I Can Stay Put

The so-called "place"!

It actually referred to a place to cultivate.

For example, why had the Azure Profound Sect been established in this mountain range? Because a Spirit Vein ran through it. Spirit Veins formed naturally and produced heaven and earth spiritual energy, making the energy in this region far more abundant than elsewhere.

Cultivators practicing in such a place progressed countless times faster than they would in a place depleted of spiritual energy, or in the villages and towns where mortals lived.

Of course, exactly how much a cultivation site could improve a cultivator's progress depended entirely on how abundant its heaven and earth spiritual energy was.

Mortals wanted their settlements to be safe and convenient, with food easy to find and the like.

Cultivators wanted their gathering places to have abundant heaven and earth spiritual energy and be conducive to cultivation.

Thus, cultivation sects were generally established in places rich in heaven and earth spiritual energy.

Many sects or cultivators would engage in large-scale battles, or even wars between sects, over a cultivation site or a Spirit Vein.

That showed just how important cultivation sites were to cultivators.

In another sense, a Cave Abode also counted as a "place"!

On the Azure Profound Sect's mountain peaks, heaven and earth spiritual energy was already far more abundant than in ordinary places, but Cave Abodes were equipped with formations and situated at the Spirit Veins' vents, where that energy was most plentiful.

Cultivating inside a Cave Abode was much faster than cultivating outside.

So, of the four essentials-methods, wealth, companions, and place-Ye Han had actually acquired three at once, lacking only wealth.

Methods! He had the Azure Mystic Art, a cultivation method that not just any disciple of the Azure Profound Sect could practice.

Companions! He had a good brother like Zhang Qingshan to guide his cultivation, protect him, and help him. Though he did not know whether Zhang Qingshan might change his mind in the future, at least for now, Zhang Qingshan had been an enormous help.

Place! He now had a Cave Abode in which to cultivate, with heaven and earth spiritual energy far surpassing that of ordinary places, and he was an Inner Sect Disciple.

He could say that, apart from wealth, he lacked nothing.

Moreover, Ye Han had a vague feeling that he did not really lack wealth either. The Purple Cauldron tucked against his chest should be an extraordinary treasure, one that would greatly benefit his cultivation.

Now he felt that he had all four essentials: methods, wealth, companions, and place.

At least for him right now, cultivation was his only way forward. If he raised his cultivation as quickly as possible, he would no longer need anyone else's protection in the future.

Zhang Qingshan had told him more than once that the strong commanded respect in the cultivation world. As long as he was strong, no one would fail to respect him.

On the other hand, Teacher Lan Qing had told him that entering the cultivation world should not be difficult, but becoming a cultivator and living longer was an extremely difficult undertaking.

The lives of cultivators were filled with conflict and danger. No one knew when they might encounter a deadly threat and lose their life.

Only by growing stronger and stronger could he preserve his life and become a powerful cultivator.

Ye Han's words had also stirred Zhang Qingshan's fighting spirit. He, too, had become a cultivator and reached where he stood today through his own struggles and efforts, one step at a time.

Why had my courage shrunk as my cultivation rose? And my circumstances are much better now than before. At least within the inner sect, fewer and fewer people dare to attack me.

However, Zhang Qingshan suddenly remembered something and asked Ye Han, "By the way, Junior Brother Ye! There's something I wanted to ask you. The Azure Mystic Art! How did you get it?"

Indeed, since Ye Han was not the Seventh Elder's disciple, why did he have the Azure Mystic Art?

After all, it was a cultivation method that only True Disciples could practice.

Hearing this, Ye Han said with an air of mystery, "I have an Azure Mystic Token, so having the Azure Mystic Art isn't that strange, is it?"

Indeed, although he regarded Zhang Qingshan as his best friend, there was no need to reveal every detail of his background to him. Zhang Qingshan might inadvertently let something slip. Would that not be inviting trouble upon himself?

Besides, maintaining a certain air of mystery would make Zhang Qingshan respect him more...

Sure enough, Zhang Qingshan laughed when he heard this. "That's right! I was overthinking it."

As he spoke, he gave Ye Han a searching look...

Ye Han is right. If he has an Azure Mystic Token, his background must be extraordinary. Even ten ordinary disciples couldn't possibly render such great service that the sect would reward them with an Azure Mystic Token, could they?

Thus, Ye Han's words had persuaded him as well.

In fact, Ye Han was also considering how he had found the Azure Mystic Token, the Azure Mystic Art, and the Purple Cauldron in the same bundle. That meant the fellow who had originally obtained these things should himself have been a disciple of the Azure Profound Sect.

Moreover, he had not been an ordinary disciple of the Azure Profound Sect. Ye Han had simply been lucky enough to obtain the most valuable things that disciple had carried.

If his guess was correct, that fellow must have been killed by that monster.

He, too, had been fortunate to escape disaster.

As for that woman, she looked as though she should also belong to the Azure Profound Sect. He just did not know whether he would encounter her in the sect someday.

Of course, even if she belonged to the Azure Profound Sect, she should be a high-level cultivator, certainly not someone below Foundation Establishment.

I must work hard at cultivation and become a true cultivator.

Seeing Zhang Qingshan's envious gaze, Ye Han had a thought and said, "By the way, Senior Brother Zhang! There's something else I need you to keep an eye on for me. Find out exactly who's spreading rumors about me in the sect."

Hearing this, Zhang Qingshan nodded. "Understood! I'll keep an eye on it for you."

Ye Han was right. News like this would not spread without reason. Seeing how quickly it had spread, someone must have been deliberately circulating it.

Having spent so long in the Azure Profound Sect, Zhang Qingshan naturally knew what effect the spread of such news would have on Ye Han.

Thus, he cautioned Ye Han, "Junior Brother Ye, you need to watch out for these things yourself as well. Unless it's necessary, try not to leave your Cave Abode. Wait until you can protect yourself before going out."

Hearing this, Ye Han nodded. "Don't worry! I can stay put."

Indeed, Ye Han had been born into hardship, and he was exceedingly patient in learning and cultivating. He had lived through countless days far more bitter than these.

Not only had he needed to herd cattle every day, but he had also gone hungry and endured his master's curses and the villagers' contemptuous looks.

Compared with that, staying in his Cave Abode and diligently cultivating to grow stronger, with food and drink provided and immortal arts to practice, was countless times better.

So he was not worried about any of that.

Zhang Qingshan also said, "All right, then! Junior Brother Ye! Start cultivating according to the plan we agreed on! Because I don't know how much longer I'll be able to help you."

Hearing this, Ye Han looked at Zhang Qingshan with some puzzlement and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, what do you mean by that?"

He could see dejection, guilt, and helplessness on Zhang Qingshan's face, as though there was something else troubling him...