Chapter Eight: The Vagabond Who Seized the House

Wang Fan had developed a new perspective on the chaos engulfing the city. However, just because he saw things differently now didn’t mean he was about to play the role of righteous savior and resolve these disturbances himself. The government was responsible for handling chaos; Wang Fan would only deal with the matters within his own reach. Right now, his greatest desire was not to restore Z City to its former state, but to find a place rich in the essence of plants—a spot he could designate as his cultivation ground.

Because of food concerns, as well as the presence of venomous insects and wild animals, Wang Fan had no intention of training deep in the mountains and forests. Although such places were abundant in the vital energy of vegetation and thus perfect for cultivation, they were not suitable for him. Compared to the wilderness, Wang Fan much preferred the city; he still depended on the comforts of urban life. As a modern man, even after deciding to become a cultivator, he couldn’t simply adopt the mentality of an ancient recluse and retreat into the wild.

Wang Fan planned to find a suitable cultivation site in the heart of Z City. He opened his phone’s map, searching for his target and scrutinizing countless high-rise areas in the city center. Ultimately, he settled on a location: the botanical garden. Z City had a botanical garden, and within it grew a vast and diverse array of plants, all waiting for Wang Fan’s arrival.

Having chosen his destination, Wang Fan continued onward, walking with the stride of a dragon and tiger, barefoot, a trace of anticipation on his face. After a ten-minute walk, many people noticed him walking down the street without shoes. Those who did couldn’t help but look at him strangely—wouldn’t he feel pain from the small stones underfoot?

What they didn’t know was that Wang Fan truly felt no pain. At his current level of cultivation, he was arguably the most advanced in the world—at the tenth and ultimate layer of the Bitter Sea. His entire body had been strengthened by the energy of the Bitter Sea; stones on the ground had no effect on his feet. Whether he wore shoes or not was irrelevant.

After several dozen minutes, Wang Fan finally arrived at the botanical garden. Outside, he noticed many surveillance cameras. Upon closer inspection, he found several blind spots not covered by the cameras. If he wanted to absorb the plant essence in the garden, those blind spots would allow him to enter and practice his Devouring Heaven Demon Skill—the imperial technique. But for now, there was no need for stealth. Wang Fan bought a ticket openly and entered through the main gate. The paths inside were paved entirely with pebbles, which would be uncomfortable to walk on barefoot, yet they didn’t bother Wang Fan at all. This astonished those who entered after him; they marveled at his remarkable endurance.

Inside the botanical garden, Wang Fan saw a great multitude of plants: rare medicinal herbs as well as cheap, common varieties. It took him half an hour to tour the entire garden, and during that time, all he saw were flowers, grasses, and trees—an overwhelming abundance of vegetation.

After seeing all those plants, Wang Fan left the garden with a smile on his lips, brought on by the greenery’s uplifting effect on his mood. He was convinced that if he absorbed all the essence from those plants, his Devouring Heaven Demon Skill would immediately advance—not just by a little, but by several levels, perhaps even completing the entire Wheel Sea stage.

Having chosen his cultivation site, Wang Fan planned to rent a room nearby. He opened a rental app and searched; soon he found a property available for rent just a few hundred meters from the botanical garden.

This made Wang Fan even happier—a room so close meant less time spent traveling to his cultivation ground. He called the landlord directly and asked to meet. The landlady agreed.

Five minutes later, Wang Fan met the landlady outside the rental property. She was a woman in her thirties, with crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and a lingering charm. Dressed in a white blouse and long skirt, she carried a hint of elegance.

"Are you here to rent the room?" she asked, eyeing Wang Fan uncertainly.

"Of course," he replied.

"There are some issues with the place right now—you probably won’t be able to rent it," she said, hesitating, and shook her head to refuse his request.

"Has someone else taken it?" Wang Fan asked, perplexed.

"No, that’s not it."

A troubled look crossed her face. Wang Fan grew more curious; logically, since she had posted the rental online, she should welcome tenants. Why refuse him now? He had already confirmed the property was still available.

"A beggar—a homeless man—came yesterday and said he wanted to rent the room. He claimed he had no money, so naturally I refused. But then he used force and occupied the room I was trying to rent out!"

Having struggled with the matter, the landlady finally revealed the truth. Wang Fan’s expression became puzzled. "Didn’t you call the police?"

"I did. The police came, but they didn’t bring guns, and there were just three or five officers. They weren’t a match for the beggar. They fought him with batons, but were defeated, and in the beggar’s loud laughter, they fled," she said, patting her chest, a lingering fear in her eyes. "That beggar is definitely not normal. His skills are incredible—even trained police officers weren’t his match."

"For your own safety, I suggest you leave," she said, glancing at her watch. "The police should be coming back, this time armed."

"Is that so?" Wang Fan was not deterred by her words. Instead, he smiled and took a step forward, saying, "If that’s the case, I’m even more interested in renting this room. Beautiful landlady, show me the place."

"Why are you so stubborn?" she scolded, frowning. "I already told you the beggar is dangerous—three or five police officers couldn’t handle him. I saw him smash a frying pan with one punch, breaking through the heavy iron bottom!"

The landlady, Fang Jie, admonished Wang Fan sternly.