Cultivation, Right Beneath Your Fingertips

"Join us at Spirit Butterfly Island!" Yurouzi immediately chimed in. "We have abundant resources, powerful cultivation techniques, and with me around, I can cover for you, Senior!"

"Yurouzi, don't interrupt. Let me finish first," Northern River Loose Cultivator said.

Yurouzi sheepishly withdrew.

"What are the differences between the two?" Song Shuhang inquired.

Northern River Loose Cultivator: "Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. But generally speaking, the benefits of joining a sect far outweigh being a rogue cultivator. So, let's talk about joining a sect first."

"Once you join a sect, you'll have a dedicated master to guide your cultivation and impart experience, greatly reducing mistakes and saving a lot of time. As long as you have talent and are diligent, you won't lack resources, techniques, or cultivation grounds. This choice is more suitable for those who are wholeheartedly focused on cultivation."

"However... joining a sect means you must abide by its rules and serve the sect. After all, without rules, there's no order. You receive so many resources from the sect, so you must contribute to it. Especially for sects like Master Tongxuan's, you'd have to shave your head and observe all sorts of Buddhist rules. You'd also have to bid farewell to your mortal family, working hard until you graduate. If you're unlucky, you might never see your parents again in your lifetime."

Northern River Loose Cultivator had almost been tricked into becoming a young monk in his childhood, and he clearly held a grudge against Buddhist sects.

Wandering Monk Tongxuan popped up, sending a goofy smiling emoji.

Northern River Loose Cultivator immediately added, "Hahaha, actually, it's not just Master Tongxuan's sect. Other sects also require you to say goodbye to your family to some extent. After all, sects aren't just loose sand; disciples need to live within the sect. You rarely get to go out before graduating."

Wandering Monk Tongxuan sent another grinning emoji—did this master's previous goofy smile imply a threat to Northern River Loose Cultivator?

"There's no reward without effort. It's only right," Song Shuhang understood. But in his heart, he already knew that joining a sect wasn't suitable for him.

At least, not for his current self—he wasn't ready to part with his family and leave home to cultivate exclusively. He still had attachments in this world.

"Senior Song, our Spirit Butterfly Island is much freer in this regard. As long as you can cultivate to the 3rd Rank Postnatal Battle King realm, you can leave Spirit Butterfly Island for a period each year. And with me here, I can secure greater freedom for you," Yurouzi was still diligently promoting Spirit Butterfly Island.

"Thank you," Song Shuhang said sincerely.

However, 3rd Rank Postnatal Battle King was an incredibly distant prospect.

Yurouzi was called a genius by people in the group. She started cultivating from a young age and is now in her early twenties, yet she's only at the 3rd Rank Postnatal Battle King realm.

Song Shuhang didn't consider himself a genius at all. If he only reached this realm in forty or fifty years, he'd basically be separated from his parents by death.

"Ahem! Let me tell you about rogue cultivators next. You can probably tell, I'm a rogue cultivator," Northern River Loose Cultivator chuckled. "Compared to joining a sect, rogue cultivators don't have guidance, resources, or blessed cultivation grounds. Everything relies on oneself. The only benefit, perhaps, is freedom without restraint?"

Rogue cultivation was arduous. Northern River Loose Cultivator was relatively lucky among rogue cultivators. In his youth, he befriended Su Clan's A-Seven and received much care from him. Later, on A-Seven's recommendation, he joined the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces. In this group, he thrived, reaching the peak of the 5th Rank Spirit Emperor realm, just one step away from promotion.

For ordinary rogue cultivators, without teachers, resources, intelligence, or blessed grounds, cultivation would become extremely difficult after reaching the second 3rd Rank realm, and they would turn to dust upon reaching the end of their lifespan.

"Then where do rogue cultivators get their techniques and resources?" Song Shuhang felt that the prospects for rogue cultivators were bleak.

"Haha, if you hadn't joined the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces, I would have recommended you join a sect. After all, being a rogue cultivator is truly too difficult. It's not like the old days; finding spiritual pills and medicinal herbs in the mortal world is incredibly challenging. But the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces is a special group. Here, the group leader True Monarch Yellow Mountain and other powerful seniors' experience allows them to offer some small assistance to group members. You can obtain some desired rewards from True Monarchs and the like. This is also how seniors in the group help the juniors. Or, if ordinary group members need help and you can assist, you can also receive some reward. Just like this time with Yurouzi, you received two boxes of medicinal ingredients. Of course, there aren't many prodigal girls like Yurouzi who are so generous. Don't expect to easily get so many medicinal ingredients as a reward every time," Northern River Loose Cultivator teased.

"Senior North River! I'm not prodigal!" Feathery sent an angry emoji.

Song Shuhang imagined the girl puffing out her cheeks in anger, looking cute and adorable.

Northern River Loose Cultivator laughed. "So, if you choose to be a rogue cultivator, make more appearances in the group. As long as you're diligent, you can slowly obtain techniques, pills, and resources. Honestly, the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces already has the nascent form of a sect."

Hearing this, Song Shuhang was already tempted. In the short term, rogue cultivation was indeed the most suitable path for him.

Northern River Loose Cultivator: "So, sect or rogue cultivator, how do you choose?"

After Northern River Loose Cultivator finished speaking, Copper Gua Master chimed in, adding, "Little friend Shuhang, this concerns your future cultivation path, so you don't need to rush your decision. Calm down and consider it carefully. Choose wisely, lest you regret it later."

"Thank you, seniors. I understand. I choose to be a rogue cultivator," Song Shuhang had already made up his mind.

"Won't you consider it further? Once you choose to be a rogue cultivator, it will be very difficult to join a sect later," Copper Gua Master reminded him again.

Sects generally do not recruit rogue cultivators.

After all, it's easier to paint on a blank canvas than to modify a scribbled picture.

Moreover, in terms of loyalty to the sect, rogue cultivators cannot compare to disciples raised from a young age; there are too many unstable factors.

Therefore, unless a rogue cultivator's talent is exceptionally outstanding or they possess a specific specialty, few sects are willing to recruit them.

"Yes, I've thought it through," Song Shuhang replied earnestly. This was his choice, and whether good or bad, he would not regret it.

Copper Gua Master nodded and said no more.

A moment later, Northern River Loose Cultivator replied, "Little friend Shuhang, since you've chosen to be a rogue cultivator, what you need most now are body-tempering methods and meditation techniques for Foundation Establishment. Normally, according to our habits in the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces, to obtain something, you must first put in effort. If a senior or fellow cultivator in the group needs help and you can assist, after completing their request, you can obtain some of the techniques and resources you need."

"However... you're a bit special. We've never had an ordinary mortal join the No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces before. Your strength is too weak. If we don't help you establish your foundation first, even if seniors or fellow cultivators in the group have needs, you might not have the strength to help."

After all, situations like Yurouzi's, where she only needed help finding her way, were rare. Most of the help cultivators needed was related to cultivation.

Song Shuhang sent an embarrassed smile.

"So, if you don't mind, I can pre-advance you a Foundation Establishment fist technique and meditation method. Combined with your own 'Body Tempering Liquid,' it will be enough for you to achieve Foundation Establishment in a hundred days and officially enter the 1st Rank Leap Mortal realm."

"After successfully establishing your foundation, you'll be able to complete some tasks for fellow cultivators and seniors in the group. You'll also have the opportunity to repay my advance—of course, what I can advance to you is only the most basic cultivation methods."

Northern River Loose Cultivator added, "Additionally, if you can obtain a 'Qi and Blood Pill,' it can significantly reduce the time required for a hundred-day Foundation Establishment."

The No. 1 Group of the Nine Provinces was originally a small circle of mutual assistance, and seniors often helped juniors. Pre-advancing a basic cultivation technique, common among cultivators, to a junior was a simple matter.

Since Song Shuhang had already joined the group, becoming a cultivator was a certainty.

Moreover, after Northern River Loose Cultivator pre-advanced a basic cultivation technique, he became Song Shuhang's half-guide. This kindness was enough for Song Shuhang to remember for a lifetime—as for the other half-guide, it was naturally the wealthy girl Yurouzi who gifted him two boxes of medicinal ingredients.

Upon hearing this, Song Shuhang's heart warmed. Even if it was an advance, even if it was the most basic cultivation technique, it was something he desperately needed right now.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard—next, he only needed to type a few words, and the door to 'cultivation' would truly open for him!

Just then, a message popped up in the group.