Fifteen days ago, Author: Pig Heart Shrimp
Chapter 19: Only through Cultivation, Essence of Heaven Depleted
First Move of the Jade Clear Sword Art: Frost Essence
Gu Wen pointed towards the flickering candle, a faintly curved sword qi dripped from his fingertip, and a gust of wind blew out the candle flame.
Looking around and seeing no one, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, he became furious.
If the Jade Sword had consciousness, he would definitely scold it: Do you, a broken sword technique, also want to compete with the Immortal Heart Technique?
The Jade Clear Sword Art consists of nine moves.
One must comprehend the Jade Clear Sword Intent upon entry, and then progress through one move per celestial realm.
Whether it is a standard offering of the Three Pure Daoist Sects or the profound heritage of a top-tier Immortal Sect, the sword manual also contains many insights and profound understandings.
As recorded inside, the lethality of each move of the Jade Clear Sword Art increases exponentially, with instances of on-the-spot comprehension of sword techniques reversing the situation.
The first move of the Jade Clear Sword Art, Frost Essence, is described as follows: the sword emits frost essence, covering a hundred miles with frost.
He didn't aim for covering a hundred miles with frost, ten meters would suffice if it could cut down a person.
But it couldn't even blow out a candle, and the sword intent curved even more like a split hair!
Refund!
Gu Wen exhaled a breath, his years of experience in trials and tribulations allowing him to calm down, analyze the problem, and seek practical confirmation.
Yu Hua wouldn't deceive himself.
If there were no issues with the Jade Clear Sword Art, then the problem likely lay with him.
Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, and he looked towards the beginning of the Jade Clear Sword Art, the method of nurturing sword intent.
Initially obscure and profound, the sword intent becomes clear through nine celestial realms...
Nurturing the sword, honing the sword, breaking the sword... such a cycle nurtures the sword intent until piercing through the clouds with just the sword intent is considered mastery.
The focus of the Jade Clear Sword Art lies in nurturing the sword.
Although he had comprehended the first move of the sword technique, it didn't mean Gu Wen could wield it.
His sword intent remained fragile, like a strand of hair.
Destiny is not bestowed but understood through enlightenment, allowing him to comprehend the technique.
While the Immortal Heart Technique accelerates cultivation through higher comprehension, his cultivation wouldn't instantly gain hundreds of years of power, just like the sword technique.
So, he still had to practice on his own?
It seems this peerless genius needs to postpone his progress.
Gu Wen tugged at the corner of his mouth, seeing that it wasn't fully bright outside yet, he calmed his mind and diligently practiced with eyes closed.
From the crowing of roosters to the bustling noise, then back to peaceful noon, followed by silence.
Sitting in meditation amidst the bustling city, Gu Wen remained unmoved, only responding to a few visitors.
But as a prominent merchant standing at the top of Long Bridge, there was hardly anything that required his attention, except for matters summoned by the Royal Palace, which could be handled by Jiang Fugui.
Cultivation, only through cultivation can one achieve true enlightenment.
Wealth can be exhausted, status can be abandoned, all for the sake of becoming an immortal!
-
In the Wang Residence, a graceful young man stood outside the courtyard, looking melancholic.
He casually plucked a pear blossom, sniffed it, and gazed at the courtyard.
His companion, Feng Xiang, wiped tears from his face, deeply moved by his master's affection for a woman.
Such deep affection from a prince towards a woman was considered a rare occurrence in the world.
Of course, commoners were more interested in knowing what kind of celestial being could captivate a prince's heart.
A donkey swaggered out from inside, its movements resembling those of a human.
The people inside the Wang Residence were accustomed to this sight, and many even referred to it as the Grand Immortal.
It was not uncommon for commoners to attribute divine qualities to certain animals, and the donkey was happy to be called the Grand Immortal, providing entertainment for others.
Another source of entertainment came from Zhao Feng.
Approaching Zhao Feng, the donkey bowed respectfully and greeted, "Greetings, senior."
Zhao Feng knew the donkey was no ordinary mount; it was more formidable than the so-called Grand Immortal in the Wang Residence, even on par with his own father.
The donkey said, "Young man, waiting here every day is not a good habit."
Zhao Feng humbly asked, "Please enlighten me, senior."
"Our sect's celestial maiden has a significant background, with numerous suitors within the sect, many of them outstanding cultivators." After a pause, the donkey received some pills brought by Zhao Feng before continuing, "Looks are not the priority for cultivators; striving for longevity is paramount. Besides, Yuhua enjoys music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You can cater to her interests, but this girl rarely accepts gifts from outsiders."
Understanding his cue, Zhao Feng replied, "In the future, I will send more elixirs and artworks to you, senior."
"Well said."
The donkey grinned, its teeth white and cold, as if capable of biting through steel.
It then leisurely walked back into the courtyard, leaving Zhao Feng hesitant.
After a few steps, he asked, "Senior... could you convey my regards to Fairy Yuhua?"
Glancing back, the donkey replied, "That will cost you extra."
"Understood."
Zhao Feng reluctantly took out another pill.
The donkey conducted business with money, and upon returning to the courtyard, it saw Yuhua climbing over the wall.
Before it could respond, she, with a tired expression, headed back inside.
While cultivation techniques could alleviate fatigue and replace sleep, Yuhua had been assisting Gu Wen in cultivation day and night, which not only failed to alleviate her fatigue but also exacerbated it.
"Yuhua, the young master from the Zhao family is looking for you."
"Tell him to wait until I wake up in the afternoon."
"But he waited for you all night. He is, after all, the son of a True Immortal. We also need to leverage the Zhao family's power to find the elixir of immortality..."
Bang!
Yuhua closed the door, her brows furrowed.
The donkey had accepted bribes multiple times, and the True Immortal and the Zhao family were in constant dealings, without her involvement.
Could these insects really help the Ancestor reverse life and death?
-
One month passed uneventfully, and on the thirteenth day of the fourth month, the Lesser Fullness.
Drizzling rain persisted, rivers swelled, and the city's residents worshipped the God of Chariots, offering a cup of clean water during the ceremony, sprinkling it into rivers, lakes, or dry fields, praying for abundant water sources.
Gu Wen took over the weaving factory of the Wang Residence, which had been burnt during the recent unrest.
Fortunately, most of the weaving machines were intact; only manpower and materials were lacking.
The former was not an issue as women in this era were skilled in weaving.
With a simple call, he could gather a large number of refugees, paying them half wages and providing ample food.
Currently, the most abundant resource in Bianjing was unemployed individuals.
By assembling them at extremely low costs, one could make money in various ways.
However, one had to deal with the wolves in official attire, from high-ranking officials to lowly clerks, all ready to take a bite.
Many times, the money earned was insufficient to grease the wheels of relationships.
Thus, every prominent merchant relied on a benefactor.
Relying on the Wang Residence, no one would trouble Gu Wen.
Making money to buy medicine was simple... or so it seemed.
Jiang Fugui entered from outside and whispered to Gu Wen, "Master, there's a problem. We can't collect enough silk."
“Why?”
“There's a war going on. The Ze Prefecture is being plundered by barbarian cavalry. The local troops are confined to the city and dare not engage in battle. Three thousand barbarian riders are rampaging five hundred miles, to the extent that even the official roads are deserted. Now, we can only transport silk via the southern route, shipping it along the Gan River to Bianjing.”
"All the excessive taxes have fattened the generals' bellies."
Disappointed, Gu Wen waved his hand and left the weaving factory in a carriage.
He knew the factory couldn't be reopened.
He had hoped to make a profit by selling the new silk on the market.
Currently, the only way to make money was...
The carriage moved steadily, and Jiang Fugui, sitting beside him, kept glancing at Gu Wen.
His face showed hesitation as he spoke, "Master, the major grain merchants want you to officiate a deal. I know you dislike getting involved in such matters, but this time they're offering three thousand taels."
In the business world, it was common for major deals to be officiated by respected figures in the industry.
Every year of famine was a good opportunity to make money.
When grain prices rose, officials were happy to receive bribes, grain merchants made a fortune, large households borrowed and lent, and the market thrived.
As for their water house, or rather, Master Wen as one of the Long Bridge's officials, perhaps he didn't make the most money, but he certainly had the most influence.
Every business needed water, so it was impossible not to rely on him.
"I won't go."
Gu Wen's gaze remained steady, his tone calm without a hint of hesitation.
Although Jiang Fugui was somewhat reluctant, the money would be earned by someone else if not by Gu Wen.
After all, Gu Wen was the master.
"Riches, we cannot earn some of them, and besides making money, there are greater surprises waiting for us to deal with."
Rubbing the calluses on his palms, Gu Wen looked at the flowing refugees outside the window.
Bianjing strictly controlled the influx of people, and refugees couldn't enter the city.
They were all originally from Bianjing, yet even the Emperor's feet could be forced to wander without a home.
What was happening outside?
"During this time, bring all your family members to my residence."
Jiang Fugui shivered, also a clever man, and cautiously asked, "Master, do you think there will be another outbreak of civil unrest?"
"It's certain."
Back at the residence.
Before Gu Wen's seat had even warmed up, a team of officials knocked on the door.
The leader held a document, arrogantly reciting, "The Holy Emperor reigns, bringing peace to the world, and the people live in harmony. However, the northern barbarians have defied the imperial might, plundering our Great Gan territory. The court intends to drive out the Tartars, even marching north to subdue them, requiring funds and provisions to train and deploy troops to expel the barbarians, burdening the people of Bianjing. This year, the taxes on sales, labor, customs, and street stalls will be increased by one percent."
"Over the past twenty years, all unpaid taxes, whether from large households or commoners, must be collected and settled."
Last year's taxes had already been paid, and the taxes for the previous year as well.
Now they wanted more? Did the Zhao family truly wish to live long, why not collect the money owed from the past hundred years?
Gu Wen cursed inwardly, then obediently paid a total of one thousand taels in taxes.
With a deposit of six thousand five hundred taels, deducting one thousand taels for excessive taxes, he was left with five thousand five hundred taels.
This was only the tax for his mansion and all the servants; if the water house in Long Bridge were included, tens of thousands of taels would not be enough.
Fortunately, he didn't have to pay taxes with the backing of the Wang Residence's water house.
Even for Gu Wen, a thousand taels was not a small sum.
After a year, he could only keep three thousand taels in hand.
The rest of the hundreds of thousands of taels went to Zhao Feng, and the so-called wealthy merchants were not even half as wealthy as literati.
He had been spending money like water recently, not because he earned so much on ordinary days, but because Gu Wen knew that the returns from investing in cultivation would be multiplied a thousandfold.
Damn the Zhao family, endure!
The celebration of the bountiful harvest during Lesser Fullness came to an abrupt halt.
Following the advancement of the tax collection teams, the wailing continued until nightfall, and even as summer approached, the cold wind continued to howl.
Gu Wen no longer ventured outside, immersing himself in cultivation within the depths of his residence, turning a deaf ear to external affairs.
In this world, he could only safeguard himself.