Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

After giving a few words of advice, Zhang Feng bid farewell to the family of four and headed alone to the southern part of Suihan Island to his master's cave.

As Zhang Feng scanned the area with his divine sense, he saw a familiar figure sitting in front of an inkstone, drawing talismans.

Zhang Feng stood at the entrance of the cave and strolled inside:

"Master, I'm back."

Upon hearing Zhang Feng's voice, Zhang Guihe raised his head slightly, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

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

"Hmm~ Could it be that you've already reached the Core Formation stage?"

"Okay, okay!"

Zhang Guihe was initially overjoyed, but after his divine sense failed to detect Zhang Feng's specific cultivation level, he suddenly became ecstatic and cheered repeatedly.

"Yes, Master, I am now a Core Formation cultivator as well."

Zhang Feng smiled and spoke.

"Great! Great! Our Zhang family of Suihan Island has finally produced a Core Formation cultivator."

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"Oh, right, let's go celebrate with your senior brother..."

Zhang Guihe, who was originally overjoyed, suddenly sighed.

"Alas, I forgot that your senior brother was seriously injured and passed away a few years ago."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng's heart sank.

"Master, when did my senior brother pass away?"

"It was many years ago, not long after that beast tide, the Star Palace sent people to take over Suihan Island."

"That Core Formation cultivator named Liu Qingfeng is the current island lord of Suihan Island."

"Since he took over as the island's owner, he has been in charge of developing the island's commerce and organizing people to hunt the Spirit Fish on a large scale."

"And your senior brother was injured and died while hunting demons."

Zhang Guihe spoke slowly.

"Sigh, if you don't have the ability but still try to hunt demons to show off, you can't blame anyone else if you die."

"Liu Qingfeng is a good man, much better than the Feng family father and son. Under his management, Suihan Island is thriving."

"Oh, right, look at me, I'm getting old and talkative. I haven't asked you what happened to you later. Tell me about it, as your fellow teacher."

Zhang Guihe held Zhang Feng's hand and asked carefully.

Zhang Feng did not hide anything, from falling into the Netherworld, to killing the Feng family father and son, to settling in Tianxing City in the Later Liang Dynasty, breaking through to the Core Formation stage, and being forced to accept the Star Palace's mission.

Aside from the thrilling battle, Zhang Feng told him everything else.

"Good! Good! Well done! Those two beasts from the Feng family deserve to die!"

Zhang Guihe looked delighted and extremely pleased.

"Feng'er, you are already a Core Formation cultivator. I suppose you have your own understanding of cultivation. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I don't have much to guide you on."

"Take these talismans."

"This is all the skill I have."

After the initial elation, with his mind clear, Zhang Guihe handed Zhang Feng a storage bag.

Zhang Feng scanned the storage bag with his divine sense and found it filled with various talismans.

He did not refuse his master's kindness. His master wanted to do his part, and if he refused, he might hurt the stubborn old man's feelings.

"By the way, Master, how did your injuries heal?"

After checking that Zhang Guihe's injuries had healed, Zhang Feng raised a question.

"Healing pills bestowed by the Star Palace, and also a longevity pill."

"I have always wondered what I have done to deserve such a favor from the Star Palace, but I have heard of your deeds in the Inner Sea."

"Now you are working for the Grand Elder again."

"Even if I'm slow-witted, I understand that everything is your doing."

"If I had known you were going on such a dangerous mission, I would never have accepted those things."

Zhang Guihe's face was full of anger.

"It's alright, Master. It's good that you're alive and well."

Zhang Feng said with a smile.

For several days in a row, the two talked at length about their teacher-student relationship.

Several days later, Zhang Feng opened up a cave dwelling on the mountaintop.

After paying respects to his parents and senior brothers, Zhang Feng began his secluded cultivation.

Seeing that his master was safe and sound, Zhang Feng was relieved.

Finally, I can rest assured to replenish my essence and blood and restore what I've lost.

There aren't many spiritual veins on Suihan Island; the best ones are located at the Star Palace's residence.

The spiritual energy in Master's mountain range is not abundant, but it is insignificant to Zhang Feng, as he has enough high-grade spirit stones.

First, set up an array to shield the spiritual energy in the outside world.

Zhang Feng then used high-grade spirit stones to set up a spirit-gathering array inside the cave.

After the formation was activated, the spiritual energy inside the cave was comparable to that of the thirty-three-story cave in Tianxing City.

Zhang Feng released Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong, and gave them several soul beads and high-grade spirit stones, letting them consume them and cultivate on their own.

Having done all this, Zhang Feng took out the thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Mushroom that Jin Li had given him as a final gift.

This substance is most effective when used in alchemy, but Zhang Feng couldn't wait.

He hadn't yet mastered the art of alchemy, and besides, he didn't have many of the herbs and demon cores needed for alchemy.

With gritted teeth, Zhang Feng decided to swallow it directly to replenish his essence and blood before improving his cultivation and breaking through to the late stage of Core Formation.

His cultivation level could not be improved anytime soon.

That would be the best time to fully master these skills.

Without hesitation, Zhang Feng swallowed the Blood Spirit Mushroom in one gulp, and the powerful medicinal force flowed from his abdomen straight to his dantian.

Zhang Feng seized the time to absorb and refine it.

A trace of crimson medicinal power gradually seeped into Zhang Feng's body.

Zhang Feng noticed that his body's essence and blood were slowly being replenished and restored.

……

After five years of arduous training, with the help of the Blood Spirit Mushroom, Zhang Feng finally made up for his losses.

During this period, Zhang Feng came out of seclusion several times to have a long talk with his master.

Liu Qingfeng also made several trips to Zhang Feng, wanting to invite him to cultivate in the cave dwelling at the Star Palace's residence.

However, Zhang Feng was somewhat uneasy about other people's cave dwellings, so he refused them all.

Zhang Feng had enough high-grade spirit stones to use, and even a top-grade spirit stone that he could use to break through.

There's no need to go to the Star Palace's residence.

Another reason for Liu Qingfeng's frequent visits was that Jin Li sent him a lot of pills to replenish his depleted essence and blood through the Star Palace Caravan, and even several bottles of pills to improve his cultivation.

They said they were grateful to Zhang Feng for saving their lives.

This surprised Zhang Feng. Had this young master really changed his ways?

Zhang Feng did not refuse, and after confirming that they were harmless, he accepted them one by one.

Besides these people, Mei Lin and Mei Ning, the two children, came the most.

Zhang Feng knew that this was Mei Qing'er and her husband, and that they wanted her two children to become his disciples.

Perhaps in their eyes, Zhang Feng had already formed his core and was an extraordinary cultivator.

But Zhang Feng himself knew that this level of cultivation was really nothing in the Chaotic Star Sea.

He will still be subject to others in every way, and only by successfully forming his Nascent Soul can he truly gain a foothold in the Chaotic Star Sea.

Therefore, Zhang Feng had no intention of taking on any apprentices.

He treated the two children just like any other junior.

However, Zhang Feng forced them to learn some mortal martial arts.

Perhaps it was their parents' instruction, because the two of them obediently did as they were told.

While Zhang Feng was cultivating to make up for his deficiencies, he also found some enjoyment.

In the sixth year, after making up for the deficit, Zhang Feng devoted himself entirely to cultivation.

He continued to cultivate by absorbing the spiritual power of high-grade spirit stones, just like in Tianxing City.

Once the spiritual energy in your body has accumulated to the point of swelling and pain, stop absorbing it and slowly refine it.

I'll take advantage of my free time to work on some formations, weapon crafting, and talismans, and feed two spirit beasts.

Master Shi's formation has been perfected by Zhang Feng.

If Zhang Feng were to set up the Ren Water Four Symbols Formation at this point, he would be confident that he could trap Wen Tianren for several hours by himself.