Promise!

Chapter 228, Treasure Hunt

Now that I have the Mysterious Serpent Token, cultivation resources are no longer a problem. I can continue accumulating experience at the third level of the Innate True Qi Realm. At most, I can complete this step and break through to the Innate罡气 Realm in a year and a half!

This speed is already extremely fast, because it is in the state capital with abundant resources and rich spiritual energy. If it were in a county or prefecture below, it would take at least three years. This is already half as fast.

However, for the sake of one's image, there's no need to rush, or rather, one shouldn't appear to be in a rush.

"As for subsequent cultivation techniques at the Innate Qi Realm, once you break through to the Innate Qi Realm and upgrade the Xuan Snake Token to the Black Python Token, you'll have the qualification to exchange for them. This is the fastest and most direct method!"

Zhuang Jin learned this information after obtaining the Xuan Snake Token. As for other ways to inquire, he did not know, or rather, he did not show any other intention to ask.

Otherwise, having only been in the capital for a little over a month, what are you trying to do with all this ambition and drive?
In some people's eyes, this kind of troublemaker, especially one who came from the lower prefecture, has no roots or connections, and is a tough nut to crack. If they don't teach him a lesson, it would be a waste of his stupidity!

Zhuang Jin wasn't solely focused on cultivation; when he went out to wander around, looking around, he not only learned about the structure and rules of the state capital, but also considered these aspects.

—The bustling city doesn't even attract you on your first visit; you insist on focusing solely on secluded cultivation. Is this to demonstrate how steadfast your martial arts heart is, unswayed by external influences? Or do you crave sustained, focused attention and need to push yourself to the limit for some kind of challenge?

To be frank, Zhuang Jin believes that such behavior is either due to a lack of common sense or a degree of masochism, and unfortunately, he has neither.

"Right now, what I need to do, besides cultivating my spiritual practice, is to keep a low profile and shape my image. This isn't something that can be done overnight; it requires a gradual approach, and I've been doing it consistently."

"Also, one should blend in with the crowd, seek out and join circles at the innate level, remain hidden within them, gather more information, and avoid pitfalls imposed on innate martial artists by certain rules."

Zhuang Jin secretly pondered.

……

On the third day after Zhuang Jin obtained the Xuan Snake Token, and the day after he granted the two shops in the Three Rings to the Ji and Teng families to operate, Ji Gongji, Ji Tongxiu, and the Innate Venerable Hong Baoshu and his son Hong Jinchang came to visit.

It turns out that these two shops on the Third Ring Road, one in the east and one in the north, were not vacant before being allocated to Zhuang Jin; they were leased out by the Xuantian Division.

The shop north of the Third Ring Road was originally leased by a first-class family, but now it has been handed over to the Teng family for management, so the takeover was naturally smooth. The shop east of the Third Ring Road, which is in a better location, was originally nominally leased by Hong Jinchang, the eldest son of the Hong family, a family with a more advanced history.

This is actually the family business of the Hong family, a family with innate lineage. They have opened a meat shop for exotic beasts here, and it is already an old brand. They encountered some trouble when they took over the shop, but since they all have the background of innate venerables, Hong Baoshu did not make things difficult for the Ji family. He came to discuss it with Zhuang Jin in person.

Zhuang Jin invited the group in. Ji Gongji, Ji Tongxiu, and Hong Jinchang sat at the end of the table, respectfully remaining silent. Only Hong Baoshu, who was also a Xiantian (innate) cultivator, sat in the upper seat and had the right to speak.

Hong Baoshu said politely, "Congratulations to Venerable Zhuang on advancing to the Innate Realm and obtaining the Xuan Snake Token. I naturally understand the rules of the Suspended Heaven Division regarding the shop in the East Third Ring Road that my Hong family originally rented and operated."

First, we must state our position and acknowledge Zhuang Jin's ownership of the shop.

Then, he explained his purpose: "My Hong family has been running a meat shop for exotic beasts here for many years, and it is considered an old brand. Relocation would be inconvenient and would also affect business. Therefore, we would like to continue to lease from Venerable Zhuang. However, we can increase the rental price of the Suspended Heaven Division by 30%. What do you think?"

“If Venerable Zhuang agrees, I also have some friends at the innate level who I would like to introduce.”

These are the conditions offered: a 30% higher rental price from Xuantiansi, and the introduction of someone into the circle, in exchange for the right to lease the shop.

Zhuang Jin's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this, but she politely declined, saying, "Today Venerable Hong personally came to discuss this matter, and I should not refuse. However, the shop has already been promised to the Ji family for operation, so I hope you can understand."

As he said, he promised to let the Ji family run the business, so how could he go back on his word?

Furthermore, shops within the Third Ring Road are extremely scarce these days. A 30% increase in rental prices by Xuantiansi is normal and slightly below market rates. It's not that they lack sincerity, but it's not much either.

While Zhuang Jin does need an introduction into the Innate Circle, it would be beneath him to enter simply by agreeing to that request, inevitably leading to him being looked down upon and causing some awkwardness in their future interactions.

First impressions are very important. If you give in, bow down, and suffer losses to make concessions on the first occasion, showing that you are easy to bully, it will be very troublesome to get along with people later. This is just like the obedience test in officialdom. Once you have tolerated it and accepted it the first time, there will often be a second and a third time.

In other words: Zhuang Jin wants to enter this circle, but... he doesn't want to lower his head!

Hong Baoshu was only testing the waters at first, and he was willing to raise the price later, but Zhuang Jin's words shut him up: "Fine, I won't force you. Let's drop this matter. My Hong family will move out and vacate the premises within three days."

"Just one thing to clarify beforehand to avoid misunderstandings: I won't go into the supply channels of the exotic beast meat shop. Some exotic beast meat at the levels of skinning, meat refining, and tendon strengthening will be given away as a gift. As for the relatively high-end exotic beast meat at the Bone Forging Realm, the quantity is limited. My Hong family will take such precious resources with us. This is not a deliberate trap. I'm saying it in advance to avoid any future disputes."

“This is only natural, and Venerable Hong made it clear beforehand, which is also very reasonable.”

Zhuang Jin wasn't someone who couldn't distinguish right from wrong. The fact that others left behind some low-to-mid-range channels was already a gesture of respect. She wouldn't think it was "outrageous" or "a just cause for death" just because they took away her high-end channels and her things. She nodded slightly to show her understanding.

The matter was considered closed. Zhuang Jin saw the Hong family father and son out, watching them leave, and inwardly sighed: 'My refusal to agree to this matter didn't involve any threats or provocations, nor did he try to show off his Xuan Snake Token, nor did he try to take advantage of his age, make harsh remarks, cause a falling out, or anything like that. None of that happened.'

This is the normal situation. How could a venerable master like him, without a brain, shrewdness, and skill, and with his own set of ways of dealing with people, possibly have reached this point?
……

On the carriage where the Hong family left.

“Father, that Venerable Zhuang looks very young and only recently obtained the Xuan Snake Token, while you are a veteran Xiantian… Venerable Zhuang is not giving us face and will not agree to the lease. We should keep things separate and clearly divide the profits. Why are you still leaving low-end channels to give benefits to Venerable Zhuang?” Hong Jinchang asked.

"They're all people sitting at the table. It's just a shop in the Third Ring Road. There's no need to make such a scene. Let's leave some goodwill behind."

Hong Baoshu paused for a moment, then said meaningfully, "Our family is a large clan, but that Venerable Zhuang is all alone!"

The saying "the barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes" is not quite the right analogy. Zhuang Jin and the Hong family are both wearing shoes, but they also have the "principle of the happy ones yielding." Being alone makes one slightly more intimidating than having a whole family.

"Yes, Father, you have a profound understanding. I understand now."

……

“Venerable Zhuang, in my humble opinion, it would be better to continue operating the shop east of the Third Ring Road as a shop selling exotic beast meat. It is convenient that Venerable Hong left behind a supply channel for low- to mid-range exotic beast meat. However, the supply channel for high-end exotic beast meat for the Bone Forging Realm is a bit more difficult.”

Ji Gongji said, "My Ji family and our in-laws have had few acquisitions of Bone Forging Realm beasts. Our past sales have been fixed, and it's difficult to allocate many at once, not enough to establish a reputation. We'll have to take it slowly." "Leave this matter to me!"

Zhuang Jin thought of the map Ning Tongxuan had given him yesterday, which marked many prey animals.

Previously, when he left the city, he always stayed at the outposts outside the city and did not enter the Funiu Mountains. He had also confirmed that the first layer of the three regions of the Funiu Mountains, which consisted of Xiaozhu Mountain, Cuiping Mountain, Hutou Mountain, Biyun Mountain, and Luoxia Mountain, was mostly inhabited by beasts below the Five Organs Realm. Only occasionally would beasts at the Five Organs Realm appear. With the strength of a Xiantian martial artist, this "dangerous place" was not "dangerous" and posed no danger to him.

"All I need is for the Ji family to send people to transport my prey."

"Yes, thank you, Your Excellency."

Ji Gongji was overjoyed to hear this. With Zhuang Jin, a Xiantian Venerable, willing to help, all of this was naturally no problem. Presumably, the exotic beast meat shop would soon be able to open up the market, which would also be of great benefit to the Ji family, after all, they would get a 20% share of the profits!
……

The Ji family sent these people, and on this day they truly witnessed the terror of the Innate Venerable. In their eyes, the extremely dangerous Bone Forging Realm beasts were like a father beating his son in Zhuang Jin's hands. Normal hunting and killing would often damage their hides and other parts, but today they were able to obtain them intact, preserving their value to the greatest extent.

In the first half of the day, Zhuang Jin hunted down six beasts at the Bone Forging Realm. This was after spending most of his time traveling and searching, and not attacking beasts at the Skin Polishing, Flesh Refining, and Tendon Changing Realms.

Zhuang Jin was too lazy to exert himself, and on the other hand, it was because: just as killing many people would give one a faint aura of malevolence, killing many strange beasts would also give one a similar aura. This would have a frightening effect on low-level strange beasts, but it would be a provocation to high-level strange beasts and could bring unnecessary trouble.

Even so, the fact that he only attacked the beasts at the Bone Forging Realm still shocked the Ji family members. This dangerous place, where they faced nine deaths and one life, was now like an outing, where they came to pick up beasts.

In the evening, a pleasant surprise awaited us in the Xiaozhushan area.

A seven-inch-tall, bluish-purple, rodent-like creature with a pouch in front of its body, peeked out from the bamboo grove.

"A purple kangaroo?!" Zhuang Jin's eyesight was excellent, and he recognized the beast at a glance.

Purple Kangaroo: A thunder-attribute mythical beast, resembling a sable and also a hamster, with a small pouch in front of its body. Because of its extremely keen sense of smell, it is also known as the 'Treasure-Seeking Rat' and ranks 357th on the list of mythical beasts of heaven and earth.

The information from the Suspended Sky Bureau said that the Purple Kangaroo resembled a sable and a hamster, but in Zhuang Jin's opinion, this guy was more like Pikachu, with a purple ring on each cheek and a tail tip that sparkled with electricity.

Well, another thing worth mentioning is that the pouch on its chest, like a kangaroo's, doesn't have any void properties and can't function as a storage bag or anything like that.

The purple kangaroo's attack is relatively average compared to other beasts of the same realm. Its talent is entirely focused on speed, making it move like lightning. Even at the Bone Forging Realm, it can achieve speed comparable to beasts at the Five Organs Realm. In the natural environment of the bamboo forest, it is difficult for even a martial artist at the Innate True Qi Realm to catch it.

Zhuang Jin remembered that there was a mission involving a two-striped Xuan Snake that required capturing a live Purple Kangaroo at the Bone Forging Realm.

"Squeak!"

Upon seeing Zhuang Jin and his group from afar, the man sensed something was wrong, turned and ran, quickly traversing the bamboo forest like a wave in the sea of ​​trees, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

'This speed is unmatched even by those at the first level of the Innate True Qi Realm. A second-level Innate True Qi Realm cultivator using the Qi Thunder Sound technique might kill me, but capturing me alive would be difficult. But I am different; I am a genuine third-level Innate True Qi Realm cultivator!'

Zhuang Jin took a step forward and chased after him, closing the distance as the Azure Lotus Sword was drawn from its sheath.

Swish!
In a flash of sword light, as sharp as a bolt of lightning, a large grove of bamboo fell down with a whoosh.

If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?
As the bamboo fell, the purple kangaroo that had been flitting among the bamboo grove's treetops was instantly left without roots. Its two short legs were still hopping around in mid-air, leaving afterimages, but its body had already fallen. It was hit by a pebble in mid-air and landed stiffly on the ground, motionless.

"This guy can play dead?!"

Zhuang Jin grabbed the little creature by its tail, lifted it upside down, and gave it a shake. Immediately, some purple fruits fell from the pouch on its chest.

"This is... a wild purple bamboo fruit?!"

He recalled the information about this item, which could slightly improve the aptitude of teenagers under the age of sixteen who had not yet begun to cultivate martial arts.

The purple kangaroo, which had been playing dead while being held by the tail, suddenly stopped pretending when the wild purple bamboo seeds in its pouch fell out. It started squeaking and crackling, and its tail was crackling with electricity.

However, this guy is only at the Bone Forging Realm. Facing Zhuang Jin, who is at the third level of the Innate True Qi Realm, and with the Innate True Qi blocking him, all he can say is that his resistance is... rather cute.

Zhuang Jin's mind raced, and she changed her mind. She was reluctant to hand over the mission, but this guy looked good and would be quite prestigious to take out. He could also be used for treasure hunting, and taming him would be more cost-effective. She would look at other missions for the two-striped advancement mission.
He had considerable experience in taming exotic beasts!

The black tiger, which had been forgotten in the Ji family, expressed its approval. It used to rob people on the road, but now it was in the Ji family's environment, which was rich in vital energy and no worse than the outer area of ​​the Funiu Mountains. It was also very safe. It could eat and sleep all day long, and food was delivered to its door every day. Now, even if it was let go, it would not want to leave.

……

In the days that followed, Zhuang Jin cultivated in the mornings and went hunting in the mountains in the afternoons. With a continuous and substantial supply of high-end Bone Forging Realm beast meat, the East Shop of the Third Ring Road gradually gained a reputation. In the evenings, he would spend an hour taming rats.

Well, the first two were fine, only the last one didn't go very smoothly.

The purple kangaroo is unlike the wind-winged thunder tiger, whose realm is not much different and who would rather die than submit. It is also unlike the black fiend tiger, which is not very reserved and will submit after a set of procedures. It is somewhere in between. It eats and drinks its food, but it is not very obedient.

However, Zhuang Jin was ultimately more skilled, so using his things to feed it was not a bad deal.

—The wild purple bamboo fruit, because it can slightly improve aptitude, is sold at a price in the Suspended Heaven Bureau that is higher than the value of some innate cultivation resources, which surprised Zhuang Jin. However, he quickly realized that this thing was being hyped up to harvest those mid-level martial artists.

In order to maintain the price, Zhuang Jin slowly released the wild purple bamboo fruits one by one, replacing them with bamboo fruits artificially cultivated with Qingyuan Liquid for the purple kangaroos. Although it did not improve their quality, the concentration of heaven and earth energy in the bamboo fruits was higher, which was more effective for the purple kangaroos.

Every day, we follow a fixed routine: start training, give a slightly harsher beating if the child is too disobedient, and a lighter beating if the child is not very obedient (there is no obedience situation yet), and then feed them.

If the purple kangaroo shows even the slightest improvement, depending on the degree of improvement, the quantity and quality of its bamboo food will be increased, or other fruits from the Thousand Vegetable Shop will be added, or its internal organs will be massaged and gently stimulated with its innate true energy.

In short, the intelligence of a beast in the Bone Forging Realm is roughly equivalent to that of a human child. Zhuang Jin's strategy is to use both carrot and stick tactics, slowly manipulating and wearing it down!
……

(End of this chapter)