Speak of Cao Cao, and Little Qiao Appears

Jiang Chen collected his inner sect disciple robes, along with a disciple sword made by the Azure Mist Sect and a Storage Ring.

He shed his blue-gray cloth servant's uniform and changed into a gauzy disciple robe of interwoven blue and azure. Its sleeves fluttered without wind, spiritual energy seeped into his skin and bones, and with a five-foot azure sword at his side, Jiang Chen finally carried the graceful bearing of an immortal cultivator.

The Storage Ring was somewhat wasted on him, though.

Storage Rings had originally been high-end goods, priced far above traditional storage pouches. After the Azure Mist Sect mastered the manufacturing process, it drove their prices below even those of storage pouches, sweeping across the Fireburn Kingdom and even the western HZ market. It was practically the rabbit of the cultivation world.

As a result, every Azure Mist Sect disciple had one. If outer sect servants had possessed enough cultivation to open Storage Rings, every servant would have had one too, looking quite impressive.

Jiang Chen's simulator came with its own inventory. The Storage Ring could only serve as decoration, or conceal the inventory during battle. It would still be useful for launching surprise attacks.

Within the Azure Mist Sect's inner sect, the peaks were too steep, leaving few places suitable for building cave abodes. Qi Refining disciples could not have private cave abodes.

Accustomed to living in a cave abode on Stubborn Stone Peak, Jiang Chen now had no choice but to stay in the disciple quarters.

Tranquil Heart Peak's disciple quarters stood along the front mountain ridge, like rows of villas. The scenery was quite good, though the spiritual energy density and formation layout could not compare to a private cave abode.

The disciple quarters were divided by gender, and only one room was vacant. Jiang Chen had no choice and moved in that very night.

It had a private cultivation room, latticed windows on two sides, moonlight spilling in, and a gentle mountain breeze.

Jiang Chen sat cross-legged, settled his divine sense, circulated his spiritual energy through the heavenly cycle, and began meditating. He soon fell asleep.

Early the next morning.

Jiang Chen went to meet Tranquil Heart Peak's teaching deacon, Chen Gongxing, a middle-aged man who had devoted a hundred years to growing wheat.

His wheat field lay along a rugged mountain ridge.

The wheat stalks grew in disorder—tall and short, straight and bent, green and yellow, each displaying its own charm. The grain was equally unremarkable, crooked and misshapen, each with its own grade.

The only thing they shared was the clear, free fragrance of wheat each plant emitted—a fragrance that did not exist for humankind.

A middle-aged man with a conical hat covering his face lay atop a huge boulder beside the wheat field.

His head rested on a hoe handle, a longsword lay in his arms, and a short wheat stalk hung from his lips as he hummed a melodious tune.

Jiang Chen had heard a little about Deacon Chen.

His talent was ordinary, yet through remarkable comprehension and willpower, he had cultivated all the way to Foundation Establishment Peak. He was known as the Watcher in the Wheat Field, the strongest below Golden Core.

"Disciple Jiang Chen arrived on the mountain only last night and has come especially to pay respects to Deacon Chen!"

Chen Gongxing kept his conical hat on and did not spare Jiang Chen a glance. He merely said,

"Shh. Can you hear the whispers of the wheat ears?"

Jiang Chen had long heard that Deacon Chen had an eccentric temperament, so he did not mind.

"This disciple is slow-witted. I ask Deacon Chen for guidance."

A hint of disappointment entered Chen Gongxing's voice as he recited the usual answer.

"Tranquil Heart Peak has a high concentration of spiritual energy. Lower-level cultivation focuses on calming the mind and enduring hardship, while higher-level cultivation centers on soul arts and Dao techniques. Since you have only just arrived, you may farm, gather herbs, cut bamboo, raise spirit insects... choose one and do it for a few years. When you grow tired of it, come find me."

How could Jiang Chen not know that Chen Gongxing himself had entered the inner sect from outer sect Qi Refining back then? Now he merely wanted to repeat his own cultivation experience, without teaching according to aptitude.

"Reporting to Deacon Chen, this disciple has cultivated bitterly for many years at the outer sect's Stubborn Stone Peak. I grew tired of such work long ago."

Chen Gongxing froze. He climbed to his feet, removed his conical hat, and looked Jiang Chen over. Sure enough, he saw in Jiang Chen's eyes the simplicity and resolve unique to one who had cultivated through hardship.

"Stubborn Stone Peak... come to think of it, I entered from the outer sect myself. I lived on Little Cricket Peak beside Stubborn Stone Peak and often secretly watched the senior sisters of Sunset Glow Peak."

"A servant disciple capable of entering the inner sect has sufficient character. Very well, take this jade slip first.

"It contains Basic Spirit Control and sword control methods. Study them on your own first. Come find me again when you encounter a bottleneck."

With that, he tossed Jiang Chen a jade slip.

Study Basic Spirit Control and sword control by himself...

Jiang Chen did not show his disappointment. He neatly caught the jade slip, cupped his hands, and bowed.

"Thank you, Deacon Chen!"

Over the following days.

During the day, Jiang Chen found a secluded place in Tranquil Heart Peak's back mountain to study sword control and spirit control. At night, he returned to the disciple quarters to meditate quietly.

Most other Tranquil Heart Peak disciples at the Qi Refining stage farmed and cultivated diligently, while those at the Foundation Establishment stage mostly completed missions in exchange for sect contribution points.

There were not many like Jiang Chen who studied spirit control on their own.

Gradually, fellow disciples began pointing at him behind his back and making idle remarks.

Within the same disciple quarters, only a short, stout Qi Refining disciple took the initiative to speak with Jiang Chen.

"Junior Brother Jiang, my name is Wang Baolin. I also rose into the inner sect from Stubborn Stone Peak. Self-study is not easy, so feel free to ask me anything you do not understand!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wang."

This showed that birds of a feather flocked together. Those with mediocre talent liked spending time with others of mediocre talent.

Even Deacon Chen regarded him differently.

Because he did not want to betray friends, nor did he want to be betrayed by them, Jiang Chen did not particularly like making friends.

Still, he would not keep people at arm's length. He simply remained as indifferent as water, observing courtesy and nothing more.

The contents of Deacon Chen's jade slip were best suited for disciples with ordinary talent like Jiang Chen to study on their own.

Spirit control was object control. It primarily involved using one's own spiritual energy to merge with the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, thus allowing one to manipulate objects from afar.

Jiang Chen's talent was evenly distributed. He knew a little of all five elements, but excelled at none of them.

After several days of cultivation, Jiang Chen could already form things like spiraling water spheres and fireballs...

He still found Spiritual Power Snap, which tested talent more heavily, difficult to master.

Fortunately, three days later, he learned sword control.

After all, Azure Mist Sect disciple swords came with wind control and balancing functions, allowing even Qi Refining disciples to master them easily.

Though daily spirit control practice was tedious, it was quite interesting for a newcomer like Jiang Chen.

Even if the progress was slight, he improved every day.

So much so that he had forgotten he even had a system!

In the bamboo forest of Tranquil Heart Peak's back mountain, atop a certain huge boulder.

Jiang Chen flicked a finger at a bamboo leaf from afar. A rustling wind sounded, the bamboo branches swayed, but he could not pierce the leaf.

This meant the condensation of his Wind Spirit Flick was too weak. Once launched, it quickly dispersed and became a gust of wind.

"Failed again..."

Only then did he suddenly remember the system.

"It has already been five days since Senior Sister Liu set fire to the mountain. Why is the simulator still not online... What exactly counts as the main storyline?"

Speak of Cao Cao, and Little Qiao appeared.

The simulator had not come online, but Liu Ruyan had arrived.

Her petite figure, pretty face, and calm, watery eyes carried a faint trace of resentment as she stared directly at Jiang Chen.

"I searched for ages. I never expected Senior to become a disciple of my Tranquil Heart Peak."

A single day as husband and wife brought a hundred days of affection. Seeing Liu Ruyan again five days later, Jiang Chen still felt rather melancholy.

It was difficult to equate the cold and aloof Senior Sister Liu before him with the sly, seductive Thousand-Faced Fox.

"Wasn't I worried about Senior Sister Liu using illusion arts to follow me every day? So I came right to your door."

Liu Ruyan covered her mouth and laughed. Her expression relaxed as she flicked her finger, piercing several bamboo leaves, then mocked Jiang Chen in return:

"Senior sees through hearts and predicts everything like a god. Who would have thought your talent for spirit control would be so mediocre?"

Jiang Chen had a headache too, but he said,

"I think talent can be made up for with resources and hard work. Being handsome, however, lasts a lifetime. I like this body very much. Do you have any objections?"

Liu Ruyan paced with her hands behind her back, carefully examining Jiang Chen's figure and appearance before finally shaking her head.

"This junior believes an immortal cultivator can easily alter their appearance with spells. Yet making up for mediocre cultivation talent is as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Jiang Chen smiled instead and said:

"If I show myself in disguise and people discover it, they will judge my true appearance with the greatest malice. They may even suspect that I am a demon beast capable of taking human form."

As he spoke, he deliberately stared at Liu Ruyan's pert side hip, his gaze calm, as though nine fox tails might emerge from there at any moment.

Liu Ruyan turned away. Her eyes shifted slightly, and a startled feeling of being seen through rose within her.

"Last time, Senior said our sect was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Might I ask whether you had any particular person in mind?"

Jiang Chen froze. At the time, he had merely said it to frighten Liu Ruyan and buy time for Azure Mist Sect.

He had already run away. Who would have thought that after wandering through several places, he would meet Liu Ruyan again?

Just as he did not know how to answer, a line of transparent text appeared before his eyes—

[Main storyline two, "Demi-Immortal's Book," is now online. Would you like to view it immediately and participate in the storyline simulation?]