Chapter 87 Reward for the Magic Bird to Celebrate the New Year
The next day, Yu Qingtan, in a great mood, arrived at the Tianxiang Pavilion early in the morning.
The morning sun of winter brought a more joyous mood to the people of Suichuan Immortal City.
Upon meeting anyone, Yu Qingtan would smile and celebrate, "Happy New Year!" Chapter Find:
The people also responded with smiling faces.
Until she reached the room of Gongsun Yurong.
"Sister Yurong, Happy New Year!"
However, Gongsun Yurong's face was void of a smile, her gaze inexplicably fixed on Yu Qingtan as she reluctantly responded.
"Qingtan, Happy New Year!"
Yu Qingtan felt puzzled, something seemed amiss.
She had always maintained a perfect Breath-Concealing Technique, so even Golden Core cultivators would not notice that she had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage without carefully probing with their divine sense.
"Sister Yurong, has something happened?" Yu Qingtan simply asked directly.
After the py transaction with Tower Master Gongsun Yurong, they still had a very good relationship.
"Alas, I just received news that the Monkey-faced Eagle tribe among the Demonic Beasts has issued a bounty. If someone kills you, they can obtain a Longevity Fruit that increases lifespan by one jiǎzǐ, and if they capture you alive and deliver you to them, they can obtain a Longevity Fruit that extends life by two jiǎzǐ," Gongsun Yurong said.
"A plant! Do I, a mere Qi Cultivation shrimp, really hold such value in their eyes?"
On hearing this, Yu Qingtan cursed inwardly, and the joy of the Foundation Establishment and the New Year "poofed" away.
But she also knew it was because her "Purification of Soul" piece countered their prized skill.
"Although Longevity Fruits that extend life by less than 150 years are millennium fruits and practically have no effect on Nascent Soul cultivators, for many Golden Core cultivators, it's a fatal temptation, so your current situation is very dangerous."
Gongsun Yurong said, looking at Yu Qingtan as if the character "peril" was written on her forehead.
There was no helping it, the Longevity Fruit was too precious.
Cultivators seek immortality, but how many truly achieve eternal life!
Have you not heard, how many geniuses with exceptional talents have perished to the relentless flow of time.
Have you not seen, how many ordinary cultivators have given up on bravely advancing on the path to immortality.
Are you not aware, how many who cannot bear to succumb have gone to extreme lengths just to cling to life.
A Longevity Fruit represents not just an increase in lifespan but could also be the hope for advancing to a higher realm, walking further on the path of Dao.
But the Longevity Fruit grows under harsh conditions and takes a long time to mature, usually found only in deep forests teeming with Demonic Beasts or in some Secret Realms, causing many covetous cultivators to sigh in despair.
Now that the Monkey-faced Eagle tribe has offered such conditions just for a minor Qi Cultivator, it would indeed drive people insane.
Yu Qingtan also felt a chilling dread, looking pitifully at Gongsun Yurong, she said, "Sister Yurong, save me!"
"Hmm, of course, I won't ignore this. I've already made arrangements. You will be sent to Tianxiang Valley this afternoon.
You needn't worry about Luo Xiang. The incident of him breaking off his engagement with Yan Xi was a huge commotion in Tianxiang Valley. Although the engagement has been dissolved, he was confined by his mother for a year.
Once you get there, you will directly become an Inner Sect Disciple. I've also spoken to Li Xingruo and Wen Jin. They will take care of you."
Hearing that Gongsun Yurong had already made detailed arrangements, Yu Qingtan felt moved.
"Thank you, Sister Yurong!"
"You should go back and pack up now. We shall leave on time at the hour of Wei this afternoon."
"Okay!"
Yu Qingtan went home, quickly packed up, disguised herself as a middle-aged male cultivator, and then left the house.
Upon arriving at Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, she immediately released the fluctuations of Spiritual Power at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Esteemed senior, please come inside. May I know what you need? Today we at Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion have a New Year sale, all items are at a ten percent discount."
The one receiving her was a female shop assistant; Sun Deren was not in the store.
The waitress led Yu Qingtan to a VIP room on the second floor while speaking.
"I'd like to purchase some second-stage spells and a water-based cultivation technique suitable for post-foundation establishment."
Yu Qingtan got straight to the point.
"Of course, Senior. Please wait a moment."
Shortly after, the waitress brought over a jade slip and said, "Senior, this contains our shop's catalog and summary of second-stage spells and water-based cultivation techniques for your review."
Yu Qingtan took it and checked with her divine sense.
The spells were only the common elemental ones, priced at around twelve thousand spirit stones.
More niche second-stage spells like the Invisibility Technique, Breath-Concealing Technique, Purification Spell, and Sword Control Technique weren't available.
However, the Object Controlling Technique was for sale, priced at fifteen thousand spirit stones.
As for cultivation techniques, three were available that could be cultivated until the late stages of Foundation Establishment: Greenwave Technique, Vast Surge Technique, and Cloud Rain Technique, each priced at around thirty thousand spirit stones.
There was also the Endless River Technique, which could be cultivated to the early stages of Golden Core, priced at seventy thousand spirit stones.
Regarding multi-attribute techniques, which are rare and difficult to practice, the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion did not sell them either.
After contemplating, Yu Qingtan decided to purchase the second-stage Water Escape Technique, Water Blade Technique, Water Curtain Technique, Object Controlling Technique, and the Greenwave Technique, spending a total of eighty thousand spirit stones.
Yu Qingtan was left with only two thousand lower-grade spirit stones and fifty medium-grade spirit stones.
As for the superior Endless River Technique, she couldn't afford it without selling her assets.
Fortunately, since all of these were transitional and the Greenwave Technique didn't have any particular features, it was not only a continuation of her Clear Water Technique but would also make it easy to switch to other techniques in the future.
After accepting the second-level VIP jade token given to her by the waitress, Yu Qingtan left the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.
Having purchased a batch of spiritual food ingredients and other items, Yu Qingtan sent a communication talisman to Han Daniu and soon received his reply.
Yu Qingtan went to the agreed tea house.
It wasn't long before Han Daniu arrived alone for the meeting.
"Miss Qing Tan?" Spotting a strange male cultivator seated at the agreed spot, Han Daniu tentatively called out.
"Brother Han, it's me, happy New Year!" Yu Qingtan responded in her own voice.
"Ha, happy New Year! Miss Qing Tan has become quite the celebrity in the Immortal City. It truly isn't suitable for you to show your face publicly."
Han Daniu sat down, looking at Yu Qingtan, who now bore the appearance and attire of a man, and thought back to his own love letters, feeling somewhat embarrassed and nervous.
"I must also congratulate Brother Han on the improvement of your cultivation and your successful appointment as the Hall Master of the Green Wolf Gang's medicine hall."
"It's all thanks to Miss Qing Tan's blessings. I had plans to give you the earnings from the Golden Spear Pill business before the New Year, but I couldn't send a communication talisman, and only after asking around did I learn you were in seclusion. Here it is for you now."
Han Daniu took out a first-stage, medium-grade storage talisman and handed it to Yu Qingtan.
Yu Qingtan accepted it, and inside were fifty medium-grade spirit stones.
"Brother Han, I'm about to head to Tianxiang Valley. I'll need you to take care of the business matters from now on."
Hearing this, Han Daniu was first taken aback then felt a sense of loss. He paused for a moment, then said, "Congratulations to Miss Qing Tan for joining the sect gate, a promising path to the great Dao awaits you!"
"Thank you, Brother Han. You should also work hard on your cultivation. I'll see if I can secure a Foundation Establishment Pill for you later on."
"Ha ha, if Han can establish his foundation, it'll be all thanks to Miss Qing Tan," Han Daniu replied jokingly, not taking it too seriously.
After parting ways, Yu Qingtan sent another communication talisman to You Xiwang, telling him that she was going to Tianxiang Valley and asking him to take care of Jiang Lai.
Then, Yu Qingtan returned home.
She practiced the second-stage Object Controlling Technique while attempting to fly with sword control.
Riding the wind with a sword, dispelling demons between heaven and earth.
It was a dream for many gallant men, and even as a female cultivator, Yu Qingtan also yearned to master sword flying.