Li Tongya saw the man's face and found it familiar, but for a mont, he could not recall who he was, he raised an eyebrow lightly, set down the jade cup in his hand, and asked in a low voice:
"This Li Wanduo tends to be reclusive and isn't fond of talking much, but your face seems very familiar to . Have we t before?"
The cultivator clad in animal fur had thin eyebrows and dark skin, and was carrying a short bow on his back with a string of large and small yellow gourds hanging from his waist. He was also a Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation and he bowed respectfully with a smile, saying:
"I am a commoner under Green Pond Sect from Jiachuan County, Linggu Li by na. I once sold several Wu Zhe worms to the senior at the base of Guanyun Peak. I was young back then, and my appearance has changed quite a bit; no wonder the senior does not recognize now."
"So it's you!"
Li Tongya suddenly realized—back then, this man had been a timid boy with an immature face, lost for words when conducting business with Li Tongya. Now, however, he presented himself as a middle-aged man worn by the world, and Li Tongya nodded slightly, replying:
"Those Wu Zhe worms from you were indeed of good quality, at one point they were of so minor help to ."
He then gestured with his hand, inviting him to take a seat at the other end of the desk. Linggu Li was imdiately overjoyed, bowed respectfully, and took his seat with a bit of restraint, a look of admiration apparent on his face as he said:
"My lord's cultivation has truly progressed at an astonishing speed, achieving Immortal Foundation in just over thirty years... This Junior is quite envious."
Li Tongya chuckled, nodded noncommittally, and recalled how he had once purchased so items in the market at the foot of Guanyun Peak, of which Linggu Li was only one of them. Later, he even t the couple Xu Yangping and finally died at the hands of Zhang Yun in the Snake Cave.
Rembering Zhang Yun, an image of that unruly youth appeared before Li Tongya's eyes. Being a direct lineage disciple of one of the Three Sects' Jin Yu Sect, he must have succeeded in Foundation Establishnt by now, practicing many of the Jin Yu Secret Techniques. When Li Tongya was still at the Fifth Layer of Qi Training, he could rely on swordmanship passed down by Li Chijin to bluff and spar with him. Now, he feared he was no longer a match for Zhang Yun.
Collecting his thoughts, Li Tongya looked at the restrained middle-aged man before him and asked doubtfully:
"These Wu Zhe worms are indeed fine, but they breed too slowly. When my family was still of the Fetal Breathing lineage, they counted as an asset, but now, thirty years have passed, and they've only borne a few. Only the earliest few have a larger appetite, so they cannot be bred in larger numbers for cultivation—it's sowhat of a white elephant now."
Linggu Li hesitated a bit, opening and closing his mouth as if searching for words, then said with uncertainty:
"As for the female Wu Zhe worms, in my Lin Gu Family, what you got were juvenile worms. Perhaps once a decade or two they might be affected by Spiritual Energy and give birth to one or two, but they won't reproduce in large numbers..."
"Oh? It was Tongya who was offensive!"
Having already had a guess, Li Tongya was not surprised to learn that the Wu Zhe worms were indeed vital to the Lin Gu Family's livelihood. He apologized softly, alarming Linggu Li, who moved to leave his seat. Li Tongya then formally asked:
"I wonder if brother, could you sell a few more? They do seem rather useful."
"That won't be a problem at all!"
Linggu Li gave a bow and removed a wooden gourd from his waist, saying:
"I don't have any live juvenile worms, just forty worm eggs inside this gourd. If the senior wishes to take them, they can be yours at the discounted price of ten Spirit Stones."
Now being a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, Li Tongya saw that Linggu Li's attitude was humble, not daring to raise the price, which was even more reasonable than when he had sold to Li Tongya previously. Li Tongya nodded slightly and asked:
"How should they be hatched?"
"Cover them with damp Spirit Rice leaves or straw, avoid light and heat, sprinkle with clear water every day, and change it every three days. They will hatch within fifteen days."
Linggu Li explained in detail, bowed slightly, and assured him:
"Wu Zhe worms are very hardy and easy to sustain. If the hatching fails, just bring the worm carcasses to Lin Gu Family; for every dead one, my family will compensate with a live one."
Linggu Li was not foolish; promising a guarantee, he still required seeing the carcasses to prevent anyone from hiding the worm eggs and trying to profit off of them.
Li Tongya nodded lightly, effortlessly produced ten Spirit Stones, and gave them to him, which greatly delighted Linggu Li. Those ten Spirit Stones were the entire liquid wealth of a regular Qi Training Loose Cultivator, and not sothing a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator could just give away so freely. Li Tongya had the backing of his family, which enabled him to easily produce ten Spirit Stones even after having spent two hundred at Fei Luoya's.
Taking the gourd, Li Tongya softly said:
"Your lineage is adept at raising insects and serpents? Please enlighten Tongya. In the future, we may engage in further cooperation."
"Certainly!"
Linggu Li nodded repeatedly, respectfully replied:
"My family is also a Noble House of Jiachuan County; our ancestors were Great Cultivators of the Shanyue tribe. When Green Pond Sect expanded southwards, our progenitor joined the Sect and worked diligently, securing many connections. Thus, we have been able to maintain our status as a prominent family in Jiachuan County for hundreds of years."
Li Tongya nodded lightly, thereby clearing up one of his doubts, and thought to himself:
"No wonder I have never heard of the Lin Gu surna. It turns out they are from the Shanyue tribe. That explains it."
Li Tongya noticed Linggu Li's hairy skin and dark pupils, features characteristic of those from the Shanyue tribe. He exposed his large white teeth and stated in a deep voice:
"Even though my family descends from the Shanyue tribe, we are nevertheless cultivators on the Zifu Golden Core Path, and have inherited the ancestral arts of raising insects and snakes. We are among the best in Yue Country."
Linggu Li's deanor grew prouder as he continued:
"There's a rule in our household that every branch must have soone travel the world, gathering various types of venomous snakes and insects. Hence, my uncle and I have been traveling across Mushroom Forest Plain and Lixia County for decades, and that is how I beca acquainted with the senior."
"So you are from a Noble Family of great stature! No wonder brother speaks with such tact and acts with poise, truly possessing an impressive deanor."
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