Longevity Begins With Gu Refining

Chapter 3 Life Is Not Easy

In front of the Bright Moon Hotel, Chen Qing tidied his clothes.

Looking at the waning lights in front of him, the red cherry blossoms and green willows, he couldn't help but sigh. "It's all for the sake of living. It's not easy!"

After saying that, he walked into the Bright Moon Hotel. Soon, a pretty young lady reached out and grabbed his arm, leading him inside.

"What do you want today, Langjun?"

Her voice was soft and tender, making one's bones go soft.

Chen Qing took out a piece of low-grade spirit stone and threw it to the young lady. "Find a good spot on the second floor and listen to music."

When he reached the second floor, he was greeted by the chattering of orioles and swallows, as if he had entered a peacock's nest.

Sitting down at a seat near the window, the beauty on the stage opened her cherry lips, and a clear melody entered his ears, making him forget his worries and salivate.

As expected of a professional!

The pretty lady waved her fan and asked, "Would you like something to drink, Langjun?"

Chen Qing reached into his pocket and took out thirty low-grade spirit stones. He placed them on the table and said, "Serve everyone here a pot of wine."

As he spoke, Chen Qing took out another low grade spirit stone and threw it into the young lady's arms. "Do you understand what I mean?"

The young lady smiled and gently pushed Chen Qing with her delicate hand. "I understand."

Soon, delicate and pretty young ladies came up with wine and served everyone a jug of wine.

When those people asked that question, they pointed at Chen Qingyu.

Those who were served wine cupped their hands towards Chen Qing. Chen Qing smiled and returned their greetings.

As the drinks were served one by one, Chen Qing saw a new scholar take a sip. He stood up and said, "May I know why this Fellow Daoist is treating us?"

Chen Qing thought to himself that this Bright Moon Hotel really knew how to arrange things. That scholar was clearly brought here to serve his little wife.

Chen Qing stood up and clasped his fists, laughing out loud. "I am Chen Qing of Mount Carefree's Frigid Wave Cave. I'm currently at the third level of Qi Refinement. I was fortunate enough to receive a Grass-type Gu from the sect."

"Now that there is hope for my livelihood, my heart is filled with joy. I would like to invite everyone to share in the joy!"

Hearing this, many people immediately raised their wine cups. "Grass Spirit Gu, that's good stuff!"

"I see. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"

"Then we'll have to rely on you for the Gu Spirit Grass in our spiritual fields!"

"That's a very useful piece of information."

After chatting with these people for a while, Chen Qing knew that after today, many people would know that he had a grass spirit Gu.

It's only thirty low-grade spirit stones. Don't worry, don't worry.

With the remaining spirit stones, Chen Qing bought some rice and meat. After which, he wandered around the area where the stalls were set up.

"Senior Brother, how much is this Earth Spirit Crystal?"

The green-robed Daoist said, "Five low-grade spirit stones for one coin."

Chen Qing said with some disdain, "There's still dust in it. It's obviously not pure."

"What if my family's Gu worms go bad from eating them?"

The green-robed Daoist said, "This is fresh, so there must be dust on it. How about this, I'll give you four low-grade Spirit Stones per coin."

Chen Qing took out the last twenty spirit stones from his bag and said, "Give me half a tael."

Returning to the Cold Wave Cave at night, Chen Qing looked at his empty spirit stone pouch.

During the day, it was still filled with fifty-six spirit stones. Now, it was all gone.

Sigh, forced by life.

Speaking of which, that young lady's hands were really soft today.

Hiss.

Chen Qing sliced the cured meat he bought and placed it neatly on the rice before putting it into the pot.

After a while, the aroma spread. He picked up the three cabbages he took from Li He's field.

Mixed with the warm cured meat and rice, the aroma made him salivate.

He looked at the grass spirit Gu and saw that its growth had increased from 18 to 24.

"A coin of ochre rehmannia can increase its growth by 6 points."

Chen Qing put down a coin of Earth Spirit Crystal and held the rice bowl. "I'll eat. You eat too."

There was no news the next day, so Chen Qing went to the spiritual plant elder to continue working.

After working in the sect for three days, Chen Qing returned home and saw a boy waiting at the door.

"Are you Senior Chen?"

Chen Qing said, "What's the matter?"

The boy said, "My master asked me to ask you if you're free in the next few days. He and a few of his friends need to take care of their spirit fields. He specially sent me to invite you."

Chen Qing asked, "Who's your master?"

The boy said, "Clear Rain Temple's Ye Bo Tong."

Chen Qing smiled. "So it's Fellow Daoist Ye. I was originally very busy these few days, but since Fellow Daoist Ye asked, I can only make the trip."

"I'll come in the next few days."

The boy happily replied, "Thank you, Senior Chen."

After asking Li He about Ye Bo Tong's background and learning that he was a crane breeder, Chen Qing finally relaxed.

Normally speaking, those who produced attribute Gu to feed their families were more concerned about their reputation. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to survive here.

Moreover, after hearing that Ye Bo Tong was also a disciple of Carefree Mountain, Chen Qing was even more relieved.

After taking care of thirty mu of spirit fields for six days, perhaps because Ye Bo Tong was very busy, Chen Qing only saw Ye Bo Tong on the sixth day.

After accepting Ye Bo Tong's thirty spirit stones, he took out two more and handed them back.

"With our friendship, there's no need for so much."

Ye Botong didn't pretend and accepted it. "Actually, these are mine and the other four Daoists' spirit fields. They're just taking care of it for me when they're away."

Chen Qing smiled. "You're my friend. You don't have to make it so clear."

He paused and looked at the two spirit stones. "But we can't tell outsiders about this."

Ye Botong nodded and smiled. "Hahaha, don't worry, Daoist Chen."

Chen Qing didn't want outsiders to know because he was afraid that others would say he ruined the market and upset other cultivators with grass spirit Gu.

Ye Botong didn't want to tell them because these two spirit stones were taken from thirty mu of spirit fields. He only had four mu, so he only spent half of the money. Of course, he wouldn't let the other four know.

The two smiled at each other and said goodbye after eating and drinking.

These days, Chen Qing gradually learned that cultivators with grass spirit Gu could only take care of about three mu of land a day. Very few could take care of four mu of land.

His grass spirit Gu was really a treasure.

Thinking of this, he felt that the bundle of Gu spirit grass and the ten low-grade spirit stones were worth it.

"I have to find time to visit Elder Chen again."

"Frequent visits are favors."

When he first came to this world, Elder Chen was the one he was familiar with. He also helped him a lot.

Although Elder Chen was old, he was still a great cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement.

A few days' worth of wages in exchange for Elder Chen's favor was a good deal.

In this half a month, many senior and junior brothers nearby came to invite him. Chen Qing took time to visit Elder Chen after he finished taking care of the spirit Gu.

He bought a bottle of ginseng wine worth ten low-grade spirit stones from Li He. Unexpectedly, Elder Chen didn't welcome him with a smile.

Instead, he scolded him, saying that he didn't know the importance of buying such an expensive thing when he just found the way to make money.

He scolded him again. "You just got the Gu. It's time to accumulate. Don't spend money recklessly."

"Cultivate more. You're still young."

After nagging for an hour, he invited Chen Qing to eat. Chen Qing then cupped his hands and bade farewell gratefully.

He looked at the wine in his hand that he didn't give away. "I didn't expect Elder Chen to be such an honest elder."

Recalling what Li He had said about how dangerous the world outside Carefree Mountain was, Chen Qing began to wonder how Elder Chen had managed to live to this age.

On the way back, Li He stopped Chen Qing with a bowl of rice in his hand. "Have you heard? Senior Martial Brother Wu is crippled."

Chen Qing inquired, "Is it senior martial brother Wu at the fourth layer of Qi Refining?"

Li He nodded. "Yes, he only has one Sword Vermin. Now that he's crippled, I don't think many people will want him to take risks with them."

For some reason, Chen Qing felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

Right now, he liked to hear about cultivators who chose battle type Gu worms getting into trouble.

This was especially the case when the first Gu worm was chosen to be a battle type.

You see, he likes to fight fiercely. Something must have happened!

Our production faculty is still the most reliable.

Therefore, Chen Qing tore off a drumstick from the plate in front of Li He and sat side by side with Li He on the threshold. "Tell me in detail, tell me in detail."

Li He became more spirited. "He only has one Sword Vermin. Now that his leg is crippled, his battle strength will definitely be greatly reduced. I think he'll be difficult to deal with."

Chen Qing nodded in agreement. "What can he do if there's no one?"

Li He smiled. "I heard he's preparing to use everything he has to get a fake leg. I think he's preparing to take on a job in another world."

Chen Qing understood what he meant and pretended not to be crippled. "But this isn't a long-term solution. He'll be discovered sooner or later."

Li He nodded. "That's true. Our production faculty is still the most reliable."

After eating half of Li He's chicken, Chen Qing returned to his cave in satisfaction.

He flipped open his bed and saw twenty-eight spirit stones neatly arranged inside. "Does this count as me sleeping on money?"

The money spent on Bright Moon Hotel was not wasted.

After carefully counting all the spirit stones again, Chen Qing prepared to look at his precious Gu worm.

[Mortal Rank Grass Spirit Gu]

Quality: Seventh Rank

Lifespan: 42/65

Effect: Takes care of Gu Spirit Grass within five mu of land and increases its growth speed and quality.

Growth Requirement: Earth Spirit Crystal, Ochre Earth Yellow, Spirit Molt

Growth Length: 42/100

Advancement Requirement: Ninth Rank, ten drops of Mother Earth Potion, one Spirit Seizing Flower

During this period of feeding, he basically knew the effects of these three materials on growth.

One gram of Earth Spirit Crystal could increase growth by three points. Five low grade spirit stones.

One gram of Ochre Rehmannia could increase growth by six points. Nine low grade spirit stones.

One piece of Spirit Molt could increase growth by eight points. Ten low grade spirit stones.

"Looks like it's cheaper to use Spirit Molt to cultivate."

Chen Qing lightly counted all his assets. There were three grams of Ochre Rehmannia and three grams of Ochre Rehmannia. These were obtained by chance in the past year.

Twenty-eight spirit stones, one rusted sword, three sets of clothes, three pieces of cured meat, and fifty kilograms of white rice.

He picked up a tree branch and counted on the ground. "The most economical way is to buy four more pieces of Spirit Molt. One gram of Ochre Rehmannia and one gram of Earth Spirit Crystal."

"A total of fifty-four spirit stones."

"If the growth rate is zero at the beginning, I should need about one hundred and thirty low grade spirit stones to advance from Seventh Rank to Eighth Rank."

"That's twenty-six days' worth of wages."

"It doesn't seem very expensive."

(End of Chapter)