Gou Zai Qingluo Cave Heaven Cultivation

In fact, Zhou Changming really didn't have any money.

Because he had already sent all those spirit stones to the gambling den in Qinglinfang.

In the past six months, he developed a gambling addiction. At first, it was just a small amount of gambling, but later he became more and more addicted.

Last year, when Zhou Changgeng asked him for money, he was being chased by thugs from the gambling den and was in a panic. Fearing that his elder brother would find out, he spoke hurtful words to cover it up.

Today, he shamelessly came to our door, claiming he wanted to invest in a big business in the market, but it was nothing more than a high-sounding excuse.

The real reason is that his gambling debts are due, and if he doesn't pay them back, the people at the gambling den will chop off his hand!

Not only that, the several acres of medium-sized spiritual ponds that his parents had given him when they divided the family property had also been secretly mortgaged to gambling dens and lost completely.

"You gambled away the entire substantial fortune your parents left you?!"

The brat sells his grandfather's land without a care in the world!

Zhou Changgeng was initially incredulous, but then became furious.

He gave his younger brother a thorough dressing-down and kicked him out of the yard, finally ending the farce.

That night.

The night sky was clear and bright, with a bright moon hanging high above the river, the two moons echoing each other in their clear light.

The surroundings were quiet and peaceful, with the occasional low chirping of an unknown insect.

Zhou Baoqing and Zhou Changgeng walked along the path of their fishpond. The night breeze swept by, carrying wisps of mist.

Zhou Changgeng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the shimmering water, and sighed.

"Brother Bao, your second grandfather wasn't like this when he was little. He loved to follow me around. I still remember him running around in the scorching sun with his short legs, calling out 'Brother!' to bring me water..."

Zhou Baoqing replied softly, "Grandpa, people change. Gambling is like an abyss; once you fall into it, all the past affection and conscience will disappear."

Zhou Changgeng sighed deeply and remained silent.

He sat down on a blue stone by the pond, and with a flick of his wrist, drew a long, sheathed sword.

The scabbard of this sword is ancient and simple. As the long sword is drawn, a cold, chilling light flows under the moonlight, faintly carrying the sharpness to cut through gold and jade.

This is the magical artifact he used in his early years, when he roamed the water towns with his sword. It is of high quality and carries the memory of his most spirited and carefree years.

Zhou Changgeng gently stroked the cold blade with his fingers, his expression full of longing.

"This 'Scale-Slaying Blade' has been with me for most of my life. It's a mid-grade first-tier magic weapon. I should be able to get quite a few spirit stones by pawning it."

He abruptly sheathed his sword, as if having made a tremendous decision, and said in a deep voice:

"As the eldest brother, I am like a father to him. This is the last time I will help him. I will do this to fulfill my parents' dying wish in heaven."

After this, we'll completely sever this brotherhood. He'll go his own way, and I'll go mine. We'll be even!

Zhou Baoqing looked at his grandfather quietly.

When the family was going through its most difficult time, my grandfather didn't sell the knife.

Later, when he reluctantly sold the family's several acres of fishponds, Grandpa did not sell the knife.

But on this night, Grandpa decided to sell his most treasured possession.

Grandpa may seem old-fashioned, but he's actually a very warm person.

He could have used the spirit stones he earned from selling fish bait to fill that hole, but he never thought of using that money.

Because it was earned through the joint efforts of the whole family and was meant to provide a bright future for their grandson's spiritual practice, they had no choice but to sell their most cherished possession.

A pang of sadness welled up in Zhou Baoqing's heart, and he asked, "Grandpa, which pawnshop in the market are you planning to go to?"

Zhou Changgeng looked over in confusion, wondering why his grandson was asking this.

Zhou Baoqing said solemnly, "One day, I will retrieve this knife for you. The knife was a token of your affection for your brother, but retrieving it for you is my way of showing filial piety."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Changgeng's eyes reddened slightly, but a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

He patted Zhou Baoqing on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Good boy, no matter what you've been through in the past, let's just look forward!"

…………

Life must go on.

In the days that followed, news of Zhou Changgeng's family's secret fish bait recipe eventually spread within a small area of ​​Qinglin Bay.

This news naturally attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors.

However, unlike Zhou Changming who asked for exorbitant amounts, borrowing twenty or thirty low-grade spirit stones at a time, the neighbors, even when someone came to ask for help, would only lend a few hundred spirit crystals for emergencies.

After all, most fishpond owners live like this, only managing to collect a few spirit stones during the year-round harvest season.

When spring arrives and we need to stock fish fry and buy feed, we'll be short of money again.

Every family faces unexpected situations and times of scarcity.

Adhering to the principle of "providing emergency relief but not long-term support," Zhou Changgeng only helped those neighbors with whom he had a good relationship and a respectable reputation.

As for those who were idle and had impure intentions, they were all politely refused, citing that their capital was tied up in the bait workshop.

As news of Zhou Baoqing becoming a disciple of Master Gan gradually spread, no one caused any trouble.

Life went on slowly like this, a simple routine between school, home, and the secluded cave.

Zhou Baoqing's life became extremely regular.

During the day, I attend lectures at the clan school, practice drawing talismans at the talisman-making workshop in the afternoon, and cultivate myself at home in the evening. In my spare time, I immerse my mind in the Azure Snail Cave Heaven to take care of the spiritual plants and tease the adorable Xuan Shui Spirit Turtle.

After a period of nourishment by the spiritual water, he discovered that although the spiritual plants he had bought at the market had not improved in rank or mutated, their vitality and quality had been greatly enhanced. They had become visibly moist and plump, and their medicinal properties were pure.

He had heard in the clan school that when one cultivates to the Transcendent Realm, one needs to use many high-quality spiritual herbs and medicines to cleanse the marrow and transform one's body.

Perhaps, after standing out in the major exams in the second half of the year and officially entering the "Mingdao Class", I will be able to systematically learn how to utilize these spiritual herbs.

Zhou Baoqing had high hopes for the Mingdao Class.

If the Chengdao class's teachings on medicine identification, talisman scriptures, and formations were still at the theoretical stage of theoretical discussion, then the Mingdao class was about real-world practical training.

For example, personally preparing medicinal soups, crafting precious talismans, or even participating in basic weapon crafting.

These are precisely the "protective means" that Zhou Baoqing desperately desires and urgently needs at this stage, and they are also the foundation for him to establish himself in this cultivation world in the future.

Before we knew it, it was time for the clan school to have its day off again.

On this day, as dawn broke, Zhou Baoqing and Zhao Yuanqiu waited early at the bay entrance.

Zhou Baoqing wore a blue robe with a gourd hanging from his waist, which contained spirit wine.

Zhao Yuanqiu carried a small bamboo basket on her back, her eyes sparkling as she stared intently at the river.

Before long, a small boat broke through the morning mist and sailed leisurely in.

Standing at the bow of the ship was a cultivator with a vermilion wine gourd hanging from his waist; it was none other than Pan Jiang.

"Grandpa Pan!" the two called out in unison.

Pan Jiang brought the small boat to shore and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, you two little brats are up early! Get on the boat, today I'll take you to Qinglin Abyss and show you what the art of fishing is all about!"