Chapter 16: eting Cultivators On My Way To The City
The Riverside village, though remote, was not located at the end of the world. In fact, there was a city not too far from it, requiring around two days of travel. This city had gained a reputation as a popular gathering place for cultivators.
While the city was sparsely populated by mortals, it attracted cultivators from various backgrounds. However, it was uncommon to encounter cultivators of significant power. A cultivator at the Foundation Establishnt level was as rare as a phoenix feather.
Such rumors reached my ears, but I yearned to confirm them personally. Before embarking on my journey, I sought counsel from Dai Guiren, who assured that he would safeguard the secrecy of my cultivation and look after my farm and beloved companion, Big F.
Dai Guiren himself was filled with trepidation. It was no secret that immortals occasionally vented their anger on mortals, a practice that often drew the ire of other cultivators.
After ensuring everything was alright with my farm and getting my hands on a map, all thanks to Mayor Dai Guiren, I left my farm. The city I aid for was called East Raven.
It was a dium-sized city, and judging by the rumors I had heard, a common place for cultivators to et. My goal in going there was to acquire an alchemy cultivation technique to start refining pills in the future.
However, there was a problem. The only goods I had to trade were the books I found inside the cultivator lair underneath my well! I had read a few and decided to use one that did not have any techniques written in it. It was a scroll talking about the era the cultivator lived in.
Maybe a historian addicted to such artifacts would be willing to trade with ? That was what I hoped for, or else I would be dood.
Then my journey started, one that led along a straight road toward the city, where I encountered a few mortals and even so bandits.
"Please, spare !" the bandit begged for his life after I beat him up to a pulp.
The journey took two days, requiring to camp for one night. It wasn't safe to stray too far from the main road, as that area belonged to the beasts, nor was it wise to camp too close to the road, for it was a hunting ground for bandits.
So I ventured into the forest, eventually finding the perfect spot: a secluded clearing surrounded by bushes and trees, naturally concealing it. A river flowed nearby, its water crystal clear, offering both refreshnt and a calming sound. I set up my campfire for the night, feeling a sense of peace wash over .
The food I brought with inside my backpack was enough to last the entire journey—not the way back, though.
So, I did not have to waste ti finding sothing to eat and could simply relax near the campfire, enjoying the fruits I had brought along. For a brief mont, I contemplated fishing in the nearby river, but my main intention was to practice my ditation technique!
With controlled breaths, I focused on gathering Qi from the atmosphere and directed it towards my two Dantians. The Qi entering my 'real' Dantian remained unattributed to any elent, while the Qi flowing towards my second Dantian, the one obtained from Big T, would transform into a poisonous Qi!
That's how I spent the night, and that ditative state served as a substitute for sleep. I only awakened when the sun's rays caressed my face.
I continued my journey in the morning, following the sa road as the previous day. For the first ti, I encountered other cultivators, not just mortals and bandits!
How did I know? I could sense it from afar!
There was a carriage, and judging by its direction, it was headed to the sa city as . I had no intention of stopping near the carriage to ask for a ride.
However, as I passed beside it, soone opened a small window and stared at . It was a frail-looking boy who appeared to be around 10 years old.
"Grandpa, there's soone outside! Can we help him? He looks tired!"
The carriage ca to a halt, and the door to enter opened. Inside were the boy and an elderly man. The older man had long, gray hair and beard, but his face seed remarkably youthful, with few wrinkles.
What caught my attention even more was his robust physique and sharp gaze! The mont he looked at , it felt as if all my secrets had been laid bare, leaving exposed and vulnerable.
"Is this a Foundation Establishnt cultivator? Or perhaps a Golden Core? No, that would be too much, wouldn't it?" I wondered.
Before the elderly man could say anything, I bowed to him and said, "Junior greets Elder."
I had no idea who that elderly man was. What if he was an eccentric cultivator who would kill just because I didn't address him as "Elder"? I didn't want to risk my life in such a foolish manner.
He smiled and nodded, saying, "No need for formalities, young man. May I inquire about your destination?"
"I'm headed to East Raven. I'm looking to trade so goods there."
"Oh? My grandson and I are also traveling in that direction."
As the elderly man ntioned his grandson, I noticed the boy who had called him "grandpa." I couldn't sense any Qi emanating from the boy's body, so I asked, "Is he also a cultivator?"
It seed like the elderly man had been waiting for that question. He replied, "Yes! Despite being only ten years old, my grandson has already reached the fifth layer of Qi Condensation!"
"W-What?"
That revelation hit like a truck! I had been so confident in my System and newfound abilities that I had forgotten about the incredible talents scattered throughout these cultivation worlds. The boy standing before could potentially be the main character of so extraordinary story.
"Anyway, co with us! Traveling with a cultivator like can bring you certain benefits when entering the city," the elderly man offered.
I wasn't sure if I could trust him, but I didn't have much choice. Leaving wasn't an option.
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