Chapter 24
Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Fishery Farmers Flee
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Twelve grains of spirit sand."
Yu Daniu was in low spirits. The two spirit stones he'd received from Gao Peiyao, along with the fifty-some grains of spirit sand he'd saved, had been almost entirely depleted in just over three months.
Trying his hand at talismans was easier said than done.
In practice, it was a craft that devoured spirit stones. If he managed to get the hang of it, great. But if he failed, everything he'd spent would be for nothing.
"Take this spirit stone."
Chen Jianghe produced a spirit stone and offered it to Yu Daniu.
This was one of the stones Zhou Miaoyun had just given him.
"Brother Jianghe, I... I can't accept this. I have enough spirit sand for my daily needs."
Yu Daniu frantically waved his hands, refusing the offer.
He was short on spirit stones, but he knew Chen Jianghe was too. This was a precious cultivation resource—he couldn't possibly accept it.
Chen Jianghe had already helped him more than enough.
"With the Yun Clan in turmoil, the port is no longer safe. Prices have likely skyrocketed. Just take it. You can pay me back later."
Without waiting for another word from Yu Daniu, Chen Jianghe tossed the spirit stone to him.
He had given careful thought to lending Yu Daniu the spirit stone.
Zhou Miaoyun had given him two spirit stones. Combined with the thirty grains of spirit sand he had left, it was enough to buy a Spirit Accumulating Pill.
The thirty grains of spirit sand could also tide him over until the year's end.
However, he had taken a Spirit Accumulating Pill just four months ago, and the residual pill toxins had yet to be fully purged from his system. It wasn't advisable to consume another for cultivation so soon.
By year's end, the toxins would be fully purged, and he could purchase and consume another Spirit Accumulating Pill then.
So, he only needed to keep one spirit stone for himself. Once the Yun Clan collected the fish and he received his yearly income, he could figure out how to buy another pill.
"I..."
Yu Daniu was deeply moved. From their earlier conversation, he could sense Gao Peiyao's aloofness, yet Chen Jianghe didn't scorn him for his lack of value and had consistently spoken up for him.
"We shouldn't linger at the port. We need to hurry to the market, buy what we need, and get back to the farming waters."
Chen Jianghe clapped Yu Daniu on the shoulder. This wasn't the time for heartfelt speeches.
Upon arriving at the market,
they saw Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun standing in the distance, in front of a Yun Clan shop.
It was a shop run by a cadet branch of the Yun Clan, primarily selling Spirit Marrow Rice. It was the only store in the mortal market that sold goods related to cultivators.
"Buying Spirit Marrow Rice?"
Chen Jianghe didn't approach to greet them. Instead, he led Yu Daniu into a different, ordinary rice shop.
Spirit Marrow Rice contained spiritual energy and sold for eight grains of spirit sand a pound.
Not only could it be absorbed and refined, but it was also incredibly filling. A single pound of it could stave off hunger for ten days.
Most importantly, Spirit Marrow Rice had very little waste content, which meant one needed to relieve oneself much less frequently.
Chen Jianghe had no such qualms.
After purchasing all the necessities, he had a shop boy make six trips with a handcart to get everything loaded onto his boat.
While loading the boat, Chen Jianghe noticed they weren't the only ones stocking up on large quantities of supplies.
In the eight-hundred-li expanse of Mirror Moon Lake, chaos would strike the outskirts first. The lake itself was the Yun Clan's lifeblood; it was unlikely to fall into disarray.
Many of the junior Fishery Farmers had figured this out as well.
"Daniu, stop taking risks to gather information. You can only be useful if you're alive."
"Yeah, I know, Brother Jianghe."
The fishing boats parted ways, each heading back to its designated waters.
Chen Jianghe gazed at the mountain of supplies piled in his boat's cabin. It had cost him a total of twenty-six grains of spirit sand.
Prices were more than triple what they usually were.
Still, Chen Jianghe could understand why.
Those mortals risked their lives, toiling to bring supplies to the port. The price was justified.
He just wondered if the Yun Clan's shop had also raised the price of its Spirit Marrow Rice.
Zhou Miaoyun, on the other hand, was making a fortune in these turbulent times. Spirit talismans were war supplies, and highly consumable ones at that.
From what Zhou Miaoyun had said at the inn, it wasn't hard to guess that the price of spirit talismans had surely skyrocketed.
Compared to normal, prices had likely risen by twenty or thirty percent.
"Once I become a senior Fishery Farmer, I have to learn a trade. I'll start by trying talismans. I was a top student in the art department back in the day, so I figure I might have some talent for it."
"If that doesn't work out, I'll try alchemy."
He had a long life ahead of him; it would be a real waste not to master a trade.
Besides, the most important elements on the path of cultivation were wealth, companionship, arts, and location.
Wealth meant spirit stones and all kinds of cultivation resources.
As one's cultivation level rose, the consumption of spirit stones and the need for resources would only grow.
Without a trade, how could he afford to buy the resources he needed to cultivate?
In the blink of an eye, another three months passed.
The dog days of summer arrived.
The heat was oppressive. The Golden Crow in the sky spat fire relentlessly, scorching the heavens until not a single cloud remained.
Chen Jianghe walked to the bow, flicked his wrist to cast a silver thread of spiritual power, and pulled out a large black carp weighing about two pounds.
He then removed the letter tied to the egret's left leg.
"Daniu's gone to the port again."
Chen Jianghe frowned, but after a moment's reflection, his expression softened.
He understood why Yu Daniu did it. In an alliance, one had to provide value—either potential value for the future or immediate value in the present.
Relying solely on others for help was not a long-term solution.
Yu Daniu was risking his neck gathering information at the port because he didn't want to put Chen Jianghe in an awkward position; he wanted to prove his own worth to their alliance.
As he read the letter's contents, Chen Jianghe's expression shifted.
"Over a hundred junior Fishery Farmers and more than a dozen senior ones have left the Mirror Moon Lake region!"
If chaos were to erupt around Mirror Moon Lake, it would surely begin on the outskirts. Weren't these cultivators afraid of the bandits and rogue cultivators out there?
Chen Jianghe continued reading.
This time, Yu Daniu had stayed at the port for five days. He'd learned that most of the Fishery Farmers who left were from established cultivator families.
They hailed from Qi Refining clans either within the Mirror Moon Lake region or in the surrounding territories.
Upon reading this, Chen Jianghe understood.
Qi Refining clans had limited resources; it was impossible to distribute them evenly among all their members.
The most talented would naturally receive more, while the less gifted would receive less.
This was why many disciples from such clans came to work for the Yun Clan as Fishery Farmers, earning their own keep and saving up resources for cultivation.
Zhou Miaoyun was a prime example.
After finishing Yu Daniu's letter, he penned a reply.
He no longer tried to stop Yu Daniu from gathering intelligence. Everyone had to make their own choices, and besides, this was the only way for Yu Daniu to contribute.
He simply urged Yu Daniu in his letter to be careful.
Another five months passed, bringing the year's end closer.
Another letter arrived from Yu Daniu.
"Hm? So many senior Fishery Farmers have left!"
In the past five months, almost no junior Fishery Farmers had left, but more than twenty senior ones had departed.
At this rate, only half of the senior Fishery Farmers in the inner waters were left.
"Senior Fishery Farmers at the late stage of Qi Refining would be considered top-tier assets even in a Qi Refining clan. It was inevitable that they would leave."
Having cultivated all the way to the late stage of Qi Refining, they certainly wouldn't choose to stay at Mirror Moon Lake and go down with the Yun Clan's ship.
Besides, the Yun Clan wasn't the only Foundation Establishment immortal clan that relied on aquaculture.
"Daniu mentioned in his letter that at the upcoming Fishery Farmer Assembly, the Yun Clan plans to make major changes to the outer waters. It might be an opportunity that benefits the junior Fishery Farmers."