Chapter Ten: The Old Monkey

"Why did you only ask for one spirit coin? Why not ask for more?"

"It's something you'll find out sooner or later. Small profits, quick turnover."

The lark deliberately slowed its flight in midair.

"Just tell me the important stuff," Xu Chen thought for a moment before speaking. Before he entered the sect, his father had written to warn him that in such major sects, anything one said—at any time or place—could easily be overheard by others.

"For people like you who join midway, it's usually to chase after those foreign girls."

"Nowadays, those foreign girls in the sect are not so easy to pursue. For the Three-Tailed Fox Clan’s female disciples, even just forming a Daoist partnership with one requires a substantial bride price."

"For those with spiritual-grade talent, it’s about six hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand spirit coins."

"For those with supreme-grade talent, it’s about one to one and a half million spirit coins."

Xu Chen raised his eyebrows slightly at this; so the method his mother had sought from the Wei family was actually the common route, and the prices had been inflated to such an extent.

"What about the Flower Spirit Clan?"

"That’s a bit harder. Most of the female disciples of the Flower Spirit Clan like to keep the male disciples dangling. For those of mediocre talent, even offering up hundreds of thousands or a million spirit coins may not win them over."

As the lark spoke, it suddenly picked up speed, soaring thousands of zhang higher.

Xu Chen looked up and saw, in the distance, a luxurious spirit boat flying through the air, with a man and a woman on board.

"Junior Sister, this is the Azure Wood Spirit Pill I found specially for you. I hope you like it," the man gazed at the female disciple with deep affection.

"Senior Brother, we’re not suited for each other," she shook her head gently at the spirit pill in his hand, then looked at him.

Her cool gaze contained a touch of gentleness—a kind of warmth devoid of any romantic feeling.

"Junior Sister, my love for you has nothing to do with you."

"Just accept it. I only hope you become better."

The moving words made Xu Chen, not far away, break out in goosebumps.

Before the couple noticed them, the lark descended in altitude.

"The man’s a hopeless romantic, the woman’s a high-level green tea white lotus," was Xu Chen’s assessment of the pair.

"That woman is a disciple of the Flower Spirit Clan," the lark explained.

"It seems my one spirit coin wasn’t wasted. If I want to bring home a Daoist partner from another race, do you have any good advice?" Xu Chen asked, his interest piqued.

"In the sect’s Scripture Pavilion, there’s a Blood and Qi Foundation Building Method called the Three Springs Six Yang Body-Refining Method."

"After cultivating your blood and qi to the peak using this method, move on to the Great Rejuvenation Technique."

"Then, go straight to a female disciple of the Tri-Colored Fox Clan—the ones with red tails. Make your intentions clear, both parties swear a Human Dao oath, and you can bring her home without worrying about being cuckolded."

The lark’s tone was tinged with schadenfreude, and Xu Chen guessed this sort of thing happened often.

"Why not the Flower Spirit Clan disciples?"

"Their infatuation is real, but only for those male disciples with great talent and strength."

"For someone like you who joined halfway, I don’t think it’s suitable."

"You really know your stuff, brother!" Xu Chen couldn’t help but exclaim.

"Take my advice: in three years you’ll have two kids, in ten years you’ll have six. By then, your family line will be thriving. Who knows, maybe you’ll produce a great figure and bring fame and fortune to your clan."

"Now that you need to find a new dwelling, I suggest you look for those spirit beasts in the mountains who’ve gained intelligence. Offer them some benefits and have them help you find a cave or a good spot to build your own retreat."

Listening to the lark’s advice, Xu Chen felt that his single spirit coin had been spent as if it were a hundred.

"Thank you for your guidance," Xu Chen expressed his gratitude.

"Not at all. Most of you human disciples are arrogant, treating us like lowly ants."

"Your attitude is different, so I’ve told you more," the lark said with a cheerful smile.

By now, the lark had flown several thousand kilometers, arriving at the disciples’ residential area.

"Alright, this is as far as I’ll take you."

The lark landed on a plain surrounded by mountains.

Xu Chen tossed ten spirit coins to the lark.

"Generous! I’ll give you three free rides in the future," the lark expertly swallowed the coins and soared into the sky.

It was only when the lark reached ten thousand zhang high that it became truly delighted.

"Not bad today. Not only did I make money off that newcomer, I can also go find Chief Bai for a reward," it said proudly.

Xu Chen, meanwhile, took out a jade slip and pressed it to his brow, checking the map of the residential area.

"Just the residential area alone is bigger than Cloud Beast City," he thought, looking around and spotting a troop of spirit monkeys playing on a distant mountain.

Recalling the lark’s suggestion, Xu Chen walked toward the group of monkeys.

As he approached, the monkeys retreated into the forest, leaving an old monkey in coarse linen to step forward.

"Monkey wine, ten spirit coins a jug. How many do you want?" the old monkey said.

Sensing the old monkey’s aura, Xu Chen found it was at least as strong as his father’s, if not stronger.

"I’m a new disciple. Could you help me find a suitable cave residence or a place to build one?"

Xu Chen had already checked the map; the prime spots were densely marked with red dots—already occupied by other disciples. Though there were some open areas, he knew there must be reasons why no one lived there.

"All the good places are long taken. There aren’t many truly suitable spots left," the old monkey shook his head.

"An ordinary place is fine. I’m not picky," Xu Chen said after a moment. With his aptitude, living where the spiritual energy was thick would be a waste.

Besides, the ambient energy in the Great Creek Sect was already much richer than in Cloud Beast City—more than enough for his cultivation.

"If you’re not particular about the density of spiritual energy, there are plenty of suitable places," the old monkey began rubbing his hands together inexplicably.

"Just name your price."

"There’s a quiet, beautiful spot with ample space. If you use a disciple’s array flags to shield it, it could be a little paradise."

"It was discovered by a young monkey from my Wine Monkey Clan quite by accident."

"If you like it, it’s just thirty spirit coins."

Without hesitation, Xu Chen took out thirty spirit coins from his storage pouch and tossed them over.

The old monkey caught them eagerly and led the way with a smile.

They crossed several peaks and passed through a dense forest before arriving at a small river.

On the other side of the river was a flower garden covering nearly a hundred acres.

Seeing this, Xu Chen was extremely satisfied.

"Sir, if you want to live here, my Wine Monkeys can build you a few wooden houses and small courtyards."

"It’ll only cost fifty spirit coins," the old monkey said with a flattering smile.

Xu Chen produced a small bag of spirit coins and tossed it over.

Once the old monkey caught it, he began shouting into the forest. Before long, dozens of monkeys, each nearly ten feet tall, ran out.

The troop of monkeys lined up obediently in front of the old monkey.

He chattered away, pointing at the flower garden.

Xu Chen didn’t interfere. He leapt across the river and, pulling supplies from his storage pouch, quickly set up a simple tent.

"Luckily, the storage pouch my father gave me is big enough. Otherwise, I’d have nowhere to put all this miscellaneous stuff."

Meanwhile, the monkeys who’d received their orders went into the woods, grabbing simple tools and starting to cut down trees.