I Live Forever In The World of Cultivation World - Chapter 14: Five Years

By this time, Lin Cong’s injuries had completely healed.

The blood-stained clothes he had worn before were now replaced, likely discarded long ago.

The terrifying dent in his chest had fully recovered, and he no longer looked as fearsome as he had previously.

Now, aside from regaining his burly and imposing physique, Lin Cong was indistinguishable from any other cultivator.

After a month and a half of recuperation, he was back to full health.

Seeing Lin Cong standing before him, He Song’s eyes gleamed with spiritual light.

“Spirit Eye Technique!”

With a glance, He Song observed that Lin Cong’s cultivation remained at the third level of Qi Refinement; he had not broken through to the mid-stage yet.

In the past month, He Song had mastered two basic spells to the point where they could be performed without reducing their effectiveness.

The Spirit Eye Technique and the Transmission Technique were now both within his grasp.

Thus, upon encountering Lin Cong, He Song instinctively used the Spirit Eye Technique to assess his current cultivation level.

“Congratulations, Daoist Lin, on your full recovery. Please, come in,” He Song said with a smile after the brief glow of spiritual light faded.

A visit from a neighbor wasn’t something He Song would refuse.

Opening the door, he invited Lin Cong inside to sit.

There wasn’t much He Song could offer as hospitality, so he brought out the tea set gifted to him by Wei Fan and brewed a pot of tea for Lin Cong.

He Song wasn’t knowledgeable about the quality of tea, but he assumed that tea gifted by Wei Fan—a master cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refinement—wouldn’t be ordinary.

Surely, it would be more than enough to host Lin Cong, a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refinement.

“Excellent tea! You certainly know how to enjoy life, Daoist He,” Lin Cong remarked appreciatively after taking a sip.

Hearing this, He Song raised an eyebrow.

It sounded just like something he had once said to Wei Fan.

However, he couldn’t tell if Lin Cong truly found the tea exceptional or was merely making an empty compliment.

Pouring another cup for Lin Cong, He Song dismissed his thoughts with a shake of his head.

Who cares? It’s just a pot of tea, after all.

“This tea’s quality, I wouldn’t know,” He Song said modestly. “Both the tea leaves and the tea set were gifted by a senior. My humble abode has little else to offer, so I hope you won’t mind sharing this tea.”

The tea was undoubtedly fine tea.

The tea set was surely an excellent one.

For someone like Wei Fan to casually gift such items, they were likely of little significance to him but were a substantial fortune for a cultivator like He Song at the early stage of Qi Refinement.

Though He Song didn’t know the value of the tea leaves and tea set, they were clearly expensive.

By mentioning that they were gifts from a senior, He Song was planting a seed of curiosity, hoping Lin Cong would ask about this “senior.”

Once Lin Cong asked, He Song could naturally reveal that he had a friend at the late stage of Qi Refinement, letting Lin Cong know that he had a strong backing.

Memories of the man who had broken into Lin Cong’s house flashed through He Song’s mind. He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of wariness.

These wandering cultivators who lived by the edge of a blade were too dangerous for someone like him.

If he couldn’t make them hesitate or fear him, he’d likely live in constant dread.

“Oh? A gift from a senior? Might I ask, Daoist He, what is this senior’s cultivation level?” Lin Cong asked, as expected, his curiosity piqued.

“Seventh level of Qi Refinement Realm,” He Song replied casually.

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Moments later, He Song personally escorted Lin Cong out of his home.

By this time, Lin Cong’s attitude toward He Song had undergone a significant transformation.

Previously, He Song had felt that Lin Cong was polite to him only because of his status as a member of the Immortal Market inner staff—an attempt not to offend him.

But now, after learning that He Song had a backer at the late stage of Qi Refinement, Lin Cong was clearly eager to form a closer relationship with him.

Being a member of the sect was not inherently intimidating.

What was truly intimidating was having a powerful backing.

No one could guarantee that He Song wouldn’t be able to call upon this late-stage cultivator to intervene.

Making friends with someone like He Song could prove invaluable in the future if trouble arose.

With such thoughts in mind, Lin Cong’s change in attitude was natural.

He Song stood at the door, watching as Lin Cong left.

He Song turned around and closed the door.

Sitting back at the table, he picked up the still-warm tea and silently poured himself a cup.

“Backers and status… they’re nothing more than illusions, like flowers in a mirror or the moon’s reflection in water. The only thing I can truly rely on is myself.”

Seated at the table, He Song’s expression showed no trace of pride or satisfaction.

Even though mentioning his supposed “backer” had impressed Lin Cong and earned his respect, He Song felt no sense of triumph.

He understood that backers and status were fleeting and unreliable.

A backer might sever ties with him on a whim.

His status could be revoked by the sect at any time.

But his cultivation—if improved—was something no one could take away.

No matter what happened, advancing his own strength was the only sure way to stand tall.

Despite these thoughts, He Song felt a tinge of satisfaction with his earlier actions.

With people like Lin Cong, who lived by the blade, it was impossible to feel safe without establishing a deterrent.

By making Lin Cong think twice about messing with him, He Song could finally cultivate at home without constant anxiety.

Judging by the change in Lin Cong’s demeanor, He Song knew his goal had been achieved.

Lin Cong was unlikely to entertain any ill intentions toward him now.

With his worries temporarily laid to rest, He Song took a large sip of tea, then began his daily cultivation practice.

Time passed quietly.

He Song settled into a steady routine.

Every morning after finishing his cultivation, he would head to the spiritual farmlands and spend half an hour casting the Rainfall Technique.

He would then return home to meditate and recover his spiritual energy.

If he had errands, he would leave after restoring his energy.

Otherwise, he occasionally visited Wei Fan at the Spirit Construction Pavilion to chat and have tea or stopped by the Spirit Medicine Pavilion to converse with Meng Guan.

The rest of his time was immersed in cultivation.

Five years flew by in the blink of an eye.

In those five years, He Song’s life was peaceful.

There were no ambushes by evil cultivators, no natural disasters, no sect wars—just calm and quiet.

He Song would occasionally hear secretive news from Wei Fan about the outside world:

A wandering cultivator, after purchasing treasures in the marketplace, was ambushed by evil cultivators right outside the sect.

Someone dissatisfied with their ordinary life resigned from their position at the sect and set out for the immortal city of Qingyuan, only to disappear en route.

A precious mineral vein was discovered, sparking fierce competition among countless families, until the Vast Earth Sect stepped in and secured it.

These tidbits deepened He Song’s understanding of the current state of the cultivation world.

During this time, He Song’s cultivation progressed steadily.

From the first level of Qi Refinement, he had broken through to the third level.

Seated cross-legged on his meditation mat, He Song let out a long breath as spiritual light flashed in his eyes.

Having just broken through to the third level, he was still struggling to control the surging spiritual energy within him.

As a result, faint wisps of energy escaped through his eyes, causing the flashes of brilliance.

“Third level of Qi Refinement… Next, I’ll need to accumulate more spiritual energy and prepare to break through the bottleneck to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement.”

Feeling the much stronger spiritual energy flowing within his body, a smile crossed He Song’s face.

With this newfound power, he could now manage more spiritual farmlands.

Managing more farmlands meant earning more spirit stones—a prospect that filled He Song with quiet anticipation for the future.