Chapter 57: A Struggle of Life and Death

Meng Guan’s decision to remain in the Immortal City was something Wei Fan struggled to comprehend at first.

He made several attempts to persuade him.

But—

After Meng Guan shared the thoughts weighing in his heart, Wei Fan fell silent.

“Wei, the moment I left Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market three years ago, my fate was sealed. Either I risk everything for a desperate attempt at Foundation Establishment, or I fall along the path toward it. There is no other way.”

“I possess five spiritual roots, unlike you, who have four. With your talent, you could steadily cultivate and catch a glimpse of Foundation Establishment before turning sixty.”

“Though forcing a breakthrough with Foundation Pills offers scant hope, it’s still more than I can expect with my five spiritual roots—a slim chance is better than none.”

“If there’s no opportunity, and I don’t gamble with my life, then reaching the late stage of Qi Refining would be my limit. That’s why I left the market, staking everything I have.”

“Fortunately, my gamble paid off. Now that I’ve broken through the bottleneck of late-stage Qi Refining, the path ahead is clear. As long as I cultivate diligently and reach the ninth layer before sixty, I can finally seek Foundation Establishment.”

“Regrettably, I squandered my youth and failed to master a single skill. Now, it’s too late for regrets.”

“Helpless.”

“Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market is too small. Only in the Immortal City can I find the resources I need to hope for Foundation Establishment before sixty.”

“Wei, take care.”

Wei Fan’s mind lingered on Meng Guan’s words during their heart-to-heart after his breakthrough.

He exhaled a long breath.

He then recounted Meng Guan’s story to He Song.

He Song, upon hearing it, fell silent as well.

Spirit Builder Pavilion.

Second floor.

The room grew so quiet one could hear a pin drop, save for the faint waft of tea drifting between the two.

He Song never imagined Meng Guan had harbored such plans three years ago.

Perhaps, from the day he resigned as manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion and departed the market, Meng Guan had already steeled his resolve.

Either break through to Foundation Establishment and become a lofty Foundation Master.

Or perish on the road toward it, ending up as an unremarked corpse by the wayside.

No other path existed.

“Sigh, it seems Old Meng truly made up his mind. May his journey in the Immortal City be smooth.”

After a long pause, He Song raised his tea cup toward the distant direction of Qingyuan Immortal City, then drained it in one gulp.

This cup of tea was a blessing.

A wish for Meng Guan’s smooth journey in the Immortal City.

Now, with his cultivation still shallow, he could do nothing to help Meng Guan.

This was all he could offer, hoping Meng Guan would achieve his dreams.

After all, Meng Guan had been his guide in the past, and to He Song now, he owed a great debt.

If not for Meng Guan gifting him the “Spiritual Planting Techniques,” He Song’s days as a solitary cultivator would have been much harder.

He couldn’t lend a hand for now, but he wouldn’t begrudge a blessing.

“Let’s hope so.”

Beside him, seeing He Song’s gesture, Wei Fan smiled and shook his head. Though he felt it would do little good, he refrained from voicing his doubts.

Foundation Establishment was never so easy.

The thought flashed through his mind, but Wei Fan kept silent, burying it deep inside.

In the days that followed,

The two, not having met for several months, began to share their experiences over that period.

He Song gradually gained more understanding of the distant Qingyuan Immortal City.

Qingyuan Immortal City,

A territory under the great Golden Core sect, Earthly Firmament Sect.

It lay north of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, more than two thousand li away.

Within Qingyuan Immortal City, cultivators came and went—solitary practitioners, sect disciples, clan heirs, market cultivators—an endless mix.

The city even set aside a quarter of its area for mortals to reside.

This was a city where mortals and immortals mixed.

The mortals within the city were largely descendants of cultivators, intricately connected with the city’s cultivators.

They earned their keep by doing tasks cultivators preferred to avoid.

The city was guarded year-round by several Foundation Masters, ensuring its safety.

These Foundation Masters belonged either to the Earthly Firmament Sect, the ancestral founders of cultivation clans, or, as rumored, solitary Foundation Masters.

Their presence greatly enhanced the safety of Qingyuan Immortal City.

Yet it also increased the risk for cultivators to offend a Foundation Master, as one could never know if the person you slighted had such a patron behind them.

At the same time, it offered Qi Refining cultivators at the late stage a chance to climb higher and seek Foundation Establishment.

In the city, late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were far more numerous than in the market.

Like Meng Guan, many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators sought a foothold in the city, preparing to challenge Foundation Establishment.

But the vast chasm between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment barred too many from crossing.

Over the years,

These late-stage Qi Refining cultivators typically ran shops or earned spirit stones, accumulating wealth.

First, should Foundation Pills appear at auction, they could bid.

Second, if they failed to obtain a pill, their accumulated spirit stones could be left to the next generation, increasing their heirs’ chances at Foundation Establishment.

Third, with their cultivation stagnant at late-stage Qi Refining, prolonged frustration could breed inner demons; having something to occupy their time became essential.

Fourth...

Thus, amid the fierce competition among countless late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in Qingyuan Immortal City, solitary cultivators like Meng Guan found it easier to acquire cultivation resources than in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

They no longer needed to risk their lives, and their safety was assured.

Furthermore, with so many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators participating, the resources they could earn within the city were even greater.

Meng Guan, with his seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation, should be able to live quite comfortably in Qingyuan Immortal City.

His cultivation could also advance rapidly.

From Wei Fan’s account,

He Song gained a general understanding of Qingyuan Immortal City and its cultivators.

He no longer had any objections to Meng Guan’s decision to stay there.

Let him stay if he wishes.

After all, he could live well in the Immortal City.

If someday he could no longer remain there, He Song and Wei Fan in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market would serve as Meng Guan’s fallback.

In the end,

He Song handed over his duties as steward of the Spirit Builder Pavilion to Wei Fan, then went home to continue cultivating.

Several days had passed since he returned from the Spirit Technique Pavilion.

During those days,

He Song’s mastery of the Fireball Spell had advanced by leaps and bounds.

This was thanks to his transmigration, his soul far stronger than that of ordinary cultivators.

It allowed him to learn spells at a much faster pace than others.

Now,

With Wei Fan back and no need to work at the Spirit Builder Pavilion daily, He Song naturally returned home to further his spell training.