2: Chapter 2 Peaceful Gambling Den

Li Qing studied the panel carefully, and after a moment, he grasped the trick to using it.

With a light tap of his fingertip, the attributes of the four buildings—fish pond, beast enclosure, Spirit Well, and farmland—immediately appeared clearly before his eyes.

[fish pond lv1]

[Effect: Spiritual Fish growth rate increased by 10%, 5% chance to advance, 1% chance to actively recognize master]

[Construction conditions: Qi Refining Stage 1, 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]

[beast enclosure lv1]

[Effect: Spirit Beast growth rate increased by 10%, 5% chance to advance, 1% chance to actively recognize master]

[Construction conditions: Qi Refining Stage 1, 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]

[Spirit Well lv1]

[Effect: Condenses one drop of spirit dew every month]

[Construction conditions: Qi Refining Stage 1, 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]

[farmland lv1]

[Effect: Spirit plant growth rate is twice that of the outside world]

[Construction conditions: Qi Refining Stage 1, 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones]

After reading the attributes of the four unlocked buildings, a large amount of information about the Portable Cave Abode suddenly flooded into Li Qing's mind.

After digesting these memories, he finally had a preliminary understanding of this sudden System.

This Portable Cave Abode was an independent small space. Besides providing a stone cave as a place to live, it could also build various functional buildings.

The higher the Rank of the Immortal Cave, the more buildings could be unlocked.

This was basically a Heaven-Defying cheat designed specifically for building, upgrading, and nurturing.

As long as the conditions were met, he could build and upgrade buildings within the Immortal Cave, and the unique effects of each building would eventually nourish the host himself.

Take the fish pond and beast enclosure, for example. They could raise half-Spiritual Fish and half-Spirit Beasts, catalyzing their advancement into true Spiritual Fish and Spirit Beasts, which would mean a tenfold profit upon resale.

If he could raise a Rank 1 Spirit Beast to Rank 2 or Rank 3 in the future... the profits would be immeasurable.

Not to mention the spirit dew produced by the Spirit Well, which was a supreme treasure for a Cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage to instantly replenish Qi; one drop was worth ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Li Qing subconsciously felt his pockets and took out all his assets: a tael of broken silver, a hundred copper coins, not a single Spirit Stone.

"Dammit, no Spirit Stones!"

A single copper coin could stump a hero, but now it was a Spirit Stone that forced him into a dead end. Forget five, he couldn't even take out one.

In an instant, Li Qing felt like a deflated ball, slumping dejectedly on the open ground of the Immortal Cave.

"Spirit Stones, I must get Spirit Stones!"

It wasn't just for the living expenses that had to be handed in tomorrow, but also for this Heaven-Defying turning point before him.

If he couldn't grasp this opportunity, he could guess the outcome waiting for him with his toes.

A living person can't be stifled by a single drop of urine!

With his thoughts racing, Li Qing clenched his fists tightly, a flash of desperate determination crossing his eyes.

A moment later, Li Qing stood outside Old Man Liu's courtyard gate, took a deep breath, and prepared his emotions.

"Bang, bang, bang."

The crisp knocking sound rang out.

"Who is it?"

The courtyard gate creaked open, and Old Man Liu's gullied old face poked out.

Seeing that the visitor was Li Qing, he was stunned for a moment, then a trace of gloating flashed quickly in his eyes.

This kid finally figured it out?

"Uncle Liu, I've thought it through. As long as I can save this little life, doing anything is worth it. You... you take me to see Boss Scar."

As Li Qing spoke, he forced a look of helplessness on his pale face, appearing as if he had been driven to a dead end and had no choice but to bow his head.

"It's good that you can think it through! It's better to live poorly than to die well; saving your life first is the most important thing."

Old Man Liu spoke quickly, his tone sounding exceptionally earnest.

"It's not that your uncle is cheating you; right now, in the entire Anping Market, only Boss Scar can lend you Spirit Stones. Don't worry, Boss Scar keeps his word and treats everyone fairly. It's only three Spirit Stones. If you work hard this month, you will definitely be able to pay it back on time."

"I believe you, you ghost!"

Li Qing mocked him fiercely in his heart, but on the surface, he was respectful:

"Yes, yes, yes, then I will trouble Uncle Liu to take me there. This is my first time seeing Boss Scar, and I don't know the rules. I ask Uncle Liu to give me some pointers in advance. I will remember this favor in my heart."

Even though he knew the other party was digging a pit to harm him, he still had to bow his head and thank him. For the sake of those key buildings in the Immortal Cave, Li Qing had to grit his teeth and endure it.

"There are no rules, just be obedient. Let's go, I'll take you there now. The sooner you get the Spirit Stones, the sooner you can rest easy."

Old Man Liu picked up his pipe and took a puff, his mouth unable to hide his smugness—the referral fee was secure.

"Many thanks, Uncle Liu!"

Li Qing followed silently behind him, silent all the way.

Passing through the noisy market, the two finally stopped in front of a grand pavilion—the Pingan Gambling Den.

"Pingan Gambling Den keeps you safe; once you enter Pingan, you will be safe year after year."

The couplet at the entrance was full of irony.

Who in the entire Anping Market didn't know that once you enter Pingan, you will never be at peace for the rest of your life.

As soon as he pushed open the door, the deafening noise rushed at him.

Li Qing was slightly stunned, then realized—he couldn't hear any movement outside; it turned out there was a sound-isolating Formation.

The gamblers were red-eyed, cursing and roaring, screaming their lungs out. That crazy appearance made Li Qing feel a strange sense of familiarity.

Sure enough, gamblers all over the world were the same. No matter which world they were in, once they were at the gambling table, they lost their minds.

When he saw the Spirit Stones scattered all over the gambling table, Li Qing deliberately licked his dry lips, his eyes slightly reddened, revealing a look of boundless greed.

Seeing this expression, a trace of undisguised mockery flashed in Old Man Liu's eyes.

"Qingwa, don't just stand there, follow me in."

"Ah... oh, oh."

Li Qing looked away from the Spirit Stones with an expression of reluctance, following closely behind Old Man Liu into the inner hall of the gambling den.

In the center, sitting on a high-quality golden silk nanmu carved chair, was a middle-aged man in brocade robes.

He was fair-skinned and clean-shaven, with a hideous scar running across half his left cheek, paired with a pair of feminine, bone-chilling eyes, emitting a thick sense of oppression that kept strangers away.

This person was Boss Scar, the underground boss who controlled Anping Market—lending usury and running the gambling den—a genuine Rank 7 Qi Refining expert.

Just the aura he inadvertently emitted made Li Qing, who was at Qi Refining Stage 2, feel a tightness in his chest, almost unable to breathe.

Especially the way the other party looked at him made Li Qing feel uncomfortable all over, his back inexplicably tensed.

"Boss Scar, this is my neighbor, Li Qing, Li Dayuan's son. He wants to borrow some Spirit Stones from you today to tide him over."

Old Man Liu bowed, his tone humble to the extreme.

Li Qing shrank behind him, deliberately putting on a timid, cowardly, and trembling appearance.

Boss Scar glanced at Li Qing nonchalantly, his gaze falling back on Old Man Liu with deep meaning.

"Li Dayuan's son? Qi Refining Stage 2? The skin is not bad, but it's a pity, a tiger father has a dog for a son."

Li Dayuan was Li Qing's long-deceased father, who was once a somewhat well-known Cultivator at Qi Refining Level 5.

"Boss Scar, you may not know, but Qingwa has Mixed Spiritual Roots."

Old Man Liu's words directly exposed Li Qing's worst cultivation Aptitude.

Boss Scar nodded slightly, suddenly understanding in his heart.

With Mixed Spiritual Roots, to be able to cultivate to Qi Refining Stage 2 at this age, Li Dayuan must have spent a lot of resources back then.

"Kid, how many Spirit Stones do you want to borrow?"

Boss Scar didn't want to talk nonsense and spoke straightforwardly.

"Thirty... thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Li Qing stammered, his voice trembling.

As his words fell, the inner hall was instantly silent.

Boss Scar and several of his subordinates stared at him in astonishment, and a bald, burly man couldn't help but laugh out loud, cursing with a hideous face:

"Kid, are you here to amuse me? Even if I sold you, you wouldn't be worth that much!"

For a time, roars of laughter filled the room.

"Qingwa, did you accidentally add a zero? Three Spirit Stones are enough for your living expenses!"

Old Man Liu was also anxious and quickly tried to smooth things over.

Thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, you kid really dare to ask!

Li Qing sneered in his heart.

He was originally asking for an sky-high price, waiting for the counter-offer.

If it were just for the mere living expenses, he would never have stepped into this Pingan Gambling Den.

What he wanted were the Spirit Stones to build the Spirit Well.

Among the four unlocked buildings, only the Spirit Well was most suitable for the current desperate situation.

The fish pond and beast enclosure relied entirely on a 5% probability; if he couldn't advance in a year of farming, he would have died long ago.

Although the farmland had time acceleration, a month's time was simply not enough.

After comprehensive weighing, Li Qing made up his mind—build the Spirit Well first.

After all, spirit dew is a good thing that can instantly restore the Qi of a Cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage, and it is priceless.

One drop of spirit dew, on the black market, is worth at least one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

"No... I didn't say it wrong, it is thirty Spirit Stones."

Li Qing's face flushed red, but he still gritted his teeth, his tone exceptionally firm.

"Kid, if your parents were still alive, I might still be able to lend you thirty Spirit Stones. But now... can you produce equivalent collateral?"

Boss Scar's feminine voice rang out slowly.

"Collateral? I... I don't have any."

Li Qing shook his head blankly.

If he had collateral, he would have gone to the pawnshop long ago; why come to this den of tigers and wolves.

"No, you have it."

Boss Scar's tone was firm.

"I have it?"

Li Qing pretended to be confused, scratched his head, and looked around, only to see everyone staring at him with meaningful gazes.