Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 145 Sending a Daughter to Refine Her Body
Six late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, eighteen mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and forty-three early-stage Qi Refining cultivators—this is Li Xiangyun's current fighting force.

But frankly, in Fang Jingxuan's opinion, this group of cultivators at the early stage of Qi Refining can be ignored.

Even if twenty cultivators at the early stage of Qi Refining attacked together, they might not be able to defeat a cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the total amount of magic power on both sides is only less than ten times different; their actual combat strength cannot be calculated so simply.

Moreover, cultivators in the early stage of Qi Refining will suffer a mental breakdown when their companions die. Out of twenty cultivators in the early stage of Qi Refining, it is estimated that only five or six will die, and the rest will scatter.

So, by that calculation, our side's combat strength mainly consists of a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, with mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators providing support, and early-stage Qi Refining cultivators handling logistics and reconnaissance.

As for the will to fight, Fang Jingxuan estimated that only the Li family members were willing to fight to the death, while the others could only fight when things were going well.

It's a bit difficult to handle.

Fang Jingxuan pondered the situation. No wonder Li Xiangyun was so eager to be with him; he had no other choice.

After the banquet, everyone dispersed, and the Li family arranged accommodations for all of them.

However, they did not receive the same treatment as Fang Jingxuan, who had a private, excellent cave dwelling. Each person had their own room, and several mortal servants were assigned to serve them.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, is it convenient for us now? How about we discuss this?"

Old Liu and the other three approached, seemingly wanting to recruit Fang Jingxuan into their inner circle.

But Fang Jingxuan wasn't interested in this matter; he could easily guess what they were up to.

"No, since we've accepted the benefits from the Li family, we'll just do our best. I won't say anything more. Please, everyone, go ahead."

After Fang Jingxuan finished speaking, he rode away on Tuoyuan. The remaining four people had different expressions on their faces, but because Fang Jingxuan had shown his abilities before, they could only remain silent and resentful.

After returning to his cave, Fang Jingxuan said to Tuoyuan:

"Stop teasing Li Chan'er. She's timid and easily frightened. If you scare her, I'll teach you a lesson."

After being warned by Fang Jingxuan, Tuoyuan became much more obedient. It couldn't understand how there could be such a weak existence among human cultivators.

After entering the cave, Fang Jingxuan took out the Enlightenment Vine from his storage bag.

This Enlightenment Vine has been unlucky to be with me, constantly being pulled out and relocated. The fact that it hasn't died yet is entirely thanks to the Moon Essence Dew.

Fang Jingxuan transplanted the Enlightenment Vine into the nursery of his cave dwelling. There, the Li family had set up a constant temperature array, so the temperature was suitable all year round, which was very suitable for the growth of spiritual plants.

Then, Fang Jingxuan went to experience the alchemy room. He didn't know how to refine pills, but he was quite interested in the furnaces inside, so he casually tried it out and refined a batch.

The result was a perfectly normal blob of residue that turned out to be nothing at all.

Fang Jingxuan didn't take it to heart; there's no such thing as an alchemy attempt without failure.

In the following days, Fang Jingxuan gradually adapted to the environment inside the cave. Li Chan'er would deliver his three meals a day on time, and Tuoyuan's rations were also plentiful every day.

On the fifth day, Li Xiangyun could no longer sit still and came to visit Fang Jingxuan.

Inside the cave dwelling's reception room, Fang Jingxuan and Li Xiangyun sat comfortably, while Li Chan'er obediently served them, awaiting their instructions.

"Island Master Li, I wonder how long you can sustain this expense of inviting so many fellow Daoists to help you?"

At this moment, with no one else around, Fang Jingxuan asked more inquiries.

Upon hearing Fang Jingxuan's words, Li Xiangyun gave a bitter smile. He was from a Qi Refining family and his family was not wealthy.

For every day these cultivators stayed on Xiangyun Island, he had to pay them an extra salary. After a while, he couldn't keep up with this.

But for now, we can only maintain the current situation. In the early stages, we must make a big show of force to intimidate the other side.

"Let's try our best to maintain it, until we can't maintain it anymore."

Upon hearing this, Fang Jingxuan's face darkened. Was Li Xiangyun truly thinking this way, or was he just complaining to him? As the lord of an island, tens of thousands of mortals and dozens of cultivators depended on him for survival. It seemed unreasonable for Li Xiangyun to make such a plan.

However, Fang Jingxuan did not ask any further questions; he simply stated his own needs.

“Island Master Li, I heard from Chunyu Tower that the reward you give to late-stage Qi Refining cultivators is 500 low-grade spirit stones per month. The price will be discussed when you really need to make a sale.”

"I don't need spirit stones right now, so I'd like to ask Island Master Li to help me exchange the corresponding reward for a single spirit ingredient."

Li Xiangyun nodded in agreement, and then asked:
"Fellow Daoist Chen, what kind of spiritual materials do you need? Over the years, our Xiangyun Island has had many familiar merchants. As long as it's not an extremely rare spiritual material, I guarantee I can get it for you."

"This spiritual material isn't particularly valuable, but it has a rare use, so I'm afraid there won't be a sufficient supply. This item is called 'Mysterious Ice Jade Crystal Powder,' and I need quite a lot of it. Give me three hundred catties first."

Fang Jingxuan calmly stated his request: "This item is recorded in the Cangming Nine Revolutions Technique and is one of the materials that can accelerate my body refining process."

Other spiritual materials were also described, but Fang Jingxuan felt that these spiritual materials were of good quality and inexpensive, while the other spiritual materials were either scarce or too expensive, and not suitable for him.

“Alright, ‘Mysterious Ice Jade Crystal Powder’, is that right? I’ll have someone procure it right away, and this spiritual material will be delivered to your cave within three days.”

"Very well then, I thank Island Master Li in advance."

Seeing that Li Xiangyun seemed hesitant to speak, Fang Jingxuan immediately said:
"Please rest assured, Lord Li, I, Chen, will certainly repay any kindness I have received. If any enemy attacks, just let me know."

Upon receiving Fang Jingxuan's words, Li Xiangyun no longer concealed the joy on his face, and then gave Li Chan'er a look.

"Chan'er is the legitimate daughter of my Li family. She is only sixteen years old, but she has already reached the third level of Qi Refining. If Fellow Daoist Chen does not mind, I would like to keep her by your side as a maid, so that she can be at your beck and call every day. What do you think?"

At this moment, Li Chan'er, who was standing to the side, also weakly called out "Young Master".

Fang Jingxuan understood that this was an extra tactic Li Xiangyun used to win over Li Chan'er. If he accepted Li Chan'er, he would definitely be even more devoted to her when the Li family faced disaster.

This is the benefit Fang Jingxuan received after demonstrating his strength: not only did he get the best cave dwelling, but he was also given a pure and lovely young girl as a gift.

However, Fang Jingxuan has no such plans at the moment. In his opinion, the most important thing right now is to cultivate and reach the Great Perfection of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining in the "Mysterious Abyss True Explanation".

"Let's discuss this later. Chen has only been here for a few days and has not yet made any contributions. It's not appropriate to do this now. Let's wait until some time has passed."

Fang Jingxuan did not refuse directly, leaving Li Xiangyun with a glimmer of hope, while Li Chan'er, standing to the side, blushed and lowered her head upon hearing this.

If one becomes a maid, she will be a close confidante. In addition to taking care of her daily life, warming her bed and serving her in bed are also her duties.

Although Li Chan'er was young, she had been taught these things by the Madam and naturally understood them.

"Alright, alright, then I won't disturb Fellow Daoist Chen's cultivation any longer. Chan'er, take good care of him. If Fellow Daoist Chen needs anything, just let me know."

Li Xiangyun left with a smile, and at this moment Fang Jingxuan stared at Li Chan'er and realized that this girl was actually quite well-developed.

She's not short either, standing at 1.7 meters tall, but she looks quite petite next to my nearly 2-meter height.

She's only sixteen years old; her future is very promising.

Thinking of this, Fang Jingxuan closed his eyes and pondered, planning his body-refining process.

With the help of body-refining materials, my body-refining speed should be able to increase by about 70% to 80%.

Li Chan'er, biting her red lips as if she had made a decision, said in a trembling voice:

"Chan'er knows a little about techniques to improve blood circulation and relieve fatigue, so... I can give you a massage to help you relax."

Upon hearing this, Fang Jingxuan initially intended to refuse, but upon opening his eyes and seeing Li Chan'er's timid, deer-like expression, he inexplicably uttered a single word:

"can."

(End of this chapter)