The sensitivity of his Wood Spirit Root to the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had actually increased a little. This result made Fang Qingyuan's heart pound in his chest.
Cultivators usually maintained a tranquil mind, far calmer than that of mortals. However, faced with a change that struck at the very foundation of his path, Fang Qingyuan couldn't settle down either.
After a long while, Fang Qingyuan finally loosened his grip on the tightly clenched Token. With a flicker of his Divine Sense, he entered the Immortal Mansion once more.
The Immortal Mansion still looked the same as before, but to Fang Qingyuan, everything before him now felt different. Everything was different.
Furthermore, Fang Qingyuan began to speculate. 'If absorbing Spirit Wood can improve the aptitude of my Wood Spirit Root, does that mean I can absorb other spiritual materials to enhance my other Spirit Roots?'
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Fang Qingyuan was eager to test this theory, but the smile on his face didn't last long before it froze.
The reason was simple: he didn't have any spiritual materials corresponding to the other four elements.
He only had fifteen Spirit Stones. 'What can I even do with that?'
'I'm still too poor.'
After emerging from the Immortal Mansion Space, Fang Qingyuan began to plot his future. His original plan had been to leverage the significant advantage of the Immortal Mansion's large space for transport. After earning Spirit Stones, he would buy Elixir Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Cultivation Techniques.
But now that he had discovered the Immortal Mansion Space could enhance his aptitude, the path he'd been considering would have to change.
He still needed to earn Spirit Stones. However, instead of buying external aids like Elixir Pills or Magical Artifacts, he would exchange every single Spirit Stone for spiritual materials of the Five Elements to improve his aptitude.
Once his aptitude improved, his cultivation speed would accelerate. If all his Five Elements Spirit Roots became Celestial Spirit Roots, then even the Nascent Soul Realm wouldn't be out of reach.
It might even be possible to reach the peak of this world and become a Divinity Transformation Cultivator.
He wouldn't even need the two bottles of Elixir Pills the sect was scheduled to issue next month; he could just exchange them for Spirit Stones. Elixir Pills enhanced a Cultivator's Spirit Root sensitivity during meditation, allowing them to absorb more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and thus speed up their cultivation.
But this boost was only temporary—a single Elixir Pill only lasted for a few short hours. Besides, all medicine contains some poison. Not only would taking too many of one kind of pill greatly reduce its effectiveness, but he would also have to purge the residual pill toxins from his body before attempting Foundation Establishment.
He was better off not taking the Elixir Pills at all. Although his cultivation speed would be slower, he would save a lot of Spirit Stones.
'Besides, using those Spirit Stones to trade for spiritual materials and permanently enhancing my Spirit Root aptitude via the Immortal Mansion... that is what I absolutely must do.'
After a moment of contemplation, Fang Qingyuan understood his priorities: earn Spirit Stones, trade for spiritual materials, enhance his aptitude, and cultivate methodically.
With a clear goal in mind, Fang Qingyuan's spirit finally settled. He felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and fulfillment—the kind that comes from knowing your efforts will surely be rewarded.
In this state of mind, Fang Qingyuan gazed at the small Quiet Chamber, but his thoughts drifted far away, to the home he could never return to.
....
Early the next morning, unable to stand the racket his Camel Skate was making in the Beast Cage, Fang Qingyuan went to the Grand Precepts Hall to look for a mission and, while he was at it, get some Spirit Fish for it to eat.
The Camel Skate hadn't gotten its Pig Fish that morning and was throwing a fit, driving Fang Qingyuan mad.
The situation had become volatile these past few days, so Fang Qingyuan no longer dared to run his ferrying service. But he couldn't just stay home and burn through his savings. He needed to find a safe mission to tide him over.
When he arrived at the Grand Precepts Hall, Fang Qingyuan found it even more deserted than usual.
'It makes sense,' he thought. 'With two Golden Core masters visiting, countless disciples are probably trying to get close and make a good impression. Who would have the inclination to do missions at a time like this?'
Fang Qingyuan wanted no part of it. He believed that trying to get close to the Golden Core Grand-Uncles right now carried far more risk than opportunity.
'Those Golden Core Grand-Uncles are clearly here with ill intentions. If I get too close, I'll just be collateral damage.'
Fang Qingyuan was self-aware enough to stay far away from the storm and keep a low profile. The best thing would be to find a mission guarding some herb garden for half a year, where he could just turn a deaf ear to the world and lay low until things blew over.
Unfortunately, there were no missions for guarding herb gardens. Fang Qingyuan searched and searched, and in the end, accepted a mission to hunt Pig Fish.
The mission had just been posted today. Looking at the issuer's name, Fang Qingyuan saw it was an acquaintance, someone he had just interacted with yesterday.
"Seeking Pig Fish. One Spirit Stone for two. This is a standing offer. Issuer: Jiang Kui."
Conveniently, his own Camel Skate ate Pig Fish as well. Fang Qingyuan decided to just catch a few extra. That way, he could earn some Spirit Stones while also placating his own Camel Skate—killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.
The only catch was that hunting Pig Fish required going to the Black River, which involved some risk. Still, it was the safest mission Fang Qingyuan could find.
The other missions involved either fighting demonic beasts or traveling far away to run errands in other Spirit Cities.
By comparison, catching some Spirit Fish was the most prudent choice. Besides, Fang Qingyuan wouldn't be going alone; he had his Camel Skate as a helper.
....
Around noon, in a swamp on the Black River fifty li from Li Tianshan Villa, a massive Camel Skate circled in the sky, diving down at high speed from time to time.
Whenever the Camel Skate drew near the swamp's surface, a commotion would stir in the thick mud below.
Occasionally, a disoriented one would shoot out of the water, leaping into the air. When it did, a current of water would manifest from nothing, binding it tightly.
Once the creature was washed clean by the current, it was revealed to be a slippery, scaly fish with the snout of a pig.
This was the Bulrush Pigfish. After catching it, Fang Qingyuan casually tossed the fish into a large vat.
Fang Qingyuan had brought this vat specifically for this purpose. It was filled with fresh water mixed with a certain herb. After soaking in it, the Pig Fish would purge the filth from its digestive system.
Then, all one had to do was lift them out, wash and dry them, tightly bind their four limbs with straw rope, and place them in a large chest. This way, they could be transported over long distances and remain fresh for a considerable amount of time.
At this stage, the Pig Fish were still alive and couldn't be put into a storage bag. That was because Pig Fish had to be eaten fresh; a dead one lost all its flavor.
After catching one more Bulrush Pigfish, Fang Qingyuan glanced at the sky and prepared to head back.
It had been a good haul. After half a day's work, he had caught thirteen Pig Fish in total. Unfortunately, the Camel Skate he'd brought along had eaten five of them, leaving him with eight.
The Camel Skate had been famished; the first few fish went straight into its stomach. If Fang Qingyuan hadn't placated it, he probably wouldn't have even had these eight left.
Eight Pig Fish meant four Spirit Stones in his pocket. Fang Qingyuan felt a sense of satisfaction. It was less than what he made from ferrying, but the important thing was that it was safe.
"Let's go, you little glutton," he said. "We'll come back tomorrow, but we'll find a new spot. We should give the Pig Fish here a break."
As he spoke, Fang Qingyuan hoisted the chest onto the Camel Skate's back. The eight Pig Fish didn't take up much space. Once he finished packing up all his belongings, he gave the Camel Skate's head a pat, signaling it to take off.
And so, the Camel Skate flapped its bat-like wings and, carrying Fang Qingyuan, flew off toward the setting sun.