A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

From this, one could even make a bold guess: perhaps in the Upper Realm, a Spirit Root isn’t a prerequisite for embarking on the Immortal Path. Any mortal who wants to cultivate could simply purchase an artificial one.

If this hypothesis were true, it would herald the dawn of an age where everyone could be a dragon.

Of course, that’s not a certainty. One only has to look at the knowledge monopolies in the Lower Realm.

Perhaps the emergence of artificial Spirit Roots wouldn’t be a good thing for the people of the Upper Realm.

Only those in the Upper Realm could know the truth of it.

...

「Several months later, on a deserted island in the Outer Sea near Tide Cave.」

Two figures silently appeared—a man and a woman.

The male cultivator had the appearance of a middle-aged, black-haired man. He wore a moon-yellow Dharma Robe and carried a massive Sword Box on his back, marking him as a Sword Cultivator.

The Female Cultivator with him was a woman with a cold expression. A Frost Spirit Pattern was etched between her brows, and even when she did nothing, the very air around her seemed to freeze.

If any Eastern Sect Cultivators from Central Earth were here, they would have recognized these two. They were none other than ”Ten Thousand Swords True Monarch” Fang Daoyun and ”Profound Ice True Monarch” Yanm Lianxing, hailed as the Two Pillars of the East Origin Immortal Palace. The pair had suppressed the Eastern Sect for over a thousand years, and their resounding fame had long echoed throughout Central Earth.

”Senior Brother, we are indeed in the Outer Sea near Tide Cave. Our target, Lü Zhong, is in seclusion a thousand miles from here.”

After performing a quick divination to confirm they were in the right place, Yanm Lianxing looked at Fang Daoyun and asked in a level voice, ”Should we move on him directly, or should we find a place to investigate first...?”

”It’s too risky to act rashly. Let’s go to Bidao Market to investigate first.”

Fang Daoyun gazed at the distant Spiritual Qi Vortex and knew the Sect’s intelligence was flawed. Lü Zhong was no longer at a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivation; he had clearly advanced to the Late-stage Nascent Soul realm.

Considering the man’s past combat record, he didn’t believe the two of them could succeed in a single attempt, even with the treasure bestowed by their Martial Uncle Cangmingzi.

It was better to plan first and then act.

With a flicker, the two of them vanished without a trace.

...

「Fifteen minutes later.」

Fang Daoyun and Yanm Lianxing appeared in Bidao Market.

With their level of cultivation and a Concealing Breath and Disguise Technique, not even a Golden Core Master could see through their Disguise. They could therefore stroll openly down the streets.

Strolling down the bustling main street, even Fang Daoyun, a man of exceedingly high standards, had to admit something. In terms of sheer scale, Bidao Market could already rank among the top one hundred in Central Earth. It was no less impressive than some of the Immortal Cities in Central Earth that were famous in name only.

”I heard Star Sun True Monarch was originally just a Loose Cultivator...”

”That was just luck, coupled with the fact that he was in an uncivilized place like the Southern Barbarian lands. In Central Earth, someone of his background would be destined for limited future achievements,” Yanm Lianxing said dismissively.

Her words were not without reason.

Under the control of the Noble Families and Sects, the cultivator hierarchy in Central Earth had long been solidified, with all the benefits already carved up and divided. A Loose Cultivator who came later, even if they managed to join a Sect, would have little chance to rise. Without a powerful background or factional support, and with no opportunities for growth, even the most outstanding talent would struggle to get ahead.

After all, in this day and age, the only thing the world lacked was resources.

Take the two of them, for example. Their own aptitude hadn’t been considered outstanding among their peers. But with the backing of their powerful factions, they had defeated a series of rivals to firmly secure their positions as the Two Pillars. While they couldn’t compare to the Chief, Celestial Star Master, they were still leading figures in the Celestial Origin Immortal Palace.

Yanm Lianxing knew full well that their rise was not just due to their own talent and hard work. It was mainly because they had sufficient resources.

Without those resources, they might still be stuck at the Early-stage Nascent Soul realm.