A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting as a Rogue Cultivator

That favor you gave me was damn expensive!

"Young man, have confidence in yourself! Alright, come on, I'll take you to see my son; didn't you say you didn't want your peace and quiet disturbed by outsiders? No problem! I'll have my son give you his position, and he'll be in charge of harvesting the spirit grain from now on!"

what's the situation?

When Wang Li arrived at the spirit valley plantation managed by the Chen family, he learned why Uncle Chen could make such confident promises: it turned out that the one who planted this kind of land before was his son!

What can Wang say about this?

This is a huge pitfall.

But at the same time, he was truly relieved.

Chapter 12 Spirit Valley Plantation

The No. 16 Spirit Valley Plantation, along with more than a dozen other spirit fields, is located on the edge of the Yellow Maple Valley sect's grand array restriction.

Besides the approximately thirty acres of spirit fields of varying sizes, there is also a considerable amount of open space. The spiritual energy in the valley is quite concentrated compared to the outside world, almost comparable to the concentration of spiritual energy in some special blessed lands within the mountain gate.

Beside the spirit field stands a wooden house, which is the daily residence of the cultivators who manage this place.

Behind the wooden house is a forest, mostly composed of ironwood, fir, oak, and other spiritual woods used to craft high-grade and even top-grade magical artifacts. Unfortunately, the oldest pieces are only about two hundred years old, which is far from enough. They would need to wait at least another three or four hundred years before they are suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators to use.

According to Uncle Chen, it was a masterpiece from the early years of the Chen family patriarch, but unfortunately the patriarch no longer values ​​it. It can be considered a legacy left to the descendants of the Chen family.

The Chen family has a deep connection with Huangfeng Valley.

Although the Chen family patriarch left Huangfeng Valley to establish his own lineage before achieving the Core Formation stage, he did not sever ties with the sect.

After Chen's family achieved Core Formation through a fortuitous encounter outside the village, their relationship with Huangfeng Valley became even more special and closer. They even evolved into one of the three major cultivation families in Huangfeng Valley.

The interests related to spiritual fields and other resources are a manifestation of their deep interdependence. The Chen family's practice of sending promising young members with strong spiritual roots to the sect every year is an even more direct example.

This pattern has existed since ancient times.

It is also a means of external expansion for the sect, or rather, a means of dividing the interests of the Yue Kingdom.

The small recruitment event held every three years in Huangfeng Valley has attracted many pseudo-spiritual root disciples, two or three hundred disciples with three spiritual roots, and even a few disciples with dual spiritual roots, heterogeneous spiritual roots, and special physiques to join the Qi Refining stage. This is also thanks to this event.

And the Chen family is not the only successful example.

Huang Fenggu also has other families under his name, such as the Feng family and the Dong family.

The Feng family also has a Core Formation ancestor, while the Dong family has Hong Fu in their ranks. (These two seem to be at odds.)

Closer to home.

The Linggu Garden is located here, surrounded by mountains on three sides. On the thousand-foot cliff of the second highest mountain on the side, there is a crystal waterfall, which can be described as cascading down three thousand feet, but it is a bit small and does not have that deafening momentum.

The waterfall cascades down at a ravine where it meets the highest peak in the valley, indirectly forming a pool there. It then merges again with a mountain stream from deeper within the valley, forming a new small waterfall, which in turn forms a smaller pool at the bottom of the valley.

The water in the pool was quite clean, but unfortunately, there were no fish or shrimp playing around, making it feel a bit lifeless. Following the opening in the pool, a small river flowed slowly out of the valley, its destination unknown.

In addition, due to the restrictions of the formation, there is always a lingering mist at the edge of the valley, which adds a unique hazy beauty to the place.

The fog is densest where the waterfalls are located, and sometimes, if you are in the fog, you can't see your hand in front of your face without using your spiritual eyes.

What's most peculiar about this place is that the array formation is located on a small spiritual vein branching off from the main vein of Yellow Maple Valley. It was set up by the sect's array masters, so the array formation in the valley can maintain its operation on its own without the need for spirit stones.

Furthermore, the formation has a strong ability to isolate the divine sense of cultivators; at least, ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot see through this restriction.

This is all thanks to the Chen family patriarch from back then.

"A good place."

Wang Li's eyes brightened slightly.

I am very satisfied with this place.

"This place is indeed very good for those in the Qi Refining stage."

Uncle Chen seemed to be reminiscing about this place.

The handover procedures were completed quickly, involving only a few points to note. As a result, Wang Li was able to move into the (No. 16) Spirit Valley Plantation that same day.

"Take this. This is the plantation's restriction token, and it's temporarily under your control. Some precautions are recorded on this jade slip. It's just some miscellaneous stuff, nothing difficult or complicated, but you'll have to take some time to look at it."

As they were talking, Uncle Chen ran over with a plaque that looked like gold but wasn't, and a jade slip.

This person is quite patient.

"Thank you very much, Uncle Chen..."

Thank you very much, Senior Brother Chen.

Wang Li bowed and accepted the restriction token, his face full of gratitude.

Calling a twelve-year-old kid who's only at the seventh level of Qi Refining "senior brother" feels perfectly natural to him.

"No need for thanks. Just take good care of these spirit grains for me. I have already sent a message to several of my brothers in the clan to vouch for you."

Uncle Chen waved his hand and gave further instructions.

He could earn nearly 2000 spirit stones in a single transaction. Even as a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration, as if he had been hit by a pie falling from the sky.

However, it's still necessary to give a warning, lest a good thing turn into a bad thing in the end:

"Ahem, these spirit grains may not be considered precious, but if you slack off and cause a significant reduction in the yield, resulting in a harvest that doesn't meet the minimum standards, not only will you not receive the spirit stone reward you're entitled to, but I'll also have to settle accounts with you."

If he really makes him lose face in front of his cousin, humph, that kid will be in for a beating.

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master."

Wang Li bowed again.

His gratitude grew even stronger.

Then, as if remembering something, he gritted his teeth, took out a package from his back, and from among the several exquisite medicine bottles inside, he took out a bottle and respectfully handed it to Uncle Chen's youngest son with a slightly pained expression:

"By the way, Senior Brother Chen, this is half a bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills that I refined earlier. It can strengthen the foundation and nourish the vital energy to a certain extent, and it is of great help to break through to the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining. I think it is very suitable for you to take."

It's just a small token of my appreciation.

I hope my senior brother can take good care of me and give me some guidance in the future.

Half of it was genuine gratitude, and the other half was driven by utilitarian motives.

As the saying goes, reciprocity deepens relationships.

Another reason was to lay the groundwork for his own rapid advancement in cultivation.

Otherwise, this cheap junior brother would come to harvest the spirit grain a month or so later, and he would happen to break through to the first level; after that, he would come every three months, and each time his cultivation would greatly improve, breaking through to the first or even second level.

Hehe, you don't need to do anything. Just go back and "complain" to your father, Uncle Chen, expressing your envy.

At that time, anyone with a brain will know that there's something fishy going on with him.

But if we present something now as a starting point, it will be easier to explain later. In fact, we won't even need to explain anything; the other side will be able to fill in the blanks themselves.

"He who eats another's food is bound to do his bidding; he who takes another's money is obligated to do his bidding."

This was perhaps the most humble moment of his journey on the path of cultivation.

"To be honest, my apparent wealth shouldn't be enough to sway a Foundation Establishment cultivator to resort to underhanded tactics, right?"

Although spirit stones have considerable purchasing power, a few low-grade spirit stones are not considered precious items for the family's younger members.

The half-bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills is worth at most four or five low-grade spirit stones.

A few bottles or a dozen bottles would only be worth a hundred or so yuan, which was nothing to the Foundation Establishment cultivator in front of him who was willing to trade top-tier magic artifacts and two or three hundred spirit stones for them.

However, for someone in the Qi Refining stage, several dozen spirit stones is indeed a large sum of money.

An ordinary Qi Refining stage disciple in the sect, if he takes on most of the sect's missions, will earn an average of two low-grade spirit stones per month.

Some of the better ones have three pieces.

But those family members received all sorts of preferential treatment, were assigned good jobs, and naturally earned much higher incomes.

At many auctions, it's common to see Qi Refining stage cultivators pulling out hundreds of spirit stones to participate in the bidding; this is a prime example.

In this case, if the Chen family were to kill Wang Li for such a small gain, it would actually be a losing proposition: after all, they had just taken his Foundation Establishment Pill, and now they would have to kill him and steal his treasure! If this were to happen, what would the other cultivators in Huangfeng Valley think of the Chen family?

Therefore, it is unlikely that Uncle Chen and the Chen family will turn against each other now.

If you don't turn against them now, it will be too late later.

"It all comes down to a lack of strength."

Wang Li sighed inwardly.

Strength, strength, he needs both cultivation and strength!

With the ability to protect themselves, why would they need to be so cautious and try to please others?!

He hated this feeling of being inferior!

'I must become the most powerful and feared one. In the mortal realm, the spirit realm, and the immortal realm, I will find a way to climb to the top. I will reach the very highest point! I want to stand atop the mountain and look down, not stand at the foot of the mountain looking up!'

Please, I need a small bottle!

"You're good..."

These words were spoken by Uncle Chen to Wang Li, whose eyes were clear and whose expression was firm.

"Why are you looking at me? This is a token of their appreciation, so hurry up and take it!"

These were the words that Uncle Chen said to his son.

"Oh……"

The twelve-year-old boy didn't seem to be very bright.

illusion?

"Alright, Wang Li, I'm leaving this to you. If you have any questions about cultivation in the future, you can come to me, your senior uncle, or you can visit the Transmission Hall more often. As cultivators, we must always remember that cultivation is of utmost importance. We must never be complacent or lazy. Only by going against the current and maintaining that enterprising spirit can we have even a slight chance of forming a core or an infant, and attaining immortality and freedom."

Uncle Chen offered another well-intentioned piece of advice.

It's just a small gesture of goodwill with a few pills; it's nothing.

These bottles and jars are quite exquisite, suggesting that this young man must have come from a wealthy family with a life of luxury before embarking on the path to immortality.

This young man, who can forsake wealth and honor for the lonely path of immortality, is destined for great things as long as he doesn't perish along the way.

Perhaps I can become a fellow cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage!