Put away your magical powers now!.

Chapter 229 [Flying Boat] (6300)

Chapter 223 [Flying Boat] (6300)

This deadbeat in front of him was no simpleton either. Seeing Chen Yan's cold attitude and aloof demeanor, he simply focused his gaze and suppressed the embarrassment on his face.

Donghai cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Yan and said loudly, "I suppose you've only been here a short time and have already heard some unrelated rumors. Most people in this world just parrot what others say and like to spread gossip to slander others' reputations. I don't bother explaining my own affairs to others. From now on, we'll be neighbors, and as time goes on, you'll naturally know what kind of person I am."

After he finished speaking, he acted as if he were perfectly upright.

If Chen Yan hadn't personally witnessed Zhao You being owed electricity bills and overheard three neighbors talking about how he cheated alchemists out of money and swindled people out of materials... he almost would have believed it.

Donghai took a deep breath, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave. However, he deliberately walked very slowly, and after taking three steps, he deliberately slowed down even more.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yan behind him made no attempt to stop or persuade him to stay; he simply closed the courtyard gate gently.

With a snap, the courtyard gate closed. Donghai froze, turned his head, and looked at the closed gate, a flash of anger crossing his face.

He knew his reputation was ruined, and he figured it was impossible for him to deceive anyone in Xitai City again.

They could only try their luck with some newly arrived cultivators.

He found out that the person who moved in next door was a newcomer from out of town to Xitai City, and that his cultivation level was at the high level of the Returning Origin Realm—in Xitai City of the Western Frontier, such a cultivation level was considered quite outstanding.

Thinking that the other party had considerable cultivation and was a newcomer, he might not know about his bad reputation. He even thought of going to befriend him and see if he could get some benefits from him. He never expected that the other party would find out about his dirty deeds so quickly.

Donghai's eyes were gloomy, and he was also anxious.

He is now at his wit's end, with no way to make money and a huge debt. If he can't find a way to earn money soon, he may not be able to stay in Xitai City any longer.

Although he had previously relied on his cultivation level to avoid trouble from the Xitai City government, now that he owed the district's Yuanqi Formation money, it was considered an outstanding public debt.

Private debts may not be of concern to the local government. But public debts are a different story.

Moreover, the most pressing matter is that if I can't pay off the public debt in the next two days, I'm afraid I won't be able to stay in this district. If the government sends people to kick me out of the district, wouldn't the image I've built up collapse overnight?
They're barely holding on now, but if they're kicked out of the neighborhood, the creditors who are still somewhat intimidated by their own facade will probably all come knocking on their door to collect their debts once they hear the news.
By the time……

Donghai's expression was uncertain, but he was helpless and could only turn around and go back to his own yard in a huff.

His courtyard was not far from Chen Yan's house. Even through two walls, he could vaguely hear the sounds coming from Chen Yan's courtyard: servants were cleaning and tidying up the courtyard, creating a lively atmosphere.

On the East Sea side, the courtyard was deserted, though cleaning wasn't a problem—after all, cultivators could use magic to clean up the dust.

But when things get messy, no one helps to tidy them up. The flowers and plants that were originally planted in the yard are left unattended and become a mess.

He had long since dismissed all his servants—because he had no money to pay their wages.

The courtyard was deserted and the kitchen was cold and empty, which made him increasingly anxious.

He made a point of visiting at this time—just in time for lunch.

Thinking that the other party would at least invite him to stay for a meal out of courtesy, he thought that they would do their best to do so.

Donghai pondered helplessly, thinking that he couldn't very well go to Xueya Pass to become a low-level rogue hunter, could he?

Are we really going to go beyond the Great Wall to do business with those ruthless killers, risking our lives for money?

·
Once Chen Yan returned to his cave, he stopped thinking about the East Sea—the identity of the boy in the East Sea was questionable, but Chen Yan didn't want to investigate it for the time being.

Chen Yan rested in the cave for a while, then took out the map of the four regions of the domain drawn by Su Yi and looked at it for a while.

Outside, Zhang San was already knocking on the door of the cave dwelling, announcing to Chen Yan that dinner was ready.

This realm truly treats cultivators like celestial dragons.

Zhang San's two servants, the cooks, were indeed quite skilled. Zhang San had two maids bring in four dishes and a soup, along with a plate of fruit for dessert.

The melon is said to be a specialty of the Western Frontier, the Green Jade Melon, with a sweet and fragrant taste and rich in vital energy. Even mortals can benefit from eating it. However, this melon is grown by the official farm of Xitai City and has a magic array to gather vital energy, so mortals naturally cannot afford it.

The four dishes consisted of two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. Chen Yan couldn't identify what kind of food or meat it was—he was afraid of revealing his ignorance by asking too many questions, so he just ate.

The moment the meat touched his tongue, he raised an eyebrow. It was unlike any pork, beef, or mutton in the real world; its aroma was incredibly rich and intense. After entering his mouth, his entire palate was filled with a rich fragrance, without a trace of any fishy or unpleasant smell. It was as if his entire stomach and intestines were open, eagerly welcoming the food to come down quickly.

He had only encountered a similar meaty texture once in real life—after he became rich, he went to a restaurant in Jinling Prefecture known for its high prices and ate the legendary bluefin tuna. In the real world, this thing is known for its high price, but in fact, eight out of ten restaurants on the market that claim to sell bluefin tuna are selling fakes!
Chen Yan went to eat the real thing that time, and he found that the meat was indeed delicate. It had the illusion that the fish would melt on its own when it entered his mouth, as if he didn't need to chew it. He just pressed his lips together and the fish would slowly soften and melt away. Although it was an illusion, this kind of taste was the first time that Chen Yan, who had been poor for twenty years, had experienced the taste of "money".

The taste of this meat in the meal reminded Chen Yan of the real bluefin tuna he had eaten before—and it was even better than many of them!

The food was so delicious that Chen Yan, who didn't have much of an appetite at first, had his appetite awakened after one bite and quickly finished the meal.

After the meal, Zhang San thoughtfully brought over a pot of tea. The tea leaves were fragrant, and Chen Yan wondered what variety they were from. He felt that they were about the same quality as the ones he had taken from Lin Qingquan's house.

Chen Yan sipped his tea, while Zhang San stood at his sides serving him.

Chen Yan sighed: "Your chefs are quite skilled. This meal tastes better than what I ate at the tavern near the docks during the day."

Zhang San cautiously replied, "My lord, you are wise. Those taverns in the dock area don't sell the taste of their food; they sell the location. They build their houses along the river to enjoy the river view, but the food itself is quite mediocre."

The two cooks under my command learned their skills from a young age, specializing in serving monks, so their culinary skills are far superior to those of the taverns.

The ingredients are carefully prepared and processed. For example, with the fish dish, they painstakingly remove all the meat and tendons to ensure a good texture.

Such meticulous craftsmanship can only be achieved in a small, family-run kitchen. In a tavern outside, with its numerous customers and countless dishes sold daily, the kitchen simply couldn't handle such finesse.

Chen Yan nodded and glanced at Zhang San: "You're telling me all this because you have something to report, right? Don't beat around the bush, just say it."

Zhang San chuckled and quickly whispered, "My lord, I dare not beat around the bush. I simply want to tell you about the accounts for the future."

In our courtyard, the master has already paid the servants' wages for this month, and there is also forty coins in the public account that is held by me.

Today I went out and bought some tea, fruits and vegetables to entertain guests, which cost me ten coins. I then used the remaining twenty coins to buy some ingredients.

After calculating, this amount of food should be enough to last for three to five days…

Chen Yan sighed: "Eating at home is definitely much cheaper."

In that tavern, a single meal could cost tens of dollars.

Now, 20 yuan can buy enough ingredients to last three to five days at home.

But that's not surprising.

In the real world, it's not surprising that a meal at a high-end restaurant can easily cost several thousand dollars, equivalent to a month's salary for an average person.

For an average family living at home, if they buy groceries and cook for themselves, a good meal would only cost a hundred or two hundred yuan—and that's considered a good, expensive meal.

"Are vegetable prices in Xitai City really that low? With so many people in our courtyard, if we eat like this for three to five days, it'll be..."

Before Chen Yan could finish speaking, Zhang San's expression suddenly changed, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud, his body trembling: "Master, please understand, I would never dare to embezzle! The people in our courtyard would never dare to eat the cultivator's food!"

Chen Yan was taken aback, and then Zhang San explained tremblingly, "The servants in the courtyard, including myself, all eat ordinary rice and vegetables, which are bought from the outer city. It is the ingredients for your meals, sir, that are purchased from shops in the inner city."

The six of us in our courtyard together could eat for ten days without spending a single jade coin—rice and vegetables in the outer city were very cheap.”

Chen Yan was taken aback, then immediately realized that he had misunderstood.

"Get up. It was my mistake. You don't need to be so afraid," Chen Yan waved his hand.

Zhang San then stood up and said in a low voice, "I just wanted to ask you, sir, of the money you gave me from the public account today, ten coins were used to buy tea and fruit, and twenty coins were used to buy groceries. There are still ten coins left. If I go to buy food next time, I'm afraid it won't be enough. What do you think…?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'm going on a long journey today, and I don't know how many days it will take to return. There's no need to buy any more ingredients. Just use the remaining ten coins to buy whatever you need at home. It won't cost too much."

After thinking it over, Chen Yan didn't want to trick anyone, so he frankly said, "I don't know how long it will take to get back, or even if I can get back at all."

"Since you've served me for a few days, consider it fate. If I don't return, you'll still be paid a full month's wages and don't need to return them. If I don't return by the end of the month, go to the neighborhood and find Manager Zhao You, and tell him I've returned the house, so he can arrange for you to serve elsewhere."

Zhang San was stunned upon hearing this, unsure of what to think.

He only served me for a few days, but the master paid me a month's wages—that was certainly exceptionally generous.

Such an easy-going and easy-to-serve cultivator is indeed rare.

If possible, Zhang San would like to continue serving under this master.

But then they said they were going on a long trip in a few days and didn't know if they would come back—and told me to prepare to find someone else to serve me.

For a moment, Zhang San was also a little confused.

The realm is clearly divided into classes, with a huge gap between cultivators and mortals. While cultivators may not abuse or kill their mortal servants, they are extremely rare in this regard.

Such a good employer is truly rare; I really don't want to leave.

In the following days, Chen Yan instructed Zhang San that he would be cultivating in seclusion and that he didn't need to cook meals—his cultivation of circulating vital energy couldn't be interrupted, and he could simply take a fasting pill. Zhang San dared not disturb his master's important cultivation, and instructed the servants in the courtyard to be careful and try not to make any noise—in fact, the cave was isolated by a magic array, and unless the outside world was in complete chaos, it wouldn't reach the cave.

But Zhang San's nephew, after finishing his work each day, would stand outside the cave and stare at it in a daze for a while.

Zhang San saw this and knew what his nephew was thinking. After scolding him twice, seeing that he didn't cause any more trouble, he let him be.

After all, people have desires. Who among us mortals doesn't want to walk the path of cultivation and become a cultivator who transcends the mortal realm?
Even Zhang San himself had this thought when he was young, but he lacked the talent to break down the door.

This nephew was only seventeen years old, just past the age limit of sixteen for free government school set by the Xitai City government, and his longing for it had not yet faded away.

I'm afraid that in a few years, I won't think about these things anymore.

A few days later, early in the morning, Chen Yan opened the cave and came out.

He cultivated for several days, making the most of every minute of the free Yuan Qi formation each day. After several days of cultivation, Yuan Qi permeated his entire body, making him look energetic and full of vitality, with his eyes brimming with light – a true sign of Yuan Qi's pervasive influence.

He instructed Zhang San to have the kitchen prepare another delicious meal, and then to have the maid boil water to serve him a bath and change of clothes.

Although there are cleaning spells, nothing beats the comfort of a bath.
The feeling of soaking your body in hot water, letting every pore relax, that's true enjoyment. Taking a bath isn't just about getting clean.

After several days of rigorous training, Chen Yan indulged in some unrestrained enjoyment.

After eating and drinking his fill, he took a bath and changed his clothes, and immediately felt radiant.

Looking at this courtyard and cave dwelling, one can only feel that Xitai City is indeed a very good place, and the treatment of cultivators is really excellent.

If it weren't for the important matter on my mind, I would really like to stay here for a long time and be a wealthy landlord with servants.

He summoned Zhang San and gave him some instructions, then prepared to leave on a long journey.

As for the remaining food supplies for my own consumption, there's no need to waste them after I leave; I'll just give them to the servants to eat.

Zhang San thanked the master profusely and, with his servants, escorted him to the door before returning with a sigh.

I wonder if I'll ever find such a good master again...

After leaving the district and arriving at the foot of the mountain, Chen Yan glanced into the guardhouse. Today, instead of Manager Zhao You, a stranger was inside. Chen Yan didn't bother to greet him and simply walked away.

·
He first went to the dockside tavern and looked for the waiter from that day.

Upon seeing Chen Yan arrive, the man's face lit up with joy. He turned around, went to the counter to ask for leave, and then ran out of the tavern, respectfully leading the way and taking Chen Yan to the warehouse in Xitai City.

·
Kuji is located in the south of the city. This area is surrounded by a magic array that prevents mortals from entering.

However, this attendant clearly had connections. He led Chen Yan to the magic array, took out a jade bead, and gently crushed it. Soon, a cultivator in blue robes walked out of the magic array.

Chen Yan glanced at him. The man had a shrewd look in his eyes. Although he was only at the beginner level, there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

The waiter went up, nodded, yawned, and smiled obsequiously as he spoke for a while. Then he turned around, pointed at Chen Yan, and gave him a few instructions.

The monk in blue robes managed a weak smile and nodded.

He looked at Chen Yan, casually cupped his hands, and gave a half-bow: "Greetings, fellow Daoist."

This person's cultivation level was a whole realm lower than Chen Yan's, yet his attitude was casual and arrogant. Chen Yan only needed to think about it briefly to understand that he was relying on his status—the so-called "a seventh-rank official before the prime minister's door."

Those who serve powerful families and clans, even if their cultivation level is low, are still wearing a tiger's skin and don't really respect a "rogue cultivator" like Chen Yan.

The monk in blue coughed and said, "You're lucky. This afternoon, a cargo ship will leave Chengdu for the Southern Frontier City of No Return."

This is a fast ship, and it has my sect's pass. The forbidden areas of various sects along the way will give way, so we don't need to take detours, thus shortening the journey considerably. We can arrive in about thirty days.

Upon hearing his words, Chen Yan understood what the other party meant and immediately took out the jade coins he had promised from his storage jade pendant and handed them over.

The cultivator in blue took the money, weighed it in his hand, and his expression softened slightly. He then casually put the money into his own storage artifact.

After taking the money, the man's attitude became a bit more amiable: "I haven't introduced myself yet. My surname is Niu. You can just call me Manager Niu."

"My name is Zhao Shanhe," Chen Yan said calmly.

"Oh, so it's Fellow Daoist Zhao." Steward Niu coughed. "Then come in with me. Once inside, don't wander around or look around aimlessly. If anyone asks, just say you're a relative of mine, here to help with some tasks. Don't say anything else."

Chen Yan nodded.

Steward Niu smiled, then seemed to suddenly remember something and said lightly, "I forgot to tell you, my master's family is surnamed Gu, and we are the Gu family, one of the eight great families in the realm. I'm telling you this in case someone questions you when we go in, so your answers will match up."

Upon hearing "Gu Clan," Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, but did not show any sudden realization or immediate change in demeanor to show respect.

When Steward Niu saw that Chen Yan remained unfazed upon hearing the name "Gu Clan," showing none of the respect that ordinary low-level cultivators would show upon hearing it, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "That country bumpkin has no knowledge."

His cultivation level is low and his talent is poor. If he were outside, he would probably be the lowest-ranking rogue cultivator.

But because he was born into the Gu family, he was a servant born into the Gu family—the kind of servant who had served the Gu family for generations.

Even if he was just a low-level manager outside the Gu family, his life was much more comfortable than that of those independent cultivators, and his status was not bad either.

In this Xitai City, under the name of the Gu family, even a low-ranking steward can swagger in as long as he presents his plaque.

`
Within the magic array, the warehouse area of ​​Xitai City covers a vast area.

Rows of warehouses stand in a magnificent array, while rows of flying boats are arrayed in mid-air, blotting out the sun, with flags and banners fluttering like intertwined clouds.

On the ground, many people were carrying boxes filled with storage magic items, transporting them onto the flying boat.

Manager Niu led Chen Yan inside, while the waiter, who was not qualified to enter, had already taken his leave.

Along the way, Manager Niu didn't say much to Chen Yan, but led him inside to a spacious warehouse. There, he saw groups of people dressed in gray robes busily moving goods back and forth.

He casually pointed and said, "That is the airship that will be launched today. You will be on this one. Once on board, you will stay in the cabin. I have spoken with the ship's manager. You can come out of the cargo hold every night to get some fresh air on the deck. It's best not to show your face at other times. Our actions are not in accordance with the rules, so it's better to keep a low profile."

Chen Yan had already thought of this and, not wanting to cause trouble, calmly nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Steward Niu told Chen Yan to wait in the warehouse. An hour later, after the loading was completed, he took Chen Yan onto the flying boat.

This airship actually doesn't take up much space; it's about the size of a small ship.

However, due to the existence of the storage artifact, the amount of cargo it actually contained was truly astonishing!
Chen Yan was led into the cargo hold, where he saw rows and rows of boxes densely packed together, their surfaces shimmering with the light of storage artifacts.

"This container contains medicinal herbs harvested by the Gu family from their herbal medicine farm in the western region. You should keep it here and not touch or tamper with it."

Manager Niu gave an order and told Chen Yan to find a corner to sit down inside.

A moment later, he brought over another person, presumably the ship's manager. He pointed at Chen Yan, and this manager was even more indifferent. He only glanced at Chen Yan, nodded, and left, not even bothering to speak to him.

Chen Yan was happy to avoid trouble and obediently found an empty corner in the cabin to sit down and meditate.

His storage equipment included food, drink, and fasting pills, so he could stay here for a month without any problem.

If all else fails, he can always take out his phone to read novels—although he hasn't downloaded any, the novels he's already downloaded are enough to keep him entertained for quite some time, even without internet access.

He sat down in the cabin to meditate and rest. He didn't know how much time had passed when he felt a jolt beneath him!
Then he felt the flying boat take off!
Curious, Chen Yan got up and walked to the cargo hold door. He saw that the cargo hold door was closed, but he could still see the scene on the deck outside through the crack in the door.

The surrounding buildings gradually appeared shorter, then the clouds rose, and the airship grew higher and higher, yet there was no sense of vibration or shaking—it was much more stable than an airplane taking off.

After the flying boat ascended to a certain height, suddenly the entire ship was shimmering with layers of precious light!
Chen Yan was shocked. Although he had never actually learned this kind of formation, he had learned the principles. He carefully observed and sensed it and could see several different effects from the light of the formation.

Some offer wind protection, some provide shock absorption, and others are designed to reduce weight...

The principles of various magic arrays are intertwined, yet they form a delicate balance, allowing each effect to radiate without conflicting with the others.

Chen Yan knew from this combination of different levels of effects that it was very sophisticated—it must be a very mature technology in the realm.

Then, the clouds outside the deck began to rush backward... Chen Yan knew that the airship was moving, and its speed was obviously not low!

Standing inside the cabin, Chen Yan still didn't feel much vibration.

"There are still many places in this cultivation civilization that I want to explore..."

After expressing his feelings, Chen Yan returned to the corner of the cabin, sat down, and entered a meditative state.

There are still more than thirty days left.

·
(Many parts of the country are experiencing high temperatures recently, so please take care of yourselves, dear readers!)

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(End of this chapter)