Chapter 240: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 241: Cultivators Should Strive for Self-Improv

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Main Cast:

Shen Yao

They had no destination for this trip; however, since strange events mostly occurred in lush mountain forests, they ultimately chose to head east first, then travel north along it, and finally descend from the northwest southward until returning to the capital.

Of course, that was if everything went smoothly on this journey.

Jiangning City

Located on the eastern edge of Jiang Guo, it is a city close to the ocean.

The carriage stopped far off at the city gate; before the people had even alighted, they could smell the faint scent of sea brine drifting in through the air.

Shen Yao was fine; Ren Chengzhou, having undergone tempering, also had some resistance, and the children's bodies were even healthier — the ones who suffered most were the servants accompanying them.

Including the hired martial experts, they still could not adapt to the smell.

By the time they reached the largest inn in Jiangning City to rest, the people had already vomited until the world spun.

"Rest for a few days first; this trip is purely for leisure, so there's no need to be nervous."

They had no mission on the surface, so they weren't afraid of running out of time.

Besides, some matters weren't suitable for too many people to go; everyone staying at the inn to rest matched Shen Yao's expectations.

Ancient transportation was undeveloped, completely different from the modern society of later generations; some inland people's reactions to the coast were much more severe.

Just like now — after instructing the few remaining servants who could still stand, Shen Yao used the excuse of going out for a stroll and smoothly left with Ren Chengzhou and the three children.

As for those who stubbornly wanted to follow, they all couldn't bear it once they reached the doorway and vomited another batch.

Ren Chengzhou: ……

Ren Chengzhou shook his head and sighed at how stubborn these people were. "We're just walking around Jiangning City casually; nothing will happen."

Perhaps because his unearthed martial talent was truly strong, Ren Chengzhou's confidence was greater than before.

He had even spoken to Shen Yao about Jiangning City's strange legends while on the road.

Mermaid

Shen Yao felt that if the mermaid species truly existed, perhaps this world was really shifting toward cultivation — after all, the East Sea in the cultivation world has shark people.

Shark people is the collective term for mermaids; who let shark people also have various factions.

Before coming to the mortal world, Shen Yao had never been to the East Sea; she had always lived in the Northern Territory.

The cultivation world's area is still too vast, and although the East Sea and the Northern Territory are connected, they are separated by various crisis-ridden dense forests and perilous places; unless one's cultivation has reached Golden Core, the risk of perishing is too great.

Temporarily suppressing these thoughts in her heart, Shen Yao smiled as she watched the three little ones pester Ren Chengzhou with questions about mermaids.

Nothing particularly strange — mermaids exist in that stretch of sea outside Jiangning City; mermaids have human bodies and fish tails, outstanding looks, and are skilled at cultivating pearls.

The pearls Jiangning City sends out every year are all large and round varieties.

"Among them, the most outstanding are pink pearls — a single one is worth a fortune, formed from mermaid tears."

After Ren Chengzhou finished speaking, he pointed at a tea house not far away, where storytelling voices could be heard from time to time; it seemed there was a storyteller.

Just right — they could go sit there, rest their feet, and listen to more of Jiangning City's legends and stories.

"Wangxian Tower? What a big claim."

Ren Chengzhou looked at the tea house signboard and felt that, leaving other things aside for now, just Jiangning City's unique fearless aura was enough to astonish.

Far from the Jiang Guo capital, geographically remote — is this Jiangning City's confidence?

"Father, let's go in; Yao'er can't walk anymore."

For the sake of keeping a low profile, Ren Yangyao and the others had changed their forms of address.

Chubby yet power-packed little fists clung tightly to Ren Chengzhou's exquisite outer robe; Ren Yangzuo and Ren Yangjue nodded softly in agreement.

Ren Chengzhou: ……

Ren Chengzhou was helpless; Shen Yao covered her mouth and snickered, but they still entered the tea house and conveniently went up to the third-floor private room to rest.

Wangxian Tower, true to its name, stood five stories tall — not the tallest building in Jiangning City, but ranked among the top for tea and customer favor.

"Do you have a dedicated storyteller here?" Shen Yao casually ordered a table of tea and had the shop assistant call the best storyteller, even if the price wasn't cheap.

Before long, a middle-aged man in gray clothes with two short whiskers came upstairs. "This lowly one greets the honored guests; may I ask what the guests wish to hear?"

Ren Chengzhou unfolded the folding fan in his hand. "What does Wangjiang Tower have? They all say there are mermaids in that sea outside Jiangning City; does the teacher know?"

Shen Yao portioned out some of the pastries that had been served and pushed them toward Ren Yangyao and the others, then took out a handkerchief and wiped her hands. "Not just the mermaid legend — any other strange matters, please tell them all."

A bulging purse was handed to the storyteller; Shen Yao turned her gaze toward the half-open window — even though the room was arranged with many fresh, elegant flowers, the sea brine in the air still couldn't be blocked out.

The storyteller made his living by storytelling; he did this kind of private storytelling work daily.

This family of five before him looked like they were either rich or noble.

His heart pounded nervously — after all, one doesn't encounter such generous noble guests every time; since the noble guests liked strange tales, what was he waiting for? Showing his true skill was the hard truth.

Pocketing the purse in his hand, the storyteller raised his head and smiled faintly, then launched into Jiangning City's mermaid legend.

He was more than a cut above Ren Chengzhou the half-bucket; the storyteller's plot was better, including but not limited to having a male and female lead.

"Wow, that mermaid girl — she left in the end?" Ren Yangzuo tilted his head, not understanding why they would separate when they were living perfectly well.

The storyteller didn't know how to explain — how to speak of the love between man and woman when the questioning young master looked only a few years old.

"Yangzuo, if that mermaid girl didn't leave, what awaited her was a dead end.

Since ancient times there has been the saying that different races cannot tolerate each other; their separation was for the good of both."

After explaining patiently, she patted the bewildered Yangzuo's little head and pushed the pastries forward.

For the entire morning, Shen Yao, Ren Chengzhou, and the others stayed in Wangxian Tower, listening to the storyteller recount all of Jiangning City's strange legends.

"Nine out of ten of these are fake — nothing but rumors spreading rumors."

Shen Yao chatted idly with the system while analyzing the legends they had heard.

【True or false, but Spiritual Qi Revival did give them an opportunity.】

The system knew more than the Host; it only said some were trends, and those appearing in the future would only be more frequent.

「Mother, we'll set sail in two days—can we really find those mermaids? 」

Ren Yangyao shook his little head; he already understood his difference from others and was more willing to believe these things that others found absurd.

「Whether we find them or not, we have to try to know, 」 even if mermaids were fake, the treasures in the sea were real.

Shen Yao felt her wallet was empty, so taking advantage of the situation to replenish it was quite reasonable.

「On the ship we're taking to sea, there are professional Mermaid Catchers, 」 Ren Chengzhou placed his paper fan in his hand, 「perhaps there will be an unexpected harvest. 」

The two did not avoid the three children in their conversation; as the parents caring for them, they naturally knew their own children were different.

If it were someone else, this sea voyage would definitely not bring the children, but if it were Ren Chengzhou and Shen Yao, who else would they bring if not the children? All of them would go see the world.

Seeing the world did not only refer to going to sea, but also the exotic customs within Jiangning City.

Crowds completely different from those inland, all kinds of fish goods on the stalls, and the ships beside the wharf and the surging flow of people.

Jiangning City was like a passionate lady, showing outsiders the charm unique to her.

In the following days, Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou took the three children to wander around Jiangning City.

Walking around everywhere, they also bought some products unique to Jiangning City, such as pearls that were large and round and were tributes.

There were no Pink Pearls; mermaid tears were legendary treasures, and some pearls appearing under false pretenses were all fakes without exception.

「Red Pearl? 」

Shen Yao stood beside a jewelry store, pinching a bright red and translucent pearl in her hand.

Not wanting to rest at the inn, Shen Yao took her maid, who had already recovered, out.

This Cuiyin Tower was a hundred-year-old store, and the jewelry sold inside was gorgeous and beautiful.

Shen Yao naturally came over to look when she had free time, and also add some for herself and her family far away in Jingcheng.

「Madam, these are newly arrived pearls; it is said they are condensed from a mermaid's heart, and only mermaids who truly love each other produce Red Pearls……」

The manager of Cuiyin Tower was a middle-aged woman with lingering charm, every smile and frown exuding depth.

Shen Yao drooped her eyes; several Red Pearls were in her hand, their blood-like luster making them gorgeous and alluring.

「Why would the manager sell them to me? There are many great clans in Jiangning City, 」 she was just a passing traveler.

The manager's surname was Bai, but her coquettish laughter had nothing to do with the character Bai.

「I observe that Madam has a kind face; besides, Red Pearls, though precious, are more common than Pink Pearls.

This time seeing Madam act generously, I therefore want to make a transaction with Madam, 」 nonsense!

Manager Bai spoke beautifully, but actually these Red Pearls were very strange; she had previously thought of selling them to the great clans of Jiangning City to increase Cuiyin Tower's prestige.

Unfortunately, the Red Pearls sold eventually returned to her hands, because those who bought Red Pearls would eventually encounter various accidents.

Choosing Shen Yao was only because the other party was a traveler who would leave in a few days.

Smiling, Manager Bai pushed the wooden box containing the Red Pearls to Shen Yao's front, carefully explaining the benefits of these Red Pearls, including but not limited to beautifying the complexion and making couples more affectionate.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao did not see that Red Pearls full of resentment Qi would have these effects, but wearing them for a long time would bring bad luck and accidents.

Tsk tsk tsk

This Manager Bai was dishonest in her words; she was deliberately framing her!

Shen Yao eventually bought the Red Pearls with a smile; after returning to the inn, she hurriedly drove everyone else away, then stretched out her hand to make a hand seal, forcing out the resentment attached to the Red Pearls.

「Is it still not enough? 」 The resentment was too little, just a mass of black mist without consciousness, unable to communicate.

Shen Yao simply searched her space and found a palm-sized piece of Yin Spirit Wood, transferring these resentments to it, and not forgetting to nurture it in the process.

【Host, what are you doing this for?】 It was of no benefit to them, and instead wasted a piece of Yin Spirit Wood.

You must know that in the Cultivation World, Yin Spirit Wood is a famous yin-attribute treasure, the best choice for nurturing ghosts and other yin things.

Shen Yao did not care, 【Really bored, besides, the changes here are best explained by the natives.

Don't tell me you haven't felt it; the resentment Qi on the Red Pearls is from mermaids.】

Since there really are mermaids in the sea, and Shen Yao has idle Yin Spirit Wood in her hand, why not take it out and use it? Just as a pastime when bored.

System: ……

The system had nothing to say in comparison and could only let the Host figure it out herself; did it need to remind her about her physical condition? Be careful that overusing Spiritual Power prevents returning to the Cultivation World.

【Rest assured,】 everything was proceeding according to her plan; no matter what, she could not fail to return.

Just afraid that the Cultivation World she returns to is not the Northern Border, and they would still have to wander.

The nurtured resentment Qi progressed rapidly in the Yin Spirit Wood; by the time Shen Yao and the others prepared to board the ship and set sail, this mass of resentment Qi that could not yet communicate had already taken human form.

It was a palm-sized mermaid figure, with a beautiful fish tail, a human body from the waist up, pointed ears, and a head of beautiful mist-blue hair.

Of course, the resentment Qi was just a black-and-white incarnation; the color was what this mermaid herself said.

Shen Yao found some free time, and after communicating with the mermaid, discovered that Red Pearls were indeed condensed from a mermaid's heart, but not from true love; rather, they were incarnations of mermaids killed and filled with resentment.

Shen Yao: ……The manager of Cuiyin Tower is committing fraud; it seems she needs to settle accounts properly when she returns.

「Your Mermaid Race seems to be at a disadvantage in the struggle with the Human Race. 」

Shen Yao was not afraid of poking at wounds; anyway, they were all dead, so there were so many taboos.

「Mermaids originally kept to themselves; it is because humans are too treacherous and deceitful that we were deceived. 」

Anger would wear away the resentment Qi on the body, but with the effect of Yin Spirit Wood, it could still be replenished.

Shen Yao did not care about the mermaid's evaluation of humans; anyway, it had nothing to do with her.

「This time going to sea is to catch mermaids; do you think they can succeed? 」

Shen Yao and Ren Chengzhou were just guests on this ship, not in an employment relationship.

In other words, the Mermaid Catchers' clients were the ship's Owner, while Shen Yao and the others were merely paying guests who had come over to see the sights.

"Will be, and will not be."

The mermaid's expression was strange, her words cryptic, but she still explained the conflict between the mermaids and these catchers—they were locked in a feud to the death!

Shen Yao did not find this surprising, because ever since waking up, this mermaid had been speaking of their conflict with the Human Race, mostly recounting their own side's history of suffering and hardship.

Compared to humans, the number of non-human races was still too small, and the tactic of overwhelming numbers was useful at times.

Of course, given overwhelming Martial Force, sheer numbers were nothing more than delivering food—just look at those Demon Path Big Shots and Demon Race Venerables of the Cultivation World taking action.

She guaranteed the mermaid that as long as she was not provoked, she would not take action here; if the other side was blind to the situation, she would certainly not swallow her anger.

Mermaid:...

The mermaid looked surprised, explaining that they sought revenge only on the person who had taken action, and would not indiscriminately kill innocent others.

"We only target those whose sins against the Mermaid Race are grave; the mermaids' Curse will make them wish they were dead."

This was the mermaids' sense of right and wrong as far back as she could remember; otherwise, with so many people going out to sea every day, the mermaids had plenty of means for indiscriminate revenge.