Chapter 68: This Is as Far as I Go

A month later, Fang Qingyuan found himself in the eighth tribal encampment, gazing at the howling black sandstorm outside, lost in thought.

The Qianyang Trading Team had traveled this far, only to have their path blocked by a sudden Black Sand Magnetic Storm.

In the Desert of Death, the Black Sand Magnetic Storms raged ceaselessly year-round. Sometimes the winds were weaker, allowing people and their beasts to press forward. But when the winds were strong, they had no choice but to find shelter.

In the face of such a cataclysmic force of nature, even Qi Refining Cultivators were no different from mortals; they could only sigh in dismay. ’To travel by forcing one’s way through the storm... perhaps only a Golden Core Cultivator or someone stronger could manage it.’

Fang Qingyuan had been stopped here for over ten days. In other words, he was trapped.

After observing the day’s wind conditions, Fang Qingyuan returned to his tent. He decided to cook a pot of specialty camel hump meat and try the local delicacy.

’Since I can’t leave, I might as well wait patiently. The sandstorm will die down eventually. Until then, I’ll just do what I need to do.’

Once the pot of camel hump meat was cooked, Yinbao poked its head through the tent entrance. It peeked in cautiously, staring at the pot until it was practically drooling.

For the past few days, Yinbao hadn’t had any fresh Pig Fish to eat, only dried fish. Now, seeing the fragrant stewed meat, it naturally couldn’t resist.

Seeing Yinbao inching closer, Fang Qingyuan quickly shouted:

"Stop squeezing! You’re going to break the tent flap! Get out for now, and I’ll save some for you."

But with such a delicacy right in front of it, Yinbao was no longer afraid of a beating from Fang Qingyuan. For such delicious food, a few smacks were a worthy price to pay.

In the end, Fang Qingyuan looked helplessly at his warped tent flap. To top it off, he had only managed to eat one bowl of the camel hump meat; the rest had gone straight into Yinbao’s stomach.

After it finished eating, the fully satisfied Yinbao ran out and returned to its own spot, leaving Fang Qingyuan behind to scrub the pot and wash the bowl.

After cleaning up, Fang Qingyuan was about to enter his Immortal Mansion to check on things, but he sensed someone approaching the entrance.

"Come in. The flap is already broken."

After Fang Qingyuan spoke, Bao Rensheng walked in. "How strange," he said. "This was fine the last time I was here. What happened?"

Fang Qingyuan’s mouth twitched. He changed the subject, asking,

"Steward Bao, do you have good news for me this time?"

The trading team had been trapped here for many days. Every day, some of its members would venture into the sandstorm to observe the winds, so Fang Qingyuan was hoping for good news.

However, Bao Rensheng shook his head.

"The sandstorm is still impassable. It looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer. I came here this time because I have a wonderful opportunity I’d like to share with you, Fellow Daoist Fang."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat, but he asked calmly,

"What kind of opportunity?"

Bao Rensheng chuckled slyly and said in a mysterious tone,

"Fellow Daoist Fang, have you ever heard of the Black Wind Spirit Fish?"

Fang Qingyuan already had an inkling of what this was about, but he simply shook his head and feigned ignorance. Seeing this, Bao Rensheng harbored no suspicions and explained everything directly.

"This Black Sand Magnetic Storm is astonishingly powerful; an ordinary Cultivator wouldn’t last long inside. But nature is full of wonders. Even in a place as perilous as this, there are living creatures, and they only appear in the most ferocious parts of the storm."

"The Black Wind Spirit Fish is a Tier One Upper Grade Spiritual Object. They soar through the Black Sand Magnetic Storms, and a single one is worth over a thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"In the past few days, the men our trading team sent to observe the storm actually discovered traces of a school of Black Wind Spirit Fish. That’s why I wanted to invite you, Fellow Daoist, to join us in capturing them. We could make a fortune together."

When Bao Rensheng finished speaking, he stared intently at Fang Qingyuan. After a moment of hesitation, Fang Qingyuan reluctantly refused.

"The Spirit Fish are valuable, but this is far too dangerous. This is my first time out on a run, and I just want to earn some Spirit Stones safely. I think I’ll sit this one out."

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s refusal, Bao Rensheng immediately smiled and said,

"No matter. Since Fellow Daoist Fang is unwilling, I’ll just find others. I had assumed that as a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, you’d be enthusiastic about capturing Spirit Beasts. It seems I was being presumptuous."

With their business concluded, Bao Rensheng showed no intention of staying longer. After seeing him off, Fang Qingyuan made a quick repair to his tent flap and then closed his eyes to meditate.

A moment later, he sensed a faint wisp of Divine Sense withdraw. Only then did Fang Qingyuan open his eyes, his expression cold.

’Regardless of whether the story about capturing the Black Wind Spirit Fish is true or false, I have no intention of getting involved. I don’t know Bao Rensheng well. When an opportunity this good is dangled in front of me, I dare not let myself be tempted.’

’My goal has been clear from the start: complete one trade run safely, gain some experience, and earn some Spirit Stones. That’s all.’

’I don’t believe in things that seem too good to be true. When you’re away from home, caution is paramount. The only right way to act is to restrain one’s own greed.’

After running through the conversation again and confirming he hadn’t said anything out of place, Fang Qingyuan closed his eyes once more and began his daily cultivation.

...

The next time Fang Qingyuan saw Bao Rensheng was five days later. Noticing Bao Rensheng’s empty left sleeve, Fang Qingyuan asked with concern,

"Brother Bao, what happened? Is the injury serious? I have some Healing Elixirs here, I don’t know if they might be of any use?"

In response to Fang Qingyuan’s concern, Bao Rensheng waved his right hand in refusal.

"It’s nothing. I’ve already taken an Elixir Pill, and the arm should grow back in under three months. I came to tell you that the Black Sand storm has been weakening lately. We might be able to try pushing forward. If you’re willing, we’ll set out together in three days."

In the Desert of Death, the deeper one ventured, the stronger the Black Sand storms became. Conversely, they grew weaker the further one headed back out.

After hearing Bao Rensheng’s words, Fang Qingyuan hesitated for only a few breaths before declining.

"I won’t be going any deeper. I plan to stop here. Although the goods get more valuable the further in you go, there’s no telling when the storm might strengthen again. I’m going to take advantage of this lull and head back to Black Sand City with another trading team."

Fang Qingyuan was speaking his true thoughts. Having passed through eight tribes, his journey was already more than halfway complete. All that remained were four or five more tribes and the final destination city.

The goods Fang Qingyuan had Yinbao carry had all been sold, and little was left in his storage bag. Only the Immortal Mansion still held a large supply.

’Because I was wary of Bao Rensheng and the others, I didn’t dare sell too much at once. Otherwise, the total count of my goods wouldn’t have added up, and with how shrewd these merchants are, I’m afraid I would have been exposed.’

’I might as well take this chance to switch trading teams and head back. As long as I’m careful, I can start selling the goods from my Immortal Mansion again.’

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s plan, Bao Rensheng sighed.

"Knowing when to quit is a rare kind of wisdom. Since you’ve made up your mind, Fellow Daoist Fang, let us part ways here. Perhaps we will meet again at the Southern Border Heavenly Gate Mountain."

After Bao Rensheng left, Fang Qingyuan watched his retreating figure, his eyes lingering on the man’s empty sleeve. He shook his head and turned to go back inside.

「Three days later.」

The Qianyang Trading Team began to brave the sandstorm again, leaving the oasis and struggling onward. This time, however, there were several familiar faces missing from their ranks, replaced by more than a dozen people dressed in mourning clothes.