Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

Han Yunshu's learning and adaptability are indeed extremely strong.

As she approached the market, she didn't even need to be reminded; she automatically activated her inner energy cultivation technique, quietly suppressing the surging and vigorous blood and energy in her body caused by martial arts practice, leaving only the spiritual energy fluctuations of the fifth level of Qi Refining.

At this moment, she appeared to be an ordinary young female cultivator with a calm demeanor and decent cultivation level, perfectly blending into the environment.

The scene at the Hanging River Valley Market was somewhat unexpected. It wasn't the cold and mysterious place I had imagined; instead, it had a peculiar "bustling" and lively atmosphere.

The houses on both sides of the street are of varying sizes. In addition to shops and stalls selling materials for cultivators, there are also many shops selling ordinary goods, such as taverns, teahouses, and clothing stores.

Among the passersby, besides cultivators with spiritual power, there were also ordinary servants and merchants with no cultivation, making it resemble a small mountain town built against the mountain where immortals and mortals lived together.

The most eye-catching three-story wooden building, with a plaque that reads "Qingfenglou," appears to be the largest and most well-organized inn in the area.

After a brief investigation, Li Feiyu discovered that this place not only accepted spirit stones, but also accepted ordinary gold and silver.

The two entered the lobby. The hall was spacious, with more than a dozen square tables, which were about 70% full at the moment.

The group was a diverse mix, including monks whispering amongst themselves, weary travelers, and well-dressed local mortals. The air was thick with the aromas of spiritual tea, wine, food, and the wild scents of the mountains.

"Fellow Daoist Mo? Fairy Shen?" A surprised voice came from the second-floor stairwell.

Li Feiyu looked up and saw Jia Ding, whose face was still somewhat pale.

He hurried downstairs, forcing a warm but barely concealed smile: "You two have also arrived at the Hanging River Valley? What a coincidence!"

"Fellow Daoist Jia, it seems your injuries have healed somewhat." Li Feiyu nodded in greeting.

"Thanks to you two, I was lucky enough to escape with my life." Jia Ding smiled wryly, then looked at the noisy lobby and invited, "I booked a private room upstairs and originally made an appointment with someone... but it seems the other party didn't show up. If you don't mind, would you two do me the honor of joining me? It would be a small way for me to express my gratitude and save the food and wine that I have prepared."

After a moment's thought, Li Feiyu agreed.

Having a "familiar face" like Jadin to provide information upon arrival was certainly convenient.

The three of them went up to the second floor and entered a quiet private room by the window.

Several exquisite wild mountain dishes and a pot of fine wine were laid out on the table.

After they were seated, Jia Ding poured them wine with great hospitality.

Li Feiyu didn't touch his chopsticks, but asked directly, "Fellow Daoist Jia, I observe that the market in Suspended River Valley seems different from other places. Not only do immortals and mortals live together, but even the inns accept gold and silver. I wonder what the reason is?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Ding's face revealed a mixture of helplessness, resignation, and a faint sarcasm. He took a sip of wine and sighed, "Fellow Daoist Mo is new here and may not know this. This Hanging River Valley is known to outsiders as a market for rogue cultivators, but in fact... among those in the know, it has another less-than-honorable nickname—'Cultivator's Blessing Courtyard'."

"Fukuda-in?" Han Yunshu blinked.

"Exactly." Jia Ding put down his wine glass, his tone low. "Everyone says that cultivating immortality is going against the heavens and requires relentless progress. That's true, but that applies to the true chosen ones. As for us, with mixed spiritual roots and no sect or faction, we, the lowly rogue cultivators... we already know in our hearts how far we can go."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the peaceful, even somewhat weary, figures of cultivators outside the window: "In the cultivation world, not everyone is a fearless seeker of the Dao. Many rogue cultivators struggle for decades, their cultivation stuck at the mid-to-late stage of Qi Refining with no further progress. Seeing no hope of Foundation Establishment and their lifespan slipping away... their spirit is worn away. At this point, many will 'accept their fate.'"

"Accept your fate?" Han Yunshu repeated softly.

"Yes, I've resigned myself to my fate." Jia Ding chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Since I know the path to immortality is over, what's the point of continuing to risk my life? I might as well find a safe place and enjoy the rest of my years in comfort. This Hanging River Valley has relatively relaxed rules, a local headman overseeing things, basic safety is guaranteed, and the spiritual energy is decent, so it's become a place for many disheartened rogue cultivators to settle down. Since they've given up on continuing their arduous cultivation, their daily expenses naturally lean towards worldly pleasures, so it's not surprising that gold and silver circulate here. Of course, spirit stones are still the hard currency."

Li Feiyu nodded slightly.

This explanation, though unexpected, makes perfect sense upon closer examination.

Where are there so many protagonists who never give up? For the vast majority of rogue cultivators with average talent and scarce resources, recognizing their own limits in the face of harsh reality and choosing a relatively stable life for the rest of their lives is perhaps a more common and realistic choice.

As Han Yunshu listened, a strange feeling welled up inside her.

She looked out the window at the peaceful-looking cultivators. It turned out that cultivators were not all the legendary figures depicted in stories, who ruled the world and remained loyal until death. They also got tired and could admit defeat.

"Since you've given up, why not simply return to the mundane world?" Han Yunshu asked again.

Jia Ding shook his head and said, "Fairy, you are unaware of this. The seven major sects and even many cultivation families have a rule of 'separation between immortals and mortals,' and cultivators are not allowed to disrupt the order of the mortal world for long. If they were to actually go to the mortal realm, they would have to be careful in every way, and would feel uncomfortable. Besides..."

He lowered his voice: "It's called accepting one's fate, but how easy is it to completely extinguish that faint hope? As long as one is still in this environment where cultivators gather, listening to the gossip, and looking at those 'antiques' on the stalls that are hard to distinguish from the real ones, deep down there is always a sliver of hope—what if? If one really leaves the mortal world and completely leaves this circle, then there will really be no more thoughts at all."

Han Yunshu understood. It turned out that staying here at least allowed him to dream of "what if".

Li Feiyu steered the conversation towards practical matters: "Fellow Daoist Jia, we are newcomers and have some questions for you. In this Hanging River Valley, who has the most strength and reputation to acquire complete materials for second-tier demonic beasts? Also, are there any well-established places here that sell a relatively complete range of cultivation techniques?"

Jia Ding was taken aback at first, then looked at Li Feiyu with undisguised shock in his eyes: "Second-tier demonic beast... Fellow Daoist Mo, could it be that you..." He immediately thought of Li Feiyu's mention when they parted that he might go "to see" the injured Ironclad Bear.

"Not bad," Li Feiyu readily admitted. "I cooked it up while I was at it, and the ingredients are still here."

Jading gasped, utterly shocked.

Even though the armored bear was injured, its ferocity remained.

These two people actually killed him? And judging from their tone, they seemed quite relaxed? He dared not think too deeply about it, and his attitude became even more respectful.

He composed himself and answered seriously, "In the entire Hanging River Valley, I'm afraid only the shopkeeper 'Cloud Valley Hermit' has the capability and the need to acquire materials from second-tier demonic beasts. He occasionally refines special pills or magical artifacts, which require high-tier demonic beast materials. As for cultivation techniques..." He shook his head with a wry smile, "There are no shops here that specialize in selling cultivation techniques. Most of the cultivation techniques circulating here are common goods, or fragments of unknown authenticity. When they do appear, they are mostly traded in small private circles, or at certain regular small exchange meetings. If Fellow Daoist Mo has any needs, I, Jia, can help keep an eye out for them."

The three chatted for a while longer, and Li Feiyu casually asked, "Fellow Daoist Jia seems quite familiar with this place, and his family seems quite wealthy." Being able to book a private room at Qingfeng Tower certainly doesn't seem like a poor, destitute rogue cultivator.

Jia Ding's bitterness deepened: "Fellow Daoist Mo is joking. To be honest, many cultivators in Hanging River Valley, like myself, who have some wealth and often need to travel, choose a... special method. We deposit a portion of most of our hard-to-carry or valuable assets with the shop owner in advance, leaving behind a document similar to a will. It is agreed that if the person does not return within a certain period, or is confirmed dead, the shop owner can take half of the deposited items as a reward, and transfer the remaining portion to the designated person according to the document."

He sighed, "This arrangement is better than carrying all my wealth on my person. If I were to perish outside, it would just benefit my enemies or strangers. The day I was being chased, besides the revenge for my wife, they were probably also after the valuables I might be carrying. Fortunately, most of my savings are with the shopkeeper."

Upon hearing this, Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu fell silent for a moment. This seemingly helpless and even tragic "rule" reflects the cruel reality of the precarious existence and uncertain fate of the lower-level rogue cultivators.

After the dinner, Li Feiyu booked a quiet superior room at Qingfeng Tower.

After closing the door and setting up a simple warning spell, he spread out the several basic Five Elements cultivation jade slips he had obtained from the three pursuers and Jia Ding, and compared them with the "Eternal Spring Skill" that he had completely altered.

Han Yunshu sat quietly to the side, continuing to cultivate the improved Everlasting Spring Technique and accumulate wood-type spiritual power.

Li Feiyu was immersed in the deduction of the cultivation technique, his fingers unconsciously tracing the virtual trajectory of spiritual energy flow on the table.

By carefully comparing the spiritual energy storage and circulation patterns of other basic cultivation techniques such as "Sharp Metal Technique", "Thick Earth Technique", and "Burning Fire Technique", he gradually discovered the problem.

"I see..." he murmured to himself, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. "The crux of the problem is not the absorption speed, nor is it entirely about route optimization, but rather the conflict between the 'storage environment' and the 'nature of spiritual energy'."

His previous modifications overemphasized efficient plundering and accumulation, setting the total amount of spiritual energy required for each level to increase exponentially.

The idea itself is correct, but it overlooks a key point—his own "inner world".

After achieving mastery of the nine orifices and opening the ancestral aperture, a "microcosm" had formed within his body, centered on martial arts true qi and beginning to merge with the external天地元气 (heaven and earth energy). Although this inner world was still in its nascent stage, its very existence created an invisible "pressure field" and "priority" on his meridians and dantian. The vast martial arts true qi circulated within it, dominating the system.

While the "spiritual power" cultivated through immortal cultivation techniques shares similarities with martial arts true qi, it leans more towards a pure energy form and requires a stable "container" and operating channel suitable for its nature to store and circulate.

He had forcibly absorbed a massive amount of wood spiritual energy, refined it into spiritual power, and then directly inserted it into his dantian. Initially, it was acceptable, but as the total amount of spiritual power expanded rapidly in a doubling pattern, this external spiritual power began to "reject" and "compress" the true qi circulation system of his inner world.

The dantian and meridians have to accommodate and circulate the already abundant martial arts true qi, and also forcibly bear the spiritual power of different natures and a surge in total amount. Naturally, they are overburdened, resulting in sluggish circulation of spiritual power and low storage efficiency.

"The previous idea was too radical and ignored the fundamental compatibility issue." Li Feiyu rubbed his temples. "We need to build an 'embedded' architecture that is suitable for the independent existence and growth of spiritual power first."

This requires redesigning the circulation path of spiritual energy, appropriately separating it from the core circulation of martial arts true energy, and optimizing the way spiritual energy is stored.

"It seems the idea of ​​doubling the power at each level will have to be put on hold for now," Li Feiyu decided. "First, we need to build a stable transition framework to ensure a smooth progression to the ninth level of Qi Refining and attempt Foundation Establishment. As for higher efficiency... we'll ultimately need to refer to more advanced and systematic cultivation methods."

After all, his fundamental purpose in cultivating the Everlasting Spring Technique was not to truly pursue a pure path to immortality.

His goal is to use wood-type spiritual power as a guide to condense a rudimentary form of the "Life" path, and then, relying on the devouring properties of "Myriad Paths of the Forest," absorb it to complete one of his eight foundations.

After that, we need to find other high-level cultivation techniques with different attributes to continue this process.

There is a long way to go.

Li Feiyu put away the jade slip and looked out the window at the night view of the Hanging River Valley.

In the distance, deep in the valley, in the direction of the residence of the patriarch Yun Gu Jushi, lights flickered in the night.