Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!-Chapter 689 - 673: Reunion

Well, who would’ve thought that the Sword Spirit would also get fuzzy after swallowing dragon meat.

Jiang Yuan: ...

"Then you take a good rest. I’m fine." He had no choice but to put away the Bright Moon Sword, summon the Dragon Roar Sword, and use Sword Flight straight towards the Mist Cloud.

"Bang!"

He plunged into the cloud, only stirring up some strands of mist, and then fell silent, as the Mist Cloud continued to drift leisurely forward.

"Won’t someone come and save me..." Song Zhi was almost in tears, his thin and tall body trembling slightly with fear and exhaustion.

Swaying left and right, unable to discern up from down due to the thick cloud mist engulfing his feet.

Which way should he go to get out of this Mist Cloud?

As a somewhat unsuccessful Mist Cloud Hunter, he’d heard too many tales of thrilling encounters, including completely losing one’s sense of direction.

Thinking one was moving forward, only to be endlessly circling a point like hitting a ghost maze, turning until utterly exhausted without any reference to break free.

If no external force disrupts this eerie situation, he’d collapse of fatigue without escaping, inevitably to be devoured by the Mist Cloud in the end.

"Oh heavens, why is my fate so cruel!" Song Zhi lamented, regretting not saving those fifty Spirit Stones.

If he hadn’t been so calculative the day before yesterday and bought that Teleportation Talisman, he would have had an escape route now.

But alas, there’s no remedy for regret in this world.

Under Cloud City’s strong protection, the residents could live and work in peace, whereas most cultivators had some Spirit Stones to spare. Hence, cheap and poorly experienced Teleportation Talismans were rarely sold, yet they were too expensive for Song Zhi.

A few days ago, word reached him that a Talisman Master named Qian had some Teleportation Talismans for sale in the city.

Song Zhi went along with other Mist Cloud Hunters to inquire, but that fellow was surprisingly adamant about the costs of calligraphy materials and Spiritual Power being the base value, refusing to lower the price.

Over fifty Spirit Stones’ difference, they bickered heatedly, but in the end, Song Zhi couldn’t obtain a Teleportation Talisman.

He optimistically thought luck had been on his side lately, and as autumn was arriving soon, the Mist Cloud would be gentler by then. He didn’t think he needed such an expensive Talisman, fancying he wouldn’t encounter bad clouds readily, having been cautious for years without earning much, yet unharmed.

Yet now, regretting and stomping his feet and pounding his chest are to no avail.

"The heavens are condemning me!" Song Zhi abandoned his struggle, sitting dejectedly in the white cloud, lamenting, "Enough, enough, a miserable life like mine, dying quietly at least saves the toil of living, oh my failed life..."

He hadn’t finished his sigh when his scalp chilled, then he heard a somewhat familiar voice, "Hey? It’s you again? What a coincidence, was it Daoist You calling for help earlier?"

Actually, Jiang Yuan barely remembered the name but then the system popped up with details, instantly enlightening him—it was when he first arrived at the Cloud Prairie and met this Mist Cloud Hunter in the Mist Cloud, learning much about Cloud City.

This guy was a Demon Beast, low level Gathering Spirit Realm creature, with lingering rodent traits after Transformation, easily recognizable.

"You... Daoist You?!" Song Zhi looked up to see the person standing on a Flying Sword who rushed into the cloud was indeed an "acquaintance."

Though they were merely acquainted, the fellow had acted generously—besides, he gave him some roasted chicken that was extremely delicious, which to this day had him salivating at the memory, naturally leaving a deep impression.

With despair turned to opportunity, Song Zhi eagerly nodded his head vigorously, "I’ve been trapped in the cloud, unable to tell up from down, I can’t get out!"

Jiang Yuan glanced at the system map, grabbed him, and flew towards the shortest distance out.

"Whoosh!"

The Sword Flight was extremely fast, and as they burst out of the cloud, Song Zhi’s excellent night vision spotted the immense abyss ahead, involuntarily exclaimed "Oh my!" and fell weakly onto the grassy edge of the cliff.

[Do Good Deeds Every Day: Luck +1; Privileged Item Exchange Fragment +1]

[Privileged Item: Limited edition items released during holiday events in the system’s privilege mall. Collect 10 fragments to exchange for any item]

Jiang Yuan slightly raised his brows, holiday events?

Does it correspond to actual holiday times or holidays in this Wilderness?

Ten fragments to exchange one item, and only rewards like Do Good Deeds Every Day count, it seems tough to collect.

But given the system’s tendencies, the harder it is to gather, the higher the cost-effectiveness of the items available for exchange.

Looks like he might need to find ways to meddle in affairs recently; perhaps when things align, he could get a Do Good Deeds Every Day reward.

"Oh my, thank goodness Daoist You arrived just in time to save my life!" Song Zhi’s heart pounded wildly for a moment. Finally, he caught his breath and scrambled to his feet to kowtow in gratitude, "I was just a hair’s breadth away from plunging into the abyss and shattering to pieces. Your life-saving grace, Song Zhi is eternally grateful!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan finally noticed that the pitch-black area ahead was actually a cliff!

"Are we at the prairie edge already? It seems the Cloud Prairie isn’t as large as the rumors say..." He hadn’t finished his sentence when he looked around and was stunned. Where’s Cloud City?

From the moment he heard the cry for help to when he flew into the cloud mass, it took no more than half a minute. After entering, he found Song Zhi following the position flashing on the map, and they exchanged greetings before flying out of the Mist Cloud.

The entire process definitely took no more than two minutes. How did the Mist Cloud move so slowly, yet Cloud City was nowhere in sight?

Jiang Yuan didn’t believe it and checked the system map – he had crossed more than half of the Cloud Prairie away from his small courtyard and Cloud City!

Looking incredulously at the cloud group drifting towards the cliff and gradually dispersing, he rubbed his face, trying to recall the entire process carefully. He didn’t feel any teleportation effect. How did they suddenly get so far away?

"Daoist You, is this your first time encountering such a situation?" Song Zhi had calmed down, climbed to his feet, and said with a bitter smile, "I told you last time, this Mist Cloud is quite eerie. Had it not been for your kind assistance today, I’d surely be dead."

"It truly is beyond belief how that cloud, moving so slowly, ended up at the cliff’s edge in such a short time." Once again, Jiang Yuan marveled at the wonders of the Wilderness World, sighing in relief and smiling, "It’s really fate that we met again."

"It’s been a while since we last met, and we haven’t crossed paths since. I suppose you’ve changed your line of work." Just as he finished speaking, Song Zhi’s stomach embarrassingly rumbled.

His face flushed with embarrassment, he quickly changed the subject to cover it up, "How is it such a coincidence tonight, Daoist You also chasing the cloud mass?"

The situation was extremely similar to their previous encounter. Jiang Yuan knew he lived at the bottom, struggling to make ends meet, so he took out a roast suckling pig of the demon beast variety and a jar of fruit wine from his Storage Bag. He sat on the ground and invited, "I just happened to be passing by, heard the cry for help, and dashed in without much thought. Come, let’s gather here by the cliff, eating meat, drinking wine, and enjoying the scenery. Isn’t that delightful?"

The hot sizzling roast suckling pig was golden and dripping with oil, its aroma enticing Song Zhi’s nose, causing saliva to automatically secrete.

"Thanks to Daoist You’s hospitality, I’ll shamelessly indulge!" Already feeling indebted for the life-saving favor just now, he felt that since he was already eating and drinking from the benefactor, he might as well risk it all and crash to repay the benefactor, rather than miss this grand meal.

The roast suckling pig, made from the freshest little demon beast on a level seven stove, was golden brown, its crispy skin giving way to succulent, juicy meat underneath.

Each bite brought a delightful contrast of crispy, aromatic skin and melt-in-your-mouth fatty meat, tender without being greasy.

Song Zhi was truly starving, nearly swallowing the bones in his rush, thinking that even when barely sating hunger with plain meals, the enticing aroma would inspire more bites, not to mention his current hunger that pressed his chest to his back!

"Gulp!"

After a swig of fruit wine, its rich fruity fragrance, sour and sweet, filled him with satisfaction. He exclaimed, "Benefactor, even if you needed me to face death after this delicious meal, I would die without regrets."

Jiang Yuan: ...

"It was just a small effort, Daoist You doesn’t need to dwell on it." He replied with a smile, "Besides, we have no resentment. Why would I need you to face such peril? It seems your livelihood is still difficult to sustain, have you thought about trying something else?"

At the mention of livelihood issues, Song Zhi frowned, "What could I possibly do? When my father was still around, we had an established shop, with resources, supply channels, connections, and genuine skills in identifying medicinal herbs.

Now, we have nothing. My skills are mediocre, not even comparing to the youthful apprentices in medicinal shops.

In business, without capital, channels, or connections;

As an apprentice, they consider me too old;

Caught in mediocrity, I can’t even acquire a decent Lifebound Weapon, my only strength being Earth Escape, but what’s the use of it?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan found himself troubled too.

He initially thought that given his background in medicinal business, he would at least understand the trade, possibly replacing Yun Shu in managing the medicinal shop in Cloud City, allowing her to explore the void.

But with his inadequate skills, it seemed impractical.

Examining detailed analysis on him, the system described him as reliable and hard-working, trustworthy in handling tasks, yet adept at Earth Element Techniques and Earth Escape, but what tasks could he undertake?

Perhaps, he should extend help and contact City Lord Yuan Man, to see if arranging a position for him to solve the employment issue was possible.

Otherwise, given his brother’s capabilities and misfortune, being rescued today might be pure luck, but what about next time?

With no economic resources, he could only scrounge a living in the Mist Cloud. Sooner or later, he would encounter a hostile cloud, lacking enough strength to protect himself, and would likely face an unfortunate end.

"Recently, I’ve gotten to know a senior who might help with job opportunities. For now, try to avoid any more risks. I’ll provide some Spirit Stones for daily expenses in the meantime. Just relax and await the news." Jiang Yuan left it at that, also pouring him another glass of fruit wine.

Song Zhi felt a wave of gratitude, thinking, what a benefactor!

The last acquaintance ended with him trading some information for Spirit Stones and a meal. This time, Daoist You not only saved his life but also provided nourishment and was willing to find him a living.

Touched to the point of teary eyes and a heavy heart, he said, "Thank you, benefactor, for extending a helping hand tirelessly. All my gratitude is in this wine. In the future, should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask, even if it means facing death, I, Song Zhi, won’t hesitate!"