Starry Sky Professional

"Is this it, Number Fifty-Seven, Ding District?"

At the foot of the mountain, in the shantytown.

Fang Xing arrived at a location and saw a row of makeshift huts scattered along the edge of a forest painted with red leaves.

Not far off, a clear brook babbled its way through the area.

These shanties were built from wood, with signs nailed above the doors.

Upon finding his own place, he noticed it was locked, promptly taking out a brass key to unlock the chain.

With a creaking sound, the door opened, and a musty, dusty scent assaulted his nostrils.

"The environment isn't great, but at least it's private..."

Fang Xing donned a mask and began to clean.

Half an hour later, he finished tidying up the room and headed out with a basket full of trash.

The door next door opened just as someone stepped out.

"Oh? Is that you?"

A voice exclaimed in surprise.

Fang Xing turned his head to see a radiant young woman, her expression full of astonishment as she looked at him.

"Are you... Shen Yuxin, the youngest of the Five Heroes of Cang Mountain?"

He recognized her immediately as one of the infamous couple, inwardly lamenting the ties of fate.

"Indeed, I am. So, you're living next door?"

Shen Yuxin recalled her elder brother's evaluation of him, feeling quite peculiar.

"I just moved in today. We'll be neighbors from now on, looking out for each other..."

Fang Xing smiled, seeing a small, adorable head peeking out from behind Shen Yuxin. "Is this your son?"

"Yes, Zijing, say hello to your uncle."

Shen Yuxin pulled the child forward, a trace of pride on her face.

“Uncle...”

Meng Zi Jin called out.

“Good girl, I'll buy you some candy another day...”

Fang Xing chuckled, inwardly grumbling, 'Do I look that old? Being called uncle? Brother would be more fitting...'

After exchanging a few polite words with Shen Yuxin, he returned to his room, closed the door, and headed to the kitchen.

“Cooking over a wood fire... it feels nice.”

Lifting the pot's lid, he revealed a pot full of spiritual rice, its aroma tempting.

Fang Xing pondered for a moment, deciding not to eat right away. Instead, he cut off a strip of beef.

This was no ordinary beef. Purchased at the market, it was from a beast, with thick, sturdy tendrils and marbling akin to snowflakes—clearly top-grade quality.

“A meal without a dish, what a pity.”

He took out a bottle of barbecue seasoning from the Blue Star Federation.

Fang Xing diced the beef, skewering the pieces with redwood roots before grilling them slowly over the fire, occasionally sprinkling some spices.

Before long, a tantalizing aroma wafted from the kitchen, strong enough to reach the neighbors.

Next door.

“Honey, the young man we saw today, turns out he's become our neighbor.”

Shen Yuxin was explaining the day's events to Meng Yi, who had just returned home.

“What?”

Meng Yi's earlier good mood vanished, and he nervously touched the coin pouch at his waist. Their group, known as the Five Righteous Ones of Mount Cang, had only recently managed to hunt a beast, selling it for a decent amount of lower-grade spirit stones. Could they now be targeted?

“Do you think... he's here for us?”

Meng Yi asked in a hushed voice, unintentionally adding an edge of menace.

“I don't think so... His clothes alone are worth more than everything we have combined...”

Shen Yuxin thought for a moment and then shook her head.

“If it were true, we're certainly not just a push-over!”

Meng Yi pondered for a moment, "I should discuss this with my brother... Hmm, have Zi Jin come out. Tonight, we shall feast on tiger demon meat with spirit rice. Keep an eye on these few pounds of spirit rice and make some spirit rice porridge for Zi Jin daily. He's already five, and next year he can formally undergo the 'spiritual assessment.' Even if he lacks spiritual roots, he can solidify his foundations and learn martial arts diligently..."

Most martial artists in the market town have reached the end of their progress and their thoughts turn to the next generation.

"Zi Jin is naturally intelligent; I'm convinced he'll have spiritual roots."

Shen Yuxin comforted her husband and then went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.

Suddenly, an unusual aroma of grilled meat wafted through the air.

“What is this? So fragrant!”

Meng Yi unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

He's had plenty of grilled meat before, but never anything that smelled this tantalizing.

It's no wonder, though.

In Qinglin Market Town, skilled chefs are scarce, and being at the lowest rung, they consider themselves lucky to season their meat with a pinch of salt.

It's nothing compared to fusions from the interstellar era, where the marinade is a carefully crafted mix of dozens of spices—an unimaginable luxury in ancient times.

“Could it be that young fellow ordered from the Heavenly Dining Pavilion? Their dishes are crafted by spirit chefs, and only experts at the late stage of Qi refinement can afford such luxuries...”

“Dad... I want grilled meat!”

At this moment, Meng Zi Jin poked his head out, "I want to go to Uncle Fang's house next door for grilled meat... Wailing..."

“Hmm, indeed, the quality of this demon beast meat is exceptional... Combined with interstellar-era grilling spices, it's simply unparalleled."

Fang Xing took a bite from a beef skewer strung on a redwood stick, a look of satisfaction crossing his face: "It feels even better than what I had at my birthday barbecue stall... The quality of the ingredients truly makes all the difference!"

For a warrior at the second realm like Fang Xing, the elasticity of the beef demon meat was perfect.

Paired with beef, he consumed an entire pot of rice, sensing a purifying flow of blood energy rushing through his body.

“Combining spirit rice with demon beast meat—remarkable synergy!”

Fang Xing, carrying a hint of surprise, immediately assumed the 'Dragon Stance', slowly absorbing streams of vital energy.

“Indeed, the meat of mystical beasts truly complements martial artists. The sensation is akin to consuming elixirs, yet devoid of any alchemical toxins…”

“Hmm? Is that crying I hear? Who is disciplining their child next door? Could it be Meng Zi Jin today?”

“Oh well, disciplining children on a rainy day… when there's nothing else to do…”

The next day.

Fang Xing gently pushed open the door to his room, feeling the fresh air outside and nodding quietly to himself.

“Training here is surprisingly more efficient than at the temporary camp… It is said that cultivators build on spiritual veins, and Qinglin Market Town is rumored to sit atop such sacred ground. It seems those rumors hold truth…”

Stretching lazily, he was about to practice a set of martial arts forms to warm up when the door beside him also opened, revealing Meng Yi stepping out: “Brother Fang…”

“Brother Meng…”

Fang Xing returned the greeting, contemplating whether to inquire about the child but ultimately deciding against it.

After all, family matters should remain private, and besides, for someone like him who rarely experienced familial bonds, it was not his place.

“Yesterday, my humble spouse mentioned your recent move. I myself am of little means, but here are some tiger bones as a small welcome gift.”

Meng Yi offered several tiger bones, with the blood still not quite gone, evidently from the mystical tiger slain the previous day.

“Thank you, I’ll gladly accept these tiger bones. They'll make an excellent addition to my soaking wine.”

Fang Xing took the tiger bones and exchanged a few words with Meng Yi.

Meng Yi smiled ruefully, “My child is rather mischievous. Should he cause any trouble, I hope Brother Fang won't take offense…”

“Where, where…”

Fang Xing thought for a moment and went back to grab a packet of spices: “This is my secret blend for grilling meat, take it as a return gift.”

“Thank you.”

Only then did Meng Yi realize that last night's tantalizing grilled meat had been made by Fang Xing himself, prompting immediate praise: “Brother Fang, your culinary skills could earn you a place in the market town. My boy fussed all night, but finally he could quiet down.”

Mentioning his son, Meng Yi couldn't help but show a hint of pride.

Fang Xing inquired further, discovering that in this world, children’s spiritual roots solidify around the ages of six or seven, detectible by the ‘spirit measurement talismans’ and other cultivators’ techniques.

Meng Yi and his wife naturally had high hopes for Meng Zi Jin.

“Sigh... I don't expect that boy to catch the eye of the sect's spirit-measuring envoy. I just hope he has a spiritual root, even if it's the least. Then I'd be satisfied,” Meng Yi said with a wistful sigh.

The Qing Xuan Sect was a major force in the world of cultivating immortals. Traditionally, it had the practice of collecting children with exceptional spiritual roots from within its territories to take on as disciples.

These martial practitioners, who could lord over the mundane world, often gambled everything to leap into the world of cultivating immortals, pinning their hopes on future generations.

As long as future generations had spiritual roots and continued to pass on their legacy, that would form a minor lineage of cultivating immortals.

'The continuation of spirit, the continuation of bloodline... Not achieving immortality, is this the only pursuit left?'

Fang Xing also couldn't help but sigh inwardly upon hearing this.

In any case, there was no way he could enter the Qing Xuan Sect.

Not to mention his lack of spiritual roots, even if he had some, the Qing Xuan Sect didn't favor adult Qi Condensation cultivators unless they had extraordinary talents or a unique skill.

Fang Xing understood this well; it was just that they found it hard to cultivate loyalty among such individuals...

“Today, the Five Righteous Ones shall have a small gathering. Does Brother Fang wish to join us?”

Meng Yi, finding himself increasingly in tune with Fang Xing during their conversation, extended an invitation.

“No, I have other matters to attend to today...”

Fang Xing just refused when a change crossed his face, and he looked up at the sky.

Chirp chirp!

The sound of birds chirping echoed, then a massive black bird with wings spanning more than five or six meters appeared, its eyes blood-red, riding the fierce winds, intruding into the territory of Qinglin Mountain.

“A demon bird!”

Meng Yi looked up, witnessing this scene, and his expression changed drastically: “Yuxin, quickly take Zi Jin and head to the market. There's a grand array protecting it; safety is assured there.”

“Husband, what about you?”

Shen Yuxin came out holding Meng Zi Jin, anxiously looking at her husband.

“I'll go take a look...”

Meng Yi gazed in the direction of the demon bird, his expression showing a hint of excitement.

‘Do people here really have such disregard for human life?’

Fang Xing watched Meng Yi's retreating figure, furiously ranting in his mind: ‘Is he really going to fight that demon bird? It seems more like he's trying to take advantage of the chaos... This marketplace may appear safe, a haven from minor disturbances, but if something major happens, the center of the market is the most dangerous place!’

‘Living here might enhance martial arts efficiency, but there's truly no sense of security. I'd better visit the black market a few more times. Once I've saved enough money, I'll buy a laser gun...’

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(End of Chapter)