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

"Are you talking about that little girl from the Zhong family?"

Uncle Chen asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Yes, it is Zhong Weiniang. She joined the sect two years ago during the sect's grand recruitment event. We entered the sect around the same time, or rather, we were fortunate enough to join around the same time. Uncle, you don't know, but the moment I saw her, there was no room for any other woman in my heart. She is my Daoist partner."

He didn't take it seriously at all, but his eyes were burning with intense passion.

And before Uncle Chen could find fault, Wang Li explained again:

"With my talent for cultivation, it's hard to guarantee that I can successfully establish my foundation in one go. Therefore, I can only use a clumsy method, which is to make my presence known and then take advantage of my proximity. That way, I'll always see you and leave an impression, without wasting too much of my cultivation time."

I took a deep breath and continued.

"On the contrary, if I were to abandon Master Li and stay away from that girl, I'm afraid I would never have a chance with her in this lifetime. Uncle, you don't understand the feeling of unrequited love."

Uncle Chen: "..."

Old Ancestor Chen: "..."

What's with this rhyming tune?

"Hmph, and also, I can't accept the scene of her holding hands with another man while cultivating together! Absolutely not!"

Although it was a telepathic transmission, his eyes were already completely bloodshot, with visible blood vessels.

No man could bear to watch the person he loves become someone else's partner.

Cultivators can be said to no longer be considered normal people, yet sometimes they are more "human" than normal people.

"Huff... Huff... If things develop into such a terrible situation, even if I reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future, I think I will be unable to think clearly because of this obsession, and the inner demons indirectly generated may even make it difficult for me to make any further progress in cultivation!"

Wang Li has acting skills.

As for the excuse, Wang Li's analysis was even more logical, and the three members of the Chen family had to consider all the twists and turns involved.

After all, this concerns matters of cultivation partners and the path of cultivation, and cannot be taken lightly in the slightest.

"Hmph, just because you've become my grandfather's disciple, does that mean you can't win the heart of that girl from the Zhong family? Stop making excuses! Besides, if all else fails, my grandfather can always act as matchmaker. Uncle Li will always give you some face. Wouldn't the chances of success be much higher then?"

Uncle Chen is not easily fooled.

"The premise is that she won't fall for someone else too early in the meantime!"

At this moment, Wang Li seemed determined to stick to his guns, and there was no point in trying to persuade him. He had offered this mutually beneficial solution, and as for whether the Chen family wanted it or not, he figured they wouldn't refuse.

Wang Li is just a common three-elemental root, not one of the dual-elemental roots or unique spiritual roots that Core Formation stage cultivators would fight over.

Without special physical enhancements, those with three spiritual roots can easily reach the Foundation Establishment stage; however, if they want to form their Core, they should basically forget about it unless they encounter other opportunities—the chances are only around one percent.

So when he replaced Xu Da, he only suffered a slight loss himself, and no one else suffered a loss.

As for why he didn't choose the one surnamed Zhang? Given the other party's attitude just now, how could he possibly befriend such a snobbish person who lacks integrity and manners, only knows how to stand by and watch, and stab others in the back?

Xu Da, on the other hand, had a good attitude.

In this way, we can consider it a screening process for the Chen family! The Chen family will naturally have no difficulty making a choice.

"Um, if I remember correctly, when you entered the valley, the little girl from the Zhong family was only twelve years old, right?"

At this moment, Fatty Chen muttered, stroking his chin.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked puzzled.

Wang Li quickly forced a smile, his scalp tingling, and said, "Ahem, aren't we all grown up now?! If all else fails, we can just wait a couple more years!"

What a beast!

"Have you made up your mind?"

Uncle Chen, whose eyes held a complex expression, sensed that Wang Li was deliberately distancing himself from the Chen family, but he did not say anything.

Regardless of the assistance provided by the IOU left by Wang Xiao and Xue Pan, or Wang Li's strategic retreat through "changing the medicine," the Chen family, as the party in the wrong, had no reason to persist in pursuing the matter.

"I beg my uncle to grant my request and help me win the heart of my beloved!"

This was a risky move, and Wang Li had thought about it for a long time before deciding to make it.

To be honest, he wasn't actually against becoming Chen Laozu's disciple at first, but fate played a trick on him, and that incident involving Wang Xiao and Xue Pan happened.

I definitely can't stay at the Chen family's place.

Putting everything else aside, what if those Chen family members who are close to Wang Xiao and Xue Pan come to him with all sorts of questions, asking about what happened inside the forbidden area and why the two of them couldn't come out? How should he answer them? Or should he receive them or not? Will he still be able to cultivate in peace?

These are all problems.

Even worse, what if someone maliciously speculates that he harmed those two? Otherwise, why didn't those two brothers get out, but you, Wang Li, did?

Don't gamble on whether such a disgusting guy even exists.

He can't afford to lose.

Therefore, it's best to go and stay under the command of other Core Formation cultivators as soon as possible, so that you can use their strength to fight back and avoid these aftereffects.

"It was your own decision, so just don't regret it later."

He closed his eyes and said no more.

"Thank you, Uncle-Master!"

I am truly grateful for this person's continued care. Even if there was some mutual exploitation involved, it did not diminish their unwavering kindness.

The Chen family has been persuaded; now it's Xu Da's turn, who has gained an advantage without even realizing it.

"Senior Brother Xu, I'd like to exchange these two hundred-year-old Blood Orchids, this Purple Tang Immortal, and the four spiritual herbs that Uncle Chen values ​​for the five best spiritual herbs in your possession, plus the opportunity to make a move after three Foundation Establishment stages. Are you willing, Senior Brother?"

Xu Da was initially annoyed when he heard that Blood Orchid was a common spiritual herb;

But when he heard that the Purple Tang Fairy and four other spiritual herbs were even more precious than the Purple Monkey Flower and the Heavenly Spirit Fruit, he immediately shuddered.

Happiness came so suddenly that Xu Da was a little caught off guard.

"Seven spiritual herbs for five? And they're exchanging high-quality ones for those that aren't even top-grade?"

The smile on Zhang's face froze, replaced by disbelief and deep jealousy.

The reason was simple: he had obtained eight spirit herbs of decent quality, guaranteeing him a Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward. His old friend Xu Da, on the other hand, had only obtained seven spirit herbs, and their quality was far inferior to his own. Therefore, he was unlikely to receive the sect's Foundation Establishment Pill reward; he would more likely receive some other reward.

But now, seven plants have become nine, and the quality of the spiritual herbs is no less than what I have here; it's definitely enough for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

How could he not be envious?

Let alone the price of only three attacks after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, even if it were ten or twenty times, Zhang would accept it!

"Junior Brother Wang, are you kidding me?"

Xu Da wasn't stupid; otherwise, how could he have left the Bloodstained Forbidden Zone with "achievements above average"? He was just too excited, which made him a step too slow.

"If you think three chances are too many, two is fine too."

This is itself a form of rhetoric.

Start by saying more, then gradually reduce the amount; the results are often surprisingly good.

The elderly women who shop at the market are best at this.

"No, no, three times is fine, thank you for your kindness, junior brother!"

Xu Da, who had made a huge profit, was genuinely grateful to Wang Li and responded with utmost seriousness.

"Then, my three junior brothers, would you be willing to make a deal with your senior brother?"

Ignoring the man surnamed Zhang, Wang Li set his sights on the other three.

"Senior Brother Wang, could it be that you..."

"As you three junior brothers know, these spiritual herbs all need to be handed over. You can hand them over yourselves. The sect's reward for you three is nothing more than a hundred or so spirit stones per herb; as for me, I'll offer you two hundred spirit stones per herb. I hope you three will trade your spiritual herbs to me first! What do you three junior brothers think?"

For the three of them, this was an absolute windfall. It wouldn't harm the sect's interests at all; it wouldn't have the slightest impact.

At least on the surface, that's how it seems.

The three members of the Chen family, who were aware of the intricacies of the situation, remained silent, which could be considered a tacit approval. The other two Foundation Establishment stage managers, seeing this, decisively stared at their toes, knowing the truth but not saying anything, otherwise, what would they take the three members of the Chen family for?

By the way, have any disciples ever done this before?

Please speak with the Core Formation stage master leading the team before proceeding.

Wang Li's case is a rare exception, made possible by a confluence of favorable factors, including timing, location, and personal connections.

"Kid, I'm starting to regret it!"

Only the two of them could hear Chen Tianya's telepathic message.

Wang Li is the first person below the Core Formation stage to be able to apply the rules to this extent within the bounds of the rules.

At least for now.

"Uncle-Master, I'll come and watch over the mountain gate for you again when I have time, hehehe..."

Wang Li's telepathic message was heard by seven people, each experiencing a different flavor of it, which is quite intriguing.

……

"Alright, that's fine too. You can't force a relationship."

So be it. Even if the Chen family was guilty first, this kid has no complaints and is still familiar with Xiao Si. Let's exchange the spirit herbs then!

"Young man surnamed Xu, would you be willing to become my disciple under my name?"

With the matter of the spiritual herbs settled, Old Ancestor Chen naturally had to intercept this batch of spiritual herbs that were to be handed over to the sect.

"Yes, disciple greets master!"

Xu Da initially thought he had misheard, but when someone coughed lightly, he came to his senses and immediately blushed with excitement. The other four Qi Refining disciples looked on with envy, especially the cultivator surnamed Zhang, who was particularly frustrated.

"Alright, this Blazing Blade and this Silver Armor Shield are your welcoming gifts from your master."

He casually offered two top-tier magic artifacts, both of them exquisite. Old Ancestor Chen's generosity moved Wang Li, made the other two Foundation Establishment managers from the sects envious, not to mention the Qi Refining disciples nearby.

At the same time, Uncle Chen also cast a regretful glance at Wang Li, as if to say:

See that, kid? That's the benefit of becoming an apprentice. You missed out.

Wang Li gave an awkward smile in response.

"Of course, I won't take advantage of you. Let me make it clear that the sect will not be rewarding you with Foundation Establishment Pills this time."

Upon hearing this, Xu Da's expression changed drastically.