Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 99 Testing the Flying Boat
Can I try it?

Li Xiangming asked, "Although my father is willing to help, that's precisely why we must be extremely cautious."

"This requires a testing fee of 5 spirit stones, but the fee will be refunded if you purchase it."

"Five spirit stones?"

Li Xiangming's face darkened.

"Rest assured, guest. Our Tianji Pavilion has a guaranteed reputation and will never deceive you. You might as well not take this test."

Manager Xin patted his chest and loudly guaranteed.

"Let's give it a try."

Li Qianhe spoke up, but he was also in business and couldn't believe anything that Manager Xin said.

"No problem."

Master Xin happily accepted the spirit stones and led the three members of the Li family outside.

Nangong Ya sighed. It was her duty, so she could only take down the Green Cloud Flying Boat and follow closely behind.

The group arrived at a section of the river outside the market town. This was a special testing ground for flying boats in the Pushui Market Town, where people could fly freely.

Of course, don't even think about escaping in your airship. Once you leave this place, there are no-fly zones everywhere.

Nangong Ya explained the precautions: "Whether it's a flying shuttle or a flying boat, you must place spirit stones in advance and wait for the spirit-refining array to transform them. You must not activate it on short notice."

Shuttles and flying boats are for transportation, not for combat. It is virtually impossible to make them as agile as flying swords.

This is common knowledge, and Li Xiangming nodded to indicate that he understood.

After the Spirit Transformation Array was activated, Nangong Ya entered the Green Cloud Flying Boat and explained the operating techniques one by one.

It's actually quite simple. The flying boat has a rudder, so you just need to control the direction of the rudder, and the rest is powered by the Spirit Transformation Array.

After the demonstration, Nangong Ya replaced Li Xiangming.

Touching the flying boat for the first time, Li Xiangming was somewhat excited. Perhaps he didn't understand flying swords, but with this thing, he could still roam the sky!
With a "whoosh," the Green Cloud Flying Boat carrying Li Xiangming disappeared.

Two quarters of an hour later, Li Xiangming returned to the group, his expression not very good: "This flying boat can't travel four hundred li in a quarter of an hour, can it?"

He just tried it out, and even at full speed, he could only achieve about 80% of what he expected.

"It seems the Spirit Transformation Array isn't transmitting spiritual energy quite well. Don't worry, since the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion dares to say it's four hundred li, it's definitely true. Why don't you try it a few more times, sir?"

"Try a few more times?"

Li Xiangming laughed in anger. Even if the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion did not lie and the Green Cloud Flying Boat finally measured four hundred miles in a quarter of an hour, what was the point if it was unstable?

How many times can you escape when you're trying to save your life?
"If the guests are not satisfied, we will have to change to another ship."

Master Xin sighed with regret.

"No need, this one will do."

Li Xiangming finally understood that you get what you pay for, and trying to get a piece of the pie from a seasoned businessman like Manager Xin was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

He is currently in a state of being neither satisfied nor willing to give up.

He was dissatisfied because the speed of the Green Cloud Flying Boat still did not meet his expectations, even though he had lowered his expectations.

The reason I'm reluctant to part with it is that 400 spirit stones can hardly buy a better flying boat.

After all, even a Water and Fire Welcoming Crane costs around this price.

A slightly better flying shuttle costs twice as much.

After much deliberation, Li Xiangming reluctantly bought it.

A 400-yuan flying boat, as long as it works, what more could he ask for?

Both parties returned to Tianji Pavilion and completed the transaction.

Seeing Manager Xin leave, Nangong Ya couldn't help but say, "You actually came out ahead."

"Profit?"

"Sigh, this flying boat was selling for 500 spirit stones just half a month ago. It was almost ready to be sold, but a customer pointed out that its spirit transformation array was not coordinated enough, which caused the deal to fall through."

Actually, the problem with the Spirit Transformation Array isn't serious and doesn't affect its use. It's just that the guest's special status caused quite a stir, and 'Green Cloud' suddenly became unwanted. Manager Xin didn't want this to damage the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion's reputation, so he lowered the price, hoping to sell it quickly.

Li Xiangming narrowed his eyes: "So, you all knew there was something wrong with it all along? But you still sold it for 500 spirit stones?"

"The value of the airship is undeniable; even with some minor flaws, it cannot be sold cheaply."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming was completely speechless.

No wonder the Heavenly Secrets Merchant Guild has grown so big; they're shameless.

The Li family's spirit pets will have to learn from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion in terms of pricing from now on. Thinking of spirit pets, Li Xiangming asked curiously, "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is so big, doesn't it do spirit pet business?"

Nangong Ya paused for a moment before replying, "Tianji Pavilion is a shop that specializes in buying, maintaining, and selling flying magical artifacts. It does not deal with spirit pets. If you want to buy a spirit pet, you can go to Tengjiao Workshop to take a look."

"Tengjiaofang is too expensive."

"If you think it's too expensive, you can also check out East Street."

"East Street?"

Li Xiangming frowned. Half of Pushui Market was located on the Pushui River, and the other half was located on the east bank.

Decades ago, there was only one street on the east bank, hence the name East Street. Although it is now dozens of times larger than before, the name "East Street" remains unchanged.

There are many cultivators there, more than 70% of the cultivators in Pushui Market. After all, land in West Street is extremely valuable, and not everyone can afford to live there.

"I'm afraid the East Street doesn't have the spirit pet I want."

Li Xiangming shook his head. East Street is a mixed bag, rife with swindlers. There are definitely spirit pets, but most of them are drugged and manipulated. If you actually buy one and bring it home, you'll find that this one has a problem and that one doesn't obey.

Seeing Li Xiangming's concerns, Nangong Ya couldn't help but say, "If you want to buy a good and cheap spirit pet, it's best to find Green Calyx Hermit."

"The Hermit of Green Calyx?"

"A very talented beast tamer who can turn unwanted spirit pets into his own."

Li Xiangming was immediately surprised and asked, "How does this person compare to the beast tamers of Tengjiao Workshop?"

"Worse than that."

Without hesitation, Nangong Ya blurted it out.

"Oh?"

Nangong Ya's answer was so swift and decisive that it aroused Li Xiangming's suspicion.

A single leaf can foretell the coming of autumn; the skill of the beast tamers behind Tengjiao Workshop can be glimpsed from the Iron-Tailed Jade Fox, which costs 500 spirit stones each.

If Green Calyx Hermit is superior, what level of beast tamer would he be?
Would someone like that be content to stay on East Street?
Li Xiangming didn't believe it.

Moreover, Nangong Ya talking to her about these things was beyond the scope of her duties.

Such praise for Green Calyx Hermit is truly baffling.
-
The next day.

Due to the busy schedule of "Auspicious Purple Qi from the East" and the affairs of Baicaofang, Li Qianhe had no time to spare.

Li Xiangming had no choice but to finish browsing the remaining spirit pet shops with Li Qianfu.

But the outcome was not satisfactory.

"Changtai Township definitely needs one or two riding pets, Changyang Valley needs one, and Xulong Township also needs one. We need to buy at least three riding pets."

After doing the math, Li Xiangming was in a real headache.

"Could we ask our family for more money?"

Li Qianfu couldn't help but ask if his family could allocate another 100 yuan, which would allow them to buy three Divine Wind Steeds and fulfill their requirements for the trip.

But without that 100 yuan, both of them were stumped.

Li Xiangming even swallowed his pride and tried his best to bargain, talking until his mouth was blistered, but to no avail.

Even if the pet shop agrees to lower the price, it will only be around 180 spirit stones at most.

They absolutely refused to go any further.

"Let's try our luck on East Street first. We'll split into two groups to speed things up."

Helpless, Li Xiangming headed to East Street.

He had considered asking for more, but all expenses were budgeted, and purchasing a spirit pet for the Shangji House was an unexpected expense.

It's already quite difficult for Li Qianxiong to squeeze out 500 spirit stones. For every extra one he asks for, Li Qianxiong has to save one elsewhere. If he asks for an extra 100, he'll be scolded mercilessly.

The East Market was also lined with shops, but it was much smaller than the West Market.

The goods sold here are mainly aimed at individual repairmen.

After wandering around for a while, Li Xiangming did see some spirit pets that interested him. There were even water and fire cranes for sale.

When I asked about the price, it turned out to be more expensive than in Tengjiaofang.

Without saying a word, Li Xiangming left, and the shop owner chased after him for more than ten feet.

As he walked, Li Xiangming came to an alley full of small vendors.

"Feiyan Street?"

(End of this chapter)