plumnovel Chapter 147: Unexpected Change
Chapter 147: Unexpected Change
Crowdfunding a treasure hunt.
Upon hearing the suggestion, Huang Cheng and the others were taken aback.
But upon further reflection, they suddenly realized what was happening.
If Liu Gexian could solve the problem of the second-tier barrier-breaking talisman and the second-tier spiritual weapon on his own, would he still come to them to explore the ancient cultivator's cave?
They also had doubts when it came to the spiritual objects needed to build the foundation of the ancient cultivation cave.
Who would be willing to easily share such an opportunity?
Therefore, with their doubts resolved, they felt even more at ease.
They believed that Liu Gexian genuinely wanted to collaborate with them.
"If any of you fellow Daoists have any doubts, that's fine. But please don't spread what happened today!" Liu Gexian said. "After all, the allure of ancient cultivator caves is too great. If it becomes known to others, I fear my life and fortune will be in danger."
"Hereby, Ge Xian expresses his gratitude to all fellow Daoists!"
As he spoke, Liu Ge stood up and bowed respectfully to everyone.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Liu, we are honored that you think so highly of us and have taken the risk to share this opportunity with us. How could we be ungrateful and leak this information?" Liu Yuelong stood up, bowed in return, and said firmly.
"Not bad!" Ding Xiaoyan said with a bow. "I am honored by Brother Liu's high regard. I will participate in this matter! However, I am short of money, so I will contribute 1,500 low-grade spirit stones for now!" As he spoke, he moved his hand, and light patterns flashed at his waist.
A storage bag containing spirit stones flew out.
"I'll offer 1,800 low-grade spirit stones..." Liu Yuelong's eyes flashed, and he gritted his teeth.
A few years ago, the Li family distributed dividends.
In the past two years, the Li family has been distributing dividends annually, totaling nearly 500 per year.
Liu Yuelong has accumulated quite a few spirit stones.
But this 1,800 yuan is almost all of his wealth!
"I..." Huang Cheng was also filled with emotion, but his gaze shifted and he stopped speaking after looking at Yang Jiuli's calm face.
"I'll offer 1,200 low-grade spirit stones!" Liu Heyan said.
As he spoke, he also pulled out a storage bag.
He felt a pang of regret.
I just spent three hundred on the pelt of the ground flame rat.
At this point, he had very few spirit stones left!
"Good, good, thank you all for trusting me!" Liu Gexian moved his hand and rolled everyone's storage bags in front of him.
Liu Ge then looked at Yang Jiuli and smiled, "Master Yang, would you be interested in exploring this ancient cave?"
Everyone looked at Yang Jiuli.
Especially Liu Yuelong.
He knew that Yang Jiuli was a talisman master with extraordinary skills, and that traveling with him would be much safer.
"I am already forty-three years old, and I have only reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. Foundation Establishment is truly a pipe dream. I will leave this opportunity to you young people!" Yang Jiuli waved his hand, smiled faintly, and politely declined the offer. After speaking, he took another sip of wine.
"Master Yang is too modest!" Liu Gexian said. "It will take some time to gather second-tier spiritual artifacts. If Master Yang ever becomes interested, please feel free to contact me!"
"Of course, of course!" Yang Jiuli smiled slightly.
Liu Gexian looked at Huang Cheng.
Huang Cheng's eyes flickered as he glanced at Liu Yuelong.
Liu Yuelong's face was flushed with excitement, clearly hoping he would join them.
However, seeing Yang Jiuli's calm and composed demeanor, Huang Cheng gave up his intentions.
"Ninth Brother is no ordinary man; how could he not have the ambition to establish his foundation? There must be a reason why he isn't participating," Huang Cheng thought to himself.
"I am grateful for Brother Liu's kindness, but I am a little short of funds and cannot raise so many spirit stones in a short time. Please allow me to think of a way."
Huang Cheng bowed to Liu Gexian.
He still had designs on this Foundation Establishment spiritual object, so he did not refuse.
"Alright, if you have gathered enough spirit stones, you may come to me!" Liu Gexian said.
"Thank you for your understanding, Brother Liu!" Huang Cheng said.
"Come on, let's drink!" Liu Ge laughed heartily.
Everyone raised their glasses and drank until they were all tipsy before dispersing.
……
Yang Jiuli flew towards his residence.
Huang Cheng followed.
Liu Yuelong then returned to his residence.
He pondered whether he should sell his stock of pills to raise some spirit stones.
While refining pills for the Li family, Liu Yuelong would also refine some pills on his own in private.
Although the Li family forbids alchemists from engaging in private transactions, they will not pursue the matter as long as the actions are not too outrageous.
After all, water that is too clear has no fish.
……
Huang Cheng arrived at the living room of Yang Jiuli's mansion.
The two sat down.
Yang Jiuli brewed him a cup of tea.
Huang Cheng took the teacup, took a sip, then put it down and looked up at Yang Jiuli.
"Ninth Brother, there are Foundation Establishment level spiritual treasures outside that cave, and there must be even better treasures inside. Why are you unmoved?"
Huang Cheng asked.
He looked sincere and humbly asked for advice.
Yang Jiuli took a sip of tea, leisurely and content. He then put down his teacup and looked at Huang Cheng, saying, "The opportunity to establish one's foundation is related to one's future. Even brothers might turn against each other and betray each other to seize the treasure. You are just an outsider. What merit do you have to be given such an opportunity?"
He is very calm.
There was absolutely no ripple in this matter.
Yang Jiuli still remembers that in his previous life, his good brother was the benefactor who led him into the immortal sect.
While searching for opportunities together, he was tempted by a fourth-tier 'Heavenly Evolution Pill' and launched a sneak attack.
This is human nature.
No one knows whether that gentle and refined exterior hides a demon or poison.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the situation, Yang Jiuli had no intention of getting involved.
"But Brother Liu said there are many Foundation Establishment spiritual objects there!" Huang Cheng was still unwilling to give up.
Seeing that Huang Cheng was still somewhat interested, Yang Jiuli didn't say anything more.
He simply said, "Better safe than sorry. Do everything within your capabilities. If you have reservations before acting, then don't do it. If you feel it's feasible, then go for it. Just remember, you only have one life. Once you've made a move, there's no going back. Think thrice before you act!"
After speaking, he took a sip of tea.
On the surface, Yang Jiuli was only a first-level alchemist.
Too many words will be lost.
He certainly wouldn't reveal his secrets for the sake of others.
Everyone has their own destiny.
Excessive interference and a tendency to be a know-it-all can lead to misjudgments that could ruin others' futures, ultimately resulting in one's own downfall.
"If you have reservations, then you shouldn't do it..." Huang Cheng muttered to himself. He glanced at Yang Jiuli, and seeing that the latter didn't say anything more, he understood. He then stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Jiu. I know how to make a decision!"
"That's excellent!" Yang Jiuli nodded slightly.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Huang Cheng took his leave.
"The Jade Spirit Elixir contains three-leaf cherry fruit, which can numb the mind, lower vigilance, and make one easily bewitched."
Yang Jiuli whispered.
He had only taken a sip of Liu Gexian's spirit wine when he sensed something was amiss.
However, the wine brewed from the three-leaf cherry fruit is indeed fragrant and can also calm and relieve pain, which is quite popular among cultivators.
As long as you don't drink too much, it's fine.
Of course, if Yang Jiuli were to conclude that Liu Ge had ulterior motives based solely on this, it would be less convincing.
Therefore, he did not say much.
What truly aroused his suspicion and made him unwilling to get involved in this mess was what he had mentioned to Huang Cheng.
Such an opportunity, if leaked, could lead to death.
Even brothers can turn against each other and betray each other, so how could one give it to another?
As for not having enough money to replace the magical artifact?
This old man Liu has a skill in brewing wine, but decades have passed and he doesn't even have a few thousand spirit stones left, which is really unacceptable.
You should know that the "Seven-Step Bewitching Incense" refined by Old Master Liu can bewitch a first-tier high-grade demon beast.
Using this method, it's not difficult to hunt monsters and earn several thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Why borrow from others?
However, Liu Yuelong and the others were determined to establish their foundation, so when they heard that a foundation-establishing spiritual item had appeared, they naturally did not want to miss it.
In addition, Liu Gexian's attitude was sincere, and with the blessing of the "Jade Spirit Elixir," the group became like they were under a spell and believed him.
As a low-level cultivator, who wouldn't want to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?
Even knowing that the odds are against them, they can't help but want to take a gamble.
……
Three days later, Liu Yuelong came to find Yang Jiuli and asked him why he didn't go to the ancient cultivation cave.
It was mentioned that if Yang Jiuli went along, they would surely be able to destroy the demonic beasts in the Fire River, break open the cave, and obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual item.
Yang Jiuli thought that his cultivation level was too low and he was not good at fighting. If something happened, he would probably lose his life, so he did not plan to go.
Despite several attempts to persuade him, Yang Jiuli remained unmoved, and Liu Yuelong could only sigh and leave.
Although he knew that Yang Jiuli would receive a share of the Foundation Establishment spiritual items upon his departure.
But Liu Yuelong also knew that with Ninth Brother around, he would have more confidence.
Given the risk to their lives, it wouldn't hurt to let Yang Jiuli get a share of the Foundation Establishment spiritual treasure first.
However, Yang Jiuli remained unmoved, so he had no choice but to leave.
Yang Jiuli presented the gift to Liu Yuelong without saying much.
During this conversation, he was actually subtly hinting that if one's cultivation level was too low, one was very likely to perish if something unexpected happened.
But Liu Yuelong wouldn't listen, and there was nothing he could do.
……
Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.
For the past three months, Yang Jiuli has continued as usual, refining pills during the day and gathering qi at night.
Occasionally making talismans and studying formations, he lived a rather pleasant life.
Last month, Tang Yifan and Qin Zhixue replied to the letter.
Tang Yifan informed him that he had already asked Zhou's people to investigate who was spying on him.
Qin Zhixue also mentioned that she would find an opportunity to meet him in Blackwind City.
Yang Jiuli looked solemn upon reading the letter.
He had a vague premonition that the people investigating Tang Yifan were related to Qin Zhixue.
Because he and Tang Yifan were both unremarkable, it was difficult for them to attract attention.
Only Qin Zhixue, who has forged a near-fourth-order immortal foundation, will attract attention.
As for the other party's purpose, Yang Jiuli had no way of predicting it.
……
May 16th, sunny.
Yang Jiuli left the cave and went to the other courtyard.
He habitually watered the several pots of "Golden Black Chrysanthemum" in the courtyard with the spring water, then went to the pavilion to brew tea and slowly savored it.
Xiao Bing sat obediently beside him.
Two little ferrets were playing nearby.
Suddenly, the array that enveloped the courtyard rippled.
A sound transmission talisman was enveloped by a sphere of light generated by the array.
Clearly, someone has come to visit.
Yang Jiuli flipped his hand, and an array plate appeared. He then injected a wisp of his divine sense into the array plate.
The mind and spirit merged with the entire formation.
The power within the protective light shield of the villa was all used by him.
With a thought, the ball of light enveloping the talisman disappeared, and with a hand gesture, the talisman flew towards him.
When it approached Yang Jiuli by about three zhang, the talisman burst into flames.
A familiar voice rang out from the talisman.
"Ninth Brother, Ninth Brother! Please open the door." It was Huang Cheng's voice, somewhat urgent, as if something serious had happened.
"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Yang Jiuli flicked his hand, and the array opened a gap, allowing the gate of the courtyard to slowly open.
Huang Cheng immediately rushed over from outside the villa.
He walked hurriedly, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
There was also a sense of apprehension.
"Ninth Brother..." Huang Cheng called out from afar.
"What happened?" Yang Jiuli stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and looked at Huang Cheng.
"Brother Long, Brother Long... has fallen!" Huang Cheng paused, looked at Yang Jiuli, and said with a sorrowful expression.