Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms: Sunflower Lord

As her consciousness returned from the chaos, Ji Ruchang slowly opened her eyes.

The familiar musty smell of the dormitory mingled with the crisp morning air, filling my nostrils, while beneath me lay the feel of a hard wooden bed.

He is back.

An unprecedented sense of power surged through my body.

The true essence of the fourth level of Qi Refining surged and flowed through the meridians, pure in texture, carrying a faint golden warmth fed back by the Golden Sunflower.

With every movement, he could feel the explosive power contained in his muscles, and his five senses had become much sharper—he could even clearly hear the rustling sound of the early morning servants sweeping the floor ten feet away from the window.

A sense of "power" began to grow in his heart, making him almost want to let out a long roar to release the joy of finally breaking through after nine years of suppression.

But in the next instant, the pair of eerie green ghostly eyes in the gray mist courtyard, like ice water poured over someone's head, instantly froze all the swelling emotions.

"Don't drift."

Ji Ruchang muttered to herself, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to remind herself.

The armored corpse is still blocking the edge of the dry well.

The oppressive feeling that surpassed his current level, the strength that ignored the sunflower's light, the pacing like a hunter searching for prey... all of this was like a thorn, stuck in his newly risen confidence.

"What should we do?"

He pondered this question repeatedly for two days after returning to reality, but still had no answer.

Fighting head-on is suicide.

Outsmart?

His knowledge of the armored corpse was limited to a few lines in the "Illustrated Compendium of Evil Spirits," which was severely lacking in information.

Although the light of the golden sunflower could slowly erode it, at that rate, it would probably be discovered before it was weakened enough to fight back.

The only turning point came from two points he confirmed through repeated "entry-observation-exit":

First, the armored corpse is not completely immune to light.

Its metallic sheen fluctuated and dimmed, and black smoke emanated from its nail seams.

This shows that it is also continuously consuming resources, but it has a strong foundation and can withstand it for the time being.

If we could keep it under strong light for a long time, maybe we could wear it down?

Second, its goals are clear.

When Ji Ruchang completely concealed his aura, and even the Golden Sunflower "feigned death" and withdrew its radiance, the armored corpse lingered by the well for a long time. In the end, it seemed to have lost its clear target and slowly retreated, but it did not go far away. Instead, it stayed in a certain area within the light screen, as if it were "waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump".

It was indeed coming for the sunflower (or him).

"We need stronger power, or... more effective means," Ji Ruchang concluded.

As for how he gains power, it seems that, apart from relying on the Golden Sunflower and the essence of the sun to accelerate his cultivation, he also needs to quickly familiarize himself with and improve his combat power in the real world.

He didn't waste those two days in the real world.

Fireball can now be cast instantly and reliably. Although its power is still limited, its accuracy and controllability have improved significantly.

The initial refining of the Fire Copper Sword is complete. Although it cannot fly on a sword and take the enemy's head from a hundred feet away as in the legends, it is more agile when controlled by the mind and the sword is infused with true essence. The golden light of the sword blade is also a little brighter after being infused with true essence.

After his cultivation was exhausted by the sun's essence, he mainly relied on meditation to slowly improve his cultivation. The progress was far slower than under the sunflower's light, but it was better than nothing.

On the morning of the third day, the team that was supposed to pick him up arrived.

The person who came to pick up Ji Ruchang was not the ethereal cultivator or the imposing armored warrior he had expected, but a... rather ordinary-looking awning carriage.

But the horses pulling the carriage were anything but ordinary.

They were two magnificent horses, entirely black except for their snow-white hooves. They stood nearly eight feet tall (about 2.6 meters) at the shoulder, their bodies incredibly robust, their muscles bulging like cast iron, their necks thick, and their manes bristling like steel needles. They stood there quietly, yet exuded a faint sense of wildness and oppression, their nostrils emitting two plumes of white breath that condensed in the morning chill.

"The Black-Hoofed Dragon Horse possesses a trace of the Dragon Beast's bloodline, boasting exceptional endurance and the ability to travel eight hundred li in a day. Ordinary demons and evil spirits dare not approach it." The driver was a middle-aged man with a withered face and sharp eyes, dressed in worn-out official clothes, with a black iron badge of a night patrolman hanging from his waist. His aura was around the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He briefly explained the origin of his mount and then gestured for Ji Ruchang to get into the carriage.

The interior of the carriage appeared more spacious than the exterior, with clean straw mats laid out. Perhaps because they arrived a little late, there were no other companions besides Ji Ruchang.

"Am I all alone?" Ji Ruchang asked.

"Qinglan County is short-staffed recently, and you're the only one assigned there." The driver cracked his whip, making a crisp snap. "Hold on tight, the road is dangerous, try to travel during the day."

The coachman sighed inwardly.

In reality, there was more than one person who was allocated a share, but in the end, only Ji Ruchang went.

There's a lot to say about this.

The black-hoofed dragon horse let out a low neigh and began to stride forward.

It felt a little sluggish at the start, but quickly picked up speed and became exceptionally smooth.

The wheels rolled over the stone slabs of the official road, making a regular, dull sound.

The trip was tedious and stressful.

The driver spoke very little along the way, spending most of his time cautiously observing both sides of the road.

Ji Ruchang would also meditate and regulate her breathing, or observe the outside world through the gaps in the car window.

He saw another side of the world.

The official road had fallen into disrepair over the years and was riddled with potholes.

Most of the villages along the way were dilapidated, with earthen walls and thatched houses, and few brick and tile structures.

Many fields are abandoned, and occasionally one can see emaciated farmers hunched over working among the sparse crops.

The sky was always overcast, even the midday sun seemed weak, and a faint chill permeated the air.

As the sun sets, the drivers always seek out post stations or small towns along the way that are protected by magical formations to rest, never traveling at night.

At night, even through walls and rudimentary protective arrays, Ji Ruchang could occasionally hear inhuman howls or eerie sounds coming from afar, sending chills down her spine.

Three days were spent in this oppressive and vigilant atmosphere.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the carriage entered a slightly open valley, and ahead, the outline of a city appeared on the horizon.

Qinglan County.

The city wall is about three zhang high and is built of gray-black boulders. The surface of the wall is covered with traces of wind and rain and a few suspicious dark red stains.

Soldiers in leather armor, carrying long spears, stood guard at the city gate, their expressions serious as they carefully checked the sparse flow of people coming and going.

The carriages did not queue; the driver showed his badge and drove straight in through the side door.

The scene inside the city was slightly better than outside, but it still couldn't hide the desolation.

The streets were fairly tidy, with low shops on both sides selling groceries, food, incense, and paper money.

Most pedestrians had sallow complexions, walked in a hurry, and rarely laughed or talked.

Many houses have faded yellow talismans pasted on their doors and windows, and small copper bells or dried mugwort hanging under the eaves.

The chill in the air had lessened somewhat, but it was still perceptible.

The carriage eventually stopped in front of a detached courtyard in the west of the city.

The courtyard occupies a considerable area. The gate is black, and instead of stone lions, there are two ferocious stone beasts standing at the entrance. They resemble neither dogs nor tigers, baring their teeth and claws, exuding a faint aura of menace.

Above the door hangs an ebony plaque with three large, bold characters:

Night Patrol

This is where Ji Ruchang will perform his duties from now on.

The coachman led Ji Ruchang to the door and then took his leave. Ji Ruchang straightened his worn-out Immortal Academy uniform, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to knock on the door knocker.

Soon, the door opened a crack, and a sleepy-eyed young man, about twenty years old, poked his head out. He was wearing a uniform similar to that of a coachman, and his cultivation level was around the third level of Qi Refining.

"A newcomer?" The young man glanced at him, then stepped aside. "Come in, the garrison commander is waiting."

The courtyard is more spacious inside than it appears from the outside, and it is divided into several sections, front and back.

The front yard served as the office, while the main hall displayed a plaque inscribed with "Bright Candle Keeps Watch at Night."

There were scribes going in and out of the side rooms, and the air was filled with the scent of ink and a faint smell of herbs.

The young man led Ji Ruchang through the front yard and into the central courtyard.

The courtyard was more like a training ground, paved with bluestone slabs and filled with training equipment such as stone locks and wooden stakes. In one corner, some clothes and ropes stained with dark red were drying.

Several people were already waiting in the main hall.

Sitting at the head of the table was a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with a square face and sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He was dressed in a dark blue close-fitting outfit, with a sleeveless leather armor over it. His aura was calm and heavy, and the sense of oppression he brought to Ji Ruchang was even slightly greater than that of many instructors in the Immortal Academy. He was Shen Lian, the sixth level of Qi Refining, the garrison commander of the Night Patrol Division of Qinglan County.

To Shen Lian's left stood a woman in her thirties with a cold and stern face, a slender curved sword at her waist, and a sharp aura. She was a deputy garrison commander at the fifth level of Qi Refining, surnamed Han, but her given name was unknown.

Below them, some sitting and some standing, were seven or eight people, both men and women, mostly between twenty and forty years old, dressed in uniform dark-colored official robes, their expressions showing the weariness and vigilance characteristic of those who had long dealt with danger. Ji Ruchang could roughly sense their cultivation levels; most were at the third level of Qi Refining, but three of them had a significantly stronger aura, likely at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

All eyes were focused on Ji Ruchang, who had just entered the room.

"Ji Ruchang, a graduate of this year's Immortal Academy, has been ordered to report to the Night Patrol Division of Qinglan County." Ji Ruchang stepped forward a few steps, bowed respectfully without being humble or arrogant, and deliberately released his Qi Refining Level 4 aura slightly.

There was a moment of silence.

"Qi Refinement Level 4!" A glint flashed in Shen Lian's eyes, and an undisguised joy appeared on his face. "Good! Very good!"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position, but at this moment there was a clear sense of ease in that authority: "With this level of cultivation, you should be able to stand on your own, and the burden on our shoulders can be lightened a little."

The atmosphere inside the hall visibly relaxed.

Those gazes that were originally just scrutinizing now held a hint of goodwill and... relief?

Ji Ruchang understood.

The loss of three people last month, all of whom were at the fourth level of Qi Refining, must have put immense pressure on the entire Qinglan County Night Patrol Division.

His arrival at the fourth level of Qi Refining was indeed like a timely rain.

Shen Lian's gaze fell on the long, carefully wrapped object on Ji Ruchang's back: "That is..."

"It's a flying sword, bestowed upon me by my instructions before my departure." Ji Ruchang unpacked the package and showed it off.

Shen Lian, showing great tact, did not take over, but merely glanced at it and nodded slightly: "Having a magic weapon by your side is the best thing."

"Those who died...sigh." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—those colleagues probably didn't even have a decent magical artifact.

In this world, whether or not one possesses a magical artifact, for frontline combat personnel like night watchmen, the difference might be life or death.

"Gentlemen, this is our new colleague, Ji Ruchang." Shen Lian looked at everyone in the hall. "From today onwards, he will be the fifteenth member of our Qinglan Night Patrol Division. Deputy Garrison Commander Han, please arrange his duties and accommodations."

"Yes," the cold-faced woman replied.

Shen Lian then looked at Ji Ruchang, his tone solemn: "Qinglan County has a special situation and has not been very peaceful lately. You are new here, so first familiarize yourself with the environment and follow instructions. Remember, the responsibility of patrolling at night is heavier than a mountain, but you must also act within your capabilities and protect yourself so that you can guard the court and the people for longer nights."

"Your subordinate understands and will certainly keep in mind the garrison's teachings," Ji Ruchang replied solemnly.

After the brief meeting, Deputy Garrison Commander Han assigned Ji Ruchang a position—temporarily placing him in the Third Night Patrol Team, responsible for nighttime patrols of a section of the western city. He also arranged for an experienced night patrolman to escort him to his quarters in the back courtyard.

As Ji Ruchang left the main hall, she could feel the gazes behind her.

There is curiosity, scrutiny, expectation, and perhaps a subtle complexity—how long can the new young man, with his cultivation and magical artifacts, survive in this cannibalistic position?

Ji Ruchang clenched her fist.

The threat of the armored zombies hangs overhead, and a crisis in the real world is imminent.

This Qinglan County is not only a dangerous place, but perhaps... it is also a stage for him to quickly acquire "resources" and improve his strength to deal with the crisis in the courtyard.

His path to immortality will truly begin here.