Difficulty in Cultivation! [Seeking Collection! Seeking Follow-up Reading!]

Meng Nan did things with unhurried deliberation.

He had a plan in mind, so he wasn't rushed.

People say, "Harmony in the family leads to prosperity."

Meng Nan had returned from a future timeline, and while his cultivation progressed step by step, a significant portion of his energy was also dedicated to his daily life.

Newcomer.

New home.

New job.

All these things required a certain amount of energy and time to sort out one by one, laying a solid foundation for his long-term cultivation ahead.

As for the "Suoluo Seed" tree.

Meng Nan hadn't gone to see it since his return.

He got married on the second day of the seventh month, and the fruiting season for the "Suoluo Seed" was in August-September—

It bore fruit in August.

It ripened in September.

There were exactly two months in between.

Going there would be pointless!

Looking at it would be pointless!

Instead, the two-hour round trip would only add variables. If someone encountered him, the "Suoluo Seed" tree might even be exposed prematurely.

There was no need.

The tree was right there; he would go when the time came.

Time flowed.

The seventh month passed, and the eighth month arrived.

Meng Nan and Zhao Xiaoshuang's new home was built; it was two simple rooms constructed from wood, bamboo, and clay. One room was for sleeping at night, and the other served as a storage room and kitchen.

A surrounding area was symbolically enclosed with bamboo strips, forming a courtyard and leaving space for future construction.

Bamboo had already been planted in sections before and after the courtyard.

This plant grew extremely fast; in a few years, it would become a dense bamboo forest.

"This will do for now."

"We can add more later."

Meng Nan stood in the small courtyard, looking at the solitary and somewhat humble two rooms, generally satisfied.

Beside him, Zhao Xiaoshuang was even more satisfied. She loved every bit of it, walking around the two extremely simple houses, unable to get enough of them.

That night.

The Meng-Zhao couple returned to their bedroom and began their respective cultivation.

Meng Nan sat cross-legged, calming his mind and breathing, cultivating by holding his breath.

After a month of diligent practice, although Meng Nan's cultivation hadn't yet reached the "Visualization Realm," his breath-holding count had caught up, matching the results of eight years in the future timeline. He could now achieve "Twenty-four Breaths" in a single cultivation session, greatly increasing his efficiency.

Yet, even so, his cultivation progress remained slow.

Breathing in and out.

Twenty-four breaths.

When he completed a cycle of his technique, Meng Nan opened his eyes and saw that Zhao Xiaoshuang had already finished her cultivation and was writing her cultivation insights for the day at her desk. Zhao Xiaoshuang's cultivation level was not as high as Meng Nan's. While Meng Nan could cultivate for "Twenty-four Breaths," Zhao Xiaoshuang could only cultivate for "Sixteen Breaths," a significant gap.

However, Zhao Xiaoshuang had only cultivated for two years, whereas Meng Nan had genuinely cultivated for ten years.

Looking at it this way, Meng Nan was the one falling behind.

Of course, Zhao Xiaoshuang's "Sixteen Breaths" level after two years wasn't particularly impressive either.

Meng Nan glanced at Zhao Xiaoshuang, then withdrew his gaze and opened his "information panel"—

[Name: Meng Nan]
[Lifespan: 18/80]
[Faction: Chashan·Tianlin Cave]
[Cultivation: Fetal Breath Qi Sensing]
[Internal Qi: 3]
[Bone Structure: 1]
[Cultivation Technique: Thunder Illumination Scripture Third Layer]
[Spell: Spirit Wandering Steps (Second Layer)]

Skills: None

Progress: Viewable

"Gained 2 points of Inner Qi in a month."

Disappointment flickered in Meng Nan's eyes.

'Bone Structure 1' lived up to its name.

After a month of arduous cultivation, his Inner Qi had only increased from 1 to 3. At this rate, Meng Nan would need another three months to reach the peak of 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing'.

Fortunately, there was no barrier between 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing' and 'Fetal Breath Contemplation'; advancement was possible as soon as the Inner Qi standard was met.

But even so, having eight years of cultivation experience from a future timeline and still taking four months to complete the 'Qi Sensing Realm' was truly outrageous.

"Cultivation potential is divided into two aspects—"

"One is Comprehension."

"The other is Bone Structure."

To achieve success in cultivation, one must possess at least one of these.

For example, if one's 'Bone Structure' is slightly lacking but their 'Comprehension' is strong, they can achieve 'Forty-nine Breaths' in the 'Qi Sensing Realm', and their progress won't be slow.

Alternatively, if one's 'Comprehension' is slightly lacking but their 'Bone Structure' is excellent, their Inner Qi will surge with casual cultivation. It wouldn't matter if they remained at 'Seven Breaths' or 'Nine Breaths'.

Those who could advance to the 'Inner Qi Stage' within two years had fast Inner Qi growth and could quickly visualize and construct their 'Qi Circulation Diagram'. To some extent, this represented good 'Comprehension' and 'Bone Structure', or at least one outstanding aspect.

This was why they had privileges.

Even if progress was rapid due to external factors, it represented an outstanding 'Fortune' or 'Background', also offering hope for cultivation success.

Further down the line were people like Meng Nan and Zhao Xiaoshuang—

Low Comprehension.

Mediocre Bone Structure.

They could only have children.

"I don't know about my Comprehension, but since I could repeatedly cultivate and improve my cultivation realm in a future timeline, having slightly lower Comprehension doesn't matter."

"Bone Structure—"

'Bone Structure 1' was definitely not good, but there was a way around that too.

For poor Bone Structure, pile on resources.

"In another month, the 'Suoluo Seed' will mature. By then, my rate of improvement will catch up."

"I wonder how much I'll improve."

Filled with anticipation.

He stopped his thoughts.

"Let's check the progress."

Meng Nan glanced at his Inner Qi, willed it, and began to activate 'Basic Progress'.

Then—

"Progress +2%."

"Inner Qi: 1"

"Cultivation: Fetal Breath Tranquility"

A trifecta.

The regression of Inner Qi led to the regression of cultivation.

But the result was still pleasing.

"100 points of Inner Qi to complete Basic Progress isn't much."

Meng Nan breathed a sigh of relief.

At his cultivation speed of 2 points of Inner Qi per month, these 100 points would have been his undoing, requiring a full 50 months, or four years, of arduous cultivation to complete.

However, with the help of the 'Suoluo Seed', it shouldn't take too long.

"It's a shame Inner Qi can't reach 0."

Meng Nan felt a little regretful.

If this 'Basic Progress' could absorb his 'Inner Qi' down to 0, that would be fantastic.

His true, higher realm was already the 'Visualization Realm'. Advancing from 'Fetal Breath Tranquility' to 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing' was a single cultivation event.

Twice a day, morning and evening, he could advance two stages of 'Fetal Breath Qi Sensing', going from 0 to 1 twice.

By repeatedly doing this, he could increase Basic Progress by 2% per day.

But unfortunately, this remaining 1 point of Inner Qi remained stagnant, and 'Basic Progress' could not absorb it.

"Then we wait."

Meng Nan stood up.

He also went to a side desk to record some thoughts and experiences, and briefly jot down some non-confidential daily trifles.

"Are you done?"

Zhao Xiaoshuang finished her cultivation quickly, and after writing her thoughts, she looked at Meng Nan. Seeing him put down his brush, she went to fetch a basin of hot water.

The couple chatted while soaking their feet.

"I won't buy fish from Aunt Li's place next time. I ran into Eldest Sister-in-law today, and Aunt Li was too quick to say I buy fish there every day. Eldest Sister-in-law, you know how she is, she almost shamed me to death just by looking at me without saying a word."

Zhao Xiaoshuang's cheeks flushed slightly.

Even though she had been a wife for a month, she was still no match for women like Sun Mei, the other eldest sisters-in-law, or Aunt Li, when it came to these matters. She was quite thin-skinned.

Meng Nan chuckled when he heard this, rubbing his feet together. "Then we won't go. I'll get some pig and sheep intestines another day."

"You know so much!"

Zhao Xiaoshuang lightly patted Meng Nan's arm, her blush deepening. She looked up at him and asked softly, "Don't you want children?"

She had asked Eldest Sister-in-law Sun Mei. The rules of Yinlian Village were the same as her maiden family's. If she didn't get pregnant for a long time, it would be troublesome.

"Let's wait a bit longer."

"If I can advance to the Inner Qi Stage by the end of the year, then we won't have to rush to have children before we're twenty-four."

"If I don't reach the Inner Qi Stage by the end of the year, then we'll have one first."

Meng Nan had carefully considered this issue, even when he was in the future timeline and interacting with Meng Xingzhe, Meng Jian, and Meng Santan.

After much thought.

He decided not to have children for now.

Having children was simple.

But raising them was difficult.

Meng Nan was devoted to the immortal path and wanted Zhao Xiaoshuang to progress with him. Having more children would make cultivating with a family incredibly difficult.

It was better not to for now.

Once they had achieved success in their cultivation and both had the ability, they could have children.

As long as he could advance to the Inner Qi Stage before the end of the year, the matter of having children could be postponed.

"What do you think?"

After explaining his thoughts to Zhao Xiaoshuang, Meng Nan asked for her opinion.

"I—"

Zhao Xiaoshuang touched her belly, pursed her lips, and then replied, "I already am."

"..."

Meng Nan was stunned.

Thanks to 'Moxing Pavilion' for the 1500 reward; thanks to 'Qiyue' for the 500 reward; thanks to 'More Equal Than Equal', 'Immeasurable Dao Dao' for the 100 reward;