Cultivation towards immortality, starting from being a fisherman

Golden Sparrow City, Chishao Town.

The town was currently hosting a banquet.

Drums and gongs were resounding through the streets as crowds surged.

The children, delighted by candies, served as a lively backdrop around a large courtyard.

The owner of the courtyard, who was also one of the major householders in the town and self-proclaimed Rat Taoist Old Master Hong, was celebrating his seventieth birthday.

He sat upright in the main house with all three doors open, receiving congratulations from friends, family, and clansmen.

Those closely related with deep backgrounds were allowed inside for tea after offering their well-wishes.

Those of ordinary relation and background would wisely leave the courtyard after presenting their gifts to join the banquet.

Outside the large courtyard, more than a dozen middle-aged tycoons in exquisite garments had gathered in the loft of a tavern, their expressions complex as they watched the activities inside the yard.

"This Rat Taoist's show is getting grander and grander," one of them remarked.

"He was just a menial worker for our Ma Family, and who knows how much luck his ancestors accumulated for him to have come this far!"

A tall, slender man who seemed to be the leader of the tycoons spoke with a hint of annoyance:

"And now he's even trying to get his hands on our lands, blatantly challenging the order of Chishao Town!"

"Indeed, relying on those giant rats, the Rat Taoist has become increasingly overbearing these past years," another joined in.

Several people by the side of the middle-aged man immediately echoed his sentiments:

"Our Chishao Town won't allow such rampant individuals to exist!"

"If everyone has come, then it must mean we've all made up our minds regarding the proposal last time!"

Seeing that the atmosphere was ripe, the leading middle-aged man from the Ma Family began to get to the point.

They were all local tyrants who had been managing properties in Chishao Town for many years.

The Ma Family, in particular, had members serving in the Golden Sparrow City's government for generations. When anything came up, it would often be handled under the lead of the Ma Family.

Historically on Water Blue Star, their family could already be considered that of a wealthy landowning gentry.

Yet, the order that seemed stable and pleasant to them was disrupted when the Rat Taoist returned to his hometown as an old man.

This Rat Taoist wasn't a cultivator, nor did he have an Immortal Sect identity, but he possessed the ability to control a group of rats.

And those rats, while not transcendent, were far more vicious and powerful than ordinary rats.

The local tyrants found themselves outmatched by this 'strong dragon' who was taking away their profits!

Over the years, members of the Rat Taoist's family hadn't refrained from clashing with the younger generations of other families, fighting and brawling.

No wonder the public's anger was gradually ignited, providing the Ma Family with an opportunity to deal with him jointly, taking advantage of the dissatisfaction caused by the Rat Taoist's ostentatious behavior this time.

Their method was not ingenious but very effective.

It involved the Ma Family taking the lead, with each family contributing a sum of wealth. The Ma Family would then use it to hire martial artists or even loose cultivators from Golden Sparrow City to challenge or launch a surprise attack on the Rat Taoist.

The middle-aged man from the Ma Family listened as the tycoons by his side each stated the amount of wealth they agreed to contribute.

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, and his heart swelled with pride.

In truth, being the largest gentry in Chishao Town, the Ma Family could easily suppress the Rat Taoist's arrogance by deploying their trump card, the tribute.

The Rat Taoist's abilities were great, but he was just part of the non-righteous Side Sects. Ordinary people might not have solutions, but asking a cultivator would make it easy to find a way to deal with him.

But one's trump card shouldn't be played too readily; if used so easily, how could it be called a trump card?

And if they dealt with him that directly, how would they make money?

The Ma Family leader had already done the math in his heart.

The money put forward by them and their confidants would be returned in full.

As for the wealth from the other families, they would use thirty percent to ask for help from relatives in the city, and the remaining seventy percent would be their hard-earned fee.

Don't think that a seventy percent fee is too much.

Even with that, many people are willing to pay to find connections but can't!

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I brought a fine bottle of wine from Golden Sparrow City a few days ago. I will share it with everyone now!"

The middle-aged man of the Ma family was very satisfied, and with a glance, he was about to have his confidant bring out the wine and beverages they had prepared.

Suddenly!

An exclamation from the side of the street captured the attention of these rich proprietors.

Gathering at the window, they widened their eyes to see a luxurious carriage, which they clearly could not afford, being slowly drawn by four pure white stallions at the entrance of the street.

The stream of people celebrating the Rat Taoist's birthday naturally parted like water around a boulder, making way for the carriage.

Even the most unsophisticated villagers could tell from the decorations on the carriage and the tall horses that the noble inside was of unspeakable importance!

"Hiss!"

The carriage stopped right in front of the Rat Taoist's residence.

The middle-aged man from the Ma family, who had been to Golden Sparrow City, gasped in surprise as he recognized what the carriage's decorations signified.

"It's the Inspector from Golden Sparrow City!"

"That cultivator who came down from the Immortal Sect to enjoy good fortune!"

"He... How could such a revered presence come to visit this Rat Taoist!"

The middle-aged man from the Ma family mumbled to himself, hoping that the other party was just passing by or, better yet, had a vendetta with the Rat Taoist!

However, soon enough, a servant following the carriage entered the courtyard with a gift box, explained the reasons for their visit to the Rat Taoist and the others, who were hurrying to stand up, and instructed the reception staff to announce the gifts.

The clear-headed middle-aged man from the Ma family and the other local proprietors were all deeply shaken, feeling a chill in their limbs, and panic surged across their faces.

How had this Rat Taoist become connected with a real Immortal Sect cultivator?

And importantly, that cultivator... was the Inspector of Golden Sparrow City, technically their immediate superior!

The face of the middle-aged man from the Ma family turned pale, he lost all interest in drinking, and turned to glare fiercely at the other proprietors present, whispering:

"Let's pretend what happened today never occurred!"

"We all know each other well, and you should know that even the Inspector can only cause our Ma family some trouble."

"But if we find out anyone leaked the news, I don't think any of you could withstand the wrath of our families!"

…

Unaware of Su Ping's arrival, which unknowingly saved him from misfortune, the Rat Taoist proactively stood at the entrance of the courtyard, looking flustered and anxious as he watched the handsome and otherworldly Su Ping step down from the carriage.

He promptly performed a grand salute, then ushered Su Ping into the main house.

As soon as the two entered the main house, the door closed tightly behind them.

The attendants of the Rat Taoist and Su Ping took their positions at the door on their own initiative, preventing outsiders from approaching.

Inside the house.

Su Ping got straight to the point.

To the Rat Taoist's surprise.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to share his knowledge; his rat-taming techniques weren't even worthy of a cultivator's attention.

He was simply astonished that a cultivator from the Immortal Sect would take interest in such non-righteous practices, feeling a mix of honor and shock!

The Rat Taoist took out the rat-training insights he had compiled.

And he laid everything bare for Su Ping, including the origins of his skills, which involved an opportunity from his youth where he found the records left by a predecessor in a cave.

He practiced according to the instructions and then spent the better part of his life improving them, resulting in his current abilities.

The Rat Taoist then demonstrated his techniques to Su Ping.

With a whistle, more than a hundred large black-furred, red-eyed rats emerged from their holes and, under the Rat Taoist's command, formed into ranks as if in a military formation.

Su Ping marveled at this and decided on the spot to recruit the Rat Taoist as a guest elder for his household.

"Come to Golden Sparrow City and help me prepare your Strong Rat Potion."

"Additionally, about that title of Rat Taoist... let's change it."