May 20, 2017, Overcast
A few days ago, Sword Spirit Wang Jiu regretted not witnessing the spectacular scene of Li Qingming ascending in a fit of rage, but unexpectedly, a chance for compensation came just a few days later.
"Five thousand taels!? Five thousand... why doesn't he just rob someone! This is just a small courtyard in the suburbs, not a commercial shop in the central district! And what right does he have to charge me rent, this is the courtyard my mother left for me!"
In the small courtyard, Li Qingming's voice of anger echoed incessantly. Although the girl had exerted her utmost effort to suppress her fury, the voice that leaked through her gritted teeth still rode on the waves of her anger and drifted far and wide.
Wang Jiu quietly brought a small stool, lay on it, and watched from the sidelines. To be honest, watching one's own mount jump and rage because of a bill was rather amusing.
This little fellow, worthy of being a descendant of Shen Kaishan, contained endless fury within her small body. If properly harnessed, it could indeed be quite beneficial for cultivation. As of now, she was only a step away from breaking the Wind Barrier, and once she broke through, she could help complete the Wind Gathering Array, at which point the Sword World would undergo a qualitative transformation.
Unfortunately, the quiet observation was soon interrupted.
Li Qingming approached him with a sullen face and said, "I need your help."
"?" Wang Jiu was puzzled. "Didn't you say you never wanted to take another intelligence test?"
"Not for that! I need your help to raise money."
Wang Jiu asked, "Are you really planning to pay that rent?"
"I have no choice but to pay. Previously, Lu Xin brought those stupid family servants to carry out forced demolition, which was their fault. But collecting rent, though disgusting, is reasonable and strikes at my soft spot. Alas, that scoundrel Li Fengyun is actually working with Lu Xin to kick me when I'm down... In short, I really need money now."
"Oh, it's urgent then?"
"Very urgent." Li Qingming nodded in confirmation. "The payment deadline is the end of this month, we only have 10 days."
"How much is short?"
"Still short by 5002 taels." Li Qingming said somewhat embarrassedly, "I was buying Whiteboard Swords in installments before, so..."
"So how do you want me to help you? Your mother's inheritance was only so much, and I've already used it up."
"Thank you for the reminder!" Li Qingming glared at him angrily, "What I want to say is, didn't you claim to be the Celestial Divine Sword that slept many years ago? Then before you fell asleep, did you have any treasures buried or something..."
Wang Jiu said, "No, at that time the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance was about to be exterminated. If there were treasures and they weren't used but buried underground, wouldn't that be a bargain for the Demon Race? Besides, even if there were, with the world changing so much now, I don't even recognize Xiangzhou anymore, where could I find them?"
"I see, then is it possible for you to write down some priceless cultivation technique that I can auction off..."
"Oh, that's no problem, just wait a moment."
A moment later, Wang Jiu wrote two Sword Manuals, one named Nine Dragons Heaven-Burning Sword and the other named Yuming Sword Heart Technique, both the signature skills of the past Jiu Immortal Venerables. Although he wasn't very interested, being influenced for so long, he knew them by heart.
Li Qingming was overjoyed to see this and hurriedly retrieved them to read, but after just two pages her face turned pale.
"Why is your handwriting so ugly!?"
"I have already given you enough face by learning the text of you mounts, don't push your luck! If you don't like it, don't read it!"
Li Qingming pursed her lips and continued reading seriously, but the more she read, the more her face grew grave: "What kind of ridiculous cultivation techniques are these? The First Heaven requires a million Spirit Stones to refine Spiritual Liquid to nourish the foundation!? At the Twentieth Heaven bottleneck, it also requires the use of the Nine Heavens Gang Wind and the Tribulation Thunder of the Four Symbols Celestial Tribulation to temper the Immortal Body?"
Wang Jiu said, "Everyone practiced like that back then, you could ask them."
"You..." Li Qingming immediately shook her head. This kind of cultivation technique, even if it really existed, was worthless. Perhaps the Immortal Dao civilization of Wang Jiu's era was too advanced compared to today, and many things they took for granted are now so luxurious as to be unreasonable.
She was considered a daughter of a noble family—even though she was impoverished, at least her vision was relatively broad, and seeing this Sword Manual like this, let alone others, so who would spend a lot of silver to buy this kind of thing that promises to cure all diseases like a Strength Pill?
If the seller were a renowned figure like Li Fengyun or Shen Ruoshi, then it would be one thing, but she was just a little girl who couldn't even break the Wind Barrier at 14 and was not valued in her family...
"Is there an entry-level cultivation technique that's simpler and easier to learn?"
Wang Jiu strangely retorted, "Why would I waste precious energy on remembering those kinds of things?"
"... Then what about your Mechanical Trap Skill, could you write a book summarizing the experience and insights?"
"I can't, Feng You said those are his exclusive skills and must not be spread."
"But you used and explained them right in front of me!"
"Did you remember them?"
"..."
"Considering your level of intelligence, explaining it in front of you won't lead to any leaks, but writing it down in a book is a different story."
Li Qingming was gritting her teeth but had no choice. Back then, in the courtyard Inner Sect, her cultural class grades were among the top, and now she's being mocked for her intelligence by a Dull Sword! It's just annoying that she was indeed a bit absent-minded that night and didn't really remember what he said...
"This won't work, that won't work either, what's the use of you, this Dull Sword? Might as well... wait, I have an idea! Although you are just a White Tier Mortal Soldier, you possess all kinds of incredible divine techniques, this rare weapon can surely sell for a high price... no, no, don't misunderstand, I mean since you have the ability to fly, you can sneak back after the deal is done. Once the fuss dies down, we can sell you again!"
Wang Jiu was silent for a moment: "I can now understand why you are so averse to a second intelligence test."
"...Sorry, I kind of spoke without thinking." Li Qingming realized she had said something stupid and quickly apologized, "Anyway, do you have any way to make money? Anything will do."
Wang Jiu said: "Actually, it's quite simple, isn't it written in the Cyan Cloud Daily?"
Saying this, he used the Shape Manipulation Array to bring over a newspaper, handing it to Li Qingming: "Look at the second-to-last page, small loans, Xinkang Money Shop, 0 collateral, 0 guarantee, tens of thousands of silver instantly in your account..."
"Isn't this a financial scam!"
"Eh? How about this? Shopping mall discount promotion, once in a lifetime, save up to fifty thousand taels."
"You believe this kind of advertisement too!? Moreover, a price reduction saves money, not that they're paying you!"
"Then look at this part-time section, sincerely recruiting nightclub hostesses, requirement: open-minded..."
"Enough! You're not allowed to read newspapers anymore!" Li Qingming angrily threw the newspaper to the ground.
"?"
Wang Jiu increasingly found Li Qingming to be unreasonable.
"Alright, since you don't trust newspapers, then there's no need to mention the Cyan Cloud Cultivator Mutual Aid Association releasing a hundred family tasks either."
"What?!"
Li Qingming leaped over, picked up the newspaper again, and indeed saw the full-page advertisement for the Cyan Cloud Cultivator Mutual Aid Association on the third-to-last page.
The Cyan Cloud Cultivator Mutual Aid Association released a new round of Hundred Family Tasks, sincerely inviting all newbie cultivators to participate.
A moment later, Li Qingming swallowed slightly.
This was indeed a quick way to get rich!
Supposedly, the Cyan Cloud Cultivator Mutual Aid Association is initiated by the three great families of Cyan Cloud, gathering all the cultivators in Cyan Cloud City and surrounding areas into a public nature organization, established with the main aim of helping each other to meet their needs, while also addressing the inherent shortcomings of today's cultivation clans and sects on the continent. Many cultivators lack interpersonal skills and development space in their families and sects. If a third-party organization could support them, it could help cultivators through their difficulties, potentially easing any resentment in their hearts, eliminating conflicts, and beneficially feeding back to the sects as the cultivators grow.
Meanwhile, Immortal Cultivation is troublesome, requiring resources, partners, laws, and locations. Except for those prodigies from large families and sects who are carefree, most cultivators don't have such convenient conditions. They need to do everything personally, picking herbs, refining magical treasures; it's extremely inefficient. At this time, the Mutual Aid Association's role becomes significant.
The Cyan Cloud Mutual Aid Association, after hundreds of years of development, has become a massive organization rivaling the three great families. In recent years, its strategic focus has gradually developed into supporting newcomers and promoting welfare. The association often releases various minor tasks aimed at new cultivators. While the difficulty is low, the remuneration is substantial.
This Hundred Family Task is a typical example. Every once in a while, the three great families, as if showing off their wealth, provide "simple material processing," "copying cultivation manuals," "weeding the spirit fields," and similar tasks doable by simpletons. The rewards are set increasingly high, often being spirit stones, elixir pills, talisman papers, and even Green Tier treasures. Selling them off can easily fetch tens of thousands of silver taels.
After all, silver is mortal wealth; cultivators have already stepped into the realm of immortals.
Unfortunately, Li Qingming still has not broken the Wind Barrier; without reaching the Wind-Rising Realm, she isn't considered a cultivator and naturally can't claim these newcomer packages. But it's different now, after practicing the Immovable Tyrant Body, she faintly feels only half a step away from breaking the barrier. However, how long that half-step would take, she truly has no idea.
After all, four years have passed since she was confidently going to break through the Wind Barrier, and now Li Qingming no longer has confidence in overcoming the bottleneck.
"Wang Jiu, is there a way for me to break through the Wind Barrier quickly?"
The Sword Spirit looked at its rider, contemplated for a moment, then asked: "How fast do you need? There's a three-day quick course, and even a one-day crash course."
Li Qingming could hardly believe it: "One-day crash course? Is this another one of your intelligence tests?"
The Sword Spirit explained earnestly: "You were only one step away already, having accumulated for four years, and with the Immovable Tyrant Body strengthening your physical power, it's reasonable to achieve rapid completion. But the one-day crash course could be a bit painful..."
"No problem, I could endure the pain from the Immovable Tyrant Body, bring it on."
The Sword Spirit greatly admired such decisiveness and said, "Very well."
In the next moment, a flash of sword light, and Li Qingming saw the Whiteboard Sword on the bench fly up like lightning, pinpointing her chest. Then, a wave of agony swept over her, and she lost consciousness.