Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy Chapter 22 - 22. Two months later

```

In the mountains, ti passed unknowingly, the days lding into years.

Two months slipped by in the blink of an eye.

In the deep mountains, the small log cabin built by Song Cheng and Tong Jia once stood alone, but now sixty-eight cottages surrounded it.

A bamboo fence and a double row of wooden stakes enclosed it, forming a secluded village hidden from the human world.

The people in the village were those rescued from the foot of the mountain that day.

Since Song Cheng had killed the bandits, the villagers dared not return, eventually following him here.

Among the villagers, so wanted to make their way to the county town, but Song Cheng firmly refused.

For those who pursued immortality, lifespan was not the issue; danger was.

As long as one could stay in a place with no threats and develop steadily, it was best to remain until the end of ti.

If this were not the world of "Endless Hell," Song Cheng felt he could have built a "Peach Blossom Spring" here, and centuries later, if soone stumbled upon it by chance, they might say, "To escape the chaos of war, I led my family and villagers to this absolute place, never to return."

One morning...

Song Cheng walked through this newly built village.

The reford families of villagers greeted him warmly.

"Lord Song."

"Old sister-in-law, why call Lord Song, just call Brother Cheng."

"Good morning, Lord Song."

"Uncle, why are you joining in the fuss?"

"Lord Song looks so energetic."

"Elder sister, didn't you stop addressing him like that before..."

This title, since that snowy night Song Cheng slew the bandits, had changed from "Brother Cheng" to "Lord Song."

Song Cheng felt quite helpless.

The title "Lord Song" made him particularly uncomfortable.

Not to ntion, among those he saved were many he knew well, including previous "Sister-in-law Caihua," "Sister-in-law Baojin," and "Sister-in-law Chen."

These older sisters could practically be his mother, yet they were all calling him "Lord Song, Lord Song."

Despite his repeated attempts to correct them, so continued to address him that way, and he rely corrected them earnestly.

On the other side, so villagers were doing much better.

"Brother Song, we've already prepared the farmland, just waiting for the early spring planting. We've stocked the grain seeds, and they should be sufficient."

"Brother Cheng, the miscellaneous trees on the northern patch of land have been cleared completely, and the view has indeed beco much more open."

Song Cheng interacted with everyone amicably, smiling and nodding as he chatted with them.

After a few more steps, a lovely young lady wrapped in a fur coat suddenly walked over.

Song Cheng recognized her; she was Guan Xi.

He had heard Guan Xi's story many tis before.

The grain rchants from the county town were under a guild called "Ruyi Comrce Chamber."

Ruyi Comrce Chamber coincided with the young generation's "Battle for the Seal"; whoever could wield the seal would beco the guild leader.

Originally, the competition wasn't intense because the affairs were usually handled by the young lady, while the young master indulged in pleasure, uninterested in the seal. Both had a mutual understanding.

But, early last year, a decision by the Dashang Dynasty threw the two heirs of Ruyi Comrce Chamber into complete frenzy.

Dashang Dynasty wanted to open canals!

Connecting north and south paths, joining thousands of rivers, not even sparing the small streams of villages.

Thus, with clear prospects for Ruyi Comrce Chamber's various trades, the profits were unimaginably rich.

As a result, the young master wanted to seize power too.

Both sides then clashed fiercely.

The young master had no real skills, but he knew many underhanded tricks. Although he couldn't earn profits, he was quite adept at causing chaos.

His strategy for ascending was "let the young lady's trade fail."

During a critical grain shipnt to the northern counties, the young lady sensed sothing amiss and set a trap by sending her trusted Guan Xi to transport fake grain—"exterior of grain, interior of husk."

Guan Xi, having a great relationship with the young lady, naturally draw the young master's belief, and he made arrangents accordingly.

Sure enough, Guan Xi was ambushed.

anwhile, the young lady herself set out later, transporting the actual goods via another route; by now, matters should have settled, and she likely had gained control of the chamber.

Guan Xi was trying to persuade him to return.

However, he remained unsure of how to go back.

Travel through Tang River Village?

Though Yune might spare him, would she spare others?

Go around to the front mountain, to the county town?

A long journey possibly posed greater risks, and without being fully prepared, he did not intend to try recklessly.

Moreover, the village now had developed to so degree, and even if he wanted to move, the villagers here would not easily agree.

Additionally, this environnt was actually most suitable for focusing on cultivation.

Various thoughts flashed, and before Guan Xi could speak, Song Cheng apologized and said, "Let's wait a bit longer."

Guan Xi sighed deeply, feeling helpless too, after all, she knew that returning recklessly might lead to unknown casualties.

...

Returning to the log cabin at the heart of the village.

Song Cheng grabbed a "atball" from a platter on the table and tossed it into his mouth.

These were made by the hostess's daughter, using herbs and fish at to create them.

Song Cheng smacked his lips a couple of tis.

Honestly, the first ti he ate these atballs, they were quite novel, but eating them too often beca unpalatable.

He wanted sothing salty, even rice or noodles...

But there was none.

Song Cheng sat on a wooden chair by the window, glancing at his strength: 18~31.

Then he checked the panel:

[Points: 403 points]

[Cultivation Technique]

White Snake Blade (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection)

Mysterious Turtle Step (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection) (Compatible with White Snake Blade)

[Skill]

Pagoda Visualization thod (Yellow Level Grade D) (Perfection)

Both "White Snake Blade" and "Pagoda Visualization thod" had a " ".

For the forr, after perfecting "Mysterious Turtle Step," the probability of evolving to "Yellow Level Grade C" cultivation technique doubled to "2%," requiring "3 points" per attempt.

For the latter, the success rate remained "10%," needing "3 points" per attempt, which was quite odd.

Song Cheng planned to "accumulate points and make rapid attempts."

Now, he had 403 points, enough for 134 attempts.

He wanted to evolve "White Snake Blade" first, and after enhancing his hard skills, then attempt "Pagoda Visualization thod."

Even so, seeing the painstakingly collected points over two months made him slightly reluctant.

However, he understood... "Reading cultivation techniques of the sa level, consulting other cultivation technique's ideas can enhance success rates"; although "Roaring Tiger Blade" conflicted with his cultivation technique, it provided a 1% chance, otherwise Song Cheng's current rate wouldn't be "2%."

'Sigh, in these tis, cultivation techniques are extrely precious. Borrowing from others requires unknown effort and risks.

Moreover, I'm in the deep mountains... Low chance is better than none.'

Song Cheng felt as calm as a still lake, with a hint of a dull syndro.

At this mont, his wooden window supported by rods invited a sudden warm breeze from outside, lifting his hair as if suggesting winter had passed and early spring had arrived.

Frozen soil turned damp, patches of snow in shady areas thawed, and the stream behind the house widened more than double.

Song Cheng was about to add points when he suddenly sniffed the air and furrowed his brow.

The sll of rot grew increasingly intense.

In deep winter, it was only intermittent.

But with spring, it suddenly beca more pungent.

This sll, Song Cheng had actually investigated with the villagers before, but they found nothing.

So said it wafted from underground, while others claid it flowed from a cave deep in the mountains.

Song Cheng cautiously scanned the surroundings again, not seeing any glaring, shocking "red."

He pondered for a mont, murmuring in his heart, 'Forget it, let's add points first.'

```