Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1660A – Many Pagoda Mountain

The Green Rain Sect member opposite Yang Fanshan had a wry smile on his face, "The guest in the yard seems to have taken a huge liking to the specialty immortal fruit from Langya Area. She eats a few plates every day. There is a detailed breakdown of the costs in the receipt and I have already given a discount. You can look through it if you are not assured."

The cost of seven days of immortal fruits had exceeded the price of the rental. This was the first time the man had encountered something like this as well.

Jin Shen said, "My Lord, you don't have to look through it already. The Green Rain Sect is famous and they would not bother about such a small sum."

The Green Rain Sect member smiled, "This old man is right. We operate in a fair manner and we will never commit crimes and lie."

Yang Fanshan stared at him and smiled, "I am just a little surprised; let me pay."

After he said this, he cupped his hands, "Immortal, how many more immortal fruits are there on the ferry? I would like to buy some more."

The Green Rain Sect member replied, "Of course we have some more. I will give you additional discounts."

After Yang Fanshan paid, the four people disembarked the ferry.

As expected of Many Pagoda Mountain, it was a famous area in Langya Area and its harbor was much larger than Song City's. Aside from the heap of street stands by the side of the road, shops along the street were operating at full capacity. It was not an exaggeration to say that business was booming.

The four of them did not have any intentions to shop along the street. However, when Qin Yu strode down the streets, three shops caught his eye.

He did not enter the shops, but from the decorations outside, he could guess what they were selling.

The first shop had a banner that read 'A hundred years celebration. Welcome to all guests to enjoy a 20% discount on all items.'

The second shop's banner had more words, 'Discounts upon discounts. Those who pass by without entering, your fart is as smelly as a dog's fart.'

Comparatively, the third shop was much simpler, 'My neighbor's curses are incredible!'

When Qin Yu walked past, he saw from a distance that a few lads from the third store were throwing insults.

Their faces were red from anger and they wanted to tear open the mouths of the other party. However, none of them actually attacked. At the most, they made a threatening gesture and the bulk of the insults came from their mouths.

The commotion attracted a lot of people. A few lads from neighboring stores glared at them with a cold look in their eyes. There was a strange smile on their faces and it seemed like they were looking at a dog fight.

However, they did not realize that as the group of lads from the third store shouted and cursed with exaggerated actions, they attracted a large number of customers to their store. They accused other stores of selling fake goods.

Compared to the other stores, their business was better by more than two times…it was a very good marketing technique. However, those who could think of such a technique must not be very simple. Otherwise, with the way that those lads were scolding others, they would puke out blood very soon.

Once they left the harbor, Many Pagoda Mountain appeared before them. This scenic and famous place was now controlled by a sect called the Red Cloud Sect.

Whether they were climbing the mountain for leisure, seeking fortunes, or cultural sightseeing, everyone had to buy a ticket that cost a copper coin to climb the mountain.

The Central Desolate was ruled by the Qin Empire. A currency system had been established a long time ago. For instance, copper coins were created with two special materials. After a fixed ratio of each was mixed together, the copper coins were melded together via a special technique. They were spread throughout various parts of the Central Desolate Area and they could be used through the empire.

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The use of copper coins was not only a system that kept power for the Great Qin Empire, it was also used because the copper coins were a weak spiritual device that could absorb spiritual energy of the world.

Every copper coin could absorb a fixed amount of energy that was so pure, cultivators would be able to directly absorb it without having to refine the energy. Simply put, it could speed up cultivation and turn spiritual energy of the world into a cultivator's own energy.

However, not many people would do this. Because after absorbing the spiritual energy, the copper coin would be destroyed and it would lose its original purpose. Compared to the spiritual energy a copper coin would give a cultivator, it was much better to use the copper coin to purchase something.

For a cultivator, a copper coin did not mean much and accumulating a mountain of them would not be meaningful. Each year, numerous cultivators would come to Many Pagoda Mountain and they streamed over like a river.

The shops that started doing business here, especially along the street that Qin Yu took from the harbor to the mountain, had booming trade. Furthermore, thirty percent of the shops were owned by the Red Cloud Sect and they were pure rental shops that could not be sold to business owners.

This was another cash flow stream. Additionally, the Red Cloud Sect had a good business sense and it was well-known that it was filthy rich.

Qin Yu would save whatever he could save. As such, for him, spending a copper coin was akin to wasting spiritual energy. Therefore, it was Yang Fanshan who paid.

When this Lord Yang spent money, he really spent it without blinking. If he could not pass through this test, there was only death for him. Why else would he bother about money? Furthermore, the money was from the Yang Family and it was not his money. He did not feel his heart ache from this.

After handing over four copper coins, he received a wooden pass to climb the mountain. It did not seem to be made of any special material but it felt good in his hands. There were the words, 'A spirit hidden in the pagoda in the mountains' carved on it.

The carvings were very pretty and Qin Yu unwittingly ran his fingers across them.

At the bottom of the mountain, the female cultivator from the Red Cloud Sect who was in charge of handing out the wooden passes smiled, "If you like it, you can take the wooden pass with you. You only need three copper coins for it."

Without a second thought, Yang Fanshan handed over a bunch of copper coins. There were twelve in total.

The female cultivator counted the coins to ensure it was the right amount. She smiled, "Alright, I will record this down. When you leave the mountain, you can bring the wooden passes with you."

The four of them climbed the mountain. The name of the mountain, Many Pagoda Mountain, was well deserved as there were a few hundred stone pagodas on it. Every ten steps, they would see another stone pagoda.

The stone pagodas had six faces and their design was very much like those of the ancient times. It was different from current construction methods and there were obvious age marks on the pagodas.

The material for the stone pagodas was mottled and there was mold all over them. Some words seemed to have been carved on the pagodas before. However, the words were no longer legible and one could only see vague strokes across the pagodas. Today, the numerous cultivators climbing the mountain chase to surround one particular pagoda. They carefully studied the words and tried to understand what was written on it.

Qin Yu eavesdropped and got a rough idea of what happened. Roughly three hundred years ago, a disciple from a minor sect climbed up Many Pagoda Mountain. As if he were drunk and intoxicated, he stayed at this pagoda called Welcome Pagoda for three days.

When he finally regained their senses to leave, his cultivation potential surged at the moment he stepped off the mountain. Then, he led the way for the minor sect to become a major sect that became famous for its ways of refining flying swords.

This sect refined top quality flying swords, and many sword sects in the Central Desolate were fond of the weapons. As such, they formed good relationships with the major sects and they were able to stand their ground amongst the powerful.

After the man became famous, he publicly announced that he obtained an ancient sword record in Welcome Pagoda. This created a frenzy here.

No one believed that the accomplished Sect Master of a major sect would lie about such a thing. As such, Many Pagoda Mountain instantly grew famous and Welcome Pagoda in particular received the attention of many.

Qin Yu took a good look at the pagoda and confirmed that he did not have any fate with it. Rourou had already walked away.

Similarly, Yang Fanshan and the old servant, Jin Shen received nothing and they quickly followed the two.

"Many Pagoda Mountain does have fate, but this fate and fortune will not go to anyone. Otherwise, the Red Cloud Sect would have sealed the mountain long ago and dedicated it as a sacred ground for their own disciples to receive fortunes." Jin Shen explained in a respectful manner. He was already preparing himself for his later life.

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After all, even though they were not targeting him, killing him was also a possibility. As such, he decided he ought to create a good impression of himself. Perhaps he would be saved at a critical moment…this was a precious experience he gained after so many years.

Qin Yu smiled, "There are numerous fortunes in this world but not many who are fated."

Rourou scoffed and rolled her eyes. She disdained his words.

"If that is really the case, why would people compete for Great Dao and cultivate? They could just wait for the right fortune to fall upon them."

Qin Yu coughed lightly and pretended not to hear her words. Beside him, Yang Fanshan and Jin Shen pretended to be deaf and they quietly admired the scenery.

This mountain that was flooded with a few hundred pagodas was also a place that was filled with thick spiritual energy in the dense forests and calming spring waters.

Admire the scenery, admire it!

Anyone who had a mind of their own knew that the lady was the one that they had to pay attention to.

Qin Yu knew this logic well and he unintentionally rubbed his nose. He glanced at Rourou as though pleading her to give him some face.

Rourou turned and left.

Later, they looked at a few other stone pagodas. Because Yang Fanshan did not know which pagoda the pagoda keeper was at, he could only continue seeking him out.

Thankfully, all he needed to do was confirm that the pagoda keeper was on the mountain. Although there were multiple stone pagodas, he would only be wasting a bit of time by surveying them.

Two hours later, Qin Yu realized that Rourou was staring at a particular weird-looking stone pagoda for a while. It was weird because the front view of the stone pagoda was like a Candied Haw. It was eleven levels tall and it was the size of a ship.

The surface of it was smooth but there was nothing on it. As the sun rays shone down, there was a thin light hue surrounding it. Aside from that, there was nothing else that stood out about this pagoda.

There were a few others beside this pagoda. A man and a woman wore similar-looking clothes and it was evident that they were fellow disciples of the same sect. His expression was cold and there was a deep and mysterious feeling around him. He appeared to have a good background.

Beside them was an unkempt old man. There appeared to be a layer of grease on the front side of his clothes. His hair was tied up in a way that there was some essence that drifted off it occasionally.

Lastly, there was a lady. Her face was covered by a bamboo hat but from her figure, one could tell that she would be a beauty.

The four people were gathered around the stone pagoda now. Suddenly, Qin Yu's eyes lit up and he stared at the man and woman with the cold expressions.

Even though the man was trying hard to hide it, there was a gleeful look in his eyes. A few moments later, the two turned around and left. There was a knowing look in the old man's eyes and he glanced at Qin Yu. Then, he turned around and walked away.

The woman with the bamboo hat seemed to have hesitated but she eventually chased after the man and woman.

Qin Yu kept all of this to himself and he murmured, "Is there something good?"

Beside him, the observing Yang Fanshan had already led Jin Shen to the opposite end of the stone pagoda.

Rourou nodded, "Interesting, I seem to have underestimated Many Pagoda Mountain."

Qin Yu did not press for more. The thing that just happened was the best example.

He could ask her when they left Many Pagoda Mountain. Otherwise, if an accident happened, it would be troublesome.