Chapter 82: Moving into the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling! The Two Who Lost Their Capital!

Three men make a tiger.

The speed at which rumors spread in this world is, like a plague, incredibly swift.

More and more cultivators are beginning to doubt Xiao Zhangqing's strength, and also to question just how high the safety coefficient of Nanshan Fang currently is, and whether it will become the next Silver Leaf Peak.

Although this line of argument has not yet become mainstream, it inevitably makes people's hearts uneasy, causing considerable chaos in Nanshan Fang.

The most immediate effect is that the prices of various strategic resources—such as magical artifacts, Talisman Scripts, and pills—have begun to rise quietly, while the once-booming Nanshan Fang 'real estate' has started to plummet like an avalanche.

The 'property speculators' of earlier years realized the wind had shifted, and when they tried to act, it was already too late.

At first, a drop of twenty to thirty percent could still be sold, but feeling that such a loss was too great, they tried to negotiate to set the price higher, thus a tug‑of‑war began.

After a few days of tugging, when they looked back, even a twenty‑to‑thirty‑percent discount found no buyers!

Prices changed almost daily; within ten or so days after the rumors spread, the prices of major shops and cave dwellings in Nanshan Fang fell by nearly half! The middle‑ and lower‑tier speculators were in agony, some even went bankrupt, their years of savings wiped out in an instant, and even after selling their cave dwellings they still ended up in debt.

But for the upper‑tier cultivators, the drop in property values is not that serious for them.

Take, for example, cultivators of Yi‑letter Cave Dwellings; even if some hold cave dwellings or shops as assets, these never constitute the bulk of their wealth, so even a steep decline would not cripple them.

What they care about more is the safety of Nanshan Fang, and whether Xiao Zhangqing's strength truly, as rumors claim, can threaten late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

It's not only the Yi‑letter Cave Dwelling cultivators; even within the Cao family, which has now reclaimed its status as the top family, such doubts are not few.

Even the Senior Elder of the Cao family, another Foundation Establishment cultivator besides the family head Cao Hao, expressed extreme skepticism.

"Family head, are you really planning to hand over the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling for Xiao Zhangqing to reside in?"

The Senior Elder of the Cao family has hair and beard all white, yet his spirit is in good shape, with crane‑like hair, a youthful face, and a ruddy complexion.

He is already over two Jiazi in age; for a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a lifespan of 180 years, that places him in the elderly stage.

Although his cultivation has remained at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage for years without advancement, being surpassed by Cao Hao, his seniority in the Cao family is higher than Cao Hao's, and he owes Cao Hao a great debt, so his status is lofty and his voice within the family is no weaker than Cao Hao's.

Cao Hao is also willing to heed some of the other's suggestions.

"Hmm. I would be the same if I lived in the Jia‑2 Cave Dwelling," Cao Hao nodded.

The Senior Elder of the Cao family, upon hearing this, was quite displeased: "What do you mean 'the same'? Only the spiritual vein of the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling barely reaches the Second‑rank Superior level, while the Jia‑2 Cave Dwelling is only Second‑rank Intermediate. If you wish to challenge the late Foundation Establishment, you must reside in the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling! Moreover, the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling was originally yours; it was only seized by Mu Renjie in the past two years. Go tell Xiao Zhangqing to take the Jia‑2 Cave Dwelling."

Cao Hao replied helplessly, "When I met with Xiao Symbol Master yesterday, this matter was already settled; I can't back out now."

The Senior Elder of the Cao family blew his beard, glared, and said angrily, "This Xiao Zhangqing really has a huge appetite, accepting anyone who comes! He's a nine‑layer refined Qi cultivator; a Yi‑level Cave Dwelling is already sufficient for him. Even if you, family head, say to give him the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling, a sensible person would defer and give Jia‑1 to the one who needs it most! Having him live in the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling is nothing but wasteful over‑allocation, using a great resource for a small purpose, isn't it?"

After a pause, still not satisfied, he continued, "Does he really think he can threaten late Foundation Establishment cultivators? Does he truly think others are fools who can't see that this is a lie fabricated by Gong Wansheng? In my view, Mu Renjie must have been killed by Gong Wansheng! At most, Xiao Zhangqing only played a sidekick role! After all, Xiao Zhangqing is a Symbol Master of Lingfu Pavilion, and can be considered half a member of the Luoxia Sect. The Luoxia Sect, seeking to control Nanshan Fang, seized the highest say in Nanshan Fang and forcibly transferred the credit for removing Mu Renjie to Xiao Zhangqing!"

Cao Hao, hearing this, quickly made a shushing gesture and said seriously, "Senior Elder, these words must be spoken with caution! Although Xiao Symbol Master only has nine‑layer refined Qi cultivation, his status as a Second‑rank Symbol Master is already concrete. Moreover, while a nine‑layer refined Qi level can indeed threaten the late Foundation Establishment, that notion is somewhat hard to fathom, yet it cannot be wholly dismissed. The example of Mu Renjie from a few years ago is still vivid in our minds!"

Back then, during the chaotic clash among the five major Foundation Establishment families in Nanshan Fang, the Cao family had two Foundation Establishment lineages; as the undisputed top family at the time, they were confident they could profit and make the clan even stronger again.

The Mu family and Mu Renjie were not even on their radar.

As a result, Mu Renjie gave them a harsh lesson.

Had Cao Hao not secretly reached mid Foundation Establishment cultivation and possessed a Second‑rank formation, the Cao family might have, like the Zhang family and Xu family, faced extermination and vanished from Nanshan Fang's history.

"Mu Renjie used evil spirits to forcibly boost his strength; does that mean Xiao Zhangqing is also plagued by evil spirits?" The Senior Elder of the Cao family, however, was indifferent, replying coldly, "No matter how many times you say it, I still won't believe Xiao Zhangqing could kill Mu Renjie. So, family head, do you truly think Xiao Zhangqing is as unfathomable as Gong Wansheng claims?"

Back then they underestimated Mu Renjie, suffered a huge loss, and nearly saw the Cao family's century‑old foundation destroyed in an instant.

But Mu Renjie's case was a special circumstance, hard to replicate.

Cao Hao shook his head, not answering directly, and said, "Even if Xiao Symbol Master's strength is not as incomprehensibly great as Gong Wansheng says, taking a step back... since the Luoxia Sect wants to elevate him as the primary voice of Nanshan Fang, can we oppose that?"

The Senior Elder of the Cao family fell silent this time.

Even if this is the Luoxia Sect's scheme, so what? Can the Cao family still stand up to the Luoxia Sect? That would truly be like an egg striking a stone.

Cao Hao continued to persuade, "Regardless, the threat of Demon Sect Evil Cultivators is very real. Having Xiao Zhangqing hailed as Nanshan Fang's top master is equivalent to having the Luoxia Sect backing us, which is beneficial for the Cao family! Our family's roots lie in Nanshan Fang and must not be compromised, whereas the Luoxia Sect's roots are not in Nanshan Fang. If one day the Luoxia Sect were to abandon Nanshan Fang, letting Evil Cultivators invade and occupy it, that would be a true catastrophe for the Cao family!"

The Senior Elder of the Cao family stroked his white beard, nodded, and acknowledged the reasoning.

Finally he sighed, "Having a nine‑layer refined Qi youngster standing above our Cao family, above us Foundation Establishment cultivators, always feels quite uncomfortable. So stifling..."

…

There's nothing stifling about it.

Cao Hao not only graciously offered the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling to Xiao Zhangqing, but also appeared in person on Xiao Zhangqing's moving day to present congratulatory gifts.

This signifies the Cao family's recognition of Xiao Zhangqing's strength, and that Mu Renjie's death was primarily Xiao Zhangqing's achievement.

Such a move, in turn, curbed the rampant rumors to some extent.

Now the Cao family, the top family of Nanshan Fang, acknowledges Xiao Zhangqing as the strongest combatant, and Cao Hao, at mid Foundation Establishment, is also willing to relinquish the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling—symbolizing Nanshan Fang's highest honor—for Xiao Zhangqing to reside in.

Isn't that persuasive enough? It means that henceforth, the highest say in Nanshan Fang belongs not to the Cao family, but to Xiao Zhangqing and Lingfu Pavilion.

"The Cao family is pushing me forward, huh? I didn't expect the family head of the Cao family to be a fellow practitioner!"

Xiao Zhangqing gazed at the sprawling Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling, deep in thought.

That night, the great battle at Yi‑letter No. 10 was mainly a spiritual‑awareness attack; Xiao Zhangqing activated several Second‑rank attack Talisman Scripts, causing considerable damage to the courtyard and rendering the formation completely ineffective.

But if repaired, it wouldn't affect habitation.

Since the Cao family intends to give him the Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling, Xiao Zhangqing thought it over and did not refuse.

It's not just any dwelling! The Jia‑1 Cave Dwelling's Second‑rank Superior spiritual vein is unique in Nanshan Fang, offering certain benefits for cultivation and talisman drawing.

As for Cao Hao wanting to set him up as a front, that is impossible.

He has no family backing, alone; if he truly faces danger, the Cao family shouldn't shirk responsibility and let him lead the charge—that makes no sense.

Even the position of Lingfu Pavilion Shopkeeper, he temporarily assumes.

When the Luoxia Sect's appointed new shopkeeper arrives, he will return to being his own Symbol Master honestly.

He only needs to provide Talisman firepower support! …

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The impact of Mu Renjie's death finally began to stabilize.

Stabilizing does not mean everything has calmed; Nanshan Fang's chaos and people's unease persist, only not worsening further.

Just like housing prices, they can't truly become bargain‑price, given away to every cultivator. Nanshan Fang has over ten thousand cultivators; the total of Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding cave dwellings is under five thousand, so a large portion of lower‑tier cultivators will still be cramped in the cramped, low‑Qi Peng Hu Qu.

It's just that compared to its peak, it's now only one‑third left.

At this price it has stabilized and no longer continues to fall.

After all, even if Nanshan Fang can't hold and is later seized by Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, as long as a spirit vein remains, cultivators will still live here.

Therefore the house price can never drop to zero.

But many "property speculators"—a large group of native lower‑middle‑rank cultivators of Nanshan Fang—have seen decades or even centuries of savings reduced to nothing.

Take Hu Youquan, who bought property on leverage when prices were at their peak; now he is seeing red.

He no longer has the former vigor and ambition, nor the bold words about using his assets to become a top‑tier cultivator of Nanshan Fang; instead he lives in constant dread, his heart in his throat, terrified that any visitor might be a creditor.

The Cultivation World, like the Mortal World, also has places that lend at usurious rates, similar to "yin‑zi money".

Ordinary cultivators usually avoid it, but when they get reckless, gamble, or are forced, some will take the risk.

The capital Hu Youquan used to purchase several storefronts and caves was basically borrowed at high interest.

Buzz—!

The cave's formation signaled movement; someone was at the door.

Hu Youquan's body went rigid, fear flashing across his face; he shoved Zhou Yun'e forward and dared not even draw a breath.

"Hu Youquan, get out! I know you're inside—can you hide?"

Outside the cave, it was indeed a creditor at the door.

"Yun'e, you… you go send them away."

Hu Youquan's eyes reddened as he trembled and said.

Since Mu Renjie's death, the minds of Nanshan Fang's people have shifted, rumors spreading; many cultivators say Nanshan Fang will soon become the next Silver Leaf Peak Market and be overrun by Evil Cultivators.

Some cultivators have even risked leaving Nanshan Fang to run away.

Nanshan Fang's house prices kept dropping.

At first Hu Youquan was unwilling to sell at a lower price, but later he couldn't sell even at a discount.

Now the shops and caves he holds are all a dead weight.

If he sells at current market prices, not only will his years of savings vanish, he won't even be able to repay the high‑interest loans! He can only hold on, hoping Nanshan Fang's prices will rebound.

But the creditors he borrowed from clearly won't give him time; each month's interest is a death‑summoning talisman for him.

Thus, in Hu Youquan's mind, Xiao Zhangqing had been his nightmare for years—the person he envied, coveted, and hated, wishing him to die; but now he desperately hopes Xiao Zhangqing will step forward, showing a true post‑Foundation stage, even comparable to a Golden Core Real Person, to quell the current chaos and reassure all cultivators of Nanshan Fang, bringing them back on track.

It sounds absurd, but that is indeed Hu Youquan's genuine thought.

He became Xiao Zhangqing's staunch "supporter".

As for hatred or jealousy, he can no longer afford or feel such thoughts.

Xiao Zhangqing is already a Second-rank Talisman Master, living in a top‑grade cave; what is he, who has the right to be jealous?

"Does it help if I go? They're here looking for you; when I go out, do they even pay attention to me?" Zhou Yun'e remained as cold as ever.

Only, she was once aloof; now she is numb inside, and desperate.

When Hu Youquan was obsessively buying shops and caves, she had warned him, but he never listened.

In this situation, Hu Youquan finally recalls her and is willing to heed her words—what can she do? Boom! The debt‑collecting cultivators outside the cave, having lost patience, forcefully break the formation; several cultivators at Qi Refining Fifth‑Sixth Level, with hostile looks, storm in.

Hu Youquan trembled all over with fear.

"Gentlemen, let's speak calmly; please don't resort to violence! I won't refuse to repay the Spirit Stones I owe you, just grant me a little more time!" Hu Youquan bowed his head, pleading in a low voice.

"Giving you time is fine, but you must first repay the interest!" the debt collector barked coldly.

"I truly have no Spirit Stones now! Even if you kill me, I can't produce any! How about I transfer my shops and caves to you? The Spirit Stones I borrowed were used to buy them. If I hand them over, my capital and the interest I've paid over the years can be forgiven—just to settle our debt. What do you think?"

"Who wants your caves and shops! You borrowed Spirit Stones, you must repay Spirit Stones, understand?" The collector, utterly unfeeling, glanced at Hu Youquan and Zhou Yun'e, saying, "No Spirit Stones—so why wear a robe? Use your artifacts, robes, Talisman Scripts, Pills as compensation! Search me! Take all valuables!"

"No! You can't do this!" Hu Youquan shouted, angry and furious.

Zhou Yun'e could no longer maintain her cold aloofness and tried to resist.

But Zhou Yun'e and Hu Youquan are only at Qi Refining Fourth Level; each of the three debt collectors is of higher cultivation.

When they move to attack, they have no power to resist.

First, Hu Youquan was seized by a hulking man who clamped his throat; he dared not move, and his robe was forcibly stripped.

These men were rather polite; instead of searching Zhou Yun'e directly, they let her voluntarily remove her robe and present her valuables.

"I advise you to cooperate obediently and not try any tricks. Otherwise, don't blame us brothers for abandoning morality and searching you," the collector threatened.

Zhou Yun'e felt utterly humiliated.

She never imagined she would one day fall to this point.

In the Mortal World, she was the top beauty on the Jianghu Beauty List; suitors fell like fish into a river, and she easily captured the most gifted and noble prince's son, Xiao Zhangqing.

In the Cultivation World, although Xiao Zhangqing couldn't give her a good life—she felt cramped, living in Peng Hu Qu—he still tried to give her the best he could, even if it meant he ate meager fare without burdening her.

Life was hard, but Xiao Zhangqing never let anyone bully her or search her.

She spent over a decade in Peng Hu Qu riding donkeys looking for a horse; finally, within her reach, the best option willing to help her was Hu Youquan, but the outcome turned out this way.

Hu Youquan, also in great pain, shouted angrily: "You can't treat me like this, nor her! Do you know who she is? She is the top person of Nanshan Fang today, a friend of Symbol Master Xiao! If this reaches Symbol Master Xiao, not only you but even your boss will be in trouble!"

After speaking, his heart ached even more, as if cut by a knife, and he could not help but nearly weep.

He never imagined that one day he would have to use Xiao Zhangqing's name to threaten enemies.

It's such a disgrace! Unfortunately, the debt collectors weren't having any of it, mocking: "Hu Youquan, you think we're fools? Do you not know what's happening? Symbol Master Xiao will come to your aid? Ha, if Symbol Master Xiao heard this, he'd probably clap with glee! You still have the nerve to say you're friends with Symbol Master Xiao—how could you forget how you both treated him? You're the biggest joke in Nanshan Fang, now daring to use Symbol Master's name to intimidate? Look at what kind of scum you are!"

Hu Youquan was speechless, silently shedding tears.

Zhou Yun'e closed her eyes and, in a bitter shout, said, "Enough! I'll strip for you!"

~ps: Yesterday's update was late; today this chapter is five thousand words. There will be an evening update; trying to add more. Does anyone have monthly tickets? (Chapter end)