Evening time.
Spirit Farmer Residence Area, Courtyard No. 17.
The room was simply furnished, with only a wooden table and several stools.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on the bamboo couch, channeling his spell, beginning his Qi Refining cultivation for the day.
His eyes lightly closed, fingers forming seals, his body's meridians gently rising and falling with his breath, with each inhalation and exhalation, wisps of white vapor escaped his nose.
Three hours later, Chen Sheng's numerous internal meridians swelled, reaching their limit. He slowly opened his eyes, a glimmer flashed in his eyes and quickly dissipated.
He murmured to himself:
"Today's refinement yielded nine strands of mana."
He introspected his Dantian, where the mana gas cyclone was more solidified compared to the previous day.
"At this rate, within forty days, the mana for the Third Layer can be fully accumulated."
Although his cultivation speed was not fast, this step-by-step process of accumulating soil into a mountain, seeing progress every day, provided extreme reassurance, and he greatly enjoyed this sense of daily advancement.
Chen Sheng touched an item at his waist - a Storage Pouch.
This Storage Pouch was only lower grade, with a size just large enough to fit an Eight Immortal Table, something he had picked up from a stall at the market for merely six Spirit Stones plus three pieces of Spiritual Sand.
A small profit!
With the Storage Pouch, many important items that Chen Sheng possessed could be carried with him, saving him quite some trouble.
At this moment, he extended his Spiritual Sense, observing the Purple Cloud Pill lying quietly in the pouch, with a small pile of Spirit Stones beside it, totaling ninety-seven Spirit Stones. He secretly estimated:
"It should be enough to purchase a Middle Grade Magical Artifact."
...
Inner region.
Qin Dajiang's residence.
For the past five years, Chen Sheng frequently visited, and their relationship grew increasingly close.
The matter concerning Ji Feng back then, he entrusted to Qin Dajiang to handle.
Indeed the old veteran!
In just three months, those two were caught red-handed during their crimes by the Market Guard Team and, identified as Tribulation Cultivators, were executed without leaving any trouble for Chen Sheng.
When the mansion gate was pushed open, hearty laughter was heard first:
"Yun'Er is here!"
Qin Dajiang was standing in the corner of the courtyard practicing magic. Upon seeing Chen Sheng enter, he immediately stopped.
"Come sit, your aunt just steamed Spirit Rice Cake this morning, still warm!"
Chen Sheng smiled and declined, then asked:
"Uncle, why do you seem so particularly happy today?"
Qin Dajiang clapped his thigh and sat down:
"Isn't it because of your troublesome big brother? A few days back, he sent word that he'll be back shortly."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded knowingly. After several years, he was no longer the clueless novice in the cultivation realm.
His master's home had numerous books stored, which he was allowed to borrow and read, thereby understanding the cultivation realm more deeply.
This cultivation realm is named Chu Country, vast and boundless, stretching across a million miles.
It houses three major Golden Core Upper Sects!
These include Qinghua Sect, Yue Ling Sect, and Li Xiao Sect, under which are various medium and small sects and families. For example, Thousand Machines Market was jointly developed by three Foundation Establishment influences.
Among the three Upper Sects.
The nearest from here is Qinghua Sect, though still thirty thousand miles away, requiring crossing large swathes of mundane 'Land of Poor Spirits.'
The journey is long, going back and forth often takes a few months, Qin Shuang, being a High Grade Spiritual Root with rare talent in the market, was able to join Qinghua Sect.
However, such talent is common within Qinghua Sect.
Therefore, Qin Shuang cultivated diligently, burying himself in hard work within the sect, seldom returning, no wonder Qin Dajiang is so delighted.
Chen Sheng smiled while adding tea:
"Last time big brother left early, this time when he returns, we must drink a few good cups."
Qin Dajiang laughed heartily:
"Don't worry, we have plenty of time now, because he reached a critical period in cultivation this time, so he won't need to return to the sect soon."
Chen Sheng nodded:
"That's even better."
Qin Dajiang hummed lightly:
"Now in his thirties, he must leave an heir this time when he returns."
While speaking, he looked at Chen Sheng again:
"You kid is already twenty, hurry up."
Chen Sheng smiled lightly:
"Uncle needn't worry, I have my plans, just it's hard work for uncle to arrange my marriage proposals when the time comes."
Qin Dajiang immediately showed a gratified smile:
"Not bad, in this regard, better than Brother Shuang, with uncle here, I guarantee a grand wedding for you!"
The two chatted for a long time about family matters before Chen Sheng finally left, walking to the core area of the market, entering a store – 'Famous Artifact Pavilion.'
The shelves were lined with various magical artifacts, dazzling in their array.
Not long after, when Chen Sheng came out, only three Spirit Stones remained from the ninety-seven he'd accumulated to purchase a Realm-Breaking Pill in his Storage Pouch.
Meanwhile, he now possessed a box containing an exquisite phoenix hairpin, crafted from refined cold iron, with the phoenix's beak inlaid with a pigeon egg-sized High Grade Cold Crystal.
It was a Tier One Middle Grade Magical Artifact, equipped with the marvelous uses of Calm Heart and Purification.
...
Days later, Pill Workshop Pharmacy, Huang Wangyou was in a beautiful mood, humming a tune along the way.
Li Huayao had just stored sun-dried medicinal herbs into a ceramic jar, scrutinizing her closely, quickly identifying the differences compared to the past.
She subtly glanced at the phoenix hairpin.
That phoenix hairpin shimmered faintly in the morning light, its delicate phoenix head resting precisely by Huang Wangyou's temples, accentuating the girl's radiant and charming face.
"Why is Little Senior Sister so good-looking today?"
Li Huayao deliberately leaned closer, her voice drawn out, eyes full of playful teasing.
"This phoenix hairpin is so unique, which young fellow gifted it?"
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Chen Sheng, wanting to see the other party's expression.
Chen Sheng was busy sorting spirit grasses, with a calm demeanor, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Meanwhile, Huang Wangyou, upon hearing, involuntarily shook her hand, nearly dropping the pestle to the ground, clearly not expecting their "token of affection" to be discovered so quickly.