Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Three Years
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Chen Jianghe swam to the surface and returned to his fishing boat. He didn't write a letter to Yu Daniu asking if he had lent spirit stones to Wang Kui.
His relationship with Yu Daniu was only slightly better than with the other fishery farmers; they weren't close enough to share everything.
Wang Kui was also Yu Daniu's neighbor. It would be perfectly reasonable if Yu Daniu wanted to be on good terms with him.
As for Wang Kui's habit of never repaying his debts, that was already common knowledge in the outer waters. He didn't need to waste his breath on it.
Secrets always get out, and speaking ill of others behind their back only breeds enmity. This went against his low-key and cautious style.
Besides, people don't learn from being told; they learn from experience. One hard lesson is all it takes.
Entering the cabin, Chen Jianghe began to cultivate. He circulated the Guiyuan True Water Art, absorbing and refining the sparse spiritual energy from the lake's surface, cycling it through his meridians to advance his cultivation.
Time flew by in the blink of an eye.
Three years passed like flowing water.
Chen Jianghe was now twenty years old. Relative to his two-hundred-and-forty-year lifespan, less than a tenth had passed.
Over these three years, Chen Jianghe's cultivation had improved. The sea of qi in his dantian had expanded to the size of an eyeball. He estimated he could break through to the second level of Qi Refining in a year at most.
From the techniques that came with the Guiyuan True Water Art, in addition to the Minor Water Control Art and Water Repelling Charm, he had now learned the Water Arrow Art.
When cast, his water-aspected spiritual power could form a half-foot-long water arrow capable of piercing a one-finger-thick wooden plank.
Still, his cultivation was too low. A low-grade Water Arrow Talisman could unleash a three-foot-long water arrow that could pierce the tempered armor of the mortal world, equivalent to a full-power strike from a third-level Qi Refining cultivator.
Nevertheless, it counted as an offensive technique.
He had also raised three batches of great bluefish.
The first year, the total yield of great bluefish reached two thousand three hundred catties, with an average weight of three catties and six taels, earning him eighty-three spirit stones.
The second year, the total yield was two thousand five hundred catties, with the average weight still at three catties and six taels, earning him eighty-five spirit stones.
The third year, the total yield was two thousand six hundred catties, and the average weight had increased to three catties and seven taels, bringing in ninety-six spirit stones.
The total income for the three years was two hundred and eighty-two spirit stones. Adding the twenty-eight he had left after buying the Spirit Awakening Pill, he had a total of three hundred and ten spirit stones.
After subtracting thirty spirit stones for his expenses over the three years, Chen Jianghe had now saved up two hundred and eighty spirit stones.
Just as before, aside from going to the port to buy daily necessities, he spent all his time cultivating on the fishing boat, with no other forms of entertainment.
Naturally, his speed of accumulating spirit stones was quite fast.
Ever since taking the Spirit Awakening Pill, Xiao Hei had gained intelligence in the second month. When he went into the water, he saw that Xiao Hei could already sense spiritual energy and was absorbing it rhythmically.
This made Chen Jianghe wonder if spirit beasts didn't need cultivation arts and relied solely on the most basic method of breathing in and refining spiritual energy.
Or perhaps, after a spirit beast gained intelligence, it would awaken the legendary bloodline inheritance.
During these three years, although Xiao Hei had not yet entered the first rank, Chen Jianghe could clearly feel the abundant spiritual energy in its body, far more than in the great bluefish he raised.
It seemed it was on the verge of advancing to become a spirit beast.
Therefore, when the Yun Clan came to collect the fish this morning, he had Xiao Hei burrow deep into the mud at the bottom of the lake to avoid being detected by the spiritual sense of the large boat's manager.
"Should I buy a Spirit Nurturing Pill for Xiao Hei in advance?"
Chen Jianghe thought to himself.
He now had two hundred and eighty spirit stones saved up, enough to buy one Spirit Nurturing Pill.
Xiao Hei's body was currently brimming with spiritual energy; it just needed a catalyst to internalize that energy and advance to become a spirit beast.
A single Spirit Nurturing Pill should be able to help Xiao Hei complete its advancement.
After a moment of thought, he felt it wasn't quite right.
This was the second time he had promised Xiao Hei an incentive. If he gave the reward in advance, it might make Xiao Hei complacent.
After all, during these three years, Xiao Hei hadn't achieved any stunning results in raising the great bluefish.
If Xiao Hei became a spirit beast, his own lifespan would certainly increase, but his current two hundred and forty years were more than enough for now.
A moment later, Chen Jianghe made his decision.
He would buy the Spirit Nurturing Pill, but not for Xiao Hei. He would take it himself. At his current cultivation level, one Spirit Nurturing Pill should be enough for him to break through to the second level of Qi Refining.
This would also save him a year of arduous cultivation.
From an outsider's perspective, saving up spirit stones to buy a Spirit Nurturing Pill to break through was completely normal.
If he kept accumulating spirit stones without ever using them, not only would he be targeted by others, but it would also arouse suspicion.
This year's great bluefish had already been collected, and it was time to head to Port Number One for the annual gathering he had agreed upon with his two friends.
"During this year's fish hibernation period, Old Gao sent a message saying he was leaving Mirror Moon Lake. He hasn't sent any word since. I wonder if he's come back."
Over the past three years, both Old Gao and Yu Daniu had changed somewhat.
With his lifespan nearing its end, Old Gao had become gloomy and withdrawn, no longer as gentle as he was in previous years. At last year's gathering, he had even lost his temper with Yu Daniu.
It was all because Yu Daniu had lent spirit stones to Wang Kui.
Before, Old Gao would have at most offered a few words of advice to Yu Daniu, but he definitely wouldn't have lost his temper and yelled.
It was only at last year's gathering that Chen Jianghe found out Yu Daniu had really lent spirit stones to Wang Kui.
But the amount had been exaggerated by Wang Kui.
It wasn't sixty spirit stones, but thirty.
At first, Yu Daniu hadn't wanted to lend Wang Kui any spirit stones either, as he was aware of Wang Kui's reputation in the outer waters.
But he couldn't withstand Wang Kui's incessant pestering. The amount was reduced from sixty spirit stones to thirty, and Wang Kui made all sorts of solemn promises.
In the end, out of consideration for their neighborly relationship, Yu Daniu lent Wang Kui thirty spirit stones, with the agreement that it would be repaid after the fish harvest next year.
As it turned out, after the next year's fish harvest, the moment they met at the port, Wang Kui approached Yu Daniu with a wide smile.
Yu Daniu thought Wang Kui was about to repay the thirty spirit stones he had borrowed and even felt ashamed for having misunderstood Wang Kui based on rumors.
He never would have expected it.
The first thing out of Wang Kui's mouth was a request to borrow more spirit stones, not to repay the thirty he already owed.
And this time, Wang Kui opened his mouth wide like a lion, asking to borrow eighty spirit stones right off the bat.
Yu Daniu, of course, refused.
But after Wang Kui repeatedly lowered the amount and finally resorted to both threats and inducements, Yu Daniu still lent him another twenty spirit stones.
Wang Kui even swore on his parents' names that he would definitely repay Yu Daniu the fifty spirit stones next year.
When the next year's post-harvest meeting came around, Wang Kui once again approached him with a smile, asking to borrow spirit stones.
He said nothing about the fifty spirit stones he had previously borrowed.
He even lowered the requested amount to five spirit stones.
But this time, Yu Daniu refused to lend him anything, and as a result, he was loudly insulted by Wang Kui at the port.
Not only were the previous fifty spirit stones gone for good, but he had also made an open enemy.
Yu Daniu couldn't stomach it and brought the matter up during their small gathering at the Yuelai Inn, after which he was scolded by an emotional Old Gao.
The gathering ended on a sour note.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the market of Port Number One and walked into the Yuelai Inn. He didn't know if Old Gao and Yu Daniu would show up this time.