Chao Xiangzi was startled, and his heart praised his fellow Daoist’s noble character even more.
“I don’t know how to address you, fellow Daoist. I acknowledge this life-saving grace and will surely repay this great kindness with all that I have. You need not be so humble; I have no covetous designs on the spirit stone vein. However, seeing as you do not appear to have a芥子囊 (jièzǐ náng) for storing spirit stones, I happen to have a spare. I shall gift it to you for the convenience of carrying items.”
With that, Chao Xiangzi unclasped a ring and handed it to Ye Ju.
Ye Ju blankly accepted the ring, thinking, *Is it what I think it is? Like the portable spatial storage in cultivation novels, the Qiankun Bag or something similar. How badly I want one, should I accept it or not? My treasures are increasing, and I’m worrying about not having anything to store them in. Xiaobai’s spiritual quality space is always being spat out of its mouth by me, and Ye Ju finds it disgusting, with all the slobber.*
Chao Xiangzi explained in detail how to recognize the ring’s space as one’s own and how to use it. After Ye Ju bonded with the ring, she swept it with her spiritual sense and discovered that many of the spirit herbs inside were familiar, seeming to grow everywhere on the island. She realized the efficacy of those spirit herbs! What was unfamiliar were the stones of different colors imbued with spiritual power. She knew these were the commonly used currency in the cultivation world, spirit stones. She found that it was several thousand cubic units large, capable of holding many things, even this boat.
Ye Ju felt she had profited greatly. Thinking that she could have healed his injuries but deliberately did not, she felt a little guilty.
“My name is Ye Ju. Chao fellow Daoist, you don’t need to be so polite. Since you’ve gifted me this spatial ring, I shall accept it. We’ll exchange one item for another, and consider ourselves clear. There’s no need to speak further of this life-saving grace.” Ye Ju turned and went back to the cabin to fetch a purple bamboo pot, filled it with spirit spring water, and handed it to Chao Xiangzi.
“This water can heal your injuries. Chao fellow Daoist, please accept it. Let’s just be friends, no need to discuss anything else.”
Chao Xiangzi repeatedly waved his hands in refusal. Ye Ju finally became impatient and directly stuffed it into his hand. She then turned away, happily and at ease, and packed all the provisions on her boat into the spatial ring. Food, drinks, even the spirit spring water in the large water缸 (gāng)—everything was stored in the spatial ring.
*It’s a joke. The spirit spring water is diminishing the more I use it outside the island. Moreover, there’s an outsider on the boat.*
Xiaobai had already finished preparing all the fish at the stern of the boat, and Ye Ju also felt hungry, so she began to cook. With an extra person, Ye Ju made a large portion. She also took out the dried purple bamboo shoots she had sun-dried earlier to make soup. It had been days since she had eaten any vegetables, and Ye Ju couldn’t stand it anymore. Grilled fish, grilled squid segments, and fruit tea were all prepared. She had to eat more if she wanted to go mining after eating.
Meanwhile, Chao Xiangzi held the purple bamboo pot and was shocked in his heart. *Could this be the legendary purple bamboo used for top-tier artifact refining?*
He opened the bamboo stopper, and a dense spiritual energy rushed towards him. Chao Xiangzi, startled, quickly put the stopper back. *Who exactly is fellow Daoist Ye? The treasures she casually gives away are rarely found in the world.*
Half an hour later, Ye Ju and Xiaobai had arranged food and drinks all over the stone table. Seeing Chao Xiangzi still stunned and dazed, Ye Ju’s heart tightened. *Could he be going back on his word?*
“Chao fellow Daoist, what’s wrong? Are you going back on your word? That won’t do. Once an exchange is made, one cannot be capricious!” Ye Ju’s tone carried a slight warning.
“Ye fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. I feel that what you’ve given me is too precious, and I am unworthy of accepting it! This pot is made of purple bamboo. Fellow Daoist Ye may not know, but purple bamboo is almost extinct on the Tianchen Continent and is a material for top-tier artifact refining. Therefore, this item and the spirit water it contains are incredibly precious. I am unworthy of accepting it, truly unworthy…” Chao Xiangzi hastily explained.
“Is that so? Chao fellow Daoist, take a look at what your feet are treading upon?” Ye Ju wanted to boastfully tell him that she had an entire purple bamboo forest.
Chao Xiangzi inexplicably looked around and suddenly widened his eyes in astonishment. He wasn’t mistaken; the entire boat was made of purple bamboo, and this purple bamboo was tens of thousands of years old!
“This… this…” Chao Xiangzi was already stammering with astonishment.
“That’s good. Since the exchange has been made, there’s no need to say more.” Ye Ju found this person particularly annoying. She interrupted Chao Xiangzi again.
“Please sit, Chao fellow Daoist. The food on the boat is simple; please forgive the lack of refinement.” Ye Ju invited Chao fellow Daoist to sit down for breakfast.
Xiaobai had also transformed into a petite萝莉 (luólì), sitting beside Ye Ju. Chao Xiangzi was slightly surprised, not expecting that the white fox that had been staring at him all morning could already transform. Moreover, this white fox, transformed into a little girl, possessed innate charm and radiated spiritual energy. Given time, she would surely be overwhelmingly beautiful. He became even more curious about which sect’s reclusive immortal cultivation great family fellow Daoist Ye belonged to. At such a young age, she already had such a spiritual pet, her foundation was so deep that even the Chao Tian Sect couldn’t compare. Although he was the Young Master of the Chao Tian Sect and possessed top-tier cultivation resources, compared to fellow Daoist Ye, he felt ashamed!
Before Chao Xiangzi picked up the first bite with his purple bamboo bowl and chopsticks, he had already become very composed. After all, owning an entire boat made of ten-thousand-year-old purple bamboo made a mere cup or plate unremarkable. However, when the food entered his mouth, a dense spiritual energy directly entered his dantian, causing him to lose his composure. The spiritual power contained in the food made him unable to help but speed up his pace of picking up dishes. He had been abstaining from grains for a long time. He felt he had never eaten such delicious food.
Ye Ju watched Chao Xiangzi go from a reserved and dignified gentleman to a gluttonous eater in less than a breath. She secretly sighed, *Indeed, Chinese cuisine can conquer the world!*
She placed the fish from another bamboo pot aside; this was for Xiaomo. Xiaomo had entered seclusion after coming up from the seabed and had not yet woken up. As Ye Ju thought of Xiaomo, she immediately saw Xiaomo’s giant head emerge from the sea surface. Skillfully, it shrunk its body, climbed onto the deck, and waited for Ye Ju to feed it. After finishing its portion, it turned and dived back into the sea.
From Xiaomo’s head emerging to finishing its meal, Chao Xiangzi had already become calm and self-possessed. When fighting sea monsters in the depths, he knew there was another sea beast that fought tacitly with the white fox. Seeing such harmonious phenomena now, he understood. This was fellow Daoist Ye’s other spiritual pet. The ability to possess two battle pets simultaneously indicated fellow Daoist Ye’s strength.
After eating, Xiaobai tidied up obediently. Ye Ju poured fruit tea and drank with Chao Xiangzi.
“Chao fellow Daoist, I have no experience with spirit stone veins and would like to ask for your help. After the task is completed, how about we split it three-seven?”
Ye Ju knew nothing about spirit stone veins and how to excavate them. Giving up some profit was still worthwhile to gain a miner. At this moment, Ye Ju already regarded Chao Xiangzi as a miner, offering a share as if it were an employment relationship, not incurring any personal debt.
“Ye fellow Daoist, you are too kind. I have not yet repaid the great life-saving grace. This is a small matter, and I will certainly help. I do not want any share of the spirit stones.” Chao Xiangzi stood up and bowed respectfully to Ye Ju, his words sincere.
Although Chao Xiangzi was also heading towards the spirit stone vein, he hadn’t expected it to be so dangerous, with a demon saint-level sea beast guarding it, almost costing him his life. Not to mention obtaining the vein, if it hadn’t been for the arrival of fellow Daoist Ye and others, he would have had almost no chance of survival. If he didn’t repay this great kindness, the cycle of karma would affect his Dao heart. Now that fellow Daoist Ye had proactively asked for his assistance, how could he ask for compensation?