Li Quanqing clutched four Spirit Stones, their texture smooth and cool as strands of chilly Spiritual Energy seeped through his skin into his meridians.
A quarterly salary of four Spirit Stones amounts to sixteen a year.
Once he breaks through to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, it's 32 stones, and at the Fifth Level, it becomes 64.
By the time he reaches the Qi Refining Sixth Level, even if he does nothing but lie down all year, he would have over a hundred Spirit Stones in income.
The family benefits are indeed quite nice.
However, the Li Family does not provide for the idle. If one fails to breach even a minor realm within ten years, their salary is automatically halved.
"Are you interested in joining the Artifact Hall to learn the ways of Artifact Refining?"
Li Kunli strolled through the fish pond and wasn't in a hurry to leave, extending his olive branch.
In his view, the youth before him truly could be considered a rough jade within the clan.
Plus, having no particular background, he was certain to become a significant boost to his own faction as he grew.
Li Quanqing was momentarily stunned, carefully considering his choice of words.
"The junior is naturally willing, but the cost of learning Artifact Refining is too great, and I haven't saved enough Spirit Stones."
Li Kunli pointed at the Storage Bag in the young man's embrace and laughed, "You're not that poor, lad. Or perhaps you're worried about your own fish pond? Rest easy, fish farming and Artifact Refining don't conflict. I myself was a well-known fish farmer in the clan in my youth!"
Li Quanqing felt a bit embarrassed: "These Spirit Stones were obtained by mortgaging the Contribution Points left by my parents to the clan."
"Well then, that settles it; no need to repay. After all, hoarding these trinkets isn't much use; they should rather be transformed into provisions on the path of cultivation."
The elder's face held a teasing smile, "Or perhaps like those from the clan's miserly lot, you're thinking of hoarding Contribution Points to exchange for priority in getting a Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Not at all, this youngster only hopes to save up a thousand Contribution Points to exchange for the 'Azure Sea Tide Generation Skill' from the Scripture Pavilion."
Li Quanqing hurriedly waved his hands, "In this lifetime, if I can break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage, I'll be overjoyed; how dare I fantasize about Foundation Establishment."
"Not even daring to harbor this thought, truly lacking the vigor and spirit of youth."
Li Kunli shook his head, "If you wish to learn the clan's treasured Scriptures, there are plenty of ways. For instance, in several years during the clan's grand competition, placing within the top ten would naturally waive the need for Contribution Points."
"The clan's grand competition?"
Li Quanqing was puzzled, as this event happened only once every ten years, and he wasn't very familiar with it.
"Or should you possess extraordinary talent in Artifact Refining, following the path of the Artifact Hall, if this old man asks the Clan Leader on your behalf..."
The old man's words were cut halfway when suddenly a dense barrage of Water Arrows interrupted him.
Pft! Pft! Pft!
Waves surged on the water's surface, where over a thousand big Green Carp surfaced, glaring with their fish eyes and spouting thick jets of water.
As a Fire Spirit Root Practitioner only a step away from Foundation Establishment, Li Kunli's entire body was pulsing with heat, almost enough to boil the pond.
All the Green Carp in the pond couldn't bear the heat and collectively revolted against the mistreatment by the Human Clan Cultivators.
Moo! Moo!
The two Green Jade Carps couldn't help but swim to the surface to breathe, circling around Li Quanqing, somewhat afraid of the Third Elder's intimidating presence.
"Is that a Golden Pattern Jade Carp?"
Li Kunli's eyes lit up as his sleeves waved and a sea of flame enveloped the area, evaporating all the Water Arrows into mist.
This time during his inspection of the family's maritime domain, apart from formally declaring the future salary distributions under the responsibility of the Artifact Refining Hall,
He was also prepared to find some high-quality Green Jade Carps to refine a precious Magic Artifact.
With just a few glances, the elder recognized the status of the male Green Jade Carp: "It's very well-raised, only a few days from turning into a demon. How about selling it to this old man once it's matured?"
Li Quanqing naturally agreed, "When the time comes, I'll deliver it to the Third Elder."
"Rest assured, this old man definitely won't let you, lad, suffer any loss."
Li Kunli laughed heartily, casually flicking an Ice Blue Elixir his way, "I'm off, no need to see me out."
After speaking, he left with his large sleeves fluttering, striding across the water, truly exuding an aura of an Immortal Wind Tao Bone, with an extraordinary temperament.
Splash! Splash!
Schools of fish churned, hundreds of big green fish gathering on the water's surface into glittering waves, desperately competing for that ice-blue dan pill.
"Back off, all of you!"
Li Quanqing took out the Jade Token to control the Array, with lotus blossoms blooming, lotus leaves glowing, Array Patterns interweaving on the water surface like a chessboard, separating all the big green fish.
Only the two Green Jade Carps were left unrestricted.
Boom!!
The ice-blue elixir dissolved as soon as it entered the water, immediately forming a wheel-sized slab of solid ice on the water's surface, emitting a cold and chilling aura.
Can this thing even be eaten?
Li Quanqing was still wondering when the two Spirit Fishes could hardly wait.
Crack! Crunch!
The Green Jade Carps were seen flapping their fins, striking the ice surface with tremendous force. Splinters of ice burst out, emitting a glimmering blue light.
They incessantly consumed the broken ice, as if it contained an indescribable magic power, with a faint icy breath slowly emanating from their scales.
Visibly, a light group was forming on the forehead of the male Green Jade Carp, marking the imminent onset of the Maturity period.
Li Quanqing rubbed his hands, feeling the excitement of opening a mystery box, curious about what kind of reward he would get.
The male Green Jade Carp swallowed two-thirds of the elixir ice and then hung motionless in the water.
Gradually, where its broad fins fluttered, the chill surged and ice spread, freezing itself over.
The female Green Jade Carp, on the other hand, remained lively, though its aura also became much colder.
"This silly fish, it's not going to freeze itself to death, right?"
Li Quanqing sat on the lotus platform, pondering undetermined, until finally, after half an hour, he saw the light group fully take shape, indicating that the other party had officially entered the Maturity period.
Moo—
The low moo echoed through the fish pond, deep and resonant, with waves rippling, imparting a sense of unexplained majesty.
The originally restless school of big green fish instantly fell deathly silent, frightened into curling up and silently sinking to the bottom of the pond.
Even the tumultuous surging waves were calmed by this moo, the water surface becoming as smooth as a mirror for a time.
Crack!
The ice layer shattered, demonic energy billowing, the male Green Jade Carp emerged triumphantly from the ice, leaving a trail of glistening water in the air.
Its scales grew significantly bigger, as deep as Green Jade, and a layer of fine scales on its back transformed into a glaring golden color.
Moo Moo!
It proudly mooed, diving into the water and circling around the female Green Jade Carp nonstop.
Its pale green fins waved like clouds, and its scales opened and closed continuously, resembling a peacocking peafowl.
Even though this fellow was now three feet long and imposing, Li Quanqing still easily hooked it up with the Water Control Skill.
Ptui!
The Green Jade Carp shook its body irritably and, like the big green fish, spat out arrows of ice water that formed upon impact, hitting the Array with considerable force.
Passionate Green Fish: "I'm finally rising up! Damn it, let me go!"
[Maturity: 100%]
Li Quanqing was somewhat puzzled, he hadn't thrown any charms into the water, could it be that the ice-blue elixir also had a stimulating effect?
But the pressing concern was naturally the light group.
Looking at the tempting light group floating in the air, he could no longer contain himself and reached out to touch it.
[Harvest: One Qi Refining Early Stage Golden Pattern Green Jade Carp, and one set of Green Carp Sword refining method as a reward!]