pertwk Chapter 213 Settling Down
Chapter 213 Settling Down
Chapter 213 Settling Down
"Fellow Daoist Chen, the Star Moon Sect welcomes you."
Master Xinghe sat at the head of the Starry Sky Hall on Star-Picking Peak, his voice gentle, holding a scroll in his hands.
"This is the contract we discussed earlier. Take a look at it first. If there are no problems, just leave your magic imprint and divine sense imprint on it, and the contract will take effect."
This Starry Sky Palace truly lives up to its name. Its ceiling is inlaid with countless luminous pearls and starlight stones, so that even in daylight, it seems as if starlight is flowing around it. This, along with the moon-white jade tables and chairs placed inside the palace, exudes an elegant and solemn atmosphere.
Although Venerable Xinghe was old and had a white beard that reached his chest, his complexion was ruddy and his back was straight. From the outline of his eyebrows and eyes, one could still tell that he must have been a handsome cultivator in his youth.
As the current sect leader of the Star Moon Sect, he showed no airs whatsoever, smiling warmly and displaying the demeanor of an elder.
As Chen Yi's guide and guarantor, Yue Qingqiu sat to the side below Xinghe Shangren, dressed in moon-white sect robes, with a cool and aloof demeanor. Her gaze was fixed on the contract, as if confirming whether its contents were consistent with the previous agreement.
Chen Yi sat in the lower seat. Not long after he sat down, a female cultivator dressed in light blue disciple robes brought him a cup of spiritual tea. The tea was fragrant and elegant, with a faint spiritual aura.
In the air, a Nascent Soul level divine sense swept across, enveloping the entire hall.
Although the Nascent Soul Elder of the Star Moon Sect did not attend in person, she was clearly interested in recruiting a Core Formation Guest Elder. If any problems arose during the signing of the contract, she could appear at any time to suppress them.
Chen Yi took the contract. The contract was made of the skin of a near-fourth-order spiritual plant. It was tough and covered with complex gold and silver runes. The characters were neat and the contract had a heavy feel, like a magic artifact.
He bowed slightly to the two men at the head of the hall, his tone sincere:
"I apologize, Mr. Chen needs some time to carefully review the contents of the contract. Please wait a moment."
"Of course, contracts involve agreements between two parties, so it's only right to be careful."
Master Xinghe smiled and raised his hand, indicating that he should not be so reserved. His fingertips lightly brushed against his beard, and his eyes held a hint of appreciation.
Among Core Formation cultivators, the ability to remain calm in the face of the Nascent Soul Ancestor's divine sense and two late-stage Core Formation cultivators, and to insist on carefully reviewing the contract, is a rare quality.
Chen Yi said no more and focused on the contents of the contract.
He did not rush through the document because Xinghe Shangren and Yue Qingqiu were present. Instead, he carefully examined it word by word, even the supplementary clauses marked with runes.
The contract clearly outlines the rights and obligations of both parties, and its main content is consistent with what Yue Qingqiu said before:
The sect will provide Chen Yi with a third-tier spiritual vein cave dwelling to ensure the supply of spiritual energy for him and his spirit pet;
The inner disciple's access is granted, allowing him to cultivate the core cultivation technique of the Planet Moon Sect, "Star Moon Technique," and to exchange for resources such as pills, spirit ores, high-level spells, and supernatural power manuals at internal prices.
Chen Yi's obligations include:
Two bottles of Azure Thunder Brew are made for the sect each year. The necessary materials can be provided by the sect or brought by the disciples who apply for the spirit wine.
He may provide appropriate guidance to the spiritual chef apprentices within the sect, but this is not a mandatory requirement; it all depends on Chen Yi's "chemistry" with the apprentices.
If the sect has missions such as sending people to guard outposts or exploring secret realms, he, as a Core Formation cultivator, should participate as appropriate. However, if he is unwilling to participate in combat missions, he can negotiate with the sect to provide resources of equal value as a substitute, without having to force himself to go into danger.
The contract clearly stipulates that Chen Yi's minimum term as a Star Moon Sect retainer must continue until he advances to the late Core Formation stage.
After he advances in rank, whether he stays in the sect or chooses to leave can be discussed with the sect separately, without any additional restrictions.
The last clause concerns the effectiveness and binding nature of the contract:
After both parties leave their magical and spiritual imprints, the contract will be blessed by the power of heaven and earth. If either party deliberately violates the agreement, they will suffer the backlash of the laws of heaven and earth and will not be able to easily break it.
Chen Yi read the contract twice, confirming that its contents were completely consistent with the previous agreements and that there were no hidden or harsh clauses.
The Star Moon Sect is indeed open and honest. Apart from the agreement that "the contract can only be terminated after reaching the late stage of Core Formation," there are no other "traps." They even leave room for maneuver in terms of participation in missions, demonstrating the magnanimity of a righteous sect.
"Gentlemen, I have carefully reviewed the contract. Its contents are fair, and I have no objections."
Chen Yi put away the contract, a faint blue magical power emanating from his fingertips. At the same time, he mobilized his divine sense, leaving a clear magical power imprint and a divine sense imprint respectively in the rune area at the end of the contract.
The magic imprint carried his unique Taiyi longevity magic power aura, while the divine consciousness imprint contained his divine soul fluctuations. The two merged with the runes on the contract, instantly emitting a soft spiritual light, proving that the imprint had been successfully left.
"Hahaha, good! Master Chen is indeed straightforward!"
Upon seeing this, Venerable Xinghe burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the Starry Sky Palace, carrying a sense of satisfaction and joy.
Without further hesitation, he conjured a pale golden magical mark and a gentle divine sense mark at his fingertips, placing them upon the contract.
Finally, they took out a jade seal engraved with star and moon patterns and stamped the Star Moon Sect's seal at the end of the contract.
The moment the mark fell, a faint spiritual light emanated from the jade seal, completely merging with the runes on the contract.
As the three marks were complete, the contract suddenly emitted a soft white light and then automatically burst into flames.
The flames were no ordinary fire, but a spiritual fire imbued with the aura of the laws of heaven and earth, leaving not a trace of ash during its burning.
Instead, it transformed into an invisible binding force, wrapping around Chen Yi and the Star Moon Sect like a thread, before slowly dissipating into the world as if it had never existed.
The moment the contract took effect, Chen Yi clearly sensed that an invisible connection had been formed between him and the Star Moon Sect, like a covenant between heaven and earth. This was the blessing of the Heavenly Dao Law on the contract, and if either party deliberately violated it, they would be punished by the Heavenly Dao.
Even ordinary cultivators with powerful spiritual perception can only vaguely sense the existence of this connection at most.
Chen Yi has now entered the realm of "perceiving heaven and earth," enabling him to gain a deeper understanding of its details:
He could clearly sense that if he broke the contract, the punishment from Heaven would cause him to suffer a cultivation deviation and demonic possession.
For ordinary Core Formation cultivators, this means damage to their dantian, preventing them from advancing further in their cultivation for life, and causing their lifespan to plummet from five hundred years to just over four hundred years—a truly devastating blow.
But Chen Yi was not deterred by this.
Since he could sense the specifics of the punishment in advance, he could naturally prepare in advance when the punishment came, and reduce the damage to some extent by circulating his cultivation techniques and strengthening his dantian.
More importantly, when he signed the contract with the Star Moon Sect, he did so as an "ordinary Core Formation cultivator," and the Heavenly Dao punishment only applies to the physique of an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.
He had cultivated a three-patterned Purple Extreme Golden Core, and his dantian resilience and spiritual strength far surpassed those of ordinary people. Therefore, this punishment would have a minimal impact on him.
According to his calculations, the worst outcome would be a ten-year stagnation in cultivation, which would be far from enough to shake his foundation.
"It's acceptable."
Chen Yi thought to himself that he had already taken the worst-case scenario into account.
Under normal circumstances, having finally found a suitable environment for cultivation like the Star Moon Sect, he would never voluntarily break the contract unless in an extremely critical situation.
Moreover, the "two bottles of Azure Thunder Brew per year" required by the contract was a castrated version that he had specially prepared, which was extremely easy for him to complete with his current culinary skills.
Even during the refining process, he could secretly "steal some wool." The materials provided by the sect were enough to refine the castrated version. He only needed to make slight adjustments to the proportions and the heat to use the remaining materials to refine an extra bottle of genuine Azure Thunder Brew for himself.
If it weren't for the rarity of the core ingredients for this Thunder Brew and the fact that its refining process requires considerable effort and would somewhat affect his daily cultivation progress, he could have continued refining it indefinitely without worrying about failing to complete the mission.
"Master Chen, from this day forward, we are one of us."
Master Xinghe's smile widened, and his tone became more intimate.
"Since you were introduced by Junior Sister Yue, she will guide you in choosing your cave dwelling and arranging servants and apprentices."
This will also allow you to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the Star Moon Sect—hehe, my Star Moon Sect is not only quite famous near Moon Lake Spirit Land, but also quite well-known in some aspects throughout the entire Central Continent.
Once you understand the situation clearly, you might be grateful for your choice today and truly consider this place your home.
He spoke with absolute confidence, as if he had complete certainty about the advantages of the Star Moon Sect.
Yue Qingqiu, standing to the side, nodded slightly with a faint smile on her face, clearly expressing her confidence in the sect's unique characteristics and strength, and tacitly agreeing with Xinghe Shangren's statement.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Fairy Moon."
Chen Yi bowed slightly to Yue Qingqiu, his tone humble and polite.
After all, the other party was a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, and both his cultivation level and seniority made him worthy of serious consideration.
"It's alright, come with me."
As Yue Qingqiu spoke, a faint moonlight emanated from her body, and she flew out of the hall first.
Chen Yi followed closely behind, and the two of them streaked through the air in two graceful arcs before finally landing near the fiftieth floor of Star Peak.
"This is the sect's third-tier low-grade spiritual vein area. Elder Chen, please take a look and see if it's sufficient for your needs?"
Yue Qingqiu stopped and pointed to a wide-open rural area in front of her.
Chen Yi followed her gaze and saw that this area, which was about ten miles in circumference, was filled with the aura of spiritual veins, and the air was full of rich spiritual energy.
The area features rolling hills and clear spiritual lakes, with various spiritual plants growing along the lakeshores, their leaves adorned with glistening dewdrops.
The complex is equipped with a variety of functional buildings, including cultivation rooms, alchemy rooms, and puppet rooms, all constructed with spirit wood and jade, exuding both refinement and practicality.
He closed his eyes slightly, sensing the concentration of spiritual energy around him. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his tone tinged with difficulty:
"Fairy Moon, it seems I forgot to mention something. Besides the Crimson Soul Sparrow, I also have a Tier 3 Rat Demon Spirit Pet."
Now, with the addition of myself and the two third-tier demonic beasts, the spiritual energy supply from this low-grade third-tier spiritual vein is probably a bit insufficient.
As soon as he finished speaking, a purple-backed, gray-furred rat demon poked its head out of Chen Yi's pet pouch, its beady black eyes darting around.
It then released a clear aura of a third-tier great demon. Although the aura was not violent, it was enough to prove its cultivation level. It resonated with the aura of the Crimson Soul Sparrow, forming two undeniable spiritual pet pressures.
"Two powerful, third-tier demonic spirit pets?!"
A rare look of surprise appeared on Yue Qingqiu's fair face. How could an ordinary Core Formation chef raise two or three teams of spirit pets?!
That's really strange.
And she finally understood why Chen Yi had always emphasized "meeting his and his spirit pet's spiritual vein needs"—there was such a hidden reason behind it all.
However, she quickly calmed down. It was just one more third-tier spirit pet. At worst, she could coordinate a third-tier mid-grade spirit vein cave. Although this matter disrupted the original plan, it was not unsolvable.
Yue Qingqiu pondered for a moment, then took out a communication jade tablet. She quickly ran her fingertips across the tablet and whispered to Xinghe Shangren. The whole process lasted about 15 minutes.
After the conversation ended, she walked back to Chen Yi and said in a calm tone:
"Master Chen, I just had an emergency conversation with the sect leader."
The sect's third-tier mid-grade spiritual vein area is currently occupied by three elders at the mid-stage of Core Formation, leaving only one vacant cave dwelling, albeit a slightly smaller one.
Why don't you come with me and take a look? If it's feasible, I'll allocate this place to you; if not, we'll think of another way.
"It's up to Fairy Moon to decide."
Chen Yi nodded in agreement, showing no dissatisfaction on his face. For him, the key was that the spiritual vein's level was high enough, and the slightly smaller size was within an acceptable range. There was no need to worry too much about this matter.
Yue Qingqiu led Chen Yi to a cave on the edge of the fifty-seventh floor of Xingfeng.
This cave dwelling covers only eight li (approximately 4 kilometers), nearly half the size of the previous third-tier low-grade spiritual vein area.
However, the interior facilities, such as the cultivation room and spirit plant garden, also exuded a sense of exquisite craftsmanship, yet were meticulously maintained. The ground was spotless, and the spirit herbs in the garden were arranged in neat rows.
Even the few potted ornamental flowers placed by the window exude a delicate and warm charm, clearly indicating that someone has taken good care of them.
The spiritual vein here is a genuine mid-grade third rank.
Actually, this cave dwelling was originally separated from Ping Xingye's original third-grade mid-level cave dwelling. She had lived here for a period of time when she and Ping Xingye were in love in their early years.
Of course, Yue Qingqiu did not mention this matter.
Apart from the fact that the spiritual vein is slightly smaller in scale and the upper limit of spiritual energy is not as high as that of a complete cave dwelling, there are no other disadvantages.
In addition, its location is on the edge of a mountain, far from the core activity area of the sect, making the environment exceptionally quiet and suitable for cultivators who want to live in seclusion and cultivate.
Chen Yi had his own considerations: as a newcomer to the Star Moon Sect, he was merely a Core Formation cultivator, and it was already quite an achievement that he had managed to secure a mid-grade third-tier spiritual vein.
If they were to be even more demanding, they would have to negotiate with the three mid-stage Core Formation elders to secure the cave dwelling, which would undoubtedly create unnecessary enemies and be extremely unwise.
He looked at Yue Qingqiu and said frankly, "Let's leave it here. Thank you for your trouble, Fairy Yue."
Upon hearing this, Yue Qingqiu smiled faintly.
"Okay, please wait a moment while I tidy up some old things."
She added, "If you make progress in your cultivation in the future and feel that the spiritual veins here are insufficient, you can come to me at any time—since the sect has promised to provide you with sufficient spiritual veins, it will not go back on its word."
After saying that, she was enveloped in moonlight and flew into the depths of the cave, where she began to collect the old things she had left behind.
This cave was where Yue Qingqiu lived when she first entered the Core Formation stage a hundred years ago. Later, she mastered the Moon Technique and for some unknown reason, she gradually stopped coming here. It has been idle for many years. Chen Yi is the first cultivator to move in again.
Before long, Yue Qingqiu flew out, handed over a magic array token that concealed the cave dwelling, and said to Chen Yi:
"Thus, this cave dwelling officially belongs to Consort Chen."
Her gaze fell on Hu Mingyue beside her, and she asked softly,
"This Miss Hu Mingyue, is she your maid?" Before Chen Yi could answer, she added, "In addition, Venerable Chen can also select two Foundation Establishment disciples and ten Qi Refining servants from the sect to help you manage the daily life of your cave dwelling and serve you in your cultivation and life."
Chen Yi shook his head slightly, his tone serious:
"Mingyue is the daughter of an old friend of mine, and she is considered my nephew or niece. She is not a maid, so she can temporarily help me manage the cave."
We'll talk about the other disciples and servants later; there's no rush now.
If any of the sect's apprentice chefs need my guidance, they can come here to learn during the day and return to their respective residences in the evening. I will complete the guidance task as agreed and will not delay the sect's arrangements.
Upon hearing this, Yue Qingqiu lightly swept her divine sense over Hu Mingyue.
The girl was not yet twenty years old, with an exceptionally beautiful face. Her brow was furrowed and her breath was disordered, clearly indicating that she was still a virgin.
She understood, smiled slightly, and didn't ask any further questions, only saying:
"Then I wish you all the best in your cultivation at the Star Moon Sect. By the way, you may also study the Star Moon Sect's fundamental cultivation technique, the Star Moon Manual, in your spare time. This will be beneficial to your development within the sect."
Seeing that Chen Yi had no other requests, Yue Qingqiu transformed into a beam of moonlight once again and flew towards the depths of the mountain.
After entering the cave, Chen Yi first arranged a small courtyard with a second-tier spiritual vein for Hu Mingyue, only instructing her to "focus on cultivation and not worry about anything else," without assigning her any tasks to manage the cave.
As for the spiritual pool, spiritual herb garden, and other areas inside the cave, he first had the treasure-hunting rat and the red soul sparrow do some preliminary tidying up—the treasure-hunting rat was good at exploring the details of spiritual veins, while the red soul sparrow could use its beak to clear weeds, and the two working together would achieve twice the result with half the effort.
He then took out an array plate and spirit stones and set up a double-layered array to isolate himself from prying eyes inside and outside the cave, ensuring that he would not be spied on by outsiders while cultivating.
After everything was arranged, Chen Yi took out the materials for the Thunder Armor Beast, the refining recipe for Azure Thunder Brew, and various spiritual ores and herbs he had accumulated from his storage bag. He arranged these cultivation resources neatly and officially began his cultivation life at the Star Moon Sect.
Two months later, Chen Yi's life at the Star Moon Sect was completely settled.
His cave dwelling has been initially prepared: several spirit fish that are good at purifying spiritual energy are raised in the spirit pool, and their tail fins will shimmer with a faint spiritual light when they brush the surface of the water.
The spirit herb garden was filled with third-tier spirit herbs obtained from the sect, their leaves glistening with an oily sheen under the nourishment of the spiritual veins.
The Crimson Soul Sparrow often perches on the branches of spirit trees outside the cave, preening its flame-like wings, while the Treasure-Seeking Rat has dug out many crisscrossing caves in the mountain, which can not only hide but also detect subtle changes in the earth's veins, becoming a natural "watchtower" for the cave.
Hu Mingyue did not focus solely on her own cultivation as Chen Yi had instructed.
Every day at the crack of dawn, she would go to various parts of the cave to find things to do:
In the morning, she assisted in inspecting the array nodes, and in the afternoon, she carried buckets of water to the spirit herb garden to water and weed. She even took the initiative to feed the spirit fish in the spirit pool.
She works from dawn till dusk almost every day without ever showing the slightest sign of fatigue, yet always wears a faint smile on her face.
Chen Yi once advised her, "Mingyue, you just need to focus on your cultivation. You don't need to worry about these miscellaneous things. The sect will send disciples to take over in the future."
Xiao Mingyue simply shook her head gently, her tone earnest:
"Uncle Chen, the cultivation environment here is an opportunity I've always dreamed of, and it's all thanks to you, Uncle Chen."
I learned these odd jobs from my father for many years when I was in the market, and I'm used to doing them.
"As long as I can help Uncle Chen even a little bit, I will do it diligently. My only worry is that I won't do it well and will cause Uncle Chen trouble."
Seeing her resolute attitude, Chen Yi stopped trying to persuade her and only advised, "Fine, do what you want. But remember, you must not neglect your cultivation. Don't let trivial matters delay your progress."
"Uncle Chen, don't worry, I have something I'd like to ask you."
As Xiao Mingyue spoke, she took out a pale silver jade token from her storage bag and handed it to Chen Yi. "I was practicing the ordinary 'Water Element Technique' before. A couple of days ago, when I went to the sect's cultivation technique inheritance pavilion, I saw the 'Moon Technique.' I felt that the attributes of this technique were quite compatible with me, but I'm not sure if it's suitable for me to cultivate. Uncle Chen, if you have time, could you take a look at it for me?"
Chen Yi naturally wouldn't refuse, and reached out to take the jade tablet, probing it with his divine sense.
After a moment, his expression gradually became serious.
When he first entered the sect, Yue Qingqiu suggested that he study the "Star Moon Technique," but he didn't take it to heart at the time. Now, as he carefully studied the contents of the "Moon Technique," he realized that this technique was far more profound than he had imagined.
The magical power cultivated is pure and clean. Even if one cultivates with a high-grade spiritual root, the final effect is comparable to that of an earth spiritual root, which is extremely beneficial for the cultivation of a cultivator's foundation.
"I see. No wonder the Star Moon Sect has so many high-level cultivators."
Chen Yi suddenly realized.
In the past two months, he discovered that almost all cultivators in the Star Moon Sect who were over fifty years old had successfully established their foundation, and almost none of them remained in the Qi Refining stage.
In retrospect, it was precisely the superiority of the Star Moon Technique that laid a solid foundation for the sect's disciples' cultivation.
Moreover, through the contents of the first two layers of the "Moon Technique," he could vaguely deduce that the third and fourth layers of the technique must contain powerful spells and supernatural abilities, far surpassing ordinary sect techniques.
"This 'Moon Technique' is quite good; you can practice it with confidence."
Chen Yi returned the jade tablet to Hu Mingyue and added solemnly, "However, you should know that the Star Technique and the Moon Technique are a pair of dual cultivation techniques."
If you choose this as your core cultivation method, you'll need to consider finding a suitable cultivation partner in the future—although you are young, the path of cultivation is long, and you should keep these things in mind beforehand.
Upon hearing this, Xiaomingyue's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure:
"Uncle Chen, I have no plans to find a Daoist partner for the time being."
Even disregarding dual cultivation, this "Moon Technique" is far more powerful than the "Water Element Technique" I cultivated before. If I can use it to reach the Core Formation stage, then it won't be too late to consider other things.
"Yes, it's good that you have your own ideas." Chen Yi nodded, then changed the subject:
"By the way, go to the sect's mission hall later and post two missions for me:"
First, we undertake the crafting of high-grade second-tier puppets; second, we accept the production of low-grade third-tier beast pills.
Having been at the Star Moon Sect for two months, Chen Yi has already planned to gradually integrate into the sect's system.
As a Core Formation cultivator, he doesn't need to do many trivial matters personally. By issuing tasks, he can obtain the materials needed for cultivation and quietly accumulate the sect's reputation.
The reward for crafting a second-tier superior puppet is a fixed amount of near-third-tier or third-tier puppet materials.
The reward for a low-grade third-tier beast pill is the essence blood and core spiritual organs of a mid-grade third-tier demon beast.
These are additional labor costs in addition to the production cost.
With his success rate, he could not only earn a considerable fee for his work, but also refine an extra batch from the cost materials and secretly keep it for himself, which was a win-win situation.
(End of this chapter)