Unlimited priesthood

Chapter 134 Life Ends
Shen He remained silent, and the woman also stopped talking, watching him silently.

Shen He's expression remained unchanged: "And the next one?"

"The next item?"

The woman murmured something, then continued speaking.

"Three months ago, within the territory of Liang Kingdom, a beam of spiritual light suddenly shot into the sky from the Hidden Sword Mountain, a Foundation Establishment power. It seemed to be the emergence of an ancient cave dwelling or even an ancient relic. Although Hidden Sword Mountain immediately sealed it off, news still leaked out. The two major Golden Core Demon Sects, the Netherworld Sect and the Yellow Spring Valley, moved upon hearing the news. Hidden Sword Mountain also sought help from the Xuanxiao Sect, the Cloud Dragon Sect, and the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain."

"Five years ago, in the mortal realm of Xingguo, a mortal boy rose to prominence with the help of a rare treasure. He not only cultivated magical power in the mortal realm, but also used his magical body to fight against the Qi Refining cultivators of the Xingguo royal family. In the end, he shocked the Foundation Establishment cultivators, but he still managed to escape."

"Seven years ago..."

"Fifteen years ago..."

Although he had obtained the information he wanted, Shen He did not leave. Instead, he listened to the woman recount several more stories of her connection to immortality before finally nodding and saying, "That's enough. How many spirit stones?"

The woman smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind offer of thirty low-grade spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Shen He didn't say anything more. He took out thirty spirit stones, placed them on the table, and then got up and left.

"Sir, please take care!"

"..."

After leaving the ambiguous atmosphere of the restaurant, Shen He wandered around the market for a while, and only after confirming that no one was following him did he quietly leave, heading towards his spiritual field thatched hut under the cover of night.

Has the matter of Dongting Lake been resolved?
Nine-Star Dragon Carp has disappeared, and the five Foundation Establishment cultivators have retreated?
Is it true or not?

Shenhe did not know.

Judging from the information from Drunken Red Mansion, if this is not a false message deliberately released by various forces, then this nine-star dragon carp may have run to his island, thus hiding its tracks from the search of several Foundation Establishment cultivators and a group of immortal cultivators.

If this is true, then his island is in trouble. Although he left the Bronze-backed Crocodile and the Seven-Star Dragon Carp to guard it, these two contracted spirit beasts are probably no match for that Nine-Star Dragon Carp.

After all, it is a true dragon fish species. Not only has it awakened the true blood of the dragon race, but it may also possess rare and precious treasures. Given the strength of the Copper-backed Alligator Dragon and the Seven-Star Dragon Carp, it would probably be difficult for them to stop it from taking over their nest.

In this way, all the exotic flowers, rare herbs, and even spiritual plants that I planted on the island, as well as the groups of alligators and dragon carp, might be completely destroyed by it.

My hometown was robbed!

But Shen He remained unmoved and showed no intention of turning back.

go back?

Are you kidding me? Who knows if this is true or not?

What if the major powers haven't left yet, and have even brought in Core Formation cultivators who discover his hidden island and its strange features, concluding that he possesses an extraordinary destiny for immortality, and thus deliberately spread the news to lure him back? Wouldn't that be like walking into a trap?

It's just an ordinary secluded place of cultivation, its value is so-so. So what if I stole it? I can always get it back later. There's no need to take the risk now.

Not to mention that this is only one possibility.

The effect of the secluded cultivation place is the same for humans, beasts, and all living beings. Those cultivators cannot discover it, and this Nine-Star Dragon Carp may not be able to either. Its disappearance may be related to itself, after all, it is also a celestial fish with rare treasures.

Therefore, no matter what, Shen He has no intention of going back.

Let's cultivate the land in this Red Maple Valley for ten or twenty years first.

……

Back in his thatched hut, Shen He lit a lamp and then took out various materials he had purchased at the market from his storage bag.

After a year of arduous cultivation, he finally reached the second stage of the Immortal Path, the realm of gathering spiritual energy for cultivation!
Only after cultivating magical power can one be considered a true cultivator. Not only can one use various wondrous spells, but one can also practice and implement cultivation techniques such as alchemy, talisman-making, artifact-making, and array-making.

Now Shen He is preparing to start with the methods of alchemy to open the door to secondary professions in the myriad arts of cultivation.

In fact, among the four paths of alchemy, talisman, weapon, and array, the path of talisman has the lowest entry barrier.

After all, alchemy requires alchemical cauldrons, spiritual fire, and various materials; weapon crafting also requires furnace fire and various materials; and the art of formations goes without saying. As the most prestigious of the four major streams of cultivation arts, the demand and consumption of formations are terrifying.

Only talismans have a lower barrier to entry. Although they require materials such as talisman brushes, ink, paper, and techniques, these are relatively easy to find. Moreover, the initial investment is low, and failure is tolerable, unlike alchemy or weapon crafting, where a single mistake could result in total loss.

But this was not a problem for Shen He. He was wealthy, with income from cultivating spirit fields, contributions from generous servants like Ding Shengji, and the accumulated wealth from the Martial Dynasty World and the Spirit Control World. He was very familiar with the art of alchemy and could easily master it.

In fact, he had already practiced many kinds of pills, whether they were potions from the Spirit World or beast cores from the real world. They all belonged to the category of pills, only they were of lower level and the techniques were different.

However, there are three thousand great paths, all leading to the same destination. Having had experience in this area, entering the Dao of Alchemy should not be a problem for Shen He.

He first took out several bags of white spirit rice, then placed various auxiliary medicines aside. He then activated his magic power and ignited the spiritual fire of the Five Elements Technique in the void to refine the white spirit rice and various auxiliary medicines.

“Pah-pa-pa!”

Under the burning of the Five Elements Spiritual Fire, a lot of the white spirit rice exploded and shattered, with the vast majority turning into dust and dissipating, leaving only a small amount of spiritual light to condense.

The same applies to white spirit rice and other spiritual herbs. Under the calcination of spiritual fire, most impurities turn into dust and ash, leaving only a little pure medicinal liquid, which gradually merges with the essence of the spirit rice.

however……

"boom!!"

A slight fluctuation in the spiritual fire instantly disrupted the entire situation. The essence of the spiritual rice and the auxiliary medicinal liquid were all reduced to ash, falling to the ground as a piece of charcoal, emitting a pungent, burnt smell.

Shen He sat on the couch, looking at the charred dregs of the medicine, and frowned slightly.

Directly calcining with spiritual fire is too difficult and requires extremely high operational skills.

To avoid such waste, many beginners will buy furnaces and cauldrons. Using furnaces and cauldrons to refine pills can protect the pills, not only reducing the probability of failure but also improving the quality of the pills.

However, the price of alchemy furnaces far exceeds that of ordinary magic tools, even surpassing that of flying swords. Even a low-grade magic cauldron can cost tens or even hundreds of spirit stones.

Shen He has no shortage of spirit stones, but tonight there are no low-grade magic cauldrons in the market, only a few mid-grade magic cauldrons priced at several thousand. It's obvious that they're taking advantage of people, and he doesn't want to be a sucker.

In addition, alchemy with spiritual fire can improve operational skills and is also a form of training for beginners. There is no need to completely avoid it and only take shortcuts.

Failure is the mother of success.

Come again!

After a period of recuperation and replenishment of his magical power, Shen He rekindled the spiritual fire.

This went on for who knows how long.

Within the spiritual fire, the essence of the spiritual rice and the auxiliary medicinal liquid slowly combine.

Then, a unique fragrance wafted out, and several elixirs formed.

"it is good!"

Shen He's eyes narrowed, and he immediately withdrew his magic power. The spiritual fire dissipated, leaving only a few snow-white, jade-like spiritual pills with a lingering fragrance suspended in the air. They lost their strength and fell, but he caught them with his large hand.

Looking at the elixir in his palm, Shen He nodded in satisfaction, picked one up, and put it in his mouth.

The elixir enters the mouth and transforms into spiritual energy, spreading with the fragrance of medicine and rice, instantly filling the body and even the dantian.

White Elixir!
This elixir, made primarily with white spirit rice and various auxiliary ingredients, is said to be equivalent to a thousand catties of spirit rice. It can keep one from hunger for a hundred days and has the effect of fasting for three months, hence it is also known as the Fasting Elixir.

However, fasting is secondary; the main thing is its spiritual energy. White spirit rice is the most common type of spirit rice. Although it is not particularly special, it is balanced and mild, and its spiritual energy is easy to absorb. White spirit pills made from it have fewer impurities and less toxicity, making them extremely popular.

Most White Spirit Pills are of low grade, but there is a small chance that they can reach the middle grade, which is a second-tier pill. The fasting effect can last for a year, each pill is worth twenty spirit stones, and it is a hard-to-sell pill, so there is no worry about sales.

Shen He used a lot of White Spirit Rice and first-grade spiritual herbs this time, with a total consumption of about sixty spirit stones. Now he has refined four mid-grade White Spirit Pills, and after deducting the cost, he has made a net profit of twenty spirit stones.

It may seem like a small amount, even less than a first-tier spirit fish, but don't forget that he is only a beginner.

The number of spirit fish is limited; at most, a few can be caught per day, and it's impossible to catch thousands or tens of thousands.

However, as long as the materials and the alchemist's energy are sufficient, these pills can be produced continuously, and the output will increase as the alchemist's skills improve, resulting in extremely high profits in the later stages.

No wonder people often say that mastering even one of the four arts—alchemy, talisman, weaponry, and array formation—is enough to establish oneself in the cultivation world.

Alchemists, talisman masters, weapon makers, and array masters are all known for their wealth. Even a first-level alchemist can earn a hundred spirit stones a year. If they work hard, they can earn two or three hundred. This is incomparable to farmers and fishermen who toil in the fields and depend on the weather for their livelihood.

"Of course, if you can reach the first rank, you can hope to reach the second rank. You might even lose money if you invest in honing your skills. So if you want to climb higher, you have to work harder and earn more spirit stones."

Shen He shook his head, then closed his eyes and used the abundant spiritual energy from the pills within his body to cultivate the Five Elements Technique.

And so, the night passed.

Shen He opened his eyes, showing no signs of fatigue, but rather radiant with health.

This is the benefit of taking elixirs and medicines. The pure spiritual energy is easy to absorb and does not put as much burden on the body or mind. It is much easier than directly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Shen He stood up, his body filled with spiritual energy, pure and clean, and he didn't need to wash up.

Arriving empty-handed in the fields, he cast a spell, and the land began to turn over. In no time, ten acres of spiritual fields were completely plowed over.

Then, another "Minor Cloud and Rain Technique" was cast, gathering spiritual energy above the spiritual field to bring down sweet rain, thus beginning the various operations of the immortal cultivator.

"This person truly possesses spiritual roots!"

"He mastered magic in just one year?"

"No wonder the rice in the field is growing so well."

"Hey……"

Seeing this, the martial arts cultivators and farmers around, carrying buckets of water and sickles and hoes, all felt a pang of sadness and dejection, but they quickly rallied and continued to carry water to irrigate the fields.

If Heaven doesn't grant it to me, I'll take it myself.

effort!!!

……

Time flies like an arrow, and fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. Fifteen years later, in the Spirit Field, inside the thatched hut.

Shen He sat on a bamboo couch, with several storage bags in front of him, taking stock of his wealth.

"580,000 catties of Bailing rice".

"1,800 catties of millet".

"Thirty-five thousand eight hundred low-grade spirit stones."

"Twelve mid-grade spirit stones."

"Three superior-grade magical artifacts."

"Twelve mid-grade magical artifacts."

"Twenty-eight low-grade magical artifacts."

"One mid-grade alchemy artifact, the 'Green Wood Cauldron'."

"Thirty bottles of low-grade White Spirit Pills and twelve bottles of mid-grade White Spirit Pills."

"A jar of millet wine is worth half a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"There are also spirit fish and medicinal herbs, as well as various other items..."

After taking stock, Shen He beamed with satisfaction.

For fifteen years, he farmed in this Red Maple Valley.

After fifteen years of hard work, not only did they harvest a large amount of spirit rice, but they also caught many spirit fish and some items of immortal destiny in the Red Maple Spirit Stream. That's how they obtained the twelve mid-grade spirit stones.

Aside from his fishing and farming duties, his alchemy skills also improved significantly. He refined a large number of mid-grade and low-grade White Spirit Pills and secretly purchased the recipe for Yellow Millet Wine, brewing a jar of Yellow Millet Wine with three thousand catties of Yellow Millet rice.

Spirit rice, spirit pills, spirit stones, spirit wine.

There were also spirit fish, spirit medicine, and various other miscellaneous items.

Shen He's current wealth has far surpassed that of Ding Shengji, the number one spendthrift. Through his hard work, he has built a foundation by using fishing, farming, and alchemy methods.

Hard work is rewarded, and I am extremely satisfied.

"Uncle Zhong!"

Just as Shen He was feeling joyful, a voice came from outside the house, bringing him back to reality.

"Um!?"

Shen He's eyes narrowed, and he put away the several storage bags. Then he got up and opened the door.

Upon opening the door, one sees a young boy standing in front of it, his eyes bloodshot.

"Yang Yun?"

Shen He was surprised to see this: "What's wrong?"

"Uncle Zhong!"

The boy's eyes were red, and his voice was choked with sobs: "My father... his time is up!"

"..."

Shen He remained silent for a moment.

This man was named Yang Yun, the son of Yang Qi. He was born to Yang Qi late in life and was brought to the village by Yang Qi from outside the valley fourteen years ago. Therefore, Yang Qi regarded him as an elder and usually called him Uncle Zhong.

Hearing what he said, Shen He sighed and said, "Take me there."

"Ok!"

Yang Yun nodded, then turned and led the way, taking Shen He towards the spirit field where the father and son were.

The autumn harvest had already passed, and all the spirit rice had been harvested. Therefore, from the outside, Shenhe's spirit field looked no different from the surrounding area, consisting only of rows of fields.

Shen He followed Yang Qi to a thatched hut, where he found that many martial arts cultivators and spiritual farmers had gathered there. They were all friends and neighbors that Yang Qi had made over the years.

"Brother Zhong, you've arrived!"

"Brother Yang, he..."

"Hey!"

When people saw him, they greeted him, not with any particular enthusiasm, but they didn't neglect him either.

Shen He followed Yang Yun into the thatched hut, where he saw an old man lying on a couch. His hair was white, his skin was loose and wrinkled, and his whole body exuded a heavy aura of death.

"Brother Yang!"

Shen He stepped forward and, seeing his appearance, frowned deeply: "How could this be?"

"Brother Zhong, you've arrived?"

Yang Qi, who was reclining on the couch, smiled when he saw him arrive and said, "Brother, I'm leaving now."

"father!"

Yang Yun wept and turned to Shen He, saying, "My father passed on his martial arts essence to me, which is why I ended up like this."

"..."

Shen He remained silent for a moment, then looked at Yang Qi: "Brother Yang, is there anything else you wish to say?"

"Ha ha!"

Yang Qi smiled, then waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave, leaving him and Shen He alone.

“Brother Zhong, when you first arrived, I did indeed have some designs on you.”

After everyone left, Yang Qi looked at Shen He and said something astonishing.

Shen He shook his head, his eyes calm and expressionless: "The past is the past, there's no need to bring it up again."

“I know you don’t care, but for me it’s a knot in my heart.”

Yang Qi said softly, "The cultivation world is too bitter and difficult, which has driven many people to evil paths and dead ends. I was also wrong back then. Fortunately, you are a cautious person and have not stepped out of Red Maple Valley for fifteen years, which has dispelled my sinister intentions."

After saying that, he picked up a jade box from the side: "This box contains my experience in farming and fishing over the years, as well as some cultivation techniques and secret arts that I have collected over the years. Although they may not be useful to you, brother, I will take it as compensation and hope you can forgive me."

"How does this work!"

Shen He immediately refused.

"Please accept it. I won't feel at ease if you don't!"

Yang Qi smiled wryly, then turned his gaze to the people outside the hut, especially Yang Yun's figure.

“I have taken many wives and concubines in the mortal world and had dozens of children, but only Yun’er has spiritual roots. The hopes of my Yang family are all on him.”

“I know that I am not qualified to ask for anything, but I still hope that you will take care of him when you are able to, for the sake of our more than ten years of being neighbors, fellow farmers and anglers.”

"..."

Faced with Yang Qi's gaze, Shen He remained silent for a moment, then nodded: "If he is in trouble in the future, and if I can help, I will definitely not stand idly by!"

"Thank you, thank you!"

Yang Qi looked at him and was deeply moved: "If there is an afterlife, I will be your servant and repay your kindness."

At this point in the conversation, the tone had shifted from elder brother to younger brother.

Shen He didn't say much: "Is there anything else to explain?"

"That's enough, that's enough!"

"..."

A moment later, Shen He left the desolate Yang family and headed alone to Red Maple Market.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inevitable, especially for martial arts practitioners like Yang Qi.

In this world, the lifespan of cultivators is not exaggerated. Before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one can only live up to 150 years old. Even if one cultivates life-extending techniques, one will not live past 200 years old.

After Foundation Establishment, there is a slight improvement, but it is only three to four hundred years of lifespan. Only by forming the Golden Core can one enjoy a lifespan of five hundred years. If one has the means to prolong life, one can have a lifespan of up to eight hundred years.

As for the Nascent Soul, Shen He had not heard much about it, but it was said that it lived for more than a thousand years, so it was called the Nascent Soul Old Monster by the world.

In the real world, the human empire is similar in this respect. Whether it is martial arts, immortality, or other cultivation systems, the lifespan of a fifth-level cultivator is around eight hundred years.

Clearly, this lifespan is not a world limit, but rather the limit of one's cultivation.

However, in the real world, there are all sorts of bizarre and unbelievable professions, as well as various profession items and life-extending methods. So, as long as one changes professions properly or has enough wealth, a fifth-level cultivator can live for one or two thousand years.

But it's only a couple of thousand years. As far as Shen He knows, unless one can reach the twelfth rank and become an immortal, Buddha, or saint, or change to a special profession and gain the "longevity" characteristic, lifespans are limited and everyone will eventually die.

Although Shen He possessed the power to travel through time and extend his lifespan by utilizing the flow of time, the separations and deaths of his disciples, followers, and old friends in the Martial Dynasty World and the Spirit Control World still moved him deeply. Now, bidding farewell to Yang Qi further stirred up his memories.

Immortality, immortality!
How difficult, how difficult!
But this is also the meaning of spiritual practice.

Shen He's eyes remained calm, without the slightest ripple, and he could only steadily walk towards the market.

　I overslept, there's still one more chapter to come.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)