Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

When Zhang Feng thought of returning to the Inner Sea, the first place that came to mind was Suihan Island, the barren island where he had lived and cultivated for nearly twenty-seven years.

It's time to go back and take a look. Since falling into the Netherworld and experiencing a series of changes, it has been sixteen years.

I wonder how Master Zhang Guihe is doing?

And that unfinished Foundation Establishment Pill quest, I wonder who has taken it over.

While pondering, Zhang Feng, disguised, stepped into the teleportation array leading to Suihan Island, holding the latest intelligence on Ningcui Island.

Three bounty notices: one for Jiyin Island, one for Fengle Merchant Alliance, and one for Taozhu Merchant Alliance.

Bounty Notice for Extreme Yin Island:

Name: Li Keng

Cultivation level: Late Foundation Establishment stage; formidable strength, capable of killing several cultivators of the same level.

Detailed description: His appearance is ever-changing, and he is suspected of having mastered the art of changing appearance. He mainly cultivates the "Myriad Laws Sword Technique" and wields a black longsword. He often uses boat-shaped magical artifacts when traveling.

Crimes committed: Killing a monster hunting team from the outer sea of ​​Jiyin Island, including two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and stealing a large amount of level-four monster materials.

Bounty: 2000 spirit stones, life or death not considered.

There are also two bounty notices from the Fengle Business Alliance and the Taozhu Business Alliance.

The bounty states that Li Keng killed the Merchant Alliance's managers stationed on Ningcui Island and Fengzhu Island, stole a large amount of the Merchant Alliance's property, causing a shortage of goods on both islands and resulting in heavy losses.

Bounty amount: 1000 spirit stones.

Looking at the three bounty posters, Zhang Feng roughly understood the situation of the battle that day from their contents.

It turns out that the bandits were cultivators from Jiyin Island; no wonder they disguised themselves as local cultivators from Ningcui Island.

Huang Ci and Tao Xiangqian died at their hands, and they paid the price with the deaths of five people.

I just don't know who this living person is.

However, the one who survived was quite cunning, managing to monopolize the storage bags of so many people and even taking one-third of the level-four demon beast materials that Zhang Feng threw out.

In the end, everything was attributed to him, the one who successfully escaped, while everyone else was dead, and the truth was based entirely on his word.

There are also the Fengle and Taozhu merchant alliances. The claim that they stole a large amount of wealth is probably because the elders stationed on the island embezzled it and then framed him for it.

Three wanted posters, three scapegoats were pinned on Zhang Feng's head.

Fortunately, Zhang Feng continued to use the alias Li Keng and kept changing his appearance.

These three bounty notices are destined to fail to trace him.

Zhang Feng shook his head, and in a daze, he had already arrived at Suihan Island through the teleportation array.

As Zhang Feng stepped out of the teleportation array, a familiar chill rushed towards him.

Ha, Zhang Feng thought his perception might be wrong; the chill in his hometown actually carried a hint of warmth.

Zhang Feng scanned the area with his divine sense and found that, apart from the Star Palace cultivators guarding the teleportation array who were at the Foundation Establishment stage, most of the other cultivators were at the Qi Refining stage.

Suihan Island is an island with scarce cultivation resources, and only one early-stage Core Formation cultivator, whose lifespan is nearing its end, is stationed there.

This man was Feng Xianghan, the island master of Suihan Island. Zhang Feng had heard of his reputation since childhood, but had never met him.

Feng Zhengxing, who had always been the deputy island master in the late Foundation Establishment stage, was in charge of the affairs of Suihan Island.

The Foundation Establishment Pill quest that Zhang Feng was undertaking was issued by this person.

Back on Suihan Island, Zhang Feng changed back to his original form, since it's more convenient to go home in his original state.

"Senior, would you like a map of Suihan Island? Just one spirit stone!"

A clear, crisp female voice rang in my ears.

Zhang Feng turned his head to see a charming girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old greeting him with a slightly reserved air.

"Are you Mei Qing'er?"

Looking at the familiar face, Zhang Feng couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, that's right, senior knows Qing'er."

Mei Qing'er was somewhat puzzled. After carefully observing the cultivator in front of her, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

"Oh, you're Uncle Zhang?"

Mei Qing'er's face immediately lit up with surprise, and she stepped forward to grab Zhang Feng's sleeve.

"Uncle Zhang, is that really you?"

Zhang Feng nodded and chuckled, "It's been over a decade. That little girl from back then has grown into a beautiful young woman!"

"Hehe, of course, I'm a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator now."

"Oh, by the way, Uncle Zhang, where have you been for the past ten years or so? Why haven't we heard from you? And what about my aunt? Weren't you always doing missions together?"

The girl's chattering questions made Zhang Feng pause involuntarily.

Junior sister Mei Xin died on Storm Mountain in the Netherworld. All he had was Mei Xin's storage bag.

However, we shouldn't pass on the problems of the previous generation to the next.

Since it was already stated on that day in the underworld that past ties were severed and the two were no longer related, there was no need to delve further.

Besides, when a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; let bygones be bygones regarding what happened between the two of them.

"Qing'er, go back to the clan first and tell your father that I've returned. I will personally visit you tomorrow. As for your aunt's matter, we can discuss it later!"

As Zhang Feng spoke, he took out a bottle of foundation-strengthening pills from his storage bag and handed it to the girl. He still had quite a few pills for the Qi Refining stage.

"Oh, it's a Qi Gathering Pill. Okay, Qing'er will go back now."

Mei Qing'er loosened Zhang Feng's sleeve and hurried home with light and cheerful steps.

"Sigh~"

Zhang Feng sighed. Returning his junior sister Mei Xin's belongings was another matter he needed to attend to.

And how to tell your master what happened between the two of you.

However, there's no need to hide anything; just tell the whole story. As for what the master thinks, that's his business.

Thinking it over, Zhang Feng moved quickly, leaving the teleportation array area, raising his Shadow Sword, and flying towards Zhang Guihe's cave.

In the south of Suihan Island, in the center of a quiet mountain range, there is a cave carved from ice and stone, its door wide open.

"Which fellow Daoist has graced my humble abode with their presence? Please come out and have a chat!"

Zhang Feng smiled, but as soon as he got close and revealed a trace of his aura, his master noticed him.

"Master, it's been a long time!"

Zhang Feng sheathed his flying sword, landed at the entrance of the cave, and bowed slightly towards the cave entrance.

"What?"

Suddenly, a series of crashing sounds came from inside the cave, and a cultivator dressed in blue robes, with white hair and beard and an old face, staggered out of the cave.

"Feng'er, it really is you!"

Zhang Guihe stretched out his trembling hands, grasped Zhang Feng's shoulders, and examined him closely.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

"Come with me into the cave, and I'll tell you all about your experiences over the past ten years."

Zhang Feng nodded and followed his master into the cave.

"Master, for the past ten years or so..."

Inside the cave, Zhang Feng recounted his experiences over the past ten years in detail, explaining everything except for the matter of hiding the panel.

"Excellent! Excellent! Late Foundation Establishment stage! My Zhang family has a worthy successor!"

Zhang Guihe stroked his beard, his expression joyful.

This left Zhang Feng completely bewildered.

"Hehe, Feng'er, don't be in a hurry, listen to your teacher slowly."

"Strictly speaking, you should call me uncle. Your father and I are brothers and fellow disciples, having both become disciples of the previous island lord."

"But the previous island lord died outside Suihan Island in order to resist the invasion of level 5 demonic beasts, and your father, Zhang Huihe, also died in battle."

"As for me, I was seriously injured and was rescued by this island lord, and from then on I stopped at the early stage of Foundation Establishment."

"As for your mother, she was just an ordinary person named Qingyue."

"Alas~ Your parents were very loving. After your father died in battle, your mother became depressed and died a few years after giving birth to you."

"You should still remember that when you were six years old, your teacher took you to see her on her deathbed."

Zhang Feng recalled a woman who was six years old, thin and suffering, yet with a resolute expression.

At that time, he had just discovered his spiritual root. His master told him to experience the fleeting nature of mortal life, saying that this was the first step into the path of cultivation. Therefore, he remembered it clearly.

But to his surprise, it turned out to be his own mother.

Even after years of cultivation, Zhang Feng couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart. At that time, he was not an ordinary six-year-old child. He had awakened the wisdom of his past life and had the experience and emotions of an adult.

Zhang Feng couldn't help but feel resentful towards his master. He had always thought of himself as an orphan, but it turned out he had family.

Even when his mother passed away before his eyes, he was unaware of it.