Chapter 40

Jade Clarity Sect occupied a vast area, not only within the main peaks of the mountain gate but also extending to the vast mountains outside the gate, which were also under the sect's control.

Disciples of Medicine King Peak often ventured into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs.

A white-clothed man with a bamboo hat and a wicker basket on his back, holding a sickle, walked along a forest path covered in fallen leaves.

Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves above, casting dappled light circles on the path ahead of him.

Suddenly, the footsteps halted.

The man looked up, his expression somewhat surprised as he gazed at the bushes to his left.

There, two legs protruded awkwardly from the foliage.

The man hesitated for a moment, standing still, then cautiously approached.

He pressed a button on the handle of his sickle, and the handle instantly extended.

Using the flat side of the sickle, he flipped the person lying in the bushes over, his gaze immediately turning sharp.

This person was already dead!

Jian Huan had spent seven days recuperating with Medicine Granny, and her injuries were almost fully healed.

Medicine Granny was indeed affordable; the seven days of medication cost her only 680 spirit stones in the end.

Before leaving, Jian Huan, disregarding Medicine Granny's resistance, gave her a big hug: "Granny, I'll come back to see you next time!"

Medicine Granny spat out, "Don't! You two should just live long and prosper. Don't come back to bother this old lady."

Unfortunately, Medicine Granny only had medicines for healing and treating injuries, not the spiritual herbs needed for bathing to assist in ascending levels.

Jian Huan knew that in the Nine Provinces Continent, strength was the ultimate truth. On the day she received the reward, she should have bought some spiritual herbs for bathing to strive for ascension.

But, she couldn't bear to spend the money and kept putting it off.

It wasn't until this time, when she faced the reality of her situation, that Jian Huan dared not delay any further. That same day, after returning from Medicine Granny to Jade Clarity Sect, she immediately went to the Danbao Pavilion on Medicine King Peak to buy several packets of bathing herbs.

Such medicinal herbs were not easy to find in the irregular shops of Approaching Immortal City. What if something went wrong with the bath? She had to return to Jade Clarity Sect to buy them. The spiritual herbs at the Danbao Pavilion were flawless except for being expensive.

A set of bathing herbs for the Foundation Building Stage cost 500 spirit stones and could only be used once. Jian Huan still felt a pang of regret every time she thought about it.

So, even though the water in the wooden barrel had become crystal clear, Jian Huan still refused to get out.

She rested her hands on the edge of the barrel, reading a talisman book.

As noon approached, sunlight streamed in through the open wooden window, illuminating her focused expression.

Recently, the elder who taught talismans to the first-year students had been replaced, as Elder Yu Qing was busy researching the Zhaomo Mirror and had no time.

Jian Huan had already mastered the content taught in the elder's classes, so she decided not to attend and instead stayed home to study the subsequent content while bathing.

Jade Clarity Sect was always tolerant. If a disciple didn't attend a class, they could just mention it to their classmates, and the elder would be informed later.

After all, if these students failed the internal assessment a year later, they would either leave Jade Clarity Sect on their own or pay another year's tuition fee to retake the course.

Shen Jizhi returned from the Forge Hall during the lunch hour and witnessed this scene.

He slowly flew in on his sword, passing by the First-Grade Spiritual Tree, examining it up and down before nodding slightly. Then, he entered the house and glanced at Jian Huan's wooden barrel.

Today, she wore a new dress, made of soft yellow fabric that, immersed in the clear water, resembled the wet feathers of a baby duck.

Shen Jizhi withdrew his gaze, turned back, and rummaged through a bamboo basket in the corner, taking out a hoe. He casually asked, "Are you still bathing?"

The water was already clear beyond clarity.

Jian Huan flipped a page of her book, her thoughts entirely absorbed in the content, and didn't pay much attention to what Shen Jizhi said, merely casually hummed in acknowledgment.

Shen Jizhi didn't say more. He took the hoe and walked outside, heading to the west side of the Earth Fruit Tree to start turning the soil.

It was only then that Jian Huan regained her senses. Curious, she stood up from the wooden barrel, leaned out the window, and looked outside.

She ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‍saw him finish turning the soil, take out a packet of seeds from his bosom, and then plant them one by one.

Jian Huan's eyebrows jumped, and without a word, she flew out of the wooden barrel.

With a turn of her spiritual power, her clothes dried instantly.

She stored the thoroughly cleaned water in her spatial pouch and ran out: "What are you doing?"

Shen Jizhi didn't even look up and said two words: "Planting."

"..." Did she not know he was planting? She had eyes, after all.

Jian Huan was speechless for a moment before asking more specifically: "What kind of seeds are these?"

Shen Jizhi: "Seventh-Grade Purple Jade Grass."

Jian Huan's eyes lit up slightly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her knowledge was mainly related to talismans, and she wasn't very familiar with herbs.

However, this Purple Jade Grass, she did know. It was the spiritual herb Medicine Granny had used to treat her knife wounds.

Most of Medicine Granny's medicines were common herbs from the mortal world, with only Purple Jade Grass being a spiritual herb, which was why they were so inexpensive.

Jian Huan adjusted her skirt, crouched beside him, and watched as he carefully covered the seeds with soil: "How much did you buy them for?"

"Ten spirit stones for a hundred seeds."

Not all seeds would sprout; in fact, few would. He had bought inferior seeds.

Growing spiritual herbs wasn't easy, and Shen Jizhi didn't know how to do it either. However, wasn't there a First-Grade Spiritual Tree nearby? If the First-Grade Spiritual Tree could be revived and grow new sprouts, then the Purple Jade Grass planted nearby should also be able to grow slowly, right?

Jian Huan immediately sensed that an opportunity had arrived, and took out five spirit stones from her spatial pouch: "Half and half, you plant fifty seeds here for me too."

If these fifty seeds grew well, she would buy more and plant them.

"Okay," Shen Jizhi didn't refuse, taking the five spirit stones.

Jian Huan watched him plant the seeds. After he finished, she used the bathwater to water them.

Just as they finished, Jiang Mian came panting, stopping at the slope: "Jian Huan! Why didn't you check the Xuantian Mirror!"

Jian Huan stood up, surprised: "What happened?" She had been reading and had put the Xuantian Mirror in her spatial pouch.

Jiang Mian panted heavily: "Elder Yu Qing told you to hurry to the forest outside the mountain gate. It seems they've found Hu Zhi?"

...

The usually quiet dense forest was crowded with more than a dozen people.

Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi landed and walked over.

Elder Yu Qing stood at the front, hearing the commotion and glancing at the two before sighing: "He's dead."

Jian Huan pursed her lips, her gaze falling on Hu Zhi's corpse.

The person had probably died not long ago, as the body hadn't yet started to smell, and the facial features were still clear.

They arrived late, and Elder Yu Qing waved his hand, signaling them to come closer and briefly explaining the situation: "We've inspected Hu Zhi's body. He wasn't a demon."

Jian Huan didn't speak.

In their previous speculations, they had thought Hu Zhi must have become a demon to be able to control the puppet occupied by the Demon Heart Worm.

There were many ways in the cultivation world to destroy a corpse.

But the mastermind had left the body here without any attempt to hide it, was this a provocation?

But who could it be?

Jian Huan thought about it but couldn't come up with anyone.

The original owner's background was simple: a kind-hearted grandfather and a spoiled, arrogant original owner. But due to her grandfather's kindness, most people didn't hold a grudge against her.

After her grandfather's death, the original owner squandered the family fortune, yet some people still extended a helping hand, giving her a bit of food.

Jian Huan had relied on that food to endure the hardships of the road and eventually made her way to Approaching Immortal City, finding Shen Jizhi.

Moreover, those people were all ordinary mortals and couldn't have done something like this.

As for her, after crossing into this world, the only ones she had offended were Hu Zhi, the Invisible Hand, and the Demon Clan. The first two were already dead, and the last one was currently being hunted down by various sects, hiding everywhere, probably too busy to bother with her.

Were the protagonists, Jing Chi and Jiang Qiaoqiao, involved? But they were currently in a secret realm, battling with future elites from other sects, as she had seen last night on the Xuantian Mirror, with solid alibis.

Or perhaps, was it the person who had knocked her and Shen Jizhi unconscious and taken the Earth Fruit Tree? Had they discovered something was wrong and come looking for them?

Fortunately, Earth Fruit Trees naturally had the ability to hide. Without any spiritual aura, they could burrow into the ground and escape, turning into an ordinary green worm.

In any case, Jian Huan couldn't figure it out, no matter how hard she thought.

Later, she stopped thinking about it. She would face whatever came her way, as overthinking was useless. She should focus on living her current life.

For example, making money.

She was someone who loved making money, loved saving money, and most of all, loved buying land and houses.

Currently, Jian Huan had about 50,000 spirit stones on her. Building a main house was no problem, but it would leave her penniless.

However, she also valued her life. Ultimately, she decided to put the main house on hold and, with a heavy heart, spent 4,000 spirit stones to buy a defensive garment worth 10,000 through Shen Jizhi's connections at the Forge Factory, wearing it close to her body.

In addition, she also purchased various other artifacts, elixirs, and miraculous medicines, keeping them on hand for emergencies.

This eclectic collection cost her a total of ten thousand spirit stones.

As a result, Jian Huan spent the next few days whenever she had free time, no longer sketching the floor plans for her mountain villa, but instead scrolling through the Xuantian Mirror to look for suitable small secret realms.

She wanted to live in her own grand villa and no longer wanted to squeeze into someone else's shabby little hut.

She needed to earn the money to build her house as quickly as possible!

Thanks to her persistence, one day during lunch, Jian Huan, with one hand holding her chopsticks and the other scrolling through the Xuantian Mirror, suddenly brightened up.

[The Most Informed Person in the Nine Provinces: Fellow Daoists! Reliable news! The small secret realm in Lotus Square Town will open in ten days! Daoists at the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages can try their luck!]

[There's a Secret Realm, There's Me: What, the Lotus Square Town Secret Realm? Never heard of it. How is it? Are there many treasures inside? If there are, I might consider it. If not, forget it.]

[The Most Informed Person in the Nine Provinces: It's one of the richer small secret realms! There are both demon beasts and spiritual herbs. If you're lucky, you might even get a few good spiritual artifacts. However, it can't compare to those inheritance secret realms! And it's only suitable for Foundation Establishment and below. Golden Core stage Daoists can go to better secret realms; there's no need to waste time in a small one.]

[A Lone Cultivator Without a Sect: This suits me. Thanks, bro!]

[Dislikes Crowds: It suits me too. Thanks. Just in time, the Nine Provinces Grand Assembly is about to start, and many people will be going to watch the spectacle. Fewer people in the secret realm, perfect timing!]

[Bai Ying Will Win the Nine Provinces Grand Assembly: Hahaha, I won't be going. I'm going to the Nine Provinces Grand Assembly to see Goddess Bai Ying. I'll explore the secret realm after the assembly ends. May all those who go be able to fulfill their wishes.]

A clatter sounded as one of Jian Huan's chopsticks fell to the ground.

Gong Feihong and Jiang Mian looked over. Jiang Mian waved her hand in front of Jian Huan's eyes: "Ah Huan, what's wrong?"

Jian Huan snapped back to reality, her eyes brimming with joy as she briefly explained the situation with the Lotus Square Town Secret Realm: "Mianmian, Gong Shao, do you want to come with me?"

Jiang Mian immediately shook her head and raised her hand: "For the rest of my life, I'll only stay in two places: either the Jade Clarity Sect or Approaching Immortal City."

Going out to gain experience? No way, never. I want to quietly stay in the sect and draw talismans.

That's why I chose to be a talisman master without hesitation. My mother always wanted me to learn swordsmanship.

But a swordsman would definitely need to go out for training. No, no, no.

Gong Feihong also shook his head: "I got a spot as an entourage for the Nine Provinces Grand Assembly. I'm going with the senior brothers, senior sisters, and elders."

"Alright then," Jian Huan suddenly looked at Gong Feihong and leaned in, "How did you get that entourage spot?"

The sect leader had originally used that spot as a reward for her and Shen Jizhi, but they eventually exchanged it for land.

After all, neither she nor Shen Jizhi wanted to participate. This spot couldn't be transferred, otherwise, selling it would have been a good deal. But the sect wasn't stupid; they had prohibited such transfers from the start.

Gong Feihong: "My father played a game of chess with the sect leader, and then my father lost, so he got it."

Jian Huan narrowed her eyes slightly: "How much did your father lose?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask," Gong Feihong shook his head, not too concerned, "My father has money. Who cares?"

Jian Huan: "..."

Gong Feihong thought for a moment and asked: "Are you looking for someone to team up with for the secret realm?"

Jian Huan nodded: "Yes."

Strength in numbers, right? Teaming up with fellow sect members would also be more reassuring.

“Then you can go with Senior Brother Yin and Senior Sister Wen,” Gong Feihong began to make introductions, “They mentioned a few days ago that they wanted to experience training in a secret realm. Isn't this perfect timing?”

The third floor was the location of the inner hall of the Artifact Forging Hall.

After returning from Yujiang City and reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, Shen Jizhi had been promoted to the inner hall without much delay.

Previously, when he was in the outer hall moving heavy objects, his monthly salary was only eight hundred. But in the inner hall, the salary wasn't fixed; it was based on the number and quality of artifacts forged.

Generally, skilled artifact forgers could earn tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, a month. For someone like Shen Jizhi, who had just entered the inner hall and wasn't very skilled yet, he could still earn three to four thousand spirit stones a month.

Shen Jizhi, being the money-driven person he was, arrived first every day and left last. So by the time the month was almost over, he had calculated that he had already earned about six thousand. The entire month would likely bring in over nine thousand.

Breaking ten thousand next month wasn't a problem.

However, beyond that, simply increasing the quantity wouldn't earn him more money. Instead, he would need to advance to the Golden Core and then the Nascent Soul stages, focusing on quality. That was the way to go.

"Dong, dong, dong." Suddenly, there was a knock on the window behind him.

Shen Jizhi turned around and saw a blurry figure outside the window.

Jian Huan was standing on a bamboo pole, calling out: "Shen Jizhi?"

Shen Jizhi got up and walked over to open the window for her.

A senior brother who had been sitting by the window in the morning had found the sunlight too glaring, so he had closed the window.

For cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, their vision was excellent, so no one really minded.

During lunchtime, everyone else had left, and no one had remembered to open the window before leaving.

The room had remained dark.

As soon as the window opened, the midday autumn sun poured in, dispelling the gloom.

The camphor trees in the corner of the Artifact Forging Hall were in full bloom, their leaves still a deep green, as if nothing had changed.

But, something had changed, silently, without notice.

Jian Huan handed in a lunchbox from outside the window.

Shen Jizhi took it and immediately knew that she had had lunch with Gong Feihong today.

Jian Huan began to climb in through the window, but her hand slipped, and her body swayed, nearly falling from the third floor.

Shen Jizhi reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her in with some force, a bit helpless: "Do you have to go through the window every time?"

Jian Huan landed and patted her hands: "I just don't feel like climbing the stairs."

"..." Shen Jizhi shook his head slightly, looking at the lunchbox, and asked, "Six spirit stones?"

Jian Huan shook her head and held up three fingers: "Today's lunch is a bit cheaper for you."

"Say it, what do you want from me?" Shen Jizhi understood her intentions; she wouldn't just give someone a discount without reason.

Jian Huan sat down in his seat, looking up at him with a smile like a cat that had just eaten a fish: "Shen Jizhi, do you want to join me in a big deal?"