30: Chapter 30 Spring Begins

When the first rain of the Start of Spring fell, Jiang Chengning finally broke through to the second stage.

He did not make this matter public.

The Pseudo-Spring in Nuanshi Hollow had nearly cost him his life; later, with Jiang Yuhe's help, he had managed to turn it around bit by bit, refining it into the shallowest wisp of Spring Qi.

The grade was low, and his cultivation was slow, but simply surviving was already the greatest stroke of luck.

Struggling through to the beginning of this spring, he had finally broken through to the second stage of Qi Refining.

That night, sitting under the lamp in the ancestral house, he felt the Spring Qi in his chest become much lighter.

Lin Suwen was keeping watch nearby; seeing him open his eyes, she asked first, "Did you succeed?"

Jiang Chengning nodded.

She didn't say anything overly joyful, just smiled and said, "When you go to the Small Market tomorrow morning, wrap up warmly."

Jiang Chengning also smiled.

"It's spring."

Lin Suwen rolled her eyes at him. "It's because I'm afraid that Spring Qi of yours will revert."

The next morning, Jiang Chengning headed towards the Sangyin Small Market.

The mountain paths were damp after the rain, and his soles were caked with mud.

He walked slowly; although the second-stage Spring Commencement Energy in his chest flowed smoothly, it was far from strong, and he had no offensive techniques, only his physique had been significantly enhanced.

However, once he entered the second stage, the way he viewed the mountains and rivers contained something more than before.

A sliver of shallow spring by the Gudong Field, a wisp of water vapor floating above the well at Niubei Hollow.

Meanwhile, the North Pass was much livelier.

The Zhou Family had transferred two Foundation Establishment cultivators down here these past few days; one was in charge of the water veins, the other in charge of the spiritual fields.

The area east of the North Pass had originally been nothing but barren slopes and mud, but later they used techniques to cut several new channels and reclaimed a vast expanse of terraced fields.

Rocks were shattered, underground water veins were diverted, and in just over ten days, dozens of wooden posts had been erected there.

The Cold Households went to work as laborers every day; moving stones, ramming earth, setting beams, and laying bricks and tiles.

Rows of simple wooden houses rose along the foot of the slope; by the count, they could accommodate at least five more families.

The houses were crude, the doors and windows thin, but for the refugees below the mountain, having a roof over their heads, water to drink, fields to farm, and, more importantly, a Spring Entry Token for the mountain, was enough to make people risk their lives for it.

Jiang Chengning paused by the roadside for a while.

In the distance, someone was calling out work chants, and wooden mallets struck the ground one after another, the thuds muffled by the spring mud.

The new water channel at the North Pass had just been opened; although the water was mixed with yellow mud, it already contained a trace of Spiritual Qi.

The Zhou Family was still shoring up their foundation.

Shuangxi Ferry had been disrupted by the Zhao Family and the New Dharma monks, so the Main Peak was slowly shifting the truly useful people, goods, and ledgers to the North Pass.

The new channels, new fields, new houses, and new Cold Households would all eventually become the tax grain, spiritual resources, and Qi Refining power in the Zhou Family's hands.

Thinking of this, his heart sank a little further; the Zhou Family's expansion regarding the Cold Households was becoming faster and faster, and even with the pressure from the Zhao Family, building so much in one go seemed strange.

For the Jiang Family to produce their own Foundation Establishment cultivator, the most difficult part was already before them: the location.

Jiang Yuhe had gleaned a few points from the Chenlin Grain Rain Sutra, which Jiang Chengning had mulled over repeatedly these past few months.

Foundation Establishment requires a location; to put it plainly, this requires three things: first, Spiritual Qi; second, imagery; and third, ownership.

If the place is large, thin Spiritual Qi can be compensated for by quantity; if the place is small, the Spiritual Qi must be concentrated.

It must also possess the imagery of the Grain Rain itself, and it would be best if it were associated with a Dao attribute like Pin Water.

On the day of the Breakthrough, this land must be yours—or at least the Jiang Family's.

What did the Jiang Family have? The Gudong Field was thin, the well at Niubei Hollow was small, the mill shed only produced Yin Sand, and the Puxin Grass was scattered.

Combined, these few places could sustain a Family and accumulate some foundation, but they could not support a location for Foundation Establishment.

The Zhou Family had the Qingsang Main Peak; the Zhao Family had Black Stone Ridge; the Lu Family had Dongping Ridge; the Chengtian Sect loomed over the entire Guli Mountain region.

Further away, there was Cangya Ridge; that mountain was swarming with Yao Beasts, and legend had it that a Yao King resided in its depths, so the few small families nearby all gave it a wide berth.

Spiritual lands without a Human Race owner only existed in talk within this region; they would never fall into the hands of the Cold Households.

By the time Jiang Chengning reached the Sangyin Small Market, the market had already opened.

Medicinal roots were drying outside the apothecary, a few newly drawn yellow talismans hung outside the talisman shop, and the sound of fire in the smithy was very faint.

There were people in the tea shed in the center of the market as well, and the Blind Old Man who had been telling the story of "Taipu's Death" a few days ago was sitting back in his original spot.

But today, he wasn't telling an ancient tale; he was clacking his bamboo clappers, telling a vulgar story about a mountain ghost stealing a bride.

A few porters listened and laughed, one of them tossing two copper coins into his bowl.

The old man picked up the copper coins, smiling much more lightly than when he had been telling the story about Taipu.

Jiang Chengning glanced at him; he was actually far more concerned about that ancient tale.

He first entered Talisman Master Lu Yansheng's talisman shop.

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng was hunched over the desk cutting paper; seeing him enter, he hurriedly stood up and said with a smile, "Uncle Jiang is here."

Jiang Chengning placed a small cloth bag on the counter. "The money for the Water-Sinking Talismans from last time—I'm paying it today."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng waved his hand hurriedly. "It hasn't been long, Uncle Jiang, why the rush?"

"Debts must be repaid eventually," Jiang Chengning said. "The talismans were useful; the sand pits over at the Shi Family have stabilized for a few days, and they've loosened their grip, so it's time to pay."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng smiled and took the cloth bag, opening it to take a look.

Inside were a few pinches of Ground Yin Sand, a small bundle of Puxin Silk, and promissory notes equivalent to two dou of spiritual rice; when calculated, it was even a bit more than what had been agreed upon.

"Uncle Jiang is generous."

Jiang Chengning said, "Senior's craftsmanship is worth this price."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng put the cloth bag into the cabinet and poured him a cup of coarse tea. "Sit for a while, Uncle Jiang; there have been many matters at Duansang Ridge recently, and I've only heard bits and pieces in the Small Market, so I've been concerned about it."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng asked, "How has the Chen Family been lately? With Miss Xiaoyan having entered the Jiang Family, I imagine Old Master Chen must be a bit quieter now."

Jiang Chengning smiled. "Uncle Chen may be quiet with his words, but his heart may not be."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng also smiled. "Old folks are all like that; what about the Sun Family? They lost someone at Beijian Mouth last year; have they recovered this year?"

Jiang Chengning glanced at him; this man claimed to know nothing, yet in his words, he seemed to be telling Jiang Chengning that he knew everything.

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng's expression was natural, as if he were just making casual conversation. "Sun Changshui is still holding on; Jingxiu can manage the water ledgers now too."

"That's good," Talisman Master Lu Yansheng nodded. "There are few people among the Cold Households who understand water ledgers; if Beijian Mouth is in chaos, the few channels below the mountain will all be troublesome."

Jiang Chengning took a sip of tea; it was weak, with a hint of the smell of paper ash.

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng added, "Fenchun Terrace opens again tomorrow; the Zhou Family has been making big moves this year—opening new channels at the North Pass and building so many new houses—they must be planning to add a few more Qi Refining practitioners."

Jiang Chengning said, "If Spring Tokens are issued, it is ultimately a good thing for the Cold Households."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng smiled and said, "Yes, difficulties are difficulties, and life is life; if the Main Peak is willing to issue tokens, it's already one more path than those below the mountain have."

As his voice fell, his gaze shifted toward the North Pass. "I heard this time the new houses can accommodate five families; in a few more years, Duansang Ridge will likely be very lively."

Jiang Chengning said, "Lively or not, taxes must be paid."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng laughed. "That is true."

The two chatted for a few more moments; Talisman Master Lu Yansheng asked about the growth of the He Family's Yin Vines this year, asked if the Shi Family could produce more sand after the water in the Green Gravel Sand Pit stabilized, and even brought up the Ji Family in passing.

"The Ji Family is visiting the North Pass frequently these days; do you have much contact with them, Uncle Jiang?"

Jiang Chengning slowly set down his teacup. "Not much."

"I see that the young master of the Ji Family is young, but I hear people mention him often."

"I pay little attention to children's affairs."

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng smiled. "That's true; Uncle Jiang has to manage his own Family's lands and keep an eye on his Family's cultivation; how could you have time to worry about others?"

Jiang Chengning did not respond to this.

Talisman Master Lu Yansheng pressed down the newly cut talisman paper and said, "If you go to Fenchun Terrace tomorrow, Uncle Jiang, you can stop by my place on your way back; I'd like to hear the news about what tokens the Main Peak is issuing this year."

Jiang Chengning stood up, neither enthusiastic nor cold. "If it's on the way, I'll come by and sit."

After leaving the talisman shop, the wind in the Small Market was blowing in from the East Pass, carrying a scent of damp wood.

Jiang Chengning glanced toward the tea shed; the Blind Old Man had already reached the part where the mountain ghost was tricked by the bride into falling into a well, and the listeners were laughing and swaying.

The old man was laughing along with them, his bamboo clappers clacking lively, without a shred of the solemnity he had displayed when telling the story of Taipu's death last time.

Jiang Chengning stood for a while before turning to walk back.

He no longer had any debts in his sleeve, but the debts in his heart had only increased.

No location; no high-grade spiritual items; he had only heard of the Pin Water Dao attribute.

The best treasure pavilion in the Sangyin Small Market only had a Medium Grade spiritual item as its prize possession; it was said that that item was sealed in a jade box and never saw the light of day, displayed only to save face, and the Jiang Family didn't even have the thought of going in to ask the price.

Better things further away were all in the hands of the Zhou, Zhao, and Lu families, in the hands of the Chengtian Sect, and in the hands of the Yao King of Cangya Ridge.

Jiang Yuhe's path was already visible, but that path was suspended high outside the mountains, like a sliver of light in a cloud gap after the rain—visible, but unreachable.

On the way back, the work chants at the North Pass were still ringing out.

The beams of the new houses were being set up one by one, the muddy water in the channels was settling layer by layer; the two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Zhou Family were no longer in sight, only the traces left by their techniques remained on the ground.

The spring breeze blew over the newly opened terraced fields, and a faint Spiritual Qi emerged from the soil.

Jiang Chengning stopped on the slope and watched for a long time.

The Main Peak had gone a bit overboard in shoring up their foundation.

Vaguely, he could already see the storm coming.

All the Jiang Family could grasp was a family genealogy that could not be easily sought, a hope that had just entered the Late Stage, a few thin fields, a bit of accumulated spiritual resources, and a pile of thoughts that could not be let known to others.

He pulled his sleeves tight and walked slowly toward Niubei Hollow.

Fenchun Terrace would open again tomorrow; there would be more Qi Refining practitioners in the mountains, the Main Peak's foundation would grow thicker, and perhaps the Ji Family would take another step forward.

The Jiang Family could not stop; not even for a step.