At dusk.
Liu Sheng carried a stone of refined rice and, under the cover of night, returned home.
He avoided being discovered along the way.
He planned to develop quietly before the Tong Family noticed, as he didn't want to attract too much attention yet.
Now that there were two more people in the Family, this stone of rice (about 150 catties) would probably last about a month.
In addition, there were seasonings like soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and chili in his basket, costing less than one and a half taels of silver in total.
Compared to buying exotic beasts, the money for the black satin long gown was truly... incredibly cheap.
This trip to the county town achieved both of his intended goals, yielding enormous gains.
Especially the newly acquired Iron Scale Snake Incarnation, which brought a qualitative improvement to his strength.
Not only were the two talents it bestowed upon his main body extremely practical, but after transformation, it was even more absurdly strong, capable of fighting, tanking, and poisoning. As long as it wasn't specifically targeted by certain snake antidotes, it was almost invincible among its peers.
Furthermore, he successfully entered some shops, pawnshops, jewelry stores, and gold and silver shops that he couldn't enter last time, harvesting a wave of Spiritual Essence points.
【Name】: Liu Sheng
【Dao Fruit】: Seventy-Two Transformations
【Talent】: Magpie Eyes, Heaven-Born Swordsman, Snake Form, Iron Scales
【Cultivation】: Qi and Blood Realm (Qi Sensing)
【Incarnation】: Blade-tailed Finch (Can be invested with Spiritual Essence for evolution), Iron Scale Snake (Can be invested with Spiritual Essence for evolution)
【Spiritual Essence】: 162
"The Manager Xu of the pawnshop said that good items they receive in the Outer City are generally sent to the Inner City..."
Liu Sheng glanced at his panel, recalling the situation at the time, and a glint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He visited three shops today, but the Spiritual Essence points he gained were actually less than he imagined.
Combining this with what that person said, it could be inferred that within Shanyang County, those truly valuable antique items were likely concentrated in the Inner City.
Unfortunately, ordinary commoners needed a pass to enter the Inner City, so he couldn't go in for now.
However, these 162 points of Spiritual Essence should be enough to evolve one Incarnation to the Spirit Monster level... right?
Thinking of the terrifying experience of the last evolution, Liu Sheng felt a headache coming on.
But he also knew that this process, which was close to the evolution of life, was inherently Heaven-Defying, and failure was a highly probable event.
Only through repeated trial and error and failures could one grasp that slim chance of survival.
Therefore, he could only slowly collect a large amount of Spiritual Essence points; there was no rushing it.
After dinner, the Family gathered around the oil lamp, chatting. Liu Sheng took out the bamboo dragonfly he bought in the West Market, making Er Ya incredibly happy.
The little girl's joyful laughter floated around the courtyard.
"Our Family... hasn't been this happy in many years."
Under the lamplight, Liu Apo's lips curled into a smile, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to have faded considerably.
Speaking of the Family's past, she sighed with emotion, her eyes full of nostalgia.
Back then, the Liu family was also a prominent wealthy household in these ten li and eight villages, owning dozens of acres of land and building this single-entry courtyard house.
It was just that later, they suffered continuous misfortunes, and the Family declined...
First, her son and daughter-in-law went missing while visiting relatives, encountering a Spirit Monster in the mountains.
Then, Liu Aiye suddenly fell ill and was bedridden for years, placing the entire burden of the Family on her, a mere woman.
Facing the fierce and cunning gentry and yamen runners, and the various exorbitant taxes from the imperial court, she was alone and helpless, only able to continuously sell off Family property...
Over more than ten years, she endured countless grievances, cold shoulders, and difficulties, but she finally gritted her teeth and persevered.
Looking at her grandson's heroic appearance and tall stature, she spoke until old tears streamed down her face.
Seeing this, Liu Sheng held her hand, comforting her repeatedly and assuring her that the Family's life would get better and better.
"I'm already an old woman, whether life is good or bad doesn't matter anymore."
Liu Apo clasped Liu Sheng's hand, her gaze shifting between him and Liu Yu, and she said softly:
"My only wish now is for the Liu family to have descendants and for the ancestral incense to continue..."
Liu Sheng was instantly dumbfounded.
As expected of an old and cunning Grandma, she even made procreation sound so flowery!
He muttered inwardly, instinctively glancing at Liu Yu, meeting her limpid, autumn-like gaze...
Her cheeks flushed, her eyes full of spring, was this woman thinking the same thing?
Wait, so you two... conspired while I was in the county town, didn't you?
With things at this point, what else could Liu Sheng do?
He could only... give his all!
This back and forth lasted all night.
The little wife was determined to help the Liu family branch out, fighting repeatedly until nearly dawn, when she finally fell into a deep sleep.
"Strange, how did I become so much more formidable?"
Liu Sheng looked down, utterly perplexed.
Could it be... because he refined the Iron Scale Snake Incarnation?
After all, snakes are inherently lustful.
He glanced at the sky outside the window; there wasn't enough time for evolution, so he could only get up, put on his clothes, pick up his long saber, and head straight to the back of the village...
—
Forest clearing.
Wu Song's face first lit up with joy when he saw his disciple rushing over, but then he seemed to smell something, sniffed, and his expression immediately turned cold.
"Master."
Liu Sheng was oblivious, stopping and bowing his head in greeting. After waiting for a long time without a response, he peeked out of the corner of his eye...
Just in time to see Wu Song's scarred face, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"Was playing with women fun? It's much more comfortable than practicing martial arts..."
Uh...
Liu Sheng stammered, unsure how to respond, when a torrent of scolding immediately erupted in his ears:
"Lustful saber and desirous sword cut down mortals, secretly withering bones and flesh!"
"You are still young, at the peak of your vigor and blood. If you indulge in beauty, even with extraordinary talent, your achievements will be limited."
"That woman dares to ruin my disciple's future; I, your Master, shall go and slay her!"
Liu Sheng's heart pounded. Good heavens, are all of you so violent?
Always threatening to chop people up...
Grandma is like this, and Master, you are like this too...
Can't we just talk things out nicely?
Seeing Wu Song pick up his monk's staff and turn to kill Liu Yu, Liu Sheng was startled and quickly hugged his leg:
"Master, please listen to your disciple's explanation, Yu Niang also..."
"It's your Grandma's wish! The continuation of the ancestral incense and branching out is human nature, nothing to be criticized..."
Wu Song stopped, glanced at Liu Sheng, and a smile tugged at his lips:
"However, now that you have successfully sensed Qi and entered the Martial Dao, you should have greater aspirations and must not indulge in female beauty.
Moreover, you are extraordinarily talented, a Heaven-Born Swordsman in a million, and you should ride your horse through the Jianghu, traversing the world.
To grow old and die in the countryside, guarding a few acres of land, or to brave the currents and make a name for yourself... you must think clearly!"
These words were like a morning bell and evening drum, shaking Liu Sheng into a daze, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
Since Awakening his Golden Finger, he had been smooth sailing, especially after refining the Iron Scale Snake yesterday, he had become somewhat complacent.
One had to know that Tong Bapi's threat still existed. How could he not investigate after his trusted steward died?
Once he found any clues, a storm of retaliation would follow!
Could he and his Family, old and young, withstand it?
And the tiger menace in the mountains was growing, who knew when it would burst into the village...
Just as Master asked, was it to grow old and die in the countryside, unknown, or to brave the currents and make a name for himself?
He must think clearly!
Liu Sheng took a deep breath, stepped back two paces, and bowed to Wu Song:
"Thank you, Master, for your teaching. Your disciple knows his mistake and will certainly be diligent and never slack off from now on."
"To know one's mistake and be able to correct it is the greatest good."
Wu Song nodded, glanced at the sky, and his expression turned serious:
"Today, you will practice for an extra hour."