Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 69: Chapter 35: Like Waking from a Dream

The two turned sharply, leading their spiritual steeds.

A man with a face full of hardship rose from the street-side tavern and came out to greet them.

Although he wore brocade clothes, they were clearly ill-fitting, and most notably, his right arm hung empty.

”Jiangling!”

”Brother Dong! Your arm...”

Li Ji’an and Zhang Tiezhu came to the front of the tavern, their gaze falling on his right arm, prompting Zhang Tiezhu to exclaim aloud.

”This... it’s a long story, let’s sit first!” Dong Jiangling welcomed the two into the tavern with one hand.

As the two scrutinized Dong Jiangling, he too examined them.

A decade had passed without Dong Jiangling sending a single letter back; previously, Zhang Tiezhu had complained to Li Ji’an, saying Dong Jiangling had forgotten them upon entering the Cultivation Realm, like a white-eyed wolf.

As five people who experienced life and death together from the Immortal Dynasty, logically, they were the closest and most understanding of each other in the Cultivation Realm, thus should have united and helped each other, and most would choose to band together for warmth.

However, the five were unlike ordinary people, each being outstanding talents from the Immortal Dynasty.

Beyond excelling in Body Refining, their heart nature and insight were also extraordinary, and each held strong opinions.

Therefore, even faced with the uncertainties of the Cultivation Realm, they were all filled with ambition.

Li Ji’an still remembered Dong Jiangling’s attitude when he left, there was a certain air about him, concerned yet somewhat dismissive.

This was human nature, and indeed reality, as his Spirit Root was admittedly poor.

”Brother Li, Tiezhu, ten years have passed, have you been well?” Dong Jiangling wore a somewhat bitter expression, especially upon seeing Li Ji’an’s spiritual steed that confirmed it was of a grade he couldn’t afford.

”Let’s not talk about us, tell us about yourself, why haven’t you sent a letter for ten years, and what happened to your arm...” Zhang Tiezhu seemed anxious.

Dong Jiangling bit his lower lip, then smiled, lowering his head: ”It’s all my fault. Initially, I thought I’d contact you once I had accomplished something, but...”

In brief, after leaving the gathering area, Dong Jiangling arrived at United Marketplace, and shortly realized the plight of the loose cultivators without support; survival, let alone cultivation, was arduous with no hope in sight.

At that time, his spirit was high, and he ultimately decided to head north in search of opportunities.

As a former outstanding talent, he couldn’t accept a mundane life.

Upon leaving the marketplace, he took a deep look back at the place, making a vow inwardly to make a name for himself, or never return.

However, the journey north was unsuccessful; he encountered tribulation cultivators, narrowly escaping death, and finally fled with his body cultivation strength.

That ambush made him witness Li Ji’an slay cultivators on the Sandstorm Forbidden Land road, thinking he wouldn’t fare too badly, yet his grandeur completely extinguished thereafter, and he cautiously made his way to a larger northern marketplace.

Beyond having slightly more cultivation resources, there was no difference for him.

At that point, he faced choices: either join a family with his body cultivation strength from the bottom, or work for a business as an escort master servant.

However, his status from Immortal Dynasty and the influence of his eunuch grandfather, although reputed, led to incessant ridicule and disdain behind his back, hence he vowed never to be anyone’s servant once he recognized his Martial Dao talent.

Due to this willpower, he chose to become the most arduous loose cultivator.

Being a loose cultivator is difficult; solely relying on legitimate professions, there’s no prospect, being livestock for life.

But his spirit refused to become a vile tribulation cultivator preying on others.

During a demon beast hunt, he inadvertently heard fellow loose cultivators mention stories of the child of destiny, which sparked his adventuring.

Cliffs, swift currents, wilderness graveyards...he went wherever people seldom ventured, risking his life.

Consequently, he met some fellow ambitious and daring friends.

He indeed found some opportunities, successfully advancing in Qi Cultivation, but faced even more peril.

Four years ago, an ancient ruin emerged in the north, and upon entering, he was torn a limb by bizarre beings inside.

If not for a female cultivator present saving him, he would have perished there.

That incident completely thwarted his ambitions, with his inferior spirit root and damaged Tao Body leaving him with no hope for advancement.

Back then, he’d considered a death wish, prepared to accept his crippled life.

Yet the female cultivator’s care for a year led him to reflect on his life, finally awakening.

The pursuit of immortality since youth was a delusion, missing out on youthful joys.

Seeking immortality since arriving in this world was defying the heavens, fanciful aspirations without any foundation, missing the scenery along the way.

The entire first half of life...a grand dream!

Fortunately, dreams eventually end.

Three years ago, he joined with the female cultivator, settling in the nearby gathering area.

He abandoned the Dharma Cultivator path, hunting demon beasts to support his family while continuing to delve into body cultivation.

Now as a mid-stage Tier One Body Cultivator, he held a status in the gathering area akin to Chen Zhaohu here.

Two years ago, his dao companion birthed a daughter, and now it’s a harmonious family.

His aspiration for the latter half of life is to provide his daughter a good cultivation environment, making up for his and his companion’s regrets.

”Call it laughable, this magic robe was found by my wife in an elder’s burial site years ago. Knowing I would meet old friends this time... hahahaha, shameful indeed.” He finished speaking, and casually removed the Tier One magic robe, putting it away in the storage pouch.

Listening to his decade-long experiences, Zhang Tiezhu looked somber, subconsciously glancing at Li Ji’an, hoping to gain similar sentiments.

Yet he was disappointed.

Li Ji’an was not surprised by Dong Jiangling’s experiences, his six strands Metal Spirit Root sensing was also Lower Grade, and at that time, he was already twenty-three, not much different in age.

Potential was minimal.

However, the path chosen was one that could lead to miracles.

But...there aren’t many children of destiny?

Relatively speaking, he was considered lucky, at least not becoming a wilderness skeleton.

He still had the chance to see reality.

Zhang Tiezhu felt somewhat unsettled.

He was somewhat more timid, choosing more cautiously a decade ago by relying on a family.

Moreover, during those years, participating in family battles, he mostly evaded and relished, bullying the weak using his Martial Dao strength.

He once frequently encouraged Li Ji’an to venture, but lacked courage to explore perilous areas like Dong Jiangling.

He maintained hope and dreams.

He even fantasized that if his cultivation advanced further, entering secret realms or ruins like Dong Jiangling, he might attain immortality and ancestorhood.

But now, hearing Dong Jiangling’s experiences and outcome made such hope and dreams suddenly appear delusional.

He felt anxious.

”Brother Li, Tiezhu, it seems you’ve truly embarked on the cultivation path? Congratulations!” Dong Jiangling’s tone and attitude today were very steady, and appeared sincerely genuine.

Li Ji’an smiled, shaking his head: ”Cultivation is not easy, whether I can cross the Qi Cultivation middle stage is still uncertain, perhaps this might be the end of the road in this life.”

Dong Jiangling, hearing this, felt a bit unexpected, given that Li Ji’an’s spiritual steed today was Upper Grade, but soon understood.

He came reunited today, Lady Cui allowed him to don the magic robe for show, perhaps Li Ji’an was doing similarly.

He said nothing inspiring, merely nodded quietly.

Zhang Tiezhu initially felt somewhat superior along the way, unsurprisingly thinking he might have advanced the furthest among the five.

After all, he was the youngest, had relatively better spirit roots, and most importantly chose the right path, joining the Yan Family, obtaining the Breaking Rank Pill; now at twenty-eight years old at Qi Cultivation 5th Layer, surpassing some similar-aged Lower Grade spirit root clan members within Yan Clan.

But hearing Dong Jiangling’s experiences left him a bit frustrated.

Qi Cultivation 5th Layer, so what?

Advancing slightly more than Dong Jiangling and Li Ji’an, so what?

”Ah, Brother Li is right, we’re all the same!” Ultimately, he lost all sense of superiority, sighing heavily.

Subsequently, Zhang Tiezhu and Li Ji’an shared their decade of experiences.

Compared to Dong Jiangling’s experiences, theirs were uneventful, except for Li Ji’an receiving the Yan Family eldest daughter’s favor, which surprised Dong Jiangling.

However, this was mentioned by Zhang Tiezhu, and Li Ji’an flatly denied, without mentioning the reason.

”I wonder if Sister Zhao and Linxian will come?” Zhang Tiezhu drank a few cups of wine, recovering some spirit, thinking if Dong Jiangling hadn’t succeeded, it doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone; perhaps Zhu Linxian might have succeeded.

This rekindled his anticipation.

”Linxian... is probably extraordinary!” Dong Jiangling contemplated, saying.