Ch27 A Gift For Xu Hong

After walking into my cave abode, I find that a silky black curtain can be pulled over its entrance to create privacy from outside.

It’s about three times as spacious as my old hut. The ambient qi in the air does not come from any specific direction. It floods in from the warm cave walls.

There is a cultivation mat, a cushioned bed, two large wooden chests, a bronze mirror, and a large shelf. It is still a very simple living arrangement, but the warm qi in the air makes me feel extremely comfortable.

Before even settling in, I pull the lottery die from my storage, and roll it on the black cave floor.

[Ding!]
[Minor Lottery Draw Successful!]
[x1 Spirit Eye Jade][2nd Tier Perception Item]

While infusing the small green and white jade eye carving with my qi imprint, I drop the rest of my belongings into the closest chest to me.

[Ding!]
[Spirit Eye Jade has bound to the Host!]
[Passive Ability: NONE.]
[Active Ability: 5 Uses, Non-Rechargeable. This artifact can be activated to grant the wielder 2 seconds of spiritual perception equal to the range of a mid-level foundation establishment cultivator.]

The small jade eye in my palm feels cool to the touch, but with my mental imprint, I can feel the enormous amount of energy within.

I let it fall into my storage, right beside the Azure Lightning Talisman I claimed last night.

The long 8-kilometer walk through the forest while using my concealment art has tired me out quite a bit. Last night, I didn’t get a wink of sleep either.

I walk over to the small bed and collapse, releasing slightly more of my aura to alleviate the pressure building up.

Every single steward in this living quarters is between the first and third level of qi refinement. Every cave is over 15 meters apart. I highly doubt any of them will be able to sense my presence, so I feel safe letting slightly more than usual out.

While drifting off, a simple grin forms on my face.

A sense of fulfillment grows inside me, as the first step of this Sect’s hierarchy has finally been climbed.

Now, I must keep my head down even more, and study the power structures and general sentiments of the cultivators here. I cannot get overly excited before I even reap the rewards.

–

When the sun rises early the next morning, I feel fully restored.

I collect my new upgrade cards, bringing my total to 11. However, in a matter of seconds it’s brought back down to 8. I upgrade 2 more qi gathering pills, and use another on a brown and blackened pill from my storage to fulfill a promise I made two nights ago.

Without hesitating, I pop one white and gold pill into my mouth and sit down to cultivate for an hour.

Once the hot raw qi from one pill has fully settled in my dantian and spiritual roots, I get up and activate my concealment art, throw on my steward’s robe, and walk outside to start my day.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

The dining hall is crowded in the morning, so I stand in line and mind my own business.

The majority of stewards are 8th and 9th grade root cultivators above 50 years old.

A large amount are men too. I only spot 2 older women in total after managing to scan three dozen stewards.

There aren’t any interesting secrets I’ve uncovered. Most are petty crimes, like stealing pills, or killing fellow stewards. I quickly decide who to avoid, but still do not strike up any conversation on my first day here.

I keep my head down, grab a tray of hot white rice, meat buns, and green tea, and sit alone contemplating what I’ve discovered while studying my route of servants to oversee today.

There is a faint warm flow of qi within the tea I sip, giving me a pleasant surprise.

It is at the same time that I realize this steward quarters does not only house stewards working on the western expansion project.

About half of them come from a mountain over 100 kilometers away, called the Forging Peak.

From overhearing a few conversations, it sounds like there is a mid grade 1st tier black iron mine nearby, about 20 kilometers away. That is where many stewards have been working long-term, and where many of the expansion stewards will work again once the roads and clearings have made their way up to the ravine.