Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

To learn the “Spring Rain Fertilization Technique” and “Autumn Sunshine Germination Technique,” two Spiritual Plant Farmer spells, he had spent two hundred merit points, plus the half-year’s rent for the manor paid in advance.

Wang Chen had wanted to save more sect contributions before exchanging them for a higher-tier Qi Cultivation technique.

That plan was now temporarily bankrupt.

He finally understood why such a good manor had fallen into his own hands.

Aside from the Yin Qi Pearl that he had bribed Manager Gu with, the main reason was that not many people were willing to do the farming work!

And as for the character of the Cloud Sun sect, Wang Chen had gained a deeper understanding.

Simply put, the sect did not support the useless.

Especially the Inner Sect, which focused on advantageous resources, was not a place for disciples to slack off!

The most typical example was that the role of merit points became even more prominent in the Inner Sect.

If you wanted better cultivation techniques, more resources, and a better cultivation environment, then you had to exchange merit points for them.

The sect’s entry-level benefits were merely a little sweetener to stimulate the disciples’ ambition.

But even now, given another chance to start over, Wang Chen would still enter the Inner Sect without any hesitation, still choose to be a Spiritual Plant Farmer.

And would still give a Yin Qi Pearl to Manager Gu.

Choosing the Inner Sect

Because among the four fundamental elements of cultivation—wealth, law (techniques), companions, and location—the Inner Sect had at least three advantages over the Outer Sect.

Especially in terms of the cultivation environment, it was leagues ahead of the Outer Mountain Gate.

Inside was called immortal cultivation; outside that was climbing pits!

As for the intensely competitive reality within Sunset Peak, Wang Chen believed that as long as he doesn’t court death, no one would be interested in a hard-working Spiritual Plant Farmer.

Being an optimist at heart, Wang Chen quickly adjusted his mood and strolled around Cloud Dragon City.

The number of shops in the Inner City was truly many, with few inns and tea houses, and no sight of opera towers or courtesan houses.

After visiting a few shops, Wang Chen realized that the prices here were generally higher than in Cloud Mountain City.

The items for sale were also of higher quality.

Interestingly, even Cloud Dragon City had a branch of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion!

Wang Chen went inside and asked about the price of flying artifacts.

He immediately retreated in defeat.

Even if he hadn’t previously purchased seeds and Spiritual Fertilizer, he wouldn’t have been able to afford them with his little spirit stones!

Flying artifacts, truly the BBA among magic artifacts.

Disappointed, Wang Chen was about to head home when he unexpectedly discovered a market.

In this small market, there were dozens of stalls selling various magic artifacts, pills, talismans, and materials, etc.

And the vendors were all Inner Sect Disciples like himself.

A flea market!

Wang Chen suddenly developed a keen interest.

With the thought, “Since I’m here,” he started wandering through the market, looking at each stall.

Hoping to find something he needed.

When Wang Chen arrived at the fifth stall, a small boat laid out on the counter caught his attention.

It resembled a wooden boat about half a foot long, with simple and smooth shapes, and on close examination, one could see that its surface was engraved with densely packed runes, crafted with exquisite workmanship.

Wang Chen recognized it at a glance as a single-person flying boat.

Because he had seen similar flying artifacts at Myriad Treasures Pavilion before!

And the flying boat on the ground stall was obviously not new, looking a bit worn.

Wang Chen inquired, “How much for this flying boat, uh?”

It was at this moment Wang Chen noticed that the stall owner was the same girl he had met on the stone steps of Sunset Peak the day before.

Only today, she had changed into a set of white clothes.

What a coincidence!

The stall owner also recognized Wang Chen and immediately widened her eyes, “It’s you?”

Wang Chen sheepishly rubbed his nose, “Yeah.”

Yesterday, he had mistook her for a robber; now how could he have the nerve to conduct business!

Maybe he should look elsewhere.

“Don’t go!”

Just as Wang Chen was about to leave, he heard the girl in the white dress ask with a huff, “Do I look that terrifying?”

“Are you that afraid of talking to me?”

The girl’s voice was crisp and loud, drawing the attention of the people around them.

“Senior Sister, you’re overreacting.”

Wang Chen had no choice but to say, “Junior Brother did not intend to offend, please forgive me.”

“Forget it.”

The white-dressed girl was easy to talk to, and with a wrinkle of her nose, she said, “I won’t hold it against you. Do you want to buy this Willow Leaf Flying Boat? Take it for eight hundred and eighty Spirit Stones!”

Wang Chen sighed, “Sorry, I don’t have that many Spirit Stones.”

He was telling the truth.

In his Storage Bag, the sum of Low Spirit and Fragmented Spirit Stones didn’t even meet one third of her asking price!

The girl’s dark eyes spun around like abacus beads, “Then how many Spirit Stones do you have?”

After pondering, Wang Chen pulled out a Yin Qi Pearl, “Senior Sister, can we trade?”

When he had eradicated the Evil Nest at the Chaotic Burial Mound, Wang Chen had obtained three Yin Qi Pearls.

He had previously sold one for a good amount of Spirit Stones.

One he had given to Manager Gu.

This was the last one, estimated worth eight or nine hundred Low Spirit, which should be about right for trading for her Willow Leaf Flying Boat.

The same model of Flying Artifact was priced at fifteen hundred Spirit Stones in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion!

Since Wang Chen couldn’t afford a new “vehicle”, he had to settle for a second-hand one.

So broke!

“Add a bit more.”

The girl in the white dress was clearly interested in the Yin Qi Pearl in Wang Chen’s hand.

But she still asked for a higher price.

Otherwise, the fun in setting up the stall would be lost.

Wang Chen said, “Farewell, Senior Sister.”

“Alright, alright.”

The girl in white couldn’t help rolling her eyes, “You’re no fun at all, deal!”

And so, Wang Chen traded for the Willow Leaf Flying Boat with the Yin Qi Pearl.

He was quite satisfied with the trade, “May I ask for Senior Sister’s honored surname and name?”

“Mingxiu Peak’s Xie Ling’er.”

The girl in the white dress answered generously, “And you, Junior Brother?”

She isn’t from Sunset Peak?

Mingxiu Peak is the third-ranked true vein in the Inner Sect, second only to Taihao and Supreme Mysterious Peaks!

Stunned for a moment, Wang Chen replied, “Sunset Peak’s Wang Chen.”

“I know you’re from Sunset Peak.”

Xie Ling’er smiled, and a shallow dimple appeared on her left cheek.

It left a rather deep impression on Wang Chen.

After parting with the pretty little Senior Sister from Mingxiu Peak, he set off on the journey home.

But the return was different from his arrival.

On the way back, Wang Chen briefly consecrated the newly acquired Willow Leaf Flying Boat and infused it with Mana to activate it.

The solo flying boat grew as it caught the wind.

When it reached about seven feet, clouds misted from beneath the boat, lifting its body.

Wang Chen hopped onto the small boat and steered the Magic Artifact into the sky.

Then he wobbled off toward home.

At first, novice driver Wang Chen nearly capsized several times.

But after a period of practice and adaptation, his boat-handling skills began to improve.

He gradually experienced the joy of flying.

The Willow Leaf Flying Boat sped up.

Wang Chen stood on it, the strong wind beating against his face, feeling utterly exhilarated!

———–

The third update is here.

PS: Today’s update is late; I’ll resume the normal schedule tomorrow.