Chapter 51: Chapter Fifty-Two: Housing

At this moment, Wei Yuning was sitting at a nearby desk, watching the image-retaining stone on one side and using the Plant Growth Technique to control the growth of bark paper on the other. The bark paper retained its bioactivity; his spell could turn plant fibers into various shapes, and by controlling the growth extent, these shapes displayed different colors. For example, a blue lake, a light-colored waterfall, green grass, and mountains of mixed blue-black and white.

Qing Wu stepped forward and saw clearly that, at the center of the map, nine particularly protruding shapes were exactly the forms of the nine peaks of the Cloud Hidden Sect; what Junior Brother Qing Mo had made was actually a three-dimensional map.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, one can abstain from grains; to save time, Wei Yuning skipped lunch and stayed in the Guest Peak office drafting the map. It was not until mid-afternoon that he finally finished the outer shape and coloring of the important areas of the three-dimensional map; all that remained was refining the details.

Wei Yuning was busy for most of the day, and Qing Wu beside him watched for most of the day as well. At first he thought Wei Yuning was wasting his time, but later he could only feel admiration. Using spells nonstop for over three hours, although it was an innate wood-spiritual-root technique with little spirit power consumption per use, such prolonged use demanded an astonishing level of spiritual sense from a cultivator—even he, with fifteen years of Foundation Establishment, could not manage it.

Although Hong Zhi had said that Qing Mo's talent in cultivation was very high and that he had even captured an invincible demon cultivator of the same realm, if he hadn't seen it himself he could never have imagined such a great gap between them; only a couple of months ago, Wei Yuning was still a mortal who knew nothing.

Just then, Hong Zhi rushed back from outside. Upon entering, he first saw the objects on the table and exclaimed in surprise, 'Huh, is this… the map of Nine Clouds Peak?'

After hearing Wei Yuning's introduction, Hong Zhi asked for more details and could not help clapping his hands in praise: 'Excellent, with this, new disciples going out for training will be much safer. However, this map still has a shortcoming; if it could mark the beast herds frequently active in each place, it would be even better!'

'That's what Uncle-master said.' Wei Yuning said.

Seeing Wei Yuning's calm expression, Hong Zhi suddenly realized, laughing, 'Young man Wei Yuning, no, Nephew Qing Mo, I will certainly not let you work for nothing; I can give you… five hundred sect contribution points, this is the maximum authority I have!'

'Thank you, Uncle-master!' Wei Yuning then became happy. Although Wei Yuning lacked no spiritual energy, he was still greatly lacking in other things—such as various pills, weapons, armor, and ritual robes; many good items cannot be bought with spirit stones alone, sect contribution points are real hard currency.

Taking this opportunity, Wei Yuning again brought up to Hong Zhi the problem that his dwelling was too small.

Hong Zhi laughed and said, 'Many situations you may not know: outsiders are not allowed to directly reside in any peaks of the Cloud Hidden Sect other than Guest Peak, and dao partners are not allowed either. Furthermore, even at Guest Peak, outsiders can mostly only stay in the detached villas halfway up the mountain; of course, the Azure Phoenix Sect is an exception—it is a sect with a fixed cooperative relationship with the main sect, and its disciples can actually reside above the cloud mist of Guest Peak. The three residences of Green Bamboo, Wind Lotus, and Pine Waves in the Northern Area are all dwellings for sect cultivators; although housing has been somewhat tight lately, if I intervene I can certainly find you a nice place. However, these places are not like the free lodgings; they require a monthly management fee of five low-grade spirit stones.'

'Spirit stones are not a problem; as long as there is a suitable house, that's fine!' Wei Yuning said.

Ha, I almost forgot you're a tycoon. By the way, I heard Hong Le from the herb garden say you're preparing to open a plot of garden specially for raising moon cicada worms—I wonder how the preparations are going?