usenovelgroup Chapter 300 - 240: Reciting a Poem
Chapter 300 - 240: Reciting a Poem
’He wants to buy waste pills? Could it be that this person has some special method to turn waste into treasure?’
Thinking of this possibility, Fang Qingyuan carefully sized up the man. He had a chubby figure, a round face, and squinty, hazy eyes. His cultivation was at the Late-stage Qi Refining realm, but he had not yet reached the peak.
’He doesn’t exactly look like he fits the protagonist mold.’
Sensing Fang Qingyuan’s scrutinizing gaze, the man quickly explained:
"Elder, please don’t misunderstand. I want to buy some Blood Qi Waste Pills purely to use as bait for fishing sea beasts.
Proper Blood Qi Pills would be the best bait, but they’re too expensive, so I have to use waste pills instead."
After hearing this explanation, Fang Qingyuan was a little disappointed, but he immediately asked:
"Fishing for sea beasts, you say? The waste pills are poisonous. Can the sea beasts even eat them?"
Fang Qingyuan had tasted a freshly refined waste pill himself. Even with his cultivation and physique, he’d had an adverse reaction. If a sea beast ate one, would its meat still be usable?
"They can. Sea beasts are stupid. While waste pills aren’t as effective as proper pills, they can still lure in some of the dumber, greedier ones. Besides, the pill toxins in Blood Qi Waste Pills are potent for a Cultivator, but for a sea beast that weighs over ten thousand catties, the effect is much weaker."
The Qi Refining Cultivator spoke with confidence, clearly having used Blood Qi Waste Pills for this purpose before.
Seeing this, an idea sparked in Fang Qingyuan’s mind. He hadn’t been able to sell a single Blood Qi Pill all afternoon. Perhaps he’d been going about it the wrong way. Blood Qi Pills weren’t some high-end elixir, and there was no shortage of them on the market.
But judging by this Qi Refining Cultivator’s needs, it seemed there was a shortage of bait for fishing sea beasts.
Fang Qingyuan’s interest was piqued. He’d been trying to sell these Blood Qi Pills for half the day without a single sale. If the idea in his head was viable, a little more time wouldn’t hurt.
Fang Qingyuan immediately packed up his stall and said to the cultivator before him:
"This humble Daoist is Jia Changqing. I would like to invite you, Fellow Daoist, to find an elegant place to chat. Would you be willing?"
Being called ’Fellow Daoist’ by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Fang Qingyuan made the Qi Refining Cultivator feel two taels lighter. He hurriedly said:
"I don’t dare accept the title of ’Fellow Daoist.’ You are an Elder. If you don’t mind, this junior, Wan Sancai, would like to host a banquet for you at the Spring Flower Building."
The Spring Flower Building was a place of pleasure, where the female cultivators were said to be quite alluring. Fang Qingyuan had only heard of it and never had the time to visit.
The establishment was on the edge of the core district, not far from the residence Fang Qingyuan was renting, so he felt at ease about the location.
"In that case, it would be rude to refuse. Fellow Daoist Wan, please lead the way."
Wan Sancai’s face lit up with joy. For a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator like him, befriending a Foundation Establishment Pill Master was a valuable connection. Compared to that, the few hundred Spirit Stones he’d spend at the Spring Flower Building were nothing.
....
"Elder Jia, this way please. I’ve booked a private room. In a moment, a few female cultivators will arrive to accompany us. If any of them catch your eye, Elder Jia, you can have them stay and serve you. If none of them are to your liking, I’ll have another group brought in for you."
Wan Sancai led the way, occasionally greeting some of the beautiful female cultivators nearby. It was clear he was a frequent visitor.
Fang Qingyuan followed behind Wan Sancai with a cheerful smile, but his telepathic Divine Technique was fully active.
’Five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, two of them Late-stage Foundation Establishment. But judging by their auras, they’re just average.’
Fang Qingyuan first assessed the Foundation Establishment battle power within the Spring Flower Building, getting a clear picture in his mind.
These days, Fang Qingyuan wasn’t afraid of Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. A Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Magical Power was typically more than double that of a Mid-stage one. Combined with a stronger Divine Sense, a Mid-stage cultivator would normally be no match for a Late-stage one in a fight, barring any surprises.
However, this did not apply to disciples of major sects.
Without even needing to use Huo Hu as an intimidating example, take Qu Jianyan, whom Fang Qingyuan had fought before. That Core Disciple of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect could easily defeat an ordinary Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in a one-on-one fight out in the wider world.
The foundations of major sect disciples were simply too strong; fighting across cultivation sub-realms was a basic skill for them.
Right now, no one in the Spring Flower Building gave off the aura of a cultivator from a major sect.
’Therefore, there’s no one here who can threaten my life.’
Realizing this, Fang Qingyuan relaxed. He followed Wan Sancai into a private room on the third floor, sat down comfortably, and waited for what would happen next.
The private room was quite large, forty or fifty square meters in size. The entrance was obscured by a folding screen depicting a ’Fairy Bestowing Grace.’ Behind Fang Qingyuan was a large set of floor-to-ceiling sliding windows.
After a few glances at the ’Fairy Bestowing Grace,’ Fang Qingyuan found it quite tasteful. The painting vividly captured the divine aura of the fairy, without much of a sensual flavor.
The artistry was first-rate, and the taste was refined—not the least bit vulgar.
A moment later, various delicacies made from spiritual ingredients were served. Fang Qingyuan swept his gaze over them and saw it was mostly seafood.
Once all the dishes were on the table, a group of Early-stage Qi Refining female cultivators emerged from behind the screen, all in the prime of their youth, with fair skin and beautiful faces.
Wan Sancai sat to the side, fawning over Fang Qingyuan:
"These are Qing Guanren, all exceptionally talented in both arts and looks. Has any of them caught your eye, Elder Jia?"
Fang Qingyuan gazed at the flock of lovely women before him, nodded, and said with a straight face:
"We cultivators should have lofty aspirations. Though the female form is pleasing to the eye, one must not indulge in it. If it hinders our cultivation, then it is no longer a beautiful thing."
Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s words, the smile on Wan Sancai’s face froze. He hadn’t expected Fang Qingyuan to be such a stuffy moralist. ’This is going to make it hard to get close to him,’ he thought.
Seeing Wan Sancai’s expression, Fang Qingyuan changed his tune:
"However, appetite and lust are part of human nature. While the fairer sex may be a great enemy to us Daoist Cultivators who aspire to the Great Dao, I, Jia Mou, believe that we must face our flaws head-on and have the courage to confront them. Therefore, I wish to challenge my own heart for the Dao. For that reason... I’ll take all of them."
Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s voracious appetite, Wan Sancai was stunned. ’So he’s just a phony,’ he thought.
’But if he takes them all, my Spirit Stones are going to take a major hit!’
Wan Sancai’s heart was bleeding, but the smile on his face didn’t falter. As the group of female cultivators surrounded Fang Qingyuan, he put on an expression of someone lost in pleasure.
Surrounded by so many lithe and supple young women, Fang Qingyuan looked completely captivated, but he was crystal clear inside: this was just a persona he was putting on.
If Fang Qingyuan acted aloof from women, then Jia Changqing had to be a lecherous fiend. This was the only way to avoid anyone connecting the two.
"What are all your names? Tell me so I can hear."
Fang Qingyuan wore a benevolent expression, but his hands were not so well-behaved.
"My name is Tingyun, she is Keqing, and these are Ganyu, Xiang Ling, Cyan Sparrow, Hu Tao, and Su Shang."
A total of seven women snuggled up against Fang Qingyuan, while Wan Sancai tactfully kept his distance.
"Such lovely names. Tingyun and Keqing... Ganyu moistening Xiang Ling... In a scene like this, I feel compelled to recite a poem."
Wan Sancai’s eyes lit up, and he played the part of the perfect hype man:
"Please, Elder Jia, recite it for us! If your poem is approved by these lovely ladies, perhaps today’s fee in Spirit Stones will be waived."
Wan Sancai had already made up his mind. No matter what bullshit poetry Fang Qingyuan spouted, he would praise it as if the God of Poetry himself had descended.
Fang Qingyuan looked at the seven women’s expectant gazes, stood up, and with a wicked smile, slowly recited the verse that had formed in his mind:
"One moment it’s Tingyun, the next it is Keqing.One moment Ganyu’s rain is moistening Xiang Ling.My hand holds Hu Tao to tease the Cyan Sparrow,While Su Shang’s robes are loosened, waiting for tomorrow."