Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband - Chapter 84

Tian Feirong had just advanced to the fifth level of Qi Refining. After emerging from the secluded cultivation chamber, the outside world seemed so vibrant and wonderful to him. He never thought he could cultivate so quickly, and now even establishing a Foundation in the future seemed like a realistic goal.

The residual medicinal toxins in his body had long been purged. Thinking about their origin, a shadow briefly crossed Tian Feirong’s eyes, but he quickly pushed it aside. One day, he would uncover the truth. He would take responsibility for what was his, but he wouldn’t bear burdens that weren’t his to carry without complaint. Leaving Yuanyang Town with his elder brother had turned out to be the best decision of his life; otherwise, he would have spent his days in a daze, aimlessly wasting away in that small town.

Thinking of his elder brother, he wondered how things were going for him at Tianhai Sect. His brother’s cultivation must have improved by now. His elder brother’s care and love for him had always been pure and unconditional, and Tian Feirong hoped that his brother’s cultivation journey would be smooth and successful.

“Congratulations, Junior Brother Tian, on your cultivation breakthrough!” Cao Kuan and Feng Zhi called out as Tian Feirong approached, no longer doubting their eyes—it truly was the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Tian Feirong spoke modestly, though the smile on his face was impossible to hide. “Not at all, just a stroke of luck, and I owe it all to the guidance of Gu Yao and Brother Chi.”

His humble attitude didn’t annoy anyone. After all, how could someone not be thrilled by their cultivation progress? Moreover, compared to the chubby boy, Tian Feirong was much better at socializing, which seemed to be a natural talent of his. The chubby boy, on the other hand, excelled at analyzing people and extracting useful information, especially regarding covert dealings and unspoken rules. Together, the two made an excellent team.

“Junior Brother Tian, take a look at this batch of spiritual rice we harvested. It’s all here,” Cao Kuan said, inviting him to inspect the yield.

Tian Feirong examined the rice and was immediately pleased. Just the aroma alone carried a refreshing and invigorating scent. “Let’s use this new spiritual rice to cook today. You two should stay for the meal as well. Afterward, we can prepare the fields for the next planting. You’re more knowledgeable in this area than I am.”

“Of course! Many thanks, Junior Brother Tian,” they replied cheerfully.

Tian Feirong carefully packed the harvested spiritual rice into storage bags and stored them in the warehouse. After inventorying the yield, he planned to set aside a portion for Cao Kuan and Feng Zhi. After all, compared to other residents in the Jia District, Gu Yao and Chi Changye didn’t rely on the ten acres of spiritual fields as a primary source of income.

Tianfu Academy was not isolated from the outside world. Even if some were initially unaware, the partnership between the Xingyue Chamber of Commerce and the academy had made the sales of beauty-enhancing pills a well-known success. It was clear to everyone that the recipe originated from Gu Yao. Observing Gu Yao’s close ties with the Xingyue Chamber of Commerce, it was evident there was no coercion involved, suggesting that Gu Yao’s profits were significant. Combined with his other sources of income, there were few in the academy who could rival Gu Yao’s wealth.

While the alchemists of the Pill Peak looked down on Gu Yao on the surface, they secretly tried to decipher his pill recipes. Yet their progress remained minimal. Meanwhile, Gu Yao had continued to refine his formulas and introduce new pills, which were particularly popular among cultivators who valued their appearance.

“Is Master Alchemist Gu still in seclusion cultivating? He’s so diligent,” Feng Zhi asked curiously, having not seen Gu Yao or Chi Changye around for the past few days.

Tian Feirong’s gaze flickered briefly before he replied, “Yes, you don’t know him well—his greatest passion is alchemy and cultivation. Anyway, you two carry on. I’ve got things to do.”

“Take care, Junior Brother Tian,” they said as he left.

Upon returning, Tian Feirong settled the spiritual rice and glanced toward the inner courtyard. In truth, Gu Yao and Chi Changye weren’t inside. Gu Yao had recently reached a bottleneck in his cultivation and decided to switch things up by going on a trial mission, with Chi Changye accompanying him for protection.

Aware of the growing jealousy toward Gu Yao, they had kept their departure low-profile. Tian Feirong, feeling confident after consolidating his own cultivation, thought he might try some field experience himself soon.

Gu Yao and Chi Changye had disguised their appearances and were walking along the outskirts of the Qiuqu Mountain Range. Their method of disguise was something they had acquired from the chubby boy. The technique had previously helped him escape detection under the noses of the alchemists in Cuiyan Valley, proving its effectiveness.

The secret was simple yet ingenious: the chubby boy used a mask made from the silk of a rare breed of silkworm. The material mimicked human skin almost perfectly. He had discovered it by chance and exploited its properties to avoid the surveillance of Cuiyan Valley’s alchemists. To this day, he remained undetected.

After Gu Yao and Chi Changye uncovered the chubby boy’s identity, they asked to study the mask out of curiosity. Even Chi Changye, who was usually difficult to fool, hadn’t seen through it at first, proving the mask’s exceptional quality.

Gu Yao couldn’t figure out the mask’s secrets, but Chi Changye discovered it incorporated a unique type of rune. After careful study, he managed to replicate two masks. While not as flawless as the original, Chi Changye was confident that even most Foundation Establishment cultivators would have trouble seeing through the disguise.

They had been in the outskirts of the mountain range for over a day. Chi Changye had stepped back, allowing Gu Yao to handle the battles on his own. Initially, Gu Yao was flustered and clumsy, but he had gradually grown more composed. His use of various spells became increasingly proficient, and he felt that his control over spiritual energy had reached a new level.

As dusk fell, the two of them found an open area to rest. They had hunted some beasts along the way, ensuring they had food for the night. They lit a fire and began roasting meat.

Chi Changye took full charge of the cooking, while Gu Yao retrieved other food items from his storage bag: spiritual fruits, rice balls bought from the cafeteria, flower cakes made by Junior Sister Bai, and even a pot of spiritual tea. It was safe to say that few cultivators on trials enjoyed such comfort.

After setting everything up, Gu Yao sat beside Chi Changye and watched him roast the meat. Chi Changye’s skills had improved considerably since the past. A layer of spiritual honey brushed over the meat sizzled over the fire, releasing a mouthwatering aroma. Unable to resist, Gu Yao swallowed hard and asked, “Brother Ye, is it ready yet? The smell is making me hungry.”

Chi Changye turned to see Gu Yao staring at the meat with eager eyes, swallowing his saliva. He smiled indulgently and tapped Gu Yao’s cheek with his finger. “Have a piece of cake first. After one more layer of seasoning, it’ll be ready.”

“Alright, good things are worth waiting for.” Gu Yao picked up a piece of flower cake from a nearby plate and held it up to Chi Changye’s mouth. Chi Changye glanced at Gu Yao’s slender fingers and opened his mouth with a smile to take a bite. Gu Yao then took another piece and popped it into his own mouth.

“Bring me a plate,” Chi Changye said.

With a cheer, Gu Yao passed over a clean plate. Chi Changye took out a sharp knife and, with a few swift movements, sliced the roasted meat into thin, translucent slices that landed neatly on the plate. Gu Yao ignored the heat, grabbed a piece, and tossed it into his mouth. It was delicious—absolutely perfect!

While Chi Changye continued roasting, Gu Yao alternated between feeding himself and offering bites to Chi Changye. They chatted about the day’s experiences, with Chi Changye pointing out areas where Gu Yao could improve. When they were halfway through the roasted meat, a rustling sound came from the forest, growing closer and closer. It seemed to be another group of cultivators, likely students from Tianfu Academy, since this area wasn’t yet part of the Qianxue Sect’s trial grounds. However, it wasn’t impossible that rogue cultivators might also pass through.

Soon, the group emerged from the dense forest and entered Gu Yao and Chi Changye’s field of view. In the middle of the group was a female cultivator, who sniffed the air and exclaimed, “That smells amazing! Whoever is cooking has real skill—this meat must be delicious.”

“Let’s head over and check it out,” another person suggested. “At worst, we can buy a share or ask them to cook a portion for us. We’ll pay in spiritual stones if necessary.”

Gu Yao, having already eaten his fill, was sipping spiritual tea to aid digestion. He glanced up as the approaching group drew near and muttered, “Hmm, one of them looks familiar. Must be someone from the academy.”

Chi Changye also looked up briefly but didn’t recognize anyone. He lowered his head again, continuing to tidy up. The leftover roasted meat was being prepared as dried meat to serve as snacks for idle moments during the day.

The two continued their conversation quietly while working until the group stopped a short distance from them. A male student stepped forward and said, “Are you both from the academy? We’ll take the rest of your roasted meat.”

“That’s not right!” another male student interrupted. “How can we eat someone else’s leftovers? Let’s pay them extra spirit stones and have them roast more for us. Don’t you agree, Junior Sister Shi?”

The female cultivator at the center of the group nodded haughtily. “That’s right. Offer them more spirit stones and have them roast some fresh meat for me immediately.”

“Hey, did you hear that?” the first male student added, eager to please. “This is Junior Sister Shi Yanyan. You’d better hurry up and start cooking before she gets too hungry!”

Gu Yao, initially amused, now chuckled aloud. As soon as they mentioned their names, he recalled who they were. Half a year ago, Shi Yanyan had brazenly approached him, wanting to use spirit stones to buy Chi Changye as her attendant. And now, here they were again—what a twist of fate.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground without any intention of standing, Gu Yao propped his chin with one hand and looked up at them. “Sorry, but we’re not short on spirit stones. You’d be better off asking someone who needs them.”

The group’s behavior, particularly Shi Yanyan’s, had been a source of gossip and amusement for quite some time. Even if Gu Yao hadn’t known about her back then, he certainly did now. She was rumored to be the spoiled daughter of the Shi family head, who owned the Shi City Merchant Guild. Back when Gu Yao and Chi Changye had visited Shifang City, they had seen the guild’s impressive storefronts. A force capable of establishing such a presence in that competitive market was far from weak. Moreover, the Shi City Merchant Guild operated in multiple locations across Tianlin Continent, earning a reputation for its far-reaching influence.

It was no wonder Shi Yanyan had such an entitled attitude, accustomed to getting whatever she wanted. But while others might curry favor with her for the guild’s power, Gu Yao and Chi Changye were not among them.

“You dare speak to Junior Sister Shi like that? State your names!”

“Offending Junior Sister Shi—how do you expect to survive in the academy after this?”

“Is it that you think we’re offering too few spirit stones? Let me tell you, Junior Sister Shi lacks for nothing, especially not spirit stones. If you know what’s good for you, start roasting that meat now!”