Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Spirit Stone Shortage
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"You're that Chen Jianghe Young Master Bufan praised?"
"Indeed. Cultivating three spirit beasts in just your second batch of Azure Fish. You truly have an excellent talent for aquaculture."
A hundred-zhang-long ship was docked in the waterway in front of Chen Jianghe's domain. Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were hauling up all the Azure Fish.
The ship's manager looked at Chen Jianghe with admiration, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes.
*Had Yun Bufan praised him?*
Chen Jianghe couldn't remember.
But from the flicker of envy in the manager's eyes, he knew Yun Bufan's status in the Yun Clan was rising rapidly.
"My name is Yun Wu. I am the younger brother of Yun San, Young Master Bufan's personal attendant." The ship's manager offered a faint smile, showing his intention to be friendly.
"So you are Senior Yun San's younger brother. Forgive my lack of courtesy," Chen Jianghe said, clasping his hands.
At that moment, he recalled a scene from thirteen years ago, during Yun Bufan's first year as a deacon in the outer waters.
Yun Bufan had indeed praised him, saying his talent for aquaculture was good, and had also mentioned hoping to see him in the inner waters.
Thirteen years had passed. If this Manager Yun Wu hadn't brought it up, he would have long forgotten that memory, buried in the deepest recesses of his mind.
Chen Jianghe hadn't expected that a casual remark from Yun Bufan all those years ago could make a ship's manager, who was at least at the eighth level of Qi Refining, feel envious.
Yun Wu smiled and nodded at Chen Jianghe, then turned to the busy cultivators at his side.
"Is the count finished?"
"Yes. Minus the three spirit beast Azure Fish, there are ninety-two Azure Fish left, with an average weight of one jin and three liang."
"The average weight is that low?"
Yun Wu was astonished. He looked at Chen Jianghe and remarked with emotion, "Young Master Bufan truly has a discerning eye, spotting your exceptional talent for aquaculture at a glance."
Chen Jianghe offered a polite smile.
*He's really finding all sorts of ways to praise Yun Bufan!*
"Three spirit beast Azure Fish earn a reward of three spirit stones. An average weight of one jin and three liang earns a commission for three jin and two liang, which is three hundred and twenty spirit sand."
"To be valued by Young Master Bufan means you will surely achieve great things in the Yun Clan. Keep up the good work."
Yun Wu took out a storage pouch and directly handed Chen Jianghe six spirit stones plus twenty grains of spirit sand.
Then he clapped Chen Jianghe heavily on the shoulder, showing that he, too, thought highly of him.
Chen Jianghe thanked him profusely.
This was heartfelt gratitude, as Yun Wu had converted the commission of three hundred and twenty spirit sand into three spirit stones and twenty spirit sand.
He had given fifteen extra grains of spirit sand.
After seeing Yun Wu off, Chen Jianghe tidied up, preparing to head to Port One for the year-end gathering.
But just as he finished, a streak of sword light flew from the Lakeheart Island, arriving at Sector C, Domain Twelve in the blink of an eye.
"Brother Jianghe."
The flying sword hovered above the black-canopied boat. Yu Daniu leaped down with his eldest son, Yun Xiaoniu, landing on the bow.
"Knew you hadn't left yet. Let's go together."
Yu Daniu approached Chen Jianghe with a broad, honest smile, urging his son to greet him.
"Xiaoniu, quickly, greet your uncle."
"This nephew pays his respects to Uncle."
Yun Xiaoniu resembled his father, dark-skinned and sturdy. At only five years old, he was already 1.3 meters tall. However, his personality was unlike his father's; he was more composed. He walked up to Chen Jianghe and greeted him politely.
"Xiaoniu has grown taller again. It won't be long before you catch up to your father," Chen Jianghe praised.
Last New Year's Eve, Chen Jianghe had been invited to a small banquet at Yu Daniu's home and had met Yun Xiaoniu. Back then, the boy was only four and already 1.1 meters tall.
Chen Jianghe had also met Yu Daniu's second and third sons; the fourth was still in his wife's womb.
Yu Daniu's wife was beautiful and a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator.
The second and third sons took after their mother, with fair, jade-like skin and lively, adorable faces.
Yu Daniu's second son was named Yun Youniu. When his eldest was born, Yu Daniu had thought his wife's pregnancy was a complete stroke of luck.
So, he named him Xiaoniu.
Who would have thought the second would be born just a year later? The couple thought for a whole night before finally naming him Yun Youniu.
As it turned out, less than two years later, the third son was born.
Naming him was a real struggle for the couple.
They wanted the third son to share a character with his two older brothers, hoping it would make them closer in the future.
They pondered for a month.
The third son was named Yun Sanniu.
At the beginning of the year, the fourth son was born. This time, the couple didn't struggle with the name and just called him Yun Siniu.
At the same time, Chen Jianghe also understood why he always felt the spiritual energy on Lakeheart Island wasn't very dense, about the same as in the inner waters.
It turned out that every residence on the island had a spirit-gathering formation. The spiritual energy in Yu Daniu's home was nearly twice as dense as in the outer waters.
"Brother Jianghe, why do you think Little Sister Peiyao wants to leave Mirror Moon Lake?"
Entering the cabin, Yu Daniu channeled his magical power to propel the fishing boat toward Port One. Chen Jianghe said nothing about it.
For a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator like Yu Daniu, consuming this bit of magical power was nothing.
"Peiyao is not a reckless person. Since she wants to leave Mirror Moon Lake, she must have thought it through carefully."
Chen Jianghe glanced at Yu Daniu and said, "Fairy Miaoyun is leaving with Peiyao, so they must have planned it together."
"As for the reason, we'll find out when we get to the Yuelai Inn."
Yu Daniu nodded and added, "It's good they're together. Although Zhou Miaoyun is a bit of a snob, she's still a sworn ally. She wouldn't go so far as to cheat Little Sister Peiyao."
"By the way, Brother Jianghe, I have some extra spirit stones. You can take these for now." As he spoke, Yu Daniu took out a storage pouch and produced eight spirit stones.
Chen Jianghe glanced at them but didn't take the spirit stones from Yu Daniu's hand.
"Brother Jianghe, don't worry about me running short on cultivation resources, and don't worry about Huizhen scolding me when I get back. Huizhen and I discussed it before I came. She agreed."
Mentioning his good wife, Yu Daniu scratched his head with an honest look and broke into a happy smile.
"Besides, the clan has already told me about the resources for my breakthrough to the late stage of Qi Refining. As long as three of my children have spiritual roots, they'll reward me with a Calamity Dispelling Pill to help me break through."
"Alright, I'll take the spirit stones."
Chen Jianghe took the spirit stones from Yu Daniu.
Yu Daniu had laid it all out; he couldn't refuse his friend's good intentions.
Besides, he was indeed in desperate need of spirit stones right now.
With the payment he had just received, plus the ninety-two grains of spirit sand he had saved up, he now had a total of six spirit stones and one hundred and twelve grains of spirit sand.
It seemed like a lot, but it wasn't nearly enough.
He needed to buy a Spirit Accumulating Pill to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Without the pill, it would take him two or three years to grind through the bottleneck. Although he had a long lifespan, it was not a worthwhile trade-off.
Moreover, he had to consider Xiao Hei's limited lifespan.
A single Spirit Accumulating Pill cost five spirit stones.
After rewarding Xiao Hei with a Spirit Nurturing Pill last time, he had promised him another one if he worked hard for four more years.
Therefore, the spirit stones he had were just enough to buy one Spirit Accumulating Pill and one Spirit Nurturing Pill.
Even if Yu Daniu hadn't offered the spirit stones, Chen Jianghe had planned to ask him for help next year anyway.
After all, he couldn't just stop living after buying the Spirit Nurturing Pill next year.
The Azure Fish were on a three-year cycle. Before he received his next payment, he wouldn't even be able to afford daily necessities.
On top of that, Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun were leaving Mirror Moon Lake.
Chen Jianghe still owed each of them two spirit stones. As the saying goes, "be frugal at home but generous on the road." He had to find a way to pay them back.
*"With the eight spirit stones from Daniu, I can finally put my previous plan into action ahead of schedule. Otherwise, relying solely on raising Azure Fish, Xiao Hei and I can't even maintain our most basic cultivation."*