Promise!

Chapter 233, A Microcosm

With the sound of firecrackers, the old year departs and a new year begins, marking the arrival of the sixtieth year of the Qian Yuan era.

On the first day of the month, Zhuang Jin invited Bi Boyi over.

Within his small circle, he had the best relationship with Hong Baoshu, Min Zhongmin, and Bi Boyi, especially Bi Boyi, who was from the same prefectural city. Bi Boyi had also participated in this small-scale Yuanqi Tide and had been invited over to inquire about the harvest and information about the Yuanqi Tide, which might be useful in the future.

"Brother Bi, how was your experience entering the Funiu Mountains this time?" Zhuang Jin poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards him to ask.

"This is extraordinary. During the Yuan Qi Tide, the concentration of Yuan Qi in the Funiu Mountains has increased several times over. Natural treasures and various medicinal herbs that are hundreds of years old are growing. They are not exactly everywhere, but they are quite common. These naturally grown herbs are also much more effective than those cultivated with Qing Yuan Liquid. The Xuan Tian Division has issued a mission to purchase them at a high price."

Bi Boyi paused for a moment, then said, "However, there are rivals who can obtain these things."

"Exotic beast?"

“Exactly. Normally, strange beasts are our prey, but at this time they become our opponents. During the Yuan Qi Tide last month, we were only in a dangerous area, but the frequency of encountering Five Organs Realm strange beasts increased greatly. In just last month, I accumulated more than a hundred Five Organs Realm strange beasts, which is more than I have seen in the past few decades.”

Bi Boyi sighed and said, "Brother Zhuang also knows that when exotic beasts cultivate their physical bodies and reach the Five Organs Realm, they are far superior to us martial artists at the same level, making them extremely difficult to hunt. In this kind of Yuan Qi tide environment, exotic beasts roam freely and are not in fixed territories at ordinary times. There are many variables in the pursuit, and you may encounter several beasts in an instant, turning the roles of hunter and prey into one."

“In this environment, beasts at the Five Organs Realm are relatively easy to deal with if they have only cultivated one organ; we can work together to take them down quickly. But we are not so sure about those at the second or third organ level, and it is even more difficult to hunt beasts at the fourth or fifth organ level.”

He shared some experiences, such as preserving combat strength by maintaining at least 50% of one's true energy; sending it out periodically; not accumulating too many rare and precious materials on one's person, otherwise one will be targeted and attacked by strange beasts; and not letting one down one's guard when encountering other innate small circles, etc.

Zhuang Jin listened attentively and took notes for future reference, knowing that these things would likely come in handy in the future.

"In short, in this tide of primordial energy, finding treasures and hunting exotic beasts depends more on chance and luck."

Bi Boyi described the results of this expedition: "The total gains were considerable, and the distribution was quite generous, but it wasn't too astonishing. Especially since some people can share hardship, but not prosperity!"

"What do you mean by that?" Zhuang Jin sensed some resentment in Bi Boyi's words and asked.

Bi Boyi snorted coldly: "Our little circle leader has a rather unseemly way of being greedy. When distributing beast cores and beast pearls, he pockets most of them and subtly suppresses the others... He's just a collateral branch of a noble family that separated from the main family a few hundred years ago, yet he still considers himself a member of the main family!"

"Alright, let's not talk about that. My share of the spoils this time, converted into contribution points, is about three or four million. It's far from enough to acquire higher-end resources at the auction, but if I want to live a carefree life, it can sustain me for quite some time."

"indeed so."

Zhuang Jin was slightly surprised to hear the number of millions, but also felt it was normal—it would be abnormal if the number was not this high after the Innate Venerable had taken certain risks and worked hard for a month.

He wasn't envious at all. Firstly, he had no personal circumstances and didn't lack contribution points; secondly, others were taking risks, and this was what they deserved.

"By the way, before the Tide of Vitality, Brother Zhuang advised everyone in the circle to think things through carefully. Now that the Tide of Vitality has ended, everyone who participated is safe and has gained a lot. I heard He Zhaoyi say some strange things, like cowardly words. Brother Zhuang, you don't need to take them to heart."

"Thanks for reminding me, I won't."

Zhuang Jin waved his hand.

He had long seen through it. He Zhaoyi had succeeded in his gamble by breaking through with the help of a rare herb. Due to his path dependence, he had a gambling nature when faced with luck and opportunity. As the saying goes, a good swimmer dies in drowning. This person will rise with luck and fall with luck.

This person has become quite arrogant lately.

Decades ago, the He family was just a first-rate family and a long-established contractor in Cangzhou City. They had built houses in the Seventh, Sixth, and Fifth Ring Roads and delivered them smoothly. The He family had a golden reputation in the past, and they were the ones who came from them. Only first-, second-, and third-rate families like the Teng family trusted them and placed orders. But they never expected that "the more they came from them, the more ruthless they would be in ripping them off." They used the dispute over land ownership to bury them in a deep pit.

The He family did indeed reap a huge reward, but the price was that the reputation and goodwill accumulated by their ancestors were completely squandered this time.

Like oil being poured into a blazing fire and flowers being adorned with brocade, the He family mansion is now thriving and bustling. However, Zhuang Jin's attitude is simply to "watch them build tall buildings and entertain guests," and he doesn't care about anything else.

"In our circle, everyone's situation is different."

Bi Boyi mentioned Cen Zhanshan and He Zhaoyi, and then spoke of Feng Qingyin: "Brother Feng's ancestor was... probably registered in the Xuantian Division. Back then, he met a woman from the Dengxian Pavilion, and they fell in love. Although Brother Min Zhongmin had regrets in the end, he still got what he wanted. Brother Feng's woman, however, committed suicide..."

He clearly believed there was something fishy going on.

Zhuang Jin agreed, but glanced at the token as if by accident: "These are all things of the past. Without evidence, it would be wrong for us to speculate without cause. Let's not talk about this."

Bi Boyi was also perceptive and changed the subject: "Brother Hong Baoshu has also made a lot of gains this time, but his family has hundreds of descendants, several generations living under one roof, so there are many concerns; Brother Leng Kui, he is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Because of the family matter, we are not very close, but he has also given a lot of financial support to his family."

In other words, for them, family is their Achilles' heel.

Zhuang Jin nodded slightly as he listened. The Suspended Heaven Division had never let its guard down against innate martial artists who posed a certain threat to the aristocratic families. They had tried to weave a large net to hold them back through various means.

If you simply lie down and enjoy yourself, you won't feel any resistance and will experience the ultimate luxury. But if you want to continue upward, every step will be incredibly difficult.

……

The Ji family's residence is located several miles away from Zhuang Jin's house on the Third Ring Road.

The Ji family is a prominent family in the city, so at the beginning of the year, it's natural for relatives and friends to visit each other and exchange New Year's greetings. This year's Ji family gathering was especially lively.

This is naturally because of Zhuang Jin!

The city was strictly hierarchical, with a clear distinction between different classes. It was not difficult to see a Venerable One of the Innate Realm on ordinary days, but it was extremely difficult to get close enough to say a word or establish a relationship. Just by looking at the indifferent attitude of the people in Zhuang Jin's small circle towards those below the Innate Realm, one could understand this.

The relatives and friends of the Ji family are mostly from first-, second-, or third-rate families. They are unlikely to be qualified to associate with a Celestial Venerable. This visit to the Ji family to pay New Year's greetings and visit relatives is a good opportunity. If they can meet the Ji family and show their face in front of Zhuang Jin, they might be able to use it sometime.

Therefore, this year when visiting relatives, everyone in the Ji family, even those who were only remotely related, came to visit.

To their disappointment, although Ji Gongji had indeed extended an invitation, Zhuang Jin did not come. For an ordinary person, even a martial artist on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, such rudeness would inevitably lead to gossip, but for Zhuang Jin, a Xiantian Venerable, these people had to lie and say it was 'true to his nature'.

Since Zhuang Jin didn't come, these relatives and friends could only settle for second best.

Ji Gongji is the center of this place. He was talking with the many family leaders around him, his face glowing. Now that the Ji family is thriving, he is naturally full of hope and in high spirits.

Ji Tongxiu was also a central figure here. Today, she wore a white jacket with a cross-collar and plum blossom pattern, and a white fox fur coat made of the mythical beast from the Five Internal Organs Realm. She was elegant and noble, and her heroic spirit was captivating.

—Last August, Zhuang Jin went on a hunting spree of Bone Forging Realm beasts, killing a Five Organs Realm beast and taking its core to upgrade the Two-Patterned Mysterious Serpent Token. This was the fox pelt of that Five Organs Realm beast, the White Fox, which was custom-made at the Heavenly Garment Workshop of the Suspended Heaven Bureau and given to Ji Tongxiu as a year-end reward.

"Heavens above! I heard that a fur coat from Tianyi Workshop that reaches the Five Viscera Realm requires at least three Xuan Snake Certificates and a million contribution points!" "Sister Tongxiu, this is wearing a fraction of a family's wealth."

"I just remembered that I don't seem to have Sister Xiu's token as a friend yet. Could you please add me? I can ask you for advice if there's anything I need in the future."

……

Ji Tongxiu looked at her relatives and friends with a faint smile and responded to each of them.

In the past, she actually disliked such occasions. Elders' birthday celebrations or the beginning of the year, and gatherings of cousins ​​were often filled with showing off and comparison: whether the clothes they wore were the latest styles from Tianyifang and how many contribution points they were worth; who married someone on the Hidden Dragon List and how their in-laws were; the results and rankings of the year-end competition in the martial arts academy... and so on, comparing who was doing well, competing for face, and being extremely vain.

Now, as the focus and center of her cousins, these people she has known since childhood are surrounding her, saying nice things and flattering her. Especially those who used to be at odds with her, who used to be sarcastic and openly mocking, are now lowering their posture and smiling obsequiously. She feels that this feeling is not bad, or even quite good.

At this moment, Ji Tongxiu realized that it wasn't that she disliked this kind of occasion, but rather that she disliked not being the center of attention and being fawned over. Suddenly, she recalled a sentence that Zhuang Jin had unintentionally said: "You and I are all mortals, born into this world." At this moment, she had a different understanding, and an indescribable gratitude and admiration arose in her heart.

As she pondered these thoughts, her gaze swept across the room and inadvertently met that of her younger sister, Ji Tongxiao.

……

Ji Tongxiao looked at her sister in the center of the crowd, surrounded by others who were obsequious and fawning. Her eyes held envy and a hint of hidden... jealousy. They were sisters, but their circumstances were worlds apart.

However, no matter what she felt in her heart, the moment she met her sister's gaze, she subconsciously looked away and turned away, as a flood of memories flashed through her mind.

Gong Bangrong, whom she had previously set her sights on, was implicated and purged after the Freemasons collapsed. This man came to the Ji family, and Ji Tongxiao, out of pity, agreed to meet him. But that one meeting disgusted her.

Gong Bangrong begged for her help, but Ji Tongxiao naturally couldn't. Gong Bangrong knelt down and pleaded, blurting out his true feelings in desperation, 'How could you not help? You are the woman of the Innate Venerable One; all you have to do is act coquettishly in bed, and with a single word…'

Ji Tongxiao found it hard to believe that these were the words of someone she once liked. She felt that she had been blind all along.

Ji Tongxiao realized that her judgment was terribly wrong. The lover she had fallen for was such a scoundrel, while her sister, whom she thought was nothing more than a plaything, was actually living a surprisingly good life: a secondary card of the Xuan Snake Token, a monthly allowance of tens of thousands of contribution points, and a white fox fur coat made from a rare beast at the Five Viscera Realm...

At this moment, she was enjoying a level of honor and dignity that she could only dream of. Thinking of this, her slender hands clenched involuntarily.

Grandpa Ji's words still ring in my ears: "My daughter, must you wait until you lose her to wake up? Must you wait until you're battered and bruised before you know regret?"

'Father, I really made the wrong choice, I... regret it!' At this moment, Ji Tongxiao felt a deep sense of regret and loss, which made her feel a little weightless and slightly dizzy.

But no matter how much you regret it, it's useless now.

When Zhuang Jin first arrived, she still had a chance, but after obtaining the Xuan Snake Token and coming into contact with the Ascension Pavilion, she truly looked down on anything that was offered to her.

—This is a very natural thing. There are countless women from first, second, and third-rate families on the seventh floor of the Immortal Pavilion. Those women only need to pay a small price. Why choose Ji Tongxiao and make so many unnecessary sacrifices and entanglements?
It can only be said that women in the world often have a high opinion of themselves, but the market does not lie. In places like Dengxian Pavilion, where women are alienated or objectified, they are truly valued and their worth is restored.

……

Ji Tongxiu's younger brother, Ji Tongwei, is studying martial arts at Bailu Martial Arts Academy and is likely to be listed on the Hidden Dragon List in the future. At this moment, he is surrounded by many people.

At sixteen or seventeen, teenagers are at the prime of their lives, full of energy and high spirits. Amidst envious glances, they spoke of Bailu Martial Academy with pride and admiration, and expressed their adoration for Zhuang Jin.

"Our White Deer Martial Academy has many Innate Venerables among its instructors. The beginner class requires Qi Condensation Realm; the intermediate class requires Meridian Opening Realm; and the advanced class requires Embryonic Breathing Realm. Only those who are listed on the Hidden Dragon List can graduate."

"The resources and techniques at Bailu Martial Academy are far superior to those of other martial arts academies. However, the requirements are also strict. There is a small exam every month and a major exam every six months. The bottom 10% will be expelled!"

"Mr. Zhuang is extraordinary even among the Innate Venerables. Last month, a direct descendant of an Innate family bullied someone and stole my resources. We got into a fight, and that very night, that Venerable brought the other person here to apologize... Mr. Zhuang said that we should not provoke trouble, but we also cannot be afraid of trouble!"

……

As Ji Tongwei spoke, he elicited gasps of surprise and admiration.

……

Mu Bai was also there, with a woman from a second-rate family related to the Ji family by marriage beside him. He spoke up enthusiastically, and although what he said wasn't very funny, it made her smile frequently.

At this moment, he was even more beaming, patting his chest and taking out an invitation, saying, "On the fifteenth of the first lunar month, the Xuantian Division will be holding an annual Class B auction. This invitation was given to me by my brother-in-law. It's a front-row seat, and I can bring one more person in. Miss Xiuxian, shall we go together?"

The state-level auctions held by the Xuantian Division are divided into three categories: A, B, and C.

The first-class auction, held once every five years, takes place after a major primordial energy tide during the Lunar New Year. The items in the auction involve innate corpse-slaying realm cultivators, and possibly even those at the Yin God realm.

Category B, held once a year, after the annual minor energy tide, features auction items that can range from those at the Innate True Qi Realm to those at the Innate Gang Qi Realm.

Category C, held every three months, mainly features items at the Qi Condensation, Meridian Opening, and Fetal Breathing realms below the Innate level. Items related to breaking through to the Innate level are extremely rare.

This Class B auction is open to families registered with the Suspended Heaven Bureau. Third-rate families with members possessing five or more meridians can exchange for one invitation; second-rate families with members possessing fetal breathing can exchange for three invitations; and first-rate families with members on the Hidden Dragon Ranking can exchange for five invitations.

These invitations from first-, second-, and third-rate families are not only limited in number, but also require credentials and contribution points to exchange for. They are all seats in the outer arena, only with different positions for front and back. For example, a Xiantian Venerable like Zhuang Jin, who holds the Three-Patterned Xuan Snake Token, not only has his own box corresponding to his level, but also twenty-seven free invitations for front-row seats.

After being toughened up by society, Mu Bai started to get to the point where he would try to get close to Zhuang Jin whenever he had the chance. It wasn't that he wanted to ask for favors, but he just liked to make his presence known, which was quite beneficial.

That day, Zhuang Jin received the auction invitation. Coincidentally, Mu Bai came over again. At that time, the boy's bruised and swollen face hadn't fully healed. Zhuang Jin felt a pang of guilt thinking that this guy had suffered an undeserved disaster because of him and had been beaten up by Shangguan Yun Chang. He gave him one invitation, rewarded the Ji and Teng families with a few others, and sold the rest through his inner circle.

This invitation alone made Mu Bai very proud, and he went out to show it off, receiving a lot of praise.

Lu Tai, the eldest of the "Five Heroes of Tongshan," once invited Mu Bai to visit brothels, hoping that Mu Bai would take him to the auction. However, Mu Bai accepted the offer but then made excuses and refused to take the offer.

Mu Bai understood that this person could be ruthless to his sworn brother and sister-in-law, and now he was getting close to him just like a dog seeing a bone, for the sake of benefits. But what kind of person was this, daring to aspire to him?
Although he is only at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Realm now, with his slight connection to Zhuang Jin, how can a mere low-level Qi Refining Realm martial artist compare?
After arriving in the state capital, this guy quickly became alienated, developing a strong sense of class distinctions. It can only be said that the state capital is indeed a melting pot; without a firm will, it is easy to be corrupted and assimilated here.

……

On this day, the Ji family's gathering at the beginning of the year revealed the myriad aspects of human nature, like a small microcosm of the vast city of Cangzhou.

……

(End of this chapter)