The white light group dissipated, and a water-blue Spirit Talisman appeared in hand, feeling firm and thick.
Li Quanqing looked at the Water Arrow depicted on the surface of the talisman, somewhat amused and helpless.
This was indeed perfectly in line with the characteristics of the Green Carps.
Feeling the power surging within the talisman, its might was actually not weak, comparable to a blow from a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator.
It could be considered a fine piece among Low Grade talismans.
"Could it be that it sensed I'm not adept at fighting with spells, thus offering up this kind of light group, so I can throw various Spirit Talismans at people in the future?"
Li Quanqing placed the talisman into the Storage Bag categorically.
Fortunately, his father was a Talisman Master, so using it in the future would seem justified.
"What a pity that my bargain of a father left so suddenly, without leaving behind his legacy, otherwise, trying to become a Talisman Master wouldn't be too bad?"
Li Quanqing daydreamed as he continued to search for mature fish in the pond.
Soon, he made a new discovery.
A particularly plump Green Carp with a light group above it appeared in his field of vision, its short, thick fins struggling to move, having gorged on who knows how much bait.
[Harvested a mature Green Carp, reward three Spirit Sand grains!]
This reward is great!
Touching the three sparkling and translucent grains of Spirit Sand, Li Quanqing was extremely satisfied.
A qualified Green Carp should indeed produce Spirit Stones itself.
I forgive your gluttony!
After feeding the plump Green Carp some bait, Li Quanqing consequently harvested two more Spiritual Energy light groups, raising his Cultivation by another level.
Green Carps enter maturity in half a year, and under conditions rich with Spiritual Energy, the time can be reduced appropriately.
Li Quanqing estimated that in another three to four months, this batch of spit-bubble-loving fishlings would reach maturity collectively.
At that time, with the augmentation of the Spiritual Energy light groups, he could even amass enough to reach Qi Refining Fourth Level.
If one could cheat the system, who would still sit and meditate laboriously!
"Breaking through a minor realm in half a year, isn't the speed a bit fast? I feel like by the time I'm twenty, I would have reached Qi Refining Perfection already!"
Li Quanqing's eyebrows lifted in delight, and he couldn't help but start fantasizing about his future.
Breaking through to the middle stage of Qi Refinement, he could start trying his hand at Artifact Refining.
If he truly had an exceptional talent for becoming an Artifact Master, wouldn't Spirit Stones come rolling in?
By then, using Spirit Stones to expand the fish pond and breed a large number of Green Jade Carps, and with the assistance of light group rewards to continue breaking through, a virtuous cycle could be formed.
Sooner or later, he would be able to buy Spirit Island and become the master of an entire island!
Thump thump!
Li Quanqing was indulging in the beautiful future when the Array protecting the fish pond was suddenly struck forcefully, emitting a dull sound.
A thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy stood there, holding his head up haughtily, his face full of impatience.
Li Quanqing frowned and sized up the brat carefully, speaking uncertainly, "Cousin Quanzhu?"
Li Quanzhu grunted through his nose, looking at him askance: "Yes, it's me. Open up my family's fish pond's Array!"
The impudent and arrogant youth standing before him turned out to be his uncle Li Yuheng's biological son.
Li Quanqing's skin twitched, and he chuckled: "Your family's fish pond? Your father has already mortgaged the deed to me; this is now my family's fish pond!"
"It's just Spirit Stones, take them!"
Li Quanzhu took out a Storage Bag, pouting: "Just five hundred Spirit Stones, give my family the deed back!"
Yo, this brat sure is cocky!
Li Quanqing stroked his chin, harboring a certain speculation: "Your dad's back?"
"Of course, not only did my dad break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Level, but he also obtained quite a few treasures in the ruins!"
Li Quanzhu boasted proudly: "See this Green Carp Sword? Just bought it!"
"Hanging around on the island raising fish all day, what future is there in that? Smelling of fish all over, nothing beats the thrill of a free-spirited life and swift retribution with a sword in hand, advancing boldly in Cultivation to step onto the Longevity Path!"
The teenager spoke passionately, eyes shining brightly, his heart filled with longing for the outside world, at the peak age of his teenage fantasies.
Then, the back of his head was slapped with a big force.
"Ouch! Who dares to hit me!"
Li Quanzhu clutched his head and shouted, but as he turned around, his ferocious momentum immediately wilted away.
An old man dressed as an Artifact Refiner stood there, dignified in appearance, with a beard like twisting dragons, his robe embroidered with intertwining fish and dragons, his stature grand as a tower of iron and a mountain of bronze.
"Hall… Hall… Hall Master!"
Li Quanzhu visibly tensed up, his speech stammering, like a deflated quail.
Gone was his earlier arrogance and smugness.
Li Quanqing had seen the old man coming over the waves from early on, and now he respectfully opened the Array: "I pay my respect to the Third Elder!"
Li Kunli, Master of the Artifact Refining Hall, the number one Artifact Refiner in the family.
Of course, most importantly, he was also the younger brother of a certain Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Li Family.
"You just said, you look down on our Li Family's fish farmers?"
The old man glared with his tiger-like eyes, his voice booming like a bell, causing the young man's ears to ring.
"I… I didn't!"
Li Quanzhu stiffened his neck, desperately thinking of excuses: "The student just thinks that we, the Li Family cultivators, should be tougher, producing more Sword Cultivators peerless in their rank!"
"Otherwise, if people keep saying it, our esteemed name of the Green Jade Li Family will turn into the Green Fish Li Family!"
Upon hearing this, Li Kunli let out a sneer and waved his large hand once again.
Smack!
"Just some idle rumors, they haven't even stolen the Spirit Fish and Spirit Rice on our island, if it's so unpleasant to hear, why didn't you retort right there and then, boy!"
"You're as cowardly as your dad!"
Smack!
"What's wrong with the name Green Fish Li Family, I think this name is even more fitting."
"Without the Spirit Fish of Green Jade raised by our clan members, where would the materials come from to forge your Green Carp Sword in your hand? Where would the family get the Spirit Stones to pay stipends?"
Smack!
"Now get lost!"
Li Quanzhu covered his swelling head miserably, his eyes filling with mist.
He didn't dare show his grievances and anger, and was just about to slink away when he got slapped on the forehead again.
Smack!
"Leaving behind the Storage Bag, don't you care for your family's deed anymore?"
The shimmering bag arced through the air, landing in Li Quanqing's embrace.
He was about to take out the deed, but his cousin had vanished in a flash, his cries barely audible, and he gave up.
Li Quanqing looked up at the old man, swallowed hard, also feeling a bit frightened: "Elder, what brings you to seek out this junior?"
Li Kunli strode in, stepping into the Array, exuding a powerful presence.
A hot breath came over like a flame melting furnace standing on the water, as if the whole fish pond was going to boil.
"I've come to distribute the stipend for the last quarter to the clan members, I couldn't find you at Zone C's fish pond, it was brother Kunshui who informed me of your location."
Distribute stipend?
Li Quanqing was suddenly somewhat pleasantly surprised.
The Li Clan's stipend was distributed every three months, previously always handled by the stewards of Evergreen Hall.
And the Evergreen Hall Master was the family's Grand Elder, while the Master of the Artifact Refining Hall in front of him was the Third Elder.
The clandestine struggles behind the scenes…
Li Quanqing dared not think further.
The overt and covert battles among the high ranks of the family were not something that a minor branch family member like him could know or even participate in.
"The stipend for a Qi Refinement Second Layer cultivator is two Spirit Stones, take good care of them..."
Li Kunli, holding the family register, was about to hand out the Spirit Stones, but suddenly let out a light "Hmm" of surprise as he noticed the change in the young man's cultivation: "You little fellow actually broke through to the Third Layer?"
Previously, divided by the lotus platform Array, he hadn't discerned the true from the false at first glance.
Li Quanqing didn't intend to hide it, and cupped his hands in respect: "Half a month ago I fortunately made a breakthrough, and I haven't had time to report it to the family yet."
"Not bad, stronger than those wastes from the main lineage."
Li Kunli showed a smile, taking out two more Spirit Stones: "Having made a breakthrough, let's follow the rules; a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator, four Spirit Stones per quarter for the stipend."