At River Bend Fishing Port, six spirit cranes finished their morning stroll and, under the careful watch of Tie Ningbing, landed one after another into the Spirit Crane Garden.
Tie Ningbing was not yet thirty years old. He was the grandnephew of Tie Qinhuo, a Foundation Establishnt cultivator with an external surna who had joined the Wang family. Thus, he was considered an external mber of the Wang Clan. With a cultivation base at the eighth layer of Qi Induction, he also served as a spirit crane breeder.
When he was first transferred from Wang Family Mountain to Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven by a transfer order from Wang Yulou, Tie Ningbing had thought he was being exiled to the sect—after all, the lives of external mbers in the Wang Clan were far better than those of the beasts of burden inside the sect.
However, after arriving at River Bend Fishing Port, Tie Ningbing realized that this was no exile; this was a promotion! He had entered directly into the trusted retinue of the Wang Clan's next generation of core leadership!
Yulou had drawn over a dozen people from the clan. Most were stationed at River Bend Fishing Port, while a small portion went to White Mao Fishing Port.
Disciples of Clear Spring Palace did not receive a basic annual salary, but Tie Ningbing's sole daily task was to take the spirit cranes out for a stroll and patrol. A single lap counted as completing his mission, allowing him to claim the corresponding Clear Spring Palace rit points as a reward.
In addition to the sect's mission rewards, Yulou also arranged a spirit fish subsidy for the Wang Clan disciples under his command. From the daily catch, one spirit fish was set aside and distributed among them on a rotating basis.
Tie Ningbing could never bring himself to eat this spirit fish. Instead, he would directly convert it into spirit stones. Over the past two years, he had already saved up more than forty spirit stones.
An ordinary Qi Induction disciple of the Wang Clan only received twelve spirit stones a year. The spirit fish subsidy Wang Yulou gave him amounted to twenty spirit stones a year when converted!
Combined with the spirit stones converted from his rit point rewards, earning dozens of spirit stones each year was effortless. Furthermore, as a spirit crane breeder, his status was vaguely a notch higher than that of ordinary Qi Induction cultivators.
It could be said that Tie Ningbing's days as a disciple in Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven were as comfortable as could be.
With Yulou treating him so well, he naturally knew how to seize the opportunity. Inside the Spirit Crane Garden beneath the Demon Hunting Platform, Tie Ningbing was earnestly trying to persuade the cranes.
"You three couples have already laid one egg each this year. I know you don't want to lay any more, but there's a new reward now. As long as you are willing to lay a second egg, you will receive a reward of various animal feeds worth twenty spirit stones. Take the Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed, for example. Twenty spirit stones is enough to buy sixty packs of Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed. How about it? Any interest in breeding?"
However, the three pairs of spirit crane couples rely stared at his expressive, promise-filled gestures without any intention of accepting the offer.
'You said the exact sa thing last year. Laying a second egg would reward twenty spirit stones, enough to buy ninety packs of Dragon-Tiger Dried Feed, but then you only gave us seventy packs.' Now that Tie Ningbing was making promises again, the spirit cranes had learned their lesson!
"Sixty packs is already a lot. Everything is getting more expensive now, even the animal feed you eat every day is rising in price. Don't turn your noses up at it."
Tie Ningbing coaxed them for a long ti. Seeing that it was still useless, his eyes rolled, and he feigned anger.
"If you don't breed, I will reduce your feed supply! Whichever pair fails to produce a second egg this year, I'll make sure they starve one al and feast the next next year!"
The spirit cranes instantly grew furious. Among the three pairs, two were Iron Crown Cranes. This type of spirit crane lacked intelligence—or rather, they were lacking in almost every aspect—but their sole advantage was their high cost-effectiveness. Therefore, Yulou had specially introduced them to River Bend Fishing Port as the mainstay product targeted at the Qi Refining disciples of Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven.
The remaining pair consisted of Black-Backed Cranes. They were unsuited for combat, but they possessed incredible speed and a handso appearance. Their racial talent was far better than that of the Iron Crown Cranes, making them the breeding stock Yulou reserved for high-end clients.
Although their cultivation bases were lower than Tie Ningbing's, two fists were no match for six cranes after all. Under the onslaught of the breeding cranes, Tie Ningbing had no choice but to play his gold eagle bone flute.
Large eagles were the natural predators of spirit cranes. The sound of the gold eagle bone flute naturally carried the aura of a Small Demon Realm gold eagle. Combined with a special restriction, it instantly caused the spirit cranes to wilt in fear.
Lowering the bone flute, Tie Ningbing locked the six breeding cranes into their cages.
"If you don't nurture a second egg, don't even think about going out for a stroll again. Uncle Jade Palace has ordered that only spirit cranes that can lay two eggs a year are good spirit cranes!" Tie Ningbing threatened.
However, a voice he completely unexpected rang out from behind him, causing Tie Ningbing to shudder violently.
"What did you say defines a good spirit crane?"
Wang Yulou appeared above the Spirit Crane Garden with a displeased expression, looking down at Tie Ningbing with an unfriendly gaze.
'Little Tie, aren't you purely fabricating a decree?'
"Uncle Jade Palace, Ningbing... Ningbing just wanted these spirit cranes to lay more eggs. Right now, as soon as a young crane cos out, soone buys it. Producing more eggs ans more revenue for us," Tie Ningbing replied in embarrassnt, feeling a mountain of pressure crashing down from just a simple question from Yulou.
"I know your intentions are good, but this approach is incorrect. Spirit cranes are partners and close friends of our Wang Clan. In our work, we must focus on proper thods." At this point, Wang Yulou paused, looked at the intelligent spirit cranes, and promised, "How about this? With a five-year cycle, the couple among you that lays the most eggs will receive four Alligator Dragon Essence Blood Pills as a reward. The couple that lays the second most will receive two Alligator Dragon Essence Blood Pills. As for the one that lays the fewest, they can only watch the other spirit cranes eat the pills. A single one of these pills is worth thirty spirit stones, and it contains a trace of the essence blood of a Great Demon Alligator Dragon, which can help you significantly increase your foundation. Even for Iron Crown Cranes, if you eat enough Alligator Dragon Essence Blood Pills, you will have a chance to advance to the Small Demon Realm."
Hongi had cultivated the Charm Art just to help spirit beasts breed, which seed rather bizarre, but at this mont, Yulou only wished he had soone beside him who understood how to use the Charm Art for breeding.
Spirit beasts possessed intelligence. The idea of giving birth to offspring only to have them taken away imdiately to spend their lives as mounts was sothing they could not accept. Consequently, they would often try their absolute best to avoid breeding further after reaching maturity and producing a few litters.
Why was it said that Wang Xianhe made a massive contribution to the Wang Clan? After the Wild Donkey Plain was upgraded to the Dumb Donkey Plain, the grade-eight wood-elental dumb donkeys didn't care at all about what happened to their foals in the future!
Dumb donkeys were the best donkeys. Knowing nothing, they would never actively resort to sterilization as a form of resistance.
"Ningbing, you..."
Just as Yulou was continuing to instruct Tie Ningbing, a green transmission talisman flew over. He reached out to catch it and scanned its contents.
Tie Ningbing noticed that Uncle Jade Palace's expression softened considerably after reading the transmission talisman, and his heart instantly settled. He didn't know which benefactor had contacted Wang Yulou, but it could be considered a tily rescue for him.
Rubbing a ball of fire in his palm to burn Lin Ying's transmission talisman to ashes, Yulou no longer had any intention of lecturing Tie Ningbing.
"Work hard. The spirit cranes are friends and partners of the Wang Clan, understand?"
"Understood, understood!" Tie Ningbing replied obediently.
Yulou boarded his flying boat and departed. Tie Ningbing turned his head to look at the spirit cranes and said, "You all heard Uncle Jade Palace's words, but his heart is too kind. I am different! Whichever of your three pairs lays the fewest eggs, I will snap your flight feathers so you can never fly again! Lay more, and you get rewards. Lay less, and you only get punished!"
Combining the carrot and the stick was always the most effective strategy. Perhaps because Wang Yulou's status was special, making his promises more credible, or perhaps because Tie Ningbing's threat of breaking their feathers worked, those few spirit cranes actually began to exert themselves earnestly.
---
Arriving all the way at Immortal Mushroom Cave, Yulou's flying boat slowly descended into the mountain valley. Lin Ying's cave dwelling could not possibly be buried underground like she had joked; she wasn't a gopher.
Inside a small courtyard nestled among lush trees and clusters of flowers within the valley, Yulou t his prospective Dao companion.
"Senior martial sister, a grade-eight spirit mushroom isn't easy to co by. If we eat it, won't we be investigated by the sect?"
Since Senior Martial Sister Lin had specially sent a transmission asking Wang Yulou to feast on Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven's grade-eight spirit mushrooms, Yulou naturally would not refuse.
"You are the least qualified person to say such things. You eat the most spirit fish from Beautiful Water Lake out of everyone in Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven. Even the Foundation Establishnt elders can't match your appetite!"
Glaring at Yulou, Senior Martial Sister Lin raised her hand to gesture for him to sit. However, what she said was not wrong.
The combined spirit fish production of River Bend Fishing Port and White Mao Fishing Port was approaching the milestone of sixty fish. Yulou ate spirit fish so often he was close to vomiting. If he didn't need to consider the interests of the other cultivators to keep them working blindly for him, Wang Yulou could easily consu forty fish a day by himself. But compared to the likes of Yuan Daoshen and Zhuo Yinsheng, the little resources Yulou skimd from the top amounted to barely half a hair on nine oxen.
"Haha, Foundation Establishnt elders don't eat spirit fish; they only consu spirit pills. Still, this spirit mushroom is indeed a delicacy."
Inside a gray stone pot, clear spirit spring water was bubbling. Slices of the cut spirit mushroom were tossed into the water for a brief blanch, and when retrieved, they had already transford into an unparalleled delicacy.
The flavor of mushrooms was unique, a distinct taste that could even entice mortals to consu them despite the risk of toxicity. Immortal Mushroom Cave produced various grade-eight and grade-nine spirit mushrooms. Building upon their unique flavors, they possessed many different wondrous effects—so could heal wounds, so could strengthen the physical constitution, and others could enhance virility, offering complex and varied benefits.
"Eat more." Looking at her future husband, Lin Ying spoke softly.
Regarding Wang Yulou, she always felt it was hard to say whether she was satisfied or unsatisfied. The relationship between the two was clearly decent, but it was still a far cry from becoming an inseparable pair of Dao companions. Both sides were well aware of this fact.
"Senior martial sister, there are only two weeks left before our wedding, and Yulou has yet to give you a proper gift. I was thinking, in a few days, why don't we make a trip to Lotus Immortal City to do so shopping?"
Lotus Immortal City was a city of cultivators governed by the Immortal Alliance. It served as a critical node for the Immortal Alliance between the three sects of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, Sky Serpent Sect, and Hidden Dragon Abbey, and it was also a massive, high-level market town.
The Red Lantern Illumination Sect could casually reap the rewards from the Qi Refining cultivators under its banner, which was why it operated nurous Qi Refining markets, such as Clear Stream Market. On the other hand, Foundation Establishnt level assets could only be reaped by the Immortal Alliance. This was a rule that naturally arose under the guiding ideology of protecting the interests of Grand Cultivators. Lotus Immortal City was a market catering to the Foundation Establishnt realm, so the quality of goods within it was naturally not low.
Yulou brought this matter up while Lin Ying was treating him to spirit mushrooms to let his senior martial sister see his sincerity. On the surface, it appeared he was marrying Lin Ying, but in Yulou's eyes, he was marrying the Lin family—securing his own future within Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven. Therefore, deepening their relationship through a certain amount of investnt was entirely necessary.
"Lotus Immortal City? That place is 1,500 li away from the Grotto-Heaven. Isn't that a bit too far?"
Lin Ying rarely traveled to places so distant from the Grotto-Heaven. When she went out in the past, she would at most visit nearby markets to engage in so official arbitrage. Although the Lin family in Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven could not compare to the Yuan and Zhuo families, they could still manage to shelter the Qi Refining cultivators within their clan. Thus, she had no need to venture out and take risks.
"Hahaha, it's just a two-day journey. There's plenty of ti, plenty of ti. We will depart in three days. Is senior martial sister's schedule convenient?"
Seeing Wang Yulou's warm invitation, Lin Ying found herself unable to tell for a mont whether he was being genuine or insincere. She thought about it and finally nodded gently.
"I am naturally willing, Yulou. However, you don't need to give any precious gifts. I am not that kind of female cultivator."
Lin Ying did not want to be looked down upon. Ever since Lin ngyao urged her to marry Wang Yulou, and following her observations of Wang Yulou's rapidly soaring cultivation base among other extraordinary traits, Lin Ying had long since lost any pride as a senior martial sister.
This Junior Martial Brother Wang possessed an extraordinary family background, a terrifying cultivation speed, and an exceptionally formidable wrist when it ca to maneuvering within Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven. Lin Ying knew very well that her appearance was only a secondary factor in their marriage. What he fancied was not her, but his own ambition.
"Senior martial sister, treasures are ant for beauties, and you are the most beautiful lady in Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven. If it isn't precious, how could Yulou have the face to offer it to you and slight you?"
Giving Wang Yulou a mockingly furious glare, Senior Martial Sister Lin ultimately let out a laugh. True beauties each possessed their own unique charm, and Lin Ying was originally an exceptionally radiant immortal flower. As the beauty smiled tenderly, the hundred flowers in the small courtyard seed to lose their color. A love for beauty resided in everyone; even though Yulou already had Little Fish in his heart, he could not help but feel a slight flutter in his soul.
---
When Wang Yulou and Lin Ying rode the sa flying boat and landed on the plaza outside the Dripdrop Heaven Palace grand hall, he feigned surprise and greeted Wang Yaohai, who had been waiting there for a long ti.
"Brother Yaohai, are you leaving the Grotto-Heaven as well?"
Wang Yaohai nodded sowhat formally, acting according to the pre-arranged script.
"Yes, a certain senior brother accepted a demon-subduing mission. A strange demon beast has appeared in a mortal kingdom affiliated with the sect. Knowing that I have experience in West Sea demon hunting, he asked for my assistance."
The 'certain senior brother' referred to Senior Brother Jin Ruiqing, whom Yulou had rallied during the operation of the Exchange Conference. This old Qi Refining expert no longer had a path forward in cultivation and was now striving for the sake of his small family, which was why he could be used by Yulou.
The 'strange demon beast' referred to the Crimson Sparrow, which had spent over a century following Ancestor Xianzhou. It could be said that an intelligent spirit beast like the Crimson Sparrow, having seen the grand world, could play those so-called demon subduers for fools when acting as a rogue demon.
"So that's how it is. Then I wish Senior Martial Brother Yaohai a smooth demon-hunting mission."
The exchange between Yulou and Wang Yaohai was perfectly normal, and Lin Ying did not sense anything amiss. The group waited for half an hour until the opening ti for the Grotto-Heaven arrived.
Cultivators with missions were naturally permitted to leave, and Wang Yaohai belonged to this category. Neither Wang Yulou nor Lin Ying had any missions assigned to them, but the cultivators responsible for the Grotto-Heaven gateway naturally would not stop them.
The scale of Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven was not large, and coincidentally, both Wang Yulou and Lin Ying belonged to the ranks of the most well-known disciples of Azurewater Palace. Yulou was famous because the stories surrounding his various endeavors always carried a legendary flavor. Lin Ying was famous because she was currently considered a renowned 'flower of the cave' within Dripdrop Grotto-Heaven.
Stepping out of the Grotto-Heaven, Yulou watched as his other fellow disciples used various thods to fly off in different directions. He did not move imdiately, but rely stood at the entrance of the Grotto-Heaven with an emotional sigh. He was counting heads.
"What is it? Having not left the Grotto-Heaven for many years, do you feel a bit conflicted?" Senior Martial Sister Lin asked caringly.
"Hahaha, yes. Let's go."
Wrapping his arm around the beauty's waist, Yulou could feel the warm breath emanating from Lin Ying. Physical touch was naturally sothing humans craved, and through this contact, the mutual affection between both sides would unconsciously rise. It was all in the details.
"Senior martial sister, hold onto tightly as well. We'll alternate every fifty li, taking turns to fly slowly. This way, we can ensure our spiritual energy remains abundant, preventing any unforeseen situations we might be unable to handle." A certain thick-skinned male cultivator spoke in such a manner.
"Mhm..."
Lin Ying's ears turned entirely red, but since the two were about to wed, this amount of contact was considered appropriate, so she did not refuse.
The cultivators leaving the Grotto-Heaven had all departed, and the grand gates of the Grotto-Heaven closed once more. However, a guard cultivator looked in the direction where everyone had vanished, muttering to himself in confusion, "Why were there so many people today?"
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