The objectives of this trip were over-fulfilled, and Chen Sheng was in a great mood. As he approached home, he was surprised to see a familiar figure standing at the gate of the neighboring courtyard.
"Ji Feng, you're back so soon?"
Ji Feng turned his head upon hearing this and also smiled:
"Yes, I'm back. I already told you, just going to the outskirts, grabbing what I can and leaving, how long could it take?"
Chen Sheng was surprised in his heart but asked calmly on the surface:
"What about Old Deng? How was your harvest?"
Ji Feng chuckled gleefully with a hint of pride on his face:
"Old Deng naturally came back too. As for the harvest? So-so, just about enough to buy a lower grade magical artifact."
Seeing his smug expression, Chen Sheng cooperated and showed a look of surprise:
"Even the cheapest lower grade magical artifact costs dozens of spirit stones. You've really made a fortune!"
Ji Feng was even more smug:
"No big deal, this is just the beginning. So, are you regretting it now?"
He leaned a little closer and lowered his voice.
"In a few days, I plan to change directions. Want to come along?"
Chen Sheng waved his hand:
"In a couple of days, it'll be harvest time. I really can't manage, so forget it."
Ji Feng curled his lips with a bit of mockery:
"Coward! Just watch me get rich."
Chen Sheng nodded helplessly:
"You're right, I've always been cowardly, I can't do that."
With that said, he turned around and went home, closing the courtyard door behind him.
At the gate, the smile on Ji Feng's face instantly vanished, his expression turned gloomy, and he walked silently towards his own house.
Back home, Chen Sheng sneered inwardly, feeling that Ji Feng's performance was still too impatient.
At this moment, he was ninety percent sure—this was a setup by Old Deng and Ji Feng.
"But, why would they target me?"
Chen Sheng was a bit puzzled.
"I've only been farming for two years, and I don't look like someone with money. Why wouldn't they target someone else?"
He thought for a moment.
"Someone else?"
A light bulb went off in Chen Sheng's mind, and he suddenly understood!
What's the difference between me and others?
Chen Sheng lived too frugally, not even keeping spirit rice every year, not even having a cook at home.
Living so stingily, it was obvious he was saving up spirit stones.
"Even though I've refused twice, they're likely to switch targets, but as they say, it's not the thief you're afraid of but the thief remembering you. I need to tell Uncle Qin about this."
...
After several days, it was time for the spirit rice harvest in the second half of the year, and Chen Sheng's ten acres yielded three hundred and eighty pounds of spirit rice in the end.
With a seventy-thirty split, he would get one hundred and fourteen pounds of spirit rice.
At a procurement price of ten pounds per spirit stone, Chen Sheng would receive eleven spirit stones and four pieces of spiritual sand.
The spirit field steward, having tallied it, was quite satisfied:
"This yield surpasses even some seasoned hands, seems like you really put in the effort."
Chen Sheng smiled and cupped his hands:
"You're being too kind."
The steward asked:
"Same old way, all exchanged for spirit stones?"
Chen Sheng shook his head:
"No."
"Could you save sixty pounds for me? I plan to send some to Uncle Qin."
The steward chuckled:
"Not bad, you're catching on, maintaining such a good relationship, you should keep in touch often."
"Alright, I'll save sixty pounds for you."
Chen Sheng cupped his hands: "Thanks, Steward."
Soon, he received five spirit stones and four pieces of spiritual sand, along with sixty pounds of spirit rice.
Thanks to Qin Dajiang's connections, this steward always took good care of him, never shortchanging him, and even allowed him to keep more spirit rice. However, before, Chen Sheng was solely focused on saving money and was reluctant to eat the spirit rice, so he never kept any for himself.
At noon, Qin Dajiang arrived at Chen Sheng's home, carrying food and wine.
"Uncle, why hasn't big brother come?"
Seeing Qin Dajiang alone, Chen Sheng asked.
"He's very busy, only stayed for a couple of days, then returned to the sect."
Qin Dajiang explained, and when he saw the large array of dishes Chen Sheng had prepared, he couldn't help but laugh heartily:
"You've set up quite a feast, so have a few drinks with your uncle later."
"Definitely, definitely."
Chen Sheng readily agreed, though he felt a tinge of regret, as he had hoped to learn more about the Qinghua Sect from Qin Shuang.
At the dining table, the two drank and ate while chatting about various matters.
"I've inquired about three places for you, all excellent choices. The first is Huang's Pill Workshop, the owner's surname is Huang, a seasoned middle grade alchemist."
"He's strict, but he teaches genuine skills. He only has a few apprentices, spending six years learning herbs, six years in fire control, and eight years in pill condensation, both as an apprentice and in service."
"After twenty years, there's basically no problem becoming a lower grade alchemist."
"The second is the Artifact Foundry, Master Li is a high grade artifact refiner, and under him, your future prospects could go further."
"However, he has many apprentices, and without talent, it's hard to catch his eye and learn much."
"The third is Luo's Brewing House, Boss Luo is a middle grade spirit wine master and has a good relationship with me. He promises to teach genuinely."
"However, he has a son, so the secret formula won't be passed on to you, only the basics of spirit wine making."
"Give it some thought."
Chen Sheng pondered silently. He had already ruled out the third option. Spirit wine was too niche and lacked competitiveness if only the basics were mastered.
The first two had their own advantages, and Chen Sheng was momentarily indecisive, so he asked a few more questions.
Qin Dajiang answered them all:
"Master Huang is sincere and guarantees a lower benchmark. But his apprentices haven't become middle grade alchemists, and he guards his secret pill formulas tightly."
"Master Li also keeps some secrets, but since he's a high grade artifact refiner, two of his apprentices have become middle grade artifact refiners and are doing well in the neighboring market."
Chen Sheng nodded, finally asking for more details on the ages, strengths, temperaments, and families of the two masters.
Qin Dajiang shared all he knew.
The scales in Chen Sheng's mind gradually tipped as he made his final decision:
"I'll go with Master Huang. Nephew isn't sure if he has any talent, better to play it safe."
Qin Dajiang laughed heartily:
"I guessed you'd choose this. Although twenty years is long, learning skills is like this, as long as you gain something, it's fine."
"Alright, the day after tomorrow, come find me and I'll accompany you to apprentice yourself to Master Huang."
Chen Sheng nodded: "Thank you, Uncle."
After a few drinks, the atmosphere became more congenial, and Chen Sheng took the opportunity to bring up the issue of the secret realm and Ji Feng's two attempts to recruit him.
Upon hearing this, Qin Dajiang abruptly set down his cup on the table, his fierce eyes glaring sharply, the scar adding to his ferocity.
He gave Chen Sheng a heavy pat on the shoulder, with a tone filled with relief:
"Not bad, a bit clever, you have the shadow of your father back in the day!"
"People like this definitely have malicious intent. Leave this matter to me, you focus on learning your craft."
Chen Sheng nodded: "I'll trouble you, Uncle."
Qin Dajiang nodded, and began imparting his experiences, having worked in this market for half his life, he had broad knowledge!
He dismantled and explained the various tricky traps and schemes often used by tribulation cultivators around the market.
Chen Sheng silently memorized these cases in his heart.
Finally, Qin Dajiang provided a summary:
"In the end, as long as you're not greedy, it's harder to fall into someone else's trap, but alas..."
Qin Dajiang shook his head, for too many cannot control their greed.
Chen Sheng nodded in deep agreement.
The words "not greedy" are easy to say but hard to achieve, especially for cultivators racing against time to reach the upper realm, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Thinking of himself, with the Hundred Generations Book in hand, there's no need to compete for immediate gains, perhaps one could truly embody the principle of "not greedy."