[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky":3,"chapter-i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-chapter-314":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I Must Immediately Strike It Lucky",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2294086,4487,"Chapter 314: A Place to Settle","i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-chapter-314",314,"\u003Cp>\"Sir, would you like to use our storage service?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cultivator with six-digit lifespan smiled politely, guiding Feng Xue into the brokerage like an ordinary merchant; Feng Xue obediently placed his bundle on the cart pushed forward by the clerk and said courteously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve just arrived in your area and am seeking a place to stay—preferably one with minimal trouble. Price is no issue; I’d prefer to buy outright if possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the broker cultivator paused to think before asking: \"Sir, have you come to the port city to cultivate, to seek opportunity, or to inherit something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no particular goal—just a temporary stop on my journey of study,\" Feng Xue replied ambiguously, leaving the broker cultivator frustrated. Judging by the aura of vow-energy on the man’s person, he was clearly from the witch-shaman lineage, with at least three phantom deities accompanying him. Such a person traveling for study usually seeks to nourish the spirit or spread doctrine—but here, in this den of thieves and rogues, he claims to want minimal trouble...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re the biggest troublemaker here,\" the broker cultivator thought inwardly, yet maintained his professional demeanor:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most houses in the port city are already owned. The better neighborhoods are the most chaotic. If you’re only staying temporarily, that’s fine—but if you intend to cultivate, you’ll invite plenty of trouble.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xue sensed the broker’s hidden meaning. He first pulled out his wallet, withdrew a stack of banknotes, and placed them on the table before asking: \"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The broker counted the bills, then replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you truly seek convenience for cultivation, I’d recommend you settle in Jilongzhai. The surroundings are poor, but places with no profit attract fewer troubles. As for thugs and hoodlums—you probably wouldn’t care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xue was surprised to be directed to a slum, yet the broker’s logic held weight. Seeing the man’s winking, knowing expression, he realized the place must have other unspoken advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Feng Xue truly didn’t care about such matters, so he said bluntly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget the rest—what’s the living environment like?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, places like this can be renovated quickly. If you need it, we can have water and electricity running tonight, and it’ll be spotless—no worries about sewage or drainage. We’ll equip it to Western standards. It’s just that, with the New Year approaching, construction is a bit...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the broker rub his hands eagerly, Feng Xue reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of sheep-fat white jade. The broker, having cultivated for decades, had seen many things—but such flawless white jade, he had never encountered before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet sometimes, too much perfection seemed suspicious. The broker frowned, studying it for a long while, but ultimately confirmed: aside from the lack of vow-energy—suggesting it was newly mined—it showed not a single flaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard there’s a master in Lucheng who excels at nurturing jade. Could this man have ties to him?\" The broker’s mind stirred, yet he made no attempt to haggle. Cultivators are pragmatic: if an item has the appearance and function of the real thing, it deserves the real price. As long as it carries no bloodshed or evil karma, its origin doesn’t matter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having estimated its value, the broker now had his footing and replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, you’re generous. Let me first take you to see the place. If you find it suitable, we can discuss the next steps—how does that sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re sure this place is habitable?\" Within half a minute, Feng Xue and the broker arrived at Jilongzhai. Feng Xue narrowed his eyes. It was New Year’s Eve; the streets showed signs of cleaning—but that was the limit. Far from clean or tidy, the air carried an unpleasant odor, prompting Feng Xue to cast a Purifying Dust Spell upon himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The broker cultivator sensed the shift in the surrounding aura and glanced at Feng Xue anew. To apply the Purifying Dust Spell to the air itself, precisely distinguishing between \"nourishing qi\" and \"faint qi\"—this required more than mere control; it demanded considerable scholarly knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he’d suspected Feng Xue wasn’t some hermit who’d just emerged from a mountain cave after decades of seclusion, seeing this move confirmed he was likely an heir of a major sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Liangshan or Meishan? No—his accent sounds more northern. Could he be from some imperial service lineage...? But isn’t the court most wary of witchcraft and curses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The broker muttered inwardly, yet spoke with professional decorum:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The environment is rough, but it’s quiet. Jilongzhai has no profit to offer—neither local gangs nor foreigners care about it. Even ordinary temples can’t draw much incense here. Beyond the village gate to the east lies Chenghuangmiao; the street before it sells everything under the sun, very convenient. If you have cultivation needs, you can also ask at the 'Merit Pool.' As for the house...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, the broker led Feng Xue deeper into the compound, winding through alleys until they reached a narrow lane—whose end held a large house covering roughly a hundred square meters—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, compared to the surrounding hovels, each barely ten square meters and crammed together, it was indeed large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The land around here belongs to our brokerage. We’ve had the feng shui checked thoroughly. I can’t claim it has a great layout, but there’s zero risk. If you’re satisfied, we can tear down the few houses at the lane’s end to build you a courtyard. I have several blueprints—Chinese and Western styles, all custom-designed. Pick any. I’ll handle the work myself—you’ll be settled by You Hour at the latest!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, you can finish a project this big in eight hours? Are you the legendary Earth-and-Wood Tian Shi?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Xue stared at the blueprints the broker produced, stunned. He’d assumed they’d just repaint or refurbish—but looking at these plans, the man intended to level everything and rebuild from scratch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after examining the terrain, it did suit his needs. After a moment’s thought, Feng Xue chose a Western-style design. Though several Chinese layouts were attractive, his household—counting Liu Yunxi—had only two living beings. A three-hall courtyard would be self-inflicted torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After settling on the renovation, the broker asked detailed questions about furniture and decor. Just as the price was agreed upon, Feng Xue suddenly had a flash of insight and asked casually:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, are there any other cultivators in Jilongzhai?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well...\" The broker offered a polite, awkward smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone here seeks seclusion. So don’t ask me, and I won’t tell you. If others ask me, I give the same answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough.\" Feng Xue nodded, not pressing further. He left behind a spirit-borne beacon for transport, then turned and walked toward the lane’s exit. Suddenly remembering something, he added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leave me another house in this lane—turn it into a clinic. I’ll go scout the area, and return tonight to inspect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1138,"2026-06-20T04:32:50.332Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","94a328ed6a42fd483cbf43b234696687cdbd23553d267fe9846bad99905ed226","i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-chapter-315","i-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-chapter-313",365,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-must-immediately-strike-it-lucky-cover.jpg"]