Chapter 131: Today is Also Brother Meng

"You're Fourth Stage???"

"Mm."

"When did you reach the Fourth Stage? How come I didn't know??"

"Because I kept it from you."

"Goodness gracious..."

Chen Banxia maintained a blank expression, her brain spinning rapidly as she connected many previous things: "So this time last year, you were actually already Third Stage? Did that business with Li Jiatu have something to do with you?"

"I was Second Stage back then."

"I don't believe you!"

"It's true."

"I still don't believe you!"

"How could I lie to you, my dear sister?" Chen Shu spread his hands, "I am just an honest and simple younger brother."

"I don't trust you anymore now." Chen Banxia stared at him suspiciously, "So you didn't let me help you buy potions because you were actually buying Second Tier to Third Tier breakthrough potions, not First Tier to Second Tier ones?"

"Yes."

"See, you're full of lies."

"I was afraid of discouraging you, making you feel your younger brother is too outstanding, causing you to feel pressured and unable to sleep soundly... wouldn't that be the death of you?"

"..."

Chen Banxia silently ate two pieces of pork skin; this item was soft, chewy, and bouncy after being boiled, the texture was excellent, but it couldn't mask her deep worry: "You reached the Fourth Stage so quickly, and you're in the Ancient Cultivator major, are you dead set on walking the path of an Ancient Cultivator?"

"Hm?" Chen Shu looked at her blankly, "What are you worrying about?"

"How can I not worry? I'm still counting on you to provide for my retirement." Chen Banxia's chopsticks stopped, "It's fine if you walk the Ancient Cultivator path, but isn't your momentum a bit too headstrong? In this day and age, it's fine to pursue personal martial strength in moderation, but what's the point of pursuing it too much? Don't tell me you want to go to war?"

"Can't I pursue these things without going to war? It's fun, and it's not like I have to rely on this to make a living. I can afford to eat regardless of what I rely on, and even if I just treat this as a hobby, I can fully afford to maintain it."

"Oh, that's true..."

Chen Banxia blinked; her younger brother actually made a lot of sense.

How could this be?

She had only just put on her older sister airs!

She hadn't even started lecturing, nor had she managed to manifest the dignity of an eldest sister, and it was already over?

Chen Banxia picked up her chopsticks again, cleared her throat, and hurriedly said a few words: "Well, play if you want, but don't take it too seriously. If you cultivate to a High-Tier and are also walking the Ancient Cultivator path of pursuing personal martial strength, even if you don't join the military, the state will definitely come looking for you. Ah, no, no matter what path you take, it's best to cultivate to the Sixth Stage Peak and leave it at that. High-Tier lifespans aren't much longer than the Sixth Stage Peak anyway, unless technology advances later and there's a way to deal with High-Tier Spirit Decay; otherwise, I don't want you to be in excruciating pain when you're old, or go and end it yourself."

"Got it."

"You are not allowed to be perfunctory!"

"Mm."

"You have to take it seriously!"

"Mm..."

"Your tone is getting more and more perfunctory!"

"So hot..."

"If it's hard to find a job in the Ancient Cultivator field later, or if the work you find is too dangerous, don't force yourself. I can support you too; by then, you'll just be responsible for making me delicious food every day and waiting on me."

"As long as you're happy..."

"Fix your attitude!"

Chen Banxia was just short of slamming the table—

She was an eldest sister, after all; how could it be that she had no dignity in front of her younger brother?

Chen Shu picked up the remaining skewers in the pot, placed them in Chen Banxia's bowl, then picked up the celery beef that Chen Banxia loved, put a large handful into the pot, and still using the method Chen Banxia had just used, covered the base of the skewers with a water cup to fix them in place, letting them slowly boil until cooked.

"Eat more, eat more."

"I'm not joking with you!"

"Can you tell me where to get the Full Moon See now?" Chen Shu handed her a tissue, "Wipe the oil off your face."

"It's a bit dangerous, I'm not telling you." Chen Banxia took the tissue and wiped her face haphazardly, not caring whether she had wiped it clean or not, and lowered her head to strip the meat off the skewers, "I'll save up money to buy you good stuff later; I have plenty of money."

"Tell me quickly, stop keeping me in suspense."

"Not telling."

"You're so naggy, Chen Banxia..."

"I... I am your sister, damn it..."

"Oh, oh, then I'll look it up myself."

"!!"

"So there, I already know the name, hurry up and tell me. I'm very capable, and I have a cheat, so I can know in advance if there's any danger."

"Go past Qingshan Ridge, to the edge of the Royal Forbidden Land, and you can find it. It's very inconspicuous normally, but it absorbs the Spirit Power emitted by the moon, and it will bloom with brilliant, eye-catching flowers in the few days around the full moon." Chen Banxia said while eating, "I originally thought it was for one of your friends. If they want to go, isn't there a Hunting Festival in the middle of this month? The Hunting Festival happens to be at Qingshan Ridge. If you go a bit further in, if you're lucky, you can find the Full Moon See without entering the Forbidden Land. If you're unlucky, you'll at most have to go a bit deeper to find it; it's very conspicuous on the nights of the full moon."

"What a coincidence..."

Chen Shu said softly.

He had to go to the Hunting Festival.

He was going anyway.

This was a grand celebration in Yujing; this thing didn't exist in his past life, so Chen Shu wouldn't miss it.

Moreover, Sword pork was delicious; although it was wild, it was different from wild boar and had no mutton-like or gamey smell. Farmed Sword pork cost several tens of dollars per jin in the supermarket, and a single Sword pig weighed over a thousand jin; as long as you could beat a Sword pig with exotic beast bloodlines, one could sell for tens of thousands.

Hunting was legal at the Hunting Festival, so you could eat it and sell it.

The main thing was that this activity was very fun.

Chen Shu was definitely going.

Now there is one more incidental purpose.

Qingshan Ridge is usually a protected area with surveillance cameras; if you are discovered entering, you might be persuaded to turn back, but the Hunting Festival allows for legal entry. Furthermore, every year quite a few people get carried away and accidentally wander into the Forbidden Land, which would be a very good cover.

Behind Qingshan Ridge is the Royal Forbidden Land.

There are more than ten such Forbidden Lands on this planet, also called Forbidden Zones; Chen Shu suspects they are related to gods, because the numbers match up, and from ancient times to the present, the few records about them and the modern official attitude both point in this direction.

In ancient times, the Forbidden Land was almost a restricted zone for mortals and ordinary Cultivators; it contained many strange beasts and was extremely dangerous, with only High-level Practitioners daring to venture deep inside.

In modern times, scientific research teams occasionally enter to observe the animals and plants inside.

There are many examples of animals and plants that went extinct in the outside world but were found within the Forbidden Land, then brought out to be re-cultivated and protected.

This Forbidden Land around Yujing is generally called the Royal Forbidden Land, with a land area roughly equal to the jurisdiction of a prefecture-level city; basically, it has been under the control of the central Imperial Family throughout all dynasties, hence the name.

In addition, there are several other Forbidden Lands within Yiguo, which nominally do not belong to anyone, but in reality, they are basically under the control of large sects.

"You must be careful!"

"You are really long-winded."

"Big sister is concerned about you!"

"Need you? I have a girlfriend to be concerned about me."

"How about I go with you?"

"In your dreams."

"..."

"If I find it smoothly, you help me refine it. If we count the cost as one hundred and fifty, I should have enough money for two portions. You calculate all the materials, I'll transfer the money to you, and you cover whatever is lacking. Do it well for me; my birthday is coming up soon, just take it as my birthday gift. Of course, the red envelope you send me on my birthday still cannot be missing."

Chen Shu paused as he spoke: "If my luck is bad and I don't find it, then forget it."

"Where do you get so much money!?"

"I earned it, didn't I?"

"How did you earn it?"

"Hehe..." Chen Shu couldn't help but be cheeky, "Did you discover another impressive side of your younger brother, and are you feeling insecure again?"

"Cut it out!" Chen Banxia rolled her eyes, "I'm just surprised. When it comes to earning money, no one can beat us people who work with potions."

"That's true."

"Don't change the subject."

"I design Martial Artist Runes for people, that's how I earned it."

"You're not lying to me?"

"I'll show you the chat history."

Chen Shu handed his Mobile Phone to her.

Chen Banxia took it and looked at it carefully, her eyes filled with suspicion toward her younger brother, trying to find loopholes in his lies, but unfortunately, she failed. She had to admit the sad fact that her younger brother could also be financially independent of her.

"Alright then..."

"I'm going to get some more food."

This shop is quite unique; besides hot pot skewers, there are also deep-fried skewers, all self-service, where you can take the skewers to the oil pot and have the waiter help you deep-fry them.

Deep-fried potato slices, sprinkled with chili powder, are truly a delicacy.

"Are you full?"

"Full."

"Let's go pay the bill."

"Mm."

Chen Banxia trotted off to pay the bill.

Chen Shu wiped his mouth clean, took his Mobile Phone, and also walked out of the shop.

Today is the eighth of the third month.

Chen Shu's birthday is the tenth of the third month.

Soon, soon.

Getting into a ride-hailing car, he opened the Ancient Cultivation Group again.

Qingcai Keke: Suddenly remembered one thing

Qingcai Keke: Our group is so... you know. It's clearly called an Ancient Cultivation Group, but I haven't seen everyone discussing anything related to ancient cultivation, except for when I bought a few cheap Controlled Spells from Grandmother Senior Sister at the beginning.

Qingcai Keke: Are we a bit neglectful of our proper work?

Haoran: /eating melon seeds

Gate of All Wonders: Because there are things more interesting than ancient cultivation

Nameless Person: What things?

Gate of All Wonders: Eating melon seeds

Nameless Person: What does eating melon seeds mean?

Gate of All Wonders: Amitabha, benefactor, you appear slightly foolish

Nameless Person: /confused

Gate of All Wonders: Amitabha, Qingcai Caike, you are attached to appearances. Although this is an Ancient Cultivation Group, life is hard to come by, so just be happy. Why have so many rigid rules?

Qingcai Keke: You might as well go to the Buddhist Sect.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: This monk can provide an introduction for you.

Gate of All Wonders: I have been studying Buddhist secret scriptures recently and have gained quite a bit, so I couldn't help myself for a moment.

Qingcai Keke: The Hunting Festival is coming up soon. I heard that the combat power of an adult Sword Pig is equivalent to a Fourth Rank Martial Artist. Is anyone forming a team?

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: This monk is not suited; as a person of the Buddhist Sect, I do not kill easily.

Gate of All Mysteries: It's not convenient for me either.

Nameless Person: It's not very convenient for me either.

Grandma Always Says: Come, come, come, let's team up /squinting smile

Qingcai Keke: I'm afraid you'll mistake me for a Sword Pig.

Grandma Always Says: I won't, I said I wouldn't get angry.

Qingcai Keke: /I believe you, you ghost.

Grandma Always Says: But I really do want to go play; it only happens once a year and it's so much fun. I went last year and killed over a dozen Sword Pigs, ridding the people of a menace, and it even brought me a few hundred thousand in income, hahaha, I'm dying of laughter.

Qingcai Keke: Will there be a lot of people there when the time comes?

Grandma Always Says: Not too many, not too few. After all, our country still regulates thermal weapons, and Sword Pigs like to live in groups. To go hunt Sword Pigs, you have to at least meet two conditions: be able to beat a Sword Pig using cold weapons, and actually care about this bit of money.

Grandma Always Says recalled a message.

Grandma Always Says: Why am I telling you this?

Qingcai Keke: Finished reading.

Grandma Always Says: Damn it.

Grandma Always Says: Just tell me, are we teaming up or not?

Grandma Always Says: I'm giving you a chance to cling to my thigh; you just need to let me beat you up beforehand, then act as my assistant, and I'll give you twenty percent of the earnings.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Qingcai Keke: The Martial Body Ordinary Group has already ended, next month is the Martial Arts Academy Group. Haven't you found my personal information yet?

Grandma Always Says: /jumps up and slaps you in the face

Grandma Always Says: You just had to bring up the sore spot.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Grandma Always Says: If you've got guts, send another photo, a close-up. You can cover your face, just show the environment, and see if I can find you.

Qingcai Keke: emmm...

Qingcai Keke: Fine then...

Qingcai Keke: If you really can't find me, I've been wanting to expose myself anyway, so I'll help you out...

Gate of All Mysteries: Benefactor is generous.

Qingcai Keke invited Grandma Always Says to a private chat.

Qingcai Keke: 【Image】

In the picture, that person is wearing traditional clothing, sleeves fluttering, holding an oil-paper umbrella, standing under a jacaranda tree. The fallen flowers on the ground, just like this thin, weak figure, have a kind of delicate and desolate beauty. Although her face is covered by a wicked emoji, one can still see her hair, which just passes her shoulders, and the slightly exposed chin is also very dainty; at a glance, it's clearly a girl.

It's just that her chest is a bit flat.

Haoran Zhengqi: /dazed

Grandma Always Says: This looks like men's clothing.

Qingcai Keke: That was the day of the Hanfu Festival, I just wore it casually.

Grandma Always Says: It looks like University City; that place definitely has surveillance. You're done for, I have people in the public security system.

Qingcai Keke exited the private chat.

There are a few messages outside.

Gate of All Mysteries: You won't even let us see this?

Nameless Person: Yeah!

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha...

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: It's really not necessary.

Zhaoye Qing:...

Haoran Zhengqi: /cracking melon seeds