The trio returned in style.
Fengye walked in wearing a fake golden robe made from painted curtains. Li Xiu followed, arms crossed, unimpressed. And Loki, floating again, now wore a fake merchant's hat that read "CEO of Rice".
Behind them? A cart stacked with 20 glowing bags of Baka Rice.
Feng (grinning): "Step aside peasants, the rice gods have returned."
Li Xiu (whispers): "You stapled that robe. I can see the curtains tag."
Feng: "Dignity is an illusion, like taxes."
Waiting for them was none other than Grandmaster Renzan, sipping tea, looking every bit like a wise, ancient cultivator... who was already regretting this.
Renzan: "I see you've brought more of the rice."
Feng: "Twenty bags. Premium grain. Fortified with spiritual essence, subtle arrogance, and a hint of mountain flavor."
Renzan (nodding): "You'll be compensated. I've prepared 20,000 spirit coins."
Feng froze.
Feng: "Twenty. Thousand."
Renzan: "Yes."
Feng (gasps): "For twenty bags?"
Renzan (frowning): "...That's a thousand per bag."
Feng: "Master Renzan. Master Renzanny. Master Renzanza. Do I look like a cabbage vendor to you?"
Loki: "He did steal a cabbage last week, but he's improved."
Feng (dramatically): "This rice heals hearts. Cleanses souls. My neighbor ate a spoonful and stopped being a jerk."
Li Xiu: "That was probably because you paid his debt."
Feng (ignores her): "For this miracle of a meal, I demand... 50,000 spirit coins."
The Grandmaster blinked. "Fifty. Thousand?"
Feng (serious): "Yes. For emotional damages and spiritual flavor tax."
Renzan (calmly): "...That's robbery."
Feng: "This is entrepreneurship."
Renzan (after a long sigh): "Fine."
He waved his hand. A storage ring floated toward Feng. Inside: 50,000 shining spirit coins.
Feng (catching it and sobbing fake tears): "I will name my future child after you. Maybe a mountain. Definitely a goat."
Li Xiu (to Renzan): "He would've sold it for 15,000."
Loki (to Li Xiu): "But now he can afford emotional therapy."
---
[Moments Later – Renzan Faces Rejection]
Renzan (to Li Xiu): "Now, about our discussion. I would like you to become my disciple. Your talent is undeniable."
Li Xiu (folding her arms): "Hmm."
She walked around him, slowly inspecting him like a butcher checking a discount cow.
Li Xiu: "You're powerful, yes... but also stiff, boring, and your robe smells like medicinal soup."
Renzan: "...I use ancient herbs."
Li Xiu: "You also use outdated hair oil. That bun? A crime against style."
Feng (grinning): "Oooh, roasted by the Rice Witch."
Renzan (slightly twitching): "You decline?"
Li Xiu: "Not decline. Delay. You want me as a disciple? You need... charisma. Maybe sunglasses."
Loki (producing shades from nowhere): "Like this?"
Renzan (sighing): "I have faced demon beasts, warlords, and heartbreak. But this... this is pain."
Still, after a long pause...
Li Xiu (sighing): "Fine. I accept. But only because I want access to your pill recipes."
Feng: "And your facial scrub secrets."
---
[Final Scene – Mount Baka, But Not Quite Yet]
As they loaded the cart, Renzan stood beside Fengye with a twinkle in his eye.
Renzan: "Tell me. Where exactly does this rice come from?"
Feng: "A hidden valley. Ancient soil. Rain kissed by dragons. Very rare."
Renzan (smiling): "I'd like to visit."
Feng: "Haha. No."
Renzan (offers a small pouch): "Another 10,000 spirit coins."
Feng: "No."
Renzan (raises it to 15,000): "Now?"
Feng (glares): "Master. I'm a man of principles. A mountain lord."
Renzan: "20,000."
Feng (grabbing the pouch): "...Still no."
Loki: "At this point, you're two bribes away from homelessness."
Feng: "Shut up and count the coins."
As they walked off, Renzan stared at his last sample of rice from yesterday—he'd tried a single bowl and it had cleared his meridians and sharpened his senses for the first time in decades.
He stared at the retreating trio.
Renzan (quietly): "That rice... it's not just blessed. It's something more. Who are you, mountain boy?"
Scene: City Market – Right After the Deal]
Grandmaster Renzan leaned forward, still curious, his fingers twitching with spiritual curiosity.
Renzan: "Fengye. Let me visit this place… Mount Baka. I want to see where the rice grows."
Feng (smiling nervously): "Visit? Now? Ahaha. No can do, wise sage."
Renzan (raising an eyebrow): "Why not?"
Feng (serious): "The mountain is undergoing... spiritual molting."
Li Xiu (dryly): "He means it's full of random furniture and a goat that thinks it's mayor."
Feng (ignoring her): "Give me five days. Then… maybe. BUT—no mentioning the rice's origin to anyone."
Renzan: "Not even—?"
Feng (interrupting): "Especially not royalty. If you tell a single princess, prince, noble, or sentient raccoon, the tour's off."
Loki (floating beside him in fake shades): "Mum's the word, old man. Otherwise, you'll get sued by Mount Baka's Tourism Board."
Renzan (pinching his brow): "Fine. Five days. I'll keep silent."
Feng (clapping his hands): "Excellent! Operation 'Delayed Disclosure to Desperate Disciplinary Daddy'—success!"
---
[Scene: Mount Baka – That Evening]
The trio returned in victory.
Fengye practically leapt off the cart and kissed the dirt.
Feng (dramatic): "Ah! The sacred soil of home! Rich in mystery and cow poop!"
Li Xiu: "It's like you never left."
Loki (pulling out a scroll): "Announcement! As of today, Fengye the Fabulous has officially swindled—ahem—secured over 50,000 spirit coins, which converts to..."
A massive holographic screen appeared in the air above Mount Baka.
SYSTEM NOTICE:
+100,000 BAKA POINTS RECEIVED
Congratulations, Fengye! You're now Filthy Rich™ (by rural cultivator standards).
Feng (grinning): "Loki… it's time."
Loki (matching grin): "Shall we redecorate the mountain with reckless abandon?"
Feng: "Absolutely. Let the Great Baka Renovation begin!"
Li Xiu (from the guest room): "I want an actual alchemy room this time! No more converting the pantry!"
Loki: "We'll get you a glowing alchemy dome with music and optional explosions."
Feng (rubbing his hands): "I'm gonna buy a statue of myself riding a pig and build a hot spring that heals everything except stupidity!"
---
[Final Shot: The Moon Rises Over Mount Baka]
The camera pans up to show Mount Baka glowing faintly. Golems resume weird dances in the background. The wolves in sunglasses nod at the moon like seasoned nightclub bouncers.
Loki (floating): "What now, Boss?"
Feng (looking at the moon): "Now… we upgrade. We build. We rise."
SYSTEM:
Mount Baka Level 2 Upgrade in Progress...
Next Stop: Level 3.
1. Feng's Private Villa
A fully private two-story villa, with the first and second floors merged into a luxury mansion.
Modern rare items: TV, AC, enchanted furniture, a gaming zone, even a popcorn machine that works on spiritual energy.
Entry restricted—no one except Feng and Loki allowed.
2. Pill Pavilion for Li Xiu
A glowing, sleek alchemy building with a personalized furnace.
Equipped with a spirit herb garden outside and auto-sorting pill shelves.
A mood-based ventilation system (because alchemists are dramatic).
3. Guest Hotel Complex
Several luxurious guest cottages with comfy beds, hot water baths, and crystal kitchens.
Enchanted room service golems wearing bowties.
Open for future allies, nobles, and potential recruits.
4. Security Upgrade
The entrance now has two divine wolf statues that transform into goofy yet powerful wolf guardians in danger.
Their bark scares away even Foundation Realm pests... and occasionally causes sheep stampedes.
5. Mount Baka's Divine Pet: "Bakku"
A fluffy bird that loves sleeping on Feng's head.
Secret identity: Catastrophe-Class Dragon, disguised in bird form.
Li Xiu adores him. But when the mountain is threatened, he goes from chirp to chaos incarnate.
Bonus:
Feng earned 100,000 Baka Points, unlocking tons of potential new developments in the system menu.
Loki: "We just robbed a Nascent Soul Grandmaster legally. I'm putting that on my resume."
1. Advanced Training Grounds – Complete with gravity zones, illusion spar chambers, and puppet opponents.
2. Expanded Baka Rice Fields – Twice the yield, now glowing with spiritual energy and blessed by the Mountain Spirit.
3. Restricted Core Zones – Only Feng, Loki, Bakku, and Li Xiu can access certain areas. Intruders get magically lost or zapped with "friendly" lightning.
4. Serenity Lake – A breathtaking, clear lake nestled on a ledge of Mount Baka.
5. Heavenly Sauna Pavilion – Built over the lake, it passively heals wounds, rejuvenates stamina, and improves cultivation absorption.
Fengye
Cultivation: Mid Foundation Establishment Realm
Baka Points earned: Over 100,000, after selling rice to the Grandmaster
Rich, proud, and suspiciously too happy about scamming an old man
Li Xiu
Cultivation: Early Foundation Establishment Realm
Alchemy Rank: Level 2
New Residence: Pill Tower (unlocked in Phase 3)
Features: Luxury rooms, private alchemy lab, glowing furnace, advanced bathrooms
Only she can enter. Very exclusive. Even Loki needs a VIP pass.
Relationship with Feng: Calls him "Brother Baka" affectionately, slightly bosses him around
System Unlocks (not Mount Baka specific):
Luxury Drinks & Wine Shop
Offers:
Cola of Qi – instant wake-up call with a punch
Spirit Wine – boosts stamina like a spiritual energy drink
Golden Grape Elixir – mild healing and beauty effects
Loki gleefully announces these additions while sipping soda invisibly
Scene: Pill Tower, Mount Baka – Early Morning]
Inside the newly built Pill Tower, a brilliant alchemy furnace glows with anticipation. Li Xiu, wearing a serious expression and slightly oversized alchemist gloves, stands before a table stacked with herbs.
Li Xiu (mutters): "Let's make a Tier 2 Qi-Reinforcing Pill... or blow up this mountain. Either way, something's getting cooked."
Boom!
The furnace explodes. Smoke fills the tower. The walls rattle, a golem outside ducks, and even a nearby wolf removes his sunglasses.
Li Xiu (coughing): "...Okay. That was the warm-up."
Three more explosions. Then—
Ding!
A perfectly round, glowing pill floats in her hand. A success!
Bakku (dragon in tiny bird form, sitting on the window sill, twitches): "Kweeehhh…"
He hops in, inspects the pill, and starts dancing happily.
*System Message: [Bakku has recognized Li Xiu as Secondary Master. He will now follow her commands like a loyal but dramatic pet.]
Li Xiu (smiling): "You like it, huh? Good boy."
---
[Scene: Feng's Villa – Second Floor (Feng-only zone)]
Feng's watching the tower from his telescope.
Feng: "She did it! She's alive! That means less repair cost and more profit!"
Loki (appearing behind him with a cola in hand): "Not bad for a walking stick of discipline. She might actually become useful!"
Feng: "Loki... we need to talk licenses."
Loki (narrowed eyes): "Illegal ones, right?"
Feng: "No no no! Legal ones... that I can exploit for illegal gain."
Loki: "My favorite kind!"
Feng (grinning): "So here's the plan. We use the Grandmaster. Old guy's got connections. All we need is to act humble, competent, and maybe slightly desperate."
Loki: "You just described none of your traits."
Feng: "Then I'll act. That's what actors do."
Loki: "You're about to bribe an old man using his own rice addiction. Beautiful."
Feng (bows deeply): "Thank you. I learned from the best."
Loki (winks): "I accept the compliment... even if I'm morally offended."