Chapter 3: The Ancestor Trembles with Rage, While the Foolish and Penniless Worry Over Money

Qi Tight slumped in despair. “First level of Qi Refining… It’s over. Years of painstaking cultivation, all for nothing.” As soon as he realized his spiritual energy was no longer leaking out, he discovered his cultivation had fallen to the very first level of Qi Refining. Instantly, his cheeks no longer stung—because now, it was his heart that hurt.

“Look at that miserable face. Not even when your master died were you this devastated,” Shangguan Lingxi cast him a sidelong glance before continuing, “The Xuantian Sect toiled for tens of thousands of years, and in the end, it was all for your benefit. Good thing you’re one of us, or I’d have slapped you to death by now.”

“Once this symbiotic contract is established, the two of you will be bound—sharing life and death. Even if those hostile forces discover you in the future, they won’t be able to kill you outright.”

She sighed, watching Qi Tight’s conflicted expression. “What? I’m tied to that thing for life? If it gets caught and stewed someday…” He dared not finish; after all, he was still human and not worried about being eaten, but this pig… Those plump legs and arms would tempt anyone.

“Oink oink~”

“What? You want me to protect you?” Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, and Qi Tight erupted, “I can barely protect myself! You want me to use my face to shield you? Sure, I’m a little bit handsome, but looks can’t fill your belly!”

Shangguan Lingxi watched his rambling and couldn’t help but want to smack him. “Where am I supposed to hit you? Forget it!” Seeing Qi Tight was already battered and bruised, she reluctantly withdrew her delicate hand.

“There are two crucial traits to this symbiotic contract. Remember them well,” Shangguan Lingxi said solemnly. “First, your lives are bound together. Second, your cultivation will be linked.”

“So I not only have to keep Dankang alive, but I must also cultivate diligently and help it reach the Grand Ascension stage as soon as possible!”

“Linked cultivation? So whatever cultivation level it is, that’s what I’ll be?” Qi Tight immediately seized on the key point and looked at the little pig, face alight with excitement.

“Not bad, you’ve got some brains. In the future, a portion of your cultivation will feed back to Dankang, and likewise, when its cultivation rises, yours will too!” Shangguan Lingxi nodded approvingly, thinking this child wasn’t completely hopeless.

“Brother, if one of us has to work hard, I hope it’s you, my dear pig!” Qi Tight hugged the little pig tightly, showering it with kisses without the slightest hesitation.

Given the choice between his own effort and the pig’s, Qi Tight had no doubt—let the pig do the work!

“I can’t take this anymore!” Shangguan Lingxi finally snapped, grabbing Qi Tight for another round of pummeling, only stopping when his cries shifted from ‘ancestor’ to ‘miss elder sister.’

“Elder sister, look—I spent seven or eight years just to reach the third level of Qi Refining. Building a Foundation in this lifetime is a pipe dream. You expect me to reach Grand Ascension? You’d be better off hoping for the pig!” Qi Tight pointed to the pig, his face full of aggrieved innocence.

Shangguan Lingxi stared at his vacant expression, her silver teeth clenched and fists shaking. He clung to the pig, trembling.

“I think you make a good point!” she said unexpectedly, stroking her chin thoughtfully instead of striking him again.

“That said, you still need to work hard and earn money. Dankang is not like other spirit beasts—it requires a massive amount of spiritual energy to grow. Breathing and absorbing is far from enough; you’ll have to provide it with plenty of rare treasures.”

With a wave of her hand, she tossed a book from the fire into his arms—“How to Raise a Pig.” Oddly, though it had been burning for ages, the book was unscathed.

“Read it thoroughly. It was written by an immortal and details everything you need to raise Dankang from a piglet to adulthood.” Though Shangguan Lingxi had little faith in Qi Tight, the sect’s survival now rested on this last, crooked sapling. She had no choice but to try to straighten him.

“What? It needs over ten thousand first-grade spiritual herbs and fruits just to reach Foundation Establishment?” Qi Tight nearly choked, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “A single first-grade fruit is worth dozens of spirit stones! I’m broke!”

“Why are you yelling? If you don’t have money, go earn it. I hear some demonic cultivators are interested in human blood—you could sell a few buckets. Or sell off some useless organs for cash,” Shangguan Lingxi grinned. “See? Making money is easy.”

“Really? I won’t die, right? Maybe I should sell my stomach first—make money and never need to eat again.” Qi Tight squinted, seriously calculating.

“I—” Shangguan Lingxi’s ethereal form trembled with rage, nearly dissipating.

“I’ll hold it in! I’ll hold it in!—No, I can’t!” In all her thousands of years, Shangguan Lingxi had never been this angry.

“Hoo—” In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to strike him again. If she accidentally killed this fool, the sect would be extinct.

“If you don’t want to cultivate, then figure out how to make money.” Shangguan Lingxi sighed helplessly.

“Ancestor, you’ve lived so long—teach me how to make money.” Qi Tight gazed at her pitifully.

‘Damn, all the cultivation resources used to be supplied by the sect. When did I ever worry about money? Well, I can’t let him know that!’ Shangguan Lingxi narrowed her beautiful eyes, making Qi Tight nervous. “Making money isn’t hard—robbery, ambush, kidnapping, extortion, all very lucrative.”

“Ancestor, with my first-level Qi Refining, who do you suggest I rob?” Qi Tight tilted his head, almost tempted.

‘He actually believes this? He really is a few bricks short.’ Shangguan Lingxi gave up on saving him. “Figure it out yourself. I’m tired.” With that, she slipped into the “How to Raise a Pig” book.

“My goodness! The book can hide people? What a treasure—must be worth a fortune.” Seeing her disappear, Qi Tight hurriedly opened it.

“Seventh-grade spiritual fruits… superior elixirs… peerless spirit stones…” Qi Tight snapped the book shut, nearly suffocating with shock.

“This thing eats too much—how am I supposed to feed it?” He stared at the pig, utterly at a loss.

“I can’t even fill my own belly—where am I supposed to find all those treasures for you?” He sighed, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and leapt up.

“That’s it! I’ll go to Mistress! She’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an alchemist. If I learn alchemy from her, I could finally make some money!”

Brimming with excitement, he forgot all about his pain. “Yes! I’ll go to Cloud Ascension Pavilion and find Mistress. Even if Master always turned her away, as long as I flatter her, she’ll surely accept me—especially for Master’s sake. Then…”

He began to picture himself in brand new robes, surrounded by admirers offering roast pig’s trotters in tribute. Unconsciously, he drooled all over the floor.

“Oink oink~” The little pig, sensing his excitement, oinked along with him.

“Haha! Tomorrow, we’re off to Cloud Ascension Pavilion to find Mistress!”

“Growl—”

“I’m starving…”