Chapter 16

Ling Wuji’s talismans sold extremely well.

Especially the spatial talismans.

Although the space inside a spatial talisman could not compare to that of a storage ring, and the duration for preserving items was inferior to both storage rings and storage pouches—lasting only ten days—for cultivators intending to seek “fortune-making opportunities” in the outer reaches of the Ten Thousand Demon Forest, now called the Demon Beast Forest, after the beast tide, it was entirely sufficient.

The shopkeeper who bought the talismans even solemnly asked where Ling Wuji was staying and what his surname and name were, hoping to continue reserving spatial talismans from him.

The shopkeeper said, “To be honest, with the beast tide about to arrive, these spatial talismans of yours won’t just be needed before the beast tide. They’ll be needed afterward as well. The more the better. Just draw as many as you can, honored guest.”

He even wanted to pay extra to pre-order a fixed quantity from Ling Wuji, but Ling Wuji refused.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to earn spirit stones. It was simply that, compared to earning spirit stones, cultivating and raising his strength was far more important for both him and Chunchou right now.

Moreover, when he drew spatial talismans, he couldn’t succeed without Chunchou by his side. And Ling Wuji did not want Chunchou to adjust his cultivation schedule just so he could draw talismans. He would rather adjust his own talisman-drawing time to accommodate Chunchou—that was what made him feel at ease.

Although Ling Wuji declined the fixed-quantity proposal, he still promised that as long as the price was fair, he would continue supplying spatial talismans to this shop both before and after the beast tide—and only to this shop. In return, he asked the shopkeeper to keep an eye out for aggressive spiritual plants or their seeds.

The shopkeeper readily agreed.

Ling Wuji then bought some cinnabar and talisman paper before taking his leave.

After stepping outside, he did not immediately return to the inn. Instead, he strolled around the area, purchased some appetizing-looking food, and only then headed back.

Chunchou was naturally delighted by the delicacies Ling Wuji brought back.

As for indulgence in food—he hadn’t been able to quit it in his previous life, and he probably wouldn’t be able to quit it in this one either.

Ling Wuji glanced at the ten additional flowerpots placed by the window. The spiritual seeds inside had already sprouted.

His Chunchou was indeed becoming more and more formidable.

The next day, Ling Wuji stayed at the inn to watch over the spiritual plants, while Chunchou went out to Xu Liang’s home to “treat” the pitiful spiritual plants there.

The spiritual plants weren’t of particularly high rank, but there were many of them, and they had all been dug up from the Ten Thousand Demon Forest. If restored properly, they could fetch a good price.

Chunchou spent half a day there and managed to revived all the wilted plants.

The other two people present at Xu Liang’s house immediately made appointments with Chunchou, asking him to come to their homes as well to revitalize their spiritual plants.

Chunchou accepted the 120 low-grade spirit stones Xu Liang paid him and agreed with a cheerful smile.

After doing the math, he realized that from Xu Liang alone, he had earned 720 low-grade spirit stones in total. Although he had spent some spirit stones on the Marrow-Cleansing Grass and Jade Beauty Flowers, he had obtained two Profound-grade Marrow-Cleansing Grass seedlings—so he decided not to deduct those minor expenses.

Meanwhile, Ling Wuji’s outing the previous day had brought back 360 low-grade spirit stones.

Over the next several days, both of them would continue earning spirit stones, so Chunchou decided it was time to look into renting a courtyard.

Instead of seeking out someone else, he went directly to the younger brother of Steward Bai from the Canglan City Lord’s Manor, who worked as a broker.

Having already inquired about general rental prices at the inn, and knowing he would soon work at the City Lord’s Manor, Chunchou wasn’t worried about being cheated.

The younger brother was named Bai Fangyuan. His name was distinctive, and he himself was all smiles, grinning at everyone he met.

When he heard that Chunchou wanted a somewhat larger courtyard—preferably with both a front and back yard—he looked surprised.

“Such courtyards don’t come cheap,” Bai Fangyuan said, then pondered briefly. “But with Brother Chunchou’s skills as a spiritual plant cultivator, the rent probably isn’t much of a burden.”

After all, he knew his elder brother had already reserved Chunchou to work at the City Lord’s Manor after the beast tide. The Manor was known for its generosity—even temporary workers earned a decent monthly income.

And since this spiritual plant cultivator wanted a larger yard, it was clear he planned to grow plants himself. That meant additional income.

This young man clearly wouldn’t be short of money in the future.

After some thought, Bai Fangyuan recommended a residence in Qing’an Ward.

It was somewhat remote but consisted of a three-story building with both a front and a back yard.

The front yard was smaller—about forty square meters. The back yard was larger—around sixty square meters.

Each floor of the small building had three rooms.

“The rooftop can also hold potted spiritual plants,” Bai Fangyuan added with a smile.

Chunchou: “…” He had indeed been thinking the same.

He toured the place twice and even went up to the roof. It was indeed quite suitable.

“And the price?” he asked.

Since you’ll be working at the City Lord’s Manor, one hundred low-grade spirit stones per month will suffice,” Bai Fangyuan replied.

“Paid every six months?” Chunchou asked.

“Originally, paying every three months would have been fine,” Bai Fangyuan said helplessly. “But with the beast tide coming, the landlord insists on half a year paid in advance.”

After a quick calculation, Chunchou found the place suitable for both him and Ling Wuji.

A total of one hundred square meters of yard space, plus usable rooftop area—more than enough for a spiritual plant cultivator.

With three floors, he and Ling Wuji could each have their own cultivation space without disturbing one another.

“We’ll take it,” Chunchou said. “Please draft the rental contract.”

They moved in that very night. After all, the twelve pots of spiritual plants Chunchou had would certainly fare better in a yard with sunlight and moonlight than in a cramped inn room.

He waited for Liu Ting’er and Qiao Linglong, but since they hadn’t returned, he left their new address with the inn’s attendant.

Chunchou considered taking out the donkey cart but thought better of it—the two Marrow-Cleansing Grass seedlings couldn’t be exposed. Ling Wuji stored them in his storage ring instead. The two of them walked back, stopping at the market to buy daily necessities, a large number of flowerpots, various soils, and other supplies before settling in and arranging everything.

Afterward, they took turns going out each day.

Every other day, Chunchou would go out in the morning to nurture spiritual plants for Xu Liang’s friends and friends-of-friends, earning 120 spirit stones each time. At noon, he would buy prepared food and store it in spatial talismans, later transferring it to Ling Wuji’s storage ring so they could focus on cultivation without being distracted by daily chores. In the afternoon, he would browse the market for overlooked spiritual plant seedlings or seeds. If none caught his eye, he would pick up some hardy demon or spirit beasts to raise as reserve provisions.

For Chunchou, stockpiling food was the top priority—purely a “secret” born from experience.

On Ling Wuji’s outing days, he would sell talismans, purchase more talisman paper and cinnabar, search for aggressive spiritual plant seeds, and browse for interesting items. If he found suitable seeds that Chunchou could use as weapons, all the better.

After seven or eight days, their home was fully arranged.

Along the eastern wall of the front yard stood multi-tiered plant racks placed flush against the wall—something Chunchou had commissioned back in the mortal world and even made a small profit from in Hongye Town. Each tier could hold several pots.

Three paces away, they planted five different spiritual fruit saplings in a neat row.

In the middle of the yard was a well. Though the water contained only faint spiritual energy, it was still precious.

On the western side of the front yard, at Chunchou’s strong insistence, they built a chicken coop and a pigsty. The coop housed over a dozen spirit chickens; the pigsty, three young spirit pigs.

Ling Wuji: “…” He would have preferred to simply buy ready-made ingredients.

But Chunchou, drawing on his extensive “quarantine” experience from his previous life, was determined to raise reserve food no matter what.

The larger back yard was transformed into a miniature spiritual herb garden. Two-thirds were planted with moderately valuable spiritual herbs; one-third with spiritual vegetables and spiritual rice.

On the rooftop, Chunchou placed only three pots: two with the Marrow-Cleansing Grass seedlings, and one with a vine-type seed Ling Wuji had found by chance—something Chunchou planned to cultivate as a potential future weapon.

As for the remaining rooftop space, Chunchou reasoned that even during isolation, they would surely want to stand high up, breathe fresh air, and enjoy distant views. So he placed two reclining chairs and a table there.

More than enough for stargazing and moon-watching.

On one early morning, as Chunchou was preparing to go out as usual, a deep and heavy bell tolled.

Three chimes rang out.

Then a steady female voice echoed through the air:

“Demon beasts are attacking! All residents of Canglan City must return home within two ke! Close doors and windows! Activate your household formations! Until the demon beasts retreat and the bell rings nine times under my order, no one is permitted to leave their homes! Violators will bear the consequences!”

The moment Chunchou heard the bell, he shut the door and ran to the spot where their defensive formation was activated, placing spirit stones into it.

Before the City Lord’s announcement finished, he had already activated the formation.

Three days earlier than expected.

Throughout Canglan City, countless citizens rushed home by every means possible.

They knew that when the City Lord said “two ke,” she meant exactly two ke(two quarter of hour).

Only by returning home within that time could they survive the demon beast assault.

After one ke, everyone in Canglan City could hear the demon beasts slamming against the city gates, their countless roars and the thunderous pounding of their feet shaking the ground.

Some cultivators who had not yet made it home could already smell blood in the air.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

The gates of Canglan City were smashed open.

With the city gates broken, countless demon beasts of varying ranks and species surged into Canglan City all at once.

Chunchou had only activated the defensive formation of their home; he had not turned on the sound- and aura-isolating array. Standing in the front yard together with the grim-faced Ling Wuji, who had hurried over, he listened to the commotion outside.

Roars rose without end.

The pounding of trampling hooves never ceased.

Some demon beasts were even eating as they ran—devouring the beasts ahead of them.

Every single beast was running, running without pause.

They could no longer stop. The moment one slowed, it would be mercilessly trampled into the ground by those behind it, leaving only blood and a final shriek.

Chunchou felt as though the entire earth was shaking.

The beast tide was terrifying beyond measure.

Death was unfolding not far from them.

He couldn’t help but glance at Ling Wuji.

Ling Wuji pushed his wheelchair forward and took hold of his hand.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Only then did Chunchou relax slightly.

In a small courtyard at the westernmost edge of Qing’an Ward—

Qiao Linglong listened to the chaos outside, her hands trembling faintly.

Liu Ting’er noticed but said nothing. She simply handed her a cup of hot tea.

Qiao Linglong took it, warming her hands with the cup. When Liu Ting’er shut down the sound-isolating array of the residence—blocking out the outside noise—she gradually calmed down.

Once she had settled, Qiao Linglong suddenly remembered something.

“Right, Ting’er—I meant to ask you yesterday. When we registered our identity documents, why did we put our hometown as Wunie City? Is there something special about that place?”

Liu Ting’er paused, then explained that Wunie City was a place where those abandoned by sects were sent. Once you entered, you could not leave. Only those who had entered as minors—or children born there—were allowed to leave after growing up.

Of course, Liu Ting’er herself looked like a child, nothing like someone who had come from Wunie City. But she had still said so, and even adjusted her age upward by a few years. After slipping the clerk ten low-grade spirit stones, the matter had been tacitly approved.

Qiao Linglong’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Ting’er is so clever—so knowledgeable! To think of such a place! That’s amazing!” Then she muttered softly, “But that place sounds terrifying. We must avoid it in the future.”

Liu Ting’er lowered her eyes slightly and said nothing.

In truth, she rather wanted to go to Wunie City.

There was a treasure there.

That treasure was in the possession of a girl named Xie Xiao Wu. Her original name was Xie Youyou.

Xie Youyou could not protect that treasure anyway. Later, she would give it to the very enemy who destroyed their entire town.

If so, it would be better to give it to her instead.

And she could tell Xie Youyou that her elder brother had come to the cultivation world in search of her.

Wouldn’t that make it a win-win situation?

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