Unwilling

Ji An still had 11 Spirit Stones in hand, which he planned to use to activate the Spirit Absorption Array for cultivation.

No matter when, improving one's cultivation was always the highest priority.

If he endured for another three months, he would harvest a considerable sum in Spirit Crystals. Then he could buy a Jade Slip for Spells, perhaps even a low-grade Dharma artifact.

He gently shook his head again. There was no rush for a Dharma artifact. With the income he now earned from planting Spirit Fields, participating in demon hunting seemed somewhat not worth the cost.

Better to focus all his efforts on raising his cultivation and make plans after reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.

By then, the Spirit Field where he practiced Spiritual Grain Farming should have advanced to low-grade first rank, allowing him to grow Azure Corn.

Azure Corn did not require much care during the first two months after planting, leaving him with more ample time to go out.

He hoped that the high-risk investment of demon hunting would yield enough rewards for him to gather the Contribution Points for a Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible and join the "queue to purchase pills."

According to Martial Uncle Qin Yan's theory, he needed to open up more branch veins of his immortal meridians at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation. Then, by borrowing the power of the body and soul's ascension when breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he could nourish those immortal meridians and extend their length, thereby improving his aptitude even further.

The Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation could be polished bit by bit. It was also a good time to practice combat arts.

Ji An sighed inwardly. His divine sense was exceptional due to the fusion of his two souls, and with the Stone Turtle's help, his progress in cultivating spells far exceeded that of ordinary people. Yet even so, he still felt that the path of immortal cultivation was riddled with difficulties.

Cultivators born into great clans had their families supporting them, making the road ahead far easier.

Wei Songnian put away the Spirit Crystals and said with a genial smile:

"No rush. Junior Brother, it is fine if you owe it for now."

He was not afraid of him owing a debt—only afraid of him not owing one.

He felt that as his Junior Brother continued to grow, he would sooner or later become his greatest customer.

The two began discussing their respective cultivation, exchanging insights, and before they knew it, the day had grown dark.

Ji An rose and lit the candle in his palm. Liang Qiu brought out a pot of fish head soup.

"Let's go help," Wei Songnian said as he walked out. The three went to the kitchen and brought out fish bone cakes, stewed fish tails, and steamed fish.

Liang Qiu took out several porcelain cups, and after they sat down, he filled them with spiritual wine.

After draining a cup, Liang Qiu said leisurely:

"I entered the sect twenty years ago. This year, I am thirty-six, and I have only barely reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation. I wonder whether I will have a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment in this lifetime."

The candlelight flickered, casting shifting light and shadow across his face, where several deep furrows creased his brow.

Why did the sect drive away disciples who had not reached Foundation Establishment by sixty? Because after sixty, the bodies of Qi Condensation Stage cultivators began to decline. Without a great opportunity, the chances of achieving Foundation Establishment afterward were already slim.

He had twenty-four years left. He needed to break through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation, then cultivate it to perfection.

None of that was particularly difficult. The problem was that exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill required sixty thousand Contribution Points—equivalent to a full three thousand Spirit Crystals.

The price of a single Foundation Establishment Pill was far higher than the pills Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators consumed in their daily cultivation.

"With the income from Junior Brother's fish pond, you will surely save enough Contribution Points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill early on."

Wei Songnian raised his cup and said with a smile:

"Let us share this cup."

After drinking the spiritual wine, Liang Qiu softly exhaled.

"Senior Brother need not comfort me. I cannot compare to Senior Brother, who has his family's support. My father is merely an itinerant cultivator at Mid Qi Condensation, and there are younger brothers and sisters at home to support.

The only one I can rely on is myself.

I have actually calculated it carefully. Unless I manage to raise some advanced spiritual fish, it will be difficult to gather enough Contribution Points within the limited time.

Even once I have enough Contribution Points, I will still have to queue and wait."

The hand beneath the table clenched into a fist. He had thought it over: if time ran out in the end, he would buy Dharma artifacts and talismans, then make a trip into the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains as well.

He would gamble his life for a future. If he failed, then let his bones be buried among the green hills.

Liang Qiu knew clearly that if he could not obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill within the sect, it would be even more impossible outside.

In immortal cities, it was not unusual for a Foundation Establishment Pill to sell for four or five thousand Spirit Stones.

Having entered the sect and seen a broader world, he was unwilling to remain merely a Qi Condensation Stage cultivator.

The elders of the sect always taught that Foundation Establishment was the true beginning of cultivation. To live a whole life lingering outside the gates of immortal cultivation—how could he simply accept such a fate?

Wei Songnian was slightly embarrassed. Indeed, he was standing while speaking, unaware of another's pain.

As long as he could cultivate the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation to perfection, his family would naturally provide him with a sum of Spirit Crystals. Furthermore, his family would use its connections to help him obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill earlier.

Ji An frowned slightly, then picked up a fish bone cake and said with a smile:

"Senior Brothers, spiritual fish are only delicious when eaten hot.

Once we have eaten and drunk our fill, we will have the strength to fight for our lives ahead."

"Junior Brother is right. Let us eat and drink our fill before speaking of fighting for our lives ahead. Our circumstances are far better than those of itinerant cultivators."

Liang Qiu picked up a piece of fish tail and placed it in the porcelain bowl before him.

The moon shone bright outside, its limpid light falling over a lake of azure water.

In the fish pond, spiritual fish dove and leapt, rippling the water into patterns and scattering the moonlight across the pond.

At dawn, the early-rising birds were already chirping in the branches.

Ji An formed a spell gesture. Crimson spiritual light spread outward, and wisps of green smoke rose from the barren ground.

The hand seals in his hands shifted as he released the Thick Earth Art.

Before long, five mu of Spirit Fields had been reclaimed.

By then, the morning light had risen, shining over the tranquil valley and falling upon the Spirit Fields, reflecting a gentle spiritual glow.

Old Huang and Little Huang hurried back from the direction of Azure Water Lake. Seeing that several more mu of Spirit Fields had been reclaimed, Little Huang said enviously with a smile:

"If I had Little Brother An's abilities, I could cling to the sect for another twenty years."

He had spent his whole life farming, yet he could not match what someone else had achieved in three years. Though he had long passed the age of competing for superiority, whenever he thought of it, a nameless bitterness still rose in his heart.

Ji An replied gently:

"It was because Senior Brother offered me help back then that I was able to make it this far smoothly."

Old Huang hurriedly waved his hands.

"Even without me, Junior Brother would still have had a bright future."

Outstanding people found it easier to receive help.

He pondered for a while, then suddenly lifted his head.

"Little Brother An, once this season's Spirit Grain is harvested, let me give you that one mu of ranked Spirit Field to plant.

Growing Azure Corn is somewhat different from growing Yellow Bud Rice. While I can still remain in the sect for half a year, I can explain the key points to you."

Wei Songnian's words during their drinking session that day had thoroughly awakened him. Giving up the Spirit Field early only meant losing a few Spirit Stones in income. There would be many times in the future when he would need to ask others for help.

If he could not bear to part with it now, he might have to part with even more later.

There was no kindness without cause. The more he gave now, the more it became a favor owed.

They had spent several years together, and he had come to understand Ji An's temperament. The other party would repay these favors.

He had merely lent out one Spirit Stone, yet the wine at a single meal had probably cost dozens of Spirit Crystals.

Ji An fell silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:

"To be honest with Senior Brother, I am indeed short of Spirit Crystals. Senior Brother's generous offer is too kind to refuse.

If Fei Hu encounters any difficulties in the future, I will not decline so long as it lies within my abilities."

He felt that if there were benefits to take, he should take them. Once his cultivation was higher, repaying today's favor would be easy enough.

Just as when he had first entered the sect and borrowed Spirit Stones to cultivate, rapidly raised his cultivation, and then repaid the debt.

Back then, he had borrowed nine Spirit Stones. To him at the First Layer of Qi Condensation, it had been a huge sum, but by the time he repaid it at Qi Condensation Layer 4, it had seemed far easier.