Chapter 174 - 2-7

Chapter 2. Spirit Field Lease Rights

A full day had passed since I fell into this damned cultivation world.

Morning broke.

This damn sun rose and set on its own, without even waiting to be asked.

Bathed in the pouring sunlight, I sat there blankly, lost in thought.

The body I had awakened belonged to a cultivator named Yun Xian, a Qi Refinement Stage 2 cultivator.

If I was going to transmigrate anyway, how great would it have been to wake up as the only son of a cultivation clan or a direct disciple of a sect.

As expected of a luck-dependent trash game, what he possessed was a seventeen-year-old wandering cultivator with fourth-grade spiritual roots.

The one saving grace was that his parents had been cultivators.

Both of them were merely low-ranking cultivators at Qi Refinement Stage 11, but they were outer disciples of a sect called Qingyun Sect.

They had died a month ago after being caught up in a demon beast subjugation mission.

No matter where I go, I can't escape being an orphan.

Even the clouds drifting across the sky looked lonely.

Meow....

The image of that little guy staring at me with terrified eyes came to mind.

The explanation on the status window, which I had read so many times I could recite it by heart, flashed past my mind.

[Upon reaching the supreme realm of 'Fresh Immortal,' the Great Luo Immortal, you will gain dominion over time and space. Return to the moment you desire in your original world!]

Great Luo Immortal.....

Just when would I succeed in Foundation Establishment and reach Core Formation?

And that wasn't the end of it.

After that came Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Fusion, Mahayana, and Ascension stages.

Only after all that was the realm of the Great Luo Immortal.

Among the countless cultivators, only a handful had ever reached that realm.

It was a level that required tremendous investment, fortuitous encounters, and innate talent to support it.

The stats engraved on the status window caught my eye.

[Name : Yun Xian

Age : 17 Alignment : Normal

Level : 1

Spiritual Roots : Fourth-Grade Roots (Wood Fire Earth Water)

Vitality : 3

Agility : 1

Wisdom : 3

Luck : 5

Trait : Immortality (You can live an eternal life as long as you are not killed by injury, natural disasters, disease, or poison.)

Owned Skills :

Talisman Art Lv. 1 (Proficiency 14)

Alchemy Lv. 1 (Proficiency 4)

Qi Refinement Art Lv. 1 (Proficiency 3)

Formation Art Lv. 2 (Proficiency 28)

Minor Dao Arts (Owned Arts 2 / Earth Escape Art Lv. 2, Flame Art Lv. 1)

Owned Points : 3 (Points increase when you top up with spirit stones.)]

...Even here they were talking about spending money.

Still, the aptitude wasn't that bad.

Reaching Qi Refinement Stage 2 at the young age of seventeen meant his cultivation had been fairly solid.

Compared to geniuses with second- or first-grade roots, it was nothing, but it was better than fifth-grade roots.

The fact that his Formation Art proficiency had reached Level 2 was also welcome.

Arts like Qi Refinement, Alchemy, and Formation required talent to gain proficiency at all.

But the trait...

[Immortality : You can live an eternal life as long as you are not killed by injury, natural disasters, disease, or poison.]

Was that really immortality?

You'd die if you got sick, die if you got injured, and die if you were poisoned.

Wasn't that just an ordinary human with an infinite lifespan?

Well... better than nothing.

As always, I was grateful for what I was given.

Once you started resenting the world, there was no end to it.

Still, wasn't this fortunate?

Since this was a game world, I knew where fortuitous encounters were and when they would appear.

The thought of having to go on adventures was a bit frightening, but if I proceeded with the mindset of tapping even a stone bridge before crossing, I'd manage.

At least I wouldn't have to fight like a madman just to get a Foundation Establishment Pill before turning seventy, like others did.

Above all, even as a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, I didn't have to worry about dying from illness.

If so, the only thing to worry about was violent death.

Avoid conflicts as much as possible, and wherever I go, always check for escape routes.

With the system, if I cultivated step by step, my realm would rise someday.

Cultivation realms, however, had to be raised by one's own efforts.

Time was on my side.

Even if it takes a long time, I'll cultivate and cultivate again, and return to that night.

Just locking the windows and securing the doors would have prevented the criminal's intrusion.

After all, the criminal had testified that he entered because the window was open.

If only that were possible...

My parents wouldn't have had to die so horribly.

My childhood of crying alone while hugging Ginger would disappear.

I could escape the school violence I suffered in middle school.

My body wouldn't hurt anymore.

I could live a normal life, loved like everyone else.

Make friends, maybe even date....

My fists gradually clenched.

Yes, this was a good thing.

It was a turning point in a life that had no dreams or hope.

I need to think of a way to earn spirit stones.

To use the shop window and break through realms, spirit stones were necessary.

Even to gain points, I needed spirit stones.

First, I needed to check Yun Xian's financial situation.

On the desk in his parents' room were several jade slips.

Basic Dao arts prepared for their son.

Spirit stones totaled 127 in all. That was everything.

How did Yun Xian's parents make a living?

Even cultivators had to eat.

To remain even as a nominal outer disciple, one had to grease the wheels of human relationships.

They also had to buy cultivation methods and materials for their son.

To them, with little lifespan left, their only son Yun Xian was literally everything.

His parents occasionally drew talismans to sell and sold medicinal herbs they gathered.

They also earned spirit stones by carrying out missions assigned by the sect.

But their greatest source of income came from a spirit field leased through the sect.

They had obtained the spirit field by paying a deposit.

They had to pay rent, but they could still keep half of the harvest.

Wait, a spirit field?

I sprang to my feet without realizing it.

Though my parents had died, the spirit field lease rights still remained.

With my parents, their backers, gone, maintaining the spirit field might be difficult.

But even so, it made no sense to just sit back and have it taken away.

After all, a deposit had been paid to obtain the field.

More importantly, the lease period still had plenty of time left.

Inheritance existed in this world as well.

Even if his parents had died, the rights to the already leased spirit field belonged to him.

The problem was that maintaining a spirit field required the Water Nurturing Art and Pest Control Art.

The original body was still studying the basics, and since his parents had handled the farming, he hadn't learned either art.

You foolish bastard. You have to protect your own rights.

If I didn't learn those two arts as soon as possible, the spirit field lease rights could be confiscated.

That would be far too unjust.

Unless I age and die someday, if I want to cultivate, I'll have to leave this place. But I need to get compensated before I go.

The house was the same.

Though I had settled here with the sect's approval, a deposit had been paid for this as well.

The stubbornness I'd had when I sued my relatives to reclaim my inheritance flared up again.

Being timid and being unable to secure one's own interests were two different things.

I need to hurry and learn those arts.

Fortunately, all the sect's spirit fields had their planting delayed due to the demon beast subjugation campaign.

Otherwise, the field would have been taken before I even transmigrated.

Cursing the original body's utter complacency, I opened the status window.

Golden letters shining at the top caught my eye.

[Welcome to the world of 'Fresh Immortal.' You are granted 3 points.]

I had been agonizing over where to use my points, but now there was no need to hesitate.

I stood up and headed to my parents' quarters. The wooden floor creaked.

Several cultivation method jade slips carefully placed to one side came into view.

I'm sorry. I'll make good use of this body and safely raise it all the way to the realm of the Great Luo Immortal.

After apologizing to the original body's parents, I picked up the jade slips and examined them.

Fortunately, the Water Nurturing Art and Pest Control Art were there.

When I pressed the jade slip to my forehead, a cool sensation spread along with a system notification sound.

[Do you wish to use points to learn this art?]

It was possible to enter without points, but it would take a long time. With no idea when the spirit field manager might come, rapid mastery was necessary.

I shut my eyes tight and decisively used the points.

[1 point has been deducted. You have learned the Water Nurturing Art. Proficiency 1]

I learned the Pest Control Art as well.

After learning both arts, I had 1 point remaining.

Still, my heart felt at ease.

Perhaps because I was relieved, hunger set in.

Fried chicken and beer, hot dogs, pizza, burger.....

There were so many things I wanted to eat, but I couldn't.

Fuck my life....

Dragging my feet, I headed to the kitchen.

Calling it a kitchen was generous—there was only a single pot hanging over a dirt floor.

Sighing, I opened a jar.

Scraping the bottom where spirit rice was laid with a ladle, I got barely enough for one meal.

Ha.... so poor, so poor.

Screaming internally, I scraped up the spirit rice and put it into the pot.

I wanted to at least eat my fill of this.

But spirit rice was too expensive.

From now on, I'd have to live on fasting pills.

The more I thought about it, the more I sighed.

Still, let's eat first...

After letting it steam sufficiently, I lifted the pot lid.

It was fortunate that the body's original owner was skilled in housework.

A fragrant aroma spread out.

Blowing on the hot spirit rice, I swallowed it down.

The more I chewed, the richer and nuttier the flavor filled my mouth.

I was eating carefully, cherishing each bite, when a loud throat-clearing sound came from outside the wooden gate.

"W-who is it?"

I sprang to my feet and roughly wiped my mouth with my hand.

If I acted suspicious and got found out that my soul had changed, I might be sold off to demonic cultivators.

"Heh heh, it's me."

Entering through the gate was a thin old man with a goatee.

The way he rolled his eyes and inspected the house didn't make him seem like a good person.

He was the village head of the cultivation village where he lived.

He was also the spirit field manager and steward for the sect, Qingyun Sect.

Perhaps sensing the wariness in Yun Xian's gaze, the village head smiled benevolently, yet straightened his back and released his presence. A kind of show of force. He had reached Qi Refinement Stage 12. Though he looked like an old man, his underlying strength was formidable.

"Have you been well? I came to tell you some good news."

Good news?

Given the village head's personality, there was no way he'd smile like that unless it benefited him.

Keeping my guard up, I greeted him politely.

I didn't forget to let a tear fall.

Thanks to years of watching others' moods, acting came naturally.

Thinking of the apartment I'd left behind and Ginger, tears welled up on their own.

"I'm still grieving, but I'm enduring. My parents would want me to live on steadfastly."

When I cried while mentioning my parents, the village head's expression stiffened slightly.

His imposing presence faded as well.

As expected, he definitely had an ulterior motive.

"Well, about that.... the sect has issued compensation. Among the disciples who died participating in this demon beast subjugation, if they have relatives living in a cultivation village under Qingyun Sect's jurisdiction, they are given 150 spirit stones."

The village head's eyes gleamed with cunning as he spoke.

My relatives who had taken my parents' property came to mind.

Was the given amount really 150 spirit stones per person?

But now wasn't the time to argue about that.

"I-is that so? That's truly fortunate. I was at a loss about how to live from now on. There is the spirit field my parents left me, but that alone is far from enough..."

I laid the groundwork first.

The village head's eyes gleamed once more.

Watching him made me want to sneer.

It seemed that wherever you went, a lone orphan was always prey.

Fortunately, my underdog instincts kept my expression from betraying me.

"Hmm, about that, it's become a bit troublesome."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"Ahem. You haven't learned the Water Nurturing Art and Pest Control Art yet, have you? As such, recovering the spirit field is unavoidable. According to the contract, if the lessee becomes unable to manage the field, it is reclaimed after confiscating the deposit. Your situation is unfortunate, but rules are rules...."

Just as expected.

The contract did indeed contain such a clause, but in cases of death caused by sect-led missions, a grace period was granted. The village head was trying to deny even that grace period.

Suppressing my resentment, I put on a shocked expression.

"No! I failed to learn both arts this spring, but I successfully entered them recently."

The village head's face, which had been set on swallowing the deposit and lease rights whole, went blank.

"...What? You learned both arts?"

"Yes. My parents told me to learn the arts just in case before leaving for the subjugation. Please look."

As if to prove it, I performed the Water Nurturing Art in front of him.

Water sprang from my hand, drawing a rainbow as it poured onto the ground.

"O-oh ho... well done. Your parents were quite foresighted."

The village head's expression rotted away.

Seizing the moment while he was flustered, I put on a pitiful look.

The original body was only seventeen years old.

Tears began to flow again down my still-youthful face.

"Waaah, it's all thanks to my parents. Mother, Father!"

After wailing loudly for a while, neighbors living nearby began to gather at the noise.

***

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. Why is Yun Xian crying like that?"

There were always people who loved to meddle in others' affairs.

The village head's face darkened further.

Now that Yun Xian had mastered the required arts, to reclaim the spirit field lease rights, they would have to return the entire deposit and even add extra compensation.

His attempt to handle things as quietly as possible had gone down the drain.

T-this isn't the result I wanted? Was this brat always this sly?

Chapter 3. Escape

The murmuring beyond the wooden gate grew steadily louder.

At first, it was one or two people, neighbors peeking in out of curiosity, but now they had formed a sizable crowd.

The gazes of the gathered people burned.

Cold sweat began to bead on the village head's forehead.

He had planned to quietly coax and threaten Yun Xian, swallowing the spirit field lease rights whole, but things had grown out of hand.

This cultivation village was where the outer disciples of Qingyun Sect and their families lived.

Because of that, even as village head, he couldn't wield his authority recklessly.

Oppression without justification could easily lead to an audit by the sect.

That would be a serious headache for him as well.

"H-hey, Yun Xian. That's enough crying now. Everyone's staring at you, aren't they?"

The village head swallowed dryly and whispered urgently.

Anxiety was plain in his voice.

But I pretended not to hear and instead raised my voice even louder, wailing pitifully.

Since things had come this far and people had gathered, shouldn't I give them a good show? At times like this, it was important to firmly establish an image.

A pitiful, powerless orphan.

Most of the people living here weren't that different from Yun Xian's family in circumstance.

Parents who never escaped the Qi Refinement stage their whole lives, pinning all their hopes on their children.

To them, I might well have been the future image of their own sons or daughters.

Perhaps that was why.

Their eyes were filled with sympathy and pity.

Of course, it was only possible because my crying performance was top-tier.

It was a survival skill honed from childhood, every time my heartless relatives told me to throw Ginger away.

With reddened eyes, wiping tears with my sleeve, I looked like the very definition of a miserable orphan.

After a long while of crying out for my parents and pouring out my grief, I finally stopped sobbing.

Of course, not completely. Acting was all about the finish.

Letting out intermittent hiccupping sobs, my voice trembling like a goat's bleat, I asked the village head.

"H-hic… then, Village Head…. my spirit field lease rights…. they won't be taken back, right? Right?"

I could clearly see the village head's face contort violently.

He looked like he'd bitten into shit.

The corners of his mouth trembled.

But the situation was no longer in his favor.

The stares of the onlookers gathered around were unbearably sharp.

He rolled his eyes, pondering how to salvage this mess.

He had already promised to hand over the spirit field lease rights to another cultivator in exchange for kickbacks.

And he'd even swallowed the deposit in advance.

Finally finishing his calculations, the village head began to coax me.

"Heh heh, that might be a bit difficult. Think carefully, Yun Xian. You're only at Qi Refinement Stage 2. How could you possibly manage such a large spirit field on your own? Farming isn't that easy, you know. Supplying water, killing pests, infusing spiritual energy—none of it is simple."

I already knew all of that.

From the beginning, I had no intention of staying here long.

Spirit fields or whatever—it didn't matter. I needed to leave this place as soon as possible and devote myself to cultivation somewhere safe.

For that, I needed spirit stones.

Spirit stones to convert into points.

I needed both justification and funds to leave this place.

To avoid revealing my intentions, I lowered my head deeply, putting on the most pitiful expression I could muster.

"It might be a bit difficult… but if the Village Head would help me just a little, wouldn't it somehow work out? It's the inheritance my parents left behind… I can't give it up like this."

My voice dripped with injustice and desperation.

Even I was impressed by my own acting.

The determination to survive seemed to grant me transcendent ability.

Perhaps sensing room for negotiation in my hesitant tone, the village head began to persuade me in earnest.

"Heh heh, Yun Xian. I fully understand how you feel. Your parents in heaven would surely be pleased. But you must think realistically. If you can't properly manage the spirit field, the sect won't stay idle either."

He mixed in a subtle threat as he continued, gauging my reaction.

"You could end up losing both the spirit field and the deposit, and even be reprimanded. Wouldn't it be better to take this opportunity to settle the lease rights and look for another path with that deposit? You're still young, aren't you?"

The village head gently cajoled me, trying by any means to get his hands on the spirit field lease rights.

He even said he'd return the deposit, as if he were being magnanimous.

I sneered inwardly.

Wasn't he going to get that deposit from the next lessee anyway?

Putting on airs with something that wasn't even his.

What could be more convenient than that?

I cried even more miserably and clung to him.

Like I said, I was truly confident when it came to crying.

"Waaah! Then what am I supposed to do now! How am I supposed to live in this old house without a spirit field! Are you telling me to just starve to death here! Mother! Father! You should have taken me with you! Waaah!"

At my desperate wailing, the surroundings grew even more chaotic.

"Oh dear, that poor thing, what should we do?"

"Village Head, that's too much. He's just a child... If I were gone, my son would end up like that too. It's heartbreaking."

"That's right. How can you bully an orphan like that? Of course the deposit should be returned. He's learned the Water Nurturing Art and Pest Control Art, so he's not unqualified. And if there's still time left on the lease, shouldn't you even pay extra?"

The neighbors' murmurs pierced the village head like daggers.

He clenched his teeth.

His face had already rotted beyond repair.

In the end, the village head raised the white flag first.

"…Alright. Alright. Then let's do this. If you insist, I'll add another 200 spirit stones. Even if you farmed the field all year, you'd only earn fifty or sixty spirit stones. There may be ten years left on the lease, but let's settle it at this. You understand what's proper, don't you?"

The village head's eyes glinted threateningly as he spoke.

Judging by that reaction, the kickbacks he'd received must have exceeded 200 spirit stones.

It probably felt like flesh was being torn off him.

Truthfully, I had been waiting for him to make an offer.

But if I accepted too eagerly here, all my acting up until now would be wasted.

I hesitated for a moment.

With tear-filled eyes, I looked up at him.

"But... then I'll lose my means of survival here. Unlike my parents, I don't have an identity token, so I can't go to the city and sell talismans."

An identity token was a jade plaque issued by Qingyun Sect, serving a role similar to a protective talisman.

Going to the city without one was the same as throwing your life onto the streets.

Hearing my words, the village head narrowed his eyes as if thinking deeply and looked at me.

"An identity token is nothing. I can give you one easily enough. But going back and forth to the city to sell talismans? Even with a token, the roads would be dangerous at your level. Once or twice might be fine, but it's worrying."

As expected, the village head had taken the bait.

Now he was getting greedy for the house as well.

I hesitated, watching his expression.

"…Then, what should I do?"

The village head answered immediately.

It was as if he'd been waiting for that question.

"Why not hand over the house as well and head to the city? If you gather both the house and spirit field deposits, you could secure lodging there. In the city, you can do anything. There will be more opportunities to learn, too."

Perhaps excited, his voice grew increasingly rapid.

This cultivation village was pleasant to live in, and the spirit field yields were good.

There were plenty of cultivators eager to move in if a house became vacant.

He even snorted with satisfaction, imagining the unearned income he'd get from them.

I pretended to deliberate for a moment.

At that sight, the village head's patience finally snapped.

A vein bulged at his temple.

"Damn it! I'll try a bit harder for your sake. I'll add five roots of low-grade spiritual herbs I own and another 200 spirit stones. Combined with the deposit, this should be enough to live on for a while. How about it?"

The onlookers nearby nodded, as if that sounded reasonable.

This was more than I had expected.

If I added together the spirit stones left by Yun Xian's parents, the compensation from Qingyun Sect, the deposits, and the additional spirit stones, it was quite a haul.

The low-grade spiritual herbs would surely be useful someday as well.

If I got greedier, I'd earn the village head's resentment.

Only then did I nod, as if reluctantly conceding.

"…I will never forget the Village Head's kindness for the rest of my life. Hic… thank you. Truly, thank you."

The transaction was concluded faster than expected.

I handed over the documents related to the spirit field lease rights and the house.

"It'll take two or three days to make the identity token, so stay quietly at home until then. Once it's done, I'll personally bring it to you."

The village head said this as he immediately handed over a storage pouch.

Upon checking, it contained a total of 2,700 spirit stones and spiritual herbs.

When I looked up, the village head was staring at the pouch with a meaningful gaze.

Like a starving wolf eyeing its prey.

The danger instincts I'd honed over long years stirred back to life.

Of course, this was within expectations.

To the village head, I must have looked incredibly easy to deal with.

But even if I had given up the deposit, it would have been the same.

The compensation alone from my parents' deaths amounted to 300 spirit stones.

If it was going to be dangerous anyway, wasn't it right to pursue maximum profit?

Perhaps because I grew even more wary.

I noticed an extremely faint red aura rising around him like heat haze.

To avoid suspicion, I examined the pouch and pretended to be happy.

A red aura was also surging around the village head's feet.

There was no doubt.

It was exactly the same phenomenon as in the game 'Fresh Immortal,' when a player about to PK (Player Kill) would have their character surrounded by red.

The system had confirmed it.

[The opponent's killing intent has been detected.]

As expected, people were the most terrifying.

Goosebumps erupted all over my body.

The village head's eyes already treated me as a dead man.

Now I understood why he'd mentioned a time limit of two or three days.

With so many eyes on us now, he planned to come secretly later and seize the spirit stones.

Dead men told no tales, after all.

Without showing anything on my face, I smiled and saw him off.

"Please make sure about the identity token. Without it, I wouldn't dare go outside. Then, I'll see you in three days."

I didn't forget to lay down some smoke as I spoke to his retreating back.

Since he knew that going out without an identity token meant certain death, he wouldn't suspect anything.

The moment his figure disappeared beyond the village, I dashed back into the house.

My heart was pounding like crazy.

I didn't need an identity token anyway.

I had no intention of going to the city in the first place.

I planned to find a suitable place to hide and devote myself to cultivation.

I locked the door and firmly shut the windows.

I was prey now.

A walking pouch of spirit stones.

Prey carrying a hefty 2,700 spirit stones.

An inexperienced cultivator only at Qi Refinement Stage 2.

Even the neighbors couldn't be trusted.

Even blood relatives had gone mad over wealth.

There was no time to hesitate.

I used my last remaining 1 point to raise the proficiency of Earth Escape Art.

[Earth Escape Art Lv. 2 (Proficiency 1) -> Earth Escape Art Lv. 3 (Proficiency 1)]

Earth Escape Art was one of the low-grade arts Yun Xian originally possessed.

With low proficiency, digging speed was slow and the depth shallow.

At that level, escaping the village would be difficult.

After investing the point, the sensation of Earth Escape Art became vividly clear in my mind.

It felt as familiar as a technique I'd used for years.

I immediately began digging beneath the bed.

A faint flow of spiritual energy seeped from my fingertips, smoothly burrowing into the earthen floor.

A soft sound echoed, like a mole digging underground.

Fortunately, this old house was built directly on soil, without a stone foundation.

My obsessive safety instincts raised their head once more.

My hands moved faster and faster.

My forehead was already drenched in sweat.

But I couldn't stop.

I had to escape as quickly as possible before night fell.

Chapter 4. Disguised Evasion

After confirming that the ground beneath the bed was easy to dig, I began preparing.

I had to move as quickly as possible.

The very first thing I did was gather the inheritance the body's parents had left behind.

I took the cultivation jade slips and the storage pouch resting atop the bookshelf.

I couldn't forget the emergency talismans and the formation plate either.

I also stuffed in all the spirit herbs and medicinal ingredients that had been stored to one side.

It took less than ten minutes to pack everything.

Truly, this was a poor household.

I left behind the Bigu Pills and the spirit rice I'd been eating.

I also left the clothes and household items as they were.

This was to pull off a bit of a trick.

I steeled myself.

"Tsseup…. Haaah."

With a deep breath, I bit down hard on the middle finger of my left hand.

Ugh.

It hurt like hell.

But there was no blood.

Damn it. In novels, it always looked ridiculously easy.

How the hell did they do it?

Making yourself bleed just by biting your finger was harder than I thought.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

But I couldn't hesitate.

I hardened my resolve once more.

Whenever using talismans or cultivation methods, there were times when essence blood was needed, weren't there.

If I couldn't even draw blood because it hurt or scared me, what kind of humiliation would that be? I couldn't die such a pointless death.

Staring at my finger, I bit down hard again.

Damn it, damn it! Still no blood.

…Just how vicious were these cultivators, anyway?

In the end, I took decisive action.

A needle shyly revealed itself and pricked my finger.

Only after pricking it three times in a row did I finally gather enough blood.

Whew, living really was hard.

Someday, I'd be able to draw blood just by biting. …Right?

Later, I should try biting while gathering spiritual energy in my teeth. It was a shame I hadn't thought of that earlier.

Still, I didn't have the nerve to try again right now. The finger, swollen red, hurt too much. …Just in case, I'd practice again a few hours later.

You had to prepare for everything, after all.

Just not right now.

I scattered the painstakingly gathered blood across the floor.

I also made sure to rub it around with my foot, leaving traces as if someone had tried to clean it up.

I spread it out in all directions.

Crude as it was, an amateur crime scene was complete.

Then I laid out a cultivation formation and a protective formation on top of the bed.

I left plenty of spirit stones to maintain them, so even if someone came, concealment would be possible for a while.

After all, when someone went into cultivation, it was normal not to come out for several days.

The formations' effects would end in two days.

Even if the village chief came with the identity token, all he'd see would be a wrecked house and bloodstains.

He wouldn't even imagine that I'd fled without an identity token, so he'd assume someone had killed me for the spirit stones and erased the traces.

That way, no pursuit would follow.

So why was I digging the ground so diligently?

…Because there was always the possibility.

Yeah, I was a coward.

[Lv. 3 Earth Escape Technique proficiency increases.]

[Lv. 3 Earth Escape Technique proficiency increases.]

[Lv. 3 Earth Escape Technique proficiency increa—]

The system notifications kept ringing.

It seemed that repeatedly doing simple work helped raise proficiency.

When I was young, my dream had been to become an architect like my father.

I remembered looking at buildings my father had built and thinking that I, too, would someday build something like that. And now here I was, digging tunnels in a cultivation world.

Damn it, life.

"Ah, I'm dead tired."

After digging downward for a while, I grasped a spirit stone and absorbed its energy.

Sweat trickled down my forehead.

My once pristine clothes were now completely caked with dirt.

While absorbing spiritual energy, I calmly thought things through.

To escape the village safely, I had to avoid divine sense.

I knew exactly how to do it, having learned through countless deaths in the game.

If you moved underground instead of above it, detection difficulty rose sharply.

With the level of the village cultivators, they wouldn't be able to sense all the way underground.

But that didn't mean I could relax completely.

Everyone had their own specialties, after all.

There was no guarantee that none of the village cultivators possessed deep divine sense.

"Getting careless and dying wasn't something that happened just once or twice….."

So I had to dig as deep as possible, deeper still.

After that, I could move toward the mountains and escape safely.

Alright, shall I start again?

I desperately dug into the earth.

My body steadily advanced forward.

The path I'd passed through refilled with solid earth, leaving not even a trace.

How deep had I gone? It had already been a long time since I last felt any presence from the village.

At this depth, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't be able to sense me.

This was enough.

Now I began digging horizontally.

[Lv. 3 Earth Escape Technique proficiency increases.]

The notification sound repeated over and over.

I had no time to pay attention to it.

Only survival filled my mind.

The sly face of the village chief surfaced.

It overlapped with the greedy gazes of the relatives who had seized my parents' inheritance.

As expected, people were the scariest of all.

I cautiously changed direction toward the nearby mountains.

Until I reached the mountain foothills, I had to be as careful as possible.

From time to time, I also made sure to use concealment talismans to erase traces.

It was fortunate that such things had been among the keepsakes left by the body's parents.

They must have prepared them in case their son ever faced danger.

Concealment talismans normally cost at least ten spirit stones apiece.

Once again, I'm sorry. I'll definitely become a Great Immortal and repay this kindness.

I prayed for the repose of Yun Xian, the body's original owner who had died to qi deviation during cultivation, and for his parents who had perished in the ensuing calamity.

As I kept digging tunnels, I felt like I'd become a spy.

…Or maybe a mole.

By the time I arrived beneath the mountain, it was already night.

I couldn't feel the darkness underground, but I could tell through the system window.

I had no intention of going outside just yet.

Underground was much safer.

At least, for now.

I had to go out only after making thorough preparations.

Catching my breath, I took out 1,000 spirit stones from the storage pouch.

Then I opened the status window and focused my mind.

[You have used 1,000 spirit stones to obtain 10 points.]

One point per 100 spirit stones.

A murderous exchange rate, but there was no helping it.

Tears welled up.

It was even more vicious than game microtransactions. Damn trash game.

But nothing was more important than my life.

Now my total points amounted to 10.

I began selecting jade slips from my parents' collection that would help in my current situation.

Basic Concealment Technique, Soundproofing Technique, and Divine Sense Technique.

These three techniques were essential for survival.

Yun Xian, the original owner, had postponed learning such spells, saying it wasn't worth investing time in them.

As a basic Qi Condensation cultivator, just raising his realm must have been overwhelming enough, so it wasn't hard to understand.

But for me right now, survival was the top priority.

I needed to master every technique necessary for safety.

After all, I had to stay alive before I could cultivate or do anything else, right?

All I had was time.

What was a mere hundred more years of cultivation?

[1 point has been deducted. You have learned Basic Concealment Technique. Proficiency 1.]

[1 point has been deducted. You have learned Soundproofing Technique. Proficiency 1.]

[1 point has been deducted. You have learned Divine Sense Technique. Proficiency 1.]

When I placed the jade slips against my head and invested points, the sensation of the techniques naturally seeped into my mind, as if I'd been cultivating them for a long time.

This was the power of capitalism!

After learning three techniques, I had 7 points left.

Thinking of them as replacing my life, they didn't feel wasted at all.

Now what I needed to do was find a safe place to make my base.

The cultivation world was full of dangers.

For someone like me—immortal and unaging…—it was even more so, especially with accidents, natural disasters, battles, diseases, and poison to beware of.

…No, seriously, was this really immortality?

Wasn't it just longevity?

[…You won't die of old age, so it does count as immortality in its own way.]

As my dissatisfaction peaked, the system made excuses.

Anyway...

If this bizarre trait ever became known, I might be captured by some old monster and turned into a pill.

Just imagining it was horrifying.

Yun Xian Pill.

Still, there was no need to be too afraid.

Time was more than abundant.

Efficiency would be lower than in Sansu Village, where formations had been installed, but it wasn't so bad as to be crippling. Cultivation in the mountains was still possible.

The real problem was demonic cultivators and demon beasts.

They treated righteous cultivators like mortal enemies, desperate to seize their lives and wealth.

Of course, even ordinary cultivators weren't exactly safe.

In the end, the truth that people were the scariest didn't change.

I had to raise my realm quickly.

Suddenly, I remembered having raised the Earth Escape Technique's proficiency using points.

Could I perhaps raise my realm with points too?

I soon gave up on the idea.

There was no such function anywhere in the status window.

Points could only be used to learn or raise proficiency in basic techniques.

Realms had to be advanced through direct experience or by using expensive pills or heavenly treasures.

The same applied to pill refinement and artifact forging.

I recalled the artifacts and pills that had failed during refinement in the game.

Why did it reflect reality in places like this? Damn RNG trash game.

Taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind once more.

Even in games, levels only rose after experience accumulated—how much more so for cultivation?

When the mind was empty, everything became easier.

I put on the smile of a Buddha.

It was a form of mind control I'd practiced since childhood.

Even being able to raise basic techniques with points was something to be grateful for.

They'd been more than enough help during this life-or-death escape.

I pondered how to use the remaining 7 points.

Divine sense had to be strong to detect enemies early and avoid them.

Only then could safety be guaranteed.

Concealment was obviously important as well.

Not being discovered was the best option.

I decided.

[3 points have been deducted. Basic Concealment Technique Lv. 1 (Proficiency 1) -> Basic Concealment Technique Lv. 4 (Proficiency 1).]

Next, I needed to strengthen divine sense.

This was the best way to avoid people.

[3 points have been deducted. Divine Sense Technique Lv. 1 (Proficiency 1) -> Divine Sense Technique Lv. 4 (Proficiency 1).]

After investing 3 points into each technique, I had 1 point left.

With the final point, I decided to learn Spirit Sword Technique.

It was a decision I made after much deliberation.

Depending on how it was used, fire techniques could also be offensive, but Spirit Sword Technique would be a more reliable and direct means of attack.

I couldn't run forever. I needed at least a minimal means of self-defense.

[1 point has been deducted. You have learned Spirit Sword Technique. Proficiency 1.]

Now my remaining points were 0.

Just in case, I invested 300 spirit stones to create 3 more points.

I had to prepare for truly desperate moments.

There was another advantage to learning techniques through points. It didn't consume the spiritual energy inside my body. My mind also felt clearer, and my soul felt stronger.

After devouring that many spirit stones, this level of effect was only right.

I unfolded the newly learned concealment technique.

The energy around my body grew faint, and my sense of presence diminished.

Perhaps because I'd raised it to Lv. 4, the effect was fairly convincing.

I also cast the soundproofing technique so that footsteps and other noises wouldn't leak out.

I spread my divine sense to check for any threats nearby.

And finally, I began digging a narrow hole leading to the surface.

Carelessness until the very last moment was forbidden.

I held a spirit stone tightly in my hand.

I couldn't feel any presence, but it never hurt to be cautious.

Carefully, I poked my head above ground.

I felt like a mole.

The pile of dirt shifted slightly, and the outside scenery came into view.

It was a mountain valley faintly illuminated only by moonlight.

I couldn't even guess how long I'd been digging.

Once more, I spread my divine sense and thoroughly scanned the surroundings.

As expected, I didn't feel any presence at all.

But just in case.

Keeping my body as low as possible, I moved while using trees and rocks for cover.

Now, I needed to secure a place where I could safely hide myself and devote myself to cultivation.

Chapter 5. Hideout

The mountain was mysterious.

Mist hung thick in the air.

Before I knew it, the sun was rising.

Light glimmered faintly through the dense fog, a beautiful sight. The spiritual energy pouring out from the mountain itself refreshed my chest.

I scanned my surroundings and recalled the starting point of the game 'Fresh Immortal'.

Characters usually began as disciples of cultivation sects, children of long-established cultivation clans, or in remote cultivation villages.

Sometimes there were people who even posted screenshots to prove they'd started in demonic sects.

Thinking about that made my heart skip a beat.

Yeah.

At least I hadn't started in a demonic sect.

That place was truly a hellhole.

Since I'd awakened in a cultivation village, this place was probably Sacred Spirit Mountain.

Looking at the terrain, it definitely seemed to be Sacred Spirit Mountain.

For beginner players starting in cultivation villages, Sacred Spirit Mountain was a mandatory gateway they had to pass through.

But the memories of the original body, Yun Xian, were different.

This Sacred Spirit Mountain was, for cultivators, a place as awkward as chicken ribs—hard to give up, not worth keeping.

Low-level cultivators had trouble coming here, while higher-level cultivators found absolutely no merit in it.

It was a small mountain without any major demonic beasts likely to possess demon cores.

There was always a reason why Qingyun Sect left it unattended.

Which meant that, for me, there was no better choice than this place.

The rough layout of Sacred Spirit Mountain formed clearly in my mind.

Deep within the mountain.

There was a valley hidden in a place that rarely caught human eyes.

The valley was cleverly concealed so that it couldn't be easily discovered from the outside.

Even flying through the sky, it was hard to find—perfect as an early-game hideout. That also meant… finding it on foot wouldn't be easy.

Damn life….

Grumbling again, I moved forward.

As I walked, I kept glancing around.

I spread my divine sense as widely as possible.

Soundproofing technique was already deployed over my body.

The spirit stone in my hand was rapidly losing its glow. Ugh. What a waste.

Why not just go underground using Earth Escape Technique?

…Because I'd died multiple times doing exactly that in the game.

This was a rugged mountain range.

For a low-level Qi Refinement cultivator like me, there were plenty of demonic beasts that could swallow me in one bite.

They weren't worth hunting since they lacked demon cores, but even so, they were still a threat to me. If I happily dug underground and accidentally trespassed into a demonic beast's territory, that would be the end. I didn't want to die such a pointless death.

Because I had to become a Great Luo Immortal.

I looked around again.

If someone harbored malicious intent toward me, a red aura would rise around them.

So I had to keep observing my surroundings.

It felt like my eyes were going to pop out, but even so, I was grateful.

It meant I had one more danger-detection method than others.

That alone greatly increased my chances of survival.

Even if someone approached me with a smiling face while harboring ill intent, it would be useless.

As I walked along the mountain path, familiar terrain came into view.

It was the habitat of Jade Ear Rabbits, which I'd hunted countless times before.

Jade Ear Rabbits were rabbits whose ears shone like jade. Selling them fetched 3 spirit stones per 5 rabbits.

That might be fine in a game, but in reality, it wasn't worth the effort.

Which meant I wouldn't run into other cultivators while hunting Jade Ear Rabbits.

Should I try catching one?

Jade Ear Rabbits. They tasted good and were good for the body.

They even raised spiritual power, albeit slightly.

I was tempted.

But I forced myself to shake my head.

I couldn't afford to waste time on things like this.

It definitely wasn't because Jade Ear Rabbits' hind-leg kicks were scary.

A true man was supposed to cherish his own body.

…I'd come back once I could practice Spirit Sword Technique and hunt them from afar.

With that mindset, I also passed by a patch of Flying Immortal Grass.

Its fragrant scent, tempting to humans, assaulted my nose.

With a stiff expression, I silently walked along the mountain path.

The spirit stone that had been flickering finally lost all light and crumbled dry.

I lightly applied force, crushed it, and took out a new spirit stone from the storage pouch.

"Geez…."

Spells really consumed too much spiritual power.

[As spell levels increase, spiritual power consumption decreases.]

The system rattled off information as if it were giving me a tip.

I didn't even feel like scoffing.

So what?

You want me to invest more points bought with 100 spirit stones?

Not buying, not buying.

Absolutely ridiculous.

It had been dangerous before, so I had no choice, but if proficiency increased just by repeating actions, why would I waste points?

The system fell silent.

Tch. Trying to upsell me with useless marketing.

The mountain was much deeper than I'd expected.

Trying to find in reality a place I'd once traversed with a few mouse clicks in the game was pure agony.

There was even a heart-stopping moment where I nearly wandered into the territory of a powerful demonic beast. A vivid red aura erupting from the ground saved me from the brink of death.

This, too, matched exactly what I'd experienced in the game.

When you approached the territory of an overwhelming demonic beast, the entire screen would turn red like a warning. I let out a sigh of relief and carefully searched for the path again.

After wandering for a long while like that, I finally arrived at the place from my memories.

The entrance to a valley shrouded in thick mist.

Here and there, faint sunlight seeped through.

This was it.

Looking around, bizarre rock cliffs lined both sides like folding screens.

The grass and trees growing around the valley entrance were utterly ordinary.

The spiritual energy was no different from elsewhere.

I cautiously stepped inside.

Dense trees blocked out the sky.

The mist began to slowly lift.

One side of the valley was a perfectly vertical cliff, as if sliced by a blade.

The other side slanted and was half-collapsed.

Below that collapsed cliff lay a heap of fallen rocks.

Between the pile of rocks, I spotted a narrow gap just wide enough for a person to squeeze through.

No demonic beasts or spirit creatures approached this place.

Not even wild animals came near.

They were probably afraid the rocks might collapse again.

Contrary to appearances, the pile of fallen rocks wasn't dangerous.

A decisive cultivator from a previous generation had used Petrification Technique to prevent further collapse. But I was the only one who knew that.

Why?

Because it was a setting from the game.

A laugh escaped me.

This would be my new hideout.

***

Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees and crawled into the gap.

The passage was quite long.

I had to crawl for a good while.

Just as my face began to twist in discomfort—a small space inside revealed itself.

Entering an enclosed space on all sides calmed my heart.

Yes, this was it.

The narrowness of the space wasn't a problem at all.

I could simply widen and refine the interior using Earth Escape Technique.

With a bit of disguise to reinforce security, it would be even safer.

It was truly a perfect personal fortress.

Before digging out the cave, I first disguised the entrance.

I transplanted nearby bushes and young trees.

Digging the earth with Earth Escape Technique and watering them with Water Escape Technique, vitality returned to the leaves.

I arranged everything so it blended naturally with the existing surroundings, avoiding an artificial look.

Then I installed every type of protective formation I had.

Concealment formations, defensive formations, even alert formations.

Yun Xian's parents must have been quite meticulous—they possessed all kinds of protective formations.

They'd given them to Yun Xian before heading off to subjugate demonic beasts.

After finishing installation and checking from outside, there wasn't a single giveaway.

Unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator came close and examined it, no one would notice.

My heart felt incomparably at ease.

Yes, people needed a home.

The next task was dividing the space.

I immediately began designing.

I planned to divide the cave into three sections.

One would be a bedroom and rest area.

Another would be a cultivation chamber for serious training.

The last would be a small plot for growing medicinal herbs.

There was another good thing about becoming a cultivator.

I didn't need a bathroom or toilet.

Waste was naturally expelled from the body along with turbid qi.

The might of a Core Formation immortal was astounding.

No matter how brutally I dug, not even debris fell.

It was fortunate he'd stabilized the fallen rocks—otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to dig a cave at all.

A spiritual vein branching off from the mountain range passed through the cultivation chamber on the left.

It was weak, but a spiritual vein was still a spiritual vein.

I carefully engraved a cultivation formation in the center of the chamber.

I really did have talent with formations in this body.

On the right, while carving out the bedroom, I made sure to leave stones in appropriate positions.

Those stones would later be shaped into furniture.

One bed, one table, two chairs—no, one chair.

No one else would be coming here anyway.

I placed the herb cultivation room in the center.

If an intruder ever got in, they'd probably harvest the herbs first. That would buy me at least a little time to escape.

As I always said, safety came first.

I headed toward the cave entrance.

I planned to find suitable stones and polish the interior smooth.

…Then I remembered I had to crawl to get in and out.

Damn life….

I'd left it that way to guard against potential intruders.

Since escaping would be hard for me too, I decided to create a separate escape route in the back later.

Still, I found a pillar-shaped stone I liked.

I also learned that crawling while hugging a stone wasn't a pleasant experience.

Since I liked the cave, I decided to accept it.

But why had I bothered carrying this thing all the way here?

I could've just put it in the storage pouch.

Damn it. My mindset was still stuck on Earth.

From now on, I needed to act more like a cultivator.

Anyway, rubbing the floor with the stone I'd brought worked perfectly.

The furniture was ground down nicely as well.

I had no idea what kind of material this stone was to be so hard.

After working for quite some time, hunger finally set in.

Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything since the last time I'd had spirit rice.

Pathetic. Everything people do is just to survive...

With tears mixed in, I swallowed a Bigu Pill.

It was dry and crumbly.

I also drank water using Water Escape Technique.

It didn't taste good, but it quenched my thirst.

I spent some time frantically arranging the hideout and organizing items.

Now it finally felt like a place someone lived in.

Extreme fatigue washed over my entire body.

I collapsed onto the newly made stone bed.

Staring at the smooth ceiling, sleep overtook me.

How long had I slept?

After resting well, my mind felt clear.

I headed to the cultivation chamber.

Perhaps due to the cultivation formation, spiritual energy swirled densely in the air.

Clear and refreshing. I recalled the cultivation method the original body had been practicing.

To become a cultivator, one needed a spiritual root.

Without a spiritual root, you couldn't sense spiritual energy.

Yun Xian possessed a quad-spiritual-root with wood, fire, earth, and water.

Fortunately, considering his age and spiritual roots, his aptitude wasn't bad.

Basically bold, with a strong sense of adventure.

Recalling Yun Xian's temperament, I shook my head.

In the end, he'd suffered qi deviation.

This was why people needed to be laid-back.

Look at turtles.

There was a reason they lived long.

My basic cultivation method was Nourishing Wood Art.

Among the four innate energies, wood suited me best.

The primordial energy that spread vitality.

Wood was life—gentle yet strong, growing in silence.

I carefully regulated my breathing.

My palms rested on my knees, back straight.

I drew up my qi sensation.

Slowly, I adjusted my breath.

I gathered my consciousness in the lower dantian.

Spiritual energy was drawn in like strands of thread.

To avoid losing that flow, I focused even harder.

Cultivation for a low-level Qi Refinement cultivator was simple.

Just absorb spiritual energy and circulate it within the body.

Currently, my cultivation stood at late-stage Qi Refinement Realm Level 2.

To advance to Level 3, I had to reach my limit.

I needed to draw in qi until spiritual power permeated all my meridians.

With eyes closed, I continued cultivating.

***

"Hoo."

I opened my eyes while expelling turbid qi.

My entire body felt sticky.

I cleaned myself using Water Escape Technique.

Why hadn't the original body learned something this convenient?

Well, that was probably why he'd only reached late-stage Qi Refinement Stage 2 at his age.

Let's think positively.

Now it was time to train Spirit Sword Technique.

I extended my hand and focused my mind.

I formed hand seals as they appeared in my head.

Spiritual energy moved, taking the shape of a small dagger.

Success! I succeeded on the first try.

Though it was a point-guzzling monster, the system was undeniably useful.

Especially when I thought about how long Yun Xian had invested in learning Flame Technique.

The spirit sword shimmered as it slashed through the air.

Now it was time to test its power.

The target was already decided.

The stone pillar that had kindly allowed me to polish the cave.

It was solid enough to make a good opponent.

Sorry. And thank you.

Focusing my mind, I launched the spirit sword.

The spirit sword collided with the stone and vanished uselessly.

The stone showed no abnormalities at all.

Not even a scratch.

Even when steel struck stone, stone usually lost. But this was a spirit sword infused with spiritual energy—how was nothing happening?

What kind of rock-headed stone was this?

What the hell kind of stone is this…?

At that moment.

The stone began to glow.

Chapter 6. Treasure or Ominous Relic

What should I do?

Should I break the stone?

But how was I supposed to break that damn rock?

A chill ran through my entire body.

It had definitely been an ordinary stone when I'd been smoothing the cave.

Of course….

It had been strangely hard.

But even when I examined it with divine sense, there had been nothing unusual.

There were only two possibilities for this phenomenon.

Either that stone was a treasure.

Or it was an ominous relic.

I retreated step by step.

My back touched the wall of the cultivation chamber.

Why hadn't I made an escape route earlier?

I made up my mind.

If I survived this crisis, the first thing I'd do would be to dig an escape route.

The one saving grace was that the stone wasn't making any noise or moving.

It was just quietly emitting light.

There was no sound.

If the stone had started moving, it would've been truly terrifying.

…Well, honestly, it was already terrifying enough.

How much time had passed?

The light radiating from the stone began to slowly fade.

When the light vanished, only golden characters and complex patterns remained on the stone.

Is that… a formation?

I used divine sense to examine the stone again.

But it felt as though something was blocking me—there was nothing I could sense.

This was the first time something like this had happened.

Lowering my body cautiously, I backed out of the cultivation chamber.

Observing it up close made me uneasy.

What if it suddenly charged at me?

I was afraid the stone might start flying around and rush at me.

Following the instincts of a wimp, I squatted near the entrance, peeking out with just my head.

That way, I'd be able to run if something happened.

The reason I didn't dare stand up was….

Because it felt like the stone might fly at me.

If it rolled instead, I could at least kick it.

At the same time, curiosity welled up inside me.

That thing was definitely no ordinary object.

The path of cultivation was inherently fraught with danger.

If one pursued only safety and did nothing, no amount of time would ever lead to the realm of a Great Immortal.

Of course, I was fully prepared to flee. With my teeth clenched, I observed the stone.

That was when it happened.

A faint shape flickered and rose from the stone.

It gradually became clearer.

What finally revealed itself was—an old man with snow-white hair.

The old man looked at me, half-kneeling, and burst into hearty laughter.

"Hohoho! Yes, yes, that's how it should be. If one were to behold my formation and not show proper respect, how could that befit a young cultivator? Good, very good."

…It seemed he'd misunderstood something.

This wasn't a posture of respect—it was a stance to run away.

But honesty wasn't always the best policy.

I decided to keep my mouth shut.

The old man looked extremely pleased.

That aside.

So this was what they meant by a jujube-colored face.

His complexion was dark and leathery, like something dried by countless years.

The old man, with the imposing air of a legendary warlord, slowly stroked his beard.

"I am Haoranzi, the one who stopped this mountain from collapsing with a single formation. I already passed away three thousand years ago, but I had one lingering regret, so I left my consciousness behind like this."

My mouth fell open.

So that Petrification Technique had been a formation?

Just how powerful did that formation have to be to function properly even after three thousand years?

It wasn't like it had been embedded in a spirit stone mine, so the fact that it still operated meant it had maximized the use of natural elements.

Perhaps noticing my astonishment, the old man's expression brightened further.

"I have been watching you dig this cave and set up formations here. You have quite a talent for formations. That is why I decided to reveal myself."

…I said nothing.

It was true that I had some aptitude for formations, but I wasn't some once-in-a-generation genius.

The way he was praising me made it seem like he had ulterior motives.

Twenty-two years of honed suspicion raised its head.

Haoranzi's eyes gleamed.

"Of course, just because fate aligns and talent exists doesn't mean anyone can receive my teachings. Had you not shown respect upon seeing my formation, I would have beaten you to death on the spot. Fifteen insolent brats have already died that way."

A chill ran down my spine again.

As expected, there were no normal people in the cultivation world.

I'd almost died without even knowing why.

Thank you, wimp's instinct.

That aside, was this old man even sane?

What kind of lunatic would kneel upon seeing a formation carved into stone?

Me? I definitely hadn't knelt.

I'd just bent my knees for propulsion.

As if reading my thoughts, Haoranzi stroked his beard and boasted confidently.

"One who truly cherishes formations cannot sense the aura of a formation I created and simply pass by. Once one perceives its profundity, reverence naturally forces the knees to the ground!"

Now I was sure.

This old man was crazy.

Still, I maintained a respectful expression on the surface.

I'd been honing my acting skills for twenty-two years for moments like this.

That's right.

Just think of it as acting.

I'd long since thrown away my former timidity.

Introverted people were actually good at talking to strangers.

"You speak truly, Elder. Upon seeing your formation, I was so astonished that my knees bent on their own before I realized it."

Haoranzi burst into satisfied laughter and began praising himself.

"Indeed! When it comes to formations, I am the greatest in this world. Though three thousand years have passed since my death, I have yet to see anyone surpass me."

Isn't that because you're already dead?

I lowered my head as much as possible.

My eyes trembled uncontrollably.

"You must be wondering why my realm remained at the Decisive stage. There is a reason. I fell too deeply into the marvelous charm of formations and neglected my cultivation. It was never due to a lack of talent."

…Yes, yes. Of course.

It felt like listening to a drunk boss brag about his glory days.

At least bosses paid salaries—what was this old man giving me?

The light slowly faded from my eyes.

At this rate, I might ascend to heaven.

The old man continued rambling.

"Hm, since fate has aligned, I suppose I can call you my disciple. I shall personally bestow a gift upon my disciple."

I didn't trust him at all.

But I had to react.

This old man was a serial killer.

A calculated serial killer, at that.

Who knew when he might suddenly start swinging stones at me?

"Y-You're giving me a gift? Oh my, what an honor! Thank you so very much!"

The old man's face shot skyward.

He tilted his head up so much it looked like rain could pour straight into his nostrils.

"If your talent in formations is genuine, you will be able to solve the first formation carved into this stone. Once you do, the location of the next formation stone will be revealed. Solve and master them all in this manner, and one day you may reach the same realm as I."

…My strength drained away all at once. A gift? A gifft?

I was reminded of teachers who sprang pop quizzes without warning and then claimed they were doing it for our sake.

The old man kept talking.

"There are a total of 128 formation stones I left behind. They contain the essence of every formation I achieved throughout my life. Solve them as quickly as possible. It's not because I died after making a wager with someone. Hem hem."

Ah, yes…. A wager.

You waited three thousand years after killing fifteen people—you must really want to see this through.

Now I understood why he'd praised me so highly. He'd probably been thinking, 'Just let one fool fall for it.'

The old man smiled in satisfaction.

"Now, this first formation stone will soon transform into a jade slip. Please enjoy it. And be sure to solve them all."

As he spoke, the old man pointed at the formation stone.

"And within the first jade slip, there is one additional gift. If you feel inclined, go and see it. It's in Qingliu City."

The old man, who had been smiling with a healthy complexion, suddenly hardened his expression as he added a warning.

"I cannot lose to that Qing Xianzi fellow. Once you solve all 128, I will reveal myself again. Until then."

With those words, the old man's form faded and disappeared.

128…?

I'd become an exam-taker just like that.

Hah.

Still, it was fortunate.

The old man disappeared more obediently than expected.

My heart was pounding wildly.

This damned cultivation world was far too hazardous.

But…. A gift?

Qingliu City?

That was one of the most bustling cities around.

The stone the old man had called a formation stone began to emit light once more.

The light faded.

In its place remained an incredibly sturdy-looking jade slip.

…Even as a jade slip, it looked threatening.

It seemed sturdy enough to be used as a weapon in an emergency.

I cautiously approached the jade slip.

Examining it with divine sense, it didn't seem problematic.

Should I look at it?

Was it worth risking danger?

Yeah.

Let's take a gamble just once.

I picked up the jade slip.

Aside from looking extremely solid, there didn't seem to be anything special—

Ah. There was something.

A small pattern was carved at the end of the jade slip.

When I touched it, a sharp pain pricked my finger.

Then the pattern on the jade slip transferred to the back of my hand.

The pattern soon melted into my skin.

…

What on earth just happened?

This was terrifying.

Had I been cursed or something?

Of course. I was going to die! I was going to die!

Perhaps startled by my panic, the system spoke up.

[…This is an invitation to an exchange gathering. It is held once every hundred years in Qingliu City. Those who are not invited cannot enter. The next gathering will be held in 97 years.]

Ah, I see.

That was awkward.

I pressed the jade slip to my forehead.

The jade slip contained a total of three formations: a trap formation, a concealment formation, and a defensive formation.

Still half in doubt, I soon became absorbed in the formations.

"Ha…. So being called a genius wasn't a lie after all."

The entire structure was different from any formation I'd seen before.

There were 128 formations like this? And I could learn them all? I couldn't help but laugh.

"Maybe being called a master of formations wasn't just empty boasting. I should look into it someday."

Joy steadily filled my chest.

Was this what they called a fortuitous encounter?

Of course, I still had to learn and decipher the formations.

But all I had was time.

I was confident.

I would decipher all 128 formations and make them my own.

That would be one more step toward becoming a Great Immortal.

At that moment, a system notification sounded.

[You have acquired a new formation system different from existing ones. As a reward for contributions related to three formations, you are granted 3 points.]

Jackpot!

I hugged the jade slip tightly to my chest.

Then I bowed respectfully in the direction where Haoranzi had disappeared.

"I don't know how long it will take, but I will definitely succeed."

From today onward, that crazy old man was our old man.

***

With a chilling scream, dozens of Jade Ear Rabbits chased after me.

I sighed as I ran.

"Damn rabbit bastards!"

…There was a reason things turned out this way.

A few days ago, I'd succeeded in deciphering a newly learned formation.

It was a trap formation.

Since I'd learned it, shouldn't I use it?

My targets were Jade Ear Rabbits and Flying Immortal Grass.

As always, I'd made thorough preparations for safety.

Concealment and soundproofing techniques were a given.

I spread my divine sense as wide as possible to stay alert.

In my left hand was a spirit stone, and in my right was the jade slip.

…That jade slip actually made a decent weapon.

By injecting spiritual power, it could turn into stone, and its size could be adjusted at will.

At this point, it was practically a magic artifact.

But...

As was always the case with life.

Things didn't go according to plan.

I arrived at the Jade Ear Rabbit habitat.

And just as I was about to set up the formation plate, a baby Jade Ear Rabbit appeared.

I tensed up.

Do you know what the scariest animal in the world is?

The answer… is an animal protecting its young.

If there was a baby here—

That meant the mother or father was close by.

I cautiously retreated.

From afar, a sound like an enraged bull stomping the ground echoed.

With thick hind legs pounding the earth, the mother Jade Ear Rabbit charged straight at me.

The baby Jade Ear Rabbit tilted its head, watching me flail about.

…Are you mocking me?

I didn't even have time to set up the formation plate before the mother rabbit rushed in.

The distance between me and the mother Jade Ear Rabbit was about one meter.

It looked like it would ram into me at any second.

"Damn it."

I spat out a curse.

"I hate laying hands on small animals!"

And then—

I raised the jade slip and swung it without mercy.

…I had no choice. To survive—

Chapter 7. The Altar

I stuffed the unconscious mother Jade Ear Rabbit into the bundle.

Then I grabbed the ears of the baby Jade Ear Rabbit that was standing there blankly at my side.

True to rabbits, once their ears were bound, these creatures could not exert any strength.

But for a baby, its ears were somewhat short.

I frowned and shoved it into the bundle together as well. This was no time to worry about such trivial details.

I bent down again to install the formation plate.

In that instant, the land before my eyes was dyed completely red.

My heart began pounding violently.

This was a danger signal.

I slowly raised my head.

…My mouth fell wide open.

It seemed every Jade Ear Rabbit in the vicinity had gathered here.

Dozens of rabbits were glaring straight at me.

They began stamping the ground with their hind legs in unison.

The earth trembled.

Had these rabbit bastards taken drugs as a group or what.

Their eyes were bloodshot crimson.

Jade Ear Rabbits were originally solitary spiritual beasts.

That was why I had planned to quietly capture just a few.

But now, every Jade Ear Rabbit in the entire area had assembled.

Was there some kind of neighborhood meeting going on?

Were games and reality really different?

That wouldn't do.

I immediately turned around and started running.

There was no time to hesitate.

Back on Earth, running had been the one thing I was confident in.

My speed had dropped after my back became hunched, but it was still serviceable.

Now that I possessed spiritual power, there was no need to even mention it.

The surrounding scenery streaked past at an abnormal speed.

The enraged Jade Ear Rabbits kicked off the ground and chased after me like mad.

…They really must have been on drugs as a group.

Damn it.

A small farm was about to turn into a large-scale farm.

Well, it wasn't a bad thing.

***

I had been running through the mountains while being chased by a rabbit army for over ten minutes now. Leading them while avoiding dangerous areas was no easy task.

These damn rabbits didn't seem to tire at all.

They were still chasing me with crazed eyes.

Cursed rabbit bastards. You're all dead meat.

Soon, a familiar scene came into view.

I increased my speed even more.

An unusually tall tree appeared.

As I reached it, I leaped high into the air.

I stepped on a branch I had scouted in advance and headed for the top in an instant.

The Jade Ear Rabbits that chased after me began gnawing at the base of the tree.

It was truly insane speed.

The tree shook violently.

It looked like it would snap any moment.

At this life-or-death moment, I grinned and formed a hand seal.

Then I hurled my body toward the dense bushes on the opposite side.

A perfect landing—ten out of ten!

The formation hidden within the tree activated.

Hadn't I told you repeatedly?

I was a thorough safety-first kind of guy.

If you were going to do something as dangerous as hunting and gathering, you had to prepare an escape route. Otherwise, you couldn't call yourself a true man.

Fierce flames erupted from all directions.

It was the Fire Assault Formation I had set up in advance.

The panicked Jade Ear Rabbits ran around in chaos.

They were pushed by the flames and herded to one side.

Stuffing thirty spirit stones in at once had been worth it.

It was a pity that the first safety device disappeared just one day after being installed, but...

Well, what could I do.

The rabbits trapped in the flames struggled desperately.

Struggling like that would only make you suffocate faster, you know?

Soon, thick smoke rose into the air.

One by one, the rabbits collapsed weakly.

I waited until every rabbit had fallen.

Given their strong vitality, they wouldn't die.

All of this was mine, after all. I had to keep them alive properly.

Now I just had to harvest them at my leisure.

***

"Lulu, lululu."

A hum escaped me naturally.

The captured Jade Ear Rabbits were all locked inside the herb cultivation chamber.

The mother rabbit, knocked out by a blow—no, by the Jade Baton—was the same.

I looked at the only baby rabbit that was still awake.

It was trembling in fear, desperately trying to act cute.

Its bound ears quivered.

Sorry, but I'm a cat person.

After giving it a glance, I focused on my work.

I engraved a formation onto a new formation plate.

I planned to reinstall it a little distance away from my hideout.

Was I asking if I didn't need to test trap formations anymore? I'd test them later by throwing in a few rabbits, obviously.

With specimens lying everywhere, was there any need to go hunting?

More importantly, I needed to confirm the insight I had gained from using the Fire Assault Formation.

"Good, good."

As expected, my thinking was correct.

All the problems with the first formation stone had been resolved.

I immediately transferred the analyzed formation onto the formation plate and engraved it.

Then I checked the baby rabbit again and carefully bound its ears even tighter.

"If you cause any trouble while I'm gone, I'll cut off your ears. Got it?"

It nodded as if it understood.

A spiritual beast really was a spiritual beast.

But...

No matter how I looked at it, its ears were still a bit short.

I narrowed my eyes and examined the little guy.

Well, someday I'd find out its true identity.

I selected the three plumpest adult Jade Ear Rabbits among those sprawled around and wrapped them into a bundle.

After slinging the bulging bundle over my side, I left the cave.

Even to my own eyes, it looked pretty shabby.

…Someday, I would definitely buy a beast-taming bag.

***

Hmm, this place would do nicely.

After finding a suitable spot, I set up the formation plate.

The three formations Elder Haoranzi had given me formed a multilayered linked formation.

Once I understood the principles, dismantling them was easy.

It was a shame that my cultivation was still shallow, preventing me from bringing out their full performance.

A linked formation was a structure where multiple formations were chained together.

The formation I dismantled consisted of a total of three parts.

The first was the Sensory Concealment Formation.

It concealed the formation's layout and the hideout.

If someone approached nearby, I would know immediately.

The second was the Defensive Illusion Formation.

It protected the hideout and the formation.

If someone approached with malicious intent, they would face a nightmare.

The third was the Fire Assault Killing Formation.

It possessed killing power incomparable to the Fire Assault Formation I had used to catch rabbits.

Even a cultivator who had perfected Qi Refinement would not be able to escape once they entered.

If I used enough spirit stones, I might even be able to deal with an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?

After setting up the entire linked formation, my heart felt at ease.

Was it because I had dismantled all three formations?

The location of the next formation stone in the Jade Baton came to mind.

I lightly ignored it.

I had no intention of going yet.

Slowly. Let's take it slowly.

After stuffing the Jade Baton—protesting by emitting light—into my belt pouch, I headed toward the Flying Immortal Grass colony.

The Flying Immortal Grass colony was one of the many bugs in the game 'Fresh Immortal.'

No matter how much you harvested, it would keep growing endlessly….

Thinking back to those days made a smile naturally appear on my face.

Mm, it had been quite profitable.

The developers eventually found out and intervened, patching it.

But strangely enough, the colony itself remained intact—it was just that characters could no longer enter.

So wouldn't it still exist in the real world as well?

As expected.

Purple-tinged Flying Immortal Grass swayed gently in the wind.

The Flying Immortal Grass was trapped within a formation.

Without knowing the exact location, it would have been impossible to find.

I approached as if enchanted, then snapped back to my senses.

First, I had to break the formation.

To check what kind of formation it was, I lightly pressed the Jade Ear Rabbit bundle against it.

…Wasn't that too cowardly, you ask?

I only had one life.

Nothing happened.

It didn't seem to be an offensive defensive formation.

I slung the bundle back over my shoulder and lightly placed my right hand on it. Contact was unavoidable to analyze the formation.

Hm?

The pattern that had seeped into the back of my hand emitted a bright glow.

By the time I came to my senses, I was already inside the formation.

"Huh?"

It seemed the one who had cultivated this Flying Immortal Grass was our old man.

Jackpot.

No wonder everyone wanted to serve a master.

Just how much was all this worth?

My eyes blazed.

Flying Immortal Grass over three thousand years old tempted me.

It was all mine, all mine.

The Jade Ear Rabbits, sensing the scent of spiritual herbs, woke up and struggled.

Tsk, stay still!

I reached out and tapped the bundle lightly, and they quieted down.

I had been worried there might not be enough sacrifices, but now there was no need to worry.

After surveying the surroundings, I began harvesting the Flying Immortal Grass as quickly as possible.

Were there any other herbs?

None.

Still, this was better than nothing.

The colony was reduced to scorched earth in an instant.

After setting aside about ten stalks of Flying Immortal Grass, I stuffed the rest into my belt pouch.

This should be enough.

I had secured spiritual beasts and harvested spiritual herbs—now it was time to move on to the next stage.

Originally, I hadn't planned to use the altar this soon.

But it couldn't be helped.

If I didn't, the cave would end up becoming a rabbit den.

***

"Ugh, my whole body aches."

I must have run too hard earlier.

A groan escaped me naturally.

The path to my destination was rougher than expected.

Erasing my presence completely and avoiding the territories of lurking demonic beasts made it even more so.

It was supposed to be a small mountain on the outskirts.

But it seemed taller and more treacherous than most mountains back on Earth.

If it was this exhausting even for a cultivator, it really drove home just how vast this world was.

How long had I climbed?

At last, I reached the mountain peak.

My view opened wide, revealing the scenery below in one sweep.

But I had no time to enjoy the view.

Standing at the peak, I looked toward the opposite cliff. A gloomy wind brushed past my ears.

Thankfully, it meant no one had ever used the altar.

Now, I had to descend this cliff.

I stood still for a moment, recalling the procedure.

I had to follow it precisely.

Unless one fully climbed the peak and descended from the opposite side, the altar would not reveal itself.

Flying or using techniques made no difference.

I could not use even a shred of spiritual power.

I had to rely solely on my body.

Looking at the sheer cliff face made curses rise to my throat.

Hoo…. Mind control, mind control.

Let's think positively.

That was why this opportunity had come to me.

If it were something easily obtained, someone would have already seized the fortuitous encounter.

After taking a deep breath, I stepped onto the cliff.

I stretched out my trembling arms and grabbed onto a protruding rock.

It was dizzying.

I had to move one step at a time with utmost care.

A ravine so deep I couldn't see the bottom.

Wind surged through it.

The gloomy wind tugged at my clothes, shaking me as if trying to pull me away.

My body swayed.

I gritted my teeth and endured.

I was so scared that tears welled up.

In the bundle slung across my back, the Jade Ear Rabbits held their breath.

They must have sensed their fate.

After taking a deep breath,

I reached out again.

Grabbing a foothold, I shifted my center of gravity onto my toes.

I placed my foot into a fist-sized crevice.

Moss clung to the cracks, making them slippery.

In some sections, there wasn't even enough space to fit my hand.

Blood flowed from my fingernails, but I had to endure it.

The eerie wind shook my body.

My heart dropped.

My heartbeat pounded against my ears.

All my senses became extremely sharp.

Rocks were falling from the path I had passed.

I wanted to use a protective talisman right now, but I clenched my teeth.

I had to endure.

A stone grazed past my ear and plunged downward.

If I fell, it was over.

I forced strength into my limbs.

Fuck, this is terrifying!

At this point, it was do or die.

Let's get down as fast as possible.

"Haah, haah…."

I nearly died several times.

Ugh, gives me goosebumps.

I barely made it down to the midpoint.

At the middle of the cliff, there was a narrow crevice.

Everything looked exactly like the scene in the game.

When I squeezed my body through the gap, a flat rock appeared.

That was the altar.

I had been worried, but it seemed I had followed all the rules.

If I hadn't, the rock wouldn't have revealed itself.

I cautiously approached the altar and examined it carefully.

The upper portion was stained dark red.

The rock felt as if it were alive.

***

Ugh, chills.

I swallowed and took items out of my belt pouch.

It was a relief that I could use spiritual power from here on. Otherwise, I would've had to carry all this manually.

The liquor I had brought from home, the Flying Immortal Grass, and the three Jade Ear Rabbits inside the bundle.

I placed all the offerings on the ground.

I pulled out the cork and carefully poured the liquor onto the altar.

The altar smacked its lips and greedily swallowed the liquor.

Ah, disgusting.

I placed all the Flying Immortal Grass I had prepared on it.

It devoured those greedily as well.

I grabbed a Jade Ear Rabbit by the ears and lifted it.

As if resigned to everything, it closed its eyes and went limp.

The altar began to drool.

I raised the dagger I had brought and cleanly slit its throat.

It was my first time killing, but there was no hesitation.

If I hesitated, they would only suffer more.

Fresh blood splattered across the altar.

A twisted laugh echoed.

I felt someone's persistent gaze.

Had I not known that this being could not leave the boundary and would disappear along with the altar, I would never have attempted this.

Even so, cold sweat trickled down.

Ignoring its gaze, I slit the next Jade Ear Rabbit's throat.

Hot blood splashed across the altar once more.

I neatly placed the three dead Jade Ear Rabbits atop the altar.

A black tongue shot out and swallowed the offerings.

I bowed my head.

A pungent, rotten stench filled the air.

The sounds of bones and flesh being crushed rang out.

And then.

At last, the satisfied altar let out a long belch.

Moments later, from the altar, a ring as red as blood popped out.

The ring rolled across the ground.

As if asking to be picked up.

I ignored the ring and politely bowed. From the darkness came a snort of displeasure. Without lifting my head, I maintained proper etiquette.

After some time passed, the rock disappeared.

Only then did I bend down and pick up the ring.

At last, it was in my hands—a subspace ring.