I Live Forever In The World of Cultivation World - Chapter 11: Overly Cautious

Thank goodness. At least he wasn’t here to harm me.

“Oh, it’s Daoist Lin. I thought it was an attack by an evil cultivator,” He Song said, clasping his hands in greeting after confirming the man was Lin Cong and sensing no killing intent.

As he glanced at the yellowish-brown barrier around him, his tone was relieved, but he felt no regret about using the Thick Earth Talisman, which was worth five spirit stones.

No matter how many spirit stones I have, I need to stay alive to use them.

After all, wasn’t the purpose of buying talismans to protect one’s life?

Although tonight’s scare ended without harm, He Song didn’t believe he’d always get off so easily.

A single talisman was nothing. If it saved his life, it was worth it.

My life is priceless.

From now on, he resolved to remain vigilant at all times. Losing his life would be the ultimate loss.

“My apologies for startling you, Daoist He,” Lin Cong said, glancing at the bloodstains on himself and the barrier around He Song. “I was returning injured and rushed to my room to heal. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

He looked slightly embarrassed, realizing his fast steps had been enough to frighten his neighbor into activating a Thick Earth Talisman.

Have cultivators become this cautious these days?

However, Lin Cong quickly shook off the awkwardness. He reached into his sleeve and took out five spirit stones, placing them in He Song’s hand.

“Here are five spirit stones, Daoist He. Consider them payment for your talisman. I hope you won’t take offense.”

After speaking, Lin Cong’s face flushed red, and he let out two heavy coughs. Bowing slightly again, he turned and entered his room.

“I’ll head in to treat my wounds now. Please feel free, Daoist He.”

He Song was about to politely refuse the spirit stones but stopped himself when he noticed Lin Cong’s worsening condition.

Clearly, the man was at a critical point where he urgently needed to tend to his injuries.

Interrupting him at such a moment might only annoy him, so He Song decided against saying more.

He opened his door and stepped into his room.

He Song locked the door behind him.

In the dimly lit space, he lit a lamp, casting light across the room.

He sat quietly at the table, his thoughts finally beginning to settle.

Even during his brief conversation with Lin Cong, He Song had remained on high alert.

Now that he had a moment to breathe, he replayed the events in his mind.

From the moment he first heard Lin Cong’s footsteps, to the scent of blood, Lin Cong’s voice, activating the talisman, and their conversation—He Song reviewed every detail.

Finally, he sighed in relief.

This incident really does seem like a coincidence.

Lin Cong’s severe injuries left him in no state to pose a threat.

Moreover, He Song’s clothing, which marked him as someone tied to a powerful faction, likely deterred ordinary wandering cultivators from causing trouble.

I guess I was just overly cautious.

Still, it wasn’t a loss.

He glanced at the five spirit stones on the table, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face.

While he’d used up a Thick Earth Talisman, he’d gained five spirit stones in return.

All in all, it balanced out.

“Lin Cong seems decent enough. Though, it’s probably because of my clothing that he compensated me so readily,” He Song mused.

Five spirit stones were no small sum for a wandering cultivator in the early Qi Refinement Realm.

For Lin Cong to give them up so easily spoke volumes.

If it had been someone else, Lin Cong might not have been so generous.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

He Song’s expression turned contemplative.

When he first met Lin Cong, the man was an intimidating sight.

He had a burly frame, sharp eyes brimming with murderous intent, and muscles so well-defined that he seemed like a humanoid beast.

At a glance, it was obvious how fearsome he was.

When Lin Cong mentioned having urgent business to attend to, it had only been a few days before he returned, severely injured.

Although He Song didn’t know what Lin Cong had encountered, he was sure it wasn’t anything good.

Lin Cong was only a wandering cultivator at the third level of Qi Refinement, albeit one who appeared exceptionally strong in combat. However, outside the confines of the immortal market, any unforeseen event could easily end in death and the dispersal of his soul.

In fact, He Song wouldn’t have been surprised if Lin Cong had perished entirely and never returned.

Yet seeing Lin Cong return in such a wounded state only solidified He Song’s belief in his approach to cultivation—slow and steady within the safety of the immortal market.

For wandering cultivators, especially those who lived by the blade, life was precarious.

Their mortality rate was always high.

Even if they occasionally earned significant rewards, most of them would meet untimely deaths.

Few ever broke through to the late stage of Qi Refinement, and even fewer reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. Such achievements required immense fortune and unparalleled opportunities.

I just need to stay here in the immortal market, cultivate step by step, and eventually I’ll reach the middle, late stages of Qi Refinement… and then Foundation Establishment.

He Song’s advantage lay in his immortality.

As long as he remained in a safe environment, he could continue to grow stronger over time.

Even if it took an exceptionally long time, what did that matter?

I’ve already attained immortality—time is the one thing I’ll never lack.

The sight of Lin Cong’s injuries only strengthened He Song’s resolve to tread his chosen path.

After reflecting for a moment, He Song extinguished the lamp and began to meditate.

Despite entering a meditative state, he kept an ear out for any sounds from Lin Cong’s room, staying vigilant.

During the first half of the night, He Song faintly heard the sound of coughing and pained groans coming from the neighboring room.

By the second half, the noises gradually subsided until there was nothing but silence.

The stillness continued until morning.

As the golden rays of sunlight warmed his body, He Song opened his eyes.

He cast a thoughtful glance toward Lin Cong’s room before rising and heading out.

First, he went to his assigned spirit farmland, where he cast Spirit Rain Technique to nourish the crops.

After making a careful inspection of the farmland to ensure there was nothing amiss, He Song returned to the market area within the immortal market.

The events of the previous night had left He Song with only one remaining Thick Earth Talisman.

While Lin Cong had compensated him with five spirit stones, it was imperative to replenish his stock.

Carrying just one talisman made him feel unsafe.

At the market, He Song approached the stall of a talisman vendor and haggled for what felt like an eternity.

Unfortunately, his bargaining efforts failed, and he had no choice but to pay the standard price of five spirit stones for a new Thick Earth Talisman.

There wasn’t much room for negotiation—talisman merchants also struggled to make a living, and the price of five spirit stones per talisman had remained stable for a long time.

With a freshly purchased talisman in hand, He Song carefully placed it alongside his old, crumpled one in the most accessible part of his sleeve.

Never again.

He Song vowed to avoid situations like the previous night, where danger arrived at his doorstep before he could even activate his talisman.

From now on, he’d always be prepared.