resting during the day, not knowing what kind of work he was doing.
Ji Yuan didn't know, nor did he bother to care.
After several days of fish farming, he finally gained a substantial harvest one night with two and a half Spirit Fish nearing their upgrade.
Additionally, several other Spirit Fish neared harvest time as well.
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