What Does It Feel Like to Be Cultivated?

What was it like to be cultivated? Held in the palm of Fu Chengqin's hand, Gu Yuan did not feel the slightest inconvenience, instead curiously sizing up his surroundings.

They followed a path forward.

Before long, a faint clamor reached his "ears."

He could vaguely hear vendors calling out and people laughing. The sounds mingled together, suggesting they were about to enter the true gathering area of the outer sect.

"Freshly acquired demon beast inner cores! Still fresh!"

"Take a look, have a look! Not 998, not 98—starting from just one spirit stone! One spirit stone, browse and buy as you please!"

"Selling pills! Genuine pills distributed by the sect this month! Tenfold compensation for fakes! I urgently need spirit stones, so come quickly if you want them!"

"Looking for companions to grind missions! Need one more mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"

As those voices grew clearer, the prosperity of the outer sect officially came into Gu Yuan's view.

Still, with so many outer sect disciples setting up stalls, it seemed their lives were not all that easy either.

As they passed those cultivators' stalls, Gu Yuan somehow kept feeling gazes turning toward him.

No, that was not right. They were looking at Fu Chengqin.

The person in question showed no reaction at all to those scrutinizing looks. Even the rhythm of his steps did not change.

"That's him, right? I caught a glimpse of him at the gate when I was heading out on a mission."

A plainly dressed man standing beside a stall cautiously spoke to his friend. His voice was very low, but Gu Yuan could hear him.

That person?

Judging by this, the kid was pretty well-known.

As the son of an inner sect elder, could he be some kind of spoiled young master?

"You know about him too?"

"Bullshit! How could anyone not know? He knelt outside the outer sect without eating or drinking for an entire month before the Third Elder of the inner sect made an exception and admitted him into the outer sect."

"Say what you will, but I admire that perseverance. At least he's tougher than those people kneeling at the gate after hearing the rumors."

"Yeah. No food or water, and he's only in the Qi Refining Realm. Not one of those guys outside has lasted more than five days."

"Admire my ass. He used crooked methods to enter Cangyuan Palace. Even if trash like him gets into the outer sect, he'll still be trash."

He had knelt there for an entire month?

What kind of script was this?

The protagonist's script for a fantasy cultivation novel?

No.

Gu Yuan froze at the words, then suddenly realized something.

The Third Elder of the inner sect?

Wasn't that Fu Chengqin's biological father?

What kind of plot was this?

Gu Yuan could not even be described as confused right now. He was extremely confused, to the point that it felt like his brain was about to grow.

Could it have been some kind of trial... bullshit!

The street was long, but it had an end eventually.

After passing through several alleyways, Fu Chengqin finally returned to his residence.

It had to be said that although outer sect disciples each had their own cave abode, the living conditions were miserably shabby.

Even from the outside, the place felt desolate.

Inside the cave abode.

Gu Yuan briefly inspected the interior decorations. They were no different from what the outside suggested.

This was how the son of an inner sect elder lived?

No, wait. Why was he still walking?

After closing the door to the cave abode, Fu Chengqin neither lay down on the bed nor tidied the room. Instead, he walked toward a chessboard.

The chessboard looked rather mysterious.

A cultivation world, a mysterious chessboard.

Gu Yuan suddenly felt something was off.

A golden finger?

The first thing he did upon returning was seek out this chessboard. He valued it so much—it had to be a golden fin—

While Gu Yuan was still speculating, he watched Fu Chengqin move two pieces on the chessboard. Then an inexplicable tremor came through.

Not far away, a square entrance formed in the ground.

So it was an entrance passage.

"Qin'er, come over."

The instant the entrance opened, an aged voice rang out, sounding especially kind.

"Father."

Fu Chengqin's expression, which had remained unchanged for so long, now gained a trace of respect and reverence.

The Third Elder of the inner sect?

Well, this family was running a spy rendezvous here.

The passage was somewhat narrow and long, apparently dug specifically for this purpose. Gu Yuan did not need anyone to tell him where it led.

The inner sect!

Beyond the passage was a grand hall.

Several elderly men sat within the hall, each wearing a kind smile.

"Qin'er, you have returned at just the right time. This is your Uncle Li, the Vice Palace Master. This is your Uncle Wang, the First Elder of the inner sect..."

The speaker was Fu Chengqin's father, who smiled as he introduced the seated men to Fu Chengqin.

[Name: Li Yuan]

[Cultivation: Late-stage Divine Transformation]

[Identity: Vice Palace Master of Cangyuan Palace]

[Status: Quite interested]

Vice Palace Master?

Elders?

Quite interested?

What was all this supposed to mean?

Hadn't they said this kid knelt outside the outer sect for a month before being admitted? Hadn't he concealed his identity?

Still, these people's cultivation levels were truly impressive. Even the weakest among them were Nascent Soul powerhouses.

What a pity. He was currently a Qi Refining Formula, so there was no way for him to cultivate.

"Greetings, uncles."

Fu Chengqin smiled faintly and bowed to the group with impeccable grace, looking completely at ease.

He was polite and refined, but Gu Yuan vaguely felt that Fu Chengqin had known these uncles for a long time.

The next stretch of time descended into the boring phase of exchanging empty pleasantries.

It made Gu Yuan drowsy.

Still, the information hidden within it was quite abundant.

For instance, this kid had indeed gotten in through the back door. Kneeling there for a month had merely been to create a reasonable excuse and opportunity.

Going without food and water for a month? Those uncles had been helping behind the scenes. Otherwise, he would have starved to death long ago.

As for why they had done this.

Gu Yuan pieced it together from some scattered remarks.

It seemed that Cangyuan Palace had some ancient monster who was incredibly powerful and had laid down a bunch of stupid rules that these people did not dare violate.

Yet it was inevitable that they might have descendants or blood relatives outside whose talent was not quite enough.

With circumstances like that, there would always be clever people.

Take that Vice Palace Master, for example. He currently had two personal disciples. One of them had also been exceptionally admitted into the outer sect. After breaking through to Foundation Establishment and entering the inner sect, he had transformed into a personal disciple overnight.

It was said that this disciple had desperately wanted to join Cangyuan Palace. During a sect war, despite only being at the initial stage of Qi Refining, he charged into the battle and saved dozens of Cangyuan Palace disciples.

As for the twists and turns behind that story, and whether it was true or false, perhaps only those elders knew.

Even if they did know, they were interested parties, so they simply kept quiet.

"Qin'er, I have already asked someone to find the cultivation technique most suitable for you, but it will take some time."

The conversation was drawing to a close. The Vice Palace Masters and elders who had come to socialize had already left, leaving only Fu Chengqin and Fu Mingtian in the hall.

Fu Mingtian looked at his youngest son with great fondness, then turned his gaze toward Fu Chengqin's hand.

An inexplicable surge of energy swept over him. Gu Yuan could clearly sense its vastness.

Nascent Soul cultivators were truly terrifying.

Of course, even in the face of that energy, Gu Yuan was not the least bit nervous. What could possibly be worse than becoming a Qi Refining Formula?

After a long while, Fu Mingtian withdrew his gaze and softly said to Fu Chengqin, "Your cultivation before this was built entirely by piling up spiritual energy, and that could only bring you to the initial stage of Qi Refining. I have carefully looked through this Qi Refining Formula. It should be suitable for helping you transition during this period."

"Alright, Father."

Fu Chengqin nodded without refusing.

Cultivate me?

Fu Chengqin had not refused, but Gu Yuan could not shake the feeling that something was strange.

What did it feel like to be cultivated?