“You are just too honest…”
After returning from the Spring Perch Tower, Su Jingzhe was still pondering Sister-in-law Zhang Xiu’s last words.
“Honest? Perhaps.”
Zhang Xiu had hidden the matter of his Dantian being shattered from Yan Xia, precisely because she wanted Su Jingzhe and her to consummate their relationship first.
But Su Jingzhe knew that such a thing could not be hidden for long.
He didn’t want Yan Xia to argue with him again after they had children in the future.
For Cultivators, a Dao Companion is someone both parties find agreeable; there are no mandatory constraints. If you are deemed disagreeable, the number of people who are kicked aside to climb higher is countless.
People like Sister-in-law Zhang Xiu, who remained faithful to her Dao Companion, were ultimately a minority.
Since they weren’t on the same Dao, it was fine for it to fail from the start.
However, he understood all the principles, but lying on the stone bed in the quiet room at this moment, he still felt a little lost.
After all, his first blind date after Transmigration failed, and he was scorned so thoroughly.
No one would feel good about that.
【Time remaining until Host’s Dantian is permanently shattered: 502 days!】
At this moment, a line of golden characters appeared before his eyes again.
Ever since his Dantian shattered, this prompt appeared once every day.
Su Jingzhe still hadn’t figured out what was going on.
If it was a Golden Finger, there was only this simple prompt.
No matter how he tried, there was no other reaction.
“It’s time to try other things.”
Every time he saw this prompt, Su Jingzhe’s sense of urgency would increase.
Five hundred-plus days seemed early, but as time passed, his condition would only worsen, and the power he could use would become less and less.
The Qi Refinement Stage is divided into nine levels; levels one to three are Early Stage, four to six are Middle Stage, and seven to nine are Late Stage.
After Great Perfection, one could hope to Foundation Establishment.
When Su Jingzhe first Transmigrated, he was still at Qi Refinement Stage Level Three, but now he was only at Level One. Although both were Early Stage Qi Refinement, the difference was like heaven and earth.
If he wasted any more time, he wouldn’t even be able to maintain this one level of cultivation, and he would be completely crippled.
“Ultimately, I must save myself, and during this time, I cannot be driven out of Peach Blossom Lane.”
Su Jingzhe muttered to himself, already getting up and walking to the Pill Furnace.
Although the Spiritual Qi in Peach Blossom Lane was ordinary, it was still in the Cultivation World, and his body could be nourished constantly.
Only then would he have a chance to repair his Dantian. If he left here and returned to the Mortal Realm, it would be completely over.
In Linjiang City, the Huayang Sect had set up a Spirit Gathering Formation, continuously gathering the sparse Spiritual Qi from a hundred-mile radius.
The closer to the center of the Spirit Gathering Formation, the more abundant the Spiritual Qi.
In this world, people are divided into Mortals and Cultivators based on their Spiritual Root.
Regions are divided into the Mortal Realm and the Cultivation World based on Spiritual Qi.
Regions with Spiritual Qi and where Cultivators gather are the Cultivation World.
Naturally, places with abundant Spiritual Qi were already occupied, inaccessible to low-level Cultivators.
Powerful Sects like the Huayang Sect could create places with good Spiritual Qi like Linjiang City by relying on Formations, but they wouldn’t let people use it for free.
The rent in Peach Blossom Lane was lower than in other alleys, but his Enlightenment School occupied a considerable area, costing fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones a year.
With Su’s current financial situation, he really wouldn’t be able to pay the rent next month.
At that time, this Cultivation Enlightenment School would be forced to close, cutting off all sources of income.
He would then only be able to go to the very edge of Linjiang City, where he could still benefit from the fringe Spiritual Qi of the Spirit Gathering Formation.
However, that area was not managed by the Huayang Sect, and the order was extremely chaotic. With Su Jingzhe’s current cultivation, he probably wouldn’t survive three days.
Thinking about this, Su Jingzhe directly moved the small Pill Furnace out of the corner.
After wiping off the dust from the surface of the Pill Furnace, several spiritual patterns engraved on it were revealed.
These were small flame Formations inscribed on it. Su Jingzhe placed his hand on the spiritual patterns and infused a little Spiritual Qi, and a roaring fire ignited inside the furnace.
It illuminated the entire quiet room in a fiery red glow.
“This thing can still be used. I hope I can pick up my old skills again.”
He couldn’t quite remember how the original owner’s Dantian shattered before his Transmigration, only that he knew Alchemy.
At his Peak, he had even successfully refined Low Grade Medicinal Pills.
This was also why, despite having a five-element mixed Spiritual Root, his cultivation had once reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement.
However, after Transmigration, many of the original owner’s memories and methods were missing.
Cultivators have many professions: Alchemists, Formation Masters, Artifact Refiners, Talisman Makers, Diviners, Treasure Hunters...
Alchemists hold an extremely high status among Cultivators.
But to cultivate an Alchemist, it’s almost impossible for ordinary Loose Cultivators.
This is a money-burning technical skill.
After Transmigration, Su Jingzhe’s rent became a problem, so how could he have the financial resources to support his grand Alchemy plan?
Therefore, even if the original owner had some basic conditions, Su couldn’t afford to play.
But now, with no other way to make money, he could only burn his bridges.
If he succeeded, there was hope for Dantian restoration; if he failed, he would only have to leave Peach Blossom Lane!
Rather than lingering on, it was better to give it his all.
......
It was late at night, and Cultivators in the Qi Refinement Stage generally still needed rest.
But at this moment, Mr. Su was very anxious.
He found a Qi Return Pill Pill Formula left by the original owner, as well as the remaining two sets of medicinal ingredients.
One set had just been ruined during his practice attempt.
Looking at the pile of medicinal dregs he had refined, his heart was filled with endless emotion.
Although this set of medicinal ingredients wasn’t expensive, it still cost one Low-Grade Spirit Stone to buy.
The success rate of refining for ordinary Alchemists was already not high; getting three or four Medicinal Pills from ten sets of ingredients was already excellent.
And that was for a full-fledged Alchemist. Su Jingzhe, who was just practicing, didn’t know how many ingredients he would need.
Looking at the twenty-five Spirit Stones in his Storage Pouch and the remaining one set of medicinal ingredients, Su Jingzhe wanted to cry but had no tears.
“Forget it. Since I’ve decided to burn my bridges, there’s no need to think about anything else.”
After muttering to himself, he picked up the remaining set of medicinal ingredients.
“I have to refine it eventually. Tomorrow, I should go buy some medicinal ingredients.”
However, at this moment.
“Clatter!”
A sound suddenly came from the courtyard.
Su Jingzhe stopped what he was doing.
A Cultivator’s senses are extremely sharp; he was sure he hadn’t misheard.
Extinguishing the fire in the Pill Furnace, Su Jingzhe pushed the door open and walked out.
The rain had long stopped, and everything was quiet around him.
Su Jingzhe’s expression became a little serious.
“Could it be a wild cat?”
Under the eaves, a piece of broken tile lay scattered on the ground.
“Who’s there?”
No one responded. Su Jingzhe was puzzled but didn’t think too much about it.
Just as he was about to return to his room, he saw a few peach blossoms drifting over.
He frowned again and walked towards the peach tree in the central courtyard.
As he got closer, Su Jingzhe’s heart grew heavier.
He smelled a faint, bloody odor lingering in the air.
Then, he suddenly saw a dark figure leaning against the peach tree.
Su Jingzhe felt a little nervous.
He was only at the Early Stage of Qi Refinement. If the newcomer was hostile, he would likely be unable to resist.
If he called for help, even though the neighbors seemed to get along well usually, Cultivators were the most unfeeling and ungrateful people; absolutely no one would risk their lives to save him.
The only people who might come were Sister-in-law Zhang Xiu’s family, but she had gone to the Huayang Sect after drinking, only setting up a Formation in her own home. He couldn’t possibly call her daughter, Ning Yao, over, could he?
If he used the Huayang Sect token to warn them, although the Huayang Sect’s people had a duty to guard, it would still be ridiculously expensive for them to make a trip.
If he made a mistake, it wouldn’t be worth it.
Ultimately, he was still too poor.
“Your Excellency, who are you?
Why trespass into my private residence?”
Su Jingzhe bravely asked.
The other party still didn’t respond, not even moving an inch.
“Your Excellency, who exactly are you? If you don’t give an explanation, I will have to ask you to leave.”
As he said this, Su Jingzhe took two steps forward.
The latter remained motionless.
Su Jingzhe was puzzled and moved a little closer, trying to see the other person’s face clearly.
However, once he saw it clearly, he was suddenly startled and retreated several steps!