Chapter 1: Predicament, Turning Point
Zhao Country, Qinghe Town.
Dusk.
Li Chang'an sat cross-legged in his room, slowly circulating his Cultivation Technique.
"Ten years of Cultivating Immortals, I've finally achieved a Breakthrough to Qi Refining third layer."
Feeling his cultivation.
Li Chang'an didn't feel much joy, only a deep sigh.
"The path of Cultivating Immortals is truly difficult!"
He was originally an ordinary university student who, on his way home, accidentally stumbled upon great luck and Reincarnated into this immortal cultivation world, becoming a young farmer.
When he was fifteen, he experienced an Awakening of his past life memories and resolutely embarked on the path of seeking immortality.
After enduring hardships, he finally arrived before the Immortal Sect.
He had hoped to leap over the Dragon Gate and become a disciple of an Immortal Sect.
But the result was cruel.
Low Grade Spiritual Root!
Moreover, he was too old, unable to compare with those seven or eight-year-old children, and lacked potential.
He was simply not qualified to enter the Immortal Sect.
Having no other choice.
He could only come to Qinghe Town and be an ordinary, low-level Cultivator.
In a blink of an eye, ten years passed.
Due to his poor Spiritual Root Aptitude and insufficient cultivation resources, he had only just managed to Breakthrough to Qi Refining third layer.
"With this Cultivation speed, longevity is hopeless!"
Li Chang'an's mood was complex.
He was, after all, someone who had died once and did not wish to experience another Reincarnation.
His Cultivation in this life was only for longevity!
"With my Aptitude, let alone longevity, Foundation Establishment is a huge problem."
Li Chang'an couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Suddenly.
A knock on the door suddenly sounded from outside.
"Thump thump thump…"
A familiar voice came from outside the door.
"Li Chang'an, are you home?"
Hearing the sound.
Li Chang'an got up to open the door.
Outside the door was a middle-aged man dressed in brocade clothes with a prosperous appearance.
Zheng Jinbao, the Manager of Qinghe Town.
"Manager Zheng."
Li Chang'an's expression was respectful, not daring to be negligent, and immediately invited him into the house to speak.
Zheng Jinbao waved his hand, remaining standing outside the door.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up Li Chang'an.
"You've had a Breakthrough?"
"Good luck, a fortunate Breakthrough."
Li Chang'an did not dare to conceal it and answered truthfully.
Zheng Jinbao said with a smile, "It's good that you've had a Breakthrough. The stronger you are, the easier it will be to complete the task assigned to you this year."
Upon hearing this, Li Chang'an's heart sank.
That year.
After failing to be selected by the Immortal Sect.
Those who were not selected, in order to embark on the path of Cultivation, signed a Spirit Contract with the "Foundation Establishment Zheng Family" who managed Qinghe Town.
According to the Spirit Contract.
The Zheng Family would grant them Cultivation Techniques and Cultivation insights, and allow them to Cultivate on the Spiritual Veins within the town.
In return, they had to complete tasks for the Zheng Family every year.
The Spirit Contract was for a total of fifteen years.
For the past ten years, Li Chang'an's assigned task each year was to plant spiritual fields.
This task was relatively easy and did not require a high level of cultivation.
In another five years, he would gain true freedom.
But at this moment.
The task Zheng Jinbao assigned him was actually related to his cultivation.
This made Li Chang'an a little uneasy.
"Manager Zheng, what task have I been assigned this year?"
His heart was anxious, and he asked with a hint of nervousness.
Zheng Jinbao's lips curled up, taking in his reaction.
"It's nothing troublesome, just mining Spirit Stones."
"Mining?!"
Li Chang'an's heart jumped.
Among the many tasks assigned by the Zheng Family, the one he least wanted to encounter was mining!
This was because accidents frequently occurred in the Zheng Family's mines; last year, there was a major disaster that killed a large number of people!
Moreover, there was a large amount of deadly dust in the Spirit Stone mine that was impossible to guard against.
Many Cultivators who had mined before all said—
One year of mining, ten years off your life!
Many people went in perfectly fine, but came back as invalids, coughing and wheezing all day long.
"Don't I need to farm this year?"
Li Chang'an's voice was a little hoarse; he really didn't want to go mining.
Zheng Jinbao shook his head.
"Of course, farming requires manpower, but you're just unlucky, assigned to mining."
"Manager Zheng, can we make an arrangement..."
Saying this, Li Chang'an took out a small cloth bag and slipped it into Zheng Jinbao's hand.
Inside the bag.
There were a total of twenty Spirit Stones.
This was all the savings he had accumulated over the years!
Li Chang'an felt a pang of heartache, but he had no choice but to do this.
As long as he was safe, Spirit Stones could be earned again!
"You're quite interesting."
Zheng Jinbao's smile grew wider, and he squinted his eyes, glancing at the bag.
The next instant, the cloth bag in his hand disappeared.
It went into his Storage Pouch at his waist.
"I'm going back first; you'll be officially notified in a few days."
Zheng Jinbao said nothing more.
Then, with a face full of smiles, he turned and left.
"Manager Zheng, take care!"
Li Chang'an bowed slightly, watching him leave.
Looking at his receding back, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as he accepted the Spirit Stones, it was fine.
"Taking money means getting things done; whether in the mortal world or the Cultivation world, it's a universal Law."
Li Chang'an's heart was slightly at ease.
He closed the door and continued to Cultivate.
He had thought this year's task would still be farming.
However.
Three days later.
Li Chang'an received a notification.
The original assignment had not changed; his task was still mining!
"How could this be?"
Li Chang'an's eyes widened, staring at the conscription order in his hand.
He clutched the conscription order tightly, his chest heaving irregularly.
Zheng Jinbao had clearly accepted the Spirit Stones.
Why didn't he do anything?
He immediately went out, hurriedly found Zheng Jinbao, and asked for the reason.
Zheng Jinbao still had that smiling, Buddha-like appearance, and explained to him:
"Li Chang'an, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that some people gave more than you did, so I had to prioritize changing their tasks."
The implication was.
If Li Chang'an could produce more Spirit Stones, Zheng Jinbao would naturally change his task.
But the Spirit Stones in that small cloth bag were Li Chang'an's entire fortune!
Where could he get more?
"Manager Zheng, is there no other way?"
"No!"
Zheng Jinbao shook his head.
Seeing that Li Chang'an couldn't produce more, his attitude became casual.
"I have a lot of things to do, and I can't waste time chatting with you. If you have nothing else, go back."
"Yes, yes…"
Li Chang'an forced a smile, but a surge of Qi was suppressed in his heart.
Looking at the situation now.
Zheng Jinbao had no intention of returning the Spirit Stones to him.
Not doing the job and not returning the Spirit Stones, how was that different from outright robbery?
However.
When under another's roof, one must bow one's head!
He lowered his head, turned, and left.
…
That night.
Li Chang'an tossed and turned.
"Do I really have to go mining?"
His heart was filled with worry, making it difficult to sleep.
If he didn't go, he would be violating the Spirit Contract and would suffer an extremely severe backlash.
Just then.
A golden light suddenly flashed before his eyes.
Immediately, several lines of golden characters appeared before him.
【Divination Updated】
【Today's Divination · Auspicious】
【You are anxious in your heart. Go for a walk by the river. Unexpectedly, you will find the Young Miss Zheng Family's jade pendant in the water weeds under the willow tree by the river.】
These sudden lines of text made Li Chang'an pause.
"This… this is…"
His eyes widened a bit, and he immediately reacted.
This was a Golden Finger!
Immediately, a surge of ecstasy welled up in his heart.
Ten years!
He had waited a full ten years!
Li Chang'an took several deep breaths, barely suppressing his excited emotions, and carefully read the divination, fearing it was an illusion.
"Good, it's not an illusion."