My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

The cultivator in charge of reception, who had a mustache, took the spirit stone without looking up and tossed it into a wooden box with a magic array next to him.

Suddenly, a burst of spiritual light flashed above the magic array, and soon a small, dark blue boat, about the size of an adult's palm and remarkably lifelike, flew out.

"Thank you."

Cui Zhengming carefully took the mini boat and walked along a path that extended outwards into the river.

This mission is not easy. We need to start from Yanziwu and deliver it to Huaxi Beach outside Huichuan Prefecture. We need to float on the Xiushui River for at least a day and a night to earn three hundred spirit stones.

Before they even received the three hundred spirit stones, they had already spent twenty spirit stones on travel expenses. The remaining amount was to be divided among the three people, with each person receiving less than one hundred spirit stones.

They hadn't gone far when Cui Zhengming fell a few steps behind, secretly approaching Cui Ying and whispering:

"Girl, how many spirit stones did you sell in Thundercloud City this time?"

Can't bear it?

Cui Ying chuckled inwardly, glanced at her mysterious father, and made a hand gesture while whispering, "Less than three thousand!"

Three thousand!?

Cui Zhengming's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his voice unconsciously rose a little.

Zhao Sihai, who was walking ahead, turned around and asked curiously, "What three thousand?"

"~Yes"

Cui Zhengming's face turned bright red, and he stammered, unable to speak.

“I was just talking to my dad about what I saw in the city at noon. Apparently, a very powerful senior bought a magic artifact worth three thousand spirit stones.”

Cui Ying smiled and skillfully told Zhao Sihai a little lie.

"so much?"

Zhao Sihai was equally surprised upon hearing this. He took a couple of steps but couldn't help stopping, and asked Cui Ying hesitantly, "Niece Cui Ying, how many spirit stones did you sell that Gale Tiger skin for?"

"More than four hundred spirit stones."

Because of the fact that her family was going to build a new house, Cui Ying told the truth directly.

Firstly, Zhao Sihai was very close to her family, and he was a sensible and reliable person.

Secondly, having the will is better than not having the will; sincerity is the ultimate weapon.

"That's quite a lot!"

Zhao Sihai's family had been wealthy before, and having been shocked by the previous incident involving three thousand spirit stones, he wasn't particularly surprised to hear this.

"The shopkeeper said that if the tiger skin were more intact, it would be worth more spirit stones."

After Cui Ying gave a regretful reply, Zhao Sihai, who was standing next to her, looked at her with great admiration and said:

"When Uncle Zhao was your age, he was so scared of monsters when he went on missions with his father that his legs trembled. You've earned so many spirit stones for the family, that's really impressive. If my little treasure can be half as capable as you when he grows up, I'll be so grateful."

Xiao Bao is Zhao Sihai's grandson. I heard that he has good aptitude for cultivation, but he is too young and mischievous, and can never calm down to meditate and cultivate.

Upon hearing this, Cui Zhengming's face revealed a hint of smugness, but he said aloud:

"Xiao Bao is so talented, he will definitely surpass his teachers in the future."

"I hope so."

Seeing Zhao Sihai nod, but with a hint of bitterness and dejection in his smile, Cui Zhengming thought to himself that he was really being a smart aleck, bringing up the very thing he shouldn't have said.

So, after Zhao Sihai turned around, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he quickly handed the small wooden box he was carrying to Cui Ying, pointed to the storage bag at Cui Ying's waist, and silently said:

"Keep your things and spirit stones safe. If you lose them, you'll regret it when I get back."

With over two thousand spirit stones, plus the commission that's about to be received, and the spirit stones that the family has scraped together, it's enough to build a brand new house.

Cui Zhengming rubbed his hands together, as if he could already see his dilapidated courtyard transformed into rows of ornately decorated mansions. He couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Cui Ying raised an eyebrow, knowing that the contents of the small wooden box were likely the goods her father was responsible for escorting this time. She casually took it and tossed it into her storage bag, completely ignoring what her father had said.

"We've reached the riverbank, let's hurry up and get on the boat."

When Cui Zhengming released the mini awning boat, it didn't seem to make any move. The mini boat swelled up in the wind and quickly became a small, dark blue boat about ten feet long and three feet wide, which then floated gently on the river.

After everyone boarded the boat, Cui Zhengming jumped onto the bow as well. With a quick hand gesture, layers of mist rapidly gathered beneath the dark blue boat, enveloping it and causing it to slowly move forward. Gradually, the mist increased in speed, and the boat drifted southeastward.

"Dad, Uncle Zhao, have something to eat."

Cui Ying took out the food that Wang had prepared for them and shared it with the two elders. By then, the sun had already begun to set, with only half a setting sun teetering on the horizon.

Night soon fell, and apart from the flowing river at our feet, there were only the occasional roars of beasts echoing from both banks.

The employer had specified the waterway to take for this mission, and the journey would begin at night. Although Cui Zhengming didn't say it aloud, he was on high alert.

Cui Ying did not linger at the bow of the boat. Instead, she brought Taxue to the center of the boat and began meditating to cultivate, feeling the extremely rich water spiritual energy around them.

As the cultivation technique was activated, the surrounding spiritual energy continuously gathered towards Cui Ying and instantly transformed into magical power, settling in her dantian.

Cui Zhengming stood at the bow of the boat, glancing back at her every now and then: he suddenly regretted letting Cui Ying come with him all the way.

You should know that every female cultivator in the village, at Cui Ying's age, is the apple of her parents' eye, pampered and spoiled.

He's the only one who's incompetent. Not only did he raise his children to be responsible and help support the family at a young age, but now he's even bringing his daughter along on a mission. Especially since there are many powerful shrimp spirits and fish monsters at the bottom of the river that occasionally leap up and attack the wandering cultivators on the boat.

If anything were to happen to him, he would truly be unworthy of being a father. That's why he would turn around from time to time to check if Cui Ying was safe.

"Wow~"

Just then, as the small, dark blue boat passed through a turbulent body of water, the boat shuddered, and a strange fish with a jet-black body, a wide mouth, and a snake-like body suddenly leaped out from the side, its mouth full of sharp teeth, and lunged at the motionless Cui Ying.

"Ow"

A roar suddenly rang out in the darkness. The Snowwalker, which had been lying quietly at the girl's feet, suddenly stood up. Its powerful front claws shot forward with lightning speed, instantly wrapping around the huge monster fish and dragging it back to the cabin.

The strange fish's head was pressed firmly into the cabin. In its terror, it let out a strange "ribbit" sound and, while struggling, spat out jets of white water that shot wildly in all directions.

"Ow"

Ta Xue let out another low roar, and billowing black demonic energy rose from its four hooves, instantly condensing into a black barrier that firmly protected Cui Ying behind it. Then it opened its big mouth, revealing its menacing fangs, and began to bite the broad-mouthed snake-bodied monster fish with extreme rage.

Before long, the strange fish could no longer spout water arrows and gradually became still.

"It's alright, let's keep going, Dad."

The battle ended too quickly. It wasn't until Cui Ying's calm voice rang out that Cui Zhengming and Zhao Sihai, who were standing at the bow and stern of the boat respectively, snapped out of their daze and put away the magical artifacts they had just raised with lingering fear.

"Puff~"

As the dark blue boat started moving again, Ta Xue, who had revealed her ferocious nature, stopped using her supernatural powers. She kicked the dead monster fish back into the river, wagged its tail, and lay back down at Cui Ying's feet.

Her well-behaved and quiet appearance made one wonder if they were hallucinating.