44: Chapter 3 Xiao Muting's Troubles

"Zi Ling..." Chen Xuan murmured. She was one of the fishermen, about the same age, only two years older than Chen Xuan.

However, her cultivation had already reached Qi Refining Stage 3, and she was about to push for the Qi Refining Mid-Stage.

Every month, their small group would meet once at Yunhe Tower for half a day, usually in the afternoon.

The main purpose was to exchange information and resources, as well as to help each other out.

Now that the season for "harvesting" was approaching, there was plenty of time during the seedling rearing stage, requiring almost no management.

Therefore, there was nearly a month-long window where they could choose to go out and seek Opportunity.

Of course, they could not leave the area of Biling Lake and the Long Sea.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to look after the fish fry, and it would also violate their contract.

This year, the small group had just admitted Chen Xuan. Its members were Chen Xuan (Yun Qi), He Jia, Zi Ling, and Wang Ni.

In his memories, Chen Xuan had attended a few times and felt he had benefited greatly. In particular, Zi Ling was proficient in Low Grade Talismans and could use the various arts of cultivation to nourish her own practice, which had made him envious for a very long time.

Of course, amidst this envy, there was also a hint of admiration, which had been hidden deep in the heart of the Yun Qi of that time.

After reading the letter, Chen Xuan produced a flame in his hand, and the letter turned into ashes and dissipated.

He stroked the Red-Crowned Crane. The creature nodded intelligently, and seeing that Chen Xuan had no letter to send, it spread its wings and flew away.

These messenger Red-Crowned Cranes were highly intelligent; many had evolved into Tier 1 Yao Beasts after consuming semi-spiritual fish and spiritual fish.

They were common messengers.

Chen Xuan and the others were all early-stage Cultivators who could not afford a Storage Pouch, let alone communication jade Talismans.

The most cost-effective spiritual cranes were naturally the first choice.

Just as Chen Xuan closed his eyes, preparing to cultivate and advance the progress of his [Canglan Art], the surface of the lake rippled.

A black spiritual boat cut through the water and approached.

On it was a dark flag, and on the flag was a majestic eagle!

It was the Xiao Clan's spiritual boat!

"Yun Qi."

Chen Xuan had not yet stepped into the Qi Refining Mid-Stage and possessed no Divine Sense, so he only stood up to check after hearing the call.

Xiao Muting had arrived.

A childhood friend, a Core Disciple of the Xiao Family, rumored to have extremely high talent, a seed for Foundation Establishment!

"Mu Ting, why are you here?" Chen Xuan asked in surprise.

Ever since he became a Core Disciple, the two had seen little of each other, often meeting only three or four times a year.

Chen Xuan had also managed a Family before; the training of a Core Disciple naturally required cherishing every single moment.

Except when traveling to broaden one's horizons to break through a major Bottleneck.

At other times, it was almost all bitter cultivation, hard training, exploring Secret Realms, and so on.

Since he had come here, something must be the matter.

Xiao Muting looked at Chen Xuan's youthful face and subconsciously bit his lip.

When the two boats met, Xiao Muting leaped onto the boat. Looking at his brother's dwelling, he said with a gloomy expression:

"Yun Qi, sigh!"

This sigh made the atmosphere heavy to the extreme.

"The Xiao Clan members I entrusted have gone missing in the Long Sea."

Chen Xuan immediately understood why it was so heavy; this meant that when Chen Xuan's parents went missing back then, they had most likely perished.

Now that the people sent to search had also met with misfortune here, did that not further confirm the fact?

Precisely because of this, Xiao Muting had specially taken the time to come, which was enough to show how much he valued Chen Xuan.

"Come, let's drink!" Xiao Muting said no more; he was a smart man, and smart men understood.

Chen Xuan said nothing more. The two had been friends since childhood and naturally knew each other's hobbies.

In this life, both loved fine wine and treasured swords!

At this moment, there was nothing to do but drink until they were drunk.

A purple gourd swayed in Xiao Muting's hand. If it were before, Chen Xuan would not have known what this thing was.

But at this moment, his eyes were sharp and discerning.

As the Heaven-Stealing Foundation operated, the hidden treasure light upon it suddenly became incomparably bright!

It was actually a top-grade Spiritual Artifact, a Sword-Nurturing Gourd!

This gourd could nurture Sword Qi; even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator facing this treasure would capsize in the gutter if they were not careful.

However, such a trump card could not have been provided by the Xiao Clan, which meant this was Xiao Muting's own Opportunity.

His Luck was astonishing.

Two glazed wine cups were placed on the bow of the boat, and the translucent golden liquid flowed from the mouth of the gourd, tracing a beautiful arc.

The two clinked glasses and drank.

The next moment, Xiao Muting's face flushed slightly, and a blood-red lotus mark appeared on his forehead.

"Damn it!"

"Red Lotus!"

Chen Xuan was shocked in his heart, his mouth agape as he stood frozen in place.

"It really looks like it."

"You wouldn't happen to be the protagonist, would you!"

This guy also had a special Physique.

"Xiao Muting, you're not right."

In this life, just counting his own Innate Sword Bone and adding Xiao Muting, he had already seen two people with special Physiques.

In his previous life, he had almost never seen them; he had only heard of similar legends.

Chen Xuan now knew why Xiao Muting liked to drink and dance with his sword; it was likely influenced by a special Physique: Wine Sword Immortal!

Drinking and dancing with the sword, an eagle striking the sky!

It was rumored that the founding Ancestral Master of the Liuyang Sword Sect possessed this Physique and eventually returned to the Central Plains, though the rest was unknown.

"Drink!" Seeing Chen Xuan dazed, Xiao Muting raised his wine cup.

Chen Xuan said, "Mu Ting, regarding my parents, we have both done our best. I have no more regrets. I will handle this matter myself. However, from what I can see, you have something else on your mind."

Xiao Muting nodded magnanimously.

"The Family is in a troubled autumn. The Sect's annual taxes are heavy, and for years, we have been living beyond our means, eating our seed corn! But the taxes for the Liuyang Sword Sect cannot be delayed. Otherwise, if our Family's rating drops, we will have to leave Biling Lake. This is the Foundation of the Family; how can we allow that?"

Chen Xuan nodded.

Cultivation families all used Spiritual Veins as their Foundation. If they left Biling Lake and had no other Spiritual Veins to establish themselves, they would likely perish within two generations.

"That is true; the taxes of the Sect cannot be delayed."

"However, this doesn't have much to do with you, does it?"

Xiao Muting shook his head. "The heavy burden of the Family is currently being handed over to me. In a few days, I will likely be competing for the position of Young Lord. This matter must be handled properly."

A Young Lord, the heir to a cultivation Family, a Qilin child whom the entire clan's resources would be used to support.

If it were an ordinary Loose Cultivator, they would likely be envious to the point of prostration by now.

Chen Xuan just nodded. "Congratulations."

"In addition, the Wang Clan has been harassing the periphery of our Biling Lake recently. I will instruct the patrol guards to look after you a bit more. Be careful recently, and it is best not to leave Biling Lake."

Chen Xuan nodded.

The Wang Clan was pressing step by step, clearly harboring ulterior motives.

What Foundation Establishment families could fight over were nothing more than resources like Spiritual Veins, spiritual mines, and fishing catches.

The Wang Clan was likely coveting this Biling Lake.

However, Xiao Muting was still righteous enough not to forget to take care of his brother despite the Family crisis.

"By the way, I have known since we were young that your fishing skills are superb."

"The Sect is holding a fishing competition this time, and the winner can receive a generous reward!"

"More importantly, the first place winner is exempt from taxes!"

Speaking of this, his eyes lit up.

So this kid wanted me to participate in the competition.

This type of fishing competition only allowed the use of mundane tools and prohibited the use of magic power or other methods to interfere with the spiritual fish, which could be described as extremely difficult.

"Our clan can send three people to participate. I will vouch for you. If you win, it will solve my pressing problem," Xiao Muting said.

"Mu Ting, if I win, can the fish-rearing contract be terminated?" Chen Xuan asked.

"Hmm? Doesn't your contract only have two or three years left? However, if you want to leave, that is a small matter. I can make the termination reasonable and legitimate."

"However, leaving the Xiao Family to venture outside is very dangerous. Have you thought it through?"

Chen Xuan said, "I can't be a fisherman my whole life. I still need to go out and gain some experience."

"I see." Xiao Muting nodded and said, "Then you should perform well in this fishing competition. An Elder from the Liuyang Sword Sect will also come to observe. He is devoted to fishing. If you catch his eye and become a Disciple of the Sect, this contract will naturally be voided."

"Furthermore, Sect Disciples are much more prestigious than Loose Cultivators."

Chen Xuan nodded; these words were not wrong.

"By the way, are you still pursuing that Zi Ling?"

"If you can't get her, then let go."

Xiao Muting was also a bit tipsy and looked at Chen Xuan with a half-smile.

Chen Xuan waved his hand. "Let's not talk about these small matters; it was just youthful ignorance."

"You're not that old now, are you?" Xiao Muting teased. Looking at his profile, he was indeed handsome and extraordinary.

"Just a woman."

Chen Xuan had seen it all; what big scenes had he not witnessed?