Zhang Sheng split up with Ji Liuli and left in a hurry after leaving Hsu Henshui’s place. It was because he felt truly guilty and could not bear to hang out with the woman for even a moment longer.

After they had split up, Ji Liuli ascended a tranquil mountain and arrived at a small courtyard. The gate swung open on its own, and she stepped inside.

A young Daoist was sitting in the garden. He had an immature face that made him look younger than even her. He was reading an ancient scroll. When he saw Ji Liuli, he set down the scroll and asked, “What trouble did you get yourself into this time?”

“I didn’t!”

The young Daoist looked a little astonished. “It’s been three months since someone lodged a complaint to me. Did something go wrong with your cultivation or something?”

Ji Liuli replied, “I’ve been refining Wei Yuan’s foundation as of late, but the more I do, the more confused I become. The texts I’ve been poring through yields no answers either. That’s why I’ve come to consult your wisdom.”

The young Daoist grew a tad interested. “Wei Yuan? You mean that little gold devourer from the Skyblue Hall? What’s up with his foundation? Show me.”

Ji Liuli replied, “He’s cultivating the Jade Toad Full Moon Painting. This is his image.”

The young Daoist stared at the jade toad that was over a hundred zhang tall with a frozen smile on his face. Without exaggeration, its one eye was big enough to fit this whole courtyard. The jade toad blinked at him as if it could sense his shock.

Moments later, the young Daoist finally said, “I’m impressed, Xuan Yue. To think you were able to keep this under wraps for so long!”

He examined Wei Yuan’s image closely for a long time before remarking, “This is quite the thorny problem. What is the latest medicine you’re using to refine his foundation?”

“The prescription is this…” Ji Liuli proceeded to rattle off the names of a dozen herbs or so.

The young Daoist shook his head as soon as she was done. “The potency’s too weak! It’s like you’re trying to water a field with a ladle—when are you ever going to be finished? You need something stronger.”

He pondered for a moment before adding, “I’ll give you four prescriptions. Each corresponds to the flesh, blood, bones, and spirit. If you use my prescriptions to refine his foundation, then the Vigor Nurturing Pill will no longer be sufficient once he finishes tempering his flesh. The Skyblue Hall will need to replace it with something better. To be honest, refinement isn’t too useful for a foundation like Wei Yuan’s, but I’m always happy to make life harder for the Skyblue Hall.”

Shock bloomed across Ji Liuli’s face when she saw the prescriptions. “Founder! These herbs—there’s just no way the Skyblue Hall can afford them right now!”

“They can repay it at a later date—so long as Zhang Sheng’s the one writing the promissory note, not Fen Hai. Understand?”

“Even if Zhang Sheng is willing to take out such a massive loan, I do not have the money to lend to him.”

The young Daoist said indifferently, “It’s just a couple million immortal silver. I’ll lend it to you. The goal is to turn the little gold devourer into a giant gold devourer! It’ll be very interesting to see how Xuan Yue, that old bastard, deals with this, no? In the future, if he so much as breathes the D[4] word in front of me, I’ll bash his face in with the promissory note!”

Ji Liuli exclaimed with joy, “Thank you, founder! You’re the best, founder!”

The young Daoist harrumphed before chiding her, “You lazy girl! Had you picked up even a sliver of my skills, this bit of money wouldn’t have been a problem for you at all. All you ever learned is fight, fight, and fight some more! Don’t you know that a bloodless conquest is the highest form of…”

But Ji Liuli was already gone. The young Daoist stomped his foot angrily but could not twist the girl’s head around.

It was at this moment he recalled the image and thought that something wasn’t quite right. He muttered with a frown, “It feels intentional that the image was made this large… Is it to welcome something over from somewhere…?”

At the foot of the mountain, Ji Liuli was sneaking away on her tiptoes. Several million immortal silver would be a huge problem for most, but that didn’t include the Hallmaster of the Heavenly Mysteries Hall, True Lord Yan Shi. He could easily make back that sum just by tweaking the fortune of any True Lord. His ability to rob others of their hard-earned money was not inferior to the Mother Nature Monastery in the slightest.

However, all she ever loved to do was fighting.

Yes, True Lord Yan Shi told her that fortune-tweaking was also a way to send someone to their grave, and she didn’t doubt for a second that he was telling the truth. Still, she preferred to fight personally.

Meanwhile, Zhang Sheng had been exploring the mission hall for a little over half an hour. But no matter how he looked, he couldn’t find a mission issued by the Mastercraft Hall. He felt incredibly disappointed[1].

The price of the Vigor Nurturing Pill had gone up by five percent this month. The old bastards belonging to the Mother Nature Monastery didn’t deserve to be human.

He mentally calculated inside his head and concluded that Wei Yuan would run out of pills in another two days. A sigh later, he started flying toward the Skyblue Hall; Trueman Fen Hai’s residence to be exact.

Although his shifu was in no less trouble than him, he was a Trueman. He should have more avenues than him.

The door to Trueman Fen Hai’s house was wide open right now. What sounded like a fierce argument between two people could be heard from inside the building. Zhang Sheng subconsciously concealed his presence and held his breath as he waited outside the inner hall. He was planning to head inside after the guest—whoever they were—had taken their leave.

The duo were talking quietly at first, but suddenly, their voices rose an octave higher. Maybe it was because negotiations had broken down somewhere.

A melodious, feminine voice yelled, “Enough is enough, surname Wang! You already owe me a ton of money, and the debt is only going to increase in the future. Annoy me, and I’ll teach you the meaning of nine-out-thirteen-in[2]! You’ll be drowning in debt for as long as you live!”

Trueman Fen Hai said quietly, “There’s no need to throw such a big tantrum, Yinying. Are we not accomplished cultivators?”

“Excuse you? Look at this study of yours—is there anything of value left inside? What about those fire fishes in the pond? You’ve sold off every last bit of your pitiful possessions, haven’t you? How much longer until you tear down the pillars at the entrance? Oh, and you have the nerve to display a worthless jade toad at the center of your treasure shelf. Is it even worth ten taels of silver? You’re practically broke, and you dare to call yourself an accomplished cultivator?”

Trueman Fen Hai let out a bitter chuckle. “As an elder, I ought to protect the younger generation, shouldn’t I? What else am I supposed to do?”

“Younger generation. Hmph! All you care about is the younger generation! If you’re such a bleeding heart, then why did you abandon me back then?”

“It really wasn’t my choice…”

“Nonsense! You made me a promise, but changed your mind at the last second and slipped away without a word, leaving me all alone at the mountain! How dare you say it wasn’t your choice!”

Trueman Fen Hai groveled meekly, “I admit that it was my fault, but it’s also been so many years. Surely you can’t nurse a grudge forever?”

“Fine, let’s not talk about the past and only focus on the present. The list of things you’re asking from me is so long it can fill up multiple jade papers. Why in the hells should I help you? Because you’re the most shameless bastard to have ever lived?”

Trueman Fen Hai let out a long sigh. “Tell me your terms then. I’ll do my best to fulfill it so long as it is within my ability to do so.”

“Okay then! I won’t make you do something you can’t do. You’re coming back with me and boiling the lake behind my hall. I would like to enjoy a hot bath right now. Your title is Fen Hai [3]; surely boiling a lake isn’t too difficult for you? From now on, you’ll visit me once per month and boil me some bath water. If you agree, then I won’t charge you any interest. If not, then it’s nine-out-thirteen-in!”

Trueman Fen Hai fell silent for a moment. Finally, he let out a long sigh and said, “I was the one who wronged you. Very well then, let us be gone.”

Truemen moved as quickly as lightning. The duo rose into the sky and disappeared in an instant.

The two Truemen were so agitated that they didn’t even notice that Zhang Sheng was standing outside the house. As he knew a little about their past, he was aware that there was absolutely nothing he could do to help his shifu.

Shifu is really on his last legs. I should’ve known. Not even a Trueman could afford the cultivation resources of over five hundred Dao Foundations on his own.

Zhang Sheng hid a sigh and was just about to leave when suddenly, he recalled something the female Trueman said. Jade toad? What jade toad?

Zhang Sheng pushed the door open and strode straight into the study. There, facing him, stood a couple treasure shelves that were mostly bare—most of the valuables that were displayed here had vanished. Trueman Fen Hai had loved placing his cherished treasures on the shelves; now it seemed he had indeed sold off the bulk of his possessions.

However, the scholar also noticed that a poorly made jade toad was now sitting at the centermost area of the treasure shelves. The compartment had originally held three tiny swords, but now they had been moved to an adjacent compartment.

Expressionlessly, Zhang Sheng strode out of the study and slammed the door behind him. He was sympathizing with his shifu’s plight earlier, but now…

The shameless old bastard deserves this tribulation!

1. Man has given up all dignity for money. ☜

2. When borrowing $10 from a pawnbroker or usurer, one receives only $9 but will have to repay $13. ☜

3. Meaning “Sea Boiling”. ☜

4. D for debate, if you guys can't tell. :D ☜