Chapter 159: The Question of the Quota, the Money-God Method

If one were looking for a person in the Sea Market, it might be somewhat difficult, but for those who make a living doing such things, finding a cultivator with a known name and surname in a single ward is truly easy.

"Junior Brother Chen, if I hadn't followed Teacher to visit Uncle-Master Lin, I wouldn't have known you were staying here."

A middle-aged Daoist wearing a Chi Long Daoist Robe, of similar age to Chen Ci, looked around the environment with interest. Without saying much more, he chuckled and asked, "Junior Brother, why don't you stay with Uncle-Master Lin? It would be easier for us fellow disciples to get closer."

Chen Ci: "."

Look at that question; it's definitely because I don't want to.

If you keep trying to get this close, Old Master Chen is going to open his mouth to borrow money.

This person's surname is Yan, given name Shan. He was one of the five Daoists who accompanied them to Red Dragon Temple that day. He has a short beard on his chin and quite a dignified air. His True Qi cultivation is slightly higher than Chen Ci's, at about sixty or seventy apertures; among the side sects, he can be considered a high-level cultivator with promising prospects for a Dao Foundation.

"Senior Brother Yan, please have some tea."

Chen Ci brewed a pot of ordinary tea and served it, sighing with emotion: "Since coming down from the mountain, I have been muddling along in a small county in Xishan Prefecture. Only after arriving at the Sea Market did I realize how expensive food and clothing are. Please don't mind this coarse tea, Senior Brother."

Chen Ci was a bit puzzled. Your Old Master Chen is still getting a headache over Qi refinement and is preparing to go to Longgong to eat, drink, and broaden his horizons, but you, kid, are already planning for Condensing Sha and forming a Golden Core. Isn't this gap a bit too large?

"It's nothing. The sea area under the jurisdiction of Liuyun Palace also has several Earth Sha Yin Veins. Although the quality is poor and very thin, it is enough for cultivators like us to attempt Condensing Sha and forming a Golden Core."

Chen Ci: "."

Yan Shan: "." I am asking you to fulfill my wish, not for you to replace me!

"What opportunity?"

Yan Shan grinned: "But Liuyun Palace won't let outsiders use them for nothing. If one can enter the Dragon Palace during the Dragon Lord's birthday, it would be an opportunity."

Chen Ci laughed, noncommittal.

Hm?

Chen Ci sized up this cheap fellow disciple, gave a dry laugh, picked up his teacup and took a sip, then just nodded lightly without answering directly.

The world is going downhill, and the rites and music are collapsing!

True Person Jiao Fei, look at the example you have set for your disciples!

So this fellow came for a meal ticket?

Yan Shan looked at Chen Ci, shook his head and smiled: "Although it's not like Uncle-Master Lin, where Longevity is in sight, it is still a hope. It's just that a suitable Earth Sha Yin Pulse is truly hard to find. The act of Condensing Sha is a matter of nine deaths and one life; if there is no one to protect you, it's hard to set your heart at ease. If you have the chance, Junior Brother, it's better to return to He Mountain. While you can enjoy worldly wealth in the Liang Kingdom, it is truly difficult to attain a Dao Fruit."

After a pause, Chen Ci said: "I want to hear the truth."

"Senior Brother is right."

"The woman is strong and the man is weak; one wife, multiple husbands."

Chen Ci put down his teacup, a trace of suspicion on his face. He pondered for a moment and asked: "Senior Brother Yan, may I ask why?"

"Although we fellow disciples belong to a side sect and haven't spent much time in the main sect, the hope of attaining a middle-grade Dao Foundation is still quite high, and Condensing Sha and forming a Golden Core are not impossible."

This man surnamed Yan suddenly changed the subject and asked curiously.

The quality of the Yun River Earth Sha is even better than that of Quanshan. Although the cycle of sixty years and the span of over two hundred years is long, there are actually only four or five opportunities. It is normal that it wouldn't fall to Red Dragon Temple.

Chen Ci looked bewildered. No, are we that close?

Yan Shan sighed: "Teacher originally planned to take me, but then he—a close junior—also wanted to go and broaden his horizons."

This person chatted with Chen Ci for a few moments, and the atmosphere was fairly harmonious. Chen Ci also learned some interesting facts about Red Dragon Temple.

Of course, Red Dragon Temple still strictly observes all the decrees of the He Mountain Sect. If they were to leave the banner of He Mountain, the cultivators of Red Dragon Temple would actually just be a miscellaneous lot and wouldn't be able to occupy a whole prefecture.

Yan Shan stared at Chen Ci and said seriously: "Skull Demon Method or Six Paths Black Cable, choose one. How about that? This should be much better than just joining in the fun."

Yan Shan's expression changed slightly when he was sized up by Chen Ci, but he remained composed and said with a bitter smile: "Senior Brother, I won't beat around the bush. I want to enter Liuyun Palace once. Could I ask you to help me with this, Junior Brother?"

"An opportunity to get to know a Dragon Lady."

Chen Ci raised his cup and chuckled: "You should ask Lin Shixiong about this matter, not come looking for me."

"By the way, Junior Brother, is Uncle-Master Lin going to take you with him to attend the Dragon Palace birthday banquet?"

Changing the subject, this man surnamed Yan suddenly asked curiously: "Junior Brother, did you come from the He Mountain main sect? Although I am a few years older than you, I have yet to return to the main altar. In terms of experience, I am actually much worse off than you."

Chen Ci took a sip of tea and smiled without a word.

He emphasized the word "Senior Brother" to indicate that his relationship with Lin Laohu was not ordinary.

Chen Ci frowned, stared at this cheap fellow disciple surnamed Yan for a few moments, and suddenly asked in a low voice: "Senior Brother Yan, is the 'soft rice' of the Dragon Palace fragrant?"

"Hehe."

"Mm."

Unlike the Fuhu Altar in Xishan Prefecture, where most He Mountain disciples come from He Mountain, Red Dragon Temple has rarely had cultivators from the He Mountain main sect come to hold posts for over a hundred years. Most of the disciples in the temple are recruited locally from Jiujiang Prefecture. Apart from sending disciples to deliver offerings back to He Mountain every year, or disciples returning to He Mountain after attaining a Dao Foundation, there is actually not much interaction in ordinary times.

Yan Shan took the tea and placed it on the table, smiling it off: "Indeed, if it weren't for the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet, Teacher wouldn't have kept us in the Sea Market for so long. If one really wants to cultivate, it's actually more comfortable in one's own place."

After a pause, Old Master Chen asked curiously: "If I remember correctly, your Red Dragon Temple also has a Dharma Tablet, right?"

Yan Shan thought for a moment and spat out eight words: "But it's okay, our He Mountain Sect cultivators play quite wildly, so we don't lose out."

Yan Shan glanced at Chen Ci, thought for a moment, and said: "It is said that the Liuyun Dragon Lord has three to five hundred offspring, and many Dragon Ladies marry human cultivators. Liuyun Palace is also happy to use this to recruit some cultivators to work for them. As long as you have the heart and manage it well, it's always better than waiting in vain at Red Dragon Temple. Junior Brother, don't laugh at me. Red Dragon Temple looks glorious, but in fact, there is no Dao path to speak of. It's neither here nor there. You still have a chance to return to He Mountain, but we cannot."

Moreover, unlike the Fuhu Altar in Xishan Prefecture, although the Red Dragon Temple in Jiujiang Prefecture leads the He Mountain cultivators in the Liang Kingdom, its status in Jiangzhou is slightly awkward. At least Lin Laohu can still compete for the Quanshan Earth Sha, while Red Dragon Temple has established its orthodoxy in Jiujiang Prefecture for over two hundred years without even seeing a shadow of the Yun River Earth Sha.

"That... Senior Brother Yan, the tea is cold."

"Of course, I won't take advantage of you for nothing, Junior Brother. As for the great arts of the sect, if you take a fancy to any, as long as Red Dragon Temple has the inheritance, Senior Brother can find it for you."

Chen Ci: "."

What you say is truly so damn reasonable!

"Actually, entering Liuyun Palace just adds one more opportunity. You can run into Dragon Ladies overseas on ordinary days, but it can always be a bit more special."

Seeing Chen Ci pondering in silence, Yan Shan said: "A Dharma Artifact with five layers of Prohibition, how about that?"

Truly desperate.

Chen Ci vaguely felt that this person had more to say, but his general purpose was likely as stated; it really might be in preparation for future Condensing Sha and forming a Golden Core.

In this world, there are clearly more He Mountain cultivators with firm Dao Hearts than just Old Master Chen.

But there is only one He Mountain Light.

"There are many opportunities at the Dragon Lord's birthday banquet this time, and one might even see a Primordial Spirit True Monarch. I, your junior brother, come from a backwater place and have never seen such grand scenes in my life; I truly wish to broaden my horizons."

Chen Ci thought for a moment, but still politely declined: "Perhaps Senior Brother should think of other ways."

"You!"

A trace of coldness flashed in Yan Shan's eyes. The atmosphere between the two, which had been harmonious just a moment ago, instantly turned cold. However, after meeting Chen Ci's gaze, he could only take a deep breath and suppress his anger.

Those who could hang around Lin Qinhu were no simple characters. Moreover, if one were to act recklessly in the Sea Market, the cultivators of Longhu Mountain would truly kill without mercy.

"Tonight, the teacher is hosting Uncle-Master Lin at Bazhen Tower; Junior Brother can also come and join the fun."

Staring at Chen Ci for a moment, Yan Shan thought it over and said coldly: "If Junior Brother has any other thoughts, we can discuss them further. I shall take my leave first."

"Walk slowly, I won't see you out."

"Dragon Lady... eating soft rice hard, sigh."

Chen Ci's expression was somewhat strange. As a pure and honest man, he had already made up his mind: in the future, if he encountered the likes of a Dragon Lady, he would firmly commit to the body, but never the heart.

"Besides, is the situation of Red Dragon Temple really that bad?"

Chen Ci paced back and forth in his room. Just as that man surnamed Yan said, although Red Dragon Temple led the He Mountain Sect apprentices in the Liang Kingdom, upon closer inspection, they were not very close to the He Mountain Sect, and Jiao Zhenren did not care much for them either. Their foundation was very weak and there was no path for advancement. Instead, it was Lin Laohu who had forcefully carved out a path at the Fuhu Altar in Xishan Prefecture.

"Side-door... demon cultivation? No, relying on Liuyun Palace is really not as good as staying in the He Mountain Sect. The He Mountain Sect is at least close to finding a path to the Primordial Spirit; if one makes progress, there is still hope for Longevity."

Chen Ci rubbed his chin. He decided he would just honestly attend the banquet and broaden his horizons; he was truly quite curious about what the clam spirit's Water Mansion was actually like.

Right, and there was also Bazhen Tower.

There were some things... he still wanted to chat with his cheap senior brother about, so as to help him make more judgments.

Chen Ci looked at the sky; it was only noon. But since there was a banquet, Chen did not mind heading out early. He had been in the Sea Market for some days, yet he didn't even know which side the door to Bazhen Tower opened on; it was truly a bit pathetic.

Walking through the inner market, Chen Ci noticed that there were quite a lot of people on the street today. Many passing cultivators were in a hurry, and the foot traffic was at least twice as much as usual. It seemed that both the Four Seas Treasure Fair and the Dragon Palace birthday banquet had made the Sea Market much livelier.

A few cultivators were chatting in a corner, seemingly haggling. Chen Ci glanced over there and happened to be spotted by one of them, who looked up. His face showed a hint of joy, and he reached out to greet him: "Daoist Chen, Daoist Chen!"

Chen Ci found him somewhat familiar. If he remembered correctly, he was a cultivator neighbor who lived in the same Qingyun Workshop. They had met a few times, and he should be surnamed Kong.

"Daoist Kong, what is this?"

Although they were not very close, they had met a few times after all. Chen Ci thought for a moment, then walked over and asked.

"Daoist Chen, do you want some Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money?"

Daoist Kong lowered his voice and said: "Three Spirit Pearls for three Raw Money, and I'll give you three taels of Abyssal Sinking Sand. How about it?"

"Raw Money?"

Chen Ci asked subconsciously: "What is this?"

"It's the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money released by the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, but it counts as 'new money'. It was just minted and has a strong fiery nature; it needs to be tempered with True Qi before it can count as treasure money."

Daoist Kong spoke in a low, fast voice: "Currently, one Four Seas Treasure Money is priced at a maximum of one catty and five taels of Five Elements Divine Sand, while one Raw Money is only priced at nine taels and five mace of Five Elements Divine Sand. If you exchange for ten or more, it only takes nine catties of Five Elements Divine Sand. It's just that one Raw Money takes at least twenty days, or up to a month, to completely suppress the fiery nature. I don't know if one can still make a profit, and I don't know what the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce is doing, not releasing these new coins earlier."

After a pause, Daoist Kong took out a blood-red Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money and showed it to Chen Ci: "Daoist Yan and I only managed to scrape together six catties and three taels of Divine Sand. Does Daoist Chen have any spare funds? Want to pool them together with us?"

Chen Ci was stunned. He pondered for a moment before he cleared up the relationship, then asked with some hesitation: "This isn't counterfeit money, is it?"

"Hey, you can't just say things like that. Be careful the people from the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce hear you."

Daoist Kong thought for a moment and handed the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money in his hand to Chen Ci, clearly wanting him to take a look.

Chen Ci subconsciously took the treasure money and squeezed it in his hand. Whether it was the texture, shape, weight, or the 'Four Seas Ruyi' on it and the scale-like patterns on the back, it was exactly the same as the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money he had before.

Except for the color of the coin.

This Raw Money was truly as blood-red as if it had been burned by fire, more than three shades brighter than a normal Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money.

"Does the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce recognize this money?"

Chen Ci looked slightly hesitant; apart from the color, he really hadn't found anything wrong.

"Why wouldn't they?"

This cultivator surnamed Kong laughed: "The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce has set up a shop in every ward. One Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money can be exchanged for one Spirit Pearl or one catty of Abyssal Sinking Sand, with unlimited buybacks. It's just that no one is willing to exchange them back to them right now. If you ask me, this Raw Money is much easier to temper than Spirit Iron. Unless the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce stops doing business in the future, you definitely won't lose money exchanging for this Raw Money, though you won't earn too much either."

For ordinary cultivators and loose practitioners of the miscellaneous arts, if they neither had the hundred arts of immortality nor wanted to kill or fight, and even less wanted to work for others, there were a few simple ways to earn resources for cultivation.

Either search for Five Elements Divine Sand in deep mountains and great marshes.

Or buy a piece of high-quality iron or steel ingot and wash it day and night with one's own True Qi. Depending on the quality of one's True Qi and technique, one could refine a piece of Spirit Iron in one to two months to exchange for supplies in the workshop.

Both of these were clumsy crafts that could make money. Not many cultivators were willing to do them, but there were not few either.

If this Raw Money could really be tempered into normal Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money using True Qi, then for a cultivator, it was indeed much easier than washing Spirit Iron.

Then... shall I try three Raw Money?

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Chen Ci held three so-called 'Raw Money' in one hand and three taels of Abyssal Sinking Sand in the other, his expression somewhat strange.

In fact, even if these three Raw Money were tempered, he would only earn three taels of Five Elements Divine Sand, a little over thirty taels of gold; it really wasn't much of a profit.

But for a bottom-tier loose practitioner, tempering ten Raw Money could earn an extra Spirit Pearl, or a hundred taels of gold. It might not be enough for cultivation, but it was more than enough to keep three or five concubines and eat and drink well every day.

"It's just that I don't know what the tempering speed is like. If it were a hundred or a thousand... cough, if it were that simple, the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce would probably do it themselves."

Chen Ci's heart stirred. He held the three Raw Money in his palm and washed them with True Qi, while silently reciting the four words 'Four Seas Ruyi' in his heart. According to what Daoist Kong said, silently reciting these words could speed up the tempering significantly. He didn't know if it was true or false.

Walking slowly along the way, Chen Ci discovered that there seemed to be quite a lot of such Raw Money circulating in the Sea Market. It seemed that the Four Seas Ruyi Treasure Money was circulating among the bottom-tier cultivators again in a somewhat strange form.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, Chen Ci opened his palm and looked. The color of the three Raw Money in his hand seemed to have faded a little, but if he looked closely, it seemed there was no change.

"A bit strange, this feeling..."

Chen Ci frowned slightly, feeling as if some change had occurred. He stopped on the street for a while and subconsciously clicked open his Gold Finger panel. After staring at it for a moment, when he scanned to the very bottom, he subconsciously squeezed his palm. It felt like it was burning hot, and he wanted to throw away the three Raw Money in his hand, but in the end, he held back.

"This is..."

Chen Ci's eyes narrowed. Under the Worship Rakshasa Method, which had not moved for a long time, a new piece of information had inexplicably appeared:

Money Can Connect to God Method: Not yet entered (Those who believe in this treasure money, Four Seas Ruyi)

"Damn it!"

Chen Ci wiped his forehead and looked at the filthy lucre in his palm. A thought inexplicably flashed through his mind: this money cannot be kept.

After a while, this thought was suppressed, and suddenly a new thought arose.

Damn it, I can't even stay in the Sea Market anymore.

(End of chapter)