At this moment, Xu Xing’s words sounded somewhat harsher. In her opinion, he was merely trying to seize the opportunity to gain more benefits.
"A miscommunication?" Xu Xing’s expression eased slightly. "A gentleman’s word, once spoken, cannot be overtaken even by a team of four horses. True Lord Song once acted for the Emperor... Junior Sister Yu should know that spreading a false Imperial Decree would, by law, result in beheading."
He deliberately threatened Yu Xue. Seeing her face turn momentarily pale, he continued, "If True Lord Song truly intends for Xu Xing to be his protégé, mere small favors will not move me. Words must not be spoken lightly. Should there be a next time, even if I cannot match True Lord Song, I will not endure such humiliation..."
When he said he felt humiliated, it wasn’t untrue. As a second-ranked preparatory disciple for the true inheritance, the offer from Song Knife was indeed a humiliation. Of course, when Song Knife made that decision, he only wanted to force Xu Xing to state his position and hadn’t yet hoped for him to join his side. Otherwise, given Song Knife’s usually proper handling of matters, he would never have made such a minor mistake.
As for the price of having him join as a protégé... It was not something Song Knife could easily offer. And this period of hesitation would be enough time for him to head to Folding Mountain Island, avoiding Song Knife for a while.
"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Xu..." Yu Xue stammered. "I will make sure to convey these words accurately to True Lord Song."
Yu Xue inclined her head slightly, not daring to refute him in the slightest.
「After leaving Yuehai Pavilion.」
Xu Xing met two Inner Sect Disciples who wanted to lease his three-acre Spiritual Farmland.
One offered an annual lease fee of 1,250 Spirit Shells, and the other offered 1,100 Spirit Shells. Both required a lease of at least fifty years.
Xu Xing didn’t immediately respond.
After making some inquiries, he learned that the former planned to plant Xuan Yang Fruit. Cultivating this fruit consumed a lot of spiritual power, and if planted for an extended period, the Spiritual Farmland would suffer damage. The latter, however, intended to plant Dragon Tooth Rice, which posed no such concerns.
If the difference between the two offers had been larger, Xu Xing might have agreed to the former. But since he was only willing to lease for fifty years, the difference of nearly ten thousand Spirit Shells wasn’t significant enough to sway him.
So, he signed a contract with an Inner Sect Disciple named Liu Hao. The contract stipulated the lease of three acres of Grade B Spiritual Farmland on Lingyin Peak for fifty years to grow Dragon Tooth Rice. The annual rent was 1,100 Spirit Shells. If Xu Xing was not in the Sect after fifty years and did not respond to voice transmission talismans, Liu Hao could choose to continue leasing or terminate the lease.
The total rent for fifty years amounted to 55,000 Spirit Shells.
It’s a pity I just secured an idle position... Otherwise, this would have been another source of income.
As he left Lingyin Peak for Biyuan Mountain, Xu Xing couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. Spiritual Farmland could generate continuous rent through leasing, but an idle position offered no direct benefits; the salary would only be paid when the term concluded.
「Upon returning to Biyuan Mountain.」
Inside his Cave Mansion, Xu Xing went to the Cultivation Room.
Another Immortal Fate has condensed?
Xu Xing looked inward into his consciousness space.
[Mirror Master: Xu Xing]
[Taoist Fruits: Spring God Ju Mang (Luminary), Human King (Immortal Green), Bright King Body (Immortal Green), Underground Lord (Half Immortal), Subdue Demon (Emperor Purple), Wenchang (Red), Reform (Red), Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory (White).]
[Immortal Fate: Sui Yun (Tenth Heaven)]
Words emerged on the gold clear mirror surface.
"You have condensed the Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny [Sui Yun]. Do you want to solidify it with [Taoist Fruits]? This process is irreversible."
Xu Xing opened the introduction for the Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny [Sui Yun].
[Sui Yun (Tenth Heaven)]: Cloud Mist accompanies one’s body, making heavy tasks feel light. Cultivation and utilization of Cloud Mist-based Escape Techniques will be effortless and free from obstructions.
Sui Yun? Could it be the Immortal Fate that appeared after I refined the Purple Magpie Morning Glow and broke through ’Condensing Resplendent Clouds’? Xu Xing speculated.
Since the appearance of the first Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny [Descending Dragon Heavenly Child], he had not gained any other auxiliary Immortal Fates like those from the Destiny phase. For example, besides the Red Fate [Righteous Thief], he also possessed [Reform], [Wenchang], and other Destinies. However, no additional auxiliary Immortal Fates had appeared after the Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny.
I suppose the power is now truly my own... The various Destinies involved before the Immortal Green Destiny [Human King]—such as the White Destiny [Ordinary Life], Red Fate [Righteous Thief], Bright Yellow Destiny [Official Thief], and Emperor Purple Fate [Thief Who Stole the Dragon]—were all related to life’s encounters and did not involve Cultivation... The Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny [Descending Dragon Heavenly Child], Nine Luminaries Immortal Fate [Spring God Ju Mang], and Immortal Green Destiny [Human King] are all Destinies that began after I started Cultivation. The reason I haven’t manifested auxiliary Immortal Fates related to a Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny or Nine Luminaries Immortal Fate is that I previously lacked subsequent cultivation methods... In other words, auxiliary Immortal Fates are more like Divine Powers! While the main Immortal Fate is the fundamental Dao... Xu Xing felt certain.
By his estimate, an Immortal Green Destiny signified being Favored by Immortal Luck. At this point, immortal luck had indeed begun to favor him. He had received the ’authorization’ to cultivate and could now begin his practice.
Solidify the Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny [Sui Yun].
With a thought, the Magic Power within his Dantian began to be consumed. It stopped when about one-third had been depleted.
Following that, Xu Xing once again felt the sensation of being as light as a feather, just as when he had broken through ’Condensing Resplendent Clouds’. The purple magpie method on his White Jade Immortal Base also seemed to be undergoing a subtle transformation, evolving towards some unknown divine bird.
It’s almost as I expected; the Tenth Heaven Immortal Destiny is related to my breakthrough in ’Condensing Resplendent Clouds’. It seems that from now on, when selecting Escape Techniques, I should also choose a Cloud Mist-based one. Xu Xing smiled.
I’ll refine the Golden Cicada Sword Pill while also visiting the Instance World... I should give corpse liberation a try.
He took out the Gold Silk Brocade Bag given to him by Shen Zhou, poured out the Golden Cicada Sword Pill, cradled it in his palm, and began to slowly refine it with his Magic Power.