"We can’t just let this go. I’ll go and check into that Ji Xianlong’s background."

Hu Yao snorted.

Previously, he had felt that the ten percent profit came too easily, that it was almost too hot to handle. Now that something had happened, it was only natural for him to step up.

"Go ahead."

Chen Che didn’t stop him.

Knowing the other party’s background was the only way to handle all sorts of trouble with ease.

They talked for a while longer.

He then feigned nonchalance and asked about Zhao Ping, finally learning the outcome of that matter:

After that day, the furious Zhao Ping had been hunting everywhere for the culprit.

But Zhao Ang, wearing his father’s authority like a tiger’s skin, had offended far too many people; the list of suspects was endless. Furthermore, with the matter of the Foundation Establishment Ancient Tomb concluded, most of the Cultivators who had gathered in the area had disappeared.

He wanted to investigate, but he had no clues.

Naturally, the investigation fizzled out.

Because of this, the stall owners who had been bullied were originally worried that the "Righteous Hero" would be caught. Upon hearing the news, they were overjoyed and even held several private drinking parties to celebrate.

After discussing this, Hu Yao suddenly slapped his forehead and said to Chen Che, "Oh, right! Brother Chen, would you be interested in taking up a post as a Tributor in our Jinyun Valley?"

"That’s a great job!"

Ding Fei’s eyes lit up.

Chen Che was a little surprised.

Hu Yao had mentioned to him before that Jinyun Valley had a total of three Tributors: one Pill Master, one Talisman Master, and one Array Master.

Their status was extremely high, second only to the Vice Valley Master.

"Brother Hu, your connections are truly impressive. You have the power to decide on a Tributor position?"

"How could I have that kind of power!"

Hu Yao looked embarrassed and waved his hand. "All I can do is make a recommendation. The Valley Master is the one who really decides. If you could become a Tributor, Brother, the benefits are significant!"

"What kind of benefits?"

Chen Che asked.

"Plenty, of course. First, there’s the status. People like Ji Xianlong would never dare to cause trouble again. On top of that, there’s a large monthly stipend. To be honest, those three Tributors are basically being supported by our Jinyun Valley!"

As Hu Yao said this, his face was full of longing.

The treatment of disciples like him, when compared to the Tributors, was like the difference between heaven and earth. Moreover, in his eyes, Chen Che had enormous potential. If he recommended him into the valley and Chen Che soared in the future, he himself would get credit for the introduction.

It was a situation with all benefits and no drawbacks.

"Well..."

Chen Che fell into thought.

Anyone else would have agreed in a heartbeat, as the terms were simply too good. However, to him, most of these conditions, so attractive in others’ eyes, were more trouble than they were worth.

Besides, once he joined the valley, he would definitely be subject to Jinyun Valley’s control.

He had too many secrets. Exposure was inevitable, and that would be a curse, not a blessing.

Still, he couldn’t just refuse outright. "Brother Hu, at my current level, I’m afraid I’m not capable enough to be a Tributor. Besides, the shop just opened not long ago. It’s not too late to talk about this after things have stabilized for a while."

"That’s true. I was being inconsiderate."

Hu Yao nodded in agreement.

...

「Cave Mansion.」

Chen Che sat on the Lotus Platform, taking large bites of turtle meat.

As the turtle meat entered his mouth, an indescribably pleasant sensation spread from his taste buds.

At the same time, a warm current surged from his stomach and spread rapidly to his limbs. He suddenly felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring in the middle of a snowy landscape. All the Qi and Blood in his body seemed to be activated, and beads of sweat even formed on his forehead.

"The nourishing effect of this is countless times better than those artificially fattened, farm-raised Profound Ink Turtles."

Chen Che couldn’t help but marvel.

In the first few years after the Immortal Sect began promoting universal Cultivation, the demand from Cultivators for Celestial and Earthly Treasures surged.

Coupled with a lack of legislation, many of the wild Spiritual Objects on Earth Element Star were hunted to near extinction by Cultivators. Even many powerful Demon Beasts were wiped out completely. In just a few decades, over 300 types of Spiritual Objects known only from records had gone extinct.

Later, to stop this unsustainable consumption, the Immortal Sect had to enact a law "prohibiting the arbitrary hunting of wild Spiritual Objects" and even designated "conservation areas" for some Demon Beasts. However, seeing an opportunity for profit, many Cultivators began large-scale artificial breeding.

During last year’s winter break, a chain supermarket in the Six Continents was celebrating its grand opening. Chen Che had even lost a shoe in the chaos, just to snatch a piece of spicy Profound Ink Turtle jerky from the hands of hundreds of old men and women who were practically walking on walls.

But that piece of jerky and this Profound Ink Turtle were worlds apart.

"This is a real, authentic Profound Ink Turtle!"

By the time the entire three-jin Profound Ink Turtle was in his stomach, he was drenched in sweat. The blood in his body felt like it was about to boil, and his skin was glowing red, like a searing hot iron.

SPLASH!

Dropping his bowl, Chen Che rushed out of his Cave Mansion and dove headfirst into the pool.

Like a red-hot piece of iron hitting water, a SIZZLE sound erupted, and a large cloud of steam rose from the pool’s surface.

The icy water, instead of cooling him down, only made him feel hotter.

BANG!

Without thinking, he threw a punch.

He directly executed the True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands.

Instantly, as if a giant wave was churning, the pool’s surface exploded, sending a wave several meters high into the air.

A small deer drinking by the pool’s edge was startled and bolted away.

SPLASH!

Before the mist could settle, another series of giant waves exploded one after another.

From a distance, in the hundred-zhang-wide pool, it seemed as if a Flood Dragon was hidden, Overturning River and Sea. The entire pool was churned into monstrous, blood-tinged waves!

This scene continued for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn before it finally subsided.

"Hoo!"

Chen Che, who had been holding his breath for a long time, exhaled a cloud of turbid air, blowing away the lingering mist in front of him.

"Satisfying!"

Slowly relaxing his stance, he felt a pleasant sensation throughout his body. The bones and tendons all over him were vibrating, emitting a CRACKLE-POP sound. Wherever his Qi and Blood flowed, it felt like a boiling river, and his muscles grew firmer.

’I’ve finally reached Small Success!’

The True Martial Seventeen Scattering Hands.

Executing seven moves was considered entry-level, thirteen moves was proficient, and only completing all of them without a mistake was considered Small Success. He had previously been limited by insufficient Qi and Blood and couldn’t advance. At his normal pace, he wouldn’t have reached Small Success until the end of the semester at the earliest.

’This Profound Ink Turtle has saved me at least two months of hard work! I wonder how I’ll do against the fifth stage in the upcoming monthly exam.’

A look of anticipation appeared in Chen Che’s eyes.

...

Ji Xianlong’s background wasn’t hard to investigate. In just two short days, Hu Yao had dug up everything on him.

He had some backing, but not much.

It was actually rather interesting. Ji Xianlong’s rise to fortune was somewhat similar to Chen Che’s. When he had first sublet his shop, he had also partnered with a Jinyun Valley disciple, one who was already at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

However, their partnership model wasn’t nearly as generous as Chen Che’s. He merely offered an annual gift of money to ensure his business was protected.

As for the matter of "paying respects to the boss," Hu Yao also sent someone to probe the disciple’s thoughts on the matter. However, the man had no intention of responding to Ji Xianlong’s act of proactively causing trouble. Apparently, the gift money Ji Xianlong provided wasn’t enough to make him turn against a fellow sect brother.

The Elixir Shop operated peacefully for several days, with a constant stream of customers.

The Cultivators in the Market slowly came to an unspoken understanding: this shop had some backing.

Even Ding Fei’s status rose with the shop’s success. When some ordinary Cultivators saw him, they had to clasp their fists and address him as:

"Master Ding!"

’This must be my great opportunity!’

It wasn’t just outsiders. Even he himself had never dreamed that he, someone who had been on the verge of giving up Cultivation to become a rich man in the mortal world, could have such a fine day. It felt like a fantasy!

’Senior helped me reach for the clouds!

I will see Senior to the summit!’

Ding Fei sat in the shop, casually flicking the beads of an abacus, and couldn’t help but think, ’I wonder what Senior is doing right now. As a Pill Master with a high Cultivation, he must be living it up and enjoying himself!’

Senior was not living it up.

Senior had an exam to take.