Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 3: Chicken Cage Level 1

Ordinary semi-spiritual fish are typically priced in fragmented spirit stones, yet Ji Yuan's five semi-spiritual fish cost him a whopping 5 low-grade spirit stones.

Nothing more, simply because he selected nothing but "high-end goods."

Upon evolving into full spiritual fish, their worth surges to 15 spirit stones at minimum.

Though evolution remains affordable in some cases, costly in others, this [Fish Pond] shows no mercy to the inferior, demanding top-quality stock for rearing.

Those 3 green-yellow chickens proved even pricier, draining a solid 5 spirit stones from his pouch.

After all, these green-yellow chickens carry traces of spiritual qi, serving as superb tonics while capable of producing spirit eggs.

Admittedly, the odds of spirit eggs are rather slim.

Expect one every three days, with maybe 1 out of 10 eggs turning into a spirit egg.

Yet once produced, each spirit egg fetches 5 broken spirit stones, making two equivalent to 1 low-grade spirit stone.

Should they yield more, these green-yellow chickens would swiftly recoup costs... according to the loose cultivator hawking them.

He pitches this line to all buyers, yet Ji Yuan took it at face value.

With ample spirit stones, he would have snapped up extras, since probability plagues everyone else.

For him... his odds hit 100%.

Indeed, the green-yellow chickens under his care drop a spirit egg daily!

After depositing all fish into the fish pond, Ji Yuan hastily assembled a basic chicken cage in the backyard from wooden planks. No sooner had he settled the three green-yellow chickens within than text materialized above it.

[Chicken Cage: lv0]

Upgrading the chicken cage requires 2 low-grade spirit stones—precisely what remained in Ji Yuan's possession.

Plus 50 pounds of rice, which he had stocked at home.

Prior to Foundation Establishment and Fasting, even top Qi Refining cultivators must consume grains, though most opt for Grain Avoidance Pills.

Gazing at the two leftover low-grade spirit stones clutched in his palm, Ji Yuan mused that his 18 stones had vanished in less than half a day.

Spirit stones truly burn away fast.

Ji Yuan sighed, concentrated his mind, and selected the upgrade for the [Chicken Cage].

As the spirit stones crumbled to dust in his grasp, the chicken cage's level shifted from 0 to 1, while new upgrade requirements and spirit effects for level 2 appeared on his interface.

[Chicken Cage lv2]

[Spirit Effect: Spiritual patterns on claws allow digging small quantities of spiritual soil (1 qian per day), temporary command over spiritual birds]

[Upgrade Conditions: Low-grade Spirit Stone ×50, Centennial Paulownia Wood for chicken cage (Not Achieved)]

Ji Yuan's eyes gleamed at the panel's display.

This level 2 chicken cage can excavate spiritual soil!

It pairs perfectly with the [Spirit Field]; imagine a field lined with pristine spiritual soil, boosted by the panel's powers—Ji Yuan could scarcely fathom the yields.

Furthermore, that temporary mastery over spiritual birds... isn't that the Beast Taming Sect's signature trick?

Come that day, rearing spirit beast-grade chickens would provide a vigilant sentinel in crises.

Still, the enormous spirit stone tally for upgrading daunted Ji Yuan somewhat.

No helping it—he'd progress steadily.

With [Chicken Cage] and [Fish Pond] arranged, dusk approached. He cooked the scant rice remaining to quell his hunger, then retired for a sound sleep.

Hardly settled on his bed, thoughts of his cultivation road flooded his mind.

His current realm stood at Qi Cultivation Level 2, gifted with four spirit roots: Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire. In the Cultivation World, four or five spirit roots qualify as pseudo spirit roots.

Not impressive, as every fisherman in Zengtou City shares pseudo spirit roots.

Even "geniuses" burdened with five spirit roots slave away at cultivation, rendering Ji Yuan's four roots a relative blessing.

Those with dual or triple spirit roots—the genuine cultivation prospects—were snatched early by the Water Dragon Sect to form its core.

Heaven-defying single spirit roots? Zengtou City has never witnessed such marvels.

Ji Yuan's practiced cultivation method is the ubiquitous "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill" across Zengtou City.

A Water Element technique, its grandiose name promises dominance, yet effects prove middling.

Its sole notable trait: smoother spiritual qi flow for practitioners versus other methods... a perk shared by all Water Element techniques.

But what cultivator in Zengtou City skips the "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill"?

Commonality strips away uniqueness.

His spell repertoire is laughably sparse, mastering only the rudimentary Water Ball Technique. The marginally advanced Water Arrow Technique succeeds inconsistently.

Unavoidable; the original body's owner fretted over spirit stone earnings and underwater dives during rare free moments, leaving scant time for spell practice.

Naturally, low cultivation bore the brunt.

At Qi Cultivation Level 2, one Water Arrow Technique empties the dantian entirely.

Recovery demands half a day.

Beneath crushing Immortal Residence fees, market loose cultivators spare no thought for extras.

Now fortunes shift; Level 1 [Chicken Cage] and [Fish Pond] eliminate dive risks, freeing him for pure cultivation.

The following morning.

Ji Yuan rose promptly and checked the backyard. The fish pond held the same five semi-spiritual fish—no surprise, as daily evolution proves impossible.

The panel noted a probabilistic chance, though its exact rate remains a mystery.

For the chicken cage, shooing out the three hens revealed three spirit eggs glowing softly white.

He swiftly gathered them, tossed handfuls of rice to the green-yellow chickens, and dashed indoors.

Spirit eggs in hand demanded immediate use while fresh. He cracked one, swallowing the spirit liquid; sensing its pristine spiritual qi down his throat, he launched the "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill".

The technique circulated flawlessly, drawing in the egg's spiritual qi via meridians to his dantian.

Soon, one fully absorbed, strands of spiritual qi bolstered his dantian—better than Ji Yuan expected!

Three might propel him to Qi Cultivation Level 3!

Without pause, he devoured the second post-first, then the third. Dozens of spiritual qi wisps filled his dantian, yet a trace short of breakthrough.

Absorbing ambient spiritual qi from heaven and earth tempted him, but time stretched unknown.

His eyes landed on the three spirit egg shells... moments later, Ji Yuan gulped them down too.

At last, faint spiritual qi dispersed through his form.

Ji Yuan’s dantian gaseous spiritual qi hit saturation, shattering an unseen barrier—his aura strengthened subtly.

Qi Cultivation Level 3, attained!

Ji Yuan exhaled foul qi, hidden body injuries fading away.

He devoted half a day more to consolidate; fully anchored at Level 3 Qi Cultivation,

Though Level 3 in Zengtou City marks him ordinary, he now matches the pack.

Among Zengtou City cultivators, Level 3 Qi Cultivation stays unremarkable, yet suffices to trail the leaders.

For pseudo spirit root holders like him, it represents the peak, as dual/triple root talents were claimed by Water Dragon Sect as pillars.

Unrivaled single spirit roots remain unseen in Zengtou City.

The cultivation art Ji Yuan wields is Zengtou City's prevalent "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill".

A water element method, its title evokes supremacy, but power lags average.

Unique mildly: spiritual qi flows easier for its users over alternatives... inherent to Water Element arts.

Yet nearly every Zengtou City cultivator cultivates this "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill".

Ubiquity erases distinction.

Known spells number few, proficient solely in basic Water Ball Technique; advanced Water Arrow Technique fires hit-or-miss.

Inevitable; his body's prior owner schemed for spirit stones and dives in spare instants, skipping spell drills.

Chiefly, cultivation proved too shallow.

Level 2 Qi Cultivation saw Water Arrow Technique drain dantian dry.

Replenishment spanned half a day.

Immortal Residence fee burdens left market loose cultivators no bandwidth.

Yet now, Level 1 [Chicken Cage] and [Fish Pond] banish dive perils—cultivation takes priority.

The next morning.

Ji Yuan awoke and headed backyard. Fish pond unchanged with prior five semi-spiritual fish, naturally, evolution skips days.

Panel specified probabilistic, exact odds unclear.

Chicken cage yielded bounty: evicting three hens exposed three faintly white-glowing spirit eggs.

He snatched them fast, scattered rice for green-yellow chickens, and retreated inside.

Palming spirit eggs, Ji Yuan cracked and quaffed the liquid promptly. Pure spiritual qi coursed in, prompting "Jade Sea Tide Generation Skill" activation to funnel it to dantian.

Absorbing one, extra spiritual qi wisps in dantian hinted three could shatter to Level 3 Qi Cultivation!

Fearing time slip, he chased with second, then third; dantian brimmed with wisps, barely shy.

Heaven-earth qi absorption crossed mind, but eyes fixed on remnant shells... soon powdered, Ji Yuan ingested them.

Thin spiritual qi from shells suffused body; dantian qi peaked, barrier crumbled—energy surged faintly.

Half-day stabilization followed; Level 3 Qi Cultivation locked in, he rose.

Zengtou City cultivators deem this realm mundane, but he keeps pace with most now.

Level 3 Qi Cultivation cultivators abound in Zengtou City, pseudo spirit roots capping progress sans extra spirit stones.

Spirit stones scarce beyond rent—whence more?

Past owner puzzled, but Ji Yuan grasped: Immortal Residence fees foster Water Dragon Sect's petty self-reliance.

Breakthrough sealed, Ji Yuan drilled Water Arrow Technique backyard.

Water Ball Technique lacks punch, failing even spirit fish; Water Arrow Technique delivers reliability.

Evening fell after day's toil; rest beckoned when Old Man Huang rapped the door.

Spotting Ji Yuan, he beamed:

"Ji boy, do you need a wife?"