Five Years

At this moment, Lin Cong's injuries had become completely invisible.

He had changed into a fresh set of clothes; the bloodstained garments he had worn before had likely already been discarded.

The depression in his chest had also been fully healed, no longer as horrifying as before.

Now, aside from regaining his former burly, fierce build, Lin Cong was hardly any different from an ordinary cultivator.

After a month and a half of recuperation,

he had fully recovered.

Looking at Lin Cong before him, a glimmer of spiritual light flashed through He Song's eyes.

"Spiritual Eye Technique!"

With a single glance, He Song saw that Lin Cong was still at Qi Refining Layer 3 and had not broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage.

After a month, He Song had practiced the two basic spells to the point where he could cast them normally without weakening their power.

He had now fully mastered both the Spiritual Eye Technique and the Sound Transmission Technique.

Thus, upon encountering Lin Cong, He Song had subconsciously used the Spiritual Eye Technique, wanting to see what Lin Cong's cultivation was now.

"Congratulations, fellow cultivator, on making a full recovery from your injuries. Please, come in." As the spiritual light faded, He Song smiled and spoke.

Since his neighbor had come to visit, He Song naturally would not turn him away at arm's length.

He opened the door,

invited Lin Cong inside, and had him take a seat.

There was nothing in He Song's home that he could use to entertain a guest.

Thus, he could only take out the tea set Wei Fan had given him and brew Lin Cong a pot of tea.

He Song did not know whether the tea was good or bad.

But tea gifted by an expert at the Qi Refining Late Stage like Wei Fan surely could not be ordinary.

It should have been more than enough to entertain a Qi Refining Layer 3 cultivator like Lin Cong.

"Good tea. Fellow cultivator, you truly know how to enjoy life." After taking a light sip, Lin Cong voiced his praise.

At that, He Song raised a brow.

It seemed he had said something similar to Wei Fan before.

He just did not know whether Lin Cong genuinely thought the tea was good, or whether he could not taste the difference at all and was simply shouting nonsense.

He poured Lin Cong another cup of tea.

He Song shook his head and cast aside the thoughts in his mind.

Whatever. It was only a pot of tea.

"As for whether this tea is good or bad, I truly do not know. However, both the tea set and tea leaves were gifts from a senior. My humble home is simple, and this pot of tea is the only thing I can present. I hope you will not mind, fellow cultivator."

The tea was certainly fine tea.

The tea set was certainly of excellent quality as well.

A casual gift from a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator was no small opportunity for an early Qi Refining cultivator like He Song.

Though He Song did not know the price of the tea leaves or tea set, it certainly would not be low.

He said this only to pique Lin Cong's curiosity and prompt him to ask who this senior was.

Once Lin Cong asked, He Song could naturally reveal that he had a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator as a friend, letting Lin Cong know that he had backing as well.

The fate of the person who had climbed into Lin Cong's home a month ago flashed through his mind, and a trace of wariness flickered in He Song's eyes.

Rogue Cultivators who lived with their blades licking blood were far too dangerous for him.

If he could not make them wary of him, he would likely have to live in constant fear from now on.

"Oh? A gift from a senior? May I ask, fellow cultivator, what is that senior's cultivation?" Sure enough, upon hearing He Song's words, Lin Cong immediately asked in surprise.

"Qi Refining stage 7."

"..."

A short while later, He Song personally saw Lin Cong out.

At this moment, Lin Cong's attitude toward He Song had clearly changed greatly.

Originally, He Song had felt that while Lin Cong had been courteous to him, it was only because of the clothes he wore and because Lin Cong did not wish to offend him.

But now that he knew He Song had the backing of a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator, Lin Cong was already inclined to befriend him.

Simply being an employee within the Immortal Market was not frightening.

What was frightening was having backing as well.

Who could guarantee that He Song could not ask that Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator to act?

Befriending someone like this meant that if something happened in the future, he might truly be able to lend a hand.

With such thoughts in mind, Lin Cong's change in attitude toward He Song was only natural.

He Song watched Lin Cong depart.

Then he turned and closed the door.

Returning to the table, He Song picked up the still-warm tea and silently poured himself a cup.

"Backing and status? They are only flowers in a mirror, moons reflected in water. The only thing I can rely on is myself."

Sitting upright beside the table, He Song showed no look of smug satisfaction.

Even though invoking his backing had made Lin Cong regard him in a new light, He Song felt no pride.

He knew it.

Backing and status were all insubstantial things.

Only one's own cultivation was what could truly let one stand tall.

Backing might cut off contact with him simply because of a momentary displeasure.

Status might also be stripped away by the Immortal Market.

But once one's own cultivation improved, it was an improvement forever, something no one could take away.

Still, despite thinking so, He Song was rather satisfied with what he had just done.

For someone like Lin Cong, who lived with his blade licking blood,

if He Song did not give him some deterrence, he would not even be able to cultivate peacefully at home.

Only by letting the other party know he was not someone to be trifled with could he prevent him from harboring needless schemes.

Thinking of it this way,

He Song had achieved his purpose.

From the change in Lin Cong's attitude before and after his visit, it was clear that Lin Cong would most likely no longer harbor any schemes against him.

The worries in his heart dissipated.

He Song took a large gulp of tea.

Then he began that day's cultivation.

The days passed one by one like this.

He Song's life was highly routine.

After finishing his morning cultivation, he would head out to the Spirit Field and cast the Spirit Rain Technique for half an hour.

Then he would return home to meditate and restore the spiritual power in his body.

If he had business, he would go out after restoring his spiritual power.

If he had no business, He Song would occasionally visit Lingjian Pavilion to chat and drink tea with Wei Fan, or go to the Spirit Medicine Pavilion to chat and drink tea with Meng Guan.

Other than that, He Song immersed himself in cultivation every day.

Time flowed on.

The years flew like arrows.

In the blink of an eye, five quiet years had passed.

Over those five years, He Song had lived very peacefully.

There had been no attacks by demonic cultivators.

No natural disasters or human calamities.

And no great wars between sects.

Everything was calm.

Still, He Song occasionally learned some secret news of the outside world from Wei Fan.

For example, some Rogue Cultivator had purchased something within the Immortal Market, only to be surrounded and slain by demonic cultivators the moment he left.

Or someone unwilling to remain ordinary had resigned from his post at the Immortal Market and headed for Qingyuan Immortal City, only to vanish halfway there.

Or someone had discovered a precious Ore Vein somewhere, drawing countless families into a struggle for it, until the Thick Earth Sect finally stepped in and claimed the Ore Vein.

All sorts of secret news gave He Song a deeper understanding of the current cultivation world.

Meanwhile, He Song's cultivation had risen from Qi Refining Layer 1 to his current Qi Refining Layer 3.

Sitting cross-legged on his cushion, He Song let out a long breath as spiritual light burst brilliantly from his eyes.

Having just broken through to Qi Refining Layer 3, He Song was temporarily unable to fully control the surging spiritual power within his body.

Threads of spiritual power leaked from his eyes, creating the sight of spiritual light flashing brilliantly within them.

"Qi Refining Layer 3. Next, I need to accumulate spiritual power and break through the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Middle Stage."

Feeling the spiritual power within his body, far stronger than before, He Song's eyes flashed with a smile.

The further increase in spiritual power meant He Song could manage more Spirit Fields.

Managing more Spirit Fields meant that the Spirit Stones he could earn would grow ever greater.