Clearly, Luo Tong knew something about Ji Qingyun's death… most likely it was Liu the Scab who did it.
Ji Yuan hadn't expected that Luo Tong, who in his memories wasn't all that close to him, would actually treat him so well.
But that sixth level of Qi Cultivation… Ji Yuan himself was still quite far off, so he didn't tell Luo Tong that he was already at the fourth level.
And Luo Tong didn't notice it either.
"Don't worry, Uncle Luo, I understand."
Ji Yuan nodded.
"Yeah, you're a smart one… smarter than your dad."
Luo Tong let out a sigh, then reached over and patted Ji Yuan's shoulder again.
"Alright then, you go on back. If there's anything about raising Spirit Pigs you don't quite get, come ask me anytime."
Ji Yuan was already lugging the piglet, about to leave, but Luo Tong still stuffed that four or five pounds of Spirit Pig pork into his hand.
So he could go home and properly nourish himself.
After a while, Ji Yuan sat at home looking at the seven and a half Spirit Fish in the fish pond, six Qinghuang Chickens in the chicken cage, and a Spirit Pig in the pigsty, feeling his future was looking bright.
This was his little world now.
Spirit Pig meat always smelled delicious. The last time Ji Yuan ate it was when Ji Qingyun was still around. Today he cooked Spirit Pig soup himself, and stir-fried some Spirit Pig meat.
After eating Spirit Eggs for nearly a month straight, Ji Yuan finally had a proper meal.
The war on Maple Island was still going, and Ji Yuan's life had gotten a bit more complicated—besides raising chickens, feeding fish, and cultivating, he now had the job of raising pigs too.
Luckily, Spirit Pigs eat anything; if there's nothing else, he'd just grab some wild grass from the bank, crush a Broken Spirit stone and mix it in a bit, and it all tasted great to the pig.
The pigsty worked wonders.
The Spirit Pig was growing bigger at a speed you could see with your own eyes. In just seven days, it was up to about a hundred pounds.
Good thing Ji Yuan kept it out back, and nobody really came to visit; otherwise, seeing that, people might get a bit intimidated.
And then, after these seven days, Ji Yuan also caught another Coldblood Bass.
This one had evolved from a Seven-Star Bass again. Time to head to Zengtou City, and this time Ji Yuan specially brought six Spirit Eggs.
Just the day's yield, didn't take any extra.
Knowing Luo Tong, if you bring more, he won't take them, and it's hard to explain anyway.
As for the Spirit Stones earned from selling fish… Ji Yuan already had a plan. After cultivating for so long, it was time to learn a higher-level magic technique.
Magical Artifacts were way too expensive; the profit from one Spirit Fish wasn't enough to buy one.
And Magical Artifacts always need to be used along with the Artifact Manipulation Technique—another extra expense.
So right now, for Ji Yuan, learning a powerful spell is the best bang for his buck.
He arrived at the Fish Cage; now, with his mid-level Qi Cultivation, selling a Spirit Fish wasn't something unusual.
After collecting the Spirit Stones, he went to Luo Tong's shop. Luo Tong thought Ji Yuan was coming to borrow Spirit Stones, and was already prepared.
But Ji Yuan handed him six Spirit Eggs instead.
"The Qinghuang Chickens I raise at home laid these. Didn't buy them outside. Made sure to bring them for Uncle Luo to try."
"What are you doing, Spirit Eggs are great stuff. You oughtta keep them for yourself, eat 'em and cultivate." Luo Tong wouldn't accept, just kept chopping meat.
"Seriously, I've got six Qinghuang Chickens at home, laying Spirit Eggs every day. I'm sick of eating them."
Ji Yuan finished, plopped the eggs on the counter, and dashed off right away.
"I've got something to do. I'll check on you next time, Uncle Luo!"
Ji Yuan left, and Luo Tong stopped chopping meat too. No place to give it away. He just looked at the Spirit Eggs on the counter and couldn't help but grin.
"That kid's got a temperament just like Qingyun."
"But these eggs… where in the world does a Qinghuang Chicken lay Spirit Eggs every single day?"
Luo Tong shook his head, but in the end he accepted Ji Yuan's goodwill.
He knew well enough—Ji Yuan had just come up with an excuse; these Spirit Eggs were definitely ones the boy's been saving up for ages, couldn't bear to eat, probably just to repay him for giving the Spirit Pig.
Ji Yuan had no idea what Luo Tong was thinking, and even if he did he'd just say… Uncle Luo, I'm telling the truth!
He headed off to the biggest building in Zengtou City—the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, backed by Water Dragon Sect.
Or as Ji Yuan liked to call it, the official mega-mart. Whether it's Talismans, Magical Artifacts, Elixirs, or whatever, as long as you've got the Spirit Stones, you can buy pretty much anything inside.
He walked right in and went straight to the Magic Technique Area.
The attendant was an old man with white hair and beard, dressed in Water Dragon Sect robes. He was originally resting with his eyes closed, but when Ji Yuan stepped in, he lifted his eyelids for a glance.
"What do you want?"
Ji Yuan bowed first.
"Good to see you, Senior."
Then he said, "I'd like an offensive magic technique—the more powerful the better, and preferably with a low cost. Oh, and if it's a bit cheaper, that'd be great too."
The white-haired cultivator burst out laughing.
"Kid, are you here to buy a technique or to make a wish?"
Ji Yuan chuckled, a little embarrassed. "So, Senior, is there such a technique?"
The old cultivator closed his eyes and thought for a while, then suddenly opened them.
"There is."
Ji Yuan's eyes lit up, but he quickly calmed himself, probing, "May I ask, Senior, what are the downsides of this technique?"
Ji Yuan had just made a wish, and of course he didn't expect to stumble onto such a bargain.
A technique like that must have its own big drawback.
If it didn't, wouldn't everyone in Zengtou City have one?
"It's called Water Drop Finger. Like you asked, except the only drawback is that every time you cast it, all ten fingers hurt like hell—hurts you before it hurts the enemy."
Ji Yuan thought for a moment and understood.
"If I do body refinement, can it lessen the pain?"
"Of course it can. But tell me, fisher boy, when do you even get to work on body refinement? It's way harder than Qi Cultivation; with body refinement, you gotta put in real, dirty work, basically grind and sweat through it."
Ji Yuan looked tangled up, and finally asked, "I'd still like to try… Senior, how many Spirit Stones for this technique?"
"Heh, you… fine, ten Spirit Stones. Buy the first level and practice; if you master it, come back for the second."
The white-haired cultivator was a straightforward guy.
Ji Yuan paid the Spirit Stones, bowed deeply to the elder, then pressed his fingers to the Jade Scroll he was handed.
As the foreign memories flowed into him, Ji Yuan dazed for a second, then got up to take his leave.
Water Drop Finger, just like the name says—you can condense Water Spiritual Qi at your fingertip then shoot it out. The attack range is short, so consumption is low, but the strike is concentrated, so every hit packs a huge punch.
Ji Yuan pondered it carefully. Once he's learned it, the effect should be something like the Six Pulse Divine Sword—from where you point, you strike, hard to defend against.
Only the side effects… ah, well, just go home and keep raising pigs then.
As Ji Yuan crossed the street in Zengtou City, his eyes skimmed over the various grass-roots stalls on both sides, then suddenly he stopped.
The vendor was another mid-level Qi Cultivation cultivator with a long face. Despite looking tired, his expression held more joy than weariness.
What caught Ji Yuan's eye was a Dharma Ship on his stall.
He'd seen that Dharma Ship several times by now and was familiar with it; it had a weird name.
Called… Mantis Boat.
The stern was a bit broken, and the Dharma Ship stained with blood.
The long-faced cultivator saw Ji Yuan stop in front of his stall, not leaving, and immediately started pitching:
"Fellow Daoist, interested in this Dharma Ship? Top-quality stuff here—fast, and keeps you safe."