Chapter 315: Chapter 214: Entering the County City, Attending the Funeral (Part 2)

"The fish market’s ledgers are on Brother’s desk, along with some invitations and letters.

The Chai City Song Family, He Family of Yihai Prefecture, these are the connections we have, relationships are quite good, place them on the right side, arranged by recent days, from high to low.

As for those past their due date but still need a response, put them on the left. Also, the fish market has received many strange objects lately, please go through them later, Brother..."

Listening to Bai Ming’s orderly explanation, Bai Qi couldn’t help but marvel at his younger brother’s meticulous nature; in the previous life, he would have made an excellent secretary.

"I understand."

He wiped his mouth and added:

"These days the four elements are in disorder, abnormal phenomena are visible in the sky; as long as one dares to take risks, the chance of catching treasure fish or other spiritual objects is not small.

Remember to instruct Uncle Changshun to closely monitor the workers, try to be fair, don’t ruin our reputation, and also prevent anyone from secretly dipping their hands into the profits.

Catch one, and set an example to warn the others, don’t show leniency."

Bai Ming acknowledged, understanding this was setting the rules, then happily shared with his brother the valuable items collected by the fish market:

"I specifically had Elder Liang, as well as Brother Qi and Brother Lv, appraise them.

A hundred-year-old Vajra Bamboo, approximately seven or eight feet long;

A palm-sized Clear Rain Stone; a somewhat damaged New Year Flower..."

Receiving the list meticulously recorded by his younger brother Bai Ming, Bai Qi read through it word by word, growing more satisfied with each line.

The Vajra Bamboo is a treasure plant, as hard as refined iron, capable of holding one’s thoughts and is great material for creating magical artifacts;

The Clear Rain Stone is a strange object, lucid indigo when sunny, able to gather dew and emit a clear spirit aura when it rains.

Though it seems not very useful, its value is not inferior to the Vajra Bamboo. Noble families like to carve inkstones from this stone;

The New Year Flower is the most special; it is an extremely rare main ingredient for Longevity Treasure Medicine. Each year it produces a grain-sized purple seed and must be nurtured for a full sixty years before it’s considered mature. If picked prematurely, it wilts immediately and loses all efficacy.

Because of its harsh growing conditions, surviving sixty years is extremely difficult, its value cannot be measured by worldly gold and silver.

"Among the unexpected finds, the only one that could be exchanged for the cultivator’s necessary Spiritual Sand is probably this New Year Flower."

Bai Qi automatically ignored the words "damaged condition."

After all, he had Tai Sui Chen Earth, perfectly suited for use.

At that time, open a piece of spirit field, and plant the New Year Flower into it.

As for nurturing it to maturity over a full sixty years for usefulness?

It seems the Tai Sui Chen Earth has the ability to accelerate maturation! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Good saddle for a good horse, is this not perfect!"

Bai Qi put away the list and praised his brother:

"Well done! Tonight, I will personally cook and prepare a good meal to properly reward you!"

Bai Ming chuckled, his small face brimming with satisfaction.

His brother had been busy lately, and it had been a long time since they had eaten together.

"By the way, what is the He Family’s invitation about? Is it for the funeral of He Jingfeng’s two brothers?"

Bai Qi suddenly frowned, recalling that the He Family oddly lost two top-tier Daoist School students.

Calculating the time, it should be about time to set up a mourning hall and conduct the burial.

"Yes, He Jingfeng specifically sent someone to deliver the mourning invitation."

Bai Ming looked expectantly at his brother, full of anticipation.

If it meant going to Yihai Prefecture to attend the He Family’s banquets, he hoped his brother would take him along,

for it would be a place far more prosperous than Black River County.

Even someone like the Young Master Song Qiying from Chai Market, who grew up in luxury, wanted to visit the city and see the world.

Let alone Bai Ming, who hailed from a fisherman background.

He had eavesdropped on lessons while crouching by the academy’s wall before, where the instructor always lavishly praised Yihai Prefecture.

"Do you get seasick?"

Bai Qi pondered briefly and suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

Bai Ming was momentarily confounded, then quickly understood what Bai Qi meant, and responded joyfully:

"Of course not! With your great water skills, Brother, how could I not withstand a boat ride!"

Bai Qi decided immediately:

"Then we shall go together! We leave tomorrow!"

...

...

In Yihai Prefecture, a five-story wooden altar had already been erected in the front yard of the Government Office, with the five-colored soil used in sacrificing to Heaven spread around, arranged in a mound-like shape.

Dozens of large jars filled with Cold Pond Water were placed according to direction, connected like a long dragon.

This was laid out based on the mountain and water landscape surrounding the County City.

When the day comes, Master Xuanji will ascend the altar to conduct the ritual, invoking the grand sacrificial rites, instantly harnessing the mighty power of the earth’s veins and the water’s currents, his Divine Soul in tune with this very world, as if blessed, effortlessly able to control the wind and rain, stir clouds and create waves!

This represents the highest authority granted to the Daoist Official by the Dragon Court, and compared to it, conscription, collecting taxes, minting coins, or training soldiers all seem inconsequential.

"Master Xuanji is truly determined! Such a large-scale mountain searching and sea probing, I wonder how much spiritual power he must expend from his reserves..."

Elder Chongxu gazed into the distance, observing the bustling Government Office, where numerous soldiers bared their chests, carrying soil and fetching water.

Under the supervision of several Daoist children, they perfected the grand sacrificial rites to avoid errors that would ruin the big affair.

"With so many Four Cultivation Grandmasters in place, Hong Jie, the head of the Pai Bang, as well as Bai Chan’s master, Chen Xing, firmly seated as the Martial Arts Leader... Such a setup, is it really just to hunt remnants and apprehend the culprits behind the assaults on Daoist School students?"

Recalling how a few days ago, the ominous Plague Deity Qiu Changtian visited, suggesting the White Sun Sect Leader might be hiding in the County City, Elder Chongxu suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

He paced in place, seemingly uncertain, then abruptly clenched his fist against his palm:

"I cannot follow Master Xuanji into this folly; he’s eager to catch big fish and might draw out a venomous dragon!

Qingfeng, Qingfeng!"

Elder Chongxu called twice, summoning the Daoist child attending by his side:

"Quickly run to Zhi Xin Temple and inform them that my heart has felt compelled to wander. The Golden Seal is left at the temple for Master Xuanji to use as he sees fit."

Little Daoist Qingfeng was stunned:

"Is the Observatory Master leaving?"

Elder Chongxu stroked his beard, exuding the demeanor of a worldly recluse akin to a crane among pines:

"In contemplating the classics, I seem to have gained insight, a grand opportunity awaits your master, there’s no time for delay.

Seeing how the mountain-seeking and sea-probing grand sacrificial rites are well-ordered and clear in outline, Fellow Daoist Xuanji’s profound practice is evident, even without my assistance, he can accomplish it."

Little Daoist Qingfeng responded with an "oh," knowing that a Daoist Official overseeing a city usually wouldn’t easily stir, but given cultivators prize heavenly opportunities, guarding one place for three to five years without encounter, how can there be any fortune?

Therefore, most major Prefecture Cities and Count Cities are co-supervised by two Daoist Officials to address matters like seclusion, breakthrough, or wandering.

"Observatory Master, is this journey far?"

Little Daoist Qingfeng asked.

"Seven or eight days, over a hundred miles."

Chongxu Zi shook his head, for someone who can ride the wind and roam the eight extremes, this can hardly be called a long journey.

However, he reminisced about the disaster ten years ago, estimated the aftermath of divine power giants battling, and changed his tune:

"A dozen days, several thousand miles."

"Alrighty. Is the Observatory Master taking me along?"

"You... shall accompany me as well."

Little Daoist Qingfeng noted it, holding the Duster bestowed by the Observatory Master as proof, and headed straight to Yuanyang Temple.

"Endlessly changing human hearts, causing trouble with ease. Master Xuanji insists on stirring up trouble... getting involved in such a game of power struggles is truly asking for trouble."

Chongxu Zi’s Divine Soul emerged, rising gracefully, overlooking the teeming populace below, sighing:

"Let this disaster from heaven not repeat."

Ten years ago, during the Meridian Sword Sect Leader’s slashing of Daoist Kou Qiuyue at the Nu Yun River, the sword light pierced the sky, celestial array collapsed, causing severe drought over a thousand miles around Yihai Prefecture, turning fields red, with countless displaced commoners leading to the banding of the Red Eyebrow at Fulong Mountain.

"Before the path is lost, there was always talk of the immortal path valuing life. Unfortunately, after a thousand years, the rituals and music have collapsed, and the laws and standards are lost..."

Chongxu Zi made preparations, left the Daoist Official’s Golden Seal controlling the earth’s veins and water’s currents, took the little Daoist Qingfeng to the pier, planning to travel downstream by boat.

"Oh... such a spiritually gifted youngster, such outstanding talent."

The Master of Yuanyang Temple’s brow twitched, seemingly sensing, as his gaze swept past the bustling crowd to the bow of a moored ship.