《Cultivator's Slice of Life: Spiritual Farming System》


 Chapter 1 - 1: This Disciple Wants to Leave the Sect!

    <h4>Chapter 1: This Disciple Wants to Leave the Sect!</h4>


    I opened my eyes and found myself in a tiny room with stone walls and a few pieces of furniture. There was only a bed, a desk, and a chair. The desk and chair were wooden, and the bed looked anything butfortable.


    My head was spinning and I felt a surge of pain that made me gasp. I clutched my head with both hands, hoping to ease the agony, but it was useless.


    It only stopped when a flood of memories rushed into my mind, merging my old self with my new one.


    On Earth, I was James, a supermarket worker with no prospects for myself or my single mom. It was a dead-end job, and I escaped reality by reading books, especially cultivation novels.


    They fascinated me at first, with their exotic settings, magic systems, and thrilling adventures. They were unlike anything I had read before.


    But after a while, they all seemed the same. The novelty wore off and I grew bored.


    How did I die? Hit by a car. The driver was probably drunk or some shit.


    Why did I get reincarnated into the body of Tian Li, a cultivator from the Cloud Sect? I had no idea. I remember feeling a void inside, realizing I may never see my mom again.


    "Freaking bad luck," I murmured as I kicked the bed.


    I won''t lie and say that I never fantasized about being reincarnated in a cultivation world. It sounded fun, but I would never follow the same path as most cultivators.


    Cultivate to defy the heavens and live forever? Sure, immortality sounded tempting, but spending all day meditating, fighting for survival, andpeting in tournaments? No thanks!


    And yet, here I was, a cultivator named Tian Li in the Cloud Sect, supposedly the strongest sect in the region. What a joke!


    From my memories, I knew that the elders were only at the Foundation Establishment stage. How could they be the strongest in the region? They were just frogs in a well!


    "I don''t want any part of this," I muttered, grabbing my belongings and stuffing them into a sack. I left my room and headed for Elder Ji.


    "Tian Li, are you sure you want to leave the sect? I know you''re stuck at the thirdyer of Qi Condensation, but you can still improve if you work hard," a kind old man said.


    Elder Ji was one of the few elders who treated the disciples well. He was also in charge of most affairs in the Cloud Sect since the Patriarch was rarely around.


    I looked him in the eye and bowed. "This disciple is a disgrace to this grand sect. My presence here is only wasting your resources. Please let me go!"


    He sighed and shook his head. "Are you really sure about this?" He looked at me with pity.


    "Junior is sure," I said, looking him in the eyes. "Junior knows how to nt and take care of animals. I shall find and and settle."


    Elder Ji looked disappointed, sad that a disciple would leave the sect, but he nodded. He took out a small leather pouch from his pocket and tossed it to me. "At least take this money. The sect does not want an ex-disciple to starve."


    I epted his kind gesture, bowing to him once again, and left the sect. No beautiful woman was there to cling to me and say, ''Please, Tian Li, stay! I cannot live without you!''


    No one cared about me. I was Tian Li, the talentless kid. Not that I was mad about it. No, I was too happy to express it! The burden had fallen from my shoulders.


    No more endless cultivation nights. No more boring tournaments. No more dangerous missions! Besides, I had a feeling that the Cloud Sect would eventually perish. It always happened like that, in all cultivation novels.


    What awaited me after leaving the sect''s perimeter was a steep mountain with one path down leading to a vige. That was the vige where I lived, alone. My parents had died, and no one else wanted to stay with me.


    I was still getting used to my new body, but oh my, it was way better than what I had before! The feeling of having unlimited energy, powerful muscles, and the ability to jump higher than anything I ever imagined!


    It was incredible, and that was only the power of the thirdyer of the Qi Condensation realm. I could see why cultivators endured such a dull life for power, but that was not what I wanted!


    I ran as fast as I could, feeling the breeze on my face, hearing the sound of birds singing, and seeing the incredible scenery from the mountain top. The air was fresh, pure, different from Earth with all its pollution.


    Some vigers saw me, bowing and saying, "Immortal Li!"


    I was a mere thirdyer Qi Condensation cultivator, but for them, ordinary humans, I was someone they had to respect.


    The only thing I did was wave back and continue my journey. I had no idea where I wanted to go, but it was certainly far from the Cloud Sect.


    A peaceful ce to start up a farm. Yes, that was what I wanted. The world was so vast that it was not hard to find a ce that met my criteria, and after traveling non-stop for four days, I found just the ce I wanted!


    "That house right there," a middle-aged man with a thick beard said, pointing at a simple house. "It''s for sale, and it is cheap, only one gold coin."


    "Why is it for sale?" I asked.


    It wasmon for ces to be haunted or something like that, so being careful was never enough, especially when it was THAT cheap.


    "There''s no story behind it. The person who lived there put it for sale, left, and never returned. It happened twenty years ago."


    "I see. I will take it then."


    "Splendid!"


    The man looked happy for finally being able to sell the house. I soon discovered the vige was named Riverside, and it was a fairly unknown ce with few people.


    There was nothing there that caught the attention of mortals, and immortals would never go there either! It was the perfect ce! The ce I looked for.


    The house I bought was simple, made of oak, with a well next to it. It was not the house itself I wanted but the plot! The plot was massive for a ce so cheap, and that gave me room to nt and take care of animals! That was what I wanted!


    I remember seeing a big toad near the well. It croaked at me in a funny way, as if it was saying hi or something.


    It was love at first sight, "You will be called Big. T, aka Big Toad!"


    "Croak, croak."


    My first friend in that new dangerous world. I could already see me and Big. T taking care of our farm.


    "I will follow my own path!" I yelled, taking everything out.


    I felt good after doing it. Big. T looked happy too. We both returned to Riverside to buy some seeds and start our cozy farm!

 Chapter 2 - 2: My System, and a New Friend

    <h4>Chapter 2: My System, and a New Friend</h4>


    One gold coin was enough for me to buy a plot ofnd with a house on it. I had 50 of them, all thanks to Elder Ji.


    For cultivators like me, gold coins were useless, but for mortals they were a fortune.


    I headed back to Riverside, the vige where I had bought mynd. It was only a five-minute walk. Mynd was not in the vige center, but a little farther out, where it was quieter and more peaceful.


    The only coins I had were gold ones, and with only one I got everything I needed: seeds, tools, and some vigers to help me with repairs and construction. They agreed to build me a cabin outside the house for storage, a stable for my horses, and two more buildings: one for cows and one for chickens.


    Of course, none of these things were ready yet. The vigers would start working on them the next day.


    Big T and I returned to ournd with the seeds and the tools. Our first task was to clear the plot of wild grass that had taken over it. It was impossible to start a ntation otherwise.


    I put all the tools on the ground and picked up the iron scythe. I swung it back and forth, cutting down the grass with ease. I wasn''t very skilled with a scythe, but it didn''t matter. Being a cultivator had its benefits.


    The energy of a cultivator made all the difference. I spent the entire day clearing thend, with Big T cheering me on.


    "Croak. Croak."


    He was lovely. Big T looked more human than most humans. Heck, based on the memories I had from the old Tian Li, Big T was better than the cultivators inside the Cloud Sect.


    I stepped back and admired the result of my work.


    The plot ofnd looked much cleaner after Big T and I had spent the whole day clearing it of wild grass. It had gone from an abandoned ce to a decent farm, a ce I could call home.


    Well, it would be a farm once I nted some crops, but the sun had already set and I was exhausted. I was only a thirdyer Qi Condensation cultivator. My energy was higher than normal folks, but it had its limits.


    Big T didn''t go inside the cabin with me, but returned to the well where I had first found him. That was his home. He was close enough that I could sleep peacefully, knowing he would be there for me the next day.


    The repairs and constructions on mynd started the next morning. All the vigers working on them looked happy and excited. I bet it wasn''t every day that they had such a job and a decent payment.


    My stomach roared around 9 am. Big T had plenty of mosquitoes and other insects to feed on, but I hadn''t eaten anything yet.


    "Big T, stay here and watch the construction, alright?" I said to him, tapping his head.


    "Croak. Croak."


    With someone to supervise the work and make sure none of the vigers cked off, I went to the nearby river that gave Riverside its name. Among the many tools my gold coin had bought, a fishing rod was one of them.


    I stopped by the river and dug up some worms with my bare hands to use as bait. The water was clear and I could see some fish jumping out of it.


    All aspects of nature were better in this world. The only thing I still missed was my mom and a few friends.


    The sun was shining brightly, so I looked for a shady spot under a tree to start fishing.


    "I forgot a chair, tsk," I muttered, going back to my cabin and returning with one.


    I had everything I needed: a chair, a fishing rod, and some bait.


    "Oh, and a bucket with water to put the fish in¡­" I cursed again, making another trip to my cabin.


    After going back and forth twice, it was finally time to fish. I loved fishing, even beforeing to this world. It was one of the few memories I had of my father before he passed away.


    My story up to that point seemed rather normal. A mediocre cultivator in a weak sect. Nothing indicated that I would be anything more than that.


    But when an unsuspecting fish bit the bait and I pulled it out of the water with my bamboo fishing rod, a strange text appeared before my eyes.


    [Spiritual Farming System Unlocked]


    [Fishing Level 1]


    [Drop Rate: Chance of fishing a Spiritual Fish: 0.5% (The grade of said fish can vary)]


    A system! It was not umon to see a protagonist with a system in a cultivation novel, but mine seemed different from the usual ones!


    Most of the novels tried to use different names for their systems, but they were all the same at their core: increase attributes or level up. Something along those lines.


    But my system had all sorts of skills: fishing, cooking, carpentry, farming, taming, alchemy, and so on.


    They were like many different life skills! That was exactly what I wanted!


    Why should I follow the same path as everyone else and meditate, study techniques, enter inheritances and all that nonsense?


    The things I could do seemed more fun!


    "Maybe I can improve my cultivation while doing these things¡­ That would be great!" I murmured to myself.


    The only reason I even considered increasing my cultivation was to protect my farm, my home, my animals, Big T from the evil cultivators.


    Of course, reaching immortality sounded fun too, but that was not my primary goal. What if the only way for me to find a way back home was by increasing my power?


    Anyway, I wanted to test out my system, so I fished for hours, trying to activate the passive skill and get myself a Spiritual Fish.


    Honestly, I got annoyed by the percentage. It seemed more like 0% to me, just like when ying a game and hoping for an item drop.


    But the fish finally came! I could tell it was different because of its aura. A faint wave of Qi emanated from its body.


    I returned home with a few fish for dinner and the Spiritual Fish as my newpanion.


    "Big T, this is our new friend, Big F!"

 Chapter 3 - 3: Hunting Team, Farm and a Knock at 3 am

    <h4>Chapter 3: Hunting Team, Farm and a Knock at 3 am</h4>


    Big. T was happy with his new friend. I could tell by the way he croaked to me.


    "What a cutie," I said.


    But Big. F couldn''t stay outside. It was too dangerous for a fish to be there. He wasn''t as good at defending himself as Big. T.


    I made him an aquarium inside my tiny cabin. It took up some of the space, which was already scarce, but at least Big. F was safe.


    The sun had set by the time I got back, and the workers were gone, but I could see their progress through the window: some materials scattered in the lot, logs, and the base of the buildings.


    It had been only a day, but I was quite impressed with how fast they worked. Based on my calctions, it would take them a month to finish everything.


    My stomach growled with hunger, and the dinner for that night was fish. I won''t lie. I felt a bit guilty cleaning the fish while looking at Big. F. They were not his rtives or anything, but seeing his face watching me made me uneasy.


    I had to eat, and it was not like I had many options to choose from.


    "Big. F, I promise I''ll eat less fish once my farm starts producing crops. Okay?" I whispered to him.


    I could swear he nodded back. The hunger was really messing with my head.


    Anyway, after cleaning the fish it was time to cook them, and for that I used my wood stove! It didn''t take long for the aroma of cooked fish to fill the room and escape outside!


    But I expected my system to say something about cooking, yet it did not show. Maybe I was missing something?


    The smell was so tempting that Big. T jumped on my window, looking at me and Big. F.


    "Croak. Croak."


    He wanted toe in, and of course I let him. Big. T had been my good friend since the beginning, so why would I say no to him?


    I opened the window, and he instantly hopped on my shoulder. Adorable.


    While I cooked the fish, Big. T hunted the mosquitoes and other bugs that were flying near my oilmp. He was a helpful boy.


    We all ate together that night, and Big T returned to his well afterward, leaving only me and Big F. I turned off all the lights and went to bed, sleeping like a baby.


    The only reason I woke up was because of the noiseing from outside. The workers I hired were not cking off, arriving for work almost before dawn.


    Big. F was in his aquarium. I gave him a few worms, and then headed back to the river.


    Was I going to fish more? No, of course not. I had to take a shower!


    The whole reincarnation thing was so new and exciting that I forgot to shower since the first day I came to this world!


    I was d that Big. T and Big. F, my two true friends, didn''t mind my smell.


    I walked through the nearby forest with ease. There were hardly any dangerous animals inside, and those that were dangerous posed no threat to me.


    As a thirdyer Qi Condensation cultivator, I could handle them.


    The river was the reason Riverside got its name. It was so wide that it was hard to spot other people while bathing.


    Still, despite being early, I looked for a secluded spot, checking the area several times before taking off my clothes and entering the river.


    The water was cold because the sun hadn''t warmed it up yet, but it felt good. It was rxing and refreshing. The feeling of washing off all the dirt from my body was wonderful.


    I promised myself I would never go that long without showering again. Heck, with all the manualbor, I should shower every day!


    The weather in Riverside was great. Not too cold and not too hot. I didn''t know if it was the season, or maybe my body was more resistant to the environment, but I loved it either way.


    After cleaning myself, I went to Riverside. Only then did I realize that I had only one set of clothes, and that was a big problem.


    Luckily for me, the small vige of Riverside had a tailor and a merchant who sold some clothing.


    I spoke with the tailor, who was an older woman with a gentle smile, and ordered some nice robes, but they would take some time to finish. So I spoke with the merchant and bought some ordinary clothes.


    Still, it was nice to have more clothes, so that I could finally wash the ones I was wearing. I still had no idea what I would use to wash them, though.


    "So you''re the new face around here," a mature-looking man said to me as I walked in the vige''s streets.


    The man wore a leather armor and had a bow behind his back. He looked like a hunter. What caught my attention was that he was not a mortal but a firstyer Qi Condensation cultivator!


    He couldn''t tell my level because he was too weak to do so, but I was surprised to see another cultivator in the area.


    I liked him. If he was in Riverside it meant he chose a different path from everyone else, so he was a good man.


    "Yes, that''s me. And you are the hunter?" I said.


    Heughed, looking at his own clothes. "Is it that obvious?"


    "Yeah, pretty obvious."


    I didn''t think someone would stop to talk to me without having an ulterior motive. Why did this hunter suddenly want to talk to me?


    My gut feeling was right.


    "I was wondering if you have any interest in learning how to hunt. My hunting team needs a new member," he said.


    There it was. A normal person would just ept the offer and be happy to help the vige with the food supply, but I was not a normal person.


    Why should I join something without getting something in return?


    Well, I would join anyway because of my curiosity. I wanted to see if my system would work with hunting.


    But I couldn''t make it that easy for him.


    "What''s in it for me? You know I don''tck money or else I wouldn''t buy thend," I said.


    The man looked at me with half-closed eyes and said, "What do you want?"


    I just wanted to go, but pretended to think hard about it.


    "Can you help me sell the pelts from the hunting? I want you to buy them at a higher price than the other merchants."


    If my system worked with hunting, then maybe I could get higher-grade pelts, and those were worth a lot of money! Depending on the grade, even cultivators would want them.


    "Is that all? No problem."


    The man epted the offer, and I was d because of it.


    "How does the hunting works then? Do you go everyday or what? I have other things to attend to," I said.


    I wasn''t lying. The day was just starting, and my initial n was to start my farm. The sooner, the better.


    "Some people from the hunting group do go everyday, but you anyone can go at anytime, so don''t worry about it. Just go when you''re free," he said.


    "Marvelous!"


    No one liked being bonded to something, so I was pleased with the carefree aspect of that hunting group. It was not like the vige was poor and suffering with food problems.


    They had cows, chickens, ntations, and traded things with nearby viges. It was a simple ce yet one that was good with its vigers.


    After speaking with that man about the hunting thing, I headed back to my plot ofnd, grabbing my hoe, and starting my farm!


    The first thing I chose to nt was potatoes. Potatoes were nutritious and easy to sell. They also grew fast, usually within 90 to 120 days.


    That was under normal circumstances. With the help of my Qi, and maybe my system if it worked as I hoped, the growth would be much faster.


    So I dug some rows with my hoe, and made a fence around my potato field to prevent anyone from stepping on it by ident.


    The only thing left was to nt the potatoes, and as soon as I touched them, a notification popped up in front of my eyes!


    [Farming Level 1]


    [Anything you nt has a chance of bing a Spiritual Herb.]


    Yes! That was exactly what I wanted. A Spiritual Herb was a rare treasure in the cultivation world. Something hard to find and precious to alchemists who could turn them into pills.


    With my system, getting a stock of Spiritual Herbs was just a matter of time.


    "Maybe I should learn how to make pills too," I muttered.


    The fishing part of my system showed me the percentage, but the farming part did not. Was it even lower than the fishing one? I had no clue, but considering therge plot ofnd I had, I was bound to get a Spiritual Herb sooner orter. It couldn''t not happen.


    So I got busy nting potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and herbs for cooking. While the vigers built three more houses on my property, I created my farms!


    It gave the ce a lovely look. My small house on a hill with a rustic well next to it. Some crops in front of the house, a forest around it with a river nearby.


    The whole ce gave me a peaceful feeling, much better than that room I woke up in. Just thinking about all the crap I would have to deal with in the sect made me sick.


    I tended to my farm andnd for two weeks in blissful tranquility. Me, Big F and Big T enjoyed every moment of our peace until something happened.


    Someone knocked on my door at night. I was startled. It was raining outside and the darkness inside my tiny cabin didn''t help either.


    I walked toward the door with my fists ready, preparing for a fight.

 Chapter 4 - 4: Progress in the Farm and Strange Movements

    <h4>Chapter 4: Progress in the Farm and Strange Movements</h4>


    A knock on the door startled me. Who could it be at this hour? The people of Riverside were not the type to visit in the middle of the night.


    Something was wrong. I felt a surge of fear and started to tremble. I nced at Big. F, who was sleeping peacefully in his aquarium.


    I saw my reflection on the ss: tall, 1.86 meters in height. My brown hair was medium-length and silky, envied by many.


    My skin and muscles were in great shape. I realized how much I had changed since I left Earth, where I was a frail mortal who could die any minute from an ident or a disease.


    I was now a cultivator! My power in the thirdyer of Qi Condensation was not impressive, but it should be enough to defend myself.


    I approached the door, reached for the knob and opened it. I expected to see a bandit with a sword or a dagger, demanding everything I had.


    But to my surprise, the person outside was a young woman in a long cloak, simr to the ones worn by the Cloud Sect.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing you sote," she said, gasping for air. "This may sound weird, but can Ie in?"


    I sensed her aura and found out she was in the firstyer of Qi Condensation. She was weaker than me and did not seem dangerous, so I let her in.


    "Sure,e in," I said, stepping aside.


    She walked to the dining table and sat on a chair.


    "Do you want some water?" I offered.


    She smiled and said, "Yes, thank you very much."


    I wondered why she came to my door at night. She looked sweaty and anxious.


    Was someone chasing her?


    The first thing that crossed my mind was how oddly she behaved. I went to the window of my cabin and looked outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of whoever might be after her, but I saw nothing.


    "Well, I suppose I owe you an exnation for my sudden arrival," the girl said, setting the ss of water back on the table. "I''m actually an immortal!"


    I knew that already, but I pretended to be shocked, widening my eyes and covering my mouth. "Really?"


    She seemed pleased by my reaction and continued with her story.


    "I''m just a low-level cultivator, nothing remarkable. As I was telling you, I ran into a powerful beast in the nearby forest and had to escape. That''s how I ended up at your door. Could you let me stay here for a few days? My senior wille for me soon!"


    I wasn''t thrilled about having a stranger in my house, even a beautiful woman. But I agreed anyway.


    "Alright. I''m Tian Li, and you?"


    "Wan Yu. It''s a pleasure to meet you!"


    "Well, I don''t have an extra room, so you can sleep in mine and I''ll take the couch. Is that okay?" I asked.


    She blushed and said shyly, "Sure, that''s fine."


    I had no idea what was going on in her head, but I decided to ignore it and go on with my life as usual.


    One thing I noticed was that she was nice to me, even though she thought I was a mere mortal. That was rare among cultivators, and maybe it was because she was still weak herself. Most of them were arrogant, especially those who called themselves young masters¡­


    Oh, young masters. I hoped I wouldn''t run into one of them. They would only cause me trouble. Anyway, I got some new nkets for Wan Yu and slept in the living room while she took my bed.


    The rest of the night was peaceful. I don''t recall waking up again until the next morning.


    I was surprised to find a breakfast waiting for me when I got up.


    "Eggs?" I asked.


    I didn''t have any chickens on my farm yet, so where did Wan Yu get the eggs from? And the


    She jumped when she saw me behind her.


    "I got up early and went to the vige to buy them. Don''t worry, I used my own money," she said.


    Wan Yu cooked some eggs and rice over a small fire, filling the air with a warm and savory aroma. I was not picky about food, so I appreciated her simple meal.


    We sat at the table and ate in silence for a while. Then Wan Yu asked me, "Do you need any help on the farm?"


    "Thanks for the offer, but you don''t have to. You can spend your time doing what immortals do. I''m sure they''re hard and exhausting."


    She smiled faintly and said, "Speaking of immortals, you look about my age. Have you ever thought of taking a test to join a sect? I know that many people can''t be immortals, but it''s worth a try¡­"


    She seemed genuinely worried about me, but I didn''t tell her that I had already joined and left a sect. Well, I had no intention of joining another one, at least for now.


    "I''m sorry, but I have no talent for these things. I''d rather stay here on my farm," I said.


    Wan Yu respected my feelings and dropped the subject. As we had agreed, she stayed in meditation and practiced her techniques while I worked on the farm.


    The workers I hired had done most of the new buildings, and they looked just as I wanted. They were sturdy and spacious, blending well with the natural scenery.


    The fruits and vegetables I nted were sprouting. I spent the morning weeding and getting rid of the insects that tried to eat my crops. I used some of my cultivation skills to enhance their growth and quality, but the effect was mild. What I hoped was the help of my system, but I would have to wait till the crops were good to harvest.


    Big T was always there, croaking near the well. He was always eating the bugs in my plot, and looked at me with intelligent eyes. We were good friends.


    Everything was going well, and since I had some free time, I decided to join the hunting group from the vige.


    "So you showed up today!" A voice greeted me as I arrived at the meeting point.


    The one who said that was the same man who invited me to the hunting team. A cultivator in the firstyer of Qi Condensation. His name was Kang Duyi.


    Kang Duyi brought two more men, who were regrs on the hunting team. They were not immortals, but mortals with some hunting skills.


    "What''s the n for today?" I asked.


    "The usual, but some vigers reported some weird noises in the forest nearby, so we''ll check that out too!" Kang Duyi said.


    I agreed and followed them to the forest, carrying a backpack with some survival gear, a sword and a wooden bow. I hoped it would be an eventful day.

 Chapter 5 - 5: Fighting a Beast

    <h4>Chapter 5: Fighting a Beast</h4>


    The other two hunters were silent as they tracked the animals in the forest: rabbits, deer, and anything else that could feed the vigers.


    Kang Duyi, however, wouldn''t stop talking to me. He kept asking me about my farm and how I was doing. His questions made me uneasy.


    Why was he so curious about me? I barely knew him ¡ª I had better things to do than chat with him ¡ª so I did not know if he only had a curious personality or if he was after something else.


    The forest was quiet, too quiet. No birds sang; the deeper we went, the darker it got.


    The tree tops blocked the sunlight, casting shadows everywhere.


    "Kang Duyi," one hunter called, "Come look at this."


    I followed his gaze and saw a footprint on the muddy ground. It didn''t belong to any of the usual creatures we hunted. Was this what Kang Duyi meant by strange movements near the vige?


    "What is it?" the hunter asked.


    Kang Duyi frowned. "I don''t know. I''ve seen nothing like this before."


    The paw was huge. It looked like it could crush a man''s skull with one swipe. I shivered, even though I knew I could defend myself if things turned dangerous. After all, my power was at the thirdyer of the Qi Condensation realm.


    "Be careful," Kang Duyi said, then nced at me. "You too, Tian Li."


    I nodded. If a beast were lurking in the forest, one that could threaten the vige, I would help fight it off. Not because I cared about the vigers or anything but because I had a farm to protect.


    And Big. T and Big. F, my two loyal friends. They deserved my protection, and I would do anything for them.


    We continued our hunt, with our primary goal being to bring back some food to the vigers. Of course, we still tried to find new clues about the mysterious beast.


    There were other footprints scattered inside the forest. I found one. But what did the prints tell us? Nothing. Sure, it was a massive beast, but that was it.


    It did not tell us what beast it was or whether it was dangerous. The unknown was scarier than anything else. Even I, confident with my cultivation of the thirdyer of Qi Condensation, could not help but worry.


    A cultivation world had plenty of powerful beasts. The logic would be that a powerful creature would not appear in a lowly vige, but a wise cultivator would never go against the heavens and assume something was impossible. Nothing was impossible.


    As we traversed through the forest, I realized there were no animals. It was like they were hiding something; I was not the only one who realized that.


    One of the hunters stated the obvious to Kang Duyi: "Something is scaring the animals away."


    That was obvious. One did not need to be a cultivator to realize something was amiss in that forest. Having a brain was all it took. I couldn''t believe people like that became hunters.


    We only managed to find one rabbit after looking for it for two hours! That was a turtle pace, yet Kang Duyi was unconcerned. I looked at him and asked, "What will we do?"


    "Don''t worry about the food," he said, "We have plenty of in the vige with the ntations and the cattle. We need to find the beast walking in this forest."


    Riverside was a self-sustainable vige, so despite the hunter''s essential job, it would not make the town crumble with one bad hunting trip. Kang Duyi was more concerned about the beast that should not be there!


    We were about to return when the ground underneath our feet started to shake. It felt like a heavy creature walked near us, and the two hunters ¡ª who were not cultivators ¡ª trembled in fear.


    "W-We should head back!" they said.


    I was thinking the same thing, but it was toote.


    A creature came from behind the bushes¡ªa wolf with blue fur with white lines on it. The wolf was way bigger than the ordinary wolves the mortals were used to.


    I stared deeply into its blue eyes and saw a hint of intelligence. The creature had cultivation, one of the secondyer of the Qi Condensation.


    Perhaps Kang Duyi could tell it was not an enemy we could face because as soon as the beast appeared, he yelled, "All of you, run! I will stop the beast while I can!"


    I didn''t me them. They were only mortals, so they had no reason to stay there and lose their lives for nothing. They would not make a difference in the fight.


    "Tian Li, go!" Kang Duyi yelled once again.


    He could not see my cultivation with his 1styer of the Qi Condensation realm, so for him, I was a mortal like everyone else in Riverside.


    I looked at him and smiled, "Kang Duyi, this will be a secret you cannot share with anyone else."


    The hidden force inside my body burst, and I ran as fast as I could toward the wolf. Both Kang Duyi and the beast themselves were startled after witnessing such power.


    I did not know any ranged attacks. I only knew a few essential martial arts the sect taught all members.


    "Thundery Palm!"


    Lightning enveloped my hand as I channeled my inner Qi to use the martial art. It was a sh of faint lightning, but its power was decent enough to scare a beast like that!


    The wolf howled, jumping toward me, using his front paws to rip my body. There wasn''t any fancy ability behind it, just pure strength attacks from a beast like that.


    Its cultivation was low, so it only had a tremendously powerful body and not unique martial arts!


    "Watch out!" Kang Duyi yelled!


    He could see my power was not simple, but if the situation continued like that, the wolf and I would collide, with both parties getting hurt.


    Well, I used another martial ability I learned from the sect!


    "First Cloud Step!"


    It was like a soft cloud was underneath my feet as I stepped on it, more than doubling my speed. The wolf blinked, and I was no longer there, appearing right behind it, hitting his spine with my palm!

 Chapter 6 - 6: Gift to Wan Yu and Festival

    <h4>Chapter 6: Gift to Wan Yu and Festival</h4>


    The sound of bones cracking echoed inside the forest, and the wolf, who was howling and acting like the strongest thing around, was no longer. I wasn''t the best cultivator, but my Thundery Palm was no joke, especially with a clean hit like that. It broke the wolf''s spine, and tiny lightning traversed its body, causing even more damage - enough to seal the deal.


    "Oh, please," Kang Duyi said, kneeling before me, "Spare me, Senior!"


    It was just one move, and this bastard called me Senior. What was up with these people? How could I be his Senior when I was younger and only twoyers above him?


    "Cut the crap," I said, staring into his eyes, "You don''t need to call me that."


    I could tell Kang Duyi felt more rxed, but him not calling me Senior was one thing, and him spilling out my secret was another.


    With long steps, I stopped before him, grabbing his cor. He was shaking before I uttered a word.


    "This," I said, signing with my left hand, "Is a secret, right? I don''t want people knowing I''m a cultivator, or else..."


    "Of course! This youth''s lips are sealed."


    "Good."


    The expression on Kang Duyi''s face made it clear he would keep my secret. That was good. My peaceful life remained intact.


    "Is there something we can do with the pelt or...?" I asked.


    Despite being weaker, Kang Duyi had more knowledge, a result of his long years as a cultivator.


    "I can make you an awesome fur cloak with it for the winter! What do you say?"


    I could see Kang Duyi transition from being scared to "I want to please this cultivator," but I said nothing. A fur cloak made from such good materials would be cool as heck, and I liked the idea.


    "Drop it off at my farm," I said.


    The hunting trip was over. When we returned to the vige and everyone saw both me and Kang Duyi carrying that massive wolf, they all yelled, jumped, and it turned into a whole festival that night!


    No one slept well knowing there was a mysterious creature lurking in the forest. They feared it might show up during the night and harm their sons and daughters.


    Late afternoon, I returned to my farm. I had earlier cleaned the crops, so they looked fresh and healthy - a good sign.


    The new buildings on my farm were almost finished, which meant I would soon have cows and chickens! It was progress, something I enjoyed immensely.


    As I opened the front door of my wooden cabin, I wasn''t alone. Big T and Big F were there, as always, but Wan Yu was also present. She stood, watching Big F inside his aquarium.


    "How was your day?" I said.


    Wan Yu almost jumped, cing her soft right hand on her chest, "You scared me!"


    How could a cultivator be so unaware? Deep down, I wished that after Wan Yu returned to her sect, she would practice more. I knew how dangerous and dark the world truly was, and I didn''t want her to perish.


    "Sorry," I said, moving to her side, "Isn''t it beautiful?"


    I was referring to Big F.


    "Yes," Wan Yu replied, "I feel like he emanates intelligence."


    Naturally, Big F was intelligent. After all, he was my fish! How could he be anything but clever? I couldn''t help but feel proud of him for winning the girl''s heart.


    "He''s quite smart," I remarked, grabbing a handful of worms and gently pouring them into his aquarium. "Did your training go well today?"


    Wan Yu had spent the day immersed in meditation and practicing her cultivation arts. Or at least, that''s what she had told me.


    "Yes, it went well," Wan Yu replied, her expression saddened as she looked down. "My Senior will being tonight to fetch me."


    Her words caught me off guard. The realization that her departure was imminent raced through my mind, and a sudden surge of agitation took over.


    "First things first, would you like to apany me to the vige festival tonight?" I suggested. "It might be ourst chance to spend some time together."


    Wan Yu appeared intrigued, recognizing the significance of the invitation as the potential end of our shared moments.


    "Of course, but why do you seem so restless?" she inquired, her eyes filled with curiosity.


    "Wait here, I have something to attend to," I replied hastily.


    Leaving my cabin in a rush, I grabbed my fishing gear and hurriedly made my way. Big F was no ordinary fish; I had acquired him using my special system. While his true potential remained unknown, Wan Yu seemed to have developed a fondness for him.


    However, I couldn''t simply give Big F away. He was my trustedpanion, alongside Big T, the toad. Nevertheless, finding a fish simr to Big F would not pose a problem.


    The sun was almost setting as I arrived at theke where I had caught Big F. With a worm on my hook, I cast my line, hoping to catch a fish as quickly as possible.


    To my surprise, it seemed like fate was being generous to me, as a fish with a faint Qi aura appeared on my first attempt! It was simply unbelievable. After catching the spiritual fish, which had a simr aura to Big F but a different appearance with an orange hue, I made my way back to my farm.


    Everything happened so quickly, and when I returned, Wan Yu seemed even more confused.


    "Where were you?" she asked, her gaze directed towards a small bucket I had in my hands.


    "Well, I know it might seem like a strange gift, but take it. It''s a rtive of my little fish," I said.


    Wan Yu looked at the fish inside the bucket, and her eyes welled up with tears. I couldn''t tell if it was a good thing or not, but judging by the tight hug she gave me, it must have been great.


    "Thank you so much, Tian Li. This little one will keep mepany at the sect!"


    She truly seemed to have fallen in love with her new fish, and I was happy about that.


    "Well, shall we go to the festival?"


    "Let''s go!"

 Chapter 7 - 7: Goodbyes

    <h4>Chapter 7: Goodbyes</h4>


    The vige of Riverside was bustling with excitement that night. A sense of peace enveloped the air, and the vigers were so joyful that they decided to celebrate with a festival, even though it was not the usual time for it.


    I went to the festival with Wan Yu. I won''t lie, I was a bit nervous about being alone with her and also anxious about leaving my two friends at home.


    The vigers, who had once seen me as a secluded stranger on my farm, came to greet me and offer food and drinks.


    "Great job taking down the beast with Kang Duyi!" "That''s right, young man! It''s because of young people like you that us elders still fight every day!"


    Kang Duyi mentioned that he did most of the work in the battle against the beast¡ªI asked him to keep it a secret¡ªbut judging by the people''s reaction, he still acknowledged that I helped him, and that was enough for them to praise me.


    Wan Yu pulled me aside and whispered, "Did you really help him in the fight? Tian Li, that was a spiritual beast! You''re lucky that Kang Duyi was a cultivator, otherwise, you both would have been dead!"


    Her concern was endearing. I looked deep into her eyes and said, "Don''t worry, I''m fine. It''s in the past now. I''ll be more careful next time."


    I could see something on her face, a deep sadness.


    "Why are you feeling like this?" I asked.


    It was difficult for her to gather the words and form a sentence, but when she managed to, I understood the reason behind her sadness. I could sense the thoughts passing through her mind.


    "It''s just that... cultivators live much longer than mortals, and in the higher realms, advancing even a singleyer can take 100 years... I... I''m afraid we''ll never meet again... I''ll always look young while you age and..."


    I could empathize with her perspective. Damn, one of the few reasons I still considered continuing cultivation was precisely to live longer! And, of course, to protect what and who were important to me.


    "I have faith that we will meet again, Wan Yu. Don''t dwell on these thoughts!" I said, opening my arms, "Look around! Let''s enjoy this moment."


    She seemed to calm down after hearing what I said. Her eyes no longer held tears, and her beautiful smile brightened the night for me.


    We did many things together.


    "Try this skewer, Wan Yu. I''m telling you, it''s delicious!" I said, almost forcing the skewer down her throat.


    Although she seemed reluctant at first, Wan Yu smiled like a child receiving a sweet treat.


    "This is really good!"


    The festival was spectacr, offering the best food and drinks that the small vige of Riverside could provide. They also built a huge bonfire in the main square¡ªthe only square in the vige¡ªand many people danced and sang around it.


    It was a vibrant, lively, and contagious atmosphere. It was hard to feel down in a ce like that. Wan Yu and I thoroughly enjoyed the night, but like all beautiful things in the world, it came to an end.


    "My Senior has arrived... There she is!" Wan Yu said, pointing to a woman.


    This woman had long, purple hair and skin as white as snow¡ªI even thought she might be unwell¡ªand she was dressed in a purple cloak with a lotus design.


    She seemed strong! I couldn''t determine her cultivation level, but judging by how she appeared, flying on arge sword, she must be powerful.


    "Wan Yu! How are you?" she asked, not even looking in my direction.


    "Well, I''m fine. This young man sheltered me," Wan Yu said, pointing in my direction.


    The Senior looked at me with a curious gaze, but didn''t see anything out of the ordinary.


    "He did no more than his duty in helping my disciple," she said.


    It was evident that she didn''t seem to like mortals very much. Or maybe it was just me? Either way, I didn''t care what she thought.


    "Wan Yu, let''s go," she concluded.


    Before Wan Yu boarded the sword, she grabbed a bucket of water that was nearby. The little fish I had given her was inside.


    When her Senior saw the fish, she became intrigued. "Where did you find this?"


    "He gave it to me, Tian Li," Wan Yu replied.


    The Senior looked at me with a different gaze, narrowing her eyes, but didn''t say anything.


    Wan Yu came over to me and gave me a tight hug, and then something unexpected happened.


    Her lips touched mine for a second. A quick kiss, and after that, she ran towards the flying sword with flushed cheeks.


    I watched as the two of them flew away. Wan Yu waved in my direction, and I noticed that sadness once again. The fear of never seeing each other again.


    It was a sorrowful farewell, but one that I had expected to be temporary. Which sect did she belong to? Where was it located? I didn''t have any of that information, and as I realized it, I mmed my fist into a nearby tree with all my strength.


    "Well, damn it," I muttered in frustration. I took a deep breath, trying to regain myposure. There was no need to panic. My System was still there, ready to assist me in numerous ways.


    I contemted the idea of resuming my cultivation journey, but without joining a sect and enduring all the injustices and misfortunes that came with it. Perhaps the only chance for me to enter a sect would be if they invited me to be an Elder.


    "Bing a Patriarch of a sect doesn''t sound bad either... Maybe I can establish a normal sect without the madness of tournaments, killing, and zero socialization."


    Of course, that was just a future possibility and not something I was actively striving for at that moment. My farm and my twopanions, Big T and Big F, were my main concerns.


    After Wan Yu''s departure, I tried to immerse myself in the remaining festivities, but it just wasn''t the same. Disheartened, I made my way back to the farm, gazing at the radiant full moon and feeling the gentle breeze against my skin.


    Exhausted, I climbed into bed as soon as I arrived home. By morning, I was startled awake by persistent knocking on my door.


    "Kang Duyi?" I said, taken aback to see him standing there.


    His disheveled hair and the fear in his eyes made him resemble a frightened puppy. "Tian Li, we have a problem!" he eximed.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Murder

    <h4>Chapter 8: Murder</h4>


    The day started terribly. I wasn''t expecting relentless knocks on my door early in the morning. It felt like an endless nightmare.


    Summoning all my strength to get out of bed at such an early hour, fueled by anger, I flung the door open with force, ready to confront whoever was on the other side.


    To my surprise, the person crazy enough to disturb me at this ungodly hour was Kang Duyi. I couldn''t help but notice his disheveled hair and anxious expression.


    "What happened for you to show up here so early?" I said.


    Unlike the vigers in the vige, Kang Duyi knew I was a cultivator, yet he decided to knock on my door at the break of dawn.


    That could only be two things: the situation was truly dire, or Kang Duyi hadpletely lost his mind. I assumed it was the former.


    "I apologize for disturbing you so early, Senior," Kang Duyi said with a trembling voice, "But the situation this time is very serious."


    "How serious?" I asked.


    My curiosity was ignited like a me fueled by alcohol. I wanted to know, I needed to know.


    "S-Someone died this morning! It seems that the beast we hunted either wasn''t the right one, or there are others!"


    A death! Now that was something truly grave. Riverside was a vige with few inhabitants, so unlike bustling cities where some deaths went unnoticed, that was impossible in Riverside.


    Everyone was in mourning, eager to understand what the hell had happened. Kang Duyi was the most skilled warrior in the vige, and I had helped himst time, which was why he appeared at my door so early in the morning.


    "Let me get ready real quick," I said.


    Kang Duyi waited at the door while I changed clothes and grabbed some fruits to have for breakfast.


    So we both left my farm and headed towards Riverside, which was nearby. As soon as I arrived, I noticed several people outside their houses, even though it was early in the morning.


    Everyone had sad faces, crying, with empty expressions. And then I saw it, apletely mangled body near the woods!


    Its stomach was ripped open, its guts scattered on the ground. There was a lot of blood.


    "Excuse us, folks," Kang Duyi said, "Tian Li and I will examine it and try to figure out what happened."


    All the vigers who were near the body left. They surely would be waiting for answers.


    The unfortunate one was the town''s cksmith. A man in his fifties, without a family, but a friend to everyone in the vige. The vigers were his family, and vice versa.


    That''s why everyone, without exception, was grieving that day. I approached the body and carefully examined it. In addition to the open stomach and scattered intestines, I noticed w and bite marks.


    "It must have been a beast," I said to Kang Duyi.


    But how was that possible? The vige hunters practically went out every day, walking around the woods, and found nothing!


    The only thing different in the woods was the footprint that Kang Duyi and I saw, but it belonged to that wolf, a spiritual beast, and it was dead.


    "This is very strange," Kang Duyi said, "We didn''t see any traces of any other dangerous beast. Could this have been done by a... human?"


    That idea was crazy, but it wasn''t something we could dismiss. If in my world it wasmon for murderers to destroy bodies in such a grotesque way to make it seem like an animal attack, imagine in a ce where people had powers?


    With a single statement from Kang Duyi, everyone in the vige became a potential suspect. If that atrocity had truly beenmitted by a human, there had to be evidence to uncover.


    "You stay here and examine the crime scene. I''ll try to find anything that indicates where the killer or beast fled after attacking this poor cksmith," I said.


    Kang Duyi liked the n and continued analyzing the body and its surroundings. Meanwhile, I searched for tracks, but the situation only grew stranger.


    There were no footprints, and it would be nearly impossible for a beast to cover all traces. It didn''t make sense. For a beast to possess such intelligence to leave no evidence, it would have to be at least in the Foundation Establishment realm¡ªa cultivation level much higher than mine or Kang Duyi''s.


    The chances of such a powerful beast being in that ce were virtually nonexistent, so the possibility of a human culprit no longer seemed so insane.


    I continued my search, meticulously examining behind every tree, bush, and rock, yet found nothing amiss. However, my quest took an intriguing turn when I stumbled upon a peculiar sight.


    It wasn''t just any ordinary discovery like a footprint; rather, it was a bloodstained kitchen knife. Its presence seemed out of ce amidst the serene forest, and undoubtedly, the blood belonged to the victim we had just uncovered!


    Acting swiftly, I cautiously retrieved the knife, wrapping it carefully in a cloth before discreetly concealing it. I refrained from disclosing this find to anyone, as everyone was a potential suspect. Revealing such information could potentially prompt the culprit to flee!


    I chose not to divulge anything to Kang Duyi either. Despite appearing reliable, he harbored a deep fear of me. Nevertheless, I couldn''t afford to take any chances, as he too was a person of interest.


    It was best for me to keep all of that to myself. After the discovery, I continued searching but found nothing more. When I returned to Kang Duyi, he also seemed out of luck.


    "Did you find anything?" he asked.


    With an innocent look, I replied, "Nothing. And you?"


    "Nothing as well... Well, I''ll help the locals bury the body. Let me know if you uncover anything."


    Afterward, I decided to return to my farm and tend to my crops, which were already showing signs of life. In fact, they seemed to be thriving faster than I had anticipated! Could it be the soil? The Qi emanating from my body? Or perhaps my System?


    Regardless, my time on the farm was brief. I had a lead to pursue: the bloodied kitchen knife.

 Chapter 9 - 9: Devilish Techniques?

    <h4>Chapter 9: Devilish Techniques?</h4>


    The kitchen knife could belong to anyone in the vige, but its unique design gave away its origin - the vige''s inn. As the sole inn in the area, it remained a gathering ce despite the scarce number of visitors. I decided to pay a visit, initially as a regr customer.


    A friendly waitress approached, cing a te with a perfectly cooked steak in front of me. "Here''s your steak," she said with a warm smile.


    "Thanks," I replied, appreciating her attentive service.


    The interior of the inn was modest, adorned with simple wooden tables. Seeking solitude, I chose a corner table, discreetly observing the staff, particrly those working in the kitchen. While enjoying my meal, my gaze swept across the room, carefully noting any peculiarities in their behavior.


    Although it was impossible to openly investigate for clues, observing their demeanor could reveal signs of guilt. The steak was delicious, and as the hour and a half passed, I discreetly sipped on a few beers to blend in. However, nothing out of the ordinary urred.


    There was no cook appearing suspicious or exhibiting unusual behavior. The only noteworthy incident I witnessed was a drunken brawl between two patrons. However, I remained undeterred. Deep down, I knew this approach wouldn''t yield results. To uncover the truth behind the recent murder, I would need to adopt a more ndestine role¡ªa spy.


    With determination, I left the tavern, retreating to a discreet location outside and patiently awaited nightfall. Although the inn itself remained open, the kitchen staff departed to their respective homes as the restaurant closed. I observed five individuals leaving. The perpetrator I sought had to be among them, but how could I discern their identity? A wrong usation could result in further harm, something I desperately wished to avoid.


    But remaining stationary wouldn''t improve the situation. I had to make a choice, even if it meant taking a risk. Fortunately, someone did stand out from the rest, acting differently.


    It was a woman with fiery red hair. Clutching a leather bag, she disyed an unease despite being in the familiar surroundings of the vige. She repeatedly nced over her shoulder, as if expecting someone to follow her. While the others seemed unaffected by the darkness of the night, her behavior caught my attention. This was the person I decided to track. While the others headed towards their homes within the vige, she ventured outside.


    Living on a farm outside the vige myself, my presence in the open countryside wasn''t cause for suspicion. However, she deviated from the usual path and headed towards the woods. That alone raised my suspicions. To add to it, the location she was headed to was exactly where I had discovered the bloodstained knife.


    From behind the trees, I discreetly observed her every move. She searched frantically, as if trying to locate the knife, yet there was nothing there. Of course, I had the knife in my possession. I could have confronted her then and there, but I needed more evidence to confirm her as the murderer and uncover her motive.


    So I continued trailing her, maintaining a safe distance, until we reached a small cabin. She entered the cabin and drew the curtains, concealing her actions from prying eyes.


    I wasn''t so rash as to kick down her front door and use her of being a murderer. Such an action would be both dangerous and unwise. Instead, I decided that the best course of action was to retreat to my farm and await any new information from Kang Duyi the following day.


    And indeed, he had news for me.


    Unlike the previous day when Kang Duyi roused me at the break of dawn, this time he arrived a bitter.


    "Please tell me it''s good news," I pleaded.


    Kang Duyi''s demeanor wasn''t as devastated as the previous day when the vige discovered a lifeless body, and that gave me a glimmer of hope that it wasn''t a new victim.


    "Perhaps. While examining the corpse, I noticed several missing organs!"


    "How can that possibly be good?" I questioned, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern.


    "Well, it gives us a lead. Whoever took those organs must have a motive: either to sell them or to practice forbidden cultivation techniques. Given the remoteness of this ce, it''s highly unlikely that someone would be buying organs here..."


    I remained silent, urging Kang Duyi to reveal the rest of his findings.


    "So, it seems more likely that the culprit is involved in dark arts and devilish practices," he concluded, his voice tinged with a sense of foreboding.


    I won''t lie. Devilish cultivation techniques seemed tempting. Based on the novels I read, they were often described as powerful. The main character in those stories refrained from pursuing them because they were a hero who protected everyone.


    But I''m different. While I care about Big T, Big F, and Wan Yu, it doesn''t mean I''m opposed to doing wrong. Power is important in the cultivation world, and unlike the naive cultivators, I''ve read extensively and know how things work.


    "Okay. Keep looking for clues. I''ll go back to the woods and search too," I said.


    Kang Duyi didn''t find anything strange about my n and left. I would indeed search for clues, but my main focus was thedy''s cabin.


    That''s what I did first when I woke up. I waited for her to leave for work, then used my basic lock-picking skills to open the door.


    It wasn''t because I was skilled at it, but because the door was poorly made. Inside, I found a in cabin with only essential items and nothing more.


    There were no organs or blood, making me think it was just a regr cabin. Maybe I was mistaken in my suspicions.


    No, I wasn''t mistaken. Every time someone was involved in wrongdoing, they had secret hiding ces in their houses, and that''s where the real evidence would be.


    "Maybe under the bed?" I thought to myself.


    It was a clich¨¦ hiding spot, but I couldn''t ignore the possibility. And just as I suspected, there it was¡ªa trapdoor concealed beneath the bed. I opened it cautiously, revealing adder leading down into a dark room.

 Chapter 10 - 10: Traitor, and Master Big. T

    <h4>Chapter 10: Traitor, and Master Big. T</h4>


    The trapdoor led me to a strange room made of stone, different from the wooden cabin. It was pitch-ck, and I couldn''t make out much, but my curiosity pushed me forward.


    The tunnel led me to a door, revealing the things I did not want to see, yet the very things I had been searching for.


    A stone altar stood before me, adorned with ss jars containing the missing organs from the recent murder. I also noticed peculiar drawings on the altar, consisting of circles with symbols.


    Connected to another part of the room was a straight line, leading to a small meditation rug. It was evident that thedy had been utilizing the power of those organs to practice a meditation technique!


    Indeed, it seemed to be a diabolical form of martial art, just as Kang Duyi had mentioned. I searched for any clues and discovered one¡ªan ancient-looking scroll that exuded a powerful aura.


    I paid no mind to whether thedy would notice the scroll''s absence.


    The technique, despite its malevolence, held great power. Even though I had no intention of studying it, keeping the scroll with me seemed like a wise choice for my own safety.


    After acquiring the scroll, I meticulously searched the room for further evidence, but my efforts proved futile. Everything I needed to confirm my suspicions was already present. It became apparent that the red-haireddy I had been tailing was the culprit behind the killings.


    Just as I was preparing to make my exit, I suddenly heardmotion from upstairs. Someone had entered the cabin! Panic gripped me as I frantically sought a hiding spot. Unfortunately, the room offered no objects to provide cover, leaving me with only the desperate hope that the intruder wouldn''t venture down into the tunnel-like space.


    In retrospect, relying on prayer seemed foolish given my streak of misfortune. Within minutes, the creaking of the rusty trapdoor resounded through the room. Someone was drawing nearer. My gaze darted towards the altar, and I realized it offered a potential hiding ce. If the person decided to circle around it, my fate would be sealed, but it was a better option than being exposed in the open.


    And so, I concealed myself behind the altar.


    Time seemed to stand still as I concealed myself behind the altar, straining to control my breathing and remain unnoticed.


    Images of my encounter with the red-haired woman in that very room and our ensuing battle shed through my mind. However, to my disbelief, the person who descended into the room was not her but someone else entirely.


    When our eyes met, astonishment washed over me. While I was well aware that people often concealed their true nature, having read countless cultivation novels, experiencing it firsthand was a whole new level of revtion.


    To my utter surprise, the individual who entered the room was none other than Kang Duyi himself! It was difficult to fathom how someone I was beginning to trust, a skilled hunter who cared for the well-being of the vige, could be involved. But why?


    An overwhelming desire surged within me to rise from my hiding spot behind the altar and confront him, to seek the truth. Yet, Kang Duyi merely surveyed the room with a pensive expression before departing.


    It dawned on me that Kang Duyi must have grown suspicious of me after I mentioned my intention to search the forest. Moreover, the red-haired girl must have been coborating with him, indicating that he was also aware of the disappearance of the bloodstained kitchen knife.


    I restrained myself from moving until the upstairs noises ceased, ensuring me that Kang Duyi was not around anymore.


    The situation had be far moreplex than my initial thoughts, with two individuals now intertwined in this diabolical technique and murder.


    But why would Kang Duyi provide me with hints about devilish cultivation techniques? Was he attempting to y the role of detective while being the very murderer? Or could there be something else behind his demeanor?


    Many questions flooded my mind as I walked away from the isted wooden cabin, making my way through the forest back to my farm.


    What should be my next move? Confront Kang Duyi and uncover the truth? I would do so if I were a naive little boy, but my knowledge extended far beyond naivety.


    It was a dangerous situation. If Kang Duyi concealed his true nature, he might also be hiding his true power. What if he was more formidable than me?


    Therefore, without sumbing to the urge of getting myself into trouble right away before acquiring more information, I decided to tend to my farm. The crops were growing rapidly, and I was confident they would be ready within three days!


    Such a swift growth was remarkable, and I couldn''t wait to see if any spiritual herbs, or rather, spiritual potatoes, would be among them. However, despite the crude effectiveness of spiritual herbs in enhancing cultivation, it was preferable to consume them in the form of pills, which meant I needed to learn alchemy!


    The only predicament was where to acquire an alchemy cultivation technique. There were a few sects in the area renowned for their expertise in alchemy, although my former Cloud Sect was not one of them. Yet, I had no desire to join a sect at this point.


    "Perhaps there''s some kind of ck market? I''ve heard rumors of a city for cultivators not too far from here," I murmured to myself, considering the possibilities.


    An alchemy cultivation technique was not the only thing I needed. I also required a fundamental meditation technique that would apany me through the higher realms, improving my chances of sess.


    I recalled from the cultivation novels that the main character often obtained powerful techniques bestowed upon them by the heavens. While my System could be seen as something divine, it didn''t provide me with techniques directly; rather, it assisted me in acquiring resources.


    "Oh, my good friend Big T, please help me," I uttered, gazing at the toad perched near the well.


    As our eyes met, I detected a glimmer of knowledge and sensed Qi emanating from his body. Suddenly, a new notification materialized before my eyes.


    [Beast Taming: Level 1]


    [Bonded creatures have an increased likelihood of learning martial arts and cultivation. Developing the Beast Taming skill may even facilitate their evolution!]


    "Big T, are you... are you a master cultivator? Please, teach me your ways!" I implored, bowing down before Big T.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Confrontation

    <h4>Chapter 11: Confrontation</h4>


    I never thought Big T would have the talent to learn cultivation. It was basically impossible considering he did not have Qi, different from Big F, who did.


    But Big T proved me wrong. He was not the ordinary toad I thought he was, living near the well of my farm.


    He was something else, and my connection with him opened up a new perk of my System, Beast Taming!


    With it, my pets would have increased chances of cultivating, but could any creature I bond do this? I was pretty sure Big T was different from the start. Not every creature had what it takes to cultivate.


    Big T was special, and I wanted to believe that. Our eyes met, and in those green eyes of his I saw intelligence.


    "Croak. Croak."


    Even his croaks sounded different after his sudden awakening. I was hoping to see some form of martial arting from Big T, but that did not happen.


    He slept right after awakening his Qi. It was too draining for him, and I respected that.


    "I will let you rest, my good friend," I said, cuddling him.


    The new prospects of my future in the cultivation world were expanding. My system was continuously improving, offering me ways to enhance my creatures through the Beast Taming tab, acquire Spiritual Herbs, and even fish for Spiritual Creatures or other valuable treasures.


    However, a significant problem still loomed over me: theck of a decent cultivation technique and limited means to obtain one. Determined to find a solution, I ventured out of my house and met with Kang Duyi. Suspicion clouded my view, expecting him to provide little assistance. Yet, to my surprise, he had important information to share.


    "Tian Li, we have a problem," he began.


    "What kind of problem?" I inquired.


    "While exploring the woods, I stumbled upon a cabin with a secret room beneath it. It contained an altar and organs. The person residing in that house might be the very killer we''ve been seeking," he exined urgently.


    My skepticism tinged the air. Was Kang Duyi attempting to shift me onto thedy and save himself, or was he setting a trap for me? Concealing my knowledge, I suggested, "Let''s go there immediately and await the owner''s return."


    Kang Duyi hesitated, reluctantly suggesting, "Let me retrieve my weapons from my house first."


    His behavior only heightened my suspicions. Rather than waiting at my farm as he anticipated, I discreetly followed him. He did stop at his house to collect his weapons, but that was not his only destination. I observed him entering the inn through the back door, where he met the red-haired woman, my primary suspect.


    They conversed at a distance, their words inaudible to me. However, I surmised that Kang Duyi was forewarning her of my impending arrival. Instead of returning to her duties, she made her way towards the woods.


    "She''s undoubtedly setting a trap," I muttered to myself as I hurried back to my farm, determined to reach it before Kang Duyi could.


    I waited on my farm, maintaining an appearance of normalcy, as if nothing had happened. When Kang Duyi returned with his weapons, his gaze met mine, and he spoke, "I think we should wait a little longer before proceeding."


    The reason behind his suggestion was apparent, but I yed the role of an innocent boy and inquired, "Why is that?"


    "Whoever resides there must be familiar with us. If we both leave the vige so early in the day, it will undoubtedly raise suspicions. We could potentially invite trouble upon ourselves," he exined.


    It wasn''t a bad response, but armed with the knowledge I possessed, I couldn''t allow them to set traps that would ensnare me.


    "Listen, Kang Duyi, I am a secondyer Qi Condensation Cultivator. That alone should be more than sufficient to confront this murderer, even if they are aware of our presence. Let''s go, now!"


    I observed Kang Duyi''s countenance visibly rxing upon hearing the words "secondyer." This was precisely my intention.


    "You''re right. Your power surpasses the limits of this ce. Let us proceed, then," he acquiesced.


    With Kang Duyi''s newfound courage, stemming from his belief in my secondyer Qi Condensation power¡ªa lie¡ªwe ventured out of my farm and into the woods. He took the lead, speaking incessantly about how we would ultimately apprehend the murderer. Meanwhile, I maintained an air of ignorance, observing the cabin from behind a tree.


    "Is this the ce?" I inquired.


    "Yes, that''s right," Kang Duyi replied, apanied by a malicious smile that he swiftly concealed, though I managed to catch a glimpse of it.


    I gazed deeply into his eyes and asked, "Are you certain it''s safe for us to go there?"


    Kang Duyi nodded and replied, "I visited recently, and it was unupied. Whoever resides there will likely return only during the night or some other time."


    It was evident that the situation was strange, and I was surprised by Kang Duyi''s belief that he could deceive me. Did he consider me that naive? Being aware of the cruelty of the cultivation world, I nodded, fullyprehending the dangers that surrounded us. Together, we silently approached the cabin, cautious not to attract unwanted attention.


    With subtle movements, my hand reached the doorknob, and I slowly opened the door. A slight noise escaped, typical of an old cabin, but nothing too attention-grabbing. Kang Duyi whispered in my ear, revealing, "There''s a trapdoor beneath the bed. Let''s explore it together, and I''ll show you the discoveries I made."


    The certainty that the young redhead awaited us underground was undeniable, and I prepared myself for a confrontation to the death, if necessary.


    He went ahead, moving aside a part of the bed to reveal the old wooden trapdoor, which had a small rusty metaltch and some termite holes.


    Judging by the rough way Kang Duyi shoved the bed, it was clear he wasn''t concerned about being subtle.


    "Obviously, he knows his partner in crime is down there, waiting for us," I thought.


    "I''ll go first since I know the ce," Kang Duyi said, using the woodendder to descend into a tunnel.


    I remained silent. My mind was focused on one thing: the imminent fight I would have to face in a matter of moments.

 Chapter 12 - 12: Changing Tide

    <h4>Chapter 12: Changing Tide</h4>


    The wooden staircase was quite old, and the dust inside the basement was terrible, causing me to scratch my nose a few times.


    "It''s right over there," Kang Duyi said, pointing to the door at the end of the tunnel.


    He seemed hurried, going ahead without even waiting for me to apany him. Earlier, when we faced the wolf in the woods, he respected me, thinking my power was far superior to his. But now, he believed I was just a cultivator in the secondyer of Qi Condensation.


    This small detail, this little lie I told him, was precisely what gave me the confidence to win the fight against them.


    I already knew what to expect, and I wondered if it would be wise to enter the room or try to confront Kang Duyi directly in the tunnel.


    "This tunnel is somewhat narrow... Damn, I guess I''ll have to face them inside the room," I murmured internally.


    My eyes never left Kang Duyi''s figure as he pushed open the door, revealing the familiar sights I saw on myst visit to that room. However, the woman was nowhere to be found.


    Of course, she wasn''t foolish enough to show herself right away. Surely, she lurked behind the altar or in one of the corners, waiting for me to enter so that they could bothunch their attacks.


    "Come on, Tian Li. It''s clear," Kang Duyi said.


    Instead of entering the room himself, he stood waiting by the doorway. Perhaps it was his way of trying to appear less suspicious, something he failed at earlier.


    This was my perfect opportunity! With a deliberately innocent look on my face, I approached him slowly. He seemed confident, almost certain that I was falling for his act like a clueless duck.


    And when I was very close to Kang Duyi, close enough tounch an attack, I did it.


    "Thundery Palm!" I shouted.


    All of my cultivation from the thirdyer of Qi Condensation was utilized, catching Kang Duyi off guard just like the wolf in our previous encounter.


    A thunderous roar reverberated within the basement as Kang Duyi was sent flying to the other side of the room, his back colliding forcefully with the altar. Blood flowed from his head, and his bewildered and frightened gaze met mine.


    "Impossible," he managed to say, struggling to speak after the impact.


    I refused to stand idly in front of the door, anticipating the attacks of my adversaries. As I entered the room, my eyes swiftly scanned every corner, locating the red-haired woman whom I had suspected to be working alongside him.


    She, too, awaited my arrival and rushed towards me with determination.


    "Corrosive ck w!"


    A sinister ck w with a slimy appearance formed around her hand, extending all the way to the end of her forearm. An overwhelming Qi emanated from that attack, originating from the pinnacle of the secondyer of Qi Condensation. Even with my higher cultivation, I knew that facing the attack head-on would be unwise.


    Despite my limited repertoire of martial techniques, the ones I had mastered were executed with precision, and the Cloud Step was among my finest skills.


    "Cloud Step!"


    With agile movements, I effortlessly evaded her w, swiftly appearing behind the woman who was still in the midst of her attack, leaving her vulnerable to my counterstrikes!


    "Thundery Palm!" I bellowed once more.


    My most formidable offensive technique struck her in the ribs, the sickening crunch of breaking bones resonating through the room. She was sent hurtling, crashing into the unforgiving wall. Unlike Kang Duyi, who managed to survive my assault, she did not share the same fate.


    "No!" Kang Duyi cried out, slowly rising while leaning on the altar for support.


    "No? Weren''t you the one who betrayed me?" I yelled, viciously ring at Kang Duyi. "You lied to me, lied!"


    "You knew?" Kang Duyi''s mouth gaped open, and his entire body trembled with fear. He had been overly confident, believing I was unaware of his malicious ns with that woman, but he was mistaken.


    "Of course I did! Do you think I''m stupid?" The tension between us intensified as I made my way toward the altar.


    "What are yourst words, scum?"


    Yes, I was prepared to kill him as well. Initially, I doubted my ability to do so, just as I had with the woman. However, I went through with it and felt a twisted satisfaction. She was a murderer, and the world of cultivation was cruel and unforgiving. To survive, one must adapt, and that''s exactly what I was doing.


    The situation was clearly unfavorable for Kang Duyi, and I saw no way for him to escape, to evade death.


    He unleashed all of his power, a cultivation of the secondyer! Kang Duyi was weaker than that, and I could only attribute his progress to the devilish technique he was practicing.


    "This is not enough to face me," I confidently dered.


    I wasn''t being cocky; it was simply the truth. With his current level of power, Kang Duyi would surely be defeated.


    He startedughing maniacally, and it was at that moment I noticed numerous scattered drawings in the room.


    "Hahaha, now that she''s dead, her cultivation will be mine!" Kang Duyi eximed.


    The power emanating from her lifeless body flowed towards Kang Duyi, utilizing the drawings as conduits, causing his cultivation to skyrocket.


    Her body transformed into a dried mummy as Kang Duyi broke through the secondyer, reaching the third, and his ascension did not stop there. His power soared to the peak of the thirdyer, surpassing even my own.


    That was unexpected. Kang Duyi''s cultivation was not the only thing that changed. His face looked twisted, and he didn''t seem to be in his right mind.


    A cultivator like that, one who did not think about the consequences, was the worst type. He dashed toward me with incredible speed and pierced his hand through my chest.


    It hurt, and a lot of blood spurted from the wound. I was sure I would die if hended one more hit.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Cultivator鈥檚 Hidden Lair

    <h4>Chapter 13: Cultivator''s Hidden Lair</h4>


    The idea of dying was not something I was fond of. I had recently arrived in that new world, and dying like that after getting a farm, meeting Big T, Big F, and Wan Yu. It sucked.


    My mind raced, trying to find ways to escape that situation with my life, but there was nothing I could do. I didn''t know any other martial arts capable of defeating Kang Duyi, who had be significantly more powerful.


    "Fuck..."


    Just as I was about to give up, something strange happened to Kang Duyi! He retreated a few steps after delivering his initial attack and started screaming in clear agony.


    "No! No! No!"


    His body began to contort, and his bones cracked. It seemed like his body was rejecting thedy''s cultivation, or something had gone horribly wrong with his technique.


    Then, out of nowhere, Kang Duyi''s body exploded in a gruesome disy. Blood, organs, and tissues were scattered throughout the room, turning it into a scene straight out of hell.


    I ced my right hand on my stomach, where his attack hadnded. The loss of blood was a serious concern, and even though the fight was over, my chances of survival were slim.


    My only refuge was my farm, the ce I could call home. After killing thedy and witnessing Kang Duyi''s demise, I made my way towards it. It wasn''t close to the cabin, and with each passing second, my energy drained further, making the journey even more challenging.


    But I couldn''t give up, not before bidding farewell to Big T and Big F. Wan Yu''s face shed through my mind, and perhaps she was right. We would never see each other again.


    As my eyes met the sight of the crops, a sense of peace washed over me, momentarily relieving the pain. I was home. Big T was leaping around near the well.


    "My dear friend... Our time together was cut short, but you can still live here even after I''m gone," I whispered to him, gently caressing his head.


    While I epted my impending death, feeling my energy wane and my face grow pale, Big T had a different n in mind. He looked at me, then directed his gaze towards the well, jumping and croaking.


    "What''s going on with the well?" I inquired.


    He continued his repetitive motions, jumping and fixating his gaze on the well, apanied by his croaks.


    "Do you want me to go inside? Well, I don''t have much to lose. I still have enough strength to climb back up if needed," I murmured.


    Following Big T''s instructions, I used a rope to lower myself into the well. I had always wondered why this particr well wasrger than the others, more spacious, as if it was built for a person to fit inside. And when I reached the bottom, I understood why.


    There was water, as expected, but there was also a door. It wasn''t supposed to be there!


    The first thought that crossed my mind was that I resembled the protagonists of the cultivation novels I had read, stumbling upon a hidden realm, a heavenly sanctuary brimming with treasures. It felt clich¨¦, but it was the only logical exnation for the door that stood before me.


    Big T followed suit, leaping into the well and perching on my shoulder. His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he fixed his gaze on the door. With my injuries limiting my options, exploring this mysterious ce held the potential for salvation. And so, I made the decision to push open the door, eager to uncover whaty beyond.


    Curiosity flooded my mind as I stepped into the room. It was impably clean, with a meditation rug, a bed, and a few essential items. Absent were the typical amenities of a bathroom or kitchen, leading me to specte that the previous cultivator who inhabited this ce had little need for such conveniences.


    Powerful cultivators possessed the ability to sustain themselves for extended periods without food or restrooms, although they still indulged in these activities for their ownfort. My attention was drawn to a bookshelf adjacent to the bed, adorned with numerous scrolls and notes. The collection piqued my curiosity, but I reminded myself of my current priorities¡ªprimarily, to heal my injuries. But how?


    Once again, Big T''s croaking caught my attention, his gaze fixated on a tranquil water pond situated on the opposite side of the room. Even as a weak cultivator, I could sense the extraordinary nature of the water contained within.


    "Could this be a spiritual spring?" I mused, the possibilities swirling in my mind.


    Fortune seemed to favor me in that moment. Hoping it was a stroke of luck, I approached the water pond, shedding my bloodied robes and exposing my skin. Tentatively, I dipped my fingers into the warm water, immediately experiencing a delightful sensation that traversed my entire body, tempting me to submerge myselfpletely.


    Should I take the risk? I pondered. What if it was a trap, and the water held some hidden danger? However, with my life rapidly slipping away, I knew I had no choice but to seize this opportunity. With a leap of faith, I immersed myself in the water, and to my astonishment, the pain subsided, and my wounds began healing at an elerated rate.


    "This is undeniably a spiritual spring!" I eximed, marveling at its miraculous properties. Assuming a cross-legged position, I devoted my full focus to healing, entering a deep state of meditation. The concept of time became distorted in my mind, and with my eyes shut, countless hours psed before I finally opened them once more.


    The once life-threatening wound on my torso hadpletely vanished, leaving behind only a faint mark that would likely fade with time. Big.T patiently awaited me near the water''s edge, and the first thing I did upon emerging was embrace him tightly.


    "You saved me, Big.T. I will never forget this, my dear friend," I expressed, my words unable to fully convey the depth of my gratitude. Yet, the way Big.T gazed back at me assured me that we shared an unspoken understanding.


    Feeling rejuvenated and strengthened, I turned my attention to the bookshelf adorned with scrolls and notes. My fingers delicately examined the worn paper of a small note, its age evident.


    "The vigers in Riverside perceive me as a mere ordinary cultivator, oblivious to my secluded meditation where I draw closer to entering a new realm! I will likely put this ce up for sale, hoping it finds a fortunate cultivator," the note revealed.


    "So, this ce did belong to a powerful cultivator. I wonder who he is or what realm he has reached. Regardless, let''s search for some techniques!" I muttered, surveying the assortment of scrolls on the shelf.


    One scroll, in particr, caught my attention. Its ancient appearance hinted at its significance, aligning with my knowledge from cultivation novels. An ancient-looking scroll was often a treasure trove of valuable information.


    Without hesitation, I grasped the scroll and carefully unfurled it. The first words I encountered sent a shiver of excitement coursing through my body.


    "Spiritual Soul Fusion!"

 Chapter 14 - 14: Fusing with Big. T

    <h4>Chapter 14: Fusing with Big. T</h4>


    The mere mention of "Spiritual Soul Fusion" ignited a surge of excitement within me, and as I delved into the cultivation technique, I sensed an undeniable connection to its essence.


    "Merge beast souls into your own body," the opening line of the scroll revealed. I settled onto the bed, immersing myself in the profound knowledge contained within its pages. The technique unfolded across four levels: one for the Qi Condensation Realm, one for the Foundation Establishment Realm, one for the Golden Core Realm, and one for the Nascent Soul Realm.


    However, as expected, the technique was iplete. "Of course it''s notplete. This is exactly how it goes in every damn novel," I muttered with a wry smile. Nevertheless, even in its unfinished state, the technique held incredible potential. It surpassed anything I had ever witnessed within the Cloud Sect. Even the sect''s patriarch, who had attained the Golden Core stage, remained clueless about progressing to the next realm. But the Spiritual Soul Fusion technique offered a glimmer of hope.


    The method itself was rtively straightforward: capture a spiritual beast or utilize its core to cultivate the technique. By fusing the soul of the beast with one''s own, the cultivator would inherit its strengths and weaknesses, gaining the ability to transform duringbat. The technique allowed for a maximum of seven souls, and it was even possible to rece them, constantly improving and refining one''s abilities. While the technique held immense power for any cultivator, its potential for me was iparable.


    I possessed a Beast Taming tab within my System, granting me the ability to enhance and empower beasts, making them more formidable. Now, it seemed that Big.T, sensing the nature of the technique, was already expressing his readiness, emitting a series of croaks.


    "Do you want to fuse with me?" I inquired, meeting Big.T''s gaze with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.


    With the scroll in my hands, I absorbed the knowledge that the beast fused with me would grow its cultivation in parallel with mine. However, doubts lingered regarding thepatibility of my Beast Taming abilities in conjunction with the fusion. Nevertheless, the scroll explicitly assured that the beast would remain unharmed, and separating the fusion would restore the creature to its original state.


    Though uncertain about the veracity of these ims, the unwavering desire to put the technique to the testpelled me forward. It was Big.T''s unwavering determination and his role in saving me that fortified my resolve. If he wished to fuse with me, I felt obligated to honor his wishes. After all, he had been a steadfastpanion throughout my journey.


    Thus, driven by gratitude and a sense of duty, I made my decision. It was time to embark on this unique and uncharted path, entwining my fate with that of Big.T.


    I sat on the meditation rug with Big. T on my right shoulder. The process of cultivating the technique was quite simple: meditation.


    The idea was to meditate, feeling the connection between you and whatever beast you were trying to fuse with. The higher your bond, the easier it was to seed.


    I had no idea how it would go with Big. T, but as soon as I started trying the Spiritual Soul Fusion, I could sense Big. T''s soul, and it was easier than I''d imagined!


    Our bond was incredibly high, and considering that the ordinary cultivators would have to sometimes fuse with unknown beasts or beasts who disliked them, it made sense for it to be way easier between me and Big. T.


    After a few minutes of meditation, Big. T transformed into a speck of green light, which swiftly moved towards my right chest. In an instant, it manifested as a toad-shaped tattoo, emanating a brilliant glow that gradually faded.


    The sensation of merging with Big. T was indescribable. While I couldprehend his thoughts, ourmunication seemed hindered by anguage barrier. Directing my focus to the tattoo, a beam of green light shot out from it, hitting the ground before dissipating. Within seconds, Big. T materialized before me, no longer in his ethereal form. The fusion had transformed us into a single entity, although he could no longer engage in battle in his spectral state.


    Eager to put this newfound power to the test, I whispered to myself, "Let me gauge its capabilities."


    The scroll revealed a collection of martial arts techniques associated with the Spiritual Soul Fusion Cultivation Art. However, these techniques necessitated both possession of beast souls and proficiency in the Cultivation Art itself. Without meeting these requirements, mastery would remain elusive.


    The initial martial art skill to be mastered was called "Materialization," which harnessed the power of the fused beast soul. Unlike the fusion process, attaining proficiency in Materialization proved challenging, requiring three days of rigorous meditation to achieve even marginal sess.


    "Materialization!" I shouted, a surge of energy pulsating from the tattoo on my chest. A vibrant green aura enveloped my entire being, while the ethereal image of Big. T materialized behind me. The amalgamation allowed me to experience a heightened sense of agility, swiftness, and unparalleled leaping ability. Furthermore, my Qi underwent a transformation, imbued with a potent poisonous attribute, rendering all my attacks capable of poisoning adversaries.


    "I may even possess immunity to certain toxins," I contemted with a sense of awe.


    The utilization of this technique triggered a notification that materialized before my eyes.


    [Beast Taming Level up!]


    [Beast Taming Level 2] [Bonded creatures have an increased likelihood of learning martial arts and cultivation. Developing the Beast Taming skill may even facilitate their evolution!] [Passives: Fused Creatures have a 10% higher chance of learning martial arts and evolving.]


    Overwhelmed with astonishment, I couldn''t believe that the system had synchronized with the newly discovered Cultivation Art, augmenting the abilities of all the creatures I chose to fuse with through the basic Beast Taming skill. This revtion filled me with a sense of exhration and hope for a prosperous future shared with Big. T. For the first time in three days, I emerged from the hiddenir, realizing my bodily needs of sustenance and personal care. However, a vital task awaited me: the fusion with another dearpanion.


    "Big. F, I aming for you!" I dered, resolute and eager to embark on this next chapter of our journey together.

 Chapter 15 - 15: Looking for an Alchemy Technique!

    <h4>Chapter 15: Looking for an Alchemy Technique!</h4>


    My stomach growled, and every time I sniffed, a scent of feces entered my nostrils. It was as bad as a public bathroom, the ones without proper care, like one at a countryside gas station. Yeah, it was that bad. I hadn''t bathed in a few days, the result of my meditation effort to learn Materialization.


    The rope inside the well, the one I used to get down when hurt, was still there. But after using the miraculous water pond and recovering my body to its peak, I did not need to use the rope again. All I needed was my body''s power! I exerted strength into my legs, feeling a different sensation. It was the passive benefits of fusing with Big T! I skyrocketed up, leaving the well and feeling the sun hit my face after days.


    I looked around my farm, and to my relief, everything appeared unchanged, except for the wild grasses that had sprouted around the crops. Despite their presence, the crops seemed unaffected, thriving in their healthy state. It seemed that neither bugs nor the encroaching wild grasses had hindered their growth.


    An unsettling feeling gnawed at me, wondering how Big. F was faring. However, as soon as I stepped into my wooden cabin and gazed at the aquarium, there he was, swimming gracefully as always.


    "You''re such a resilient one," I remarked, offering him a few worms.


    Although the cabin had gathered ayer of dust, it remained neatly organized, indicating that no intruders had attempted to break in during my absence. Before attempting to fuse with Big. F, I knew I needed a well-deserved bath and a satisfying meal.


    Having tended to my immediate needs, I approached the aquarium, hoping to replicate the same connection I had formed with Big. T. However, my attempts proved futile.


    "Why?" I whispered, my frustration mounting as I struggled toprehend the situation.


    Fortunately, the hiddenir of the cultivator still housed all the books, so with determination, I returned to that sacred ce to delve into my research. It was there that I finally found the answer.


    ording to the ancient texts, it was indeed possible to merge with seven souls, just as I had read. However, the catch was that one could only fuse with a single soul in each realm. This meant that if I wanted to merge with Big. F, I would have to ascend to the lofty heights of the Foundation Establishment realm, a path still distant and uncertain.


    But that did not discourage me in the slightest! The Spiritual Soul Fusion remained the foundation of my cultivation journey. It was through this primary meditation technique that I could gradually gather the Qi from the atmosphere and absorb it into my Dantian.


    The grade of this meditation technique surpassed even those practiced by the sects in the surrounding area. It exceeded the techniques cultivated by the esteemed patriarchs themselves. This realization filled me with a sense of assurance about my future, despite the technique''s iplete state.


    "I can seek out the missing parts in the future when I am stronger. Besides, reaching the Nascent Soul realm is no small feat," I murmured, reminding myself that the Spiritual Soul Fusion I had acquired consisted of only four parts, leaving the rest to be discovered and mastered.


    I sat on my cheap bed, cross-legged, following the meditation technique, adjusting my breathing, and feeling the Qi in the surrounding area.


    As the Qi flowed towards my Dantian in my belly, I sensed something unusual. There was another Dantian present! That shouldn''t be possible! Upon further investigation, I realized it belonged to Big T, with his power residing in the firstyer of Qi Condensation.


    "So every time I cultivate, I have to cultivate for both of us? Does this mean my cultivation will take twice as long, but grant me double the strength, or even more?" I pondered to myself.


    I could see how challenging this could be for ordinary cultivators, which might exin why this technique wasn''t widely practiced. But for me? Not a big deal at all! Thanks to the System I possessed, I could acquire precious Spiritual Herbs, and through alchemy, I could consume numerous pills to enhance my cultivation.


    And once again, this led me to confront the alchemy problem.


    One had to practice an alchemy technique to start making pills. The grade of said technique would grant me something the cultivation world called an Alchemy me! The better the technique, the better the chances of having a higher-grade Alchemy me.


    That did not mean it was impossible to improve the me. Changing the alchemy technique to a better one in the future, even after receiving your first me, would open room for improvement, and the me itself could evolve to the next grade.


    But I did not even have the basic alchemy techniques! Even the low-grade ones were difficult toe by, especially for a weak cultivator like me in a remote ce like Riverside Vige.


    As I was lost in thought, someone knocked on my door. Who could it be? After all the mess that happened, I hoped it was not another probleming to haunt me.


    I opened the door, only to face the current mayor of Riverside, the person in charge.


    "Tian Li! Where were you? And where is Kang Duyi?"


    There was no room for lies, so I exined everything that had happened, including my battle with Kang Duyi and the discovery of two bodies in a cer beneath a cabin in the woods.


    The mayor, Dai Guiren, couldn''t believe I was a cultivator!


    "Forgive my earlier angry words, immortal," he said, bowing his head to me.


    "No need for this. I know you''ll keep everything a secret," I replied, with a slight threatening tone.


    "Of course, of course! Is there something else the immortal needs?"


    "Actually, there is!"


    I could run from it as long as I wished, but I had to find an alchemy technique of some sort. For that reason, I asked Dai Guiren to take care of my farm while I was away. My destination? The city where immortals met!

 Chapter 16 - 16: Meeting Cultivators On My Way To The City

    <h4>Chapter 16: Meeting Cultivators On My Way To The City</h4>


    The Riverside vige, though remote, was not located at the end of the world. In fact, there was a city not too far from it, requiring around two days of travel. This city had gained a reputation as a popr gathering ce for cultivators.


    While the city was sparsely popted by mortals, it attracted cultivators from various backgrounds. However, it was umon to encounter cultivators of significant power. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level was as rare as a phoenix feather.


    Such rumors reached my ears, but I yearned to confirm them personally. Before embarking on my journey, I sought counsel from Dai Guiren, who assured me that he would safeguard the secrecy of my cultivation and look after my farm and belovedpanion, Big F.


    Dai Guiren himself was filled with trepidation. It was no secret that immortals asionally vented their anger on mortals, a practice that often drew the ire of other cultivators.


    After ensuring everything was alright with my farm and getting my hands on a map, all thanks to Mayor Dai Guiren, I left my farm. The city I aimed for was called East Raven.


    It was a medium-sized city, and judging by the rumors I had heard, amon ce for cultivators to meet. My goal in going there was to acquire an alchemy cultivation technique to start refining pills in the future.


    However, there was a problem. The only goods I had to trade were the books I found inside the cultivatorir underneath my well! I had read a few and decided to use one that did not have any techniques written in it. It was a scroll talking about the era the cultivator lived in.


    Maybe a historian addicted to such artifacts would be willing to trade with me? That was what I hoped for, or else I would be doomed.


    Then my journey started, one that led me along a straight road toward the city, where I encountered a few mortals and even some bandits.


    "Please, spare me!" the bandit begged for his life after I beat him up to a pulp.


    The journey took two days, requiring me to camp for one night. It wasn''t safe to stray too far from the main road, as that area belonged to the beasts, nor was it wise to camp too close to the road, for it was a hunting ground for bandits.


    So I ventured into the forest, eventually finding the perfect spot: a secluded clearing surrounded by bushes and trees, naturally concealing it. A river flowed nearby, its water crystal clear, offering both refreshment and a calming sound. I set up my campfire for the night, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.


    The food I brought with me inside my backpack was enough tost the entire journey¡ªnot the way back, though.


    So, I did not have to waste time finding something to eat and could simply rx near the campfire, enjoying the fruits I had brought along. For a brief moment, I contemted fishing in the nearby river, but my main intention was to practice my meditation technique!


    With controlled breaths, I focused on gathering Qi from the atmosphere and directed it towards my two Dantians. The Qi entering my ''real'' Dantian remained unattributed to any element, while the Qi flowing towards my second Dantian, the one obtained from Big T, would transform into a poisonous Qi!


    That''s how I spent the night, and that meditative state served as a substitute for sleep. I only awakened when the sun''s rays caressed my face.


    I continued my journey in the morning, following the same road as the previous day. For the first time, I encountered other cultivators, not just mortals and bandits!


    How did I know? I could sense it from afar!


    There was a carriage, and judging by its direction, it was headed to the same city as me. I had no intention of stopping near the carriage to ask for a ride.


    However, as I passed beside it, someone opened a small window and stared at me. It was a frail-looking boy who appeared to be around 10 years old.


    "Grandpa, there''s someone outside! Can we help him? He looks tired!"


    The carriage came to a halt, and the door to enter opened. Inside were the boy and an elderly man. The older man had long, gray hair and beard, but his face seemed remarkably youthful, with few wrinkles.


    What caught my attention even more was his robust physique and sharp gaze! The moment he looked at me, it felt as if all my secrets had beenid bare, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.


    "Is this a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Or perhaps a Golden Core? No, that would be too much, wouldn''t it?" I wondered.


    Before the elderly man could say anything, I bowed to him and said, "Junior greets Elder."


    I had no idea who that elderly man was. What if he was an entric cultivator who would kill me just because I didn''t address him as "Elder"? I didn''t want to risk my life in such a foolish manner.


    He smiled and nodded, saying, "No need for formalities, young man. May I inquire about your destination?"


    "I''m headed to East Raven. I''m looking to trade some goods there."


    "Oh? My grandson and I are also traveling in that direction."


    As the elderly man mentioned his grandson, I noticed the boy who had called him "grandpa." I couldn''t sense any Qi emanating from the boy''s body, so I asked, "Is he also a cultivator?"


    It seemed like the elderly man had been waiting for that question. He replied, "Yes! Despite being only ten years old, my grandson has already reached the fifthyer of Qi Condensation!"


    "W-What?"


    That revtion hit me like a truck! I had been so confident in my System and newfound abilities that I had forgotten about the incredible talents scattered throughout these cultivation worlds. The boy standing before me could potentially be the main character of some extraordinary story.


    "Anyway,e with us! Traveling with a cultivator like me can bring you certain benefits when entering the city," the elderly man offered.


    I wasn''t sure if I could trust him, but I didn''t have much choice. Leaving wasn''t an option.

 Chapter 17 - 17: Cultivator鈥檚 Meeting (1)

    <h4>Chapter 17: Cultivator''s Meeting (1)</h4>


    The journey became more pleasant now that I was inside a carriage. It wasn''t tiring, and all I had to do was sit on the coach and stare at the beautiful scenery through the window.


    It was all green, way different from my previous world filled with buildings. I gasped for air, and it was fresh, as if pollution did not touch it.


    My mind tried to get away from the carriage, trying to think of only a way to speed up the journey, but the elder and the little kid¡ªwho had a higher cultivation than me¡ªloved to talk.


    The elder was called Sun Liang, and the kid was Sun Shi. They were heading toward the city to trade some items, not for Sun Liang, but for the kid!


    I watched his every move, and my intuition was telling me that Sun Liang was not a Foundation Establishment cultivator but a Golden Core one!


    I know, it sounds crazy, but it might be. Foundation Establishment cultivators were often rude, seeing other cultivators as weaker, therefore not giving them any attention and mistreating them.


    But Sun Liang was not like that. His voice resembled wisdom, and his tranquil eyes were proof that he had lived far longer than those in the Foundation realm.


    It was only a guess, though, but one I was almost sure of.


    "So, Tian Li," Sun Liang said, sipping his warm tea, "you don''t have a sect? I can see you''re almost hitting the fourthyer, so you should be able to enter one."


    I wasn''t feeling confident about saying I left the Cloud Sect, as that would make them see me as someone who dishonored cultivation.


    "Yes, I could," I said, moving my gaze from the window to him, "but I am taking care of my farm now and trying to explore other things, like alchemy perhaps."


    There was no reason to hide that from Sun Liang. He was far more powerful than me, and his piercing eyes could see through all my secrets¡ªwell, not my system nor my cultivation method.


    When he heard the word alchemy, his eyes shone with a curious light but said nothing. I noticed that and asked, "Does Elder know of an alchemy-rted sect?"


    It wasn''t the best question. What if Sun Liang disliked it? Then my body would explode. The fact that there was a little kid with us made me more confident. There''s no way Sun Liang would traumatize his grandson.


    Sun Liang smiled. "You''re the cunning type, aren''t you? Well, the sect I belong to, the Flying Lotus Sect, is rted to both alchemy and swordsmanship."


    "But? I know there''s a ''but'' here," I said.


    He sighed. "But the recruitment for new disciples will only happen in 7 years, while the recruitment for Elders will happen in 3. If you manage to achieve Foundation Establishment in three years, look for it."


    "Three years..."


    It might sound like a lot for mortals, but it ismon for some cultivators to spend ten or more years in a single cultivation session! That''s why Wan Yu was so sad when we parted ways. Her world was apletely different reality from the mortal world.


    Anyway, reaching the Foundation Establishment realm in three years was harsh, but I was confident in making it! That would certainly turn me into a genius.


    "I think we''re here," Sun Liang said as the carriage stopped. "It was nice to meet you, and who knows, maybe you''ll be the next Elder in the Flying Lotus Sect."


    "Elder, before you leave," I said in a respectful tone, "can you help this junior get an alchemy cultivation art? I have a few historical items for exchange, but I have no idea where to start..."


    I knew East Raven was the city where many cultivators met to exchange their goods, whether they were cultivators from sects or rogue cultivators like myself. However, to ess these meetings, one had to know where to look.


    The only reason I mustered the courage to ask was that, even with his unfathomable cultivation, Sun Liang seemed like a decent cultivator. At least he didn''t appear to be the type who would prey on the weak.


    "Historical items? I do have a friend who will be participating in a meeting today and might be interested," Sun Liang said, crouching down to get closer to Sun Shi. "If it''s okay with you, can Tian Lie with us?"


    "Yes, yes," Sun Shi rejoiced, grabbing my robe. "There are many things to see in East Raven. You will love it!"


    The kid seemed to enjoy my presence, and that was a good thing! It was a way for me to connect with a much more powerful cultivator. That would surely bring me benefits, though I knew I had to have value for such a friendship to continue.


    We left the carriage and, since it was still early in the afternoon, we used the day to explore the city. It was massive, with buildings that were far more intricate and well-designed than Riverside. Heck, it was impossible topare the two.


    The city''s size wasn''t that big, though, and I estimated it had around ten thousand people living there. It was a mix of mortals and cultivators, although the number of mortals living there was higher, considering that most cultivators resided in their sects.


    I watched the crowded streets and the bustling market, observing how much more powerful the cultivators were. Most of them were in the same realm as me, Qi Condensation, and only a few, those who appeared more mysterious and formidable than the rest, were possibly in the Foundation Establishment realm. However, due to my low cultivationpared to them, I wasn''t entirely certain.


    But Sun Liang? He was something different! His body seemed to have zero Qi around it¡ªhe was concealing it¡ªbut no matter where he went, the cultivators had the same guess as me: he was a big shot!


    We spent the day in the markets, and the pleasing smell of food enticed me to spend some of my coins on delicious treats! It was definitely worth it, if you ask me.


    For entertainment, we listened to street music. The city had a lovely atmosphere filled with cheer. I greatly enjoyed exploring it with Sun Shi and Sun Liang by my side.


    And when night fell, it was time for a gathering of immortals. If I were to go into the city alone, everyone I would meet would be Qi Condensation cultivators, resulting in lower-grade goods for trading.


    However, with Sun Liang beside me, we ventured into a gathering with Foundation Establishment cultivators and even some higher than that!


    "Can I survive it?" I murmured, feeling the cold sweat all over my body.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Meeting (2) - Robbing a Golden Core Cultivator

    <h4>Chapter 18: Meeting (2) - Robbing a Golden Core Cultivator</h4>


    The meeting took ce inside a four-story restaurant. However, it wasn''t on one of the regr floors where people went to enjoy their meals; it was in a basement.


    I followed Sun Liang as he approached the attendant of the establishment.


    "Octopus head," Sun Liang whispered.


    It was a peculiar thing to say, but the attendant immediately understood the meaning.


    "For the three of you?" the attendant asked.


    Sun Liang simply nodded, patiently waiting as the attendant entered the storage room and returned with three wooden crates.


    Unsure of what was inside, I followed Sun Liang''s lead without questioning. He handed one of the crates to me and another to Sun Shi.


    "These are special robes and masks that will conceal your cultivation and identity," Sun Liang exined.


    The cultivation-hiding aspect only worked for those in the Foundation Establishment realm and below. Nevertheless, Sun Liang still obtained a robe for himself, as it came with a mask that effectively concealed his face.


    We proceeded to a room at the back and donned the clothing. It consisted of long, dark robesmonly worn by cultivators. The robes had hoods, and the masks covered everything except the eyes. The masks were also ck.


    After donning the appropriate attire for the meeting, the three of us proceeded to another room where we encountered an individual dressed in the same garments, waiting by the door.


    "Token, please," the man said in an indifferent tone.


    I had no clue what he meant by "token," and Sun Shi appeared equally perplexed. However, Sun Liang reached into his pocket and retrieved a shiny, golden token. As soon as the person at the door saw it, he immediately bowed.


    "This Junior pays respects to Elder. I apologize for my earlier words."


    Clearly, power and influencemanded respect, and it became evident that Sun Liang was even more enigmatic than I had initially believed.


    Following his disy of the token, I worried that I would have to present one of my own. However, the man said nothing and, despite not extending any apologies to us, treated both me and Sun Shi with courtesy.


    Undoubtedly, he must have been intimidated by Sun Liang''s power and influence. Since he had no knowledge of who we were, it was wiser for him not to provoke us. After all, we were both under Sun Liang''s protection.


    "Don''t shit your pants," I thought, ncing at the person before entering.


    An expansive tunnel constructed entirely of stoney ahead of us. It wasn''t narrow enough to induce any feelings of difort. In fact, it was quite spacious, likely equipped with multiple alternative exits in case of any unforeseen circumstances.


    The lighting was dim, with only a few blue torches affixed to the walls. These torches were special, designed to burn for an extended period.


    That was the extent of my knowledge about this ce. Everything else remained a mysterious realm to me, and with each step, numerous thoughts raced through my mind. I took sce in the fact that Sun Liang apanied me, knowing that no one would dare to provoke him.


    The tunnel led us to a room with a table in the middle and around twelve chairs. Inside the room, three people already donned the same attire as us.


    They briefly nced at me and Sun Liang, unable to discern our faces or cultivation levels. However, Sun Shi attracted more attention.


    As a child, he was naturally shorter in stature. The cultivators there likely assumed he was a small-sized adult, considering it highly improbable for a child to possess Foundation Establishment cultivation.


    The gathering was intended solely for individuals of that power realm, yet Sun Liang managed to infiltrate me and Sun Shi, thanks to his influence.


    None of us spoke, opting instead to select three adjacent chairs and take our seats. With each passing minute, more cultivators entered the room. After thirty minutes, everyone had arrived.


    Although the chairs formed a circle around the table, one chair stood slightly apart from the rest, reserved for the organizer of the gathering.


    His face remained hidden, but his voice bore the tone of an elderly individual.


    "I appreciate all of you for being here," he said, tapping his fingers on the table. "For the duration of this gathering, disregard my cultivation. I pledge that no one shall bully the weak."


    Did they possess knowledge of his cultivation level? Sun Liang had mentioned a friend attending the meeting. Could this be that person? It would make sense for the organizer to be one realm above the attendees, ensuring safety and preserving anonymity for everyone present.


    "Well, let the tradesmence!"


    "I have this three-hundred-year-old White Mushroom I obtained from the hignds of the north. Anyone interested?"


    "I found this mysterious pill inside an ancient site..."


    "An egg from an unknown creature."


    The cultivators began cing their items on the table. Some had specific requests, such as a Foundation Establishment pill, but no one in the room possessed one or was willing to trade for what was offered.


    "It seems Foundation pills are rare... I had no idea because the cultivation novels I read had different settings," I mused.


    After a while, it was finally my turn. All eyes turned towards me, and I had to endure the weight of their gaze. Truth be told, my hands were sweating, and part of me wanted to flee. It felt like being trapped in a cage with hungry lions.


    "I have an ancient scroll. It describes a ce, possibly a treasure location, but parts of it are written in anguage I don''t understand," I exined, retrieving an old scroll from my pocket.


    All the cultivators in the room were intrigued by the mention of treasures, but none were willing to trade with me. I understood their hesitation.


    It was just a piece of paper that potentially held something valuable, but what if it led to nothing? They would be giving away their goods for a mere fairy tale.


    However, the organizer of the event showed interest.


    "May I see the scroll?" he asked.


    I saw no reason to refuse, so I handed him the scroll.


    The cultivator began reading, and I watched intently for his reaction. Judging by his expression, the scroll was even more valuable than I had anticipated.


    "I can offer you three thousand low-grade spiritual stones. Would that suffice?" he proposed.


    For some reason, my gut feeling told me the man was trying to deceive me.


    "But..."


    "No ''buts.'' This is all I can offer. Take it or leave it. The scroll will remain with me for free."


    That struck a nerve! The same man who imed he wouldn''t allow others to abuse their power in the meeting was now doing just that. Anger coursed through my veins, but there was little I could do to stop him.


    Just as I was about to reluctantly ept his pitiful offer, a voice echoed, "Old friend, is this how you treat mypanions?"


    "S-Sun?"


    As I had suspected, Sun Liang and the man were friends, and Sun Liang was not going to let him bully me for some unknown reason.


    "Fine. What do you want? This scroll is more valuable than I anticipated."


    That was my chance to turn the tables on him!


    "Five thousand low-grade spiritual stones and the best alchemy cultivation art you possess."


    "Damn..." the golden core cultivator winced, feeling his pockets bleed.

 Chapter 19 - 19: Crops, and Missing Body

    <h4>Chapter 19: Crops, and Missing Body</h4>


    The other cultivators at the table considered the exchange absurd! They couldn''t believe I had the audacity to ask for so much from a Golden Core cultivator!


    My gaze remained fixed on the Golden Core cultivator, waiting eagerly for his response. Something inside me told me it would work. I knew he would ept it! There was something special about that ancient scroll that he desired deeply.


    "Fine, I agree to your terms. Since this is a significant transaction, we can finalize it in a more private location after the meeting," he agreed.


    That was it! It worked! Not only would I acquire even more spiritual stones than his initial offer, but also an incredible alchemy technique! It couldn''t get any better than that!


    The other cultivators looked at me with envy. The sum of spiritual stones alone was something those in the Foundation Establishment realm couldn''t fathom.


    After two more trades, it was time to conclude the meeting. They left one by one to ensure their identities remained hidden.


    Only myself, Sun Liang, Sun Shi, and the enigmatic Golden Core cultivator remained.


    Sun Liang removed his mask, followed by Sun Shi and the Golden Core cultivator.


    "It''s alright, Tian Li. This old geezer is a friend of mine," Sun Liang reassured.


    Everyone had taken off their masks, including Sun Shi, so I followed suit.


    "Junior greets Elder..."


    "Call me Zhao Fa. I was indeed attempting to deceive you earlier, but that''s because I had no idea who you were!" Zhao Fa confessed with an awkward smile.


    Hisplexion was darker than Sun Liang''s, and he possessed a more athletic physique. I presumed he was one of those cultivators who focused on physical training.


    Zhao Fa''s beard and hair were simr in size to Sun Liang''s, but they retained their ck color instead of turning grey like his friend''s.


    "I do have an alchemy technique here that is even superior to the ones Sun Liang possesses, but there''s a catch."


    "A catch?" I inquired.


    "Yes. Firstly, it is challenging to practice, and some individuals may be unable to master it. Secondly, this cultivation art gradually loses its efficacy in the Golden Core stage because it is iplete!"


    Another iplete technique! I knew such types were usually ancient techniques with potent effects, at least ording to the cultivation novels I had read. Acquiring the subsequent parts for it would be a daunting task, but it was better than having nothing at all!


    With it, I would undoubtedly rise as an incredible alchemist, though reaching the Golden Core stage was still a long journey ahead. Heck, I wasn''t even certain if I would ever achieve it. What if I met an untimely demise? Such oues weremonce in the cultivation world.


    "Junior would like to try this cultivation art," I said.


    "Fine. Here, take it."


    Zhao Fa handed me a small pouch adorned with intricate drawings. It appeared too petite to contain 5000 spiritual stones, and the mere thought of it quickened my heartbeat.


    "This is a Spatial Pouch. It has the ability to hold numerous items and is quite valuable. I offer it to you as an apology for my earlier behavior."


    For Golden Core cultivators like Zhao Fa and Sun Liang, low-grade Spatial Pouches were inexpensive and did not elicit much awe.


    However, for someone like me, a feeble Qi Condensation cultivator, such pouches were treasures! I could hardly believe the abundance of riches I had acquired in a single meeting.


    "Thank you very much, Elder Zhao."


    I discreetly concealed the Spatial Pouch within my robe, ensuring that it remained hidden from prying eyes.


    "Dear friend Sun, may I pay a visit to your sect? I have some matters to discuss with you there," Zhao Fa proposed.


    "Oh?"


    Sun Liang expressed his curiosity, but refrained from further discussion as both Sun Shi and I were not meant to overhear their conversation. Once the meeting concluded and Zhao Fa confirmed his intention to visit Sun Liang''s sect, we all boarded the same carriage to return.


    I was not foolish enough to venture out of the city alone. How many times had I read clich¨¦d tales where the protagonist would leave a gathering only to be ambushed by robbers? For heaven''s sake.


    Fortunately, Riverside was conveniently situated along their route, and after a day of travel, they made a special stop for me.


    "This is where you reside?" Sun Liang inquired, gazing out of the carriage window at my humble farm.


    "Yes, it is."


    "A tranquil abode. Anyway, remember what I told you, right? I will now share with you the location of the sect..."


    Avish carriage passed by Riverside, an unusual urrence in these parts. I surveyed my farm, inhaling deeply and relishing the crisp air.


    "I am home..."


    I couldn''t contain my excitement to begin practicing the newfound alchemy cultivation art and ignite my first me. With the ample amount of spiritual stones obtained from the exchange, I had more than enough to purchase an alchemy furnace and embark on pill-making!


    As soon as I arrived, Dai Guiren appeared before me. Whether he had been waiting or it was merely a coincidental encounter, I couldn''t say, but that man was always remarkably swift.


    "Tian Li," he greeted, bowing his head. "There''s something peculiar..."


    "Peculiar? Has something happened to my farm?" I asked, my tone tinged with aggression.


    Dai Guiren shook his head. "No, no. Your farm is in good order. It''s regarding the shack in the woods that you mentioned."


    "What about it?"


    "We found the woman''s body there, along with evidence of the murder, but Kang Duyi''s body was nowhere to be found... Are you certain he was there?"


    I clenched my fists tightly. It seemed like the beginning of a damn viin arc.


    Kang Duyi''s body was meant to be present, but ording to the mayor''s ount, it was nowhere to be found. That could only mean one thing¡ªhe had survived!


    However, Dai Guiren assured me that there had been no unusual activity in the area. If he were to specte, Kang Duyi had likely fled Riverside, fearing that I mighte after him once more.


    "I''ll address that matterter," I dered, and Dai Guiren understood, taking his leave.


    Without further dy, I entered my home to check on Big F. He appeared robust and overjoyed to see me!


    ncing through the window of my modest cabin, I noticed that my crops were ready for harvest.


    "Well, well, well, time for some Spiritual Herbs!" I whispered to myself, hastening my steps as I left the cabin.

 Chapter 20 - 20: Two Years Passed

    <h4>Chapter 20: Two Years Passed</h4>


    The sight of my tall, healthy crops filled me with excitement. I retrieved a basket from my storage to gather the harvested crops and got to work.


    This was a moment I had been eagerly anticipating for a long time. The absence of Kang Duyi''s body was no longer upying my thoughts. Why should I concern myself with it? If it followed the predictable path of a typical viin, he would resurface in the future to challenge me and likely make a few more appearances before meeting his ultimate demise. It was a predetermined fate, and as a weak cultivator, I couldn''t alter its course.


    With that in mind, I focused on harvesting my crops. The first ones to be gathered were the potatoes. Initially, no Spiritual Herbs appeared. They were just ordinary potatoes, albeitrger and healthier than what the vigers of Riverside could produce.


    However, after continuously harvesting the potatoes, one with Qi emerged! To my surprise, my system sent me a notification about it.


    [Spiritual Potato Harvested]


    [Beneficial to Cultivation if consumed raw. Cannot be used to make pills.]


    I couldn''t contain my joy. Finally, I had obtained something that could aid my cultivation, even though I was a bit disappointed that it couldn''t be utilized for pill-making purposes.


    This revtion raised another question in my mind. Would it be possible to use it in pill-making if I possessed the recipe, or was it an impossibility? Additionally, I wondered what would happen if I were to nt a Spiritual Herb. Would the system further enhance its quality?


    Anyway, that fact threw my idea of making pills with my crops down the drain. Everything I was cultivating was just normal crops, as those were the only ones I could get from Riverside.


    Still, a potato could improve my cultivation, and nothing stated a maximum number of potatoes I could eat or if it had side effects. Meaning, my diet would change only to Spiritual Food!


    I liked the name. I felt it fit. I harvested all the potatoes and vegetables, and based on my calctions, the rate for the crop bing Spiritual was around 20%.


    It wasn''t bad. I had no idea if the same rate would apply when I cultivated Spiritual Herbs.


    Even if the crops could be used to make pills, I did not have the alchemy furnace or decent mastery over the cultivation art I just got from Zhao Fa.


    "It is time to eat and cultivate!" I murmured, taking the basket filled with Spiritual Foods.


    The ce I chose to cultivate was the cultivatorir underneath my farm. That was the safest ce where no one woulde to bother me.


    I decided to meditate inside that water pond. It helped my wounds healst time, but I knew Spiritual Springs had more benefits, such as increasing cultivation speed! It was time for secluded meditation...


    Two years passed in the blink of an eye. I practiced my Soul Fusion cultivation art every single day, increasing my own cultivation level as well as Big T''s, which was basically mine as well.


    Within these two years, I managed to reach the peak of the Tenth Layer of the Qi Condensation realm in both of my Dantians! That was quite fast, all thanks to the Spiritual Food I was cultivating on my farm.


    My initial thoughts were that the Spiritual Crops would only increase my cultivation speed slightly, not beingparable to pills in any way.


    Well, it was true. The crops were much weaker than a pill, but they also had their advantage: I could eat them without side effects!


    No one could take pills as they wished. It would make their cultivation unstable, impure, and could hinder their future progress. But I experienced none of those side effects with the crops!


    Still, after two years, I had to leave my secluded meditation and leave my farm. The crops weren''t helping me out anymore, and to reach the next two stages, the Eleventh and Twelfthyers, I had to go explore the world.


    The Qi Condensation realm had twelveyers, and after that came the Foundation Establishment realm. It would be impossible for me to reach thest twoyers of Qi Condensation without actual fights, and to reach the Foundation realm, I would need a Foundation pill.


    That alchemy art Zhao Fa gave me was indeed extraordinary, but there was a catch he did not tell me. I needed to reach the Foundation realm before starting to practice it!


    "Freaking old man tricked me... Well, at least I got a lot of Spiritual Stones!" I cursed.


    During these two years, my second Dantian grew increasingly powerful, and the Qi inside became poisonous! Additionally, during my training, I learned a few more martial arts techniques, most of which were rted to poison attacks.


    It was peculiar. Typically, cultivators would seek out a cultivation art for meditation and then search for martial arts of a simr element. However, I didn''t have to do that. As my second Dantian grew stronger, some techniques would randomly manifest in my mind. I still had to practice them, but at least I didn''t have to search for them in the world!


    Nevertheless, I still desired to acquire more potent martial arts. Cultivators had a wide array of martial arts to choose from within their sects, but as a rogue cultivator, Icked that luxury.


    Anyway, I entrusted Dai Guiren with the care of my farm once again.


    "You don''t have any crops to tend to," I exined, "but please take care of my fish and chickens."


    "Of course, don''t worry about it," Dai Guiren replied, as respectful as ever.


    Just as I was about to depart, a red-haired boy approached me. He was fourteen years old.


    "Uncle Tian Li, why are you leaving?" he asked.


    The boy was Tang Yusheng. Among the vigers, he was one who showed potential to be a cultivator. I had discussed this with his parents, and they agreed to let him join a sect.


    I made a suggestion to them, stating that in three years, I would be an Elder in a sect and bring him along with me. They agreed, and over the past two years, Tang Yusheng and I had be good friends, with him affectionately calling me "uncle."


    "My secluded meditation hase to a halt, and I need to progress by exploring the world. I''ll be away for some time, perhaps a few months," I exined.


    "A few months? Aren''t we supposed to join a sect in one year? Are you sure you''ll return in time? And please take care of yourself, Uncle Tian Li..."


    I embraced the boy. "Don''t worry, I''ll be back. Take care of Big F and my chickens while I''m away, and remember to train your body every day, understood?"


    "Yes!"


    After bidding farewell to him, I watched Tang Yusheng cry as I left Riverside. My destination? A treacherous forest known as the Dark Wood. It was a ce where many cultivators went to sharpen their skills, including myself.


    Filled with Spiritual Beasts, it was a ce where one''s life could be lost at any moment.

 Chapter 21 - 21: Being Followed

    <h4>Chapter 21: Being Followed</h4>


    Dark Wood Forest was a haven for cultivators of all levels. It was well-known that the outer ring of the forest housed weaker Spiritual Beasts, and the deeper one ventured inside, the more perilous it became.


    Why did I choose that ce for training? It was the finest location in the North March province where I resided, and it was also in close proximity to the Flying Sword Lotus Sect.


    The test to be an Elder of the sect was approaching, and before bringing Tang Yusheng there, I had to first attain the rank of Elder. Only with that authority could I take on a new disciple for the sect. However, it would still be a few years before the sect would receive their usual batch of disciples.


    With that in mind, I made my way toward the forest, stopping at a tavern called Dead Man''s Nest. It was the sole tavern near the Dark Wood and a popr gathering ce for cultivators. Those who sought to enter the Dark Wood would make a stop there, as well as those returning from it. Many sects sent their disciples there for training, and having a tavern nearby allowed them to stay for extended periods.


    I still wore the dark robe I had obtained from the meeting. It served as a good disguise to conceal my cultivation from early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and below. However, those more powerful than that could easily see through it.


    The Spatial Pouch I had acquired proved to be quite useful, providing ample space for provisions and potential treasures I mighte across.


    Thus, I was prepared to venture into the woods, but it was prudent to make a stop and fully restore my energy before entering.


    "I would like a room for the night," I requested from the man behind the counter.


    As the man couldn''t sense my cultivation level, he treated me with respect. "Sure thing. Room 28 is avable, and since you are an esteemed guest, the first night isplimentary."


    I was delighted to hear that! Not that Icked funds, but saving money was always a pleasant oue. I expressed my gratitude to the man as he handed me the room key.


    Just as I turned to head upstairs, a youth blocked my path. He appeared to be around 17 or 18 years old and slightly shorter than me, standing at 1.82 meters in height.


    Pointing at my chest, the youth asked the man behind the counter, "Why does he get a free night and I don''t?"


    Of course, it had to be some arrogant young master getting in my way. I couldn''t have expected anything different. I gave the youth a disdainful nce, examining him from head to toe, immediately sensing his cultivation at the Eighth Layer. He was no match for me, that was for sure.


    The man behind the counter wore a worried expression as he addressed the young master, "We can''t offer a free night to everyone, or our business would crumble. It''s reserved for guests of high standing."


    "H-High standing?" the young master stuttered, his face flushing with anger.


    "You," he pointed at me, "Give me your room for free, or I''ll teach you a lesson."


    I burst intoughter. I mean,e on, how could I hold back? The sight of this young master with his childish face attempting to intimidate me was just too amusing. Instead of fear, it made me want to burst outughing.


    "Get out of my way," I said, shoving him aside, as he was blocking the staircase.


    The young master couldn''t handle it anymore! He clenched his fists, channeling his Qi into both of them, "Mighty Ear-"


    But before he could finish his martial art technique, someone else intervened, grabbing his fist.


    It was another youth dressed in the same attire, presumably from the same sect.


    "Senior brother, why did you stop me?" the young master asked.


    The neer paid no attention to it, and instead gazed at me, "be cautious in the forest," he warned, pulling the young master away by the arm, and they quickly left.


    I could sense the neer''s power. It was that of a twelfthyer cultivator! Slightly above my own level. Since I had no knowledge of his specific martial arts, it was difficult to determine who would emerge victorious in a battle between us.


    The man behind the counter let out a sigh of relief, grateful that a fight hadn''t broken out inside his tavern, which could have spelled disaster for his establishment. The other cultivators sitting at wooden tables, engaged in conversations about the Dark Wood, all turned their curious gazes toward me.


    "Who''s that?" they whispered among themselves.


    Frankly, I wasn''t thrilled about being the center of attention. It only invited trouble, and now, in addition to the young master and his senior brother, there were likely others who would seek confrontation with me. What a hassle.


    I tried to dismiss those thoughts and proceeded to my assigned room, number 28, which turned out to be a simple space with minimal luxuries. It was to be expected, considering the overall structure of the tavern. However, this simplicity was not a drawback. As a cultivator, all I needed was a mat for meditation and a quiet ce. We were heading to the Dark Wood for training, not for a luxurious resort.


    Sleep was of little importance to me. I merely needed to fully immerse myself in meditation, diligently practicing my cultivation art, and that would fulfill my need for rest as well.


    That''s exactly what I did for an entire day, secluded in my room, before finally departing from the tavern and entering the Dark Wood.


    I had no idea what to expect, but I did know one thing: following the well-trodden path would be foolish. The forest was teeming with cultivators, and exposing myself in open and obvious ces would only invite more trouble.


    Therefore, I veered off the path, using my hands to gently push aside the overgrown bushes, while remaining alert to my surroundings to avoid any surprises from beasts or fellow cultivators.


    The initial parts of the forest didn''t pose many dangers, but as I ventured deeper, a distinct sense of being watched descended upon me. Whoever or whatever it was, they believed I was oblivious to their presence, yet they continued to tail me.


    Seeking a moment of respite, I made my way toward a nearby river, crouching down to quench my thirst. It was precisely at that moment when someone emerged from the bushes, charging towards me with clear intent to kill.

 Chapter 22 - 22: The Elders Will Seek Retribution!

    <h4>Chapter 22: The Elders Will Seek Retribution!</h4>


    The other party probably thought I had no idea about their presence there, which I found amusing. Why would someone attack me? My cultivation was concealed by my special robe, and a prudent cultivator wouldn''t engage without assessing their opponent''s power. Well, at least that''s how I would approach the situation, but it seemed that the cultivators in this world were even more foolish than those portrayed in the novels I''ve read.


    With swift, frog-like movements, I gracefully dodged the attack, swiftly evading the aggressor''s reach. Taking a closer look, I observed his dark robe adorned with red ents, and his countenance exuded an air of malevolence. Despite his intimidating appearance, the youth only possessed cultivation in the seventhyer of the Qi Condensation realm, far below my own level.


    Confidently, I positioned both hands behind my back, locking eyes with the bewildered youth. "May I inquire as to the reason behind this unprovoked attack? And why have you been tailing me all this while?"


    Clearly taken aback, the youth involuntarily retreated a few steps. Evidently, he was intimidated after witnessing the extent of my power and now sought to escape the consequences. However, I had no intention of allowing him to slip away so easily. Recently, I had acquired a new technique¡ªthe Poisonous Thorn Needle. It possessed both speed and danger.


    A minuscule ck needle stealthily emerged from beneath my robe, cleverly concealed on my wrist. The youth remained oblivious to its presence until it was toote to evade, as the needle swiftly found its mark, piercing his neck with precision.


    "W-What is this?" he eximed, confusion etched on his face.


    The pain he experienced was likely minor, for the true perily in the poison that followed.


    With a sly smile, I informed him, "I have poisoned you. You probably have no more than an hour to live. That''s the consequence ofunching an unprovoked attack against me."


    "Bastard!" the cultivator yelled,unching himself towards me.


    "Shadow Steps!" he cried, invoking a technique that manifested a shadow beneath his feet, intended to enhance his speed.


    While it was an admirable maneuver, even with the increased swiftness, it proved inadequate to catch up to me. Focusing my Qi on my legs, I fortified them, feeling my veins pulsate with energy. As the ground crumbled beneath my feet, I gracefully leaped away from his assault.


    "How can you be so fast?" the youth questioned, attempting to close the distance once more, only to halt abruptly, coughing up blood.


    The poison had begun to take effect, intensifying his desperation to avoid sumbing to its venomous grip.


    "Don''t be foolish! If you kill me, the elders in my sect will seek retribution," he pleaded.


    Ah, the ssic ploy employed by desperate cultivators. Some spoke the truth, while others merely used it as a hollow threat. Regardless, why should I concern myself with their predicament? After all, it was he who initiated the attack, and now he would face the consequences.


    "I shalle for you if I survive," the cultivator dered, preparing to make his escape.


    Aware that the poison would inevitably im his life, it would still be foolish to grant him more time to alert hisrades or elders. Thus, I swiftly closed the gap between us, utilizing my superior speed.


    "Corrosive Shot!" I bellowed.


    With a swift motion, the area beneath my mouth expanded, resembling the throat sac of a male frog. As I parted my lips, a potent green liquid surged forth, hurtling towards the cultivator. Though not as swift as the needle, it granted the cultivator a fraction of time to react, narrowly evading impact with his face. Yet, the corrosive liquid found its mark on his left arm, dissolving the skin, tendons, and flesh, leaving naught but bare bones.


    "Ahhhhh!" he screamed in agony.


    With the poison affecting his body and his left arm proven to be useless, the cultivator fell to his knees, having no strength to keep going. I walked toward him, picking up a small pouch from his waist¡ªit was his Spatial Pouch.


    I stared at him, ready to ask for his final words, but the cultivator was already unconscious. The damage dealt was too much for his body to endure.


    "That''s what you get for attacking me," I murmured, kicking the cultivator.


    It was wrong, I know, but it felt good. I wasn''t the type of person to let others bully me back in school, so why should I let that asshole try to kill me and go unpunished?


    Anyway, I checked his Spatial Pouch, finding only a small number of low-grade Spiritual Stones and a few techniques belonging to his sect. Nothing too extraordinary, but I took them anyway.


    The first problem was solved, but before leaving the area, I dragged the cultivator''s body into a bush and waited to see if anyone woulde looking for him. After spending thirty minutes behind a tree, closely watching every movement, no one came.


    Lucky me.


    It wouldn''t be great for my training inside the Dark Wood Forest if other cultivators were chasing my ass. Having to fight the beasts inside the forest was already tough enough on its own!


    I left the river area, venturing deeper into the woods. The day wasing to an end, so the breeze hitting my face grew colder, and the whole atmosphere became more tense with the night beasts emerging to seek their prey.


    Everyone knew it wasn''t the best time to be out, so my priorities shifted from just going deeper into the woods to finding a ce to spend the night before it was toote. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a cave that perfectly fit my criteria.


    It was small, not one of those massive caves that could potentially house all sorts of beasts. I thoroughly checked every single corner before making myself a campfire in the depths of the cave.


    The cozy fire warmed my body, and the cooked Spiritual potatoes were awesome! It was only the first night, but I had survived!

 Chapter 23 - 23: Following a Group of Three

    <h4>Chapter 23: Following a Group of Three</h4>


    I didn''t sleep but entered a meditative state that worked simrly to sleeping. Nothing strange happened during the night, which was great. However, as morning broke and the sun zed in the sky, I heard voices!


    The voices came from outside my cave, but it seemed like they were moving toward it. With quick movements, I left the cave and hid in the nearby area.


    The campfire had extinguished during the night, but its remnants were there.


    "Are you certain there''s something like that in this ce? It sounds like a fairy tale!" a female voice echoed in the distance.


    "Trust me, alright? I heard from trustworthy sources that there''s an inheritance in the deeper parts of the forest."


    I was hiding behind a tree. My robe concealed my cultivation, and my agile body, thanks to my buddy Big T, was more than enough to keep me hidden.


    The dense forest, filled withrge trees and bushes, also aided in my concealment.


    "Someone slept here recently," a man said, crouching and touching the remnants of my fire.


    He looked around, attempting to spot the cultivator who had slept in that cave¡ªme¡ªbut found nothing. Of course, he wouldn''t find me. I was superior, and he looked foolish.


    I analyzed the group: three cultivators consisting of two women and one man. They were all dressed in the same blue robe adorned with a symbol on the chest. It was evident that they belonged to the same sect and had formed a group to explore the area.


    The male cultivator also had a sword behind his back.


    Their cultivations ranged from the eighthyer to the ninth. The two girls were in the eighthyer, while the man was in the ninth.


    They appeared young and naive, discussing an inheritance or something of the sort. If I didn''t possess my knowledge about cultivation worlds, I would dismiss it as mere nonsense. Why would there be an inheritance in a ce like this?


    But with my knowledge, the possibility of an inheritance seemed likely. It wasmon for inheritances to be found in seemingly ordinary ces, often stumbled upon by the main characters (MC). The group before me could either be the protagonists or me.


    Regardless, I had to follow them. It was an opportunity I couldn''t afford to miss. They scanned the surrounding area a few times, only stopping when they realized no one was there. At least, no one they could detect.


    And so, the process of stalking began! To be honest, I wanted to venture deep into the forest, strip off my clothes, and battle the beasts like a barbarian, pushing my cultivation to the next twoyers that Icked.


    Following a group of three teenage cultivators wasn''t exactly what I had envisioned when entering the Dark Wood Forest. However, if it led me to some kind of inheritance or at least something useful, then it would be fantastic!


    The idea of what I would find in said inheritance was what kept me going because, for God''s sake, what a bummer. Those young cultivators only talked about useless things, like how the forest was scary and their boring time in their sect.


    I couldn''t bear that for too long. Thankfully, they stopped at a waterfall. I believed it was for resting purposes, but apparently, that was not the case.


    "Is this the inheritance area? But how can no one have found it till this point?" one of the girls asked.


    She was right. The whole location was just too obvious, and the number of cultivators who went to Dark Wood Forest to train was massive. There was no way no one found the inheritance. I heard their conversation with one thought in mind: imagine if the guy said the inheritance was behind the waterfall in a cave.


    That would turn out to be the most clich¨¦ thing ever.


    "There''s no way he will say that," I murmured.


    I saw the man pointing toward the waterfall, and his next sentence made me want to drown myself in thatke under the waterfall.


    "The inheritance is behind the waterfall in a cave. It''s a well-hidden ce, so it makes sense no one found it," he said.


    It makes sense no one found it? Everyone there must be stupid, then! That was the most obvious ce to put things. Heck, every single RPG game had a chest behind a waterfall, and they called it a secret chest even. What a stupid title.


    Anyway, I endured following them for almost an entire day, so I wouldn''t stop there. They were about to enter the inheritance, well, that''s if there was any inheritance there to begin with.


    "But before we enter," the man said, turning around, "Can you please show yourself?"


    I wasn''t expecting that. I had concealed myself well behind the trees, with no Qi emanating from my body. It was almost impossible for any of them to notice my presence, yet the man somehow did.


    "Wait... Could he be bluffing? I read once in a novel where someone does this kind of shit. Let me wait here..." I thought to myself.


    The man kept calling out, but he didn''t move, only staring at the surrounding area. The two girls with him couldn''t understand what was happening.


    "Brother Ye Hu, what are you doing?" one of them asked.


    Ye Hu scratched the back of his head. "I was just ensuring no one was watching us. Apparently, there''s no one here. Let''s move."


    I was freaking right! That man called Ye Hu was smart to do that. He gained a few points in my personal assessment.


    They went up the waterfall, leaping through the water, presumably entering a cave or something simr.


    It wasn''t an ideal spot for me. The water blocked my view, and I was certain they could see me from there! Getting closer to them proved to be even harder.


    Nevertheless, I tried circling around the area, utilizing the bushes and trees to remain hidden. While they had to use the regr path to climb, I had the power of Big T, allowing me to jump and ascend the waterfall with ease!


    They saw nothing, and in no time, I was inside, gazing at the three of them sitting in front of a door.


    "How can we open this..."

 Chapter 24 - 24: Golden Dragon Carp

    <h4>Chapter 24: Golden Dragon Carp</h4>


    The three cultivators stood before a door, their faces expressing a clear sense of confusion and frustration.


    I positioned myself behind a massive rock, concealing my presence from them while carefully observing their every move. They attempted to push the door, demolish the walls, and tried various other methods, but nothing seemed to work. The door appeared to be securely locked.


    "This must be the inheritance," Ye Hu said. "But we don''t have enough power to open it... At least we know there''s something here."


    The other two girls wore expressions of defeat, their shared desire to find the inheritance and enhance their strength evident.


    "We need to be stronger as quickly as possible before someone else discovers this ce," one of the girls suggested.


    Unfortunately, they weren''t the only ones aware of this location. I, too, had knowledge of it and was confident in my ability to attain the necessary power to enter before them.


    They exhausted all their efforts in attempting to unlock the door, but after their unsessful attempts, they departed. I approached the door after they left, cing my hand upon it.


    I could sense the Qi guarding the door and the entire area surrounding the waterfall, making it virtually impossible to enter without reaching a certain level of power.


    "Perhaps the Golden Core realm? Nascent Soul cultivators are practically legends in this continent, so it shouldn''t require an excessive amount of power," I murmured to myself.


    It was truly a shame that I couldn''t pass through that door, but acquiring knowledge about it wasn''t so bad. At least following those three boring teenage cultivators had its merits.


    Anyway, I moved away from the area. However, as I approached theke beneath the waterfall, it felt as if it was calling out to me!


    "What is this sensation?" I pondered, examining every inch of theke, but it appeared entirely ordinary.


    Intrigued, I leaped into the water, hoping to discover if the feeling originated from any hidden Spiritual Herb. s, there was nothing but the usual assortment of nts.


    Then, an idea sparked in my mind¡ªfishing! My Spatial Pouch contained various fishing tools, along with equipment for farming and other activities permitted by my system.


    So there I was, always prepared with my fishing gear in tow. Instead of battling fearsome beasts within the treacherous forest, I found myself pausing for a bit of fishing... It must have seemed quite insane to any onlooker. After all, cultivators didn''t typically engage in such activities. Perhaps only the ancient cultivators, those who had reached such lofty realms that they sought out hobbies to stave off madness.


    But here I was, a mere Tenth Layer Qi Condensation cultivator. Fishing? Absolutely absurd. Yet, something within me insisted that casting my line into that veryke was the right course of action.


    I had nothing to lose, and besides, fishing was undeniably enjoyable. I cherished those moments of tranquility.


    As the tattoo on my chest shimmered, the spectral form of Big T materialized beside me, gradually transforming into a physical frog. I wasn''t concerned about his safety, for he existed as a mere manifestation. He was fused securely with me, and his life was tied to mine alone.


    "Croak, croak," he uttered, bringing a tender smile to my face.


    "Such an adorable creature. Let''s fish together, Big T!"


    The whole fishing idea was a mystery. Would it bring me something worthy? Or was it a waste of time?


    It was a mystery, but I had to do it or else my mind would keep questioning itself: did I lose a treasure?


    No one would want to live with that thought in mind, therefore I gathered a few worms in the mud around theke, sat myself near its edge, and went fishing! When I dove inside theke ¡ª a few minutes before starting to fish ¡ª I saw many fishes there, but they were all ordinary fish.


    There was no Spiritual Fish like Big. F, but I still fished nheless. My system worked in mysterious ways. Maybe it spawned a Spiritual Fish when it triggered its passive? It sounded insane, yes, but so did die and reincarnate in a cultivation world.


    Nothing happened in the first hour. In the second hour... neither in the third...


    I spent one day fishing, two days, three days...


    The notion of time was lost to me, and for some reason, no beasts or cultivators came to theke. It was as if no one knew about its location. But that didn''t make sense at all! It wasn''t hidden.


    Anyway, I spent an entire month fishing in thatke. Yes, an entire month. It hurt my heart to lose that much time with fishing instead of training. I was almost certain I could have reached the Eleventh Layer by that point.


    "Screw this," I murmured.


    The anger I had within was immense, and I was about to leave after getting thest fish, and it turned out that was exactly the treasure I was hoping for!


    [Congrattions!]


    [Legendary Spiritual Fish Acquired]


    [Golden Dragon Carp]


    It was a golden carp, but it wasn''t exactly a fish; it resembled a dragon! Its body was that of a fish, but its face wasn''t.


    Could it evolve into a dragon in the future? I had no idea, but that creature was truly incredible! It had the word "legendary" and "dragon" in its name, so it had to be, right?


    I crafted a basket by destroying a few trees, filled it with water, and put the Golden Dragon Carp inside. The first thought that crossed my mind was to put it inside the Spatial Pouch, but I had yet to test it with living things.


    "Let''s pray for the best, I guess," I murmured, putting the basket inside the Spatial Pouch.


    It worked! I would be devastated if I lost a legendary dragon fish like that, but at least everything went well.


    After getting a mysterious and extraordinary fish, I left theke. It was finally time to kill beasts, a lot of them!

 Chapter 25 - 25: A Wild Cultivator, Flexing my Bicep

    <h4>Chapter 25: A Wild Cultivator, Flexing my Bicep</h4>


    A monkey-like creature with four arms and thick brown fur stared at me with hungry eyes, emitting strange noises as it yelled at me.


    "Come on, let''s fight," I dered, tossing my robe aside to reveal my muscr physique.


    The monkey thumped its chest, signifying its approval of my approach. This was going to be a fist fight.


    I gestured towards a nearby cave, indicating that the victor would im it as their prize. The monkey seemed toprehend my intent.


    "Uh Uh Ah Ah," it uttered.


    Was I confident in my ability to prevail against this creature in a fist fight? Not at all. The monkey and I were on the sameyer, the tenth, but while I had reached its peak, the monkey was still in the early stages.


    However, like most Spiritual Beasts, the monkey possessed an incredibly robust physique. That''s why most cultivators emphasized training their bodies in addition to mastering Qi. I, too, desired to strengthen my physical prowess, but the predicament was that Icked the necessary techniques.


    Regardless, as the sun beat down on us, we shed. I sprinted towards the monkey, adeptly evading its powerful punch that caused even my hair to ripple in the wind. Swiftly, I twisted my body, directing a knee strike towards its ribs.


    The blownded, but despite the monkey retreating a few steps, it appeared to withstand the attack without significant damage. This posed a considerable problem.


    Enraged even further, the monkey jumped towards me,unching a punch of its own. The speed caught me off guard, but instead of dodging, I chose to endure the blow. I wanted to test the strength of my body and embrace the opportunity to break through my stagnant cultivation.


    Bracing myself, I positioned both of my arms in front of me, using my forearms to block the attack. The impact was so powerful that it sent me hurtling through the air, crashing into a nearby tree and splitting it in half. As I rose to my feet, I realized my arm hadn''t shattered. Though it throbbed with pain, it remained functional, and that was what truly mattered.


    "Hahaha! Prepare yourself!" I bellowed, propelling myself towards the beast once more.


    The monkey appeared visibly astonished. It had often struck cultivators and other beasts, leaving them lifeless on the ground. Yet, I stood resilient, defying its expectations and breaking its spirit. It attempted another attack, delivering the same punch as before.


    I stood firm, digging my feet into the ground as the punch descended. My stance was unyielding, and I seized the monkey''s hand.


    "Take this!" I eximed.


    Spotting a nearby rock, I swiftly grabbed the monkey by the arm, leveraging a vertical motion to hurl it directly towards the rock. The impact shattered the rock into tiny fragments, leaving the monkey grievously injured.


    We locked eyes, and then the monkey fled. I didn''t pursue it. This was a duel, not a fight to the death, and the monkey didn''t seem so malicious after all.


    After the fight concluded, I sensed a slight improvement in both of my Dantians. This was an encouraging sign. Despite being at the peak of the Tenth Layer, my cultivation still required battles and refinement to break through to the next level.


    The fight against the monkey had not been tiring at all, so I continued venturing deeper into the woods, pushing my body to its limits. The ck robe I often wore was safely stored inside my Spatial Pouch, and now I roamed the forest, disying my bare upper body like a wild warrior.


    It didn''t take long for word to spread among the cultivators, most of whom were in the Qi Condensation realm. Almost all sects sent their disciples to this area for training, and they had a mutual understanding not to harm each other. Although there were asionalpses in this agreement, they were infrequent, as they could potentially escte into sect conflicts, which was undesirable. Nevertheless, duels did ur, and the devil sects did not adhere to the same rules.


    The cultivator who attacked me was either from a devil sect and disregarded the rules or targeted me because Icked a robe associated with any of the sects in the province. They didn''t feel obligated to respect the rules that applied to rogue cultivators.


    Anyway, the word of a wild cultivator running around the forest, engaging in battles with any beast that entered his sight, quickly spread. I knew this because I encountered the three cultivators once again¡ªthe ones searching for the inheritance.


    "Ye Hu, rx," one of the girls said. "He doesn''t appear to be an enemy."


    "Hou Suyin, we can''t trust strangers! He''s the enigmatic wild cultivator who fights all the beasts in the area."


    "But he''s been winning, hasn''t he? Even if we joined forces, we wouldn''t stand a chance against him..."


    Ye Hu let out a sigh. "You''re right, Hou Biya. Damn it."


    I sat near a tree, leaning my back against it, observing the three cultivators as they conversed. I was already familiar with Ye Hu, the youth with ck hair and a sword fastened to his back. The girls were the same as well, but I didn''t learn their names in our first encounter.


    Firstly, they had blond hair, which was quite umon in that region. Secondly, both of their names contained "Hou," and they bore a striking resemnce to each other, possessing slender bodies and standing nearly 1.80 meters tall.


    "Why are you debating whether I''m an enemy or not when all I''m doing is resting against a tree, enjoying the breeze? You''re so paranoid," I remarked, shaking my head.


    "Who are you? And why are you fighting naked?" Ye Hu inquired.


    I rose to my feet and began flexing my biceps. "Why should I conceal this body?"


    They were left speechless, unsure how to respond.


    "So, Tian Li, right? We''re heading to a perilous location, and based on your demeanor, you seem friendly enough. Would you like to join us?"


    I didn''t voice my thoughts aloud, but seriously, these people seemed to have a penchant for trouble. First, they sought after an inheritance that could cost them their lives (fortunately, it was sealed), and now they were embarking on yet another dangerous expedition. Why should I go with them?


    "Yes, I will join you," I replied.


    Listen, it was not my fault. Fighting beasts and cultivators was incredibly exhrating!

 Chapter 26 - 26: Flooded Dragon!

    <h4>Chapter 26: Flooded Dragon!</h4>


    "So, what exactly is this ce we''re heading to?" I inquired.


    Ye Hu, who appeared to be the group''s leader, took the responsibility of answering my question.


    "The three of us are here for training, and our respected Elder has assigned us a task to earn contribution points within our sect. Toplete this task, we must journey to a specific location and y a flooded dragon."


    "Wait, what? Isn''t that a Foundation Establishment-level beast?" I eximed.


    While I was confident in my ability to handle beasts on par with my cultivation realm, a Qi Condensation cultivator would have no chance against such a creature.


    The trio seemed surprised that I was aware of the beast''s strength, as they regarded me as a rogue cultivatorcking in knowledge.


    "You''re correct. However, this particr flooded dragon is injured, causing its cultivation to be sealed at the twelfthyer of Qi Condensation," Ye Hu exined, pausing dramatically. "But I won''t deceive you. It will still be far more formidable than an ordinary twelfthyer cultivator."


    The prospect of battling a formidable opponent excited me, it truly did. It presented an excellent opportunity to enhance my cultivation at a rapid pace. However, I questioned what I would gain from it. Yes, it would expedite my progress, but was it worth the risk?


    "If we sessfully y this flooded dragon, what will I gain?" I inquired.


    That was the crucial question I needed to ask them, not about the type of beast or its location. None of that mattered if they weren''t willing topensate me for my services.


    Ye Hu seemed to have been anticipating the question and replied, "What do you desire?"


    I knew exactly what I wanted.


    "The Demonic Core!" I dered.


    "No way!" the girls interjected, their voices filled with dismay.


    The Demonic Core was akin to a beast''s Dantian, and consuming it could greatly enhance one''s cultivation. That was precisely why I desired it, especially if it once belonged to a Foundation Establishment creature.


    "I cannot grant that request. The Demonic Core will be handed over to the Elder in exchange for sect points..." Ye Hu exined, shaking his head. "Is there something else you would like? I can offer Spiritual Stones and..."


    I cut him off, asserting, "Split the Demonic Core in half, along with any other valuable materials. I am risking my life to help youplete this task."


    "Forget about it," Hou Suyin intervened. "Let''s find someone else to assist us."


    The two girls were prepared to seek assistance elsewhere, but I could sense that Ye Hu didn''t share the same sentiment. Firstly, they couldn''t approach cultivators from other sects for help. Those cultivators would undoubtedly demand items in return, which would only bolster rival sects.


    That''s precisely why I held such value. As a rogue cultivator with no affiliations, my power likely impressed Ye Hu, who undoubtedlycked confidence in facing the Flooded Dragon with just the three of them.


    His facial expressions changed multiple times within a minute, and he finally relented, saying, "Fine. I agree to your conditions."


    "What? Why?" the girls eximed in confusion.


    Ye Hu motioned for them to gather in a corner, presumably exining the situation to them. After their discussion, they appeared more aligned with the group.


    "So, where can we find this Flooded Dragon? And how do you know it''s injured?" I inquired.


    We walked through the Dark Wood Forest for a while, encountering a few cultivators along the way. However, they chose to retreat rather than engage in a fight against our group of four.


    "Our Senior Brother faced it in battle before. He''s a twelfthyer cultivator, but he couldn''t do much against it alone," Ye Hu exined, pointing towards a cave in the distance. "As for its location, it''s inside that cave."


    I turned my head to gaze at the indicated spot. Surprisingly, it wasn''t far from the tree where they discovered me. Perhaps one of the reasons they sought assistance was because their destinationy within close proximity.


    Regardless, we made our way towards the cave. It was concealed behind bushes and covered in moss, with a small entrance that suggested the possibility of additional exits for the Flooded Dragon.


    "Everyone, remain alert and be prepared! We cannot be certain if the Flooded Dragon is the only creature inside!" Ye Hu dered, unsheathing his sword.


    We cautiously entered the cave, one by one, and soon darkness enveloped our vision. It was impossible to see anything inside that cave!


    Fortunately, Hou Biya possessed a martial art technique that allowed her to generate a small ball of Qi, illuminating our surroundings like a shlight. It proved to be a useful technique, and I made a mental note to learn it myself in the future.


    The echoing sound of water droplets hitting the cave floor created an eerie atmosphere, as if unseen eyes were observing our every move. The sense of unease settled upon us, intensifying the feeling of being in a truly unsettling ce.


    I had no certainty about our collective strength to ovee the Flooded Dragon, but the allure of obtaining its valuable Demonic Core was too enticing to ignore. Taking risks was an inherent part of a cultivator''s life, albeit a challenging one.


    "In moments like this, I miss my peaceful farm and the tranquility it brought... At least, as an Elder in a sect, I won''t have to endure the same hardships as the other disciples," I murmured inwardly, reminiscing about my simpler past.


    The oppressive silence within the cave was deafening. It was clear that something formidable resided in that ce, and no other Spiritual Beast in the vicinity dared to venture there.


    Despite the unsettling atmosphere, we pressed forward. The cave led us deeper, gradually descending into darkness until all external sounds faded away. The only audible sounds were our own breathing and the rhythmic dripping of water from the ceiling.


    We encountered a few small insects and bats along the way, but there were no signs of any powerful orrge beasts. Then, our eyes fell upon a vast open area¡ªa pit filled with ck water. The water level reached just below the knees, hindering our movements like a treacherous swamp.


    In the midst of this murky swamp, the creature we soughty before us¡ªthe Flooded Dragon. Its appearance resembled that of a dragon, but instead of exuding majesty, it appeared bedraggled, with deep gray scales. Its face bore noticeable differences, and I couldn''t help but notice that one of its eyes was missing.


    Despite its slightly smaller size of around twelve to thirteen meters, it still loomed as a massive presence.


    "It''s truly here!" eximed Ye Hu.


    The beast''s formidable presence sent shivers down our spines, but with determined steps, we advanced toward it, mentally preparing ourselves for a battle that could determine life or death.

 Chapter 27 - 27: Let鈥檚 Fucking go Baby!!!!

    <h4>Chapter 27: Let''s Fucking go Baby!!!!</h4>


    "Let''s spread out and focus on the weak spots," Ye Humanded, his voice carrying a hint of determination.


    Hou Suyin and Hou Biya acknowledged his instructions with solemn nods, their eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and caution. They expertly maneuvered around the water pit, their movements synchronized in a dance of calcted precision. Following their lead, I joined their delicate choreography, adjusting my robe to shield myself from the grimy swamp water that clung to me.


    The thought of engaging the Flooded Dragon head-on sent a shiver down my spine. Its potential power and resilience were unknown to us, urging caution and strategic thinking. My repertoire of techniques was limited, and the dragon''s vulnerabilities and resistances remained a mystery. What if my poisons proved futile against its scaly hide? The odds seemed stacked against us.


    "Hou Suyin and Hou Biya, utilize your fire techniques from a safe distance. Tian Li and I will handle the close-quartersbat," Ye Hu directed, his voice filled with unwavering confidence.


    With his trusty sword gleaming in the dim light, Ye Hu took the lead, his steps purposeful and resolute. Closing in on the beast, he invoked a primal response, stirring the dragon from its slumber. A thunderous roar filled the cavern, causing Ye Hu to momentarily retreat, his eyes fixed on the dragon''s massive form.


    Mindful of the dragon''s gaze, I silently circled around, my movements calcted and deliberate. I searched for an advantageous position, a moment of vulnerability to exploit amidst the chaos. The tension in the air was palpable as we prepared for whaty ahead.


    The Flooded Dragon''s presencemanded attention, causing the water in the pit to surge and churn, forming towering waves that dwarfed our own stature. The sheer power it possessed was undeniable, its weight and size transforming the pit into a tumultuous tempest.


    A foreboding silence settled upon us as the dragon''s maw opened wide, a palpable darkness gathering within. With a forceful motion, it unleashed the dark sphere, hurtling it towards Ye Hu with lethal speed. It was a moment of reckoning.


    My heart skipped a beat as I watched the impending doom approach Ye Hu. The sheer magnitude of the attack surpassed the capabilities of an average twelfthyer Qi Condensation cultivator, bordering on the realm of Foundation Establishment. The oue seemed grim.


    However, Ye Hu''s tenacity defied all expectations. As the ck sphere materialized, he channeled his own power, initiating a spell of his own. His sword pulsed with radiant energy, expanding in size until it formed a formidable shield, a bulwark against the dragon''s assault.


    "First Sword Formation, Unbreakable Barrier!" Ye Hu''s voice resounded through the cavern, his words carrying a fierce determination.


    The shield-like wall provided a momentary reprieve, but the assault was far from over. Yet, it was in this moment that the trio''s expertise inbat truly shone.


    Hou Suyin and Hou Biya, attuned to each other''s movements, unleashed their fiery arsenal, melding their Qi to conjure two medium-sized fireballs. The zing orbs soared through the air, colliding with the ck sphere in a cataclysmic sh of elements. The resulting explosion rippled through the pit, its raw power reverberating in the depths of my being. The melding of techniques proved formidable indeed.


    Although the fireballs couldn''tpletely eradicate the darkness, they weakened its malevolence, allowing Ye Hu''s sword formation to withstand the onught. However, the sheer force sent him hurtling backward, his face contorted in pain as his own de hit his torso.


    As the echoes of the explosion subsided, the aftermath revealed the toll taken on ourpanions. Hou Suyin and Hou Biya, their brows furrowed with fatigue, struggled to maintain their bnce. The tremendous expenditure of Qi from conjuring the powerful fireballs had left them drained and in need of respite.


    Their chests rose and fell with rapid breaths as they leaned against the cavern walls, seeking support amidst their weariness. Beads of sweat dotted their foreheads, evidence of the immense effort they had exerted to confront the Flooded Dragon.


    In contrast, I stood rtively unscathed, my body pulsating with unspent energy. The exhration of battle coursed through my veins, invigorating my senses. The responsibility to press on rested squarely on my shoulders, as the sole remaining member of our group in a healthy state.


    It was my time to do something, or else everyone there would perish! The two girls couldn''t cast powerful attacks anymore, and Ye Hu had a few broken ribs and a small cut on his torso.


    "Alright. Screw this," I said, tossing my robe away.


    I gathered all the air I could and yelled, "LET''S FUCKING GO, BABY!"


    The Flooded Dragon wouldn''t have to face me. No, he would have to face us! For the first time in a long time, I activated my spell, Materialization, and a massive spirit of a toad appeared behind my back!


    The tattoo on my chest shone, and a green aura enveloped my body! My power was beyond that of ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators!


    It took longer for me to cultivate, having to fill two Dantians with Qi? It did, but it also meant double the power! Heck, it was more than doubled!


    My muscles pulsed with Qi, increasing their size! Green veins scattered throughout my body, and my hair flew backward even without wind.


    The Flooded Dragon, who still had his gaze on them, turned to face me! I could see the fear in its eyes!


    Ye Hu, Hou Suyin, and Hou Biya were watching it from afar, and their shocked faces after seeing my incredible power were amusing. Right, I was awesome! Big "T" too!


    Anyway, I wouldn''t let the Flooded Dragon have any chance of a counter-attack, and the fact that its back was facing me was the best opportunity I had!


    A tremendous power surged in my legs as I jumped toward the dragon! I had never felt that much power, and my speed was so incredible that I almost missed the target!


    I decided to jump on its head, and the moment the dragon''s face met mine, I lunged at its only remaining eye.


    "Poisonous Needle Barrage!" I yelled!


    Spikes came out from my body, mostly in the arms region, and all of them flew toward the dragon''s eye, piercing it!

 Chapter 28 - 28: Win or Die

    <h4>Chapter 28: Win or Die</h4>


    A clean hit to the eye wasn''t something anyone could survive against. The poisonous needles shooting from my arms were fast. Seeing how close I was to the Flooded Dragon, it didn''t have time to close its eyelids!


    It roared, shaking its body in pain. I squeezed my hands, gripping its body tightly, struggling to maintain my bnce. It was difficult. My hands started itching and hurting, and I knew I couldn''t hold on much longer. But then it stopped.


    I realized the poison had begun to take effect. It was only a matter of time before I won the fight!


    But then something unexpected happened. The Flooded Dragon roared again, but this time, the water inside the pit began to move, flowing towards the dragon!


    The first thought that crossed my mind was, "I need to get away from this beast!" So, instead of staying attached to its scales, I released my grip and focused my Qi on my legs, leaping away like a frog.


    Once I ensured I was far enough to avoid any potential st, I locked my gaze on the Flooded Dragon. Its body was rapidly healing, and the replenishment of Qi was noticeable as well.


    "Wait..." I realized something was amiss. Despite damaging both of its eyes, they were healing, and the dragon''s vision was returning to its peak. That wasn''t a good sign.


    If its eyes were healing, then the poison inside its body must be following the same path. It meant I would have to fight the Flooded Dragon once again, but this time it was in better shape than before, and I didn''t have my group to rely on.


    My green aura continued to encircle my body, strong and vibrant. I had no injuries; I was at my peak condition. However, while I was in the tenthyer, my enemy was in the twelfth...


    But there was no way in hell I would back down! I had mypanions¡ªa toad and a fish¡ªto take care of, and I wouldn''t die before finding the peace I sought.


    "You''re just an overlyrge lizard, you cunt!" I yelled.


    Ye Hu, Hou Suyin, and Hou Biya had left the pit and were watching the fight from above. I noticed their astonished faces.


    "Tian Li, be careful! We will descend to help you after we recover," Ye Hu yelled from the top.


    That was bullshit. Sure, he was injured, and the two girls had little Qi left to use, but they were running away, probably scared because the fight had turned difficult. I was the only one risking my life there!


    The Flooded Dragon, having healed its body, began pping its wings and headed straight for me. It wasn''t fast, and its flight was sloppy, but the sight of that enormous creatureing toward me made my blood boil and my hairs stand up in excitement.


    I ran toward the pit''s wall, trying to put as much distance as possible between myself and the Flooded Dragon, which was approaching me directly.


    "Is he running away?" Hou Suyin said.


    I heard her, but that was all part of my n! The Flooded Dragon was powerful, but it was still a beast, and most beasts were dumb as fuck.


    Once I reached the pit''s wall, I turned around to face the dragon, which was flying towards me with its mouth open, showing its rotten teeth. It wanted to swallow me!


    "Come on, boy,e," I murmured.


    It continueding towards me, and my eyes were focused not only on the dragon itself but also on the remaining distance.


    "Not now..."


    "Almost..."


    "Now!"


    The Flooded Dragon was almost upon me, but just as its mouth was about to catch me, I unleashed Big T''s power! The green aura circling my body shifted, focusing solely on my legs!


    I felt an incredible burst of power, even greater than when the green aura was spread throughout my entire body. Concentrating it in one spot had its benefits.


    Then, I jumped! I soared so high it felt like I was flying, almost reaching the cave''s high ceiling!


    With its momentum, the Flooded Dragon couldn''t stop itself from crashing into the pit''s wall. It broke through the rocky barrier, entering it! The damage to its head was massive, and I noticed the dizziness in the dragon''s eyes!


    That was the perfect opportunity! In mid-air, I swung my body, making my feet connect with the ceiling and using the momentum to descend like a bullet. My speed going up was already extraordinary, but my speed going down after utilizing the ceiling was simply otherworldly!


    In no time, I was near the dragon''s head. Using the same technique as before, I managed to pierce both of its eyes again!


    The dragon roared in pain as the needles pierced its eyes, and a green liquid spread through its pupils, causing its vision to go dark.


    I didn''t stop there! This window of the dragon''s dizziness was the best moment, and wasting it would be foolish.


    There was one attack that I had yet to test. Its knowledge entered my mind after reaching a certain level of power with my second Dantian. It was undoubtedly a powerful attack, but I had no idea if it would work!


    Nevertheless, I went for it! The green aura circling my body condensed into my hands as I cast a spell.


    "Corrosive Acid Shot!" I yelled.


    A st of green liquid shot toward the dragon, entering its mouth and melting its teeth and skin on impact. The corrosive substance continued down its throat, causing the Flooded Dragon to fall onto its back, writhing in pain as life faded from its body. It was dead!


    But despite my victory, the fight was far from over. My control over the spell, Corrosive Acid Shot, wascking. I hadn''t practiced it in controlled situations, so a portion of the green liquid sshed onto my left arm.


    The corrosion took effect swiftly, and I screamed in agony as my skin melted away. The pain was unbearable, unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I looked down to find my arm reduced to mere bones, rendered useless. Although it was a devastating blow, I knew there were ways to restore it in the future.


    "Tian Li!" Ye Hu and the two girls rushed to my side, carrying bandages and healing herbs in their Spatial Pouches. While it wouldn''t heal my armpletely, it provided some relief and prevented the pain from worsening.


    "I am so sorry," Ye Hu said, bowing his head. "You can keep the entire demonic core from the Flooded Dragon as a small reward for losing your arm. Perhaps, in the future, if you reach the Foundation realm, you can restore it..."

 Chapter 29 - 29: My Next Step? Foundation!

    <h4>Chapter 29: My Next Step? Foundation!</h4>


    The group assisted in cleaning the Flooded Dragon. We agreed that they would take all the scales, tendons, and meat, while I would im the most valuable asset¡ªthe demonic core.


    Despite being on a quest for the sect, Ye Hu assured me that the Elder would understand and be pleased with the ingredients they had obtained, even without the demonic core.


    "You deserve this," Ye Hu said, tapping my shoulder. "We will return to our sect now. Our Elder will use this Flooded Dragon to produce some pills, and we will enter secluded meditation. Tian Li, it was nice to know you... Be careful out there."


    He was visibly concerned about my well-being, knowing that my destroyed arm could pose a threat within the Dark Wood Forest. However, I was confident that I would fully recover in due time.


    "May our paths cross again in the future," I replied.


    After parting ways, my first priority was to find a safe location. The battle had surely attracted attention, and soon others would arrive to investigate. I had no desire to be present when they did.


    Fortunately, the Dark Wood Forest offered numerous hiding spots. Instead of venturing deeper into the woods, I retraced my steps. The further one ventured, the stronger the beasts became, and at some point, Foundation-level beasts would appear. Given the state of my arm, I wouldn''t stand a chance against such creatures.


    After an entire day of walking, I finally discovered a suitable cave to settle in. It was amon practice for cultivators to im such caves as their cultivation sites. However, to make it truly effective, one needed knowledge of formations to mask the Qi and safeguard the cave.


    Unfortunately, Icked that knowledge. As I sat in the deepest part of the cave, contemting a solution, a familiar face caught my attention. It was the monkey I had fought barehanded.


    "You?" I eximed.


    To my surprise, the monkey did not attack. Its intelligent eyes locked onto my wounded arm, and I had a strange sense that it understood the severity of my injury. It thumped its chest a few times before taking a seat near the entrance of my cave, acting as my sole protector. The monkey was guarding me while I entered secluded meditation, hoping to advance my cultivation. What an extraordinary creature.


    A profound feeling ofpanionship washed over me, and in the end, a Spiritual Beast was offering its assistance. It had proven to be more helpful than the trio who had fought alongside me against the Flooded Dragon.


    The demonic core, a dark round crystal emanating an immense amount of Qi, remained securely stored within my Spatial Pouch. As a Foundation Establishment beast, the Flooded Dragon possessed a higher-grade core, which I intended to use as a Foundation Pill to advance to the next stage of cultivation. While there was no theoretical reason for it not to work, I knew I couldn''t use the demonic core right away.


    At the moment, my cultivation had reached the peak of the tenthyer, and it had stagnated before I arrived in the Dark Wood Forest due to theck of real fights to consolidate my progress. However, that had changed with all the battles I had faced within the forest. Now, all I needed to do was focus on meditation and push myself towards the finalyer of the Qi Condensation stage¡ªthe twelfthyer.


    Before leaving, I had packed my Spatial Pouch with a plentiful supply of Spiritual Foods from my farm. Opening the pouch, I took out a potato and began chewing on it. I then tossed another potato to the monkey, who epted it eagerly but eyed it with a curious gaze. It seemed that potatoes were a novelty for the creature.


    After I had started eating, the monkey patiently waited for a few moments to ensure it was safe before joining in and consuming the potato as well. Given that the potato contained Qi, both the monkey and I began meditating after our meal. The monkey remained in a state of heightened awareness, ready to protect me, while I fully immersed myself in my meditation.


    In a peculiar state of mind, my consciousness flickered in and out, providing me with brief moments of awareness to open my Spatial Pouch, retrieve a potato, and toss it to the monkey. This simple action was the only interruption from my deep cultivation focus. The dense Qi of the Dark Wood Forest,bined with the nourishment of the Spiritual Food, propelled my cultivation to new heights.


    It felt as though my body already held stored Qi within both Dantians, but it had been blocked from proper utilization. Through the arduous battles I had faced, the blockages were cleared, allowing the Qi to flow freely throughout my entire being.


    The passage of time became indiscernible as my mind became consumed by the practice of the Spiritual Soul Fusion art. The cultivation of this technique was astounding, enabling me to absorb substantial amounts of Qi from the atmosphere, condense it, and channel it into both of my Dantians.


    After an unknown duration, I finally opened my eyes, sensing a surge of power coursing through me. My cultivation had soared to the peak of the twelfthyer, a mere step away from entering the Foundation realm. The monkey remained faithfully by my side, its own cultivation visibly improved, likely due to the nourishment it received from the potatoes I had shared with it.


    Yet, there remained one final task before me. With the depletion of the Spiritual Foods, the time hade to utilize the demonic core from the Flooded Dragon and strive to reach the next realm. While the safety of performing this within the cave was uncertain, I had no other viable options, and the presence of the monkey as my protector reassured me.


    With unwavering focus, I retrieved the demonic core from my Spatial Pouch, fixing my gaze upon the tiny crystal emanating immense Qi. Without hesitation, I swallowed it whole. An immediate warmth spread throughout my body, soon followed by a sharp pain in my Dantian region. Would I be able to sessfully absorb its power and transcend into the Foundation realm? Only time would reveal the oue.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Double Foundation and Golden Dragon Carp Fusion

    <h4>Chapter 30: Double Foundation and Golden Dragon Carp Fusion</h4>


    The pain I experienced surpassed even the agony of losing my arm. It seared within me, relentless and unyielding. All my focus was channeled into absorbing the immense Qi contained within the demonic core, desperately striving to ascend to the next stage of cultivation.


    To achieve this, I relied on my practice of the Spiritual Soul Fusion cultivation art, which I had acquired from the secret cultivator cave beneath my farm. I had no certainty whether the Qi within the demonic core would be sufficient to establish my Foundation or if it would potentially inflict internal damage. Regardless, I had to take the risk and make the attempt.


    The monkey turned to face me, its gaze locking onto my eyes. Sensing the surging power radiating from my body, the monkey retreated a few steps, positioning itself outside the cave. It recognized the burgeoning strength as that of a superior realm and instinctively distanced itself.


    Aware that there were no Foundation Establishment cultivators or beasts in the immediate vicinity, as it was the outskirts of the Dark Wood Forest, the monkey''s decision to maintain distance was understandable.


    As time passed, the excruciating pain that had assailed me, threatening my very existence, began to subside. Though still present, it became bearable, diminishing gradually with each absorbed strand of Qi from the demonic core.


    At a crucial juncture, I faced a dilemma. I sensed that the quantity of Qi contained within the core would be sufficient to propel one of my Dantians to the Foundation realm. Considering this, I made the decision to focus on my primary Dantian.


    While the secondary Dantian I had acquired through fusing with Big T granted me various abilities and possessed a degree of superiority, I recognized the importance of increasing my primary cultivation level. It would enable me to continue merging with more creatures, such as the Golden Dragon Carp, and unlock their potential.


    Moreover, my primary Dantian held the rare attribute of lightning element¡ªa valuable and sought-after trait. However, my cultivation talent remainedcking, and cultivating the lightning element proved to be challenging. This likely exined why the previous owner of my body had remained trapped within the low levels of Qi Condensation.


    With my determination firmly set, I began absorbing the Qi from the demonic core exclusively through my primary Dantian. It became a state of secluded meditation, where time seemed to slow down, and my focus was solely on harnessing the immense power within.


    The duration of my cultivation session remained unknown to me, but I estimated that it took several months to fully assimte the essence of the demonic core. When I finally opened my eyes, I realized that my power had surpassed the limits of the Qi Condensation realm.


    A palpable aura radiated from my body, instilling fear in the monkey that resided near my cave. It trembled in the face of my overwhelming presence, bowing down with its head lowered. I was certain that all the nearby beasts and cultivators could sense the surge of power emanating from me.


    Rising from the ground, I clenched my fists, acutely aware of the newfound potency coursing through my being. It was a stark contrast to my previous state, akin toparing heaven and earth, as often described in the novels I had read.


    The sensation of such power was alien to me prior to my arrival in this cultivation world. Despite my desire for a peaceful life, tending to my farm and perhaps finding a partner in the future, I knew that challenges and troubles would continue to find their way to me. Therefore, attaining greater power had be a necessity.


    Reaching the Foundation Establishment realm marked my first stride toward greatness, and I was well aware that few young cultivators achieved such a feat.


    "Will I be the youngest elder in the sect? Hehe, I can hardly wait," I murmured to myself, envisioning the future that awaited me.


    Despite the exact duration of my cultivation remaining unknown, it was certainly less than a year, ensuring my eligibility for the Elder test. With that in mind, I was preparing to depart when I suddenly felt a strange sensation¡ªa beckoning from within my Spatial Pouch.


    Curiosity piqued, I opened the pouch to investigate. To my surprise, the Golden Dragon Carp emerged from its depths. The majestic creature floated before my eyes, its presence awe-inspiring.


    It was at that moment I realized that the Golden Dragon Carp was not a living being in the conventional sense; it appeared more like a spiritual entity. Without any conscious effort on my part, it flew toward the frog tattoo adorning my chest, seemingly driven by an inherent connection.


    "Wait!" I eximed, taken aback by this unexpected development.


    In response, the green frog tattoo on my chest transformed into a radiant golden hue, and a surge of Qi flowed into my body. It differed from the Qi derived from the demonic core. While the core''s energy was turbulent and agonizing, akin to tumultuous ocean waves, the Qi from the Golden Dragon Carp was serene and tranquil, reminiscent of a calmke, evoking a pleasant sensation.


    What astonished me further was that the Qi dispersed into both of my Dantians, albeit with a greater emphasis on my second one. Remarkably, within a mere ten minutes, I achieved the Foundation realm cultivation in my second Dantian.


    The power within me had now doubled, surpassing that of an average cultivator. Furthermore, when I activated my tattoo to manifest the spiritual form of Big T, I noticed a remarkable transformation. He resembled a fusion of a frog and a lizard, significantlyrger than before, adorned with resplendent golden scales. It seemed that the effect of the Golden Dragon Carp extended to all my tattoos.


    Most astonishingly, this enhancement significantly bolstered my healing capabilities. I could sense my injured arm gradually improving. Although the recovery was not instantaneous, if the healing progress continued at this rate, the restoration of my arm was no longer an unattainable dream.


    Everything unfolded ording to n, and it was time for me to assume the role of an Elder within the sect,pelling those weak Qi Condensation cultivators to work diligently under my guidance.

 Chapter 31 - 31: Climbing the Sect鈥檚 Mountain

    <h4>Chapter 31: Climbing the Sect''s Mountain</h4>


    As I stepped out of the cave, I encountered the monkey who had faithfully safeguarded me throughout my secluded cultivation. I had nothing of significant value to repay its kindness, but I feltpelled to express my gratitude.


    "Take the remaining Spiritual Food I have and use it to further your own advancement," I conveyed, offering all of my food to the monkey.


    Although the monkey likely did notprehend my words, it understood the gesture and expressed its gratitude. It was the only means I had at my disposal to assist and reciprocate its loyalty.


    With that taskpleted, it was finally time to bid farewell to the Dark Wood Forest after an extended period. However, before embarking on any further endeavors, I yearned for a refreshing shower. Although my meditation had cleansed my body on a spiritual level, it did notpare to the soothing sensation of bathing in cool, revitalizing waters.


    Thus, I set out in search of a suitableke or river, propelled by the ability to fly. Yes, I could fly! Prior to attaining the Foundation Establishment realm, only a select few cultivators possessed the means to fly using coveted treasures such as expensive flying swords. However, I had acquired the ability to fly solely through the utilization of my Qi.


    To execute this feat, one typically had to learn and master a flying spell, simr to any other offensive or supportive technique. Yet, I found myself blessed with a superior flying spell bestowed upon me by the Golden Dragon Carp.


    Harnessing my Qi to replicate the spell inscribed within my mind, a resplendent golden light enveloped my body, propelling me skyward at a breathtaking velocity. This newfound speed far surpassed my previous capabilities, rendering traversing vast stretches ofnd significantly easier and more efficient.


    I flew above the forest, enjoying an even more breathtaking view than before. However, I was cautious not to venture too deep into the unknown. After all, there could be beasts lurking with strength equal to or greater than mine, ready to attack.


    Despite being in a realm of respectable power, I humbly acknowledged that I was merely a frog in the well, as I had learned from countless novels. Interestingly, my friend was an actual frog, which added a touch of irony to the situation.


    Nheless, from my privileged vantage point, it didn''t take long to spot a nearbyke. As I gracefully soared towards it, my keen eye caught something peculiar.


    An eerie silence engulfed the forest. No cultivators or beasts were present, as if they had vanished into thin air. Curiosity gripped me, and suddenly, a realization struck my mind like a lightning bolt.


    "They''re fleeing from me!"


    The leakage of a tremendous amount of Qi upon reaching the Foundation realm had alerted every cultivator and beast in the vicinity that a significant event had urred. Was it a human cultivator? A formidable beast? Friend or foe? These questions undoubtedly raced through their minds, causing them to exercise caution and wait for the dust to settle, which meant holding off for a day or two.


    Not that I cared about any of that, but having a crystal clearke all to myself was truly a delight! The refreshing water made me feel like I had stumbled upon a paradise. I savored every second, relishing in the sensation of washing away all the umted dirt and grime.


    As I gazed at my reflection on the water''s surface, I couldn''t help but notice a slight increase in my height. From my previous 1.86 meters, I seemed to have grown to around 1.88 meters. My skin appeared wless, and my muscles had be more defined, giving me a lean and pleasing physique.


    My hair had also grown, extending past my shoulders. Perhaps I should consider getting a trim once I entered the sect?


    After thoroughly enjoying my invigorating bath in theke, I made a brief stop to test whether I had acquired enough power to open the inheritance Ye Hu had discovered. To put it sinctly, I hadn''t. It remained as imprable as before, defying all attempts to unlock its secrets. The Foundation realm alone was not sufficient to unveil the mysteries concealed within.


    I had a general idea of where the Flying Sword Lotus Sect was located, the very one that old geezer Sun Liang belonged to. Although not far from the Dark Wood Forest, it still took me an entire day to reach my destination!


    The flying spell I had mastered was truly remarkable! From high up in the sky, I witnessed sprawling ins, majestic mountains, winding rivers andkes, bustling cities, and humble viges. It was a breathtaking sight! Despite the dangers that lurked in this world, I couldn''t deny its beauty. Everything seemedrger here, allowing nature to flourish without constant interference. Trees remained standing, untouched, giving the surroundings a unique harmony and tranquility.


    This inherent connection with nature bestowed everything with a profound sense of peace and purpose.


    The sect Sun Liang had instructed me to join resided on a mountain so lofty it almost brushed against the clouds. A magnificent waterfall cascaded down the mountainside, transforming into a mighty river that fostered the growth of nearby viges.


    I made a stop in one of those viges, the closest one before entering the sect''s territory.


    "What day is it?" I inquired of the first viger I encountered.


    The middle-aged man regarded me with a mixture of confusion and curiosity but still provided an answer.


    "It is the thirteenth of Calistril, year 883. Why do you ask so suddenly?"


    I didn''t respond directly but instead used my mental faculties to calcte the psed time since I had left my farm. It had been approximately 343 days. Since a year in this world also consisted of 365 days, I had arrived in time for the Elder test.


    With a sigh of relief, I simply said, "Thank you."


    After that, I made my way toward the mountain. There was a path that led straight to the sect. The vigers saw me, and a few of them warned, "The sect isn''t recruiting yet. Wait for a few more years! It is dangerous to go there!"


    Despite their warnings, I simply ignored them and kept moving. They all thought I would perish there, unaware of my hidden cultivation level. However, the truth was that I aimed to be the youngest Elder in the sect''s history!

 Chapter 32: Bullying a Qi Condensation Cultivator

    32 Chapter 32: Bullying a Qi Condensation Cultivator


    The Flying Sword Lotus Sect was simr to any other sect. It resided on a mountain, and the nearby mortals regarded it as a sacred ce, grateful for the immortals'' protection.


    asionally, a talented child would be born in one of the numerous viges, and they would try their luck to join the sect. The sect dispatched Qi Condensation realm Seniors to various viges to gather disciples, and it was the talented individuals who got to choose the sect they desired.


    Simr circumstances unfolded in my case, but in a different region ruled by the Cloud Sect. However, I left that sect because life as an untalented Qi Condensation practitioner was dreadful. But things were different now!


    The recruitment of new disciples urred every five years or longer, depending on the sect''s circumstances. Sometimes wars with other sects or unfortunate incidents, such as disciples entering inheritances and never returning, necessitated the sect to replenish their numbers with new disciples.


    Based on my knowledge and what Sun Liang told me, it seemed that the Flying Sword Lotus Sect was faring well, and it would still be years before new disciples could enter. This indicated that the sect was in a state of peace, which was precisely what I sought. In fact, it was my top priority!


    I ascended the mountain towards the sect. The sect''s territory was devoid of beasts, or perhaps there were a few, but the disciples were often sent to cleanse the area and earn points in return. At least, that was the practice in the Cloud Sect.


    This approach ensured the safety of the surroundings and allowed cultivators to umte points, which was beneficial.


    It took me longer to reach the top because I wasn''t flying! I was a guest in someone else''s territory, so I chose not to fly as it would be impolite. The sect''s patriarch was likely a Golden Core cultivator, and provoking such a figure would only result in my demise.


    At a certain point along the mountain, I spotted a small cabin-like structure and sensed the presence of a cultivator inside. It seemed that this cultivator served as a guardian for the sect, and anyone attempting to enter would have to pass by him.


    With no other options, I approached the cabin and noticed a vast blue barrier extending behind it. The barrier was immense, stretching up into the sky and enclosing the area like a dome.


    "This must be the sect''s defensive formation," I murmured to myself.


    The cultivator noticed my approach and regarded me with a scornful expression.


    "Hey, boy!" he yelled, rising from the chair he had been sitting on. "The sect is not recruiting."


    I disregarded his words and continued to move closer, prompting him to persistently shout at me.


    "Are you deaf? Stupid? Or both? Are you seeking death? Return to the hole you crawled out of!"


    He was the exact type of Qi Condensation cultivator I had encountered numerous times within the Cloud Sect. Well, not me personally, but the previous inhabitant of my body. These arrogant individuals saw themselves as the rulers of the world.


    Locking eyes with the man, I retorted, "I''ve heard there will be a selection for a new Elder in a few days. Is that correct?"


    The man fell silent for a few seconds before bursting intoughter. I had the urge to punch him right in the face, but I restrained myself, aware that it would only bring trouble. However, once I joined the sect, it would be a different story.


    "Damn, you''re quite theedian, bro," he said, shaking his head. "Yes, the sect will indeed recruit a new Elder, but you must be a Foundation Establishment cultivator to participate!"


    "They''re so magnificent, apletely different world from a Qi Condensation cultivator like me," he said to me, "certainly, the difference between heaven and earthpared to a rat like you!"


    His words were crossing the line. I could tolerate a few curses from a lowly cultivator who knew no better, but this man was taking it too far!


    I unleashed my Qi, emanating it from one of my Dantians. The power of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator descended upon that poor man. The sheer magnitude of my power caused his entire body to tremble, and he fell to his knees, unable to rise again. Such was the impact of my presence alone. If we were to engage inbat, I wouldn''t even need to lift a finger.


    He mustered all his strength, not to stand up, but to plead, "Please, forgive me! This junior is ignorant and deserves a gruesome death!"


    I could discern that he was recalling all the curses he had hurled at me, contemting a future where I became an Elder. What would be of him then?


    In the midst of this, another member of the Flying Sword Lotus Sect emerged. It was someone else in the Foundation Establishment realm, perhaps one of the Elders. He flew over and positioned himself beside the Qi Condensation cultivator who had offended me, using his own power to quell my Qi.


    A sh ensued between me and the Elder, not a physical fight, but a battle of wills. The Elder emerged victorious due to his cultivation being that of a Mid Foundation Establishment level. However, I was certain that if I were to employ both of my Dantians, my power would be equal to his.


    "May I inquire as to your identity?" he asked.


    Though I didn''t need to bow before someone ofparable power, I still maintained a respectful demeanor. "I am Tian Li, and I am here for the Elder selection test."


    The Elder, appearing to be around 26 or 27 years old, despite undoubtedly being much older, responded, "Follow me."


    Together, we proceeded towards the sect, leaving behind enough distance for the Qi Condensation cultivator to summon the courage to rise. I could even hear his murmurs from afar.


    "I''m as good as dead if that man bes an Elder!"


    It was a humorous remark. But yes, if I were to attain the position of Elder, that man''s life would indeed transform into a living hell!


    Thank you everyone for the support, and a shout out for those who gave Golden Tickets!! goat

 Chapter 33: I Will be a Demon in Their Lives!

    33 Chapter 33: I Will be a Demon in Their Lives!


    I walked with the Elder who hade to meet me, reaching an open courtyard with many disciples around, practicing their skills, dueling, or just chatting about many things. There was a massive building in the middle of that green field, a building made of a marble-type rock, and its size was akin to a castle.


    "That''s the main building where you can find the library, treasure room, markets for exchanging items, or trading with others. It''s also where the Qi Condensation disciples go to listen to the Elders'' sses," the elder said to me.


    I listened to everything with care, but I also paid attention to the disciples talking around me.


    "Who''s that young man? I thought the sect would only recruit in the uing years!"


    "I have no idea, but he''s surely a friend of Ma Chen, right? He''s talking too much with him!"


    "Right, it must be someone with a special invitation to join the sect! Another young master, it seems."


    "Let''s teach him a lesson! This sect doesn''t have privilege to anyone! We are all by ourselves here!"


    The talking among those Qi Condensation cultivators had nothing to do with the truth. Not that I med them. My power was hidden, and I was quite young. Never would they link me to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    "What about the caves where the disciples cultivate? How does it work?" I asked.


    I understood the purpose of that mountain and that building. It was basically the ce where the disciples would hang out and ess their sect benefits, be it by trading, getting new techniques, or even listening to sses to learn something. But it wasn''t doable to meditate there! One needed a special ce, a quiet one. That building did not have that.


    "The disciples who are in the first or secondyer of Qi Condensation live down there, right at the formation''s border. As for those with higher cultivation, they have their cultivation caves there, in that mountain," Ma Chen said, pointing at a mountain on the left side.


    That mountain was where all the decent Qi Condensation cultivators lived, and that was not the only mountain. There was another one on the right side of the main mountain where we were, and it was obvious that the other mountain was for the Elders and those in the Foundation realm.


    "That mountain right there is the same thing but for us in the Foundation realm. As for the Patriarch and the Head of the Elders, they live in the back part of the sect where the Qi is even better!" Ma Chen said.


    The overall aspect of the sect was quite nice. It had a lot of greenery, silence, and the blue lotus around the courtyard gave the ce a unique fragrance, something that brought peace to anyone''s spirit.


    That was quite important, and I valued it. Anyone cultivating needed a decent ce. The spirit yed a huge role, and no one would make good progress in cultivation if living in a nasty ce.


    Ma Chen and I walked inside the main building as he showed me all the sect''s facilities. The disciples, all of them, had curious gazes when they stared at me, and the news of a new arrival spread quickly through the sect!


    I even heard a group of disciples talking badly about me in the distance, saying that they would beat me as part of a neer ritual. They mentioned that the only reason they hadn''t done it yet was because Ma Chen was right beside me.


    That was funny. I was always looking around, memorizing the faces of all the disciples who talked badly about me. I wouldn''t kill them, no. That was prohibited within the sect. But nothing stopped me from assigning them to dangerous tasks or making their lives inside the sect a living hell. I would definitely do that!


    Anyway, we visited both mountains, the one where the Qi Condensation cultivators lived, and the one for the Foundation cultivators.


    "There are two vacant spots for Elders. Currently, there are around ten more people inside the sect waiting for the test to start. It will happen in two days," Ma Chen exined to me. "You can stay in one room inside the main building. Come, I will show you."


    We headed towards the main building, which was bustling with disciples. Most of them were attending sses led by another Elder whom I had not yet met. Among them was a stunning woman with silky ck hair and wless skin.


    I followed Ma Chen as we ascended a staircase, reaching the sixth floor of the building. That''s where my temporary room was located. The floor housed numerous other rooms and was specifically designated for guests of the Flying Sword Lotus sect.


    The room I was given wasn''t as serene as I had hoped. It resembled a room fit for a mortal rather than one designed to support the cultivation of an immortal. It was disappointing, but I kept my thoughts to myself, expressing gratitude only to Elder Ma Chen.


    "Good luck in the uing test," Ma Chen bid me farewell before leaving.


    I sat on the bed, contemting the uing test to attain the status of an Elder. The number of participants exceeded my expectations, but I had unwavering confidence in my abilities to seed.


    So, I spent two days in the sect solely meditating inside my room, fine-tuning my power in preparation for the uing test. I rarely ventured outside, but whenever I did, the Qi Condensation cultivators would start gossiping about me!


    As for those cultivators who had threatened to teach me a lesson, I never encountered them due to my swift return to my room. However, on the day of the test, I decided to stay outside and rx, preparing my mind for the challenge.


    I purchased a piece of meat from a cultivator selling it in the trading area and found a spot leaning against a tree in the main courtyard. I savored the meat while feeling the gentle breeze on my face.


    A group of three cultivators approached me¡ªthe same ones who had mentioned giving me the "new disciple ritual."


    "Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like you''ve got some money," the apparent leader sneered.


    "Hand it over, and we might consider going easy on the beating we nned for you."


    Theyughed mockingly at me, oblivious to the fact that they were mocking the very person who would be a demon in their lives.


    I finished chewing my meat, rising from the ground. Being taller than them, I looked down and firmly said, "Get lost, you idiots!"


    These cultivators never learn...


    I, Big. T will teach them a lesson!

 Chapter 34: Tian Li Shocked the Patriarch!

    Chapter 34: Tian Li Shocked the Patriarch!


    The passage appears to be well-written overall. However, I have made a few minor corrections and adjustments for rity:


    The three cultivators looked at me with perplexed faces. It was as if it were the first time someone had the guts to stand against them, sending curses back instead of merely receiving them without muttering a word.


    Their faces turned red, and their eyes bore into me like a hungry dog seeing a piece of beef. "What did you say? What did you call me?" they eximed.


    That was the typical sentence meant to provoke me into cursing them again. Were they deaf or something? Nheless, I was in a zen state, preparing myself for the uing test, but the urge to punch them in the face persisted. I was about to act on it when Ma Chen appeared out of nowhere.


    "Tian Li," he said, looking at me without even ncing at the three cultivators, "The test for the Elder position is about to begin. Are you ready?"


    It was only then that Ma Chen realized something was happening, and he asked, "Am I interrupting something here?"


    The three cultivators werepletely frozen. They couldn''t fullyprehend the words they had just heard. All the other cultivators who were watching the scene unfold had the same thought.


    "Excuse me, Elder Ma Chen," the leader of the trio said, "What did you mean by the Elder test? I think you may have mistaken him for someone else."


    The minds of those three cultivators, as well as everyone else in the vicinity, couldn''tprehend the fact that a young cultivator like me was in the Foundation Establishment realm.


    Could Elder Ma Chen be lying about it? That thought surely crossed their minds. Despite not having a clear answer, they all knew a respectable Elder like Ma Chen wouldn''t lie about something important like that.


    "Oh," I said, smiling, "Time flies, I guess."


    Elder Ma Chen and I left the courtyard, leaving all the disciples there with shocked faces. The list of those who cursed me was growing, and I couldn''t wait to be their worst nightmare!


    Anyway, we headed toward the mountain peak where the Foundation Establishment cultivators lived. It was a restricted area for Qi Condensation cultivators, but apparently, the sect''s Patriarch made an exception, allowing these cultivators to witness the event.


    They had built an arena there with a peculiar crystal in the middle. It floated, devoid of visible Qi.


    I couldn''t help but ask Ma Chen, "What''s that?"


    "It''s a special crystal that allows us to somewhat gauge a person''s natural talent. Yours is probably incredible for you to be in the Foundation realm at such a young age. However, the Patriarch wants to see it for himself," Ma Chen exined. Then, he leaned closer to my ear and whispered, "I heard that the Head Elder is either dying or nning to leave the sect, so they are seeking talented individuals who can eventually reach the Golden Core realm!"


    That was an important piece of information. Could something greater be happening behind the scenes? The only way for me to find out was to pass the test!


    When we arrived at the arena, only the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were present. Those from the Qi Condensation realm would only observe the subsequent parts of the test. At least, that''s what Ma Chen had told me.


    "So, you''re the pretty young boy who''s a genius?"


    A woman with a voluptuous figure said that to me the moment I arrived. She wasn''t the only one; all the others taking the same test were looking at me with curious gazes, some with clear hostility.


    "You''re thinking too highly of me," I replied, awkwardly smiling as I sensed the woman getting too close.


    I took a few steps back. She was a stranger, and I wouldn''t fall for any traps.


    Realizing that I wasn''t there for small talk, she retreated and returned to the bench she had been sitting on before approaching me.


    Then, all the Elders fell silent. A tremendous power descended from the sky, and an old man wearing a long blue robe flew toward the arena. Despite his advanced age, his face had barely a wrinkle, and his long gray hair and beard added to his imposing appearance.


    When my gaze locked onto that man, I couldn''t believe it! It was Sun Liang, the person who had invited me to take the test!


    His eyes scanned the Foundation cultivators, and they all bowed their heads.


    Ma Chen stood beside me and whispered, "He''s the Patriarch, Sun Liang. A Golden Core cultivator! Isn''t he incredible?"


    As Sun Liang''s gaze fell upon me, he was shocked! I watched him blink repeatedly, as if he were seeing a hallucination and trying to snap out of it.


    Ignoring the Elders and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, he flew directly toward me!


    Sun Liang touched my arms, my face, and finally said, "Tian Li, are you truly here?"


    I didn''t know what to say.


    "Yes? Why wouldn''t I be? I told you I woulde for the Elder position you mentioned."


    Sun Liang burst intoughter. "Elder position? You were in the thirdyer three years ago! How did you progress so rapidly?"


    The others who overheard our conversation eximed in disbelief, "Impossible!"


    They had never witnessed someone go from the thirdyer of Qi Condensation to the Foundation realm in just three years. It was like a genius among geniuses, at least in the province we lived in.


    "Luck?" I replied uncertainly.


    "Luck? Boy, there''s no luck in this world that would enable such rapid cultivation," Sun Liang dered. He then flew back toward the crystal in the arena and said, "I will make a few changes. Firstly, Tian Li, the young man I just spoke to, is our sect''s new Elder! There''s no need for him to undergo a test."


    He looked at me and winked. What a cool old man.


    "But don''t worry, I will still select two more Elders, just as we would initially. So be prepared, and let Tian Li''s presence not hinder your test!"

 Chapter 35: Golden Boy Tian Li

    Chapter 35: Golden Boy Tian Li


    The other Elders and Foundation cultivators red at me with displeasure. It was evident they were upset about what had transpired. Ma Chen took it upon himself to exin the situation to me.


    "You''re the first person ever to be an Elder without taking a test. You''re already a legend in our sect!" he eximed.


    Did Sun Liang truly believe in me to bestow such an important position within the sect without a test? My progress must have astounded him, but was it really that remarkable? Without other cultivators topare myself to, I couldn''t gauge the magnitude of my achievement. However, judging by the shocked expressions on everyone''s faces, leaping from the thirdyer to the Foundation realm in just three years seemed nearly impossible.


    I made my way to the bench and took a seat. There was no way I would miss witnessing thepetition, unless it became unbearably dull, although I couldn''t tell at that point.


    The cultivators gradually shifted their attention from me back to Sun Liang and the crystal positioned in the middle of the arena. They knew their focus should be on passing the test, not on me.


    Furthermore, Sun Liang''s decision to still grant them two spots meant that the Flying Sword Lotus Sect would gain three new Elders in total! It was a significant influx of fresh Elders all at once.


    The strength of a sect was determined by the number of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators it possessed. Those in the Qi Condensation stage were essential for the sect''s future development, but their individual power held little significance.


    A sect boasting a high number of Foundation Establishment cultivators indicated that its disciples were diligently striving and reaching greater heights!


    Anyway, the first "test" focused on assessing one''s talent. Sun Liang called one person at a time to ce their hands on the crystal.


    I had no prior knowledge of how the crystal would react, but I made a couple of guesses. It would likely shine in different colors or emit sounds akin to Morse code, and the more sounds it produced, the greater the talent.


    As it turned out, both of my guesses were correct! Each individual would channel their Qi into the crystal, causing it to emit a different color corresponding to the element of their Qi.


    I observed two types of Qi during the process, which didn''te as a surprise. The Flying Sword Lotus sect emphasized two key aspects: alchemy and swordsmanship. To thrive in the sect, one needed either Sword Qi or Fire Qi. Fire Qi was crucial for alchemy, giving those cultivators an advantage in its practice.


    Ma Chen sat beside me, providing additional insights about the sect. We stood there, attentively observing the neers as they tested their talent. Nearly all of them exhibited decent talent and sessfully passed the test.


    As Ma Chen had mentioned, to attain Foundation Establishment, one''s talent couldn''t be low; otherwise, they would never reach such a level of power in the first ce.


    The first part of the test proved to be quick and uninteresting. It didn''t captivate my attention, and thoughts of leaving to tend to my cultivation cave crossed my mind. However, I decided to stay and see if the next part would be more engaging, perhaps something that aligned with my expertise¡ªtournaments.


    Ah, tournaments! I had extensively read about them, so I was quite knowledgeable on the subject. While the concept of tournaments was great, they often involved numerous participants, causing them to drag on for too long. Some tournament organizers even stretched them over multiple days to encourage participants and spectators to spend more money in their city.


    Fortunately, Sun Liang wasted no time and swiftly initiated the tournament. Given the small number of participants, it wouldn''t take an eternity toplete.


    "First fight, you versus you!" Sun Liang dered, pointing to two individuals¡ªone man and one woman. Since he didn''t know their names, he simply referred to them as "you" and motioned toward them. The chosen pair proceeded to make their way to the arena, where an Elder stood nearby, closely observing the fight to determine the victor.


    Sun Liang removed the crystal from the arena and set up a protective formation around it, safeguarding the onlookers from the impact of spells.


    "Please wait five minutes," Sun Liang requested. "The Qi Condensation cultivators will join us to watch the fights. I believe it can serve as a beneficial training method for them."


    The man and the woman who approached the arena were armed with swords strapped to their backs. It promised to be an exhrating sh of Sword Qi, igniting anticipation among the spectators, myself included. Almost the entire sect had gathered to witness the fight, with the exception of those engrossed in secluded meditation.


    Sun Liang, of all the avable seats, chose to sit beside me. He leaned in and asked, "What are your thoughts on the sect? Are you enjoying your time here?"


    Though I still needed more time to form a concrete opinion, there was no denying that the ce seemed promising. I replied, "For now, I am loving it. And I''ll enjoy it even more after dealing with a few cultivators who mistreated me!"


    Sun Liang chuckled and patted my back. "Go all out! You can punish them as you see fit. It''s the best way for them to improve. Oh, and don''t forget to lend a hand to my grandson. He may not possess your level of talent, but he''s in the twelfthyer."


    Not as talented? That boy was exceptional! When we first met, he was just a young child, likely one of the youngest cultivators in the sect, yet his cultivation level was remarkably high.


    While Sun Liang and I discussed disciples, awaiting the start of the fight, I inquired, "I have someone I''d like to bring as a disciple. Can I retrieve him tomorrow?"


    Ma Chen, who stood nearby, interjected, "There are certain limitations. The recruitment period for new disciples is scheduled for a few years from now, so you may have to wait."


    Confident in his response, Ma Chen turned to face Sun Liang, only to hear a contrasting answer.


    "Of course! Bring them along. You can bring as many disciples as you want, as long as they aren''tzy orcking talent," Sun Liang dered.


    I was transforming into someone despised by many within the sect but adored by the Patriarch. Did that not make me impervious to punishment and grant me the power to make disciples work for me?


    I could already envision a group of disciples tending to the farms while I enjoyed some rxation.


    Nevertheless, the two cultivators within the arena sprang into action as the Eldermenced the countdown, marking the beginning of the fight.

 Chapter 36: Robes and Best Cultivation Cave!

    36 Chapter 36: Robes and Best Cultivation Cave!


    The two cultivators shed, their Sword Qi colliding in a fierce disy of power. I observed attentively, eager to gauge the strength and capabilities of other Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    It was my first time witnessing cultivators of this realm engaged inbat, and it provided valuable insights.


    The resounding sh of swords reverberated throughout the arena as the woman, amidst the flurry of attacks, managed to deliver a clean cut to the man''s right arm. Although the wound wasn''t deep enough to sever the limb, the man dropped his sword,cking the strength to continue the fight.


    "What are your thoughts on the fight?" Sun Liang inquired.


    Bothbatants were in the Early stage of Foundation Establishment, and I was one hundred percent certain that if they were to face me, they would meet their demise.


    "Not bad, but not particrly impressive either," I responded.


    Returning my gaze to the ongoing fight, I noticed that the woman who hadnded the previous cut was now ring at me. She had overheard myment and seemed displeased.


    "Piercing Spectral de!" she shouted, invoking one of her spells.


    A bluish sword materialized in front of her, resembling a rapier, and it swiftly flew toward the other cultivator. However, he didn''t stand idly by and countered with a spell of his own.


    "Sword Coffin!"


    Multiple swords appeared, encircling the woman and forming a barrier that trapped her within. Despite sessfully employing the imprisonment technique, her piercing sword managed to strike his shoulder.


    I observed as blood spurted from the wound, which happened to be on the same shoulder she had injured earlier. The damage appeared significant.


    "Stop the fight. Winner, Xue Li!" dered the fight judge.


    "I-I can still fight," the other cultivator protested.


    However, as he attempted to move, the pain in his arm proved too debilitating. In the end, he reluctantly epted defeat. After all, this was merely a test to be an Elder, not a battle to the death.


    Reaching the Foundation realm was already an arduous feat, so why take unnecessary risks? Xue Li, the victorious fighter, passed by me and remarked, "Unlike you, I have demonstrated my worth to be an Elder."


    Sun Liang, standing right beside me, interjected before I could respond.


    "You do realize that you''re not an Elder yet, correct? Show respect to the members of my sect," Sun Liang asserted.


    I could sense the immense pressure he exerted on the woman, almost causing her to copse to her knees. It was evident that he was deliberately restraining his power, as any more could have inflicted internal damage due to its sheer intensity.


    Xue Li gathered her strength, her voice trembling as she spoke, "I-I am sorry, Patriarch. Please forgive my outburst."


    Once again, the sect''s esteemed Patriarch hade to my defense, shielding me from any potential bacsh. I could already sense the simmering envy in the eyes of others, and I knew that trouble might soone knocking on my door.


    After witnessing Xue Li''s apology, the subsequent fights unfolded one after another. I closely observed each battle, keen on absorbing any insights and strategies that could be gleaned from the experienced fighters. It was a valuable lesson inbat, a chance for me to refine my own approach to battle.


    But were their disys of power awe-inspiring? Not in the least. They were all confined to the Early stage of Foundation Establishment, and I was confident that if I were to unleash the full force of both my Dantians, they wouldn''t stand a chance against me.


    My conviction was rooted in the observation that thesebatants were not holding back in their fights. The coveted position of Elder held great significance for them, motivating them to fight with unwavering determination.


    The winners of each match progressed to the next stage, while a losers bracket provided an opportunity for those who fell short to redeem themselves. This fair arrangement ensured that no one could attribute their defeat to a mere stroke of bad luck, facing a formidable opponent right from the start.


    As the tournament unfolded, nothing particrly extraordinary urred. Hence, it is perhaps best to skim over the intricate details of the matches. However, it is worth mentioning that the final victors were none other than the formidable Xue Li ¡ª who, I must admit, did not exude the friendliest demeanor ¡ª and Cai Bao, a jovial cultivator who seemed like a potentialpanion worth befriending.


    "Alright, congrattions to both Xue Li and Cai Bao. You two shall join Tian Li here as our esteemed Elders," announced Sun Liang with pride evident in his eyes as he pointed in my direction.


    The atmosphere among the Qi Condensation cultivators was electric, their voices reverberating with excitement after witnessing the awe-inspiring battles between the Foundation Establishment cultivators. To them, those cultivators represented the pinnacle of their aspirations, a goal they fervently yearned to achieve during their own cultivation journeys.


    Sun Liang summoned me, along with Xue Li and Cai Bao, for a private meeting in his office located within the grand main building of the sect. It was a significant moment for us.


    "Once again, congrattions to all three of you. I hope you feel a sense of belonging here and take on the responsibility of guiding and nurturing our disciples. However, I implore you to always strive for greater heights. We do not desire cultivators whock diligence and dedication. I am aware of your exceptional talents," Sun Liang expressed warmly as he presented us with the distinguished robes of the sect.


    The robe I received bore slight distinctions from the attire worn by the Qi Condensation cultivators but held equal significance to that of the other Elders.


    "While there are no strict obligations, I kindly request that each of you conduct a few sses for the less proficient disciples at least once a month, if you are not engaged in secluded meditation. Additionally, you have the choice to focus on honing your Sword Qi or engaging in alchemy under the guidance of our esteemed alchemy master, Ma Chen," Sun Liang borated, shedding light on an unexpected revtion regarding Ma Chen''s role as an elder overseeing the alchemy division within the sect.


    "Come, let me show you to your respective cultivation caves!"


    We followed Sun Liang back to the mountain where the talent assessment had taken ce, and upon entering my assigned cultivation cave, I was awestruck. It resembled a cozy hobbit house, exuding a tranquil ambiance that instantly made me feel at ease. To my surprise, there was even a separate chamber designed specifically for cultivating herbs and other medicinal nts.


    Su Liang, who had apanied us, couldn''t contain his excitement and whispered to me, "This is the most exceptional cave within the entire sect! Well, excluding mine and the Head Elder''s, of course. But please, keep it between us."


    I couldn''t help but feel a surge of gratitude for the remarkable space that had been bestowed upon me.


    "Thank you immensely, Patriarch. May I request a few days of leave? I wish to return to my house in the vige and bring the disciple I mentioned earlier," I respectfully inquired.


    Sun Liang was already aware of my intentions and readily agreed, albeit with a hint of concern. "Certainly, but be aware that others may perceive it as preferential treatment. Well, to hell with it! You are truly exceptional, and they simply cannotpare! Hahaha!"


    With those words, he departed, leaving me standing in my newfound cultivation cave, my mind swirling with a mix of astonishment and gratitude for the opportunities thaty before me.


    The privilege is cheap. Croak Croak.


    Maybe you should peek in the future? Croak Croak.

 Chapter 37: Tang Yusheng (1)

    37 Chapter 37: Tang Yusheng (1)


    The sect buzzed with the presence of the new Elders. Existing Elders weed the fresh faces, eager to exchange knowledge and grow together. The Qi Condensation cultivators were thrilled, anticipating more lessons from the esteemed Elders.


    Among the new Elders, Xue Li, a fellow woman, harbored animosity towards me. I pondered whether she found me unattractive or envied my talent and friendship with the sect''s Patriarch. Regardless, her anger escted as disciples conversed about me rather than her achievements.


    As I prepared to depart the sect, Xue Li intercepted me, her eyes burning with rage. She sought answers, hoping to uncover something that could be used against me. However, I refused to cower or remain inconspicuous. As an Elder, I needed not only power but also confidence and honor. Allowing her to treat me as she pleased would invite disrespect from other Elders.


    "Can''t you see I am leaving the sect?" I retorted, shrugging my shoulders. "Perhaps you excel inbat butck the ability to think clearly..."


    Her fists clenched, and a murderous glint shed in her eyes. "YOU!"


    But I stood my ground, undeterred by her hostility. Disciples gathered around, eavesdropping and fueling gossip. In that sect, even a simple fart wouldn''t go unnoticed. It was that notorious.


    Aware of my responsibilities, I asked Xue Li, "To whom do I need to exin myself?"


    She bit her lip, defeat visible in her expression. "To the sect''s Patriarch," she admitted, conceding her position.


    With that, she turned and departed in silence. Her erratic behavior puzzled me. We had barely met, yet she exhibited tsundere-like tendencies.


    Leaving the sect behind, I soared through the sky, heading towards Riverside, the vige I once called home. The journey proved easier now, aided by my enhanced speed and the powerful flying spell acquired from the Golden Dragon Carp. Within a single day, I reached Riverside, ready to embark on the next chapter of my journey.


    Upon arriving in Riverside, I was met by Dai Guiren, the mayor, who appeared overjoyed by my return, or so it seemed.


    "Immortal Tian Li! You''re back!" he eximed, bowing respectfully before me.


    Having made a stop at my farm, it was during this visit that I crossed paths with Dai Guiren. He had been entrusted with looking after the property in my absence.


    "How are things? Is everything in order?" I inquired.


    ncing around, I noticed the farm''s tidiness, with the stables and other structures impably maintained, while the chickens and cows seemed to thrive.


    "I don''t recall having cows," I remarked.


    Dai Guiren quickly replied, "I took the liberty of expanding and improving your farm while you were away! Your fish and animals are flourishing!"


    At first nce, it appeared that Dai Guiren had diligently fulfilled his duties and even gone above and beyond my expectations. Such generosity would not go unnoticed or unrewarded.


    "Dai Guiren," I began, locking eyes with him, causing a shiver to run down his spine. "In a year or two, I shall return with a longevity pill for you. I understand that you cannot cultivate, but this will at least extend your lifespan."


    His expression morphed into disbelief, his face beaming with a wide smile, betraying his immense happiness.


    Rather than bowing again, he lowered his head to the ground near my feet. "Many thanks, Immortal Li! Your kindness knows no bounds!"


    The existence of such longevity pills was not umon, as there were two distinct types avable¡ª


    one tailored for cultivators and the other for mortals.


    Given that Dai Guiren was a mortal, acquiring the appropriate pill for him would be a simpler task. As we conversed, I inquired about the current state of affairs in Riverside.


    To my relief, everything seemed to be running smoothly, with the most significant development being that Kang Duyi, the traitorous cultivator whose body had mysteriously vanished, had not returned to the vige thus far.


    "Uncle Li!"


    While engrossed in conversation, a vibrant red-haired youth came bounding toward us. It was Tang Yusheng, the aspiring disciple I hade to bring back to the sect.


    Overflowing with enthusiasm, he couldn''t contain himself and blurted out, "Are you here to take me to the sect? Are you?"


    Dai Guiren, wearing a smile, excused himself, saying, "I shall take my leave for now."


    However, I had another request to make of him.


    "Could you allow Tang Yusheng''s parents to reside on my farm? I see no issue with it, considering I will be residing at the sect and may not return here in the future."


    The request seemed self-evident, and Dai Guiren, seemingly having anticipated it, promptly responded, "No problem, esteemed Immortal Li."


    Tang Yusheng appeared bewildered, struggling to process the unexpected turn of events. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. His family resided in a modest house in Riverside, whereas the farm I was offering him was significantlyrger, equipped with all the necessary structures for self-sustainability.


    "Shall we go and speak with your parents about this?" I suggested to Tang Yusheng.


    Together, we made our way to their humble abode. Upon catching sight of me, his parents greeted me warmly, saying, "Immortal Li, you''ve returned! Please have a seat; we''ve just brewed some tea."


    They treated me with great respect for two reasons: my immortal status and my reputation for treating others kindly. Additionally, I was prepared to take their son under my wing and provide him with guidance.


    "Thank you kindly," I replied, settling into a wooden chair and taking a sip of the tea.


    "There is something important I wish to discuss," I began, noting the apprehension on their faces, fearing that I might renege on my promise to bring Tang Yusheng to the sect. However, that was not my intention.


    "As Tang Yusheng and I will be away in the sect for an extended period, I would like for you to relocate to my farm and make it your new home. In fact, I am considering transferring its ownership to your name."


    For them it was something incredible, but for me it wasn''t. Sure, I grew attached to my farm, but an immortal seeking immortality wouldn''t live in the same ce forever, and I needed power to find the peace I wished for.

 Chapter 38: Tang Yusheng (2)

    38 Chapter 38: Tang Yusheng (2)


    "We can''t ept this!"


    "ept it, please," I assured them, my resolve unwavering. However, they continued to express both denial and gratitude, feeling unable to repay such generosity.


    "There is no need for repayment," I insisted. "Allow me to grant you the opportunity to bid farewell to your son. Rest assured, as an Elder in the sect, I possess the power and authority to protect and guide him."


    With that, I respectfully exited their home, providing them the space to have a private conversation. I understood the weight and significance of parents allowing their child to embark on the path of cultivation. It was a perilous journey, but they held onto the hope that their son would achieve greatness, breaking free from the confines of their remote vige and its meager existence.


    The discussionsted approximately ten minutes, and Tang Yusheng emerged from the house, his face marked by the traces of tears.


    "Are you alright?" I inquired, concerned for his emotional well-being.


    "Yes, it''s just that goodbyes are never easy. Nevertheless, I am eager to embark on this journey to the sect!" he replied, his voice tinged with anticipation.


    Before doing anything else, I made my way toward the hidden cave underneath by well, taking all the things inside and cing them in my Spatial Pouch. The spiritual spring included! I filled a lot of buckets with it because why not!


    Also, Big. F, my fish, went inside a bucket as well, as I wouldn''t let him behind.


    Only then did we depart from the vige, and Dai Guiren assured me that he would personally deliver the key to my farm to Tang Yusheng''s parents. While my flight spell could transport both of us simultaneously, the reduced speed resulted in a significantly longer journey to the sect.


    "Whoa! This is incredible!" Tang Yusheng eximed, his eyes wide with awe as he gazed upon the breathtaking scenery unfolding below us. "I never thought I would have the chance to fly. It feels like something out of legends!"


    As we soared through the skies, the journey to the sect seemed to pass quickly amidst Tang Yusheng''s excitement and wonder. He marveled at the vastndscapes, the winding rivers, and the majestic mountains that stretched out beneath us. I took the opportunity to share with him some insights about the sect and the cultivation path that awaited him.


    "Tang Yusheng, the sect life is both challenging and rewarding," I exined. "You''ll undergo rigorous training, face formidable opponents, and encounter countless opportunities for growth. But with determination and perseverance, you can achieve great things."


    His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he nodded in agreement. "I''m ready for it, Elder Tian Li! I want to cultivate and be strong, not just for myself but also to protect and bring honor to my family and vige."


    I smiled, admiring his resolve. "Remember, true strengthes from within. It is not just about cultivation levels but also about character, wisdom, and the ability to make the right choices. As your mentor, I will guide you on this path."


    Eventually, we approached the sect''s towering gates, guarded by formidable disciples. They recognized me as an Elder and weed us with respect, their gazes lingering curiously on Tang Yusheng, the new addition to our ranks.


    Entering the familiar grounds, we made our way towards the main hall where the sect''s Patriarch, Sun Liang, awaited our return. The bustling energy of the sect filled the air, with disciples engrossed in their training and various activities.


    Sun Liang''s eyes brightened as he saw us approaching. "Ah, Elder Tian Li and Tang Yusheng, you''ve returned! I trust your journey was fruitful?"


    I bowed respectfully. "Indeed, Patriarch. Tang Yusheng is ready to embark on his cultivation path."


    Sun Liang nodded approvingly, then turned his attention to Tang Yusheng. "Wee, young disciple. May your journey in our sect be filled with growth and enlightenment."


    Tang Yusheng bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Patriarch. I am honored to be a part of this esteemed sect."


    With our return officially acknowledged, Sun Liang addressed the gathered disciples. "Attention, everyone! We have a new disciple joining our ranks. Let us wee Tang Yusheng and offer our support as he begins his cultivation journey!"


    A wave of apuse and cheers erupted throughout the hall, echoing the enthusiasm and camaraderie that characterized our sect. Tang Yusheng''s eyes widened in awe at the warm reception he received, feeling a sense of belonging in thismunity of cultivators.


    As the excitement settled, Sun Liang turned to me. "Elder Tian Li, it''s good to have you back as well. We shall discuss matters in detailter. For now, settle back into your role and continue to inspire our disciples."


    With that, I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and dedication. Tang Yusheng and I found ourselves surrounded by fellow cultivators, eager to offer guidance and share their experiences.


    But I was well aware that the friendly and cheerful demeanor of the disciples wasrgely influenced by the presence of both me and the Patriarch. In reality, the sect was a treacherous andpetitive ce, where alliances shifted and ambitions shed.


    "Alright, everyone, get back to your tasks. Let me handle the new addition," I asserted, pushing aside the curious cultivators who had gathered around.


    I approached the Patriarch, and together we made our way to a secluded chamber within the main building. It was a sacred space where the Patriarch kept the crystal used to test one''s innate talent and Qi element.


    "Tang Yusheng, step forward and touch the crystal, please," I instructed.


    Tang Yusheng moved towards the crystal, the very same one that had been used during the Elderpetition. As his hand made contact with its surface, the crystal shimmered with a vibrant red-orange light, indicating that Tang Yusheng possessed the fire element in his Qi.


    It was a remarkable discovery. The sect had a wealth of fire-based cultivation techniques and resources that would be a perfect fit for him. Additionally, his talent surpassed that of an average cultivator within the sect, even if he didn''t possess the extraordinary genius often sought after.


    "Tang Yusheng, you are a rare gem," Sun Liang eximed. "I am certain that under Elder Tian Li''s guidance, you will flourish. Do you wish to be his disciple?" he inquired, turning to Tang Yusheng.


    Initially, the idea of taking on a disciple had felt like a burden to me. However, as I considered the prospect, I realized the value of having apanion, a friend, and a potential partner on the battlefield.


    Furthermore, Riverside had grown dear to my heart, and I made the decision to ept Tang Yusheng as my disciple.


    "Yes, that''s correct," Tang Yusheng replied eagerly.


    "Very well," Sun Liang nodded approvingly. He handed Tang Yusheng the uniform worn by new disciples, along with a Fire cultivation art.


    "As for your living quarters, you will reside in Elder Tian Li''s cave. It is one of the many privileges you will enjoy as his disciple and friend," Sun Liang announced.


    With newfound purpose and excitement, Tang Yusheng donned his new uniform and embraced the responsibility thaty before him. Meanwhile, I felt a sense of fulfillment andmitment to guide and nurture him on his cultivation path.


    Master got a disciple it seems...


    I cannot wait to ask him to bring me crickets, and do everything I want!


    Also, in case anyone is reading our story, a special thanks to all of you.

 Chapter 39: Tricking Ma Chen for an Alchemy Furnace

    39 Chapter 39: Tricking Ma Chen for an Alchemy Furnace


    We departed from the main building and ascended towards the mountain peak where the Foundation Establishment cultivators resided, including myself. As we approached, I was aware that Tang Yusheng, being a Qi Condensation cultivator of only the firstyer, required a special permit to enter this restricted area. It didn''t take long for an Elder to intercept us.


    The Elder, an old man who appeared more like a living corpse due to his age, greeted me with a nod of respect. "Elder Li," he acknowledged.


    "Elder Shun," I replied in kind.


    Knowing that Elder Shun would inquire about Tang Yusheng, I swiftly exined, "He is a new disciple, assigned to me by the Patriarch."


    With that brief exnation, Elder Shun understood the significance of Tang Yusheng''s presence and departed, likely returning to the library to ensure the disciples didn''t engage in any foolishness.


    We continued our journey towards my immortal cave, which, ording to Sun Liang, was considered one of the best in the entire sect, second only to his and the Head Elder''s caves.


    I couldn''t help but wonder why Sun Liang treated me with such favor. Was it solely due to my talent, or did he harbor other motives? Only time would reveal the answers to such questions.


    Regardless, as we entered the cave, Tang Yusheng was awe-struck by the grandeur of his new dwelling. My immortal cave was vast, but the most remarkable aspect was the density of Qi permeating the air.


    Even Tang Yusheng, who had yet tomence cultivation, could sense that something extraordinary was present within those walls.


    "Can I truly live here with you? I don''t want to hinder your cultivation," Tang Yusheng expressed his concern.


    "Don''t worry," I reassured him, pointing towards a stone door. "That room is specifically designed for secluded meditation, equipped with a formation that blocks external sounds. I will use that room."


    The secluded meditation room was the ideal space for cultivation. Not that the rest of the immortal cave was unsuitable. On the contrary, the Qi density within my cave surpassed that of 99% of the caves in the sect.


    However, as one ascended in cultivation, external disturbances could hinder progress. Hence, I chose to utilize the secluded room.


    Tang Yusheng''s curiosity grew as he noticed a separate room within the cave containing soil, resembling a small garden. "What is this? Will you farm here, just like in Riverside?" he asked.


    I smiled, affirming his observation. "Yes, indeed. This is where I will continue my farming. It serves as a reminder of my connection to Riverside. Now, let me examine your cultivation technique and offer guidance."


    While I wasn''t the most aplished cultivator, my understanding of absorbing Qi from the atmosphere and channeling it towards the Dantian surpassed that of Tang Yusheng. However, in order to provide him with the necessary guidance, I had to familiarize myself with his cultivation technique and its methods. ording to the scroll Sun Liang had given him, practicing the technique while basking in sunlight yielded the best results. This made sense since the technique was specifically tailored for individuals with fire as their primary element.


    "You can meditate in the garden area," I informed Tang Yusheng. "There''s a formation in the roof that directs sunlight to the nts."


    Tang Yusheng attentively absorbed every word I uttered. I found great satisfaction in his attentiveness. Despite being only fifteen years old, he did not exhibit the typical characteristics of most teenagers. Perhaps the hardships he endured in Riverside had forged his determination and resilience to surpass that of the average cultivator.


    However, at his current stage, there was only so much I could do for him. He had yet to even reach the firstyer of Qi Condensation. It would be impractical to teach him advanced techniques when he was still a novice.


    "I will practice diligently and not bring shame to your name," Tang Yusheng dered, bowing respectfully. "Thank you, Master, for taking me under your wing. This disciple is truly grateful."


    With those heartfelt words, he proceeded to the garden area,ying a mat on the ground and assuming a seated position tomence his meditation. I admired his indomitable spirit.


    Satisfied that my disciple was settled, I exited my immortal cave. Two pressing matters demanded my attention: acquiring alchemy tools to practice the peculiar alchemy art I had obtained from Sun Liang''s friend long ago, and procuring Spiritual Herbs to cultivate.


    I could already envision my system supplying me with an abundance of herbs, enhancing their spiritual level and allowing me to practice alchemy without depleting my resources. Alchemy, at its core, was a lucrative path to follow, but sess often required the sacrifice of numerous materials in the process of perfecting pill-making techniques, which could often lead to a bankrupt cultivator.


    The trading and exchanging area was the sole source for obtaining the items I needed. Cultivators earned points throughpleting missions or performing specific tasks for the sect, which could "Get real! He would never be interested in someone as weak as you. Besides, I heard he already has a 12:44


    disciple!" retorted another girl.


    then be exchanged for various items such as tools, techniques, herbs, and artifacts.


    Since I had only recently arrived, I was certain I hadn''t umted any points. However, being regarded as the golden boy of the sect granted me certain advantages.


    As I entered the alchemy room, where Ma Chen oversaw the instruction of his disciples in the art of alchemy, he approached me with a weing expression.


    "Are you here to begin learning this art? I believe you have potential, although I''m quite sure youck Fire Qi..."


    Fire was considered an advantageous element for alchemy, but that didn''t mean it was exclusive to fire-aligned cultivators or that others couldn''t excel at it.


    My primary element was lightning, one of the most powerful yet challenging elements to master. However, my second Dantian possessed the poisonous element, and I was determined to eventually acquire the fire element as well.


    Nheless, I hadn''te to the alchemy room to enroll in Ma Chen''s sses. In fact, I had a different motive ¡ª I was there to acquire the necessary tools for my alchemical practice within my immortal cave.


    "Sun Liang mentioned that you could provide me with alchemy tools for practice in my immortal cave," I stated.


    Ma Chen appeared somewhat skeptical, likely questioning the validity of Sun Liang''s im. Nevertheless, heplied with my request, possibly due to recalling how Sun Liang had treated me since my arrival in the sect.


    "Very well. I will fetch the best equipment we have, although to obtain superior alchemy furnaces, you''ll need to exchange points or search for them in the world," Ma Chen replied.


    After a brief absence, he returned with an alchemy furnace, arousing envy among the cultivators who had been attending his ss.


    "Is that the youngest Elder in our sect''s history? He''s adorable," whispered a girl with a ponytail.


    "Get real! He would never be interested in someone as weak as you. Besides, I heard he already has a disciple!" retorted another girl.


    "He does? Well, maybe I can be his disciple''s girlfriend then," the first girl replied, promptingughter among them.


    All I could think was how poor Tang Yusheng would have to contend with persistent attention from these infatuated girls.


    Having secured the alchemy furnace, I sought out Sun Liang. I needed Spiritual Herbs, butcked the necessary points to acquire them.


    "Oh mighty Patriarch, lend me your assistance!" I implored, hoping for his aid.


    My master only feeds me bugs...


    Look, the priv is pretty cheap this month.


    Would you help this starving frog?


    BigToad

 Chapter 40: You?

    40 Chapter 40: You?


    "Oh, mighty Patriarch, help this poor disciple of yours-" I began, but was interrupted as the door swung open, revealing Sun Liang, the familiar older man with a long beard.


    "Enter and cease your shouting in front of my office," Sun Liang admonished.


    I hade to ask him for contribution points. My n to obtain a free alchemy furnace by iming it was ordered by Sun Liang had seeded. However, to delve into the practice of pill-making in the future, I required Spiritual Herbs. nting them as soon as possible would allow them to grow and multiply. Additionally, I wanted to test the abilities of my system and explore its potential.


    Thus, I entered the Patriarch''s office and took a seat before him. Despite themotion I had caused earlier, Sun Liang regarded me without anger, but he had some unfavorable news to deliver.


    "I want to grant you contribution points, truly. In my eyes, you are the finest disciple in this sect and a promising candidate to reach the Golden Core realm one day."


    "But?" I prompted.


    "However, you entered the sect without undergoing the customary test, and I have already granted you the best immortal cave. If I continue treating you preferentially, my authority will be called into question," Sun Liang exined.


    I desired those contribution points greatly, but Sun Liang made a valid point. As the overseer of all disciples, he had to ensure fairness and avoid showing undue favoritism.


    As I prepared to leave, Sun Liang halted me. "Nevertheless, I can offer you a mission. What do you think? I control all the missions assigned to the disciples, so I can provide you with a favorable one that offers substantial rewards with minimal effort."


    That was an intriguing proposition. Sun Liang had devised a way to assist me discreetly, without drawing attention to the fact that he was treating me differently from the other disciples.


    "What mission do you have in mind?" I inquired, curious to understand his intentions.


    "It''s a rescue mission, actually. You will lead a group of three cultivators in the Qi Condensation realm to search for missing disciples or any clues regarding their whereabouts," Sun Liang revealed.


    I found such missions appealing, as they allowed me to assume the role of a detective. However, I questioned the safety of the Qi Condensation cultivators I would be apanying.


    "Isn''t it dangerous for the cultivators you want me to work with?" I voiced my concern.


    "They are capable enough, and the location you will be visiting doesn''t pose a significant threat. The missing disciples were in the fourth and fifthyers, indicating that their kidnapper may not be exceedingly powerful," Sun Liang reassured me.


    He proceeded to exin the intricacies of the mission, including the location where the disciples hadst been seen and the rewards involved. It appeared that my objective was to find the missing disciples either alive or dead, or at the very least, gather clues if locating them proved challenging. Honestly, even Sun Liang seemed to believe that the missing disciples were likely deceased.


    The mission held a moral dimension as well. Sun Liang wanted me to undertake this task to instill a sense of reassurance among the other disciples, to make them feel that the Elders woulde to their aid in times of need.


    Sun Liang handed me a map with a clearly marked location, providing detailed instructions for the mission. "Go to the Qi Condensation mountain peak and seek out three disciples near a waterfall. They often train together in that area," he instructed.


    I respectfully bowed before leaving his office. As I entered the peak where all the Qi Condensation cultivators resided, I could feel the gaze of each disciple upon me. It was a rare sight to see an Elder in their midst, and their heads instinctively lowered in a mixture of respect and trepidation.


    Spotting a cute girl with bangs, I approached her and called out, "You."


    "Me? Elder Li," she responded, bowing her head and cing her hand over her right chest.


    "I''ve heard there''s a waterfall here. I am in search of three specific disciples," I informed her. The girl seemed to instantly understand which disciples I was referring to, and a hint of worry crossed her face.


    "If I may ask... Are they in trouble?" she inquired anxiously.


    "No, they are not," I reassured her.


    With a sigh of relief, she proceeded to guide me to the location of the waterfall. We followed a cobblestone path, passing by scattered immortal caves dotting the mountain peak. I couldn''t help but notice that the Qi in this particr mountain seemed somewhat diminished, prompting me to wonder if the Patriarch had implemented a specific formation. The drastic difference in Qi levels between the two mountains seemed peculiar, considering their proximity.


    Soon, we veered off the cobblestone path and entered a modest-sized forest. After a brief walk, the sound of rushing water reached our ears, signaling the presence of the waterfall. However, upon "Junior greets Elder," they uttered simultaneously.


    12:45


    arrival, we found no trace of the disciples.


    "Where could they be?" I pondered aloud.


    The girl who had apanied me quickly responded, "There are numerous secluded cultivation rooms behind the waterfall. The three disciples you are searching for are most likely inside."


    Curiosity piqued, I inquired, "But why are these three the only ones granted ess to the rooms?"


    The reasoning behind this arrangement remained elusive to me. Perhaps they had aplishedmendable feats within the sect, leading the Patriarch to reward them with such privilege. Alternatively, Sun Liang might have recognized their exceptional talents.


    "I have no knowledge of the specifics. If you''ll excuse me, Elder Li, I shall leave you to your task," the girl said, taking her leave.


    With determination, I flew through the cascading water, revealing a series of stone doors behind the waterfall, reminiscent of the secluded meditation room within my immortal cave. The Qi in this area was noticeably denser, although it still fell short whenpared to my personal cave.


    There were a total of eight doors, yet I could sense the Qi emanating from only three of them. Knocking on each door, I patiently waited for a response.


    The disciples within the rooms were likely engrossed in critical moments of their cultivation, so I exercised patience.


    Unexpectedly, all three doors swung open simultaneously.


    "Ahh, I have finally reached the 11thyer," one of the youths eximed.


    "We achieved it as well! But who interrupted our secluded meditation?" another questioned in bewilderment.


    "Someone knocked on your door too? I thought it was only mine. Who dares to disturb our meditative practice?" the third disciple chimed in.


    The trio likely assumed that a mischievous Qi Condensation cultivator was ying a prank on them.


    With my back still turned to the rooms, the disciples caught sight of my distinctive robes and promptly bowed in respect.


    "Junior greets Elder," they uttered simultaneously.


    As I turned to face them, I immediately recognized their voices. The familiarity in their voices struck me, and I couldn''t contain my surprise any longer.


    "Tian Li?" they yelled.


    The three cultivators before me were none other than Ye Hu, Hou Suyin, and Hou Biya¡ªthe same group that had fought alongside me against the flooded dragon. Well, I had essentially fought alone, but they had been there in spirit.


    A mixture of shock and delight painted their faces as they processed the unexpected encounter. It


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