Chapter 77: Another Year

Fang Qingyuan’s expression was a little grave as he left the Scripture Pavilion. He had just examined many jade slips, and after putting everything together, he now had a much clearer understanding of the opening war from all those years ago.

Two hundred and seventy years ago, the Great Zhou Academy joined forces with Beast Taming Mountain, Black Wind Valley, Qi Yun, and Kurong Temple to launch another opening war.

Each of the five powers contributed one Divinity Transformation Cultivator. Beast Taming Mountain also brought a Divinity Transformation Companion Beast, making a total of six Divinity Transformation-level beings who attacked the local Divinity Transformation Wilderness Ancient Beast.

After the opening war, the Wei Family was enfeoffed with Celestial Gate Mountain for their merits. Chu Hongshang, a Nascent Soul Cultivator from Qi Yun, was also granted her own fief for her great contributions, establishing the Nanchu Sect.

The Nanchu Sect and Celestial Gate Mountain are separated by the Black River, making them neighbors. The Nanchu Sect originated from the great sect of Qi Yun, so its traditions are strict and its foundations deep. As a result, it doesn’t quite get along with the other sects around the Southern Border.

It was only recently, when Lechuan appointed a new headmaster, that the Nanchu Sect sent a Golden Core cultivator to offer congratulations. In the past, for the Wei Family’s ancestor’s birthday banquet, the Nanchu Sect had only sent a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Now, two hundred and seventy years have passed. Who would have thought that the Nascent Soul Ancient Beast from back then was hidden right beneath Qingfeng Mountain? Although it was dead, a wisp of its lingering soul and obsession remained. For the sake of its unborn child, it had painstakingly held on for two hundred and seventy years.

’As for the body of this Nascent Soul Ancient Beast... I’m still not sure what to do with it.’

The giant beast had said its body was a gift to him, but Fang Qingyuan wasn’t certain its remnant soul had been completely extinguished. He didn’t dare go down there again.

Besides, he currently lacked the ability to excavate a ten-zhang-long giant beast’s corpse. Even if he dug it up, he wouldn’t be able to protect it. Therefore, Fang Qingyuan could only set the matter aside for now and deal with it later.

’In any case, the giant beast was of the metal attribute. Its body hadn’t decomposed in two hundred and seventy years, so waiting another two hundred and seventy shouldn’t be a problem.’

But after this incident, a few questions still lingered in Fang Qingyuan’s mind, unanswered.

’First, according to the records, the Qingfeng Tea Garden on Qingfeng Mountain has been established for a hundred years without any anomalies. Why did two infants with Metal Spirit Roots suddenly appear this year? What method did that Nascent Soul Giant Beast use, and what was its true purpose?’

’Was it to attract the attention of outside cultivators, or did it leave some kind of contingency plan with those two children?’

’Second, I searched through all the records for the former overlord of this region—that Bear Ancient Beast with Divinity Transformation Cultivation—but found no information confirming its death. Could it have been captured?’

’Otherwise, the news of a Divinity Transformation Ancient Beast’s death would have been the most shocking event of that era. It’s impossible that all the records would be vague and fail to mention it.’

These various thoughts churned in Fang Qingyuan’s mind, making him annoyed and impatient. He decided to stop thinking about them for now. ’These matters aren’t something a mere Fifth-Layer Qi Refining junior cultivator like me can influence anyway. I should focus on what’s right in front of me.’

With that, Fang Qingyuan steered his Flying Manta Ray and returned to his small courtyard.

....

「Three days later.」

In a shop on the innermost street of Black River Square, Fang Qingyuan was speaking with a cultivator from the Vast Collection Pavilion:

"Thank you for your flexibility, Steward. From now on, I’ll pay the monthly Spirit Stones on time."

The Vast Collection Pavilion cultivator looked around Fang Qingyuan’s small shop and said with a chuckle:

"It’s no trouble. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, Fellow Daoist Fang, I trust your credibility. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back. You can find me in the marketplace if you need anything."

After he finished speaking, the Vast Collection Pavilion cultivator leisurely departed, leaving Fang Qingyuan alone in the small shop of less than twenty square meters.

Fang Qingyuan surveyed his surroundings for a moment, a smile appearing on his face, and then began to tidy up.

’That cultivator from Vast Collection Pavilion really gave me a lot of leeway. Other shops have to pay rent every six months, but I only have to pay month-to-month.’

’And the monthly rent is only fifty low-grade Spirit Stones. Compared to the one hundred and fifty at the Celestial Gate Mountain Marketplace, it’s a full two-thirds cheaper.’

After several days of careful consideration, Fang Qingyuan had decided to rent a shop in Black River Square. He had originally wanted to check out other marketplaces and compare a few more options.

However, tunneling underground at Qingfeng Mountain a few days ago had cost him over two thousand Spirit Stones, leaving him short on funds. Because of this, Fang Qingyuan didn’t want to delay any longer. The smart thing to do was to rent a shop quickly, sell off the goods stored in his Immortal Mansion, and convert them into Spirit Stones.

After a simple tidying up, Fang Qingyuan didn’t bother with any grand opening ceremony. He just made a sign that read "A Certain Small Shop" and hung it by the door, and with that, he was open for business.

Instead, the neighboring shopkeepers, upon seeing that Fang Qingyuan was a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, came over to congratulate him, each bringing gifts worth no more than a few Spirit Stones. Fang Qingyuan accepted them with a smile and returned the favor to each one.

After half a day of this bustle, Fang Qingyuan finally got his first customer. However, the person just looked around, gave a disdainful look, and left.

This made Fang Qingyuan’s expression turn a little sour, but in the next moment, he regained his composure.

’Since I chose to open a shop in Black River Square, I should be prepared for a rough start. The chances of a new shop becoming an instant success are incredibly small.’

’Without several years, or even a decade, of building a reputation, it’s unrealistic to think I can compete with the surrounding shops.’

When the day ended, Fang Qingyuan hadn’t earned a single Spirit Stone. He said nothing about it, simply sealed up his shop, and went to the docks to call out:

"Heading to Celestial Gate Mountain Marketplace! Flying Manta Ray, stable and safe! One Spirit Stone, we leave when we’re full."

.....

And so the days passed slowly. Fang Qingyuan bustled back and forth between Black River Square and Celestial Gate Mountain every day, running his shop while also earning money as a ferryman.

During this time, Fang Qingyuan had Zhang Yuan watch the shop for half a month while he took the opportunity to complete a sect mission, thus fulfilling his duty for the year.

This sect mission didn’t make any money; in fact, he lost a few dozen Spirit Stones. However, this year’s mission was quick and hassle-free, designed specifically for those Inner Sect Disciples who weren’t short on cash.

To save time, Fang Qingyuan decided to indulge in a little luxury himself.

Autumn gave way to winter, and with the howling of the cold wind, the end of the year arrived in the blink of an eye. This year, Fang Qingyuan turned thirty-one.

In his own small courtyard, Fang Qingyuan sat on a stool while a chubby little bear stood upright behind him, pounding on his back.

The little bear was black and white, and when it stood, it was already half a person’s height. Its two small paws tapped rhythmically up and down Fang Qingyuan’s back.

Fang Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed in comfort, and he would say from time to time:

"A little to the left... Yes, right there, harder. Very good, you’re doing great."

Receiving Fang Qingyuan’s praise, the little bear cub worked even harder. But this scene of him exploiting his own Spirit Beast was too much for Jiang Kui, who was standing nearby. She said to Fang Qingyuan:

"Have you no shame? It’s only half a year old, and you’re already making it work like this."

Fang Qingyuan chuckled, then looked at Zhang Yuan beside him and said:

"Junior Brother, do you think my actions are excessive?"

Zhang Yuan, with a wine cup in his left hand and chopsticks in his right, was busy picking meat out of the pot. Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s question, he first glanced at Jiang Kui, then said evasively:

"The wine brewed this year isn’t sour anymore. Senior Brother should have a few more sips later."

Fang Qingyuan laughed heartily. He picked up the wine cup from the table, took a sip, then pulled the little bear from behind him and said to it:

"After today, you’ll be a big boy too. Want to try something new? This stuff has a lot more kick than Golden Jade Flower Nectar."

Seeing Fang Qingyuan about to give the little bear alcohol, a look of exasperation flashed across Jiang Kui’s cool face. She stepped forward, pulled the little bear into her arms, and said while rubbing its ears:

"I heard some news. Next year, the sect is going to select people to go to White Mountain and reinforce the Wei Family. You two should start making plans."

As soon as she said this, the courtyard fell silent. Only the steam rising from the copper pot on the table continued to drift and dissipate.