Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 5: The Water-Breaking Turtle
"Brother Huo, this is the Xishui Spirit Turtle that I raised. Tuoyuan, come and say hello to the two elder brothers."

In the simple courtyard, Fang Jingxuan brought Wei Tong and Huo Cang to Tuoyuan's animal pen.

At this time, Wei Tong's face looked a little unnatural, but Huo Cang was in high spirits.

He stepped forward to check on Tuo Yuan's situation, then said to Fang Jingxuan:

"Brother Jingxuan, can I try it out?"

After hearing this, Fang Jingxuan felt a little angry. A companion beast is the most precious thing for a cultivator, just like his own wife. You said you want to touch it?
Seeing Fang Jingxuan's strange expression, Wei Tong suddenly whispered to Fang Jingxuan:

"Brother Fang, promise him that Brother Huo comes from a family of beastmasters, and his greatest interest is studying rare spirit beasts. Don't worry, your spirit beast will not be harmed, and there will be some benefits afterwards."

After Wei Tong finished speaking, Fang Jingxuan's heart moved, Oh, the Beast Taming Family?

This is not something that an ordinary cultivation family can call themselves. Taming beasts is a very expensive skill, and it is not something that a family with insufficient strength can call themselves by raising a few spiritual beasts.

At the very least, there must be a large-scale zoo and hunting ground; orderly inherited knowledge on cultivating spirit beasts and the techniques for taming spirit beasts; and a large number of cultivators.

If Huo Cang was born into a beast taming family, he would really look down on his Tuo Yuan. After all, Tuo Yuan was not a special species with ancestral bloodline, but grew so fast through his innate talent.

In that case, in order to get Huo Cang to give me some benefits, I have to inconvenience you, old friend.

"Ahem, since Brother Huo has spoken, there's no harm in taking action."

With Fang Jingxuan's promise, Huo Cang went in with great interest to check Tuo Yuan's physical condition. Tuo Yuan also did not do anything extreme under Fang Jingxuan's comfort.

After a moment, the excitement on Huo Cang's face faded. It was obvious that he had realized that Tuoyuan's bloodline was inferior and was just the most common water-reflecting turtle species.

"Brother Huo, what do you think? Is Tuoyuan a species with rich blood? Could it be that I really found a good deal?"

The expression on Fang Jingxuan's face was more urgent than Huo Cang's. Life is like a play, it all depends on your acting skills.

Huo Cang shook his head and said:

"Your Xishui Spirit Turtle is just an ordinary species. It doesn't look like it was forcibly induced by evil magic, and its body is also very healthy.

However, this spirit beast has grown rapidly in just three months. Could it be that Brother Jingxuan has some extraordinary magic skills?"

Huo Cang narrowed his eyes slightly, which made Fang Jingxuan more alert.

Obviously, Huo Cang didn't find anything unusual in Tuo Yuan, so he could only point the finger at himself.

However, Fang Jingxuan had considered this problem before and had already come up with a solution.

Even if it wasn't Huo Cang who came today, but any other cultivator, as long as he was willing to be reasonable, Fang Jingxuan wouldn't be too worried.

"Brother Huo, you're joking. I'm just a first-level casual cultivator, making a living by ferrying passengers. How could I possibly have any extraordinary skills in taming beasts?

If there really was one, I would have applied for the position of guest official at the Ning family long ago. Wouldn't that be more pleasant than taking risks every day, being exposed to the wind and rain?"

After saying this, Huo Cang nodded slightly. Just as Fang Jingxuan himself said, if one really had the ability to taming beasts, he could go to the Ning family as a guest official. His life there would be a hundred times more comfortable than Fang Jingxuan's current one.

The Ning family is the most powerful among the vassal families of the Danding Sect. There are as many as five foundation-building cultivators among them. Moreover, the Ning family started out as a beast tamer, and with the addition of spirit beasts, they can at least mobilize ten foundation-building warriors.

Being their guest means that he can walk freely in the territory of Danding Sect. The resources provided by the Ning family can at least make Fang Jingxuan no longer worry about the middle stage of Qi Refining.

"Ever since my master passed away, I've been without food and clothing. Later, I had to rely on Brother Wei to make a living at Hongyefang. If I really had some extraordinary skills in taming beasts, I wouldn't be living such a miserable life."

Fang Jingxuan began to play the victim. Huo Cang looked at Wei Tong, and Wei Tong nodded, indicating that what Fang Jingxuan said was true.

"As for the rapid growth of Tuoyuan, I will not hide it from you two brothers. You know, I ferry passengers from Hongyefang Market to Qinghefang, a distance of 1,800 miles, and I encountered many dangerous situations along the way.

Once, I sensed danger and asked Tuoyuan to hide in the depths of the Qing River. There, I found a 'ox-horn pomfret' stuck in a cave, so I caught it.

I also know the principle of not showing off one's wealth, so I didn't tell anyone. I just cut up this 'ox-horn pomfret' and fed it to Tuoyuan. That's why Tuoyuan grew so quickly."

After saying this, Huo Cang looked a little disappointed. It was a clichéd story, but it was incredibly true. "Hey, brother, that 'Oxhorn Pomfret' is a first-grade, mid-grade spiritual fish. Eating it is very beneficial to a cultivator's physique. Why don't you take it yourself? You know, your body is the foundation."

Wei Tong's face was full of regret. The 'Ox-Horn Pomfret' was hard to come by. As a spiritual fish, it was very valuable. If it were to be sold, it would cost at least three hundred low-grade spiritual stones, and there was no demand for it.

"Hehe, I know the magical effect of the 'Oxhorn Pomfret'. I was a little hesitant at the time, but after thinking it over, I decided to feed it to Tuoyuan.

If I eat this spiritual fish, it will only strengthen my physique and won't be of much use to my cultivation. But if I let Tuoyuan eat it, at least it will make it run faster. If I really encounter a calamity cultivator in the future, I'll have to rely on it."

"Brother Jingxuan is right. The little bit of physical strength gained during the Qi Refining stage is of little use. It's better to train your companion beast. It's very helpful whether you're fighting the enemy or escaping."

Huo Cang's expression softened, and he continued:

"But Brother Jingxuan is short of spirit stones, so why don't you sell the 'Ox-Horned Pomfret' and exchange it for some cultivation resources?"

This is a questionable point. Three hundred low-grade spirit stones are not a small number. If they are exchanged for pills, they can at least allow Fang Jingxuan to cultivate to the third level of Qi Refining.

If Fang Jingxuan fails to answer this question well, he will not be able to pass the test with Huo Cang.

"To be honest with you, Brother Huo, I actually wanted to sell the 'Oxhorn Pomfret' at first, but the idea was fleeting and I gave it up."

"Oh, why is that?"

Huo Cang became interested, and Wei Tong was waiting for Fang Jingxuan to explain.

"Hongye Market is so small, I can't hide the news that I'm selling 'Ox-horn Pomfret'. If the news gets out, I don't stay in the market all year round, and I still need to attract customers to ferry me.

With so many spirit stones in his possession, even those who originally had no intention of robbing me will probably be tempted now.

Spirit stones can be earned slowly, but I really don't want to take this risk. It's not the quality of an excellent casual cultivator to create trouble for myself."

"Hahaha, Brother Fang, you have a clear mind, know when to advance and when to retreat, and you're straightforward. That's what I value about you."

Wei Tong smiled and patted Fang Jingxuan's shoulder. There was more than one porter in Hongyefang, and there was more than one route to the outside world. There were five or six people going to Danding City, and they all relied on this route to make a living.

The reason why Wei Tong was so fond of Fang Jingxuan was that he valued Fang Jingxuan's character.

Fang Jingxuan smiled and said nothing. Now it depended on whether Huo Cang agreed with what he said.

Huo Cang did not raise any more questions. His expression returned to normal. He then took out a jade slip from his storage bag and handed it to Fang Jingxuan.

"This is my daily research on water-type spirit beasts. Take it and have a look. Although spirit turtles are easy to raise, there are still some tricks."

Fang Jingxuan took the jade slip and was a little shocked. It turned out to be the knowledge of taming beasts. This was a secret that the Ning family never passed on.

He originally thought Huo Cang would give him some spirit stone resources as compensation, but he didn't expect Huo Cang to be so generous.

If Fang Jingxuan could digest and absorb all this beast taming knowledge himself, he might be able to go to the beast taming Ning family and apply for the position of guest official.

"Why don't you hurry up and thank Brother Huo? Hehe, although the Beast Taming Ning family is powerful, but outside the Danding Sect, when compared with Brother Huo's family, that's it!"

Wei Tong stretched out his right little finger and gestured in front of Fang Jingxuan with a somewhat arrogant look on his face.

"The Ning family still has some good points. Brother Wei, it's getting late and curfew is about to begin. Let's say goodbye."

Fang Jingxuan looked at Huo Cang and found that he did not refute Wei Tong's words. Obviously, in Huo Cang's view, the Ning family was just that.

"Then I won't disturb Brother Fang from resting. I appreciate your invitation to the banquet today. I will host you another day and invite you to the banquet."

"Brother Wei, why are you saying all this? It's just a meal. Take care, brothers."

Fang Jingxuan held the jade slip and walked it all the way to the intersection before returning to his own cabin. He looked at the confused Tuo Yuan and breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)