Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 97 Settlement
afterwards.

It was already noon.

Zhou Hong leaned lazily against Chen Li's chest, her watery phoenix eyes looking at her man, and said softly, "I haven't seen any other rogue cultivators in Green River Village possess top-grade magic artifacts. They must be very expensive. You don't need to buy them for me anymore!"

"It wasn't that expensive, only 25 mid-grade spirit stones. Besides, you can't skimp on protective items like this; you have to buy it no matter how much money you have!" Chen Li said, his hand moving up and down repeatedly.
"Although this place looks safe, there's bound to be plenty of darkness lurking in the shadows, so we still need to be careful."

Compared to Green River Lane, the situation here is even more complicated.

The Longevity Sect, Foundation Establishment families, and various other outside forces are all mixed together... Although the war has ended, no one can predict what the future holds.

However, he would rather stay here than remain on the sinking ship that was Green River Inn.

I just hope for a few years of peace.

Let's wait until he... reaches the Foundation Establishment stage.

Just then he heard familiar footsteps approaching: "Zhang Yan should be looking for me. You should continue to rest!"

Chen Li had no choice but to get dressed, tidy himself up, and take a picture of himself with a cleaning talisman to remove the odor before opening the door and coming out to greet them.

Zhang Yan came over with a worried expression: "Fellow Daoist Chen, you're up. I just went out to inquire, and the rent in Luanluo City is so expensive!"

Chen Li asked, "How much is the rent?"

"To live in Luanluo City, you have to pay one mid-grade spirit stone for rent every year. Even a house at the foot of the mountain costs thirty low-grade spirit stones a year!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Judging from Zhang Yan's tone and expression, he thought it would be extremely expensive.

Not counting the magical artifacts he hasn't used yet, he still has 145 mid-grade spirit stones left, enough to live for over a hundred years.

"This is Luanluo City after all, a first-tier spiritual land. The rent is acceptable. You're a talisman master, surely you have some money on hand?"

“I do have some savings, but the price of talismans here is really too low. I’ve inquired, and a Lightness Talisman can only be sold for one low-grade spirit stone. Life is going to be tough from now on,” Zhang Yan sighed.

Chen Li, who is quite wealthy and skilled at drawing high-value amulets, also sighed, "Yes, there are just too many competitors here."

The two couldn't help but exchange a glance.

……

After lunch.

Zhao Lin then invited the manager in charge of renting houses in Luanluo City.

"You want to rent a place? Then you've come at a good time." Seeing that someone wanted to rent a place, the elderly manager smiled broadly: "In the past, if you wanted to settle down here, there weren't many houses to choose from."

Over the past year, there was first the attack by the three major sects in the surrounding area, the fall of the Golden Core Ancestor, and then a rebellion.

Luanluo City has become quite desolate, and many rogue cultivators have fled the place.

This has resulted in a large number of vacant rooms.

"Then I'll trouble Manager Luo to make the trip and show us around!" Chen Li took out a talisman, stuffed it into the other party's hand, and cupped his hands in thanks.

"Of course, of course!" Manager Luo glanced at it, then quickly stuffed it into his sleeve pocket, his smile widening.
"I like sensible people. Although Luanluo City is a first-level spiritual energy place, even within the first level, the spiritual energy varies in density. Of course, many good locations have long been occupied by the Foundation Establishment families in the city, but there are still some left. I don't usually tell people about them."

Everyone showed joy.

Next, the old steward led the group to see the house.

Unlike the dilapidated shantytowns of Green River Lane, the houses here are of a better quality, though this is only relatively speaking. Most of the houses are only slightly better, lacking both antique charm and ornate carvings.

It can only be described as simple.

However, there is one good thing.

They all occupy a considerable area.

Each household has a yard of about half an acre, and the distance between households ranges from five or six meters to more than ten meters.

It would make future developers weep.

This is already much more crowded than the shantytowns of Green River Lane.

"Manager Luo, you're showing houses to people again?"

"Yes, yes, Fellow Daoist Wang, are you getting ready to go out?"

"I've made an appointment with Fellow Daoist Zhang to go on a journey!"

"We need to be careful; things haven't been peaceful lately."

The old steward walked through the streets and alleys, and people greeted him from time to time. He kept bowing and never stopped. Sometimes he would stop and chat with acquaintances for a minute or two. Chen Li and the others had no choice but to wait patiently.

After one hour.

The old steward finally stopped.

"This is the place! This is a wonderful spot. The Spirit Stream is just steps away. Do you know where the Spirit Stream flows from? It comes from a third-tier Spirit Stream. Since this house is right next to the stream, the spiritual energy here is naturally much richer than elsewhere!" the old steward said with a smile.
"You can all judge for yourselves whether my words are false."

Chen Li circulated his cultivation technique and indeed felt it become slightly more intense, so he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Steward Luo. Then I'll stay here."

There are quite a few empty houses in this area.

There are many options to choose from.

Chen Li picked out a set that suited his needs in all aspects and then paid the spirit stones.

The old steward took out a pen and ledger to register the information, then took out a token of unknown material, wrote down the house address and the rental period, and handed it to Chen Li, muttering to himself:

"You have to keep this safe. If you lose it, you have to replace it right away. Sigh, some people just like to take advantage of loopholes. They see many empty rooms and secretly move in. The checks have been strict lately, so it will be troublesome if they can't produce it during the inspection."

Chen Li took the token, glanced at it, and then, using his sleeve as a cover, put it into his storage bag.

"What about you lot? Has anyone taken a liking to any of them?" the old steward asked, looking at the others.

"I'll choose that one!" Zhang Yan said. Unfortunately, there were no vacant houses on either side, so he had to choose a house nearby. Fortunately, it was only a few houses away, just a few steps away.

Zhao Lin, Gu Mengqing, and the others didn't have many spirit stones, but they gritted their teeth and reluctantly handed over the spirit stones to settle down nearby. They weren't old yet and still had aspirations for their future paths.

This kind of first-tier spiritual land is undoubtedly of great benefit to cultivation.

I really don't want to live at the foot of the mountain and associate with down-on-his-luck monks.

Next, the group went home.

……

"Will we be living here from now on?"

The room was covered in a thick layer of dust and was a mess, with various pieces of furniture lying haphazardly on the floor, but the two were still very excited.

"Yes, this will be our new home from now on!" Chen Li exclaimed.

"It feels like a dream. This is Luanluo City, the location of the Longevity Sect. I thought I would stay in Green River Village for the rest of my life," Zhou Hong murmured.

Chen Li gently hugged Zhou Hong: "Don't worry, things will definitely get better and better in the future."

"Mmm!" Zhou Hong said, nestled in Chen Li's arms.

Chen Li and Zhou Hong didn't go anywhere that afternoon.

All I did was tidy up the house.

During this period, dozens of cleaning talismans were used up, and all the stock was exhausted. The dust swept up could fill several dustpans. Looking at the cleaned and brand-new house, Chen Li felt a heartfelt sense of satisfaction.

As evening fell, Chen Li, carrying a gift (a directional talisman), visited his neighbors and residents in the vicinity, settling down in the area. He had just returned home.

Zhang Yan arrived at the door carrying a thick stack of quilts.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you haven't bought your bedding yet, have you? I happen to have some extra!"

"I was planning to make do for the night and buy more tomorrow, but I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Zhang to deliver it personally. I won't thank you enough. How much did you pay for it? I'll give you the money." Chen Li said quickly.

“No need, no need, it’s not worth much. The worldly things here are very cheap. I bought three sets for just one or two taels of gold, and I even got change. I just need to go to the foot of the mountain to buy them,” Zhang Yan said. Compared to Green River Lane, the prices here are really cheap.

Even talismans are cheap.

"Aren't they sold in the city?" Chen Li took the bedding and mattress, handed it to Zhou Hong, and asked Zhang Yan.

"Sigh, I've inquired about it. They say you have to pay a stall fee of one low-grade spirit stone to set up a stall here. I've never even heard of such a stall fee. Where would these vendors selling worldly goods get that much money to pay?" Zhang Yan sighed.

Living in Luanluo City is no easy feat.

They need money everywhere.

It's so hard.

From now on, we'll have to live frugally, otherwise we'll be unable to make ends meet.

“That’s a bit of a hassle… By the way, I’m running low on talisman skins and I was just about to buy some. When do you have any in stock?” Chen Li asked.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan's spirits lifted: "How many do you want?"

Chen Li hadn't bought any talisman skins from him for a long time.

This extra income, which used to be dispensable, has now become indispensable.

"Let's round it up to six hundred," Chen Li said.

“I can’t produce that many at once. If you’re not in a hurry, I can give you 150 first, and then give you the rest in half a month!” Zhang Yan continued to explain.
“Those animal hides were too heavy, so I left them all in Green River Workshop. I don’t have a single half-finished animal hide on hand right now. I need to buy and make them again, which will take some time.”

“No problem,” Chen Li said.

"Then I'll bring it to you right now."

"No need to be in such a hurry."

"It's alright, it's just a few steps."

No matter how much Chen Li tried to persuade him, Zhang Yan left in a hurry and soon brought the talisman back.

……

night.

The tiny flame of the oil lamp flickered and danced.

Chen Li picked up a book titled "Common Techniques for the Qi Refining Stage of the Longevity Sect" and flipped through it page by page.

First-tier, first-level cleansing technique;
First-order, first-level far-seeing technique;
First-tier, first-level insect repellent technique;
First-tier, first-level throwing technique;
First-tier, second-level beast-taming technique;
First- and second-level Earth Hearing Technique;
Tier 1, Level 3 Plague Repelling Technique;
Tier 1, Level 3 Flash Spell;
A first-tier, fourth-level exorcism spell;
A level 4, tier 1 fireball spell;
A first-tier, fifth-level technique for seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune;
A level 5, first-tier Qi observation technique;
A level 6, first-tier disease-curing technique;
Level 6, Tier 1 Lightness Technique;
First-tier, seventh-level Wind Control Technique;
A level 7, first-tier protective technique;
"There are so many magical arts in the world!" Chen Li's scalp tingled and his head throbbed with pain.

Fortunately, he didn't intend to learn everything.

I simply don't have the energy or time for that.

Moreover, quality is worse than quantity.

After much deliberation, Chen Li finally chose the first-tier level 3 Flash Spell, the first-tier level 6 Healing Spell, the first-tier level 7 Wind Control Spell, and the first-tier level 7 Body Protection Spell as his next targets.

The techniques for treating diseases, like those for stopping bleeding, are something that can be learned and practiced until mastered; there is no intention to delve deeper into them.

I plan to refine my skills in Flash, Wind Control, and Body Protection.

Flash: Creates a bright flash of light.

When used well, it can decide a battle, especially for someone like him who primarily engages in close combat; it is a powerful weapon on the battlefield.

Wind Control Technique: Allows you to fly by riding the wind, which can be used to escape.

Self-defense techniques go without saying.

There are talisman versions of amulets, but the power of magic is undoubtedly greater than that of talismans. Although it cannot compare to the Golden Light Talisman, once you reach the expert level, its power should be able to surpass that of the Golden Light Talisman.

"Sigh, I'll learn slowly. I'll start with Flash spell."

……

On his first night cultivating in Luanluo City, Chen Li truly experienced what a first-tier spiritual land was like.

When meditating and practicing Qi cultivation, a large amount of wisps of spiritual energy surges into the body. It is almost effortless to absorb them actively. With each cycle of Qi circulation, the spiritual energy seems to increase slightly.

He opened his eyes the next morning.

A hint of joy appeared on his face.

"Perhaps it won't even take half a year to advance to the eighth level of Qi Refining."

……

Early in the morning, Chen Li and Zhou Hong went out to do a big shopping trip. All the original furniture in the house was still usable, but a lot of pots and pans were broken and needed to be replaced. In addition, daily necessities such as oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar also needed to be purchased again.

Finally, there was food.

Besides second-tier monster meat, there was nothing else at home; we couldn't keep eating monster meat all the time.

We also need to adjust the flavor.

For the past two weeks, I've been eating dried meat every day.

He's almost tired of eating it.

After asking passersby for directions, the two headed straight for the Longevity Sect's spirit rice shop.

"Low-grade spirit rice costs ten catties for one grain of low-grade spirit rice, and medium-grade spirit rice costs three catties for one grain of low-grade spirit rice. How much do you need?" the shopkeeper of the spirit rice shop quoted.

The Longevity Sect is fairly fair.

Even in Green River Village, low-grade spirit rice has the same price; it should be priced uniformly throughout the entire Longevity Domain.

"Give me one hundred catties of mid-grade spirit rice!"

After paying, Chen Li went to a secluded spot and put the rice bag into his spatial bag.

The things we need to buy next are all mundane items, so we can only buy them at the foot of the mountain.

For example, the shantytown of Yuluhefang.

At the foot of the mountain lies the settlement of low- to mid-level independent cultivators. Tens of thousands of cultivators have gathered here to build houses and settle down, making it even more lively than Luanluo City. Everywhere is filled with the atmosphere of daily life, and Chen Li and Zhou Hong both felt a sense of familiarity upon arriving here.

Upon arriving at the trading area, one finds stalls everywhere.

The items traded are mostly worldly goods, from small needles and thread to various furniture; everything that exists in the secular world can be found here, even snacks and treats.

These stall owners are no ordinary people; they are mostly cultivators who have no hope of finding a path to enlightenment. They do not reside here but source their goods from the nearby secular world and then sell them here, working hard every day to earn a meager living.

Come to think of it, how could an ordinary person dare to do business here?

Prices here are indeed much cheaper than in Green River Lane. Chen Li bought everything he needed, spending a total of five taels of gold and receiving two taels of silver in change. These stall owners probably couldn't even earn a single low-grade spirit stone a month.

However, although these people look down on themselves, it depends on who they are compared to and where they are. If they returned to the mortal world, they would still be immortal cultivators, probably with three wives and four concubines, a large number of servants, and living a more comfortable life than most rogue cultivators.

(End of this chapter)