First, there was what he had already obtained—
"The Iron Token."
"This thing can refine Essence Blood. It'll be one of the things Xiaoshuang and I can rely on to make a living before we advance to Qi Refining."
The item was still buried in the ground. Meng Nan hadn't dared touch it before, but now that he had the experience of his third life, there was no problem.
He would dig it up tomorrow.
Next was his "alchemy."
Meng Nan had spent seven years refining medicine in this life, never taking a day off. With the notes and insights he'd gathered, his alchemy skills would hold a respectable standing even in Qingtian Market in Immortal Era 90. Making a living and supporting his cultivation wouldn't be difficult.
And that was without even considering the current era.
"I should still work with Senior Sister Qian Yu."
Some time ago, Meng Nan had wanted to work with Qian Yu mainly because she had the potential to advance to True Essence with ease and had an upright, open nature. But after three lifetimes, he'd seen that Qian Yu's character was beyond reproach in every one of them. In his third life, they'd even been senior sister and junior brother, working together for decades and growing closer. She was someone worth befriending.
Working with her—
Was also a way of helping her out.
If he could have more old friends and close companions walking the path of immortality with him in the future, that would surely be something to celebrate.
With these thoughts in mind,
He continued sorting through everything.
"And there's the map."
In this life, Meng Nan had finally gained a better understanding of the region where Yinlian Village and Tianlin Cave were located. He now had a rough picture of it in his mind.
That was a good thing.
At present, he was like a pioneer clearing new ground. The map around him had yet to be revealed; everywhere he looked, it was hidden behind the fog of war. Each time he entered the future, he would have to use the opportunity to learn more about the surrounding area, all of the South Frontier, and even the entire world.
Only with a clear map could he proceed in an orderly fashion and cultivate with confidence.
This time, just this alone made the trip worthwhile.
Beyond that, matters such as Tianlin Cave's future circumstances, including the war between Cha Mountain and Sky-Scraping Cliff, were still far off and not pressing. Still, knowing about them in advance would help Meng Nan.
Whether to face or avoid that war in the future would have to wait until he'd visited the future a few more times.
For now, he just had to keep it in mind.
Finally, there was the "Giant Spirit God" secret technique, the Spirit Land, and the Spirit Sand Vein.
"In Immortal Era 40, Tianlin Cave will build a city."
"The site will have a Spirit Land and a Spirit Sand Vein."
"Neither has been discovered yet."
"If I go there ahead of time and use the Spirit Land and Spirit Sand to cultivate the secret technique, I can master it!"
Meng Nan reviewed what he'd gained on this trip.
It was truly substantial.
Some things would matter soon; others, much later.
Some were broad in scope; others, more immediate.
Starting with this life, he'd laid a solid foundation at last. His cultivation had finally taken on some real promise.
Even if he couldn't enter the future again, with such deep roots, he still had hope of advancing to Qi Refining.
"The next life..."
Meng Nan looked forward to it all the more.
His thoughts churned,
Scattering his sadness at parting.
A faint snore reached his ears. He turned and saw Zhao Xiaoshuang fast asleep. Meng Nan smiled to himself and gently took her hand beneath the covers.
Then he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
Early the next morning,
Zhao Xiaoshuang opened her eyes and saw Meng Nan sitting cross-legged in the room, cultivating as usual. Her mood immediately brightened.
In just a few months, she'd found herself growing used to this life. She only hoped they could go on like this forever.
"True Qi can add decades to your life, and True Essence can add decades more."
"I have to cultivate True Qi! True Essence!"
Warm beneath the covers, Zhao Xiaoshuang secretly made up her mind. Then, watching Meng Nan cultivate, she said something in a tiny voice, clearly not wanting him to hear.
It was more as if she were saying it to herself.
Afterward, she got out of bed with a smug little grin.
As she dressed, she failed to notice Meng Nan's mouth twitch slightly as he cultivated, a hint of amusement flashing across his face and vanishing in an instant.
After their morning practice,
Meng Nan spoke to Zhao Xiaoshuang. "Call me that from now on."
"Call you what?"
Zhao Xiaoshuang was caught off guard by Meng Nan's cryptic remark. Then she saw him raise an eyebrow and gesture toward the bed.
"Ah!"
Her face turned bright red, and even her ears flushed. "You heard me? Weren't you cultivating?"
"I happened to hear."
Meng Nan smiled and didn't tease her further. He got to his feet and went outside to prepare breakfast.
After they finished eating and were about to clear away the dishes, Zhao Xiaoshuang suddenly stood up and snatched the bowl from him, pretending to be casual. "Husband, I'll do it."
Then she took the bowl, turned, and hurried into the kitchen, not coming back out.
"Haha!"
Meng Nan couldn't help laughing.
Zhao Xiaoshuang had blushed at the mere thought of calling him "husband." She was nothing like the carefree, uninhibited woman she'd become in her late eighties in a later life.
If she teased him again next time, Meng Nan now had a way to get back at her!
In high spirits, Meng Nan began his day.
Alchemy would certainly become his main occupation in the future, and he'd probably stop doing carpentry. But alchemy was more valuable, and he shouldn't reveal its true worth until he advanced to Inner Qi in this life.
If he reached Inner Qi, he'd be invincible among Inner Qi cultivators and able to fight those at True Qi.
Only then would he have some ability to protect himself.
Better yet, he should wait until he was invincible at True Qi before revealing his abilities. By then, even the two True Essence cultivators in Yinlian Village would be no threat to him.
Judging by his progress in the first three lives, it probably wouldn't take long to reach the point where he was invincible at True Qi and could match a True Essence cultivator.
"One or two more trips should be enough."
"Now I have the Iron Token's Essence Blood to go with the Blood Arrow Secret Technique. Killing Inner Qi cultivators while at Fetal Breath will be even easier, and I can enter the future whenever I want."
"I'll go again in a few days."
But even if he stayed at Fetal Breath, the next time—the fourth life—would probably be the last time he could enter the future at that stage.
In the previous trips, killing people had been difficult, but the basic progress had been easy.
Now, with the Iron Token's Essence Blood and the Blood Arrow Secret Technique, killing Inner Qi cultivators above his level would be easy. But Meng Nan didn't want to kill indiscriminately. That meant there weren't as many people to choose from in the little village of Yinlian.
This time, he had to kill four Inner Qi cultivators.
Next time, he'd have to kill eight.
The "sacrifice" would only get harder.
Eight Inner Qi cultivators?
Yinlian Village couldn't cough up that many Inner Qi cultivators who deserved to die.
And it wasn't just the "sacrifice."
The basic progress would also get harder—
"This season's Suoluo trees produced only 114 seeds. Xiaoshuang won't need many before she breaks through to Inner Qi. Ten will be enough."
"That leaves 104."
"At nine points of Inner Breath per seed, I can quickly cultivate at most 936 points of Inner Breath. Opening the second life took 100 points, and the third took 200. Opening the fourth this time should take 400."
"This will be as far as I can get. After that, the Suoluo Seeds will be used up. There'll be nearly a year before the next crop, so I won't be able to replenish them in the short term. Once I advance to Inner Qi, what will I use to quickly raise my Inner Qi in the early stages?"
So even basic progress had become a problem.
Qi Circulation Powder could supplement the Suoluo Seeds, and Meng Nan could refine it, but its ingredients were hard to find.
"Looks like I'll have to lay my cards on the table with that senior sister of mine sooner."
Meng Nan made up his mind. "I'll do my best to stockpile Qi Circulation Powder. As soon as the fourth life ends, I'll break through to Inner Qi!"
Before you continue