Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

As for Hou Zheng, who rented the dilapidated house, his disappearance went entirely unnoticed.

Who would care about the life or death of a second-rate cultivator who liked gambling?

What everyone was more concerned about now was the continuously rising grain prices.

The matrons and aunties would always discuss the daily-changing prices of Spirit Rice or Tribute Rice when they met, their faces tinged with a faint worry, full of anxiety about the winter that had arrived.

When the first snow fell, Old Zhu\'s house was taken by a new family.

This family of five, the patriarch surnamed Duan, was at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation and had a wife, a concubine, and two children.

Such cultivator families were not common in the alley, so they became a popular topic among the neighbors.

But the cultivator named Duan had a very good temper, he was always smiling amiably when he met anyone.

His wife and concubine were gentle and beautiful, both skilled in cooking; when they first moved in, they made quite a few desserts and shared them with their neighbors.

The two children seemed well-mannered as well.

Overall, they gave off a pleasant impression, and the family easily blended into the community.

However, Wang Chen was not interested in this.

He even changed his usual lifestyle, opting for seclusion and dedicating most of his time to cultivation practice.

The weather became colder and colder.

A series of heavy snowfalls turned Dongwu Stockade into a world draped in silver.

The surrounding rolling mountains were all covered with thick snow; at night, water would freeze upon contact, prompting many cultivators to enter a state of "wintering," rarely leaving the stockade.

Foraging and hunting in the winter was very difficult, and the days began to get tough for many cultivators.

Especially for those families without enough food to last through the winter, they had to find ways to get through this most challenging season.

Tap tap!

"They\'re here."

Hearing the noise outside, Wang Chen, who was drinking tea in the inner room, went out to open the courtyard door.

"Taoist Friend Chen Qi?"

He saw his neighbor from across the way, Chen Qi, standing at the door, hunching and wearing a worried frown.

Seeing Wang Chen, he gave a sheepish smile and said, "Taoist Friend Wang, forgive my intrusion, may I have a few words with you?"

Wang Chen was polite, calling Chen Qi "Taoist Brother," but he wouldn\'t dare assume he was superior to Wang Chen.

After all, Wang Chen was not only at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation but also a Talisman Maker with a considerable reputation.

Either aspect was beyond Chen Qi\'s reach.

Wang Chen smiled and said, "Come in, come in."

Among the neighbors, he was most familiar with Chen Qi\'s family across the way, and they communicated the most on a regular basis.

"Taoist Friend Wang, you\'ve really got a nice setup here!"

Upon entering the main room, Chen Qi, seeing the arrangement and furnishings, couldn\'t help but voice his sincere admiration.

Although he was familiar with Wang Chen, this was only his second visit to Wang Chen\'s home.

But what he saw today was very different from the last time!

The interior of the main room was laid out with thick carpets, and a fireplace had been constructed against the north wall. The wood fire inside was burning vigorously, warming the room as though it were spring.

In front of the fireplace was a tea table, with a teapot placed beside the fire, bubbling and steaming.

The whole room was clean and tidy, with just a few pieces of furniture and none of the clutter. Several calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, giving the room a refined appearance.

Chen Qi, comparing it to his own home, truly felt envious from the bottom of his heart!

"Must have cost quite a few Spirit Stones, huh?"

His favorite was the fireplace in the room, something he had never seen before.

Wang Chen, the Talisman Maker, seemed to have a breadth of spirit unlike that of ordinary Loose Cultivators.

He invited his neighbor to sit down and then brewed a cup of Spiritual Tea for him, "I\'ve just tidied up a bit, so it is more comfortable to live in, but it didn\'t cost many Spirit Stones."

Chen Qi held the teacup with both hands and took a cautious sip.

The frown that had been on his face relaxed instantly, "What wonderful tea!"

In reality, it was just very ordinary Spiritual Tea, but for Chen Qi, it was already a luxurious indulgence.

Wang Chen smiled and said, "It\'s nothing special, but if you like it, Brother Chen, take some with you when you leave."

This Spiritual Tea wasn\'t bought by Wang Chen with Spirit Stones but came from a confiscated Storage Bag which, surprisingly, contained several hundred pounds of it. He wondered which unfortunate soul loved tea so much.

As a result, Wang Chen benefited greatly without exerting any effort.

"Thank you."

Chen Qi hesitated for a moment, looking as if he had more to say but held back.

Wang Chen, perceptive to his cues, asked, "Brother Chen, is there something you need from me?"

Without a reason, one does not go to the Hall of Three Treasures. Chen Qi wasn\'t the kind of person who enjoyed dropping in uninvited to trouble others; his sudden visit must have had a compelling cause.

Chen Qi bit his lip and said, "Taoist Friend Wang, I\'m not sure how well-stocked you are with grain, but could you lend me some?"

He removed the Storage Bag hanging from his waist and placed it on the tea table, "I\'ll leave this as a deposit!"

This empty Storage Bag was the most valuable thing Chen Qi owned.

Borrow grain?

Wang Chen was taken aback; he hadn\'t expected this to be the reason for the visit.

Chen Qi misunderstood Wang Chen\'s reaction.

His face turned red with embarrassment and he said in a low voice, "I know grain is precious nowadays and everyone\'s supplies are limited. I really had no other choice. My two boys are at the age where they eat the most."

"It\'s okay for me to eat less, but it\'s painful to see the kids hungry..."

As he spoke, he became increasingly upset, "Ah, it\'s my fault, I shouldn\'t make things difficult for my friend. Let\'s just forget it."

He reached for his Storage Bag with an embarrassed look on his face.

But he grasped at thin air.

The Storage Bag was now in Wang Chen\'s hands, "Brother Chen, how much do you want to borrow?"

"Ah?"

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Chen Qi was caught off guard and replied instinctively, "Any amount will do, just give what you think is appropriate."

"Wait a moment."

Wang Chen took the Storage Bag to his bedroom and soon returned.

He handed the bag back to the uneasy Chen Qi, "Brother Chen, take this Spirit Valley for now, and you can return it to me when you\'re in a better position."

Wang Chen had filled his Storage Bag with three hundred pounds of Spirit Valley, which was the White Jade Rice he used to grow in the Outer Sect of Cloud Sun.

If used sparingly, the four members of his family could get through the winter with no problems.

Although Wang Chen had a lot of Spirit Rice, Spirit Valley, Spirit Fruit, and Beast Meat spread across several Storage Bags, he would not lend too much to Chen Qi just because of an emergency.

Wang Chen certainly understood the saying that a peck of rice in need could cause resentment.

Chen Qi was overjoyed and teary with gratitude, "Thank you, thank you, Taoist Friend Wang, I\'ll definitely repay you as soon as I can!"

His eyes had reddened.

Though it\'s said that a man should not easily shed tears, at this moment, Wang Chen appeared to be a great benefactor for his willingness to lend grain.

After sending off his deeply grateful neighbor, Wang Chen thought for a while and then left for the market.

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The first update is here.