ATPnovel Chapter 70 Each with Their Own Fate
Chapter 70 Each with Their Own Fate
"Ergou... Fellow Daoist Wang Ergou, I'm afraid he won't be able to come this time."
Li Qingshan broke the silence, his tone somewhat complicated.
Yang Changsheng and Su Wanqing both looked at him.
"He went to Little Turtle Peak, a small cultivation family that was dependent on the Lu family, the Chen family of Qi Refining."
Li Qingshan explained, "Er Gou worked there as a spirit plant grower. With his tenacity and hard work, he managed to raise his spirit plant cultivation skills to an intermediate level, which earned him the appreciation of Chen Jianghe, the head of the Chen family."
The other party doesn't have much talent for fishing and farming crystal shrimp, but is quite good at farming.
Unexpectedly, my introduction to the past actually became a good way out.
Li Qingshan smiled wryly: "Last year, the Chen family arranged for him to marry a woman from a collateral branch of the clan, which can be considered as him marrying into the Chen family."
"Hey, this kid has managed to find himself a safe haven in this chaotic world. Last year, thanks to the Chen family's resources, he broke through to the third level of Qi Refining. A few months ago, he was blessed with a son, so he can be considered to have settled down."
"Little Turtle Peak... Chen Family..." Yang Changsheng murmured to himself.
Far from the eye of the storm at Biyue Lake, he attaches himself to the power of a small cultivation family and becomes a son-in-law, integrating into the local family.
This is indeed an excellent choice for a rogue cultivator like Wang Ergou, who has ordinary talent and honest character, to seek stability and continue his path in a chaotic world.
He felt gratified for Wang Ergou, but at the same time, he felt more clearly that his companion who had witnessed the struggles of the lower classes with him on the airship had embarked on a completely different path from his own.
The five members of the Immortal Path Mutual Aid Association eventually drifted apart.
"Peace and stability are a blessing. In this world, it is already difficult to find a place to live and live a peaceful life."
Su Wanqing said softly, her tone carrying sincere blessings and a hint of longing for a peaceful life, but more so a pursuit of immortality.
"yes."
Li Qingshan sighed, then looked at Yang Changsheng with concern.
"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, the area behind the market may become the center of a vortex. You live alone, so you need to be extra careful."
He glanced at Yang Changsheng discreetly. This reclusive puppeteer, who also hoarded rare and valuable items, was probably worth far more than an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, making him an easy target for petty scoundrels.
Yang Changsheng remained calm and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Li. I know what I'm doing."
He didn't say much, but his calm and composed demeanor made Li Qingshan realize that he was by no means unprepared.
The atmosphere at the gathering was somewhat somber due to the somber political situation and Wang Ergou's retirement.
Afterwards, the three exchanged some practical information, such as recent price changes and which areas are relatively safe.
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the gathering was drawing to a close.
Outside the window, the setting sun painted the lake with a crimson rose hue, while the elusive lights of the law enforcement teams seemed to appear more frequently within the market.
"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, Fairy Wanqing, the times are difficult, please take care of yourselves. Qingshan has to rush back to his residence to take care of some chores, so I will take my leave now."
Li Qingshan clasped his hands in a fist salute again, his tone solemn.
As his family were vassals of the Lu family, they naturally participated in this war, and therefore needed to be even more careful when purchasing supplies.
After the other party left, Su Wanqing handed a heavy storage bag to Yang Changsheng.
Inside were the discarded pills she had collected through various channels over the past six months. The quantity was less than when they last met, which showed how scarce the supply was.
Yang Changsheng paid the spirit stones in full, and after taking the goods, he returned the storage bag.
Su Wanqing stood up and said, "I need to return to the alchemy room. Several batches of pills are at a critical moment. Fellow Daoist Changsheng, take care."
The artisans of Bitiao Lane are a safer place than other areas, and they are also more well-informed.
Yang Changsheng got up to see them off, and Su Wanqing and Li Qingshan's figures had already disappeared into the bustling crowd in the market.
Afterwards, he left Zuixianlou and walked steadily into the streets of the market.
Under the shadow of war, the once bustling streets were filled with a tense and hurried atmosphere.
The cultivators hurried along, speaking in hushed tones, their eyes filled with vigilance. The mortals, on the other hand, wore somber expressions, fearing they might stumble upon a battle and suffer annihilation.
With a clear goal in mind, Yang Changsheng headed straight for the core area of the market, to the most conspicuous three-story pavilion, Wanbao Pavilion.
Wanbao Pavilion, a branch of the Bishui branch of the Nanli Divine Palace, is a three-story building constructed entirely of a warm, smooth white jade. With its carved beams and painted rafters, and the interplay of light between the eaves and brackets, it exudes the profound wealth and luxury of a Nascent Soul level power.
Unlike the desolation outside the market, this place was bustling with people, most of whom were refined and well-dressed.
The shadow of war did not seem to affect this behemoth. On the contrary, its superior status and stable supply attracted more cultivators seeking refuge and resources, making business even more booming than when Yang Changsheng first arrived three years ago.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, a refreshing sandalwood scent mixed with a faint spiritual aura wafts out, instantly invigorating the spirit.
The lobby on the first floor is extremely spacious, with the floor paved with shiny obsidian. Countless crystal display cases are scattered around, and soft light shines from inside, making the spiritual objects displayed inside glow.
Each item was enveloped in a visible, transparent light shield, clearly a protective formation.
Yang Changsheng's gaze swept over the items in the display case.
The first-grade low-quality spirit rice grains are plump and full of spiritual energy, while the various low-grade spirit fruits exude an enticing fragrance.
The spirit wine shimmered with an amber luster in the crystal jade bottle... it was an essential item for the cultivation and daily life of low-level cultivators.
However, the price tag below made him feel a little uneasy.
"First-grade low-quality cloud-patterned spirit rice, two jin, forty-five spirit pearls."
"First-grade, low-level, Azure Jade Fruit, one piece, worth sixty-two spirit pearls."
"First-tier, mid-grade, Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine, one bottle costs twelve low-grade spirit stones."
"First-tier, low-grade Fireball Talisman, one talisman, one spirit stone, twelve spirit beads."
"First-tier low-grade, Green Bamboo Sword, twenty-one low-grade spirit stones."
……
As he predicted, the prices of war-related supplies, whether raw materials or finished products, have skyrocketed.
Roughly estimated, basic materials generally have a premium of over 20%, while finished magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans, etc. have seen price increases as high as 40%!
These soaring prices act like an invisible barrier, further narrowing the path to advancement for many lower-level cultivators.
In war, the lower classes always suffer the most and live a much harder life, while investors and upper-middle-class individuals amass great wealth.
He had no interest in these low-level consumables. With a calm gaze, he walked straight to the depths of the hall to the counter in charge of receiving customers and handling large transactions.
Behind the counter, a middle-aged cultivator, dressed in the Wanbaoge-style robes and with an increasingly plump and prosperous figure, was chatting and laughing with several guests with a ruddy complexion. This was none other than Steward Qian.
His eyes were sharp, even though they hadn't seen each other for a long time since the deal three years ago.
But as soon as Yang Changsheng approached the counter, he immediately recognized the calm, handsome, and upright young man in blue.
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Yang, it's been three years! You're even more radiant than before! I thought you had left this turbulent place, Biyue Lake, to find a better position elsewhere."
Deacon Qian greeted him with a broad smile, a perfectly timed hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.