Blowing Wind and Gazing at Stars, a Rare Tranquility

With the Golden Silkworm Gu successfully refined, Chen Dengming's mission for the Lüo Family was considered complete. His days of safe and worry-free cultivation in a Spirit Vein location were also coming to an end.

He was about to return to the dilapidated Rogue Cultivator Gathering Place and compete with a large group of Rogue Cultivators for various cultivation resources.

Resources were always the origin of conflict.

This was true in every world.

But it was especially apparent in the Cultivation World.

Cultivators all needed Spiritual Energy and spiritual items for their practice, and most of the time, they didn't even have enough for themselves, let alone others.

Furthermore, Daoist cultivation often involved bìguān (closed-door cultivation) that lasted for over a decade.

As time passed, one might emerge from seclusion to find everything and everyone changed, and their emotions gradually faded. Therefore, most cultivators were indifferent to others and selfish, valuing material resources highly.

Even the wealthy Lüo Family was like this.

At least Chen Dengming had never heard of any extravagant second-generation heirs in the Lüo Family.

Even someone like Lüo Bing, the foremost talent of her generation, sometimes appeared to be penny-pinching and placed great importance on resources and benefits. While it somewhat damaged her fairy-like image, this was the reality of people.

More real than Lüo Bing were some of the Lüo Family's disciples. After Lüo Bing's engagement issues recently, more people began loitering outside her courtyard. They would smile and ask the 'outsider' inside what they were doing, but privately, they likely wanted to find an opportunity to condemn them at the family meeting.

At this moment, in the temporarily peaceful room.

Sniffing the wisps of spiritual incense drifting from the toad-shaped incense burner in the four corners of the room, Chen Dengming carefully observed his status panel.

"Qi Cultivation Second Level Cultivator [Chen Dengming] Lifespan: 162/202 Spiritual Root: Metal, Wood (Medium-grade 50/100) Martial Arts: Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline (Perfection 99/100) Daoist Magic: Gu Refining Chapter (Master 25/100), Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique (Second Level 197/200), Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique (First Level 37/100), Great Fireball Technique (Proficient 3/100), Artifact Control Technique (Beginner 67/100), Wood Escape Technique (Beginner 18/100), Golden Spear Technique (Proficient 2/100)"

Compared to when he broke through to Qi Cultivation Second Level, his various Daoist Magic and cultivation had improved significantly.

Especially Gu Refining Art, which had directly advanced from Proficient to Master level, increasing his lifespan by eight years.

Coupled with the one-tier, two-level Wood Escape Technique, which had increased his lifespan by six years from learning to Beginner level, his maximum lifespan had reached 202 years, touching the lower limit of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

However, during this period, he had also gritted his teeth and consumed sixty years of his lifespan to cultivate Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique, increasing his Spiritual Energy affinity by 40 points, reaching the medium affinity of a Medium-grade Spiritual Root.

As a result, his cultivation speed had also soared.

Even though the Metal Spiritual Energy still overwhelmed most of the Wood Spiritual Energy upon contact, after taking the Pure Spirit Pill, his cultivation speed had already approached the upper level of Low-grade Spiritual Roots.

This led to his cultivation speed not falling much, even though the second round of Gu refining tasks was much busier. He was now on the verge of breaking through to Qi Cultivation Third Level.

By now, he only needed to continue cultivating in the Lüo Family until tomorrow morning to break through to Qi Cultivation Third Level.

However, "the tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind." Chen Dengming did not intend to break through in the Lüo Family.

Although he believed Lüo Bing would not care about his cultivation speed, nor would she discuss the "tallest tree" with someone like him who had "limited time left," the Lüo Family was still a large clan with many outsiders. He instinctively wanted to hide his abilities and return to the Gathering Place discreetly.

"This cultivation speed is actually quite fast. Others aren't like me; as long as I cultivate, my cultivation will increase, and I'll break through directly without bottlenecks once the proficiency is reached," Chen Dengming thought to himself.

He was already satisfied with his current cultivation progress.

Especially the Golden Spear Technique and Fireball Technique, which could now be cast instantly, were the results of hard work and his life-saving capital. The frenzied cultivation had temporarily come to an end.

He opened his eyes, got up from the futon, and walked to the living room, where he saw Xu Wei busy packing his luggage.

From clothes to some daily necessities he had saved and was reluctant to use, everything was meticulously placed in the bag, showing her considerate care.

"Did I forget anything?"

Xu Wei frowned slightly and muttered. Unexpectedly, she turned around and saw a figure behind her, startling her.

Seeing that it was Chen Dengming, she patted her chest and turned back, her earlobes slightly red. Her beautiful eyes chided, "Immortal Master Chen, when did you appear? You scared the wits out of me."

'Scared the wits out of me' was a dialect from Xu Wei's hometown, meaning her soul was so scared it floated out and started sweating.

However, this dialect, like Chen Dengming's from Nanxun Kingdom, was not very popular and was considered the crude accent of country folk. Xi'er often mocked and scorned them for it.

This showed that even if one became a cultivator in the Cultivation World, it didn't necessarily mean they had changed their social class.

Some inherent, self-proclaimed superior classes considered their accents noble, creating a regional discrimination chain that could only be broken by absolute strength in the future.

Chen Dengming leaned casually against a pillar with a smile and said, "Xu Wei, how many times have I told you? You are already a cultivator now, so you don't need to call me Immortal Master. Just call me Brother Chen or Fellow Daoist. If that doesn't work, you can call me Fishmonger, I can accept that too."

Xu Wei looked at him with her watery, charming eyes for a moment, then lowered her head and said softly, "I know."

Chen Dengming touched his forehead, unable to stand the girl's pitiful appearance. He walked over and picked up the bag, saying, "You don't need to pack so many good clothes. Wearing such nice clothes in a place like the Gathering Place isn't very good."

Xu Wei shook her head. "Brother Chen, you are too cautious now, as if someone is going to harm you every day. You know you are a strong person who can defeat an Immortal Master at the Innate stage. You are already at Qi Cultivation Second Level now, so what's wrong with wearing decent clothes?"

As she spoke, she picked up a set of clothes and stepped forward to measure Chen Dengming against him. She had one more thing she hadn't said – 'The important thing is that these clothes were sewn by her, stitch by stitch, in her spare time.'

It didn't matter if Chen Dengming didn't accept her heart for now. Wearing clothes she had sewn herself, stitch by stitch, meant her heart was always with him, not betraying this deep affection.

Chen Dengming helplessly spread his arms, allowing Xu Wei to change his clothes, experiencing a sincerity that none of his seven wives and concubines in the mortal world had ever given him.

At least, those seven wives and concubines had never personally sewn clothes for him.

He didn't try to persuade her any further. In fact, due to her particularly obvious display of 'tender affection,' an instinctive impulse surged within him.

But he held back for the moment.

This was the Lüo Family's territory, after all, and they were outsiders, not even guests.

Even though their lives were better now than when they were in the Gathering Place, and they had even transformed into cultivators, they were still insignificant figures at the bottom of this world. It wasn't yet time for them to act recklessly.

It was truly difficult to say "no" in front of a beautiful girl.

It required not only great courage but also a hardened heart.

A man must endure many painful experiences before he can learn the word "no."

Only after experiencing much pain would a man learn to cherish the word "no."

Therefore, Chen Dengming did not speak the word "no" again!

Longevity wasn't about forgetting emotions, and Cultivation wasn't about being heartless. Otherwise, living for eons and seeing eternity, being indifferent to descendants and ignoring wives and daughters, wouldn't one be a powerful four-dimensional being devoid of emotion, not a flesh-and-blood human?

That evening, they brought out rattan chairs and lay peacefully in the courtyard, feeling the breeze and gazing at the stars. This was the first time Chen Dengming had slowed down, no longer rigidly focused on cultivation.

He suddenly felt that this was also good.

Having a sincere and understanding person by his side, breathing in that familiar subtle fragrance, and chatting about jokes that weren't really jokes, he felt an unprecedented peace and comfort in the Cultivation World, where he had always been on thin ice, wary of everyone.

This was an experience he had never had in his eighty-plus years of martial arts practice.

They looked for a long time and talked for a long time, without any thought of defining their relationship. They maintained a rare tacit understanding.

They were alike, both sensible people, sometimes even too sensible. They knew that once a certain special relationship or ritual was established, everything might become bland, even more so than after doing certain things. It was better to maintain things as they were, at least for peace of mind. When struggling to survive at the bottom of the cruel and unstable Cultivation World, having someone to trust and huddle with for warmth, feeling at peace, was already a source of happiness.

There were many stars tonight; they both felt that tomorrow might be a sunny day.

Yes, a sunny day!

At least, Chen Dengming would be in a good mood when he left tomorrow.

"It's enough that Young Master Chen is doing well."

Xu Wei looked at the stars, secretly calling him by his original title in her heart. Her eyes, like the twinkling stars, unconsciously narrowed.

She was a smart woman. A smart woman's intelligence wasn't reflected in scheming but in understanding and consideration. These two qualities were always more captivating than the most beautiful appearance.

(Two chapters released on Monday, 6,000 words asking for monthly votes! This week is the second round of recommendations, next week is quite crucial.)

The results are quite good so far. New and old readers don't need to worry too much; just keep following the daily updates. The Xianxia genre is also a change for Jia Nan. I used to write Wuxia, that kind of swift revenge, chivalrous tenderness, carefree wandering the world, and the dominance of fighting alone in a besieged city. Nothing couldn't be solved with a fight; skill would be settled on the battlefield. Beauties, swords, power, fists, wine cups, grudges – all within the word "xia" (chivalry). Now, writing Xianxia is quite different. Xianxia is not Wuxia. It can retain elements of "xia," but "wu" (martial arts) must be distinguished from "xian" (immortal). Therefore, old readers who loved Wuxia might be disappointed, but it's not Jia Nan's regression; it's an attempt at a different genre. Xianxia has its own scenery. Currently, it's a low-level start, written with detachment, cold and cruel competition, the distinction between mortals and immortals, etc., are all beginnings. More will be revealed later. I hope everyone will support me. Finally, I apologize to my old readers; Jia Nan will do his best to write well. The transition is over, and the excitement continues! Let's journey through Xianxia together!