At the bottom of the dark cave, Ling Changqing put away his Silver Thread Net Bag. After a short rest, he decided it was time to leave.
As he reached the entrance, he cautiously scanned his surroundings, repeatedly confirming that no dangerous Sea Beasts or sea fish were near. Only after making sure no other Pearl Gatherers had appeared did Ling Changqing slowly swim out of the cave.
'…Should I go back now, or keep looking for another?'
Floating in the water, Ling Changqing silently weighed his options, momentarily indecisive.
By tradition, if a Pearl Gatherer could bring back a single qualifying Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearl per dive, they were considered to have completed their task for the day and could return to the Sea Boat to rest.
It was still early, so Ling Changqing thought he could probably catch another Yusha Clam. If he did, he would receive a double reward upon his return.
In the past, such a thought would have been incredibly dangerous.
Even without being attacked by a Sea Beast, staying too long in the frigid Deep Sea would take its toll, even on a Cultivator's Physique.
Once a Cultivator's stamina and Spiritual Power ran out, with no Elixirs to replenish them in time, they would most likely be doomed to remain on the seabed forever.
The Pearl Gatherers who dared to risk bringing back two or even three Yusha Clams in a single trip were all experienced veterans with a Cultivation of at least the Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer, which was the only way to have enough confidence for such an attempt.
In the past, Ling Changqing's strength had been limited, so he had always adhered to the core principle of the Way of Survival. Each time he dived, he would finish his work as soon as he found a single suitable Yusha Clam, never lingering in the water.
But now, with the mysterious Era Star Palace aiding him, Ling Changqing's strength had increased significantly. He felt it was time to be a bit more flexible.
After all, one couldn't improve their Cultivation without the support of resources. To break through to the Qi Cultivation 4th Layer as soon as possible, he would need all sorts of Cultivation Resources: Elixirs, Spirit Stones, Cultivation Techniques, and more.
'To hell with it, I'll give it a shot!'
Indecisiveness was not part of Ling Changqing's character. He made his decision on the spot.
After checking his tools and gripping his short knife, Ling Changqing resumed his search among the dark reefs.
While the waters around Zenxin Island were undoubtedly dangerous, they were also rich with resources.
Besides the Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearl, there were countless other resources of value. Certain rare items could fetch a high price at the Marketplace, provided one had the skill to obtain them.
In the past, when the Ling Family's Pearl Gatherer teams went out to sea, they didn't just search for Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearls; they collected all sorts of Cultivation Resources the family required.
This time, however, the situation was special. It was a task personally ordered by the Patriarch, which was why Steward Ling Zifeng had instructed the Pearl Gatherers to drop everything else and prioritize collecting Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearls to get the job done quickly.
Hundreds of yards away in the deep sea, a pale-faced Chen Tong was huddled in a crevice at the base of a large reef, trembling. Traces of blood seeped from the corners of his lips.
In the water not far from him, an undercurrent churned. A silver-gray Senluo Sawtooth Shark, several yards long and radiating a dense, murderous aura, patrolled back and forth, its ferocious, cavernous mouth clearly visible.
The Senluo Sawtooth Shark's terrifying nature was far beyond that of any common Sea Beast; its destructive power was firmly on par with a Second Rank Demon Beast.
To confront, let alone kill, an adult Senluo Sawtooth Shark, a Cultivator would typically need to be at the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer or higher and be wielding a Top Grade Magical Artifact just to have a chance.
Any Cultivator who fell short of that standard could only hope to wear it down through a battle of attrition, relying on overwhelming numbers.
'Damn it all! How could I be so unlucky today?! I haven't been down here for long, and I've already run into this deadly bastard of a beast…'
Chen Tong spat, cursing under his breath through gritted teeth. The mix of anger, indignation, and fear in his heart only made his injuries ache more intensely.
If this behemoth decided to linger, Chen Tong's chances of survival today were slim. With his scrawny frame, he wouldn't even be enough to get stuck in the beast's teeth.
Meanwhile, Ling Changqing was completely unaware of the scene unfolding far away. He had already found the hiding place of a second Yusha Clam and, after observing the surrounding terrain, skillfully entered the cave.
'Huh? There are two of them this time?'
After getting a clear look at the bottom of the cave, Ling Changqing felt a flash of joy, which was quickly followed by a hint of disappointment.
The good news: there were two Yusha Clams hidden in the sand. The bad news: based on his experience, Ling Changqing could tell that only one of them contained a Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearl.
Still, this was an excellent result. At least he wouldn't be returning empty-handed. Few other Pearl Gatherers had this kind of luck.
Taking out two Sealing Talismans he had hidden away, Ling Changqing focused his mind, silently circulated his Spiritual Power, locked onto the Yusha Clam's aura, and activated a Talisman.
A flash of light illuminated the entire cave and then was gone. When peace returned, another Yusha Clam was already inside Ling Changqing's Silver Thread Net Bag.
'Alright, time to head back!'
Ling Changqing didn't hesitate. Even though he hadn't used much stamina or Spiritual Power and likely had enough energy for one more go, he wasn't going to risk it.
The price of greed is often losing everything.
He repeated the same cautious procedure. After confirming there was no danger, Ling Changqing pushed through the water, swimming rapidly toward the surface.
A few moments later, Ling Changqing broke the surface and once again saw the familiar azure Celestial Vault. Several huge birds of prey swooped among the clouds as a salty sea breeze swept over the water, creating ripples upon the waves.
Ling Changqing's boat was circling nearby. When the old servant at the oars saw him surface, he immediately paddled over.
"Brother Ling, was it a smooth trip today?"
The old boatman asked with a cheerful laugh. As long as the Pearl Gatherer returned safely, his own task for the day was considered complete, so it was only natural for him to be in a good mood.
"It was alright."
Ling Changqing replied curtly, then sat down, clutching his Silver Thread Net Bag, and began to regulate his breathing to recover his energy.
The old man knew he wasn't one for conversation, so he said no more and leisurely rowed the small, rocking boat back toward the main Sea Boat.
Pulling up to the hull, Ling Changqing grabbed the rope ladder thrown down by a sailor and nimbly climbed onto the deck.
At that moment, Steward Ling Zifeng was sitting at a Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood Table, drinking alone. Several exquisitely prepared dishes were laid out before him.
Seeing the familiar blue-robed young man appear, Ling Zifeng was startled for a moment, then broke into a smile.
"You're back already, my boy? And with good news so soon? It seems you really are quite lucky!"
Ling Changqing was the first to return today, and he had even caught two Yusha Clams. If both contained a Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearl, it would certainly be a very good omen.
Ling Changqing smiled, bowed, and offered a few complimentary words to Ling Zifeng before handing his Silver Thread Net Bag to a Ling Family attendant.
A moment later, Ling Zifeng's face was wreathed in smiles as he gazed at the two crystal-clear, brilliantly shining Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearls in his hand.
'If only all the Pearl Gatherers could be as outstanding as Ling Changqing,' he thought. 'This mission would be a breeze.'
The Lord Steward looked Ling Changqing up and down, pondering for a moment before finally speaking.
"Young man, how about this... if you can consistently perform as exceptionally as you did today over the next few days, I might consider giving you a little something extra. What do you say?"
Perhaps it was the influence of the Era Star Palace's mysterious power, or maybe it was simply Destiny at work, but he now found Ling Changqing rather agreeable and so made this somewhat surprising decision.
"..."
Ling Changqing's expression remained unchanged. He bowed again and said softly, "It is my honor to serve you, Lord Steward. I wouldn't dare ask for any reward."
Ling Zifeng chuckled. "No need to be so modest. You've earned it."
"Your Cultivation is a bit low, but you're still young. If you had a better Cultivation Technique Divine Techniques, assisted by enough Elixirs and Spirit Stone resources, I imagine advancing your Cultivation further wouldn't be difficult."
Ling Changqing was slightly taken aback. 'Is the Lord Steward actually going to help me?'
But Ling Zifeng's next words nearly made him freeze on the spot.
"...As long as you can bring back a cumulative total of one hundred high-quality pearls over the coming days,"
Ling Zifeng said with a chuckle, "I can personally vouch for you. You can apply for a loan from the Ling Family Bank. With those resources, you can focus on improving your Cultivation. You could even trade for a better Cultivation Technique Divine Techniques. Isn't that much better than toiling away here, trying to save up?"
The expression on Ling Changqing's face stiffened. He hadn't even finished paying off the mortgage and car loans from his past life, and now, so soon after arriving in this new world, he was about to get entangled with loans all over again.
"So, um... you can get a loan for that?"
Ling Changqing took a breath and asked weakly.
A man by Ling Zifeng's side, a slightly plump and amiable-looking old man in white robes named Tian Wenhua, stepped forward and explained gently:
"You are not mistaken, young man. Our Ling Family is large and prosperous, with many descendants. Among them are numerous promising youths with excellent aptitude who, due to a lack of funds, are unable to pursue the path of the Dao."
"The family's leadership couldn't bear to see the younger generation worry about Cultivation resources, so they had the Ling Family Bank launch this charitable initiative. Any junior whose aptitude meets the requirements is eligible to apply..."
After his explanation, Ling Changqing finally had a preliminary understanding of how loans worked in this world.
In his past life, there were mortgages, car loans, bride-price loans, student loans, cosmetic surgery loans, consumer loans... An endless variety of loans covering every conceivable aspect of life, leaving no stone unturned.
Many were even unsecured loans—if you dared to apply, they dared to approve.
The pros and cons of a world flooded with loans was a complex issue, and one not worth dwelling on.
But for various loans aimed at the Cultivator class to also exist in this mysterious, magnificent world of the Immortal Dao?
According to the old man in white, not only did such lending exist, but the market was massive. The Ling Family Bank's annual profits from this business were staggering.
For example, there were "Elixir Loans," "Spirit Stone Loans," "Magical Artifact Loans," "Cultivation Technique Loans," and even "Qi Cultivation Loans," all with detailed terms regarding amounts, interest rates, and repayment periods.
If a Cultivator was short on cash but wanted to find a Dao Companion for Dual Cultivation, the Ling Family Bank even offered "Dual Cultivation Loans" and "Bride-Price Loans."
The Ling Family Bank offered hundreds of different loan types, allowing low-level Cultivators to choose whichever best suited their needs.
As for the consequences of failing to repay a loan on time... one only had to look at the ever-growing army of enslaved Cultivators on the family's lands to understand.
Any power that dared to offer loans certainly had methods to prevent defaults. A borrower trying to run out on their debt? Not a chance.
The fate of a defaulter was to lose everything, including ownership of their own body. They would be forced to labor their entire lives, and even after death, their very souls would be harvested to refine Magical Artifacts.
"...Thank you for your favor, Lord Steward. I will do my best."
In the end, Ling Changqing didn't hesitate long before accepting the offer.
'After all, it's all for the sake of improving my Cultivation as quickly as possible,' he thought. 'There's no shame in taking out a loan for Cultivation. It seems that's how everyone gets by.'