Chapter 62

Chapter 62

There were no spirit veins for the time being.

As for whether they might be fortunate enough to encounter an unoccupied spirit vein in the future, that was uncertain. However, after receiving his assurance, Wen Qiao firmly kept in mind the promise to find and give him an unclaimed spirit vein someday.

After exploring the mountain, they retreated to a cave residence on its midsection for rest.

The cave abode followed the standardized design of Crimson Heaven Sect, nothing remarkable about it. What did catch Wen Tuti's fancy were the flourishing spirit fruit trees in front of it. She would often leap onto them to pluck fruits whenever she felt like it.

The spirit fruits that could grow in such a place were not extraordinary breeds. Comparable to ordinary fruits in the secular world, they merely contained extra spiritual energy, suitable as snacks.

Upon entering the cave, they arranged it to resemble a home.

Wherever the two of them were together, it felt like home.

Subsequently, the couple dedicated themselves to cultivation and supplementary skills study respectively. Amidst their busy schedules, they would still find time to refine some Mystic Rank spirit pills for Wen Qiao to munch on as snacks.

Wen Tuti naturally had her share too.

Perhaps across the entire Holy Martial Continent, only this master and his pet could indulge in consuming top-grade spirit pills like sweets.

After finishing her cultivation session, Wen Qiao lifted her head to look at Ning Yuzhou, noticing that he was holding a hundred-year-old Beauty Flower.

"Wife, are you planning to refine a Beauty Pill?" she asked as she snuggled closer.

Wen Tuttu laid on her shoulder, nibbling on a spirit fruit while curiously observing the flower.

The rabbit recognized the plant. Its sister had strictly forbidden it from even touching a single leaf of the flower, let alone after it bloomed. Later, her sister had deliberately accelerated the growth of many more Beauty Flowers, saying she wanted to use them to earn yuanjing.

Once they earned enough yuanjing, they would have an endless supply of spirit wine – it was simply too tempting.

Wen Tuttu's gaze became eager as it looked at the Beauty Flower, also eagerly watching Brother Ning to see if he was going to refine the pill.

Ning Yuzhou hummed in response and said with a smile, "Since I have nothing else to do right now, I might as well refine a batch. Then, we can find a place to sell them."

Wen Qiao's eyes sparkled as she asked, "Do we need to cultivate another batch of Beauty Flowers?"

Ning Yuzhou shook his head. "The ones in the space should be sufficient."

Pills like the Rejuvenation Pill, the rarer they were, the more precious and expensive they became. It was best not to flood the market with them all at once; selling them in batches would be more profitable.

Wen Qiao wasn't aware of his intentions. She simply acknowledged his suggestion with an "oh" and didn't mention entering the space.

Since she had come up with the idea of making money from the Rejuvenation Flowers, Wen Qiao had been devoting herself to nurturing them. She had hastened the ripening of the first Rejuvenation Flower, obtaining a batch of seeds. Meanwhile, she continued cultivating more flowers, and now there were already dozens of such plants in her space, all over a hundred years old and ready for their first bloom, perfect for medicinal use.

Currently, they were guests at the Crimson Heaven Sect. Despite the sect's reputable image on the Holy Martial Continent, and considering their status as visitors, it was unlikely that anyone would deliberately pry into their affairs. Nevertheless, Wen Qiao decided to exercise caution and avoid entering the space whenever possible, to prevent any unintentional revelation that might invite trouble.

***

Several peaceful days passed before Sheng Yunshen dropped by to visit.

"How have you been settling in these few days?" he asked, looking around. "Is there anything you need?"

"No, everything is fine," they replied.

Sheng Yunshen apologized, "I've been summoned by my senior fellow disciples to study the poison in my body, so I haven't had the chance to visit until today. As for my senior sister, she seemed to have taken on a mission the day she returned and has disappeared somewhere. Even her Snow Blade Peak is inaccessible. Anyway, she asked me to check on you when I had time."

So, they hadn't intentionally neglected their guests.

Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao paid no heed to such matters. In truth, the aura here was abundant, and with no disturbances, it was an ideal place for cultivation.

Sheng Yunshen, understanding their personalities, knew they were not petty individuals. He quickly set the matter aside and suggested, "I'm free today. How about I show you around the area?"

Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao agreed happily.

Thus, Sheng Yunshen led them on a tour of the sect with enthusiasm, explaining the surroundings as they went along.

They encountered numerous disciples from Crimson Sky Sect who would pause to pay respects to Sheng Yunshen, addressing him as Senior Brother Sheng with evident admiration.

As the son of the sect leader, Sheng Yunshen's cultivation might not be exceptional, but he was an elder brother to many inner sect disciples. Moreover, he was easygoing, which made his junior siblings enjoy spending time with him and confide in him.

"Senior Brother, are these the guests that you and Senior Sister brought back?" a curious junior sister inquired.

Sheng Yunshen replied, "Yes, they saved my life. You must treat them with respect."

"Oh, of course, Senior Brother. Don't worry."

"Right, Senior Brother. We're not like that Mu Shan from the Qingyun Sect, who thinks the world revolves around her and expects everyone to cater to her whims," another chimed in.

"Speaking of Mu Shan, have any of you heard any recent news about her?"

"What news is that?"

"I've heard that she was mistreated on Cangwu Mountain. When Fairy Liuyun found out, she was furious and vowed to teach a lesson to whoever dared to bully her daughter."

"How could anyone bully her? She's more likely the one doing the bullying. Fairy Liuyun used to be such an ethereal maiden, but in recent years, she seems increasingly unreasonable."

"What ethereal maiden? Our Sect Master's wife is the true embodiment of purity. It's said that Fairy Liuyun once had feelings for our Sect Master, but alas, his heart only belonged to our Sect Master's wife. In the end, she married Dao Yan in a sorrowful state..."

"......."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Hearing his junior disciples' gossip becoming increasingly inappropriate, Sheng Yunshen felt compelled to clear his throat as a reminder that they had a guest present and should not be discussing their elders' affairs so freely.

Only then did the Crimson Heaven Sect disciples recall their guest and hastily made their exit.

Scratching his face in embarrassment, Sheng Yunshen said, "Don't take their words to heart. Some of it is mere misinformation."

Ning Yuzhou smiled faintly but didn't respond.

Wen Qiao held her husband's hand, her clear and profound eyes gazing at Sheng Yunshen.

Feeling pressured by her gaze, Sheng Yunshen cleared his throat before saying, "Don't worry. Even if Fairy Liuyun acts unreasonably to avenge Mu Shan, our sect won't allow her to run amok. My parents are reasonable people; they despise the act of bullying the weak with power."

Ning Yuzhou thanked him politely, "Thank you, Mister Sheng and Sect Leader Sheng. If we cause trouble for your sect, we will leave immediately."

"Relax, it won't come to that. With my parents here, there's nothing to worry about!" Sheng Yunshen assured them, patting his chest.

Ning Yuzhou smiled, remaining silent.

After wandering around, they arrived at a towering peak. At the foot of the mountain stood a colossal stone three zhang tall. Deep on its surface was a palm print, accompanied by the inscription 'Lingyun Peak' beside it.

"Lingyun Peak is a gravity peak. The gravitational force within differs from that outside. As one ascends from the foot to the summit, the gravity varies. This is where our Crimson Heaven Sect disciples usually train. There are also different weight-bearing chambers inside the peak, suitable for body cultivation and capable of tempering one's physique..."

With Sheng Yunshen's explanation, they gained a general understanding of Lingyun Peak.

"How much gravity is there?" Wen Qiao inquired.

"The gravity at the foot of the mountain is twice that of the outside world, then five times, ten times, twenty times...," Sheng Yunshen explained, glancing at Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao before adding with a smile, "If you're interested, you can give it a try."

As he spoke, he produced two tokens and said, "These are my secondary tokens. They'll grant you access."

Each peak of Crimson Sky Sect was protected by barriers, and one needed an identity token to enter any specific peak. Of course, identity tokens weren't all-powerful, but for the sect master's personal disciples, they allowed access to many places and also enabled them to hold several secondary tokens for their close junior siblings.

Ning Yuzhou took one token and passed it to Wen Qiao, smiling gently. "Ah Chuo, you can try going in when you have time."

Wen Qiao acknowledged, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Sheng Yunshen cleared his throat and turned to Wen Qiao, asking, "Your weapon is a whip, right, Min Junior Sister? Actually, you could refine your whip skills on the Resting Forest Peak. It's an excellent place for that."

Wen Qiao pondered for a moment and replied, "I guess I'm more of a Body Cultivator."

Sheng Yunshen: "..."

Sheng Yunshen was utterly shocked.

Looking at Wen Qiao's slender frame and delicate face, he couldn't picture her as a Body Cultivator. Most Body Cultivators developed bulging muscles, yet he found it hard to imagine the lovely and adorable Min Junior Sister turning into a muscular woman. It was too disillusioning.

Ning Yuzhou offered a small smile, understanding Wen Qiao's perspective.

As a half-demon, since she had transformed into her demonic form, her physical strength surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. If she could continue to refine her demonic body, it would be more useful in combat than any weapon. This kind of cultivation method, similar to Body Cultivation, naturally fell under its category.

"Min Sister, why did you choose the path of Body Cultivation?" Sheng Yunshen asked with a pained expression, desperately trying to dissuade her from pursuing such a daunting path. "Why not Wu Cultivation or Spell Cultivation? Those are more suitable for girls..."

"I'm just really strong," Wen Qiao said matter-of-factly.

Sheng Yunshen: "...That's a great reason."

Fearing that Wen Qiao might actually start her body refinement right in front of him, Sheng Yunshen hastily led them away, deciding to pretend he hadn't heard her earlier statement.

Let him preserve his lovely impression of the young girl.

Next, they made their way around Lingyao Peak.

Lingyao Peak soared high into the clouds, with barriers guarding its entrance. However, these obstacles were no match for Sheng Yunshen.

Considering Ning Yuzhou was an alchemist, Sheng Yunshen assumed he would have an interest in the medicinal garden. Using his identity token, he activated the barrier and led the two of them into Lingyao Peak.

A disciple from Lingyao Peak approached with a smile, asking, "Senior Brother Sheng, why are you here today?"

Sheng Yunshen chuckled. "I'm bringing a friend for a visit. You can go about your business; there's no need to stay."

The young disciple obediently left upon hearing this.

Lingyao Peak was vast. At its foot lay orderly spirit fields separated by different formations to prevent the properties of the spirit herbs from interfering with one another's growth.

The spirit herbs in these lower fields were generally of a lower rank. Higher-grade ones could be found higher up the mountain, where the essence energy was more abundant, suitable for advanced spirit herbs.

Sheng Yunshen led them towards the midsection of the mountain.

Upon reaching the slope, they saw a man dressed in loose robes with his pant legs and sleeves rolled up, exposing his limbs. His attire was casual, not at all that of a cultivator but more like a farmer from the mortal world. However, his face was fair and delicate, resembling that of an inexperienced young man.

At that moment, he was crouched in front of a spirit field, muttering to a purple ginseng.

"Uncle-Master Fei," Sheng Yunshen called out to the man.

Fei Yubai looked up, his expression slightly dazed. Upon seeing Sheng Yunshen, he was delighted and asked, "Little Yunshen, why are you here? I heard the alchemist who helped suppress your poison is also in the sect. Did you bring him along?"

Sheng Yunshen instinctively took a step back, his gaze drifting to Ning Yuzhou, inwardly exclaiming in dismay.

Sure enough, he saw Fei Yubai's eyes land on Ning Yuzhou, who was then enthusiastically pulled aside for questioning: "You're the one who helped suppress the poison in Little Yunshen? How did you determine what kind of poison it was? Where did you obtain the formula for the Second Transformation Profound Yin Pill, and why does it contain several incompatible spirit medicines? The Thousand-Year Heart-Eating Grass has an incredibly potent venom; how could you be certain it would counteract the poison within Little Yunshen's body? Also, do you think I could cultivate Heart-Eating Grass if I create an environment resembling the Netherworld using an array formation...?"

Upon hearing his uncle's relentless inquiries, Sheng Yunshen felt a sense of despair and guilt towards Ning Yuzhou.

If he had known that Uncle Fei was here, he would never have brought them along.

"Uncle..."

"Shush!"

"Uncle, I..."

"Get lost!"

After several attempts to pull his uncle away, Sheng Yunshen gave up and turned to Ning Yuzhou with a grimace.

Fifteen minutes later, Sheng Yunshen and Wen Qiao crouched nearby, watching the two men engrossed in conversation not far from them.

Their conversation ranged from identifying incompatible spirit medicines to alchemy techniques and nurturing spirit herbs – topics that were far beyond the comprehension of outsiders like them, let alone interrupting.

"His name is Fei Yubai, my senior uncle. He's a Heaven Rank Alchemist. He and Cen Baicao from the Qingyun Sect both achieved this rank successively, often being compared to one another. However, their personalities couldn't be more different. Senior Uncle is a man obsessed, dedicating his life solely to alchemy and cultivating spirit herbs. Everything else holds no interest for him. Few people can engage in conversation with him, so I'm surprised that Lord Ning could actually connect with Senior Uncle..."

Speaking up to this point, Sheng Yunshen was filled with deep admiration.

Despite Fei Yubai being a revered Heaven Rank Alchemist, his obsessive nature and single-minded focus on alchemy and spirit herb cultivation made him appear distant and hard to approach.

Indeed, he was difficult to deal with. Few could follow the leaps of his thoughts, and even those alchemists who shared his passion were dismissed for their lack of skill in cultivating herbs. Those skilled in herb cultivation, on the other hand, were criticized for their lack of alchemical prowess. Even those rare few who excelled in both alchemy and herb cultivation were deemed inadequate due to their lower rank, unable to resonate with his train of thought.

He was indeed a challenging person to please.

Fortunately, aside from these two aspects, he was generally pleasant to be around.

"Ah, my husband is considerate," Wen Qiao said matter-of-factly.

Sheng Yunshen: "..." How did that relate to consideration?

Sheng Yunshen felt a bit hopeless about this couple's constant display of affection towards each other. It wasn't necessary to flaunt their partners like this all the time.

Still, when he saw his usually indifferent senior uncle meekly holding a jade slip, attentively jotting down Ning Yuzhou's words and nodding like a pecking chicken, that earnest attitude of learning made him feel as if Young Master Ning was indeed quite considerate, not finding his senior uncle bothersome.

Wen Qiao calmly fed a spirit pill to Wen Tuttu and continued crouching there, listening to their conversation about alchemy and grass cultivation. She gained immensely from it and resolved that whenever she entered the space in the future, she would also cultivate grass diligently.