◎ Tomato Timer Report ◎
【The Most Generous One】: Night, Inner Sect South — Dog’s Den — Treasure, got it?
Lin Shuang glanced at the latest message and accelerated the speed of her “ski board” wide sword.
She was running low on the paper used for third-tier talismans in her inventory.
However, to purchase third-tier or higher spiritual treasure materials within the sect, she needed to complete at least six tasks annually.
She was two tasks short this year.
Tasks like this trading mission were the most efficient way to accomplish this.
Lin Shuang headed north and quickly passed the Transmission Hall and the Administrators Hall, arriving at the hundred-foot mountain wall where the Inner and Outer Sects intersected.
This towering mountain wall surrounded them.
It was said that special restrictions were placed here, preventing disciples from using their flying swords to peek into the inner sect even if they ascended from the outside.
Within this thousand-foot cliff, several stone bridges were set up, leading to the path of the inner sect.
But disciples were stationed at the entrances, on guard.
Ordinary Outer Sect disciples were not allowed to enter the Inner Sect, but there were exceptions.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I’ve come to deliver something.” Lin Shuang calmly took out her disciple’s waist token and showed the task commission to the two disciples guarding the South Gate today.
The guarding disciples on both sides nodded and immediately allowed her to pass.
“Come out immediately after you’re done delivering.”
“Okay.”
Lin Shuang continued inward.
By the side of the South Mountain Gate, thirty miles to the east, was the dog hole mentioned by the buyer.
Beside the dog hole stood a conspicuous three-story small attic with red bricks and green tiles.
In front of the attic, a red flag with white characters fluttered in the wind — Rong Bao Zhai (Prosperous Treasure Attic).
Approaching, Lin Shuang saw a hundred-treasure rack placed against the outer wall of the small attic.
She walked up and deposited five Spirit Stones in the treasure-collecting basin on the rack.
The treasure rack instantly rumbled open, and an empty mustard seed pouch at the center opened in response.
Lin Shuang immediately took out her square wooden table and placed it inside.
She closed the mustard seed pouch.
Clapping her hands, she left.
She even remembered to send the upper part of the password for retrieving the goods to the trading partner.
【The Fastest Female Cultivator】: Yi Wu Er.
After completing the operation, she retraced her steps.
The shopkeeper on the first floor of Rong Bao Zhai Attic was lazily reclining in a bamboo rocking chair, a white finger that seemed to have never seen sunlight propping up a book and covering his forehead.
He glanced drowsily at her as she passed by, and quickly shifted his gaze to the other disciples delivering ‘packages’ before he sleepily closed his eyes.
During this time, he cleared his throat a few times, as if he might cough up his lungs.
Passing by the door, Lin Shuang couldn’t help but show a sympathetic look.
Having poor health made everything more challenging; it’s truly unfortunate.
Leaving South Mountain Gate and returning to the outer sect, she arrived half an incense stick’s time ahead of the agreed-upon trading time with the two disciples.
The transaction was completed on time.
Lin Shuang was quite satisfied with her performance today.
Not long after she left, a figure swiftly landed in front of Rong Bao Zhai.
Two black boots of different lengths, with one even revealing a gray sock.
Wearing mismatched black armor and a red belt, they were extremely unkempt and twisted.
“Senior Brother Huangfu, I’ve come to pick up the third-grade talismans.”
Meng Zi formed a hand seal and descended directly from mid-air with a knife on his back.
“On the multiple treasure rack!” The person on the first floor of Rong Bao Zhai, who was reclining on a chair, didn’t even move his eyelids. He lazily wiped away the blood that had been coughed up from his lips, pointing towards the right wall.
Meng Zi rubbed his hands and immediately transferred the first payment of six hundred Spirit Stones to the Fastest Immortal Woman.
He quickly obtained the second half of the retrieval password — Shen Liu Yi.
Meng Zi faced the multiple treasure racks, closing his eyes nervously.
This substantial trade, worth twelve hundred Spirit Stones, made his heart race.
With his hands clasped together, he recited the ancestral chant before he finally faced the multiple treasure rack. He formed hand seals, manipulating the wooden blocks on them to assemble the retrieval key.
“Open!”
Meng Zi shouted, and with it, the Multi-Treasure Shelf rumbled and shifted.
The crimson mustard seed bag at the center swiftly unfastened in front of him.
A hint of caution flashed in Meng Zi’s peach blossom eyes. Suppressing his impatience, he carefully reached his right hand into the mustard seed bag.
He was afraid of damaging the third-level talisman.
Although the third-level talisman was approaching the flexibility of high-grade yellow paper and wouldn’t easily tear, they were still something he had saved up spirit stones for over a dozen days to afford.
Meng Zi believed that being overly cautious was not excessive at all.
But as his slender middle finger and index finger groped around in the bag for a while, he finally touched something cold. Attempting to grasp the thin piece of talisman—
He ended up holding an ordinary-looking, somewhat dull table leg.
“???”
He tried pulling it out with more force, and it was yet another… table leg.
Then came a square tabletop, followed by… two more table legs.
“???”
【Xiao Bai】: Senior Meng, did you get the third-grade Gathering Talisman? I’m heading to the Transmission Hall. I’ll come to take a look later.
Meng Zi looked at the wooden table in his hand: “!”
The man on the reclining chair on the first floor of Rong Bao Zhai, amidst his continuous coughing, also glanced at the four-legged wooden table Meng Zi was holding up.
The eyes that had been half-closed suddenly widened a bit.
**
On the second day, Lin Shuang woke up from the temperature-maintained array in her wooden house, stretching comfortably.
After consuming the soft, steamed white bread made by the automatic kneading device, she sat at Zhao Junior Sister’s wooden table, writing her weekly journal while listening to the sound of a zither.
【This Week’s Tomato Timer Statistics:
Cultivation: 20.5 hours, a 19% increase from last week;
-Proficiency in the Haoran Scripture at the seventh level increased by 21%
-Proficiency in the third-grade talisman, a 12% reduction.
-Analysis of reasons: Shortage of third-grade talisman paper—need to complete sect tasks promptly next week to acquire purchasing qualification.
-Social Interaction: 2.6 hours, a 1% increase from last week
-Time spent with Junior Sister Zhao Keran (roommate) accounts for 90%
-Time spent with Junior Brother Xu Rui (senior and junior relationship) accounts for 10%
-Beauty and Skincare: 2 hours, a 2% increase from last week
-Entertainment for Improved Mood: 6.9 hours, a 13% increase from last week
-Note: Dreamt about grandmother Dean 7 times, causing mood fluctuations. Therefore, increased entertainment time to avoid negative influences.
Fat Burning and Body Sculpting: 2.1 hours, a 10% decrease from last week
-Note: Requires attention, this area’s performance was subpar. However, a consistent fat-burning partner has been found, and improvements are expected.
Earned 1800 Spirit Stones (still awaiting 600 remaining balance), an increase from last week…]
As Lin Shuang wrote her weekly journal, she used a fine wolf hair brush to tap her forehead.
Reviewing the summary of her efficiency from last week to pinpoint deficiencies and make corrections for next week and next month was something she frequently did.
Ever since her grandmother, the dean, passed away, she had developed a habit of evaluating her efficiency in tasks.
Without planning for a week, she felt uncomfortable and sensed something was off.
“Insufficient high-grade talisman paper and the progress of talisman is significantly slower compared to other tasks.”
“Also, shaping and fitness need improvement.”
Lion-Dog talisman, Xiao Ai, entered while she adjusted her new schedule, spitting out pieces of paper.
【Original Body’s Crisis Response】
【Method One: Become the Strongest in the World, Fear Nothing (Current Strongest in the World: Elder in Seclusion from Jade Constellation Sect, Soon Ascending, Cultivated for 1455 Years)】
【To catch up to him, it’s estimated to take another 1241.3 years of cultivation (Current Strength: 85 times * Peak Third Layer of Qi Refinement, approximately equal to First Layer of Foundation Establishment?)】
Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Tribulation Crossing, Ascension.
She was still a junior sister.
Lin Shuang rubbed her forehead.
【Method Two: Craft a Fifth-Level Time Reversal talisman, Uncover the True Culprit’s Face (Requires Cultivation to Nascent Soul stage) – Current Status: Collecting Fifth-Level talisman Scroll Materials (0/5), Fifth-Level Crafting Technique (0%)】
One still has 1200 years to go.
The other one still lacks materials and crafting methods.
Lin Shuang: “…”
She chose to continue lying flat.
【Xiao Ai reminds you that you can accelerate achieving your goals through the following ways:
1. Elevate your cultivation speed.
2. Seek assistance from other talented fellow cultivators or Dao companions.
3. Search for divine beasts, and seek out spiritual treasures.
4. Quickly become a direct disciple of the sect leader, directly obtaining a Fifth-Level Time Reversal talisman or materials…
…】
Lin Shuang tapped Xiao Ai’s paper head and her phoenix eyes flickered.
“You’ve already grown into a mature Xiao Ai. You should learn to achieve your goals on your own.”
As her words fell, Zhao Keran pushed the door open and entered from outside. As soon as she stepped in, she noticed the peculiar emptiness, immediately retreated, then pushed the door open again.
It must be that she didn’t open the wooden house in the right way.
“Sister, where’s your table?”
Zhao Keran entered again, rubbing her eyes as she discovered the place was still empty. Sister was lying on her Zhao Keran’s desk, holding a pen and writing.
A hint of confusion crossed her round face.
“Um, I applied for a new one. It will be delivered tomorrow. I’ll use yours for now.”
Lin Shuang said, then opened Xiao Ai’s tomato timer, “You’ve come back just in time. Our scheduled chat for today hasn’t started yet.”
When she lost her only family member, she realized that not everyone would wait for her to return.
The concerns and love that were never voiced, always postponed, might never have a chance again.
No matter how busy, she had to take some time every day to listen and talk. This is what Lin Shuang had demanded of herself since then.
Of course, she couldn’t be overly indulgent, or it would affect both parties’ important matters.
Her junior sister is currently at a critical point in her cultivation too.
“Starting now?” Lin Shuang looked expectantly at her junior sister.
“…”
At Zhao Keran’s words, she instinctively glanced outside at the sky.
Every day at the Shen hour is their roommate communication time.
With a face that said “Just as I thought, Senior Sister is always so punctual,” she walked over to the table.
“Sister, I just returned from the Transmission Hall. I brought a copy of a First-Grade Sound Transmission Talisman. The end-of-year disciple assessment is coming up soon.”
Lin Shuang reached out, “Don’t worry about this for now. I need to take on a sect mission.”
She flipped through her plans for the coming week.
“Oh right, the end of the year is approaching. I still have a planned trip for team building this year. Oh, I almost forgot, thanks to you reminding me, Junior Sister. I can make some adjustments. I’ll take on a sect mission that requires going out, with a team of two to three people, a two to three-day local excursion.”
Zhao Keran almost dropped the water cup in her hand.
“…”
Senior Sister, are you treating sect missions as team outings? Does Senior Brother Xu Rui know about this?
“Junior Sister, if you don’t accompany me, let’s fill up our next three days’ worth of chat today. How about that?”
“!”
Zhao Keran touched her forehead.
[Dear Cousin, seeing your words as if in person.
The Senior Sister I live with is truly persistent. She adheres to her daily schedule without fail, day after day, practicing, resting, and nurturing relationships.
If it weren’t for her being stuck at the Third Layer of Qi Refinement all the time, I always feel she could have become the strongest female cultivator. No, it should be the fastest and strongest female cultivator.
She can practice many things simultaneously. Even today, it’s truly admirable.
Unfortunately, for some reason, Senior Sister has always been stuck at the Third Layer of Qi Refinement. Do you have any methods to help her breakthrough? Although Mountian and Sea Sect and Clear Water Sect have been in conflict for many years, there are legends that a hundred years ago, we were one sect, and our cultivation methods should be quite complementary.
—Zhao Keran’s letter.]
Zhao Ming, the senior brother responsible for external affairs at Mount Sea Sect, shook his head after reading the handwritten letter folded into a paper crane.
What does “practicing many things simultaneously” mean?
Always not breaking through is precisely because it’s not feasible. The Dao’s heart isn’t focused enough!
He sighed, about to take out a communication stone to caution his cousin Zhao Keran when the door to his quiet room was pushed open from outside.
“Senior Brother, one person can simultaneously draw twelve First-Level talismans and one Third-Level Talisman Scroll. I saw it with my own eyes!”
Zhao Ming: “…”
A figure flying on a sword, wrapped in a thick cloth so that it didn’t even resemble a flying sword, pierced in.
The smooth shoes were kept spotless, imbued with the Dust Dispelling Technique, as they landed.
“Senior Brother, why is this possible?” Xiao Qi was still in amazement.
Zhao Ming looked at the letter in his hand, raised his head, and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Cultivation requires focus.”
“Even though Talisman Masters have strong Nascent Souls, they still need to concentrate when inscribing each talisman.”
“It’s the same principle as us sword cultivators. We can’t execute two sword techniques simultaneously either.”
Xiao Qi chuckled, holding his precious flying sword in his arms and checking the cloth wrapping.
“But I saw it with my own eyes, her brushwork penetrated the paper, and the cinnabar soaked into the table.”
“Thus, she formed a second layer of Third-Level Talisman Scroll!”
Zhao Ming: “???”
That Third-Level Talisman Scroll is on the table?!
How is that possible?
That night, the wind was high and the night was dark. Zhao Ming rose quietly from his bed, seeing his junior brother sleeping soundly. He walked out of the disciple’s quiet room in Mountain and Sea Sect, changed into night clothes, and blended into the darkness.
“Excuse me…”
The person he was meeting for another bounty task assassination, was dressed in an overlapping black robe with complex buckles, and a double-layer mask on their face.
They took out a plain square wooden table.
Zhao Ming: “…?”
*
At the same time, in Room 99 of Clearwater Hall, Lin Shuang looked at her communication stone.
That generous fellow, the final payment of 600 hasn’t arrived yet.
Has the inspection not been completed?
Author’s Note:
“Memoirs of the 134th Generation Leader of the Clearwater Sect, Zhao, Part 6”: It was much later that I found out that the previous roommate of Senior Sister, Senior Sister Xiao Bai, turned into Senior Brother. It was only then that I finally understood why, on the first day I arrived at the Clearwater Sect, Senior Brother Xu Rui’s gaze when assigning rooms to me was so “subtle” and apologetic.
“Cultivation Encyclopedia”: Clam Demon, one of the 108 branches of the Demon race, ranked 53rd in the strength of the Demon race, and 6th on the Forbes Demon Wealth List (mass-producing pearls). Adult Clam demons can change gender once a year, but most Clam demons don’t do this; they have fixed partners.
*
The author’s note doesn’t involve any significant plot spoilers and is more like a supplementary setting or character extras. Everyone can read it without worry.
