Chapter 62: Chapter 62: A Small Gathering of Servants
Chen Yu Yan’s Cave Mansion wasn’t far from Fang Cheng’s.
In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two arrived in the sky above a small island in the southwestern Dragon Spine Archipelago.
Chen Yu Yan’s Cave Mansion was situated in the middle of a cliff on the island’s edge. In front of its entrance was a stone platform about thirty feet wide, with a sheer cliff face dropping away below.
With a light wave of her delicate hand, she dispelled the restrictive wards around the Cave Mansion and invited Fang Cheng inside.
This was the first time Fang Cheng had been a guest in another Female Cultivator’s Cave Mansion since his transmigration, so he couldn’t help but look around with curiosity.
He found Chen Yu Yan’s Cave Mansion to be warm and tastefully decorated. Numerous green plants dotted the space, creating a very comfortable atmosphere.
"Please have a seat, Fellow Daoist Fang. The others will be here shortly."
Chen Yu Yan led Fang Cheng to a Jade Table, personally brewed a pot of Spirit Tea, and they began to chat casually while sipping it.
It had taken her a great deal of effort to pass the Outer Disciple trial.
Fortunately, the Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique was truly extraordinary. It had repeatedly allowed her to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and she had ultimately succeeded.
During that time, Fang Cheng had dealt with the Zhou and Feng families, which meant she faced two fewer obstacles.
As for the final obstacle with Wang Xingzhi, she passed it with even greater ease.
"How are you faring in the Ye Family, Fellow Daoist Fang?" Chen Yu Yan asked slowly, a faint smile on her face as her beautiful eyes rested on Fang Cheng.
Fang Cheng took a sip of Spirit Tea. He could smell the faint, crisp fragrance of snow plums in the Cave Mansion and, though he couldn’t be sure if it was just his imagination, he felt a hint of flirtation in Chen Yu Yan’s words.
He set down his teacup and said, "It’s been fine. The Ye Family has treated me very well."
To this day, the Ye Family hadn’t made a single demand of him as their son-in-law, nor had they asked him to lift a finger on their behalf.
Whether that would remain the case in the future, however, was hard to say.
Chen Yu Yan teased, "With your talent and aptitude, Fellow Daoist Fang, the Ye Family likely won’t be able to hold you back. My only concern is that you might become entangled in romantic affairs and neglect your cultivation."
"That’s not likely." Fang Cheng chuckled, glancing at Chen Yu Yan. "And you, Fellow Daoist Chen? Do you plan to cultivate alone, or are you looking for a Dao Companion to walk the path with?"
Chen Yu Yan’s pretty face flushed slightly. "I haven’t met anyone suitable yet," she said. "If you know of any good candidates, Fellow Daoist Fang, perhaps you could make an introduction for me."
Just as Fang Cheng was about to speak, the sound of a Jade Chime echoed from outside the Cave Mansion.
Chen Yu Yan dispelled the wards and saw three Cultivators arriving together.
The one in the lead was a woman of average looks, appearing to be in her twenties. She wore a simple yet elegant, pale yellow long dress and had a gentle, almost frail, demeanor.
Behind her were two male Cultivators: an old Daoist in his sixties with salt-and-pepper hair, and a man in his early thirties wearing a scholar’s robe, who carried himself with a refined, scholarly air.
Chen Yu Yan and Fang Cheng rose to greet them, and they all made their introductions.
The scholarly man laughed heartily. "I have long heard Fellow Daoist Chen speak of you, Fellow Daoist Fang. Seeing you today, you are truly as handsome and distinguished as they say. A man of remarkable presence, you make me feel quite inadequate!"
"You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist Zhang," Fang Cheng said politely. "I am also delighted to meet everyone today."
This scholarly man’s surname was Zhang. He was an expert in the Talisman Making Technique and also cultivated Body Refining Techniques. His inner qi and blood were formidable. Though he appeared refined, Fang Cheng’s Sword Heart detected a significant amount of hidden Evil Qi about him.
It seemed he was a decisive and ruthless man who had his fair share of blood on his hands.
The old man was suffused with the scent of medicinal pills; he was an Alchemy Master. Fang Cheng was very familiar with the Cultivation Technique he practiced—it was the One Qi Technique!
After the five of them were seated, the quiet and gentle-natured Female Cultivator took a sandalwood food box from her storage bag.
From it, she brought out dish after dish of exquisite Spiritual Cuisine, perfect in color, aroma, and taste. She then produced five pairs of delicate Jade Chopsticks and handed one to each person.
Chen Yu Yan also produced a jug of Spirit Wine and said with a smile, "Sister Han is an expert in the Spiritual Cuisine Skill. She personally prepares the food every time we get together."
Seeing how exquisitely prepared the dishes were, Fang Cheng picked one up with his chopsticks to taste it. An exceptionally fresh and fragrant flavor filled his mouth. As it settled in his stomach, it transformed into a warm current of pure qi that flowed through his body, causing him to let out a sound of praise.
The scholarly man raised his cup. "Fellow Daoist Fang, I hear you’re skilled at refining Gu. If you have any spare Gu Insects, I was wondering if I might be able to trade some Talismans for a few?"
"Of course," Fang Cheng replied, "but I don’t have any spare Gu Insects at the moment. I’ll contact you, Fellow Daoist Zhang, when I do."
Fang Cheng clinked cups with him.
The scholarly man quickly replied, "There’s no rush, no rush at all. I look forward to interacting more with you in the future, Fellow Daoist Fang."
All five of them had started out as servants, so they had many topics in common and could easily empathize with one another’s experiences.
Aside from the gentle woman surnamed Han, who was a bit reserved, the atmosphere at the table was harmonious and relaxed.
The old Daoist even took out a pill he had just refined and invited everyone to appraise it.
This pill was called the Yuqing Pill. Its effects were similar to the Essence Supplement Pill. A single pill, once consumed, would transform into pure Magical Power and fill one’s Qi Sea—an effect equivalent to ten days of arduous, seated cultivation!
"I have a small pill shop in the market square," the old Daoist said, a kind smile on his face as he pitched his wares. "If you ever need any pills, Fellow Daoist Fang, feel free to come find me."
Fang Cheng asked for the shop’s name and location, then toasted the old Daoist with another cup of wine.
The five of them chatted about everything under the sun, sharing strange tales and anecdotes about the Abyssal Marsh, which broadened Fang Cheng’s horizons considerably.
Once they were more familiar with one another, the scholarly man invited Fang Cheng to undertake missions with him, but Fang Cheng politely declined.
After three rounds of drinks, Fang Cheng rose to take his leave.
Chen Yu Yan and the other three personally saw him to the entrance of the Cave Mansion before bidding him farewell.
...
Fang Cheng returned to Xiaocang Island and resumed his cultivation.
Each day, he spent at least six hours cultivating the Li Hen Demon Light, six hours on the Cyan Yuan Demon Tree Skill, and six hours on the Celestial Fire Body Forging Technique.
He spent the remaining time relaxing, enjoying the scenery with Die’Er, or practicing his Sword Technique.
Ye Yan would also occasionally return for a few days at a time. These were Fang Cheng’s "grand holidays," days when he would cease his cultivation entirely to focus on his beautiful wife and concubine.
In the blink of an eye, nearly half a year went by.
His Li Hen Demon Light advanced again, breaking through to the sixteenth layer!
His Magical Power and physical strength also grew steadily, though the progress wasn’t as pronounced as it was for his Li Hen Demon Light Divine Technique.
In his Cave Mansion in the Dragon Spine Archipelago, both the Vajra Gu and Wine Gu matured, reaching the Tier One Late Stage.
This round of Gu refining yielded a total of six Tier One Late Stage Gu Insects: three Vajra Gu and three Wine Gu.
Fang Cheng then used the Wine Gu to aid his brewing. After more than ten days, he finally succeeded in creating the Spirit Wine described in the recipe.
「Thousand Cloud Divine Wood, Merit Pavilion.」
Fang Cheng walked into the main hall and took out the vine leaf he had received earlier. He channeled a bit of Magical Power into it and immediately pinpointed a private room toward the back on the left side of the hall.
Inside the private room, a young man in an Outer Disciple’s robes was engrossed in a picture album he held in his hands.
When Fang Cheng entered, the young man set down the album and asked coolly, "What is it?"
Fang Cheng presented the vine leaf he had received when he accepted the task. "Senior Brother," he said, "I’m here to complete my mission."
The Outer Disciple took the vine leaf and swept it with his Divine Sense, then nodded. "Right, this is the mission issued by Elder Qiu. Have you finished brewing the Spirit Wine?"
Fang Cheng produced a storage bag. "A thousand catties of Spirit Wine are all in here."
The Outer Disciple took the storage bag, retrieved a jar of Spirit Wine from within, and opened it. After examining it carefully for a long moment, he said, "I’ll take this wine to Elder Qiu. Wait here."
