Chapter 11

Co-Rental

Shen Ping was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Being able to reach the breakthrough condition so quickly was the result of his hard work every day. He had spent countless tonics and ingredients.

But when he saw the narrow room, this sense of accomplishment instantly disappeared without a trace.

Life was so barren. What was there to be proud of!

He took a deep breath and headed for the cubicle. Calming his mind and crafting talismans… he began his fulfilling and boring daily life.

Due to the elevation of the metal and wood spiritual roots to medium-grade, he also had to spend some extra time meditating and cultivating, in addition to making talismans, dual cultivating, and suppressing the poison. His originally poor time suddenly became tight.

Hence, Shen Ping adjusted the exercise during his lunch break to night time. This caused him to only be able to rest for five minutes before continuing.

“Once I get rid of the poison in my body, I can save three hours a day.” Shen Ping gritted his teeth and persisted. Actually, if he gave up on resting after midnight, there would still be plenty of time. However, considering his wife and concubine’s mental state, he still put away such thoughts.

Fishing in the swamp can destroy the ecological environment.

Days passed just like that. His experience in the Dao of Talisman and Metal and Wood Spiritual Roots had been slowly improving. Ever since that robber cultivator died, nothing happened in the alley near the Red Stone River. Everyone’s life gradually returned to its former peace.

Mid-June.

A large flying boat of the Golden Sun Sect hovered above the edge of the marketplace. A large number of cultivators came out from it. These cultivators were recruited from the marketplaces and cultivation clans in the main sect’s area, as well as from the cultivation cities.

Back then, Shen Ping had taken such a flying ship to Cloud Mountain Swamp.

Twenty years of pioneering.

This region was gradually being controlled by the Golden Sun Sect. Every five or ten years, several batches of cultivators would be transported over from the main sect.

Of course, more than 80% of the people who came to the swamp were ordinary cultivators like Shen Ping who had no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment. The remaining 20% were ambitious people who wanted to make a name for themselves, or people who came to seek opportunities or establish cultivation clans to develop.

The next afternoon.

Just as Shen Ping was making talismans in the cubicle, he heard the sound of thick spiritual energy coming from outside.

“I am a deacon of the Golden Sun Sect. Those who stay in the house, show your heads!”

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Rows of houses opened one after another in Red Willow Alley.

Shen Ping also walked out of the house. His gaze landed on the Golden Sun Sect’s outer sect deacon not far away. Behind him was a team of patrolling cultivators. Those who could be patrolling the marketplace had to be at least at the seventh level of Qi Refinement and had extraordinary combat strength.

A moment later, the Golden Sun Sect’s deacon said, “From today onwards, the annual rental fee for Red Willow Alley has increased to 50 low-grade spirit stones. Those who are short, hurry to the market’s Deacon Hall to make up for it. Those who have already paid the rental fee in advance will be deducted according to the current rising price. The deadline is two weeks. We won’t wait once it’s due.”

With that, the Golden Sun Sect’s deacon led the patrolmen to the next alley as they made ward rounds.

After they left, Yu Yan immediately complained, “That’s too ruthless. It increased so much all of a sudden. Red Willow Alley isn’t even close to the main road. It actually costs half a mid-grade spirit stone. How can we live?!”

The cultivators nearby also chimed in.

“Yeah, it’s more than doubled. It’s almost as expensive as the alleys around the main road.”

“The days ahead will be even more difficult!”

“Sigh, it’s only a matter of time. A large-scale flame gold mine has been discovered in Cloud Mountain Swamp. If news of this spreads, more cultivators will definitely come. In other regions, a single mine can support tens of thousands of cultivators.”

“That group of cultivators yesterday is only the beginning. In the future, there will be more and more.”

Listening to these discussions, Shen Ping frowned. If it was more than a year ago, he would have moved immediately without hesitation. How could he afford to pay 50 low-grade spirit stones a year? But now, he only needed four talismans to earn this fee. Even so, he was still worried.

This was because there would be more cultivators in the market in the future. Once there were too many cultivators, there would inevitably be chaos. Red Willow Alley belonged to the periphery of the market. Even if the rent rose to 50, the Golden Sun Sect would not increase the number of patrols to guard this place.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, do you want to pay the rental fee together?” At this moment, Yu Yan invited him.

Shen Ping came back to his senses and hurriedly nodded. Every time he went out, it was a life and death test for him. With Yu Yan, a female cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, accompanying him, his sense of security soared.

He immediately returned to his room and told his wife and concubine. Then, he closed the door and followed Yu Yan to the market. During this time, other cultivators saw this and joined the team.

Before they reached the main road, the team had already increased to 20 to 30 cultivators. There were also many teams in the other alleys who went to pay the rent like them. Rarely would one-time payments be made for several years. After all, no one knew when they would die.

As soon as they stepped onto the main road, everyone’s faces relaxed a lot, and some of them started chatting. When they arrived at the Deacon Hall, there were many cultivators lined up in a long line.

Shen Ping and the others could only queue at the back. They waited for more than two hours. When it was almost evening, it was their turn.

Originally, he wanted to make a trip to the Spring Embroidery Pavilion to sell the talismans in his storage bag and buy some materials. However, in this situation, he immediately gave up on the idea.

After paying the rental fee, the team dispersed and returned to their rooms after returning to Red Willow Alley.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, Red Willow Alley is the periphery after all. It’s not as safe as the market. Do you want to consider renting it together in the market?”

Shen Ping was about to return to his room when Yu Yan spoke. He looked startled. He looked at Yu Yan’s slightly beautiful face and rather voluptuous body. He subconsciously thought of something.

However, he soon laughed dryly. “Fellow Daoist Yu, I still have a wife and concubine to raise. It’s really inconvenient. Moreover, the price of houses in the market has probably increased quite a bit.”

With that, he quickly pushed the door open. A disdainful voice immediately sounded in her ear. “You really don’t have the guts. I’m not even willing to let you sleep for free.”

After he closed the door, Shen Ping secretly heaved a sigh of relief. A widow living alone was too scary. How would he dare to provoke her? However, since Fellow Daoist Yu suggested renting a house in the market together, it seemed that she had some savings. Perhaps she was really the one who killed the robber cultivator.

“Husband, the rental price of houses in Red Willow Alley has increased. Why don’t we move to Ningshui Alley next year? The price there is very low.” During dinner, Bai Yuying suggested it considerately.

Wang Yun also chimed in, “That’s right, husband. You’ve been working hard all day. Sister Yuying and I really can’t bear to see you like this. We don’t care if we live a poor life. As long as you can accompany us, we’ll be satisfied.”

Shen Ping held his wife’s wrist and said gently, “Don’t worry. I’m a mid-grade Talisman Master. I can still afford to live in Red Willow Alley. Ying’er, you can’t fall behind in your daily cultivation. If you don’t have spirit stones, feel free to tell me.”

Ningshui Alley was already at the edge of the market. Almost all the cultivators there were at the bottom of the Qi Refinement Realm. It was chaotic all year round, and there were killings and robberies every day.

If he moved there, he might be able to rely on the talismans to protect his wife and concubine, but it would also attract covetous eyes. Perhaps one day, when he went out to sell the talismans, he would be surrounded and killed by a group of cultivators.

After dinner, Shen Ping took out a Communication Charm and injected spiritual energy into it to activate it. He asked, “Shopkeeper Chen, what’s the rental price of the houses in the market now?”