My Beasts Grind Proficiency For Me-Chapter 83: Jade and Stone Burn Together

The Profound Carp Association’s monthly account reconciliation and profit-sharing meetings were held in a different location each time, with one’s upline providing notice a day in advance.

According to Wang Tong’s knowledge, his upline was also responsible for downlines in Shangyang Marketplace and Hongde Marketplace, so the profit-sharing locations always rotated between these three marketplaces.

This time, he was somewhat in luck; the meeting spot was within the bounds of Huangyuan Marketplace. Yang Jing glanced at the details—it was in an abandoned village two hundred li east of Huangyuan Marketplace.

Although Wang Tong had attended many such meetings without incident, Yang Jing remained vigilant. After all, the elixirs he had sold this month were worth a fortune in Spirit Stones.

He spent a considerable sum through the Celestial Treasure Tower’s channels to purchase two Tier Two Earth Escape Talismans, two Tier Two Wind Escape Talismans, and one Tier Two Golden Light Talisman.

These five Tier Two Talismans had cost him over five thousand Spirit Stones.

Among Independent Cultivators, at most a Qi Cultivation Perfection cultivator might scrape together enough Spirit Stones to buy one as a trump card. Yang Jing, however, had bought five in one go. If not for the Celestial Treasure Pavilion’s purchase limits on Tier Two items, he would have even considered buying a few more.

When activated, the Earth Escape Talisman allowed one to burrow thirty feet underground and travel for ten li. The Tier Two Wind Escape Talisman allowed a Qi Cultivator to fly for eighty li at the speed of a typical Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s escape technique. The last one, the Tier Two Golden Light Talisman, had a very simple effect: upon activation, it could block a single strike from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Yang Jing had already formulated a contingency plan. If anything seemed off, he would immediately activate the Golden Light Talisman to block any potential attack, use an Earth Escape Talisman to tunnel ten li away, and then combine a Wind Escape Talisman with his Cloud Escape technique to flee back to Huangyuan Marketplace.

This combination of three Tier Two Talismans was the optimal escape strategy, discovered by countless players in the Nine Heavens World through trial and error—and their lives. As long as they were used at the right moment, one had an eighty percent chance of escaping from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

At midnight on the day before the profit-sharing meeting, Yang Jing arrived at the designated location.

The Chen Kingdom had been relocating mortals for nearly fifty years. Some of these mortals had put down roots and settled permanently, while others had quietly perished, leaving only ruins behind.

This village was one such place. Only the crumbling walls and dilapidated foundations remained, proof that people had once lived here.

Yang Jing carefully inspected the area, confirming that no Array Formations had been laid in the ruins. He then examined the surrounding soil composition to plan his Earth Escape route, ensuring he wouldn’t get trapped in a subterranean rock layer.

The Earth Escape Talisman could not penetrate solid rock.

After finishing his preparations, he carefully erased his tracks, used his Cloud Escape technique to hide within the clouds above, and began monitoring the surroundings.

It wasn’t until early afternoon the next day that a cultivator, clad in a black robe and a veiled hat, appeared in the abandoned village. He glanced disdainfully at the dusty ground, took out a felt blanket, spread it out, and began to pour himself a drink.

Less than fifteen minutes later, another person in identical attire arrived. The two exchanged a few pleasantries and started drinking together.

Only then did Yang Jing descend silently to the ground, feigning the appearance of someone who had just rushed over.

"Hai Tu, you’re the last to arrive today. You’ll have to drink three penalty cups!"

The two cultivators were already slightly tipsy.

"My apologies, my apologies. Something held me up. I rushed here as fast as I could. Thankfully, I didn’t miss the appointed time."

Yang Jing offered a cupped-fist apology, took out a cup, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one go.

As he sat on the felt blanket, he realized the unremarkable-looking rug was woven from the fur of a Sheep Demon. Even more remarkably, the fur was flawlessly uniform in color and possessed dust and Water Repelling properties.

So much Sheep Demon fur would have been enough for Refining a decent Defensive Spiritual Artifact, yet it had merely been woven into a blanket with no significant practical use.

The extravagance of these Profound Carp Association cultivators was plain to see.

The three of them exchanged a few more pleasantries. Before long, Si Yuan, wearing a Bone Mask, arrived. The moment he appeared, his gaze fell upon Yang Jing.

"Hai Tu, you’re truly capable. This month’s profit share is over five thousand."

Yang Jing’s heart sank. ’Si Yuan is breaking the rules.’ During profit sharing, the Spirit Stones were always placed in a Storage Bag, and the income of one branch was never revealed to another.

’Si Yuan has gotten greedy.’

Yang Jing had assumed that as a high-ranking member of the Profound Carp Association, Si Yuan would have a broader perspective. He never expected that a monthly profit of a mere five thousand Spirit Stones would be enough to make him break the rules and prepare to take it by force. This was despite the fact that Si Yuan was already set to receive a substantial cut from him.

’One really shouldn’t have high expectations for the moral integrity of these Profound Carp Association parasites.’

The other two cultivators were so shocked they spilled their wine.

"How much?!"

"It was just a stroke of luck. An Alchemist under me was fortunate enough to have a breakthrough."

Yang Jing said, his words hiding a sharp edge,

"The more Spirit Stones I earn, doesn’t that mean you, as my upline, Sir Si Yuan, also earn more?"

One of the cultivators, who had been perfectly amicable just a moment ago, immediately tried to stir up trouble.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Hai Tu, you are truly blessed. With an Alchemist like that under your wing, you might even have a shot at reaching the Golden Core realm someday."

He was trying to ruin Yang Jing with excessive praise.

The other cultivator, however, felt that something was wrong. Si Yuan was clearly breaking the rules. If he could treat Hai Tu this way today, he could do the same to them tomorrow. But after a moment’s hesitation, he still didn’t say a word in Yang Jing’s defense.

The two words "Golden Core" seemed to provoke Si Yuan, who let out a strange, mirthless laugh.

He took three Storage Bags from his robes and distributed them to the three men.

Yang Jing used his Bright Qi Talent to discreetly inspect the bag. After confirming there were no hidden traps on it, he accepted it. ’It seems Si Yuan is convinced he has me trapped, so much so that he couldn’t even be bothered to play any tricks.’

"You two can leave first."

As the other two men picked up their Storage Bags to leave, Yang Jing directly took out the Profound Carp Mirror.

"Si Yuan, who do you think you’re fooling with that little plot of yours? You’re as treacherous as a wild beast! Let me tell you something: I am the only one who knows that Alchemist’s identity. It was never recorded on any Jade Scroll. If you want to break the rules, then I’ll drag you down with me today! All your scheming will be for nothing!"

As he spoke, his other hand was already gripping the Tier Two Golden Light Talisman.

"I’m going to use the Profound Carp Mirror to report your rule-breaking behavior to the Association Head right now! We’ll see who you can deceive then. Hai Huo and Hai Shui are both here today and have witnessed everything you’ve done. When the Head investigates, let’s see if they dare risk the Soul-Lighting Lamp to lie for you!"

Yang Jing held the Profound Carp Mirror high in one hand.

"If you plan to kill us all to silence us, then having Hai Huo and Hai Shui die with me will be worth it! I just wonder how you’ll explain it all to the Association Head!"

Si Yuan’s Magical Power began to fluctuate violently; he was clearly enraged.

Hai Huo and Hai Shui were frantic. They had never imagined that the usually agreeable Hai Tu could be so fierce and unyielding. Si Yuan, who had tried to devour him whole, had instead gotten a mouthful of blood for his trouble.

The worst part was, he had dragged the two of them down with him.

Si Yuan took a deep breath, composing himself.

"Hai Tu, you’ve misunderstood. I just have a secret mission from the Profound Carp Association to discuss with you."