Chapter 8 : The Cost of Raising Spirit Beasts

One day later.

"Sigh, eat slowly."

He looked at the flock of fluffy, chirping little creatures before him and couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile.

Twelve Purple-Striped Wild Goose had hatched one after another, becoming this adorable group of Gosling. Their fluffy appearance was strikingly similar to the ducklings from his previous life.

They appeared gentle and cute, but the only drawback was the high cost of raising them.

Currently, the Purple-Striped Wild Goose were still very young and fragile, with a risk of perishing if not handled carefully. To nurture them, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to feed them congee made from Spirit Rice [a type of rice infused with spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivation].

However, Spirit Rice was an extremely precious commodity. In the market, one Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] could only buy three Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of it.

Previously, the Chen Clan provided Eldrin Chen with an annual subsidy of thirty Jin-weight of Spirit Rice, equivalent to a stipend worth ten Spirit Stone, along with direct Spirit Stone allocations to support his cultivation. This had been more than sufficient.

But now, with the Chen Clan in dire financial straits, most of the Spirit Rice was being sold to repay debts, naturally cutting off his Spirit Rice stipend.

If it weren't for the ten Jin-weight of Spirit Rice that the Third Elder had firmly insisted on giving him when he came to Spirit Lake Isle, he likely wouldn't have any Spirit Rice to feed the Purple-Striped Wild Goose now. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel*com.

This Spirit Rice [a grain infused with spiritual energy] was Eldrin Chen's personal rations, capable of accelerating his cultivation. In the four months since arriving at Spirit Lake Isle, he had only allowed himself a single Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams] every three days. By now, a mere six Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] remained.

He never expected to suddenly have twelve extra mouths to feed. These little creatures had no concept of the Spirit Rice's preciousness. They clamored and tussled around the pot of congee, and once it was gone, they turned to Eldrin Chen with insistent, hungry cries, leaving him utterly frazzled.

"Eat, eat, eat."

"At this rate, you'll strip my coffers bare."

Eldrin Chen grumbled without real heat. Despite his words, he still measured out another Liang-weight of Spirit Rice to cook a fresh bowl of congee for the noisy brood.

After feeding the dozen-odd little ones, he settled into a cross-legged position on the ground, a wry, helpless smile tugging at his lips.

"In the tales of my previous life, cultivators were figures of peerless grace, like celestial beings descended to earth, roaming the world with unmatched prowess."

"Who could have imagined that the reality of this cultivation world would find me tilling fields, tending fish, and raising ducks?"

"If a story were written about a cultivator living like this, I doubt any author would dare publish it."

At this thought, Eldrin Chen chuckled softly to himself. His gaze drifted to the ancient zither resting on the pavilion ledge before his bamboo hut, and a serene smile finally settled upon his features.

In his previous life, he had been an art student, and the ancient zither [a traditional Chinese stringed instrument] before him now was perhaps the sole cherished hobby he had carried over from that existence.

"No decree states that cultivation must solely consist of endless strife and slaughter,"

"To pluck the strings in leisure, tend a few Mu-area [one Mu-area equals six hundred sixty-six point six seven square meters] of Spirit Farmland, feed the Spirit Fish, and raise a few immortal fowl—is this not also a path of cultivation?"

He murmured serenely to himself, his heart profoundly tranquil.

In the pursuit of the Dao, resources are paramount. If none tilled the land or cultivated renewable resources, and all resorted to plundering one another, from whence would the resources come?

The reason Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent, often sacrificial methods to advance their power] are universally reviled within the cultivation world is precisely because they produce nothing. They hunt mortals and cultivators in great numbers, using human flesh and souls to forge their magical treasures, an act that seeks to destroy the very foundation of the cultivation realm.

They are selfish and self-serving, espousing the creed that 'heaven destroys those who do not look after themselves,' and will even drain the world's latent potential for their own advancement, with killing the goose that lays the golden egg being a common occurrence.

If the Chen Clan were ever to fall, its tens of thousands of mortal descendants would likely become mere sustenance for Demonic Cultivator and demonic beasts, their souls finding no peace even in death. This very fear was why the Chen Clan's Grand Elder and numerous cultivators maintained a constant vigil in Pingyang Town.

"Three Liang-weight [one Liang-weight equals fifty grams] of Spirit Rice [rice infused with spiritual energy, consumed by cultivators] per day... the remaining six Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] will only last for twenty days."

"Fortunately, after those twenty days, they will have passed through the most fragile stage of their infancy."

Eldrin Chen calculated how long the remaining Spirit Rice [a type of grain infused with spiritual energy] could sustain them. Fortunately, the Purple-Striped Wild Goose [a type of spirit beast] was, after all, a Spirit Beast [a creature that has absorbed spiritual energy and gained supernatural traits]. When the time came, they could be fed ordinary rice or released to forage in the Spirit Isle Lake.

Aside from the docile Azure Spirit Fish [fish that have absorbed spiritual energy], the Spirit Isle Lake harbored no other demonic beasts. Once the Purple-Striped Wild Goose survived their gosling stage, they would be more than capable of fending off ordinary wild animals and hunting for food within the lake.

In the days that followed, Eldrin Chen returned to his daily cultivation routine.

During his leisure time, every half-month he would gently nurture the Spirit Farmland [fields enriched with spiritual energy to grow special crops], tend to the precious Spirit Medicine [plants with medicinal properties enhanced by spiritual energy], occasionally take stock of the Azure Spirit Fish, and feed the spirit geese. Thus, the days slipped swiftly by.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the seventh month. On this day, Eldrin Chen stood beneath the Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually potent peaches], gazing at the fifty-six Spirit Peach [peaches imbued with spiritual energy] hanging from its branches. He could not help but reveal a look of profound joy.

Finally, the Spirit Peach on the Spirit Peach Tree had ripened. A total of fifty-six Spirit Peach—this represented a value of two hundred and eighty Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel-dot-com.

Overflowing with delight, he plucked one Spirit Peach and took an experimental bite. He discovered the Spirit Peach was not only rich in spiritual power but also incredibly sweet, fragrant, and delicious—utterly exquisite.

"This Spirit Peach is truly extraordinary," he murmured.

"No wonder they command such a high price."

A look of astonished pleasure spread across Eldrin Chen's face. This was the most delicious peach he had ever tasted.

After consuming a single Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy], he felt as if he had refined a precious elixir. The vital energy within his body increased by a noticeable measure, and he even brushed against the threshold of the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer [the eighth stage of refining one's life force energy].

It had been eight months since he broke through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer. By his usual cultivation speed, it should have taken roughly two more years to reach the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer.

However, the previous hunt of the two Purple-Striped Wild Goose [a type of spiritual bird] had been a great boon. These demonic fowl were highly nourishing for a cultivator's progress. After steaming and consuming both birds, he had saved a considerable amount of cultivation time.

Now, with the addition of this Spirit Peach, his cultivation base had finally touched the gateway to the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer.

"A single Spirit Peach is not quite enough."

Seeing the opportunity to break through to the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer at hand, Eldrin Chen swallowed seven or eight Spirit Peach in succession. Finally accumulating sufficient vital energy, he began his assault on the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer.

A mere half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] later, the spiritual energy around him trembled faintly. He exhaled a wisp of white mist, then opened his eyes with delight.

"The Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement."

Eldrin Chen felt the vital energy within him grow stronger by another degree, and he could not help but reveal a look of joy.

He had just passed his sixteenth year. Achieving a breakthrough to the Qi Refinement, 8th Layer at such an age was exceedingly rare. Even placed among the great immortal sects, he would be considered outstanding.

At this pace, it was highly likely he would break through to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer [the ninth stage of refining one's vital energy] before the age of twenty, and then begin making plans for Foundation Establishment [the crucial realm where a cultivator solidifies their spiritual foundation].

"Furthermore, with the aid of over fifty Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy that aids cultivation] each year, my cultivation progress will also accelerate."

"This will save a great deal of time, allowing me to break through to the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer sooner."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen looked at the Spirit Peach Tree [a tree that bears spiritually nourishing peaches], his heart stirring with excitement.

With these Spirit Peach, he was finally not too lacking in cultivation resources. Even if he received no clan stipend for the next few years, it would not hinder his cultivation progress.

Refining the Spirit Peach, tending to the ducks, farming the fields, feeding the fish, and cultivating—the following days passed in a state of both leisure and tranquility.

In the blink of an eye, deep autumn arrived. On this day, a small boat approached from beyond the Spirit Isle Lake [a lake containing spiritually rich islands], and a voice carried across the water from afar.

"Little Eldrin, I'm here!"

Eldrin Chen emerged from Lake Heart Island [the central island within Spirit Isle Lake] and saw three figures approaching.

Recognizing the visitors, he couldn't help but break into a smile.

"Sixteenth Granduncle."

The newcomer was Lucius Chen of the Chen Clan's Chang Generation. Among the cultivators of that generation, he was ranked sixteenth, hence he was Eldrin Chen's sixteenth granduncle.

The remaining two were his clan brothers, Chen Roland and Chen Silas. Although both were older in years than Eldrin Chen, their cultivation and status were now far inferior to his.

Sixteenth Granduncle was now eighty-nine years old, and his cultivation had only reached the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer. It was precisely because his cultivation was not high that he had managed to avoid the calamity a year prior.

As he drew closer to Eldrin Chen, his first glance caught the change in Eldrin Chen's cultivation level. With a note of uncertainty, he inquired,