CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: PLANS TO BUY A MINE

"I will do my best to help you elevate your position in the association. You must also not neglect your own cultivation, as the corresponding status still requires the support of cultivation."

Shen Wang expressed his thoughts. Behind the Celestial Commerce Association is the Yun Family, a major cultivation clan. He felt it necessary for Paper Kite to climb higher to control more resources.

Otherwise, solely developing resources for the Shen family would be too limiting, not to mention there were quite a few in the Shen family who had reservations about him.

"Hmm, I’ll follow my husband’s arrangements in everything."

Paper Kite smiled sweetly.

"Cultivate, and become an Innate Grandmaster as soon as possible, so you won’t have to be a maid in the association anymore."

Shen Wang stroked Paper Kite’s cheek, turned around to take up the crystal, reopened a room, and then went out to buy some tools to continue carving his crystal.

He spent the morning roughly carving the crystal fish tank, sculpting one large and one small fish tank from a big piece of crystal, leaving less than a thousand pounds in weight.

The big and small fish tanks fit perfectly together, with some leftover materials placed inside. Shen Wang estimated the remaining weight to be about a thousand pounds, which was fairly light for him.

After having lunch, just past noon, when the Yang Qi was strongest,

Shen Wang took out a sheet of mid-grade talisman paper and let his brush dance like a dragon’s play. A Fireball Talisman slowly took form.

Scorching energy flowed within the talisman, flickering with red light, forming waves of heat as the talisman floated autonomously, rapidly taking form with the fire attribute spiritual qi.

Shen Wang watched earnestly, smiling only after the talisman’s glow receded and it settled down.

The talisman hadn’t burned up, signifying his Fireball Talisman had been successfully refined.

"Today got off to a good start."

Shen Wang put away the Fireball Talisman and began on the second one.

In the afternoon, he used up ten sheets of mid-grade talisman paper, successfully creating four Fireball Talismans, slightly improving upon his previous success rate.

The Fireball Talisman consumed significantly more spiritual power and spiritual power than the Silver Radiance Talisman, so Shen Wang couldn’t continue. After recovering somewhat, he took out low-grade talisman paper.

He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before starting to write. The talisman was completely different from the Fireball Talisman, with strokes appearing nimble and flowing. The transparent rune liquid formed a new talisman, resembling a wind character.

Once the talisman was complete, a circle of clear wind appeared out of nowhere nearby. The originally transparent talisman began absorbing the wind attribute spiritual qi from the void, turning azure, forming a wind attribute talisman.

Light Body Talisman!

More precisely called the Clear Wind Talisman, when applied, it could release the Power of Clear Wind, allowing one to travel lightly, making it suitable for low-level cultivators to use when traveling.

The talisman’s grade was similar to the Silver Radiance Talisman, so it wasn’t difficult for him. The remaining spiritual power allowed him to draw ten times, achieving success four times.

If it wasn’t his first time making it, the success rate could have been higher.

Packing away the talismans, night had fallen. Shen Wang took the crystal fish tank, returned to his sleeping room, and used cultivation instead of rest. In between, he sowed once with Paper Kite, spending a peaceful, uneventful night.

He didn’t investigate the situation of the collapsed mine at all. With so many watching, there was no need to appear suspicious.

The next day, after ensuring nothing unusual was happening at the mine, he left directly with the crystal and Paper Kite, never turning back to investigate again.

Outside the town, he took out a Light Body Talisman, activated it onto Paper Kite, and a circle of clear wind arose, causing her hair to flutter, her garments to fly, adding an ethereal aura.

"Husband, there’s no need to waste the Light Body Talisman on me."

Recognizing the talisman, Paper Kite was a bit reluctant.

"Your husband is a Talisman Master, what’s a low-grade talisman to me?"

Shen Wang shook his head and applied one to himself, immediately feeling lighter, so that even an ordinary person could leap three zhang far, making their journey even easier.

"Let’s go; let’s head home in one breath. The distance is quite far. Using the talisman power saves a lot of effort."

With a crystal fish tank in one hand and Paper Kite in the other, Shen Wang swiftly made his way home, ten zhang with each step.

Paper Kite glanced back with a charming smile, her heart filled with tender affection.

She felt happy and touched that this man cared about her. How could she be anything but content?

Cultivators often had indifferent emotions, many being finely attuned to self-interest. How many noticed such details?

Her heart blossoming with joy along the way, with anticipation towards her in-laws, she nervously asked, "Husband, who’s in the family?"

"I am now tasked with guarding the ancestral residence, with only five in the family: a maid, who is also my second woman, Jia’Er, my daughter Shen Chuxue, two nannies and their child, and an ordinary martial artist who came with the nanny."

Shen Wang began to explain his background, which Paper Kite would need to know once they returned home.

Paper Kite smartly memorized every detail and asked her question: "What does it mean to be displaced?"

Shen Wang smiled bitterly, "I belong to the Shen family of Xi Province, being of little use at home, I’ve come to guard the ancestral residence."

Paper Kite widened her eyes, "The Shen family from Bulao Stream?"

"Yes, a fallen cultivation clan."

Shen Wang nodded.

"Though now fallen, there are tales of the Shen family once being powerful, the foremost family in Xi Province."

Paper Kite was surprised.

"That was then. Now, we’re just a second-rate cultivation clan."

Shen Wang shook his head, "Without a Golden Core Zhenren, we can’t compare to your Yun family or even those first-rate families."

"The Yun family has many branches, and the Shen family is much stronger than any of them."

Paper Kite smiled, "So you’re not a loose cultivator, husband."

She felt she’d struck gold, not only having found a capable, considerate husband but also one with a decent background.

"Pretty much the same as a loose cultivator now."

Shen Wang shrugged, "I have to rely on myself, not expecting anything from the family."

"Relying on oneself more truly shows one’s capabilities, husband."

Paper Kite gazed at him admiringly, "You certainly can build a career, husband."

"Indeed."

Shen Wang was confident, thinking that if even with a system he couldn’t achieve this, he’d be better dead.

"Speaking of careers, I should start establishing some ventures for our children, beginning with mortal industries—there will always be mortal children in the future."

Shen Wang spoke his mind, "I think this crystal mine is good. Take advantage of the chaos to see if we can buy it at a low price."

"Paper Kite supports your idea, husband, but the crystal mine is nearly exhausted. Although there’s more underneath, the cost of extraction is mounting."

Paper Kite offered her perspective.

"I understand, but it still holds value, and with just us mining, ensuring security, it should yield a profit."

Shen Wang nodded, "You should keep an eye on this in the association to see if your Yun family plans to sell it off. If so, acquire it as an asset."

"Yes, husband, makes sense. We don’t have much money now and can only invest in unspectacular industries for backup."

Paper Kite agreed, "I’ll keep an eye on the mine situation."

The two discussed their plans for the future, as Paper Kite, being from the association, was quite knowledgeable, making it easy for Shen Wang to talk about related matters with her.