CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: WATER-REPELLING RHINOCEROS

A single lucky windfall does not represent the overall income of a Demon Hunter.

"Without someone like Wen Zijian, a Golden Cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, overseeing things, who knows how many battles we’d have to fight on the way back just to bring the prey back safely!"

"No one succeeds easily. I’m no exception!"

After calming down, Shen Xuan reviewed this hunting trip, feeling a mix of emotions.

Facing a Tier One Upper Grade Demon Beast for the first time, he didn’t control his strength properly, revealing much of his power.

However, given his current connections and status, there’s no need for him to be overly cautious at Cyan Dragon Bay Market.

Every cultivator has a few secrets!

Background and strength are the true determinants of a cultivator’s status.

Recently, he often attended auctions organized by the Ding Family.

Due to financial constraints, he only observed without buying.

But he gained some understanding of basic prices.

A Tier One Upper Grade Magical Artifact, with slightly better quality, starts at four to five hundred Spirit Stones.

If it’s a Defensive Spiritual Artifact or a Flying Sword Attack Spiritual Artifact, it goes directly over a thousand Spirit Stones.

Currently at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, his Divine Sense Spiritual Power far exceeds others at the same level, allowing him to control at least one Tier One Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

"It’s better to save up Spirit Stones and wait to acquire the Upper Grade Artifact after breaking through to the Late Stage!"

"Hunting Demon Beasts is just a side endeavor, while talisman making is my main avenue."

With that in mind, Shen Xuan cleared his thoughts and stepped into the Talisman Making Room to continue crafting Rejuvenation Talismans.

In the days that followed.

Shen Xuan continued his cultivation and talisman making.

Over six months, Zhao Chunsheng organized three gatherings.

None led to significant gains.

Sometimes they failed to hunt the target Demon Beast, sometimes others beat them to it, and sometimes there were too many Demon Hunters around to find an opportunity.

This made Shen Xuan deeply realize the fluctuating income of the Demon Hunter profession.

Besides one’s own strength, luck is closely tied to the harvest.

Fortunately, the bounty from the Iron Armor Crocodile was considerable, and the team’s spirits were high.

They were seasoned Demon Hunters, aware that such outcomes were the standard.

Successes like the last easy hunt of the Iron Armor Crocodile were exceptions.

Almost every night, Shen Xuan swam from the Spirit Pool Dark River to the bottom of the Longze River to train his combat skills.

One day, after practicing talisman making, Shen Xuan unexpectedly received a letter.

Lv Zhengying successfully established his Foundation!

Thinking back, it had been four years since their last gathering.

The letter was personally written by Lv Zhengying.

Inviting him to participate in the Foundation Establishment celebration.

The letter mentioned that Qin Yuehan, Wang Fugui, Zhao Sujin, and Li Chang’an were all invited.

Qin Yuehan would certainly attend.

Lv Zhengying didn’t explicitly say.

Shen Xuan speculated that Qin Yuehan likely provided some aid in Lv Zhengying’s Foundation Establishment.

After reading the letter, Shen Xuan smiled.

The letter from Lv Zhengying carried both a hint of boasting and intent to strengthen ties.

After pondering, Shen Xuan politely declined.

They had agreed on a ten-year reunion.

They would meet again in six years.

No need to make a special trip to Cyan Cloud Sect.

Wasting time and effort.

Shen Xuan took out pen and paper to reply to Lv Zhengying.

Congratulations on his Dao Foundation establishment and promotion to Elder of Cyan Cloud Sect.

He discussed his own cultivation situation, offering twenty high-quality Rejuvenation Talismans as a gift, attached to the letter.

"May Elder Lv Zhengying’s path be bright!"

At the end of the letter, Shen Xuan earnestly expressed his wishes, full of real emotions.

...

For Shen Xuan, Lv Zhengying’s successful Foundation Establishment was anticipated.

However, the discovery of a new Purple Essence Copper Ore in the Falling Blossom Mountain Range, belonging to Cyan Dragon Bay, shocked Shen Xuan.

The Ding family dominates Cyan Dragon Bay, possessing numerous Spirit Fields and Spirit Lakes for cultivating Spirit Fields and nurturing Spirit Fish.

But these only meet the daily needs of the Ding family and market cultivators.

Though they can earn Spirit Stones, the total amount is limited.

Annually, it doesn’t amount to much, perhaps three to five thousand Spirit Stones.

But Spirit Ores are different.

Mining is unlike farming and raising fish.

With enough manpower, production can be expanded anytime.

Spirit Ores, as Spirit Vein by-products, are usually used to refine various Refining Materials.

Occasionally, Demon Beasts appear.

Various Spirit Monsters might also emerge.

There are certain life risks.

Thus, the Ding Family is recruiting miners with attractive conditions.

Completing mining tasks offers a basic annual salary of twelve Spirit Stones.

The more work, the more rewards.

Moreover, after signing a Spirit Contract, one can advance a year’s pay.

This is highly tempting for cultivators urgently needing Spirit Stones.

Especially loose cultivators looking to relocate their family to the market’s outskirts.

Coincidentally, the annual basic salary matches exactly a year’s rent on the market’s outskirts.

In other words, with a mining contract, your family can move to the market’s periphery.

Seeing the mine recruitment notice, Shen Xuan was a bit puzzled.

The Ding family seemed desperate.

Was it to quickly repay the Foundation Establishment Pill debt?

It’s said that many loose cultivators from the market’s slums and even low-level cultivators from the market’s edge signed up eagerly.

Including those at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.

Mining is exhausting, and the working conditions are bad.

But it’s much safer than the precarious hunting life.

The most crucial aspect is the stable income.

For low-level cultivators without special skills, mining is a way out.

As long as they can endure, they can save up Spirit Stones.

After three to five years, they can continue their cultivation journey.

"Life is tough!"

According to Zhao Chunsheng, many former neighbors have signed up.

Shen Xuan whispered sympathetically.

But that’s as far as it goes.

He must focus on cultivation and talisman making to improve his skill level.

With Spirit Stones in hand, the Spirit Gathering Array can run four hours a day, consuming two Spirit Stones solidly.

Plus, with Shen Xuan’s increased appetite, consuming middle-grade Spirit Rice and middle-grade Demon Beast Meat, food expenses have surged.

Talisman making profits only cover daily expenses.

Fortunately, Zhao Chunsheng finally brought good news.

He had information about a sighting of a Water-Repelling Rhinoceros.

Shen Xuan was delighted to hear this.

The Barbaric Wilderness Demon Beast Atlas contains relevant information.

The Water-Repelling Rhinoceros is a Tier One Upper Grade water-based Demon Beast.

Shaped for the water, armored with bead-like scales on its hide.

It repels water, causing it to part effortlessly around it.

"We can move swiftly. Who knows if that guy will sell the information to multiple parties."

Zhao Chunsheng explained more excitedly than Shen Xuan.

"Let’s move forward quickly, just in case," Shen Xuan responded.

And so, early morning the next day came.

Wen Zijian and Shi Xiangdong were aboard a flying ship.

"This is a Flying Spiritual Artifact?" Shen Xuan said with some envy.

Wen Zijian nodded while flying the ship, inviting everyone aboard.

"This is a Flying Spiritual Artifact?" Shen Xuan asked enviously.

"Yes," replied Wen Zijian, gesturing for everyone to get on.

The Flying Ship is a precious item, and its weight affects flight speed.

Everyone hurriedly boarded with caution, knowing the importance of swiftness.

Following Shen Xuan’s suggestion, Wen Zijian directed the Flying Ship to travel along the Longze River and lowered its altitude.

Seeing no objection, Wen Zijian lowered the flying ship.

As they lowered altitude and neared the surface of the river, the unease gnawing at him slowly faded.

"We need to stay close to the Longze River," Shen Xuan said, acknowledging his instinctive need for the water’s reassurance.

This feeling was a subconscious awareness.