Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Going Out for Trials and Fishing Again
In a beautifully decorated room somewhere in Tianxiang Valley.
A male cultivator was instructing a female cultivator in the practice of spells.
"Master Ruan, how well have I practiced this water-based spell, 'Bounty for the Masses'?" a coquettish female voice inquired.
"Not bad, you've achieved a minor level of proficiency, but you still need to practice diligently. Only when you can defeat the Golden Spear Technique, which I execute with my Qi Cultivation Stage spiritual power, will you be considered competent,"
Ruan Fan evaluated.
"Master Ruan, you're bullying me. With your extremely exquisite and unparalleled techniques, how could Qi'er possibly defeat you?"
"How would you know if you haven't even tried? Come on, practice it again."
"Qi'er's spiritual power is already depleted."
"The best effects of practice come when your spiritual power is depleted."
"Alright then!"
Not until Fang Qi's spiritual power was nearly exhausted and she collapsed on the floor did Ruan Fan allow her to rest.
"Has that girl been up to anything lately?" Ruan Fan asked.
"Nothing much; she hardly goes out. When she does leave, it's just to visit the Scripture Pavilion, and she always returns early. That wretch slapped me last time, Master Ruan, you must take my side."
"Don't worry, there will be an opportunity. You keep a close watch."
"Master Ruan, I will. However, that girl Bai Xun, after being seen naked by Master Pang, had the shameless audacity to press on marrying him. It's utterly disgraceful,"
"Bai Xun, eh? She's a good girl too. If there's a chance, I'll also guide her in practicing spells,"
Ruan Fan said, squinting his eyes.
"Master Ruan, I'm afraid that's quite difficult. As her best friend, I know her the best; she's quite stubborn."
"No matter, heh, it's better if she's a bit stubborn."
...
Ten days later.
Yu Qingtan had finished reading the free books in the Scripture Pavilion and had also learned the contents of the Sound-recording Jade Slips from the sermons.
Recently, she had also noticed that someone was secretly observing her, but she didn't care.
She was about to leave Tianxiang Valley.
Although Tianxiang Valley was nice, more than 90% of its inhabitants were females.
Her Charm Points and Affection Value hadn't increased much for some time now.
Last time, Fang Ling made a breakthrough in Foundation Establishment and gained ten Affection Value points, but then a Heavenly Oath ended that opportunity.
Of course, her main body would still remain in Tianxiang Valley.
Having reached Foundation Establishment and mastered Fasting, she didn't need to worry about her main body for a year and a half.
One of the reasons she had joined Tianxiang Valley was exactly for this.
Arriving at the Task Hall.
The hall was very spacious. Upon entering, one could see a huge screen with a list of available tasks displayed upon it.
To the left was an area for automatically accepting tasks and one for manual processing, and to the right was an area for submitting completed tasks.
Nearly a hundred disciples were present in the Task Hall, yet it didn't feel crowded.
Looking at the task list.
"Manage the Spirit Medicine Garden, 5 Contribution Points per month;
Take care of the spiritual crane, the Red-crowned Crane, 5 Contribution Points per month;
Refine a Third Stage inferior-quality Magic Artifact, 1 Contribution Point each;
Gather Nine-Leaf Qingling Grass, 1 Contribution Point per stalk;
...
Hunt Rogue Rabbits, 3 Contribution Points each;
...
Investigate the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator lurking in Linxiang Town, 100 Contribution Points;
...
"As the resident zither master at the Tianxiang Immortal City's Raoliang Tea House, you will earn 10 contribution points every month."
"This is the one!"
After browsing through the entire task list, Yu Qingtan finally found one to her liking.
She approached the automatic task assignment kiosk, swiped her identity jade, and checked the details of the task.
"Tianxiang Immortal City's Raoliang Tea House has seen the disappearance of two consecutive resident zither masters, urgently requiring a replacement. Requirements: Qi Cultivation Stage late-phase or above, Zither Art highly accomplished or above, and at least three months' duration."
After clicking to accept, Yu Qingtan went to the manual processing area, where her cultivation level and zither skills were verified in a small side hall, and after a manual registration, she successfully accepted the task.
Arriving back at the Xiangfei Yaoyuan, Yu Qingtan went to Li Xingruo's courtyard, triggered the formation, kind of like ringing a doorbell.
She had been here once before and received no response, possibly because the owner was out.
This time, however, it was different. After a dozen or so breaths, the formation fluctuated, and then the courtyard door opened automatically.
Yu Qingtan entered.
Li Xingruo's small courtyard was larger, arranged like the gardens of Jiangnan from Qing Tan's previous life, with a pleasant scenery.
The main door of the house was open, and Li Xingruo was inside, sitting in the living room, waiting for her with tea.
"Qing Tan pays respects to Senior Sister Li!"
"There's no need for formalities, sit down. How have you been lately? Are you getting accustomed to life in the sect?"
"Thanks to Senior Sister's concern, Qing Tan is doing well. This time, I have come to inform Senior Sister that I have accepted a task from the sect to be the resident zither master at Tianxiang Immortal City's Raoliang Tea House, before I leave."
"A task to Tianxiang Immortal City? You're already earning forty to fifty thousand spirit stones each month from the Zhi Lan Pavilion; you're not short on resources. You only need to take on one or two simple sect tasks to meet the requirements.
What you need to focus on now is the Foundation Establishment. You should concentrate on your cultivation. I have some Foundation Establishment Pills; you can buy one from me at market price when the time comes."
Li Xingruo's brows furrowed slightly, as she earnestly advised.
"Moreover, I've received news that the Monkey-faced Eagle clan has reissued the bounty on you, identical to the previous one. Families from within the valley, like the Luos and the Yans, will also target you. Leaving the valley for a task right now is very unwise."
"Senior Sister, I have considered this thoroughly, but relentless cultivation is not Qing Tan's path to cultivation. I am fully prepared, and I hope you can understand."
Yu Qingtan said with a determined look in her eyes.
Li Xingruo took a deep look at Yu Qingtan, admiring her aspirations as she considered her cultivation path even in the Qi Cultivation Stage, and did not try to discourage her further. She said:
"If that is the case, then you must be extremely careful. Including this month, I'll advance you three months' income from the Zhi Lan Pavilion, and also give you a Third Stage Escape Talisman, worth about a hundred thousand spirit stones, which will be deducted from your future earnings."
Yu Qingtan received the one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones and a Third Stage Talisman from Li Xingruo.
"Thank you for your generous love, Senior Sister. Qing Tan will not disappoint Senior Sister's expectations and will achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!"
After bidding farewell to Li Xingruo, Yu Qingtan returned to her place, packed a bit, and then went to the sect's Spirit Beast Hall, where she spent a hundred spirit stones to rent a late First Stage Spirit Crane.
"Crane, take me to Tianxiang Immortal City!"
Sitting on the back of the Spirit Crane, Yu Qingtan whispered softly.
"Caw~"
The Spirit Crane let out a call, then spread its wings and soared into the sky.
There was a unique charm to travelling on a Spirit Crane, and Yu Qingtan had her own considerations for doing so.
In a secluded corner of the sect, soon after Yu Qingtan left, a Communication Talisman was activated and sent on its way.
With white clouds leisurely passing by and a gentle breeze on her face,
Yu Qingtan was already thousands of miles away from the sect.
Tianxiang Valley is located within the territory of the Human Race, and generally, there is no need to worry about encountering flying Demonic Beasts, but there could be other troubles.
For instance, up ahead in midair stood a swordsman with his hands behind his back, exuding the formidable pressure of late Foundation Establishment level spiritual power, a cultivator in yellow python robes: Ruan Fan.
Yu Qingtan had the crane halt from afar.
"Little girl, I've been waiting for you for a long time," Ruan Fan said indifferently.
Now, taking a closer look at Yu Qingtan, he saw that her skin was fairer than snow, her figure delicate, and her face refined. She bore a resemblance to Fairy Yuan Qianrou, who ranked sixteenth on the Hundred Flowers List.
Her eyebrows were just longer, her nose a bit lower, and her eyes slightly smaller, but those long lashes made her eyes appear not so small after all, and in fact, quite enchanting.
"No wonder young master Luo took a fancy to this girl. If she were trained into a female slave, it would indeed be quite nice!"
Ruan Fan thought to himself.