Chapter 28: Bonds of this world are like dust (Part 2)
A year ago, she couldn't have imagined having such a feast on the table. Even having half a piece of black bread in three days would have been considered fortunate.
Biting into a meat bun, Jiang Yuebai took out the items she had bought today.
A green vine brush for drawing talismans cost fifty low-grade spirit stones. Three liang of talisman sand and two sheets of talisman paper took ten low-grade spirit stones.
A book titled "Comprehensive Guide to Ninth-Grade talismans" cost twenty low-grade spirit stones. The sect's library also had this book, but she didn't have any contribution points to access it.
She also bought five copies of the best-selling Ninth-Grade elemental talismans, which she intended to use as references for studying.
Each ninth-grade elemental talisman cost one low-grade spirit stone, meaning she would need to draw a hundred and five of them to break even.
By the end of the day's shopping, she had depleted her stash of spirit stones and was left with only five.
If Tao Fengnian hadn't forbidden her from consuming pills, she would have liked to try the Qi Nourishing Pill. It was said to accelerate cultivation progress and absorb more spiritual energy.
Tao Fengnian's explanation was clear: apart from detoxifying and healing pills, all auxiliary cultivation pills had side effects, unless they were top-grade pills. Ingesting these pills could temporarily boost one's cultivation, but prolonged consumption would lead to meridian blockages.
Removing these side effects through subsequent treatments was time-consuming and resource-intensive, which hindered cultivation.
Unless absolutely necessary, she would avoid taking pills.
Tao Fengnian bought nothing except for seeds. Jiang Yuebai had persuaded him to invest in his twenty acres of personal land. Before the next spring arrived, she planned to grow quick-maturing spirit plants on it.
She suggested cultivating spirit vegetables. They grew fast, had high demand, and commanded high prices.
Tao Fengnian found spirit vegetables too troublesome, so he bought water caltrop seeds instead. By watering the spiritual field and scattering the seeds, the plants would grow wildly, serving as feed for spiritual beasts.
After organizing her purchases, Jiang Yuebai ate and drank to her heart's content. Then, she took out the newly bought "Miscellaneous Collection of Five Flavors" and reclined on the couch to read.
"Entering the city, cut off from humanity for a long time, it feels like a different world. Resting for half a month, indulging in comfort, then leaving."
"Traveling west for a hundred miles, encountered three evil cultivators who massacred a village and refined tools. Fought bitterly for a night, slew them all, almost died."
"Venturing deep into the wild mountains, encountered a pack of demonic wolves. Fought and retreated, trapped in a cave for three months. Practiced incessantly, emerged victorious, exterminated the wolf king."
"After thirteen years of cultivation, achieved Foundation Establishment. Heard that before building the foundation, one must sever earthly bonds. Returning to the Yun Nation, resuming the path of cultivation. Throughout my life, I am not unworthy of the heavens, not unworthy of the people, not unworthy of the sect, only unworthy of one person. Questioning my heart, I feel remorse, but no regrets."
"The grand dao is merciless, and I tread it alone. The bonds of dust are broken, and the foundation is built!"
The words were succinct, filled with a sense of conquest, and it stirred Jiang Yuebai's heart, making sleep elusive.
Deciding to get up, she opened the window and admired the moonlight.
The moon was bright, illuminating a middle-aged woman reclining on a bamboo chair, her eyes closed. Her pale complexion still bore traces of illness. Beside her, a sturdy man held her hand, sitting quietly, silently accompanying her.
"Senior Brother Hong?"
Jiang Yuebai recognized the man and involuntarily called out. Hong Tao turned his head, and their eyes met.
She had intended to close the window to avoid his gaze, but Hong Tao waved to her, gesturing her to stay.
Jiang Yuebai jumped down from the second-floor window and landed in the courtyard. She walked slowly up to Hong Tao.
"Junior Sister Jiang, I'd appreciate it if you could watch over Wan Niang for a moment. I'll be right back."
Biting into a meat bun, Jiang Yuebai took out the items she had bought today.
A green vine brush for drawing talismans cost fifty low-grade spirit stones. Three liang of talisman sand and two sheets of talisman paper took ten low-grade spirit stones.
A book titled "Comprehensive Guide to Ninth-Grade talismans" cost twenty low-grade spirit stones. The sect's library also had this book, but she didn't have any contribution points to access it.
She also bought five copies of the best-selling Ninth-Grade elemental talismans, which she intended to use as references for studying.
Each ninth-grade elemental talisman cost one low-grade spirit stone, meaning she would need to draw a hundred and five of them to break even.
By the end of the day's shopping, she had depleted her stash of spirit stones and was left with only five.
If Tao Fengnian hadn't forbidden her from consuming pills, she would have liked to try the Qi Nourishing Pill. It was said to accelerate cultivation progress and absorb more spiritual energy.
Tao Fengnian's explanation was clear: apart from detoxifying and healing pills, all auxiliary cultivation pills had side effects, unless they were top-grade pills. Ingesting these pills could temporarily boost one's cultivation, but prolonged consumption would lead to meridian blockages.
Removing these side effects through subsequent treatments was time-consuming and resource-intensive, which hindered cultivation.
Unless absolutely necessary, she would avoid taking pills.
Tao Fengnian bought nothing except for seeds. Jiang Yuebai had persuaded him to invest in his twenty acres of personal land. Before the next spring arrived, she planned to grow quick-maturing spirit plants on it.
She suggested cultivating spirit vegetables. They grew fast, had high demand, and commanded high prices.
Tao Fengnian found spirit vegetables too troublesome, so he bought water caltrop seeds instead. By watering the spiritual field and scattering the seeds, the plants would grow wildly, serving as feed for spiritual beasts.
After organizing her purchases, Jiang Yuebai ate and drank to her heart's content. Then, she took out the newly bought "Miscellaneous Collection of Five Flavors" and reclined on the couch to read.
"Entering the city, cut off from humanity for a long time, it feels like a different world. Resting for half a month, indulging in comfort, then leaving."
"Traveling west for a hundred miles, encountered three evil cultivators who massacred a village and refined tools. Fought bitterly for a night, slew them all, almost died."
"Venturing deep into the wild mountains, encountered a pack of demonic wolves. Fought and retreated, trapped in a cave for three months. Practiced incessantly, emerged victorious, exterminated the wolf king."
"After thirteen years of cultivation, achieved Foundation Establishment. Heard that before building the foundation, one must sever earthly bonds. Returning to the Yun Nation, resuming the path of cultivation. Throughout my life, I am not unworthy of the heavens, not unworthy of the people, not unworthy of the sect, only unworthy of one person. Questioning my heart, I feel remorse, but no regrets."
"The grand dao is merciless, and I tread it alone. The bonds of dust are broken, and the foundation is built!"
The words were succinct, filled with a sense of conquest, and it stirred Jiang Yuebai's heart, making sleep elusive.
Deciding to get up, she opened the window and admired the moonlight.
The moon was bright, illuminating a middle-aged woman reclining on a bamboo chair, her eyes closed. Her pale complexion still bore traces of illness. Beside her, a sturdy man held her hand, sitting quietly, silently accompanying her.
"Senior Brother Hong?"
Jiang Yuebai recognized the man and involuntarily called out. Hong Tao turned his head, and their eyes met.
She had intended to close the window to avoid his gaze, but Hong Tao waved to her, gesturing her to stay.
Jiang Yuebai jumped down from the second-floor window and landed in the courtyard. She walked slowly up to Hong Tao.
"Junior Sister Jiang, I'd appreciate it if you could watch over Wan Niang for a moment. I'll be right back."
(TL Note: "Niang" (娘) is a term used to refer to a woman often in a respectful or affectionate way. In some Chinese dialects and regions, "niang" might also be used to refer to one's wife or spouse. In others, it can be used for addressing one's own mother or addressing an older woman in a friendly manner)
Jiang Yuebai nodded, and Hong Tao entered the back room of the courtyard.
The rear rooms were rented out to long-term residents, indicating that Hong Tao had been here for quite some time.
The woman reclining on the bamboo chair had gentle features, revealing her gentle and beautiful nature, but there was no spiritual energy about her. Clearly, she was an ordinary mortal.
Before long, Hong Tao emerged from the room, now dressed in wedding attire, holding a phoenix crown.
Facing Jiang Yuebai's puzzled gaze, Hong Tao looked at the woman and his gaze grew deep.
"Wan Niang and I fell in love at first sight. We were supposed to live together in the mortal realm, but unexpected events occurred. The local magistrate forcibly took Wan Niang as his concubine, and I killed him. I was pursued and barely survived, eventually obtaining a chance for immortality in a perilous situation. I had thought that without me, Wan Niang could marry into a good family and live a happy life."
"However, Because my Qi refining was nearing perfection this time, I was worried about her. It turns out she had been waiting for me to return from cultivating in a nun's convent all along. Sadly, I came back too late. Twenty years of longing took a toll on her, and she was already drained of her vitality, on the brink of death."
"I brought her here to recuperate, trying my best to heal her. But she refused to let me give up my path to immortality for her. Tonight is her last night. I was impulsive when I was young, burdening her with a lifetime of pain. Now, the best thing I can do for her is to make her my wife."
Jiang Yuebai nodded, and Hong Tao entered the back room of the courtyard.
The rear rooms were rented out to long-term residents, indicating that Hong Tao had been here for quite some time.
The woman reclining on the bamboo chair had gentle features, revealing her gentle and beautiful nature, but there was no spiritual energy about her. Clearly, she was an ordinary mortal.
Before long, Hong Tao emerged from the room, now dressed in wedding attire, holding a phoenix crown.
Facing Jiang Yuebai's puzzled gaze, Hong Tao looked at the woman and his gaze grew deep.
"Wan Niang and I fell in love at first sight. We were supposed to live together in the mortal realm, but unexpected events occurred. The local magistrate forcibly took Wan Niang as his concubine, and I killed him. I was pursued and barely survived, eventually obtaining a chance for immortality in a perilous situation. I had thought that without me, Wan Niang could marry into a good family and live a happy life."
"However, Because my Qi refining was nearing perfection this time, I was worried about her. It turns out she had been waiting for me to return from cultivating in a nun's convent all along. Sadly, I came back too late. Twenty years of longing took a toll on her, and she was already drained of her vitality, on the brink of death."
"I brought her here to recuperate, trying my best to heal her. But she refused to let me give up my path to immortality for her. Tonight is her last night. I was impulsive when I was young, burdening her with a lifetime of pain. Now, the best thing I can do for her is to make her my wife."
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