Cultivation: Starting with Farming in the Spiritual Pivot Grotto

The burly man had just received his wages and was about to go to Sifang Town to find a place to relax when Liu Ruyan had stirred up a lustful desire within him, causing him to quicken his pace.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

"Um?"

He turned around abruptly and saw three cultivators, dressed differently from menial laborers, slowly surrounding him.

He felt a chill run down his spine and quickly asked, "What business do you three fellow Daoists have with me?"

Li Ya and his two companions remained silent and continued to tighten the encirclement.

"Fellow Daoists, I am Chen Er, and I am a man of Steward Luo. Please speak calmly and do not get agitated and anger Steward Luo."

"Luo Sanpao, even if you're his father today, it won't help you."

Chen Er was clearly panicked and was still trying to persuade Li Ya and the others.

"Fellow Daoists, do not make a mistake. Stealing the wages of a menial laborer will only lead to being tortured by the wind in the Yin Wind Cave."

After he said that, the three of them burst into laughter.

"We really don't care about your little bit of money. Since you don't want to leave on your own, we'll let you rest for a bit and then take you away."

As they spoke, Senior Brother Lingji unleashed his true energy, tightly binding Chen Er. He flicked his finger between Chen Er's eyebrows, and Chen Er collapsed to the ground.

"What kind of people are they, calling each other brothers like that!"

"Senior brother, won't we be punished by the Discipline Hall for doing this?"

"Little Cliff, you're usually so smart, why are you so confused this time? Is he hurt?"

Li Ya shook his head, then nodded instantly: "I understand. He wasn't injured, so it wasn't a private fight!"

"Smart! Let's go!"

Just as the two were about to leave, Liu Guiyun called out to them, "What about him?"

Li Ya was truly helpless: "Senior Brother Lingji, what do you suggest we do?"

"What to do? Carry it away!"

Are you going to endure it?

"I won't resist!"

Are you going to endure it?

"I won't resist either!"

"You carry it!" The two pointed at Liu Guiyun.

……

When Chen Er woke up again, all his internal energy had been sealed, and he was bound hand and foot.

Li Ya and Liu Guiyun interrogated Chen Er, while Senior Brother Lingji went to meet Liu Ruyan in person.

"Oh, you're awake. Tell me, what's your relationship with Liu Ruyan?"

Chen Er was somewhat bewildered, his tone filled with disbelief: "You really don't want to rob me? You don't want to get rid of me?"

"If you say that again, you're really going to get a beating!"

Chen Er looked around and saw that the furnishings were elegant and the spiritual energy here was rich. It was not a place that a poor person could live in.

"If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"That depends on whether you're telling the truth or a lie!"

Li Ya channeled his inner energy, and the Nine Yang Sword Talisman instantly erupted with a crimson flame: "Speak quickly!"

"The truth, the absolute truth!"

"My relationship with Liu Ruyan is just a normal business relationship."

Li Ya turned to Liu Guiyun: "What other businesses did she do?"

"What kind of business?"

Liu Guiyun was completely confused and turned to Chen Er to ask a question.

"Baihua Lane, she used to make a living there, and I even helped her for a while!"

"Junior Brother Li, what kind of place is Hundred Flowers Lane?"

Li Ya was now somewhat reluctant to hurt Liu Guiyun's feelings, so after a moment's thought, he changed his approach to a more tactful one.

"This Hundred Flowers Lane is a gathering place for tea fairies!"

"Tea Fairy? What kind of tea!"

"Tea! Tea is... is about appreciation..."

"Oh dear, she's a female cultivator who works in the sex trade!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Liu Guiyun grabbed Chen Er's collar with both hands: "Tell me, this is fake!"

"It's true, it's true. Before she came to Weaver Girl Peak, I heard she had been working there for several years, but without an introduction from an acquaintance, she wouldn't do business with me."

"I also paid a referral fee to make it happen, but it's a bit expensive, and I can only go once a month!"

"Then why are we at Vega Peak again?"

"I know that. She said it wasn't a job she could do for a lifetime. Later, she went to Wenxiang Valley and spent a lot of money to fix her body and face. I only recognized her a few days ago when I passed by."

Chen Er's words were like knives cutting into Liu Guiyun's heart.

The north wind howled, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant, his body cold as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

His heart was already filled with mixed feelings. For a scion of a noble family like him, if he wanted, he could have a line of Daoist partners stretching all the way to Sifang Town.

He could even ask to marry an outer disciple without any problem, but he just happened to fall in love with Liu Ruyan.

Spiritual rice and spiritual food, ceremonial robes and jewelry, available year-round...

Seeing that Liu Guiyun's expression was off and his aura was disordered, Li Ya immediately moved closer and patted him on the shoulder.

"Senior Brother Liu, you're being foolish! A real man shouldn't worry about not having a wife!"

He tried to keep his tone gentle so as not to provoke Liu Guiyun.

Do you know a profound truth?

Liu Guiyun looked up and shook his head.

"The higher your cultivation level, the more cultivation partners you can have!"

"To win someone's heart, you can't just be all heart and soul and know how to use money to please them."

"You should know that money is for girls to see, not for girls to spend."

Not only Liu Guiyun, but even Chen Er's eyes lit up when he heard this.

"If a girl makes you lose your appetite and sleep, be wary; there might be a trap!"

These words were overheard by Senior Brother Lingji, who entered through the door, and he was also stunned.

"Liu Guiyun, these are truly profound words! If you don't wake up now, what will you do then?"

"I can't let go!"

"What's so difficult about that? I can tell at a glance that this senior brother is inexperienced. If you trust me, I have a way!"

"You have?"

"Yes, we have them!"

"Okay, I'll trust you this once. If you can do it, money is no object!"

At this moment, Li Ya pulled his senior brother Lingji aside and asked, "Senior brother, how is Liu Ruyan doing?"

"Sigh! She's so stubborn, only saying she was harassed by Chen Er, and she kept begging Junior Brother Liu to stand up for her!"

Li Ya frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Senior brother, you only mentioned Chen Er, and didn't say anything else, right?"

"Never!"

"I'm worried she'll find out, so I haven't told her much yet. I've only told her that he was flirting with Chen Er behind Junior Brother Liu's back!"

"It seems we can't get her to talk without using some tricks."

Li Ya had already made up his mind. After releasing Chen Er, he threatened him:

"Chen Er, this Senior Brother Liu is the direct descendant of the Liu family of Nanshui, and this Senior Brother Xie is a distinguished disciple of the Xie family. Both are figures who have entered the inner sect!"

Chen Er felt a chill run down his spine. This Liu Ruyan was really bold; she dared to provoke just anyone.

Li Ya continued, "That Liu Ruyan swindled a large sum of money from Senior Brother Liu. If this matter is exposed, it won't be good for Senior Brother Liu. You'll need to put on a show for Liu Ruyan."

"Are you willing?"

He naturally dared not offend these people. Besides, his relationship with Liu Ruyan was just a one-night stand. If he did this well and got on their good side, he would surely reap the benefits.

He readily agreed, "Yes, yes! I, Chen Er, swear by the Great Way!"

"Okay, if we can get the money back, you'll get your share of the profits!"

"Then take your junior brother away first, and use your method to get rid of his inner demons!"

After the two left, Senior Brother Lingji finally spoke: "Brother Xiaoya, what's the plan?"

"The fact that Liu Ruyan dared to deceive Senior Brother Liu shows that she intends to exploit him to the bone and run away with all her money. If we alert her, she will escape, and Senior Brother Lingji, you will never get your money back!"

"We'll make up a pretext, saying there's a way to make money, to lure Liu Ruyan into investing."

"As long as Chen Er's method works and can wake up Senior Brother Liu!"

"This matter can only be accomplished if Senior Brother Liu takes charge."

The two agreed that Senior Sister Qin should release Liu Ruyan. Before leaving, she told her to uphold her virtues as a woman and not to let Liu Guiyun down.

"I do not understand!"

"Senior Brother Lingji, why go through all this trouble? Just ask the head of the Discipline Hall to come and inform Junior Brother Liu's elders, and this matter can be resolved. Why do we have to put on this show?"

Lingji, the senior brother, looked helpless: "What else can we do! The head of the Liu family favors his concubine over his wife. Guiyun has no maternal clan to support him. If something like this happens again, I'm afraid his position as the legitimate heir will be in jeopardy!"

"Furthermore, Guiyun is currently being mentored by Elder Zhao of the inner sect. If that elder finds out about this, the consequences will be unpredictable."

Li Ya listened, unsure how to comment, his last shred of illusion about this great world of immortals shattered.

Cultivators are not immortals after all; they also engage in petty scheming among mortals, and even among cultivators themselves, there are things that are even more absurd.