Upon hearing the words "protect one's safety," Ji Yuan seemed to see the remnants of Old Man Huang's soul on this Dharma Ship cursing sharply.
Ji Yuan was not sure if it was the cultivator in front of him who killed Old Man Huang.
But since his Dharma Ship had ended up here, the man... was likely already doomed.
Ji Yuan touched his pocket, revealing a bitter smile, "Lately I'm a bit strapped for cash, I can only take a look."
The long-faced cultivator didn't look down on him, instead showing a smile, "Look, feel free to look, you don't have to buy if you don't have Spirit Stones, looking doesn't cost money."
It's rare to encounter such a genial fisherman, so Ji Yuan squatted down and took a good look.
"My name is Feng Yidao, may I know your esteemed name?" Feng Yidao cupped his hands and initiated a conversation.
"My name is Ji Yuan, it's a pleasure to meet Daoist Feng."
After looking for a moment, Ji Yuan stood up and left.
The time for paying the Immortal Residence fee was approaching again. Although Ji Yuan had Spirit Stones, he thought it would be wise to keep some prepared.
Upon returning home, he first checked around, confirming that the fish pond and pigsty were all in order, then set down the Spirit Stones and headed to the neighboring Lin family.
Ji Yuan didn't mention Old Man Huang's death, only saying that he saw his Dharma Ship being sold by someone.
Upon hearing this, Lin Hu merely lifted his head and roared in anger.
"Heaven has eyes!!!"
The next day, people from the Water Dragon Sect came to collect the Immortal Residence fee. Unlike the previous time when he owed it, Ji Yuan even pre-paid next month's fee this time.
This way, they wouldn't disturb him next month.
As for the Spirit Stones, Ji Yuan produced them daily, but he feared attracting the attention of the sect's cultivators.
So naturally, interacting less would be for the best.
For the next few days, he focused intently on the "Water Drop Finger" technique, which, to be honest, wasn't difficult since Ji Yuan took just one day to get started.
But the challenging part was what came after getting started.
Every time Ji Yuan performed the Water Drop Finger, it felt as if his ten fingers were being pressed onto a chopping board and needled incessantly. As the moment of execution approached, it was as if needles pierced his nail beds.
Yet after the technique dissipated, there were no injuries to his fingers.
This damned technique, no wonder no one practiced it... Ji Yuan had no choice but to set it aside temporarily, planning to revisit it after the Spirit Dolphin matured and he went through Body Tempering.
Five more days passed quickly.
Ji Yuan dealt with a batch of half-spirit fish that failed to advance and purchased a new batch of Spirit Fish.
In addition, he bought a green-yellow chicken from a chicken cultivator.
This way, he could eat seven Spirit Eggs a day, and with the breakthrough in his cultivation, the refining ability naturally improved.
The previous six Spirit Eggs a day were manageable.
Also on this day, Ji Yuan looked at the nearly two-hundred-pound Spirit Dolphin in the pigsty and felt... a desire to kill.
The best option was naturally to send it to Luo Tong to handle, saving trouble without wastage.
But Ji Yuan didn't dare; he could only do it himself. Standing by the pigsty in the backyard, he looked at the motionless Spirit Dolphin lying there.
With a wave of his hand, a dark blue Water Arrow appeared in his hand.
"Go!"
He shouted lightly, and with a forward thrust of his right hand, the Water Arrow smoothly pierced through the neck of the Spirit Dolphin, which struggled briefly before ceasing all movement.
Ji Yuan quickly grabbed the pre-prepared wooden bucket, jumped into the pigsty, and started collecting the blood.
The tasks thereafter were simple; after all, it was just slaughtering a pig for himself to eat, as long as it was cleaned thoroughly.
That morning, he purposely stewed a pot full of Spirit Dolphin meat for himself, and not daring to drink the blood raw, he made it into blood tofu.
The taste was quite good.
Initially, he didn't feel much while eating, but halfway through, he suddenly felt his whole body starting to heat up.
It was as if he were being boiled alive, scalding hot.
Bead-sized sweat poured down his forehead.
At first, it was just hot, but after a while, his whole body began to itch, Ji Yuan initially managed to endure and kept eating.
But within three to five breaths, he couldn't take it anymore, even falling from the dining table, collapsing to the ground, curled up.
"Damn!"
"Is this what Body Tempering is, truly not a livable experience."
For a moment, Ji Yuan even regretted choosing this path, but for the sake of power, there was no other way, he could only grit his teeth and endure.
Alternating between pain and eating, eating and pain.
After a while, he suddenly smelled a foul odor, raised his hand, and discovered that a layer of mud-like filth had unknowingly accumulated on his arm.
"Is this... Washing Marrow?"
Ji Yuan only knew of similar effects at Foundation Establishment, never thought that Body Tempering could achieve the same, and just clenching his fists felt a burst of explosive power.
He wasted no time cleaning himself and changing into a set of new clothes before he looked at his reflection in the Water Mirror to see his changes.
His appearance was more handsome, his skin whiter and smoother.
Whereas before he had the look of a fisherman weathered by the elements, now he looked every part the pampered young noble.
In other words, he finally had the demeanor of a cultivator.
After experiencing the benefits, for the next four to five days, Ji Yuan stayed at home, not even bothering to deal with a half-spirit fish that advanced into a Spirit Fish.
Determinedly indulging in meat, and as long as it didn't kill him, eating to his heart's content.
Fortunately, being a cultivator and the fact that the Spirit Dolphin was imbued with some Spiritual Qi, it could be refined by his cultivation technique.
After several consecutive days, the nearly two-hundred-pound Spirit Dolphin was entirely consumed, allowing him to experience the wonders of Body Tempering.
The improvement in his physical condition was obvious, and as for "Water Drop Finger," he could now perform it pain-free, effortlessly delivering a powerful attack with a flick of a finger; he had experimented at his door.
The Water Drop Finger striking the water could stir up a large splash.
If this hit someone, it could easily leave a large hole... and compared to the obviously cumbersome Water Arrow Technique, this Water Drop Finger was less consuming and harder to detect.
It's undoubtedly an excellent tool for ambushes.
After finishing the Spirit Dolphin, Ji Yuan didn't want to eat anymore for some time; just recalling the taste of the Spirit Dolphin meat made him feel like vomiting.
After resting at home for a day, he took the Spirit Fish to Zengtou City.
As expected, he sold it for 18 Spirit Stones, bringing his total to 20 Spirit Stones. With no lack of techniques, Ji Yuan planned to store the Spirit Stones first.
Then he could decide whether to upgrade the fish pond to level 2 or buy a magical artifact for protection.
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard people in Zengtou City spreading news.
The battle over at Maple Island... had an outcome!
Zengtou City, Taian Square, and Jingde Square gained nothing; all the benefits from the Foundation Establishment Immortal Mansion were taken by a Foundation Establishment master from the Water Dragon Sect.
The remaining fishermen left empty-handed.
As for couples like Lin Youwei and his wife... they died for nothing.
After hearing this news, Ji Yuan stood in place for a while before heading toward his small home by the shore.
High-level cultivators see low-level cultivators as ants, and sect disciples similarly view loose cultivators as ants... Ji Yuan inexplicably remembered a phrase he had read in a past life.
In the true Cultivation Realm, there aren't many realms; there are just three titles.
Senior, Daoist, and Ant.
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