Longevity starts from having a daughter in old age

Whew! Inhale!

The dense spiritual energy within the Spirit Gathering Array crowded and surged, continuously converging within Xu Mu’s body, merging with the spiritual power that was already circulating.

The speed at which spiritual power circulates in the meridians became faster and faster, soon breaking through a certain limit.

Boom!

As if an invisible wall had been fiercely shattered, his spiritual power rose sharply, his meridians rapidly expanded, and his consciousness abruptly shook, with the range of his flame perception rising by a notch.

In his perception, someone had walked into the main room and was currently speaking with Ye Yingying.

Fifth layer of Qi Cultivation! I’ve finally made a breakthrough!”

His cultivation speed was so fast that in the past, he wouldn’t have dared to think of it.

Upon completing several cycles of energy the consolidation of his cultivation base, Xu Mu could not wait to leave the room, ready to share his joy with his wife.

As he walked out of his bedroom he saw Lan Shijin with some worry lingering in his brows.

He then remembered the person he had sensed just now.

Temporarily suppressing his excitement, Xu Mu asked, “Friend Lan, don’t tell me you still haven’t bought a boat ticket?”

No!

Lan Shijin slightly raised her head, handed Little Ling’er back to Ye Yingying, and then shaking her head with a bitter smile towards Xu Mu.

Since the beginning of spring till now, she had been inquiring about it almost every day in the marketplace, but each time it all ended up in vain.

Either there was no available space on the Flying Boat, or there were simply no Flying Boats scheduled to depart.

Even though she had pulled some strings the results remained the same.

“Lan don’t worry, most probably it’s because people from the major families are migrating in large numbers. Once this busy period is over, there will definitely be availability.” Xu Mu comforted her.

“I hope so…!”

With a sigh, Lan Shijin was not so confident.

The information she had gathered during this time suggested the situation wasn’t as simple as they thought.

“Friend Lan, did you hear any news regarding the Clear River Sword Sect or the Soul Forging Sect in the marketplace today?”

“No! Recently, it seems as if no one has come from outside. People from the Foundation Establishment families also seem to be keeping a low profile, not mentioning a single word about the war between Clear River Sword Sect and Soul Forging Sect!”

This was what worried her. She had initially thought the war would be over soon. But now, it seems like things aren’t that simple.

Amid their conversation, there came a sudden clamor of gongs and drums outside the house.

Xu Mu went out to see what was going on, followed by Lan Shijin and Ye Yingying who was carrying their child, curious about the unexpected commotion.

In the alley, Jia An led several members of the Patrol Team, bearing a gong in his hands, stroking it while advancing forward.

Upon hearing the noise, nearly everyone in the neighborhood opened their doors and came out to see what was happening.

“Fellow Daoists, dear neighbors! 1 have an important matter to announce to you today!”

Jia An, seeing that enough people had gathered, stepped forward and spoke loudly in a formal tone.

“Starting from today, the marketplace will no longer be providing a salary for the Patrol Team, if you wish to continue receiving the Patrol Team’s protection, you will need to contribute the Spirit Stones yourself!”

“Not too much, just one lower-grade Spirit Stone from each household, and if someone from your family has joined the Patrol Team, you can be exempted!”

Of course, this is all on a volunteer basis. If everyone thinks they have the ability to protect themselves, you don’t have to pay!”

“After 1 finish notifying everyone, we will start going from house to house to collect the Spirit Stones. We hope everyone will be prepared!”

After finishing his announcement, Jia An, with a small smile on his face, led his men out of the alleyway and continued to deliver his message in the next alley.

As soon as Jia An weaved his way out of the alley, it exploded in uproar.

“What the hell? The Patrol Team actually wants us to support them ourselves? Isn’t our monthly rent going down the drain!”

“Didn’t they say it was voluntary? Then don’t pay!”

Exactly! We only make a few Spirit Stones a month! After paying the rent we can hardly afford to eat, let alone support them!”

“Do you guys not know what kind of person Fat Jia is? And that Old Ma, if there is real danger, they might be lucky just to survive! They expect us to trust them to protect us? Spit!”

“Hahaha!”

They all lived in the same neighborhood. Though they may not know each other’s roots, they had a clear understanding of Jia An and Ma Rui.

In a real fight, half of the people present could beat both of them to their knees and beg for mercy.

If it weren’t for the fact that they wear the badge of the Patrol Team, nobody would take them seriously.

As someone passed on this opinion, the others followed suit, bursting into hearty laughter.

Especially a few sharp-tongued women took turns to ridicule one after another.

“In my opinion, since the marketplace is not providing a salary anymore, this trash Patrol Team should just be disbanded! It spares us from their annoying presence. When old ma’am throws out a bucket of dirty foot-washing water, they have to wait for them to pass!”

“Exactly! Exactly! 1 even have to avoid them when I’m….”

As the talk progressed, the topic of discussion took a more relaxed turn.

The reaction and words were filled with contempt for the Patrol Team. Based on their attitudes, not a single one of them intended to contribute Spirit Stones to the team.

Although, it wasn’t their fault.

Unlike the Patrol Team of the marketplace where most ‘took advantage of’ their connections, just as in Jia An’s case, the newly formed Patrol Team was a sorry sight among the sorry sights.

Compared to everyone else who didn’t care about this matter, Xu Mu, upon returning to his room, couldn’t help but frown.

Perhaps it was owing to paranoia, or maybe just excessive caution, Xu Mu felt things were not that simple.

Jia An was no fool.

He was very well aware of how he appeared in other people’s eyes.

However, Xu Mu felt Jia An’s response did not seem to be overly concerned, it was as if he had planned everything out.

“Friend Lan, could you please look after Ying Ying for a while? I have to go to the marketplace!”

“Friend Xu, rest assured!”

Lan Shijin probably guessed what Xu Mu wanted to do, and agreed readily with a nod.

With the pills he had refined over the past month, Xu Mu left the alley and quickly headed towards the marketplace. Along the way, he once again encountered the propagandist Jia An, who didn’t notice him.

Upon reaching the marketplace, Xu Mu went straight to the Song Family Pharmacy and found Su Qing.

“Friend Su, do you know about the patrol team issue?”

Xu Mu told Su Qing about what he had heard.

“I’ve heard! Recently, the Sword Sect is preparing to retaliate against the Soul Forging Sect. Many of the powerful families in our marketplace have sent a large number of people in support, so there isn’t enough manpower to manage things, so they’ve delegated the responsibility and let them maintain things on their own!” Su Qing explained.

“Maintain on their own?”

In other words, the patrol team of the slum areas has become an independent organization or force.

Xu Mu had not expected this development.

“And the Spirit Stones, friend Su, do you think 1 should give it or not?”

“Friend Xu should not lack those few Spirit Stones!” Su Qing smiled, “In my opinion, it’s better to lose some wealth to avoid disaster! Although the major families no longer manage the patrol team, there are still many supporters from these families, and supposedly an influential person included among them. There’s no need to offend them over a few Spirit Stones! Moreover, once the war is over, they will definitely be absorbed back into the larger network—a feud now will surely lead to more trouble in the future!”

“Do you think they can win this time?” Xu Mu asked in a low voice.

As for the Spirit Stones, he wasn’t actually too concerned about them.

As Su Qing said, he didn’t lack these few Spirit Stones.

Instead, he was more concerned about the fight between the Clear River Sword Sect and the Soul Forging Sect.

Surprisingly, Clear River Sword Sect is preparing to counterattack the Soul Forging Sect. Honestly, he hadn’t expected this.

A few years ago, the Clear River Sword Sect was so beaten up it shrank back and lost a lot of ground. Frankly, being able to hold out and not lose completely was already quite fortunate.

But now they can actually counterattack.

This turnaround, truly took him by surprise.

“Should be no problem! I heard that the Tianhe Main Sect sent an expert here!

Su Qing’s face lit up with a bright smile, her beauty mark next to her eye accentuated by her raised eyebrow, casting a captivating charm.

If the Clear River Sword Sect wins, that equates to the Song Family winning, and her job and life would remain secure.

“I see!”

A smile also appeared on Xu Mu’s face.

With the Main Sect joining in, even if the situation does not improve, it won’t deteriorate either.

In this way, he can continue to steadily increase his strength.

After exchanging the pills for Spirit Stones and herbs, Xu Mu was about to leave when Su Qing suddenly handed him a communication token.

“Friend Xu, next time you sell pills, you can contact me directly, no need to come to the shop!”

“What is this, friend Su…?”

Was she trying to poach him from the Song Family Pharmacy?

“I will buy at market price!” Su Qing said quietly.

“That’s fine!”

There is no reason not to earn Spirit Stones. Even if there are problems, it has nothing to do with him.

He is just a pill refiner. He can sell the pills he refines to anyone he wants.

He chose the Song Family Pharmacy only because it was a big pharmacy—capable of buying his pills and reputable, so there was no need to worry about being scammed.

Thus, he did not inquire about Su Qing’s high purchase price for his pills.

After leaving the pharmacy, Xu Mu went to see Shopkeeper Tu, sold a small number of Qi Gathering Pills, and tried to find out more about the patrol team and the two major sects.

Unfortunately, though Shopkeeper Tu was indeed a shopkeeper, he knew less than Su Qing, a mere maid. His information was half-true and half speculative.

After making small talk with Shopkeeper Tu, he replenished his supplies at the marketplace and started heading home.

As for the skill jade slips, although the money he has on hand is enough to buy a few more, it’s not necessary. Simply one set of tier three Fire-controlling Skill is enough for him to cultivate for a long time.

If he’s to buy any, it would only be after merging the two Fire-controlling Skills.

Even if he bought it now, he wouldn’t have time to cultivate it.

As for the vestment robe, he did think about it, but eventually decided against it for now.

It was better to keep a low profile for the time being!

When he has more Spirit Stones in the future, he can simply buy a good one.

As he returned to his dwelling, he just happened to encounter Jia An and his party coming to collect the Spirit Stones.

“Friend Xu!”

Jia An greeted him with a smile.

However, compared to before, the smile seemed less sincere and carried a hint of craftiness.

“Friend Jia!”

Seeing as it’s not good to hit someone who’s smiling at you, Xu Mu also courteously returned the gesture before asking, “Did you collect from everyone else, friend Jia? May 1 ask how many people were willing to give?”

“Not a single person was willing to!” Jia An replied with a bitter smile.

He then looked at Xu Mu and asked, “And does friend Xu wish to give?”

“I will give!”

Xu Mu took out a lower-grade Spirit Stone and passed it over.

“Hmm?”

Not just Jia An, but even the people who came with him like Ma Rui, were all shocked.

They obviously did not expect Xu Mu to be so cooperative.

However, after his surprise, Jia An did not reach out to accept but instead shook his head.

“Friend Xu, you’re different from the others!.. For others, it is one Spirit Stone; for you, it must be two!”