'Forget Cultivation and go plant soybeans? Have I lost my mind, to do something so stupid?'
Chen Che grumbled to himself.
The Spiritual Qi in this world was incredibly dense, completely incomparable to Earth Element Star.
Even at Six Continents First Middle School, which was built on a Spirit Gathering Array, the Spiritual Qi concentration was only about the same as in Changshan County. And that didn't even begin to compare to Jinyun Valley, which had long been occupied by a Foundation Establishment Ancestor!
That was why his Cultivation speed, despite having no family backing, was no slower than that of Huang Zhongfei or Ye Youwei.
'Now this is a real Treasure Mountain!'
He looked up at the vast, wild forest before him.
It stretched for what seemed like a hundred miles, with no end in sight. The trees blotted out the sky, and the faint roars of Demon Beasts echoed from within. While such places existed on Earth Element Star, they were protected by the Immortal Sects. Mortals and Cultivators alike could only enter by purchasing a ticket and were strictly forbidden from taking anything from the mountains.
But this world was different.
Here, heavenly treasures belonged to those who were fated to find them!
Chen Che ducked onto a familiar path, making his way to a secluded valley.
Stepping into the valley.
Even without deliberately circulating the Energy-Introducing Technique, he could feel the True Essence in his body increasing.
He didn't rush to begin his Cultivation.
First, Chen Che searched the valley for Spirit Grass. Whenever he found one he needed, he pulled it up by the roots, shook off the dirt, and tossed it into the burlap sack he carried. Since he had been taught how to identify Spirit Grass long ago, this was not a difficult task for him.
This semester, he had started to focus on Alchemy.
Besides the immense profits from Pills, it was also because Cultivators in this world who were proficient in multiple arts were rare. Mastering a skill would make it easier to gain a foothold.
Of course, he couldn't neglect his Cultivation either.
"Rise!"
He formed a hand seal.
The nine Sword Pills distributed by his school swiftly levitated, orbiting him like satellites. As he circulated his True Essence, their speed increased.
Tier One Middle Grade Sword Technique:
Sword Control Technique!
The wide river shimmered.
A moment later, a silver carp about half an arm's length and weighing a couple of pounds swam slowly by at the bottom of the river.
The Spiritual Qi on the back mountain was abundant, affecting all living things. If a creature was lucky enough to gain sentience, it would become a Demon Beast. This particular silver carp, however, had clearly not yet reached that stage.
WHOOSH!
Chen Che pointed.
A Sword Pill shot into the water. The startled carp tried to flee, but it was too late. The pill pierced straight through its body, trailing a plume of blood.
Before long, looking at the seven or eight silver carp on the bank, Chen Che couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The meat of the silver carp was delicious and nourishing, its effects far superior to the medicinal cuisine served at school.
He then cultivated for a while longer, only getting up when the sun began to set.
'It's about time to head back...'
'It's a pity. If only I had a Storage Pouch. Carrying all this stuff is so inconvenient.'
However, that was something Chen Che could only dream about for now.
Spatial Magical Artifacts were sold at exorbitant prices, almost ten times that of other items of the Same Tier.
Back in his house, he put the Spirit Valley away.
He picked up a bundle of firewood and went to the earthen stove.
He started cooking the Spirit Rice. Once it was half-done, he poured some lard into another empty pot to make fish soup. Then, after processing the washed Spirit Herbs, he tossed them into his Alchemy Furnace and began to attempt Alchemy.
He had accumulated plenty of experience from failures since last semester and had also listened to Ding Dawei's analyses in class, so he actually managed to refine a few batches of Pills.
It was just that the Pill Formation rate was pitiful—only one pill per furnace, and of average quality at that.
He packed up the Pills.
He didn't have a Pill Master certification, so these Pills couldn't be sold on Earth Element Star, but he could offload them at the Cultivator Market in this world.
A moment later, an enticing aroma began to waft from the pot.
After a busy afternoon, Chen Che was starving. He filled a massive bowl with rice, paired it with the fragrant catfish, and sat right on his doorstep, shoveling in one mouthful after another while admiring the golden sunset in the sky.
With every bite, a warm current swiftly spread from his stomach throughout his entire body.
His Qi and Blood grew in response.
"That lazy bum has no intention of saving for the future!"
The women who caught the scent turned to whisper amongst themselves at the village entrance, "Eating such lavish meals of fish and meat every day... I bet he has no plans to marry."
"Exactly, he's so wasteful!"
The farmers of Changshan County were relatively well-off.
But they typically only ate meat once every ten days.
Who could be as extravagant as Chen Che?
Did he have no intention of living frugally?
For the village children who caught the scent, it was enough to make their mouths water uncontrollably.
The more ravenous children would start crying and wailing, demanding a bowl of rice with lard, only to be met with a resounding slap.
Listening to the village's crowing roosters and barking dogs, and the faint sound of children crying on the wind, Chen Che chuckled as he sucked every fish bone clean. This meal of his was on par with what the principal of the First Middle School enjoyed.
CLANG CLANG~
Just then, the sound of a gong rang out.
Er Laizi, the village crier, was seen beating a Copper Gong and shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Gather 'round the big scholar tree at the village entrance!"
Watching the villagers hear the gong and gather from all directions toward the scholar tree, Chen Che, still holding his bowl, walked over as well.
Under the big scholar tree, his uncle Chen Shan and aunt Mrs. Fang of the Chen Clan stood with arrogant expressions. Beside them was a Foreigner who looked like a messenger.
When the two of them saw the villagers gathering, they turned to the messenger with beaming smiles.
"If you would be so kind, please read the letter's contents again for everyone to hear."
"Ahem... This is a letter from Chen Jiang, the eldest son of Chen Shan."
The messenger cleared his throat, flicked the letter open, and read in a clear voice:
"Father, Mother, I hope you are well. Your son, while away..."
Chen Che understood immediately.
The villagers were illiterate, so whenever a letter arrived, they would have the messenger read it aloud. If it was just personal news, they would listen in the privacy of their home. But if one of their children had made something of themselves, and the parents were fond of showing off, they would gather everyone at the village entrance to have the letter read in public.
"So it's from Chen Jiang!"
"Didn't he take an Upper Immortal as his master six years ago?"
"Has he finally made something of himself?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Ahem!" Hearing the whispers from the crowd, Mrs. Fang of the Chen Clan grew impatient and hurriedly urged the messenger, "Just skip to the important part..."
"Let me see..."
The messenger's gaze moved down the page, and he continued reading aloud.
"Your son has now found favor in Master's eyes and has been accepted as a Registered Disciple. I have been bestowed a Cultivation Technique, the 'Longevity Skill,' and have also learned a Saber Technique called the 'Five Tigers Breaking Gate Saber.' My journey onto the path of immortality is just around the corner..."
"Whoa!"
"Wow!"
The simple villagers had never seen anything like it. With every sentence the messenger read, the crowd gasped in amazement.
Soon, the letter was finished. The messenger was invited to Chen Shan and Mrs. Fang of the Chen Clan's home, and the villagers under the great scholar tree slowly began to disperse.
Before leaving, Mrs. Fang of the Chen Clan deliberately scanned the crowd. When her eyes landed on Chen Che, her expression grew even more triumphant.
Chaoyang, who was riding a water buffalo, was also in the crowd. He was sitting up straight when he suddenly caught the aroma of food. Spotting Chen Che holding his bowl, he gulped and said, "Brother Che'er, that smells amazing! The last time I had Spirit Rice was for the New Year!"
"Want to come over for a bite?"
Chen Che tapped the bottom of his bowl.
"No, thanks."
Chaoyang swallowed hard and pulled on his reins, giving a casual wave. "Some other time!"
After riding the water buffalo a couple of steps away, he couldn't help but look back toward Chen Shan's house, his eyes filled with envy. He thought to himself,
'Six long years... he finally made it!'
'That's an Immortal Master, after all!'