Family Cultivation: My Ancestral Home Gets Infinite Upgrades

Chapter 112 Moonlit Conversation (5k views, please subscribe)

Upon discovering it was Wang Zhiyue, Jiang Fu'an lowered his hand from the storage bag.

It wasn't that he trusted the other person that much.

Rather, he was confident that if a fight broke out at this moment, he would not suffer any losses.

Although Wang Zhiyue is now at the sixth level of Qi Refining, two levels higher than him.

However, he cultivates both physical and magical powers, so if they were to truly fight, the outcome would be uncertain.

He composed himself and looked at the other person carefully.

Wang Zhiyue's usually fair and aloof face now showed a hint of unnaturalness.

His lips were slightly pursed, as if he wanted to speak, but something blocked his way.

Seeing this, Jiang Fu'an took the initiative to speak: "Fellow Daoist Wang, why are you here so late at night, blocking my way?"

Wang Zhiyue's gaze fell on his face, which contained a mixture of complex and difficult-to-discern emotions.

She hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Master Jiang, please don't misunderstand, I have no ill intentions."

"I have come here to apologize to Patriarch Jiang for my previous actions."

"The Wang family head is magnanimous; please do not harbor resentment towards the Wang family because of this."

"Apologize?"

Jiang Fu'an raised an eyebrow; this was indeed unexpected.

Wang Zhiyue, who is usually arrogant and domineering, actually lowered himself and humbly admitted his mistake.

His gaze sharpened slightly, and he immediately grasped the meaning behind her words—"Don't harbor any resentment towards the Wang family."

Was she worried that she might have a grudge against the Wang family, which is why she had to come and apologize?

Upon closer reflection, that is indeed possible.

After all, times have changed, and the balance of power between the two companies has long since shifted.

They really should consider their own thoughts.

Thinking of this, he replied calmly, "I am not a narrow-minded person, and I will not hold prejudices against the entire Wang family because of past grievances between us."

"Fellow Daoist Wang, please leave. This apology is truly unnecessary."

Wang Zhiyue did not leave as instructed.

She looked directly at Jiang Fu'an and added sincerely, "This apology is from the bottom of my heart, and is not entirely for the sake of the Wang family."

"I was wrong about what happened before."

Jiang Fu'an kept staring at her, and seeing that her expression didn't seem fake and her eyes were open and honest, he couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.

He couldn't understand what he had done to cause such a change in her attitude.

In fact, Wang Zhiyue's apology tonight was genuine.

During her stay at Qinglu Mountain, she witnessed the development of the Jiang family from top to bottom.

She originally thought that Jiang Fu'an had no experience in managing the family business of a cultivation family and would definitely make a mess of things.

But the result was far beyond her expectations.

The Bloodtooth Rice in the Spirit Field was thriving, brimming with spiritual energy, and its growth far surpassed that of the Spirit Field meticulously tended by the Wang family.

What surprised her even more was that in just a few years, the other party was able to plant the entire Qinglu Mountain with spirit bamboo.

She knew she couldn't match such efficiency and decisiveness.

When it comes to the management and cultivation of her clansmen, she felt a great deal of admiration for Jiang Fu'an.

The Jiang family's children are all outstanding, even the second daughter, who has no spiritual roots, is able to take on the responsibility of defending Qinglu Mountain with her exquisite beast-taming skills.

All beginnings are hard.

Now that she had spoken, Wang Zhiyue no longer hesitated and told Jiang Fu'an all the feelings she had had for him over the past few days.

After saying that, the curiosity in her eyes grew stronger, and she couldn't help but ask, "Master Jiang, I still have a question in my mind. If it's convenient, I hope you can answer it for me."

"Logically speaking, you have no prior experience managing the affairs of a cultivation family, so how are you able to handle all these matters so efficiently?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fu'an looked puzzled: "Is it that difficult? I feel that these are just the most basic business principles, and it doesn't seem to require any special experience?"

The current state of Qinglu Mountain is undoubtedly due to the dedicated assistance and rich experience of Miao Ruolan and the Miao widows.

However, to be on the safe side, he did not want to reveal anything about the Miao people to outsiders, so he could only pretend to be confused at this moment.

These words made Wang Zhiyue's eyes widen in surprise.

She had racked her brains day and night to figure out how to run the family business, but in the other party's eyes, it had become "a trivial matter".

Her lips parted slightly, as if about to ask another question, when suddenly her expression changed. She lowered her voice, her tone becoming more urgent: "I will take my leave first! I hope Patriarch Jiang will not mention tonight's events to anyone else!"

Before she could finish speaking, her figure blurred, her skirt swept across the stone steps, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the shadows at the other end of the corridor.

"Don't mention it to anyone else?"

Jiang Fu'an stared in the direction she disappeared, his doubts growing even stronger.

This is nothing to be ashamed of, so why be so secretive?

But then he realized that the other person had deliberately chosen to come alone in the dead of night, perhaps because they didn't want to be seen.

Considering Wang Zhiyue's consistently assertive and unyielding nature, he immediately understood a thing or two.

This female cultivator, after all, cherished her reputation and did not want others to know that she had bowed her head and admitted her mistake.

Before Jiang Fu'an could ponder this further, Wang Zhiyue had just left when footsteps echoed down the corridor behind him.

He turned his head and saw Ma Ping walking quickly towards him, his expression somewhat serious.

Ma Ping approached, bowed respectfully, and asked directly, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, were you just talking with Zhiyue? What did you discuss?"

Recalling Wang Zhiyue's request, Jiang Fu'an chuckled and said, "It's nothing, just a chance encounter and a brief chat."

Ma Ping seemed somewhat skeptical, his brow furrowing slightly as he pressed, "But why did Zhiyue leave so hastily as soon as she saw me arrive?"

It was only then that Jiang Fu'an realized something was wrong with Ma Ping; his eyes clearly showed suspicion.

He had no intention of getting involved in the affairs of other Daoist couples, so he could only decline, saying, "I am not aware of that. As for Fellow Daoist Wang's actions, why doesn't Fellow Daoist Ma go and ask her himself?"

Seeing that Jiang Fu'an was unwilling to say more, Ma Ping did not press the matter further.

He was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Fu'an's face scrutinizingly, then suddenly his expression turned serious: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, we have known each other for more than ten years, haven't we?"

"How do you think Mr. Ma has treated you over the years?"

Although Jiang Fu'an did not understand the other party's intention, he still answered seriously: "Fellow Daoist Ma has always been as honest and helpful to me as a friend."

"I will always remember this kindness and regard you as a friend."

Upon hearing this, Ma Ping's face showed a hint of satisfaction. He then lowered his voice and earnestly pleaded, "In that case, I hope Fellow Daoist Jiang will do me a favor."

"From now on, do not get too close to Zhiyue, and do not do anything excessive."

Jiang Fu'an was slightly taken aback by these words.

He never expected that Ma Ping was worried that he and Wang Zhiyue were having an affair!

For a moment, he was speechless, and a little annoyed by this unfounded suspicion: "What kind of person does Fellow Daoist Ma regard Jiang as?"

"Although I am not talented, I know the principles of propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame. How could I do such a morally corrupt thing?"

"If you have the time and inclination to keep an eye on me, you might as well pay more attention to Xia Qingshan. Who knows, the two of them might still be in contact."

"Xia Qingshan?"

Ma Ping frowned suddenly and immediately shook his head, saying, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, please do not believe those malicious slanders!"

There is absolutely no personal relationship between Zhiyue and Xia Qingshan!

"Zhiyue is proud and has always looked down on those who are inferior to her."

"Although Xia Qingshan's performance in the Wang family is acceptable, how could he possibly catch Zhiyue's eye?"

Jiang Fu'an had no idea there was more to the story.

Seeing Ma Ping's certainty, he couldn't help but wonder: "Since Fellow Daoist Ma is convinced that Fellow Daoist Wang looks down on Xia Qingshan, then why do you think she would look down on me, Jiang?"

"In terms of cultivation, I am only at the third level of Qi Refining, not even as good as Xia Qingshan."

To avoid arousing suspicion that his cultivation level had increased too quickly, he had been using the Qi Concealment Technique to hide his true cultivation level at the third level of Qi Refining.

Ma Ping shook his head, his gaze complex: "Fellow Daoist Jiang's cultivation may be temporarily inferior, but in managing the family and governing the industry, he far surpasses Zhiyue."

"Ma has been watching her behavior at Qinglu Mountain these days."

"She, who is so proud and arrogant, now pays close attention to the affairs of the Jiang family and occasionally praises them in private."

"I'm afraid she already admires Fellow Daoist Jiang."

After listening to Ma Ping's analysis and considering Wang Zhiyue's sincere apology earlier, Jiang Fu'an suddenly felt that there was some truth to it.

He immediately made up his mind:

In the future, I should definitely keep some distance from Wang Zhiyue.

It's not that I dislike the other person.

To be fair, Wang Zhiyue is not bad-looking and has an outstanding temperament.

But Jiang Fu'an is already a grandfather, so he should act with composure and set an example for his children and grandchildren.

Moreover, one should not covet a friend's wife.

Five days later, Moon Spirit Market.

The area in front of the Lingfu Pavilion was bustling with people coming and going.

Stone looked delighted, holding a wooden plaque about the height of a person in each hand, and steadily placed them on both sides of the shop's entrance.

The wooden signs gleamed in the sunlight; the one on the left read: "All talismans in this shop are the lowest priced in the market, and all are of superior quality!"

The sign on the right reads: "Exclusive Sale: Unique talismans such as the Fireball Talisman, Stone Armor Talisman, and Swamp Talisman. Fellow practitioners are welcome to come and purchase!"

Wang Zhaoyun also came out, and looking at the words on the wooden sign, a trace of worry flashed across his face: "Brother Shi, aren't we being a bit too high-profile? It might attract dissatisfaction from our peers."

"If you don't go for a high profile in business, how can you attract customers?"

Stone said nonchalantly, "Competitors are dissatisfied? That's to be expected, aren't we enemies to begin with?"

He possessed superhuman strength and a physical body comparable to a mid-stage first-tier demon beast, making ordinary mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators no longer a threat to him.

If pushed to the limit, he could use the "Blood Burning Curse" and even a late-stage Qi Refining expert would be a match for him.

It is precisely because he has this confidence that he is not afraid of offending anyone.

These two wooden signs had an immediate effect.

It had only been out for a short time when it attracted the attention of passersby on the street.

Before long, a sprightly old man, accompanied by two young men who appeared to be his disciples, strolled over.

The old man pointed at the wooden sign and raised his voice: "Shopkeeper, what are the Fireball Talisman, Stone Armor Talisman, and Swamp Talisman written on this sign?"

"I've frequented this market for many years, how come I've never heard of it?"

Fearing that Shi Tou might mispronounce something due to his clumsy tongue, Wang Zhaoyun quickly stepped forward, a smile plastered on her face, and explained carefully, "Sir, these are talismans unique to our Jiang family."

"For example, this large fireball talisman is a mid-grade first-level talisman, and its power is several times greater than that of an ordinary fireball talisman."

"The fireballs it unleashes are the size of a washbasin, and they are extremely effective against swarms of poisonous insects or large monsters."

"The Stone Armor Talisman is also a mid-grade first-tier talisman, an enhanced version of the Earth Armor Talisman, with more robust and durable defensive power."

"As for this swamp talisman, it is a variant of the quicksand talisman."

"Once activated, the ground transforms into a swamp of silt, harder to escape than quicksand, making it ideal for trapping enemies —"

The old man nodded repeatedly at the explanation, his eyes showing surprise: "You can even draw talismans with such effects? I'd like to see it for myself."

Having said that, he lifted the hem of his robe and stepped into the Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

Wang Zhaoyun hurriedly followed her inside, carefully took out the various talismans from the wooden compartment behind the counter, and laid them out one by one on the smooth countertop.

The old man picked up a large fireball talisman, examined its patterns closely, and after a long while, nodded and said, "Indeed, it is unlike any talisman I have ever seen before."

"However, whether the actual effect after activation is as the shopkeeper said, I have no idea."

These mid-grade talismans are priced at five spirit stones or more.

Wang Zhaoyun would naturally not use up a card casually just to prove something.

Her smile remained unchanged as she said gently, "Don't worry, sir. Our Lingfu Pavilion is located right here in Yueling Market. We have a proper storefront and can't run away."

"If you find anything wrong with it after using it, you can come to us at any time."

The biggest advantage of having a shop compared to those temporary stalls outside is that you can't just run away.

The customer felt at ease after buying the goods.

The old man clearly understood this principle as well.

After a moment's thought, he made a decision: "Then give me one large fireball talisman and one swamp talisman each."

"Furthermore, I need to purchase some talismans to ward off evil spirits. How much would your shop charge?"

Wang Zhaoyun's smile deepened, and according to the price Jiang Fu'an had set earlier, she replied, "One spirit stone for each miasma-repelling talisman. If you buy ten, you'll receive one free."

After hearing this, the old man nodded in satisfaction: "This price is indeed the lowest in Moon Spirit Market."

"Alright, give me twenty first. If they work well, I'll buy them from you from now on."

"Alright! Please have a seat, I'll prepare it for you right away!"

Wang Zhaoyun was overjoyed; this single deal was almost equivalent to a whole day's income when the Wang family was running their business.

She turned around and went behind the counter to retrieve the talisman, her movements swift and efficient.

The old man walked slowly around the shop with his hands behind his back, looking around.

Various talismans are neatly arranged on the counter and along the walls.

Aside from those exclusive talismans, the common lightness talismans, super strength talismans, quicksand talismans, etc., are also of good quality, but the price is 10% lower than other stores.

The old man looked on with increasing surprise and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Shopkeeper, may I ask whose business this shop belongs to?"

Wang Zhaoyun was tying the wrapped talisman with a thin string when he heard this. He looked up, a hint of pride on his face: "It's from the Jiang family of Qinglu Mountain in the west. Have you heard of them, sir?"

"Qinglu Jiang Family —"

The old man frowned and pondered for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "Could it be Qinglu Mountain, the one from which the spiritual vein emerged a few years ago?"

The news of the emergence of a spiritual vein on Qinglu Mountain was widely circulated in the cultivation world within a radius of tens of thousands of miles a few years ago.

After all, the birth of a natural spiritual vein is a rare occurrence, even within thousands of years, and is enough to become a topic of conversation over tea.

Most people only remember "Qinglu Mountain" and don't pay much attention to the "Jiang family" who live on the mountain. They are just a small family that is a bit lucky and not worth the trouble of asking about.

But now, with the "Spirit Talisman Pavilion" reopening with a brand new look.

With its unique talismans and affordable prices, it has gradually gained a reputation, and more and more people have begun to pay attention to this inconspicuous "Qinglu Jiang Family".

Inside the market, in a private room on the second floor of a restaurant facing the street.

A slightly plump woman was sitting by the window, holding jade chopsticks, slowly savoring several exquisite dishes.

Opposite her stood an elderly man in gray robes, bowing low as he reported in a low voice: "Miss, this old servant has observed for several days that the talismans sold in the 'Spirit Talisman Pavilion' are in no way inferior to those in my 'Qiankun Pavilion' in terms of quality or price, and are even superior in some exclusive talismans."

If this continues, it may divert a significant portion of our customers.

The slightly plump woman didn't even lift her eyelids after hearing this; she simply turned her gaze to the window.

From this angle, one can see the endless stream of people coming and going at the entrance of "Lingfu Pavilion" on the street diagonally below.

She stared for a long time before letting out a cold laugh: "They're just a small family that's only recently emerged and is relying on a bit of luck. How much trouble can they cause? Is it worth panicking about?"

"Go and investigate carefully where these talismans in their shop, especially those unique ones, come from."

The old man in gray immediately bowed: "Yes, Miss. This old servant will take care of it right away."

Right next to this private room, behind another carved wooden window facing the street, stood two figures.

One was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a pretty face.

But at this moment, her almond-shaped eyes were filled with a hatred beyond her years, staring intently at the burly figure bustling about at the entrance of the "Spirit Talisman Pavilion" downstairs—

It was a stone.

The other was a beautiful woman in her thirties, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

The girl bit her lip, her voice filled with resentment: "Aunt Shui, this person had been hiding in Qinglu Mountain for a while, and you always advised me not to make any rash moves."

"Now that he's swaggered into this market, you won't stop me from avenging my brother, will you?"

The beautiful woman, known as "Aunt Shui," sighed softly, reached out and patted the girl's shoulder, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes: "Xiao Chan, it's not that I'm trying to stop you. Do you think I don't hate her? My Daoist partner also died at this man's hands."

"How could I not want to avenge this hatred and resentment immediately?"

"However, according to various rumors, this person's strength is unfathomable, and he is probably among the top in the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

"We are both only at the early stage of Qi Refining. If we go there rashly, wouldn't that be like throwing eggs against a rock?"

Seeing that the girl's eyes were red, she gently advised, "What I mean is that this matter needs to be considered more carefully."

"Your most important task right now is to focus on cultivation and improve your cultivation level."

"Moreover, look at this person's behavior. He is so flamboyant and high-profile, without any scruples. If this continues, he will surely offend many powerful forces."

"Why don't we wait and see how things develop, and then seize the opportunity to kick them when they're down? Wouldn't that be a safer approach?"

The girl listened, still unwilling, but she knew that what Aunt Shui said made sense. She could only glare at the figure downstairs and suppress her hatred for the time being.