I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 81: Chapter 70: Tempered by Life and Death

”Anan, did you know? In the five years I spent at the mining camp, I spent the first three years biding my time and the latter two years honing myself in life-and-death battles. You must have seen the scene in the mine, a narrow path with only two exits, if blocked, it becomes a death trap.”

”I didn’t have any teammates, just myself, a spear, and two knives. Often, I faced not just three or five miners but hordes of beasts. Every fight was a life-or-death struggle; no one gave me time to accumulate spiritual energy to unleash a big move. If I started a move with a spell, before the spell could be completed, my life would be over.”

”In the mines, the tricks of sect disciples are useless, even less effective than Mortal World Martial Skills—everyone in the mining camp understands this. Therefore, they had no Seventh-Grade Cultivation Techniques, High-Level Magical Techniques, or powerful Magic Treasures, only a fierce determination to claim your life.”

”Every single one of them could calculate their spiritual energy to the extreme, knowing exactly how much spiritual energy each move consumed, and how many moves it would take before they had to end their opponent’s life, or they would need to escape. It truly was as if they had eight hundred schemes, utilizing everything at their disposal to win, even their teammates’ lives.”

Jiang Yuebai’s words silenced Lu Nanzhi. She imagined herself in the mining tunnel facing a group battle, unable to wield her sword properly—how many victories could she really have?

The more she thought, the more her heart ached for Jiang Yuebai, not knowing how she had endured these years.

Lu Nanzhi’s frustration eased, realizing that in their previous duel, she was sparring while Jiang Yuebai was fighting for her life.

From the start, she had lost.

Jiang Yuebai took a sip of tea to soothe her throat. ”You are naturally a Water Spirit Body, with theoretically more spiritual energy than my Five Spirit Roots. Plus, your replenishment speed is fast. But have you ever calculated how much spiritual energy you waste by initially creating such a large water shield just to intimidate me?”

”It’s not worth it just to intimidate me; I wasn’t afraid of you at all. Instead of intimidating, it made me more vigilant, forcing me to give my all. How can you gain the upper hand? Every move you make, you hold back, exhausting your own morale.”

Lu Nanzhi nodded, realizing she had gone with the flow and neglected this issue. From Jiang Yuebai’s perspective, she saw herself as a flower raised in a greenhouse, never having faced real storms.

Lu Nanzhi was grateful that Jiang Yuebai had awakened her early on. Otherwise, in a real life-and-death crisis, she would be doomed.

”In my view, the most effective first strike is to kill the most opponents with the least spiritual energy and the fastest speed before the opponent raises their guard, thereby reducing my subsequent burdens. That’s why, Anan, I don’t spar with others; I fight for lives. If I fail to take lives, my escape skills are top-notch.”

Jiang Yuebai suddenly smiled, breaking the serious demeanor that Lu Nanzhi couldn’t help but laugh.

”I thought you were someone who would never retreat, but turns out you’re as timid as a mouse.”

”The world is vast, but life is the most important. Reputation means nothing; those who survive have the real worth. By the way, back then, I left in such a rush, did I ever ask if your Spiritual Body recovered and if the marriage was called off? And were you punished upon returning to the Lu Family?”

Jiang Yuebai’s series of inquiries made Lu Nanzhi sigh deeply.

”Punishment, of course, there was. Our Lu Family’s Old Ancestor, with his vast divine skills, found something for me that gathered the Ice Spiritual Energy in my Dantian without dispersing. It had minimal effect on the Spiritual Body, so that marriage...”

Seeing Lu Nanzhi’s distress, Jiang Yuebai quickly comforted her, ”Don’t worry, if it comes to it, I’ll help you think of a solution. If worst comes to worst, we can just run away together.”

Lu Nanzhi gave a bitter smile. ”Alright, let’s not talk about this. Let’s rest tonight and have another round tomorrow morning.”

”No, no, I can’t kill you. Sparring with you will just wear out my spirit, and I’m off to do a task in a few days. If you wish to improve, don’t go to the martial arena to spar—find a place where you can fight for your life.”

”A place to fight for your life...”

The next morning, Jiang Yuebai woke up from meditating in a side room of Lu Nanzhi’s small courtyard.

As expected, the Spiritual Energy on the Inner Sect Thirty-Six Peaks was abundant. However, ever since entering the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, she felt her spiritual energy inside her body reaching maximum capacity, unable to accommodate any more, causing any spiritual energy she tried to draw in to dissipate.

The efficiency of her cultivation was not as it once was, and her progress was slow. At this rate, entering the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer in five years would still be considered fast.

Should she start taking Elixirs, or continue to patiently refine? Jiang Yuebai hesitated, recalling her grandfather’s advice to avoid Elixirs if possible. She decided to try for a while longer and search for alternative solutions.

”I need to tell Anan I want this room.”

Talking with Lu Nanzhi the night before, Jiang Yuebai realized that entering Heavenly Gang Peak was no easy task.

True Monarch Fuyi had set up a Ninety-Nine Linked Array at the foot of the peak. To reside on Heavenly Gang Peak, one must break at least nine of the arrays, each stronger than the last.

The more arrays one broke, the closer the residence would be to True Monarch Fuyi’s cave abode. To date, not even other Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the sect have broken all ninety-nine arrays.

Jiang Yuebai decided to temporarily stay with Lu Nanzhi. Since Heavenly Gang Peak was next door, she would tackle the array after completing her task upon returning.

Opening the door, the courtyard was serene, but Lu Nanzhi was nowhere in sight. A piece of paper lay on the table.

[Last night, after hearing your words, I felt years of effort were nothing but an illusion. Starting today, I’ll enter the Sword Tomb for trials. When the minor competition arrives, we shall fight again]

”Jiang Yuebai, something big happened!!”

Xie Jingshan rushed in, flustered.

”Lu Nanzhi, out of nowhere, barged into the Sword Tomb this morning.”

Xie Jingshan rushed in, seeing the note in Jiang Yuebai’s hand, and asked in shock, ”So it was because of you. What did you say to her to make her disregard her own life? Wait, she mentioned fighting again, could it be... you defeated her?!”

Xie Jingshan broke his voice, feeling as if his composure had shattered into pieces, driving him insane.

If Lu Nanzhi had fought him on the stage yesterday and pinned him down for a beating, wouldn’t his lifetime reputation be ruined?

What a close call! What a close call!

Upon reconsideration, Xie Jingshan felt that it was Jiang Yuebai, and her victory over Lu Nanzhi was unexpected yet logical.

After all, Jiang Yuebai is a lunatic who doesn’t even sleep and continues cultivating even while mining!

”Is the Sword Tomb very dangerous?” Jiang Yuebai asked.

”Of course!” Xie Jingshan snapped back to reality and answered decisively.

”It is filled with various vicious sword arrays and the sword intent left by Great Power Sword Cultivators. Those things, unlike humans, have no rationality, only killing intent. The sect mandates that only Foundation Establishment stage Sword Cultivators can enter the Sword Tomb for trials, and of all those who went in from past generations, nine out of ten Sword Cultivators suffered severe injuries.”

Jiang Yuebai nodded, ”Don’t worry, Anan knows what she’s doing.”

”But I don’t know! Just what did you say to her last night? I need to know too!”

Xie Jingshan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan; Jiang Yuebai must have shared some secret techniques or formulas to boost strength with Lu Nanzhi. These two despicable characters are excluding him!

Jiang Yuebai squinted and smiled, ”We just talked about our experiences over the years. By the way, Xie Jingshan, what’s going on with you? You’ve been doing tasks with Great Power Cultivators escorting you these past years. What’s your background? If you keep on like this, you’ll never truly grow.”

Xie Jingshan gritted his teeth, ”I have no choice either! It’s all because of my grandfather... I’m the only descendant in my family, my grandfather is overly worried.”

Jiang Yuebai shook his head, ”I have something to do, I’ll leave first, and find you for drinks after I’m done.”

Xie Jingshan made a snap decision, ”Let’s drink after I come out of the Sword Tomb.”

Jiang Yuebai was taken aback, while Xie Jingshan turned and walked away decisively.

Jiang Yuebai thought Xie Jingshan was just giving lip service, but didn’t expect that he actually asked the Sect Master and tagged along into the Sword Tomb.

The news spread, causing an uproar in the sect.

Everyone secretly scolded that Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan were unkind, offering no way out for others.

They were already first and second, why did they still want to enter the Sword Tomb for trials? Weren’t they fine before, already quiet?

The sect atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Huaxi Valley.

Jiang Yuebai returned to her old house, ready to gather some belongings to move to Lu Nanzhi’s place.

This place ultimately evoked old memories, every return filling her with sourness. After she buried her grandfather and handled the tasks, the old house would definitely be gone too.

One must look forward and not dwell in the past.

Her mother taught her from a young age, to climb ahead without looking back, for life is ahead, behind is only a graveyard.

Upon entering, Jiang Yuebai saw Lv Ying sitting alone by the stone table in the courtyard, preoccupied, not noticing her entrance.

”Lv Ying, what are you doing here?”

Lv Ying suddenly snapped awake, struggle concealed between her brows.

”I’ve been running around so busy these days, I haven’t properly thanked you for seeking out Xie Jingshan for inner sect entry on my behalf five years ago. Truly, if you hadn’t fetched Xie Jingshan who helped me a great deal, I wouldn’t have made it till today.”

Jiang Yuebai sincerely thanked her. With age and experience, she recalled the quarrel with Lv Ying, realizing her immaturity; she spoke recklessly, often hurting others’ feelings.

”Why did you come back?”

Jiang Yuebai was stunned, ”Lv Ying, what do you mean by this?”

Lv Ying took a breath, eyes reddened, glaring at Jiang Yuebai.

”While you roam freely outside, why did you come back? Now that you’ve returned as an Inner Sect Disciple, why are you sticking to Huaxi Valley? Can’t you go further away and stop bothering me?”

”Am I so cheap and easy to bully? Must you flaunt your superiority in front of me, making me your foil, or do you want me to be your lapdog, bowing and flattering? I’m telling you, I can’t do it!”

”If you truly have a bit of gratitude towards me, then get lost early, stop appearing in Huaxi Valley, stop disturbing my peaceful days, go be your Inner Sect Disciple, go be your favored child of heaven, and just let me rot in the mud, alright!”