Scripture Pavilion.
Bamboo groves surrounded the serene mountains. The Li family had hollowed out an entire peak to house their collection of scriptures and jade slips.
Li Quanqing stepped onto the moss-covered stone steps, the faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air, relaxing his entire body.
"Greetings, Fourth Elder."
At the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, a purple-robed elder lay lazily on the back of a stone turtle sculpture, basking in the sun. His robe was embroidered with patterns resembling the Azure Jade Carp. Li Quanqing bowed respectfully before entering the pavilion.
Sunlight filtered in from above, illuminating the interior.
The entire mountain had been hollowed out, with niches carved into the stone walls, each housing jade slips of various colors.
Cultivation Techniques Section, Spell Section, Alchemy Section, Geomancy Section...
The jade slips were neatly categorized, making it easy to navigate.
Although there were many, most were common Qi Refinement-level techniques.
Only a single jade slip pertained to the Foundation Establishment.
Li Quanqing looked up, his gaze bypassing the numerous scriptures, focusing on the top.
A dazzling blue light radiated like a sun, with the silhouette of a jade slip faintly visible within.
The sound of surging waves echoed, even from this distance, majestic and overwhelming.
"The Surging Sea Art"!
Li Quanqing's eyes fixed on the jade slip, filled with longing.
This was the Li family's foundational cultivation technique. Throughout the family's seven-hundred-year history, the most Foundation Establishment cultivators had practiced this art.
Unfortunately, he didn't have enough contribution points to exchange for this precious scripture.
Li Quanqing obediently entered the basic cultivation techniques section, using his identity jade token to unlock the formation and retrieve the "Gold-Water Art."
With his Water Control Technique mastered, he planned to learn a new spell.
Considering future battles, Li Quanqing turned his attention to the metal-element spells.
Metal energy was indestructible, sharp, and perfect for killing ideal for a Qi Refinement cultivator's trump card.
"Molten Gold Art," "Gold Brick Technique," "Sharpness Technique," "Golden Light Shield"...
Taking into account his meager savings and average intelligence, Li Quanqing finally chose a decent low-tier metal spell.
"Golden Metal Finger"!
With the two jade slips in hand, Li Quanqing headed straight for the exit.
"Gold-Water Art," according to family rules, Li family members can practice this basic technique without spending contribution points, limited to one copy.
"Golden Metal Finger," a metal-element spell, costs 5 family contribution points."
The Fourth Elder, still lying on the stone turtle, spoke without opening his eyes, yet he seemed to know everything happening in the pavilion.
"Swipe your identity jade token."
The elder patted the turtle's shell, revealing a depression on its forehead.
Li Quanqing pressed his jade token into it, fitting perfectly.
A flash of formation light deducted 5 points.
Simultaneously, the two jade slips emitted a crisp sound as their anti-spying restrictions shattered.
"So advanced!"
Li Quanqing marveled inwardly. The entire Qingyu Island was enveloped by the family's protective formation, making everything incredibly convenient.
Tucking the jade slips into his storage bag, Li Quanqing bowed respectfully to the elder before leaving the Scripture Pavilion.
He headed north, planning to buy fish food in the island's trading district.
If possible, he also wanted to purchase some spirit beast cubs, preferably metal-attribute ones, which might reward him with a "Golden Metal Finger" experience.
"Brother, are you heading to the Jade Dragon District?"
Just as Li Quanqing took out a Swift Travel Talisman, the forest shook, birds scattered, and a massive creature emerged.
It was a crab the size of a hill, its grayish-blue shell covered in rock-like patterns, resembling a sturdy fortress.
Its enormous body cast a large shadow, exuding a strong sense of oppression.
On the crab's back were dozens of seats, occupied by several Li family members.
"The family's island patrol?"
Li Quanqing's eyes lit up. Qingyu Island was vast, spanning five hundred miles in all directions.
For Qi Refinement cultivators without flying artifacts, traveling was exhausting.
Where there was demand, business opportunities arose.
The patrol leader, in his early thirties, had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement. Handsome and with a businessman's charm, he stood on the crab's head, smiling.
"Two-spirit grains, please."
Though not wealthy, Li Quanqing could afford this. He climbed onto the crab's shell and sat down comfortably.
Rumble!
The crab moved through the forest, its long legs extending dozens of meters, cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
This spirit beast not only moved swiftly but could easily overcome obstacles, truly dominating the island.
Soon, a vast, emerald-green pond came into view, dark and deep, seemingly endless.
"Jade Dragon Pond is here. Please disembark in an orderly manner. No noise, no disturbances..."
Li Quanqing took a deep breath of the cool, slightly chilling air, feeling as if his eyebrows might frost over.
Qingyu Island had four landmark structures in each direction.
Evergreen Hall, Scripture Pavilion, Artifact Refining Hall, Jade Dragon Pond.
Of course, Jade Dragon Pond had a more down-to-earth nickname.
Class A Fish Pond District.
The pond was smooth as a mirror, its shores lined with fine, white sand, creating a long, narrow beach.
A miniature trading market had sprung up here, with shops lining two main streets paved with blue stone.
Li Quanqing, familiar with the area, entered a shop he frequented and bought a batch of fish food.
Ordinary bait costs one spirit grain per hundred pounds, while high-grade spirit bait costs one spirit grain per pound.
With his fish-raising experience, he planned to expand his operation, purchasing over twenty thousand pounds of fish food, which the shop would deliver to his cave.
"Come and see! Fresh, smooth fish slices! Home-raised green carp, so delicious!"
"Talismans! Cleaning Talismans, Dust-Repelling Talismans, Swift Travel Talismans, Healing Talismans, Binding Talismans, Mist Concealment Talismans, Entangling Talismans, and Antidote Talismans all on sale!"
...
Walking through the market streets, the noisy calls of vendors filled the air, resembling a bustling mortal marketplace.
Cultivators wouldn't stoop to such tasks, finding it beneath them.
These were Li family mortals without spiritual roots, hired to work and earn a few spirit grains.
"Hmm? There are even demon-hunting cultivators here?"
Li Quanqing's expression shifted as he caught a whiff of blood.
At a stall, a cold-faced cultivator in a water-repellent robe sat cross-legged, surrounded by a crowd.
Spirit turtle shells, fish demon scales, water serpent skins, sea beast horns various demon beast materials were displayed, a dazzling array.
"Brother, do you have any demon beast eggs or cubs for sale?"
Li Quanqing asked with a shy smile.
The cold-faced cultivator glanced at him, his expression indifferent. "Want to raise spirit beasts? Those are high-end goods. You'll need to attend cultivator trade meetings or visit large markets for those."
"Thank you for the advice."
Li Quanqing made a mental note and began browsing the stall for anything useful.
Suddenly, his gaze froze as a few lines of text appeared before his eyes.
[Unidentified high-tier demon beast fossilized dung, contains Dragon Scale Grass seeds. Consuming it aids the growth and transformation of Azure Jade Carps.]
Looking at the dull gray stone, Li Quanqing's fingers trembled slightly.
Though he was thrilled to discover a new function of his golden finger, he had just touched it with his bare hands...
"How much for this stone?"
Li Quanqing casually wiped his hands.
He had read about Dragon Scale Grass in books. It only grew where dragon or serpent demons had shed blood, a rare and precious spirit herb.
"High-tier demon beast excrement. It can repel ordinary demon beasts and is also good for fertilizing fields. One spirit stone."
The cold-faced cultivator spoke, clearly familiar with his goods.
"Such a dirty thing, and you dare sell it for 100 spirit grains? Too expensive!"
Li Quanqing was speechless, ready to haggle.
The stall owner shrugged. "Business hasn't been great, so the price is a bit high. Gotta make a living."
Well, Li Quanqing was defeated by the man's honesty.
"How about 10 spirit grains? Deal?"
The cold-faced cultivator scratched his head. "I'm not great at bargaining. How about 80 spirit grains? Can't go lower."
In the end, Li Quanqing successfully bargained it down to 48 spirit grains... and bought it!
Carefully wrapping the fossil in cloth and storing it in his bag, Li Quanqing finally relaxed.
He clapped his hands, ready to leave Jade Dragon Pond satisfied, when a commotion erupted at the market entrance.
"Someone's selling magical artifacts on the street!"
Instantly, the entire street erupted in excitement.