"So this is what it feels like to not have to work... It's so... refreshing!"
The next day, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
As soon as Jiang Yi opened his eyes, he instinctively rolled out of bed, got dressed, and headed for the door.
It wasn't until he had slipped on his thick-soled cloth shoes that he suddenly realized.
'I'm already an Inspector in the Quenching Room!'
'I only have to check in once every seven days. I don't have to clock in for work at all!'
Immediately, Jiang Yi chuckled and lay back down.
'It wasn't easy to escape the bitter life of cattle and horses. I have to savor this leisure.'
But less than an hour later, Jiang Yi sighed helplessly, silently got up, dressed, and left his room.
'I'm still a long way from the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, let alone catching up to those Noble Cultivator Species with their extraordinary backgrounds.'
'Compared to me, they're like beings from the clouds.'
'The moment I think about it, I'm too restless to lie down.'
'Who said Cultivation was about being carefree? From where I'm standing, it's nothing but anxiety!'
After hearing Yang Xun's words last night, Jiang Yi had secretly set a goal for himself: break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer before the start of spring next year, and then enter the Inner Peak.
He would proceed one step at a time, climbing diligently, hoping to one day leave the Qianji Sect.
He wanted to see what the disciples of the Fu and Kang Clans, who dominated Beimang, were really made of.
'The world is vast. How can I be stuck on Red Flame Peak...?'
"Damn it! This bad habit of aiming too high... I have to change it!"
SPLASH! Jiang Yi plunged his face into the ice-cold water.
The sudden shock jolted him, and he felt much more awake.
He had returned to his steady, down-to-earth mindset!
'The most urgent task is to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer and get a better grasp of the .'
'My Second Layer True Qi alone can't sustain the consumption of this Ninth Grade Technique.'
Jiang Yi leisurely strolled to the Ice and Fire Cave. He had never been seen anywhere outside the workshops at this hour, let alone just wandering around.
The shop boy was surprised to see him and hurried over with a welcoming smile.
"Brother Yi, what can I get for you to try?"
Jiang Yi said,
"I'll have a few beef buns—the kind with thin skin and a lot of filling—and a bowl of Spirit Rice Porridge."
After days of feasting, not much was left of the 24,000 talisman coins that his Qianji Sect coworkers had "voluntarily gifted" him.
He had spent a fortune last night alone, treating everyone from the Big Mixed Courtyard to a full meal and preparing a spread of mountain delicacies to honor Yang Xun.
All in all, he had spent a full 3,000 talisman coins!
It really pained his heart!
Jiang Yi carefully counted his money and found that his purse had shrunk by more than half, leaving him with less than 5,000.
'Marshal Yang mentioned that if I present the secret formula, the Inner Peak could reward me with anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 talisman coins. That's a huge sum.'
'Plus, as an Inspector, I can still collect four or five thousand talisman coins a month even if I don't work.'
'I shouldn't find myself short on cash.'
Jiang Yi chewed on a large, sizzling beef bun dripping with grease and sipped the steaming Spirit Rice Porridge, feeling quite content.
For Marshal Jiang of Red Flame Peak, tens of thousands of talisman coins were certainly enough to cover his expenses.
But for Jiang Rencai, who was determined to pursue Cultivation and strive for the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, it was a little insufficient.
After all, renting a Cave Mansion's Quiet Chamber, attending lectures by Inner Sect Elders, and even nourishment from Spiritual Objects and the supply of Spiritual Food were all money pits.
Jiang Yi's tens of thousands in savings would barely be enough to cover the gaps.
'No wonder so few of the Mortal Servants on Red Flame Peak think about Cultivation. A whole year's hard-earned money isn't even enough to eat Spirit Rice.'
SLURP SLURP. Jiang Yi polished off the entire, heaping bowl of Spirit Rice Porridge.
He wiped his mouth, his eyelids gently lifted, and a golden light shone from within his eyes.
The question he had asked before sleeping last night had already been answered.
[I beg the Celestial Book, show me a method to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer at my current Realm, with the least cost and greatest speed.]
[Inquiry: Breaking the Realm]
[Deduction Time: Six hours]
[Deduction Result: Use Tiger and Wolf Medicine to stimulate qi and blood. The recipe is as follows: three mace of Blood Pattern Grass, two mace of Bone-Strengthening Flower, one jar of strong liquor...]
'Hmm, taking Tiger and Wolf Medicine to make my qi and blood surge, and then using that to break through the barrier... that's certainly a viable option.'
'Blood Pattern Grass and Bone-Strengthening Flower aren't rare Medicinal Materials either. They have them over at Gathering Herbs Peak.'
Jiang Yi's brow furrowed slightly, and he hesitated.
'Rashly taking Tiger and Wolf Medicine could, at best, damage my body and deplete my Primordial Qi. At worst, it could affect my foundation for Cultivation.'
'In the long run, the loss outweighs the gain!'
'But if I don't use the Tiger and Wolf Medicine and just break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer step-by-step, it'll take at least another month...'
After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Yi asked the Celestial Book again.
[I beg the Celestial Book, show me how to compensate for the deficiency after taking the Tiger and Wolf Medicine.]
[Additional Condition: There must be no hidden dangers, latent injuries, or underlying issues. Perfectly repair the body ravaged by the Tiger and Wolf Medicine.]
A brilliant light surfaced on the golden paper, and a moment later, small, tadpole-like characters began to flash one after another.
[Inquiry: Health Preservation]
[Deduction Time: Six hours]
"Looks like there's a chance. Deplete myself, then greatly supplement it afterward. The best of both worlds!"
Having made up his mind, Jiang Yi quickly paid his bill and hurried off to do his shopping.
He was now an Inspector in the Quenching Room, and with his waist token, he could freely enter and exit the other peaks.
Before, he would have had to humbly ask a Marshal for leave and get a written pass.
By the time the sun sank in the west, Jiang Yi had finally gathered all the ingredients for the Tiger and Wolf Medicine recipe. The dozens of packets of Medicinal Materials were strung together in a stack, enough to last him for seven days.
"Whoa! Brother Yi, what are you doing? Brewing medicine?"
Widow Qin had finished work early and smelled a pungent odor the moment she entered the courtyard gate.
Jiang Yi had been busy all afternoon getting the Medicinal Materials ready. He looked up and smiled.
"Sister Qin, you're back. My family has been running apothecaries for generations. You could even say my ancestors were master healers."
"So, I'm just prescribing something for myself to replenish my body."
Widow Qin said with concern,
"You can't just take medicine carelessly. From what I see here, many of these have very harsh properties..."
Jiang Yi said confidently,
"Don't worry, Sister Qin. I'm already at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer with Muscle and Bone Transformation. I can handle it."
Widow Qin knew that Brother Yi was always steady and rarely acted foolishly, so she said,
"Brewing medicine takes time. Let me lend a hand."
Jiang Yi didn't refuse and explained in detail,
"The Blood Pattern Grass and Bone-Strengthening Flower need to be ground into powder, then soaked in strong liquor to release their medicinal properties..."
Widow Qin was always meticulous in her work and quickly sorted the dozens of packets of Medicinal Materials.
She also borrowed a medicine grinder and a clay pot from the Li Family.
"As for decocting the medicine, just leave it to me, Brother Yi."
Widow Qin took the initiative to handle it.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Qin."
Jiang Yi had intended to pay her some talisman coins for her "help," but the moment the words left his mouth, Widow Qin shot him a glare.
"You already call me 'Sister,' so why are you acting like a stranger?"
Jiang Yi thanked her again. He didn't stay idle either, asking He the Venerable to borrow a copper pot from the workshop next door.
The latter watched from the side and asked curiously,
"Brother Yi, what are you planning to fry? Fried cakes?"
Jiang Yi continued to maintain his "Medical Family" persona, explaining methodically,
"The Tiger and Wolf Medicine isn't for internal use; it's a topical application. It's best to make it into an ointment."
"The first step is to 'steep the herbs.' You put medicinal materials like sanqi and dragon's blood resin into heated sesame oil and simmer them over a low flame to slowly draw out their essence."
"Then you use a high flame to fry them until they release their fragrance. After filtering out the dregs, you can mix the medicinal oil with the powder to create the ointment."
He the Venerable clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Brother Yi, with a skill like this, even if you hadn't entered the Qianji Sect, you could still find a good job in the Marketplace."
In the Nanzhan Continent, ruled by the Demon Dao, most Mortal Servants relied on a trade to make a living.
With a useful trade, you'd be in demand wherever you went.
Jiang Yi spoke as he worked,
"Brother He, from now on, I'll have to ask you to keep an eye on things in the Quenching Room."
He the Venerable thumped his chest hard.
"Brother Yi, you can be a hundred percent at ease! Don't mind that I, Old He, am usually careless. Since you've entrusted this task to me, I'll risk my life to do it well!"
Widow Qin couldn't help but jab,
"He's just asking you to do your job well, not to go fight Tribulation Cultivators. Why are you talking about risking your life?"
He the Venerable chuckled. From now on, he would be inspecting Bone Material for Brother Yi. Although he wouldn't earn much more talisman money, the job was easy, allowing him to slack off openly and smoothly ride out the remaining twelve years of his term.
The sun sank behind the peaks as a blizzard howled, blowing in a night as dark as ink.
Everyone in the Big Mixed Courtyard pitched in, helping Jiang Yi quickly prepare the Tiger and Wolf Ointment.
Widow Qin was still not at ease and repeatedly warned him,
"There are fourteen packs of ointment in total. Brother Yi, you have to use them carefully. Don't hurt yourself."
Jiang Yi smiled and agreed,
"Don't worry, Sister Qin. I know my limits."
After putting away the fourteen packs of Tiger and Wolf Ointment, he found a few pottery jars and sealed the ointment inside them.
It needed to sit for a full day and night to let the toxicity dissipate and the ointment solidify. Only then would it be truly finished.
"Brother Yi."
As the others were leaving, He the Venerable pulled Jiang Yi aside and whispered,
"I need to tell you something."
"Did someone in the Quenching Room give you trouble?"
Hearing Jiang Yi's question, He the Venerable waved his hands repeatedly.
"No, no, no! It's just Zhang San from the Grinding and Carving Room and Dong Si from the Forging Room. They want to talk to you and asked me to pass on the message."
Jiang Yi frowned. He had heard of their unsavory reputation.
To be honest, he had no interest in dealing with those two.
"Brother He, what do you think they want to talk to me about?"
He the Venerable said hesitantly,
"Probably... to discuss splitting the 'respect money'."
'Respect money?'
Jiang Yi thought hard and only remembered after a long moment.
It seemed there really was such a thing as "protection fees"!
The Mortal Servants' work was calculated by "piece rate."
Only if the products were up to standard and the work hours were met could they get paid.
This gave the Inspector leverage over others.
Therefore, most of the Mortal Servants in the various workshops had to pay the Inspector to avoid being picked on or deliberately given a hard time.
This was called "respect money."
"Before, although the Inspector position in the Quenching Room was vacant, the Mortal Servants of Red Flame Peak rotated by drawing lots, so that money was collected by Zhang San and Dong Si."
He the Venerable said in a low voice,
"Now that you've taken the post, Brother Yi, they naturally have to give you a cut."
Jiang Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Brother He, those two are used to sucking the marrow from bones; we can't control them."
"But think about it. Every coin the Mortal Servants of Red Flame Peak earn is from their blood and sweat."
"In the past, when we ran into trouble, if anyone had some extra, they were able to and willing to help."
"Now that I've been lucky enough to become an Inspector, am I supposed to turn around and eat their flesh and drink their blood? Is that right?"
He the Venerable lowered his head, seemingly ashamed, and said repeatedly,
"You're right, Brother Yi. You're right."
Jiang Yi placed a hand on He the Venerable's shoulder and brought his face close, his eyes shining brightly.
"Brother He, if you're short on talisman coins, feel free to ask me. But don't you dare do any of that dirty business that makes people curse you behind your back!"
He the Venerable was terrified. For some reason, the Brother Yi before him now sent a chill straight to his heart.
"I know! I know! Whatever you say, Brother Yi, I'll do it!"
Jiang Yi's face suddenly broke into a smile, and he was once again that shy, good-natured youth.
"Brother He, after the end of the month when we get paid, I'll treat you to a meal."
He the Venerable gave a dry laugh.
"You're too kind, Brother Yi! It should be my treat!"