Eternal Life Begins with Learning

Outside of town, the two walked one after another, seemingly unrelated. They continued until they reached a cave about thirty li from the Marketplace, which they entered one by one. Wang Mazi’s very first words startled Chu Mu.

"I’m wanted."

Chu Mu’s expression turned grave. "The Law Enforcement Team?"

"That’s right."

Wang Mazi nodded, his face filled with resentment. "They’re using my previous arrest in Jade Emperor Valley as a pretext. They’ve already issued a Wanted Order and a bounty."

Chu Mu’s expression soured. A Wanted Order issued in the name of the Longevity Sect, even if it was limited to Jade Emperor Valley, was a completely different beast from being hunted in secret. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The moment a bounty appeared in the Marketplace’s mission hall, it was broadcast to the tens of thousands of Cultivators in the entire Jade Emperor Valley!

In other words, any Cultivator could claim the bounty with Wang Mazi’s soul!

"Dammit! I sell a few Elixirs and suddenly I’m branded an Evil Cultivator. This is fucking bullshit!"

"Those bullshit Clans, and this Longevity Sect... which one of them isn’t more black-hearted than us?"

Wang Mazi continued to curse and grumble, while Chu Mu remained silent.

He knew, of course, that there wasn’t a single thing wrong with what Wang Mazi said.

In the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World, there was no traditional distinction between good and evil, only one defined by men.

Those wanted by the Longevity Sect or other Clans were, by definition, Evil Cultivators. Those who weren’t wanted, no matter how many vile deeds they committed, were righteous Cultivators.

It didn’t align with traditional morality, but it was the logic of their world.

After a long silence, Chu Mu finally interrupted Wang Mazi’s tirade. "Do you know who’s behind this?"

"Zhao Tang!"

Wang Mazi gritted his teeth. "That little bastard who caught me before!"

Chu Mu frowned. "Isn’t he just at Qi Cultivation Perfection? He shouldn’t have that much influence, should he?"

"He has a good father—the Vice Hall Master of the Jade Emperor Valley’s Law Enforcement Outer Hall!"

Wang Mazi snorted with contempt.

Chu Mu’s heart sank a little. "A Foundation Establishment Realm expert?"

Wang Mazi nodded, his face a mask of frustration.

Chu Mu’s voice deepened slightly. "Then, Brother Wang, what do you plan to do now?"

"I can only run."

Wang Mazi shook his head. "I can’t stay in Jade Emperor Valley anymore. I’ll head to East Lake. The Longevity Sect’s reach doesn’t extend that far."

Then, Wang Mazi looked at Chu Mu. "Brother Li, why don’t you come with me? We can continue our partnership. I’ll only take a thirty percent cut!"

Chu Mu was tempted for a moment, but he quickly extinguished the thought.

’A new environment would mean another long period of cautious adaptation and learning.’

’My cover hasn’t been blown, so there’s really no need to take that risk.’

Chu Mu didn’t answer. He took out the Large Jade Bottle from his Storage Talisman, poured out half of its contents, and then handed the Jade Bottle to Wang Mazi.

"This is too much. My cut is forty percent."

Wang Mazi said, confused.

"Just take it."

Chu Mu shook his head and pressed the Jade Bottle into Wang Mazi’s hand.

Wang Mazi’s expression was a bit complicated, but in the end, he didn’t refuse. Instead, he fumbled inside his robes for a moment and then pressed a Jade Scroll into Chu Mu’s hand.

"This Jade Scroll contains information on several nearby Black Markets. I’ve also recorded some of the channels I’ve learned about over the years."

"Younger Brother Li, if you’re going to stay in Jade Emperor Valley, this should be useful to you."

"Alright."

Chu Mu put the Jade Scroll away. Wang Mazi waved his hand, and without lingering, turned and left.

As his figure receded into the distance, Chu Mu took out the Jade Scroll. He scanned it thoroughly with his Divine Sense, and only after confirming there was nothing unusual did he place it in his Storage Talisman.

Looking out of the cave, he saw that Wang Mazi had already entered the forest.

After this farewell, he had no idea when they would meet again.

Chu Mu’s brow furrowed slightly as he considered a problem.

’With Wang Mazi, my distributor, gone, what’s next...’

Lost in thought, Chu Mu also walked out of the cave.

He swept the area with his Divine Sense, finding nothing out of the ordinary.

The distance to the Marketplace was just over thirty li. Before long, and without any incidents, Chu Mu returned to the outskirts of Yuning Town.

By dusk, the small town, which had been deserted enough during the day to catch birds in, was now bustling with activity.

This was especially true for the northwest part of town, in the direction of the Spirit Fields opened by the Longevity Sect’s Huichun Pavilion outside the Marketplace. Cultivators were heading into town in an endless stream.

Chu Mu glanced over, his curiosity piqued.

According to Xu Yuan’s daily, rambling transmissions, the work in the Spirit Fields was extremely complicated.

Tier One Spirit Fields were as hard as iron. Even with specialized tools, Low Tier Cultivators couldn’t till much in a single day.

Moreover, all sorts of Spirit Insects easily bred in the Spirit Fields. Though they were small, they were not something ordinary mortals could handle. Cultivators had to keep a constant watch and deal with them promptly.

Recently, there had even been incidents of Cultivators being killed by Spirit Insects.

Every crop in the Spirit Fields had its own requirements for its growing environment, such as sunlight, rainwater, tilling, and fertilizing. All this dirty, exhausting work also needed to be handled by Cultivators in a timely manner.

However, from what he had heard, the Sun Family had also owned large tracts of Spirit Fields in Jade Emperor Valley back in the day. It was just that there weren’t many Low Tier Cultivators in Jade Emperor Valley at that time.

Perhaps for that reason, the dirty, tiring labor in the Sun Family’s Spirit Fields was mostly automated using Puppets and Array Restrictions, much like the old Yutai Mine.

But now, with the development of Jade Emperor Valley, a large number of Low Tier Cultivators had gathered, making human labor more abundant and cheaper.

The Longevity Sect had clearly chosen a different path.

For some reason, Chu Mu couldn’t help but think of a term from his past life.

It seemed to fit the current situation in Jade Emperor Valley quite well.

Shaking his head, Chu Mu couldn’t be bothered to think about it too much. None of this had much to do with him.

Speaking of which, since entering the Cultivation Immortal Realm, he had worked two jobs.

He’d mined for several months at the Yutai Mine, and then refined Ore Materials for a while at Li’s Trading House.

He was absolutely unwilling to go back to wasting his life like that again.

Unwilling, and it was impossible!

What was the point of Cultivation if there was no hope?

"Fellow Daoist Li, you’re back!"

Before Chu Mu even reached his door, Old Chen darted out from somewhere.

Although he had changed into clean clothes and his sticky hair seemed to have been washed, Chu Mu could still smell a faint, acrid odor wafting from him, even from several meters away.

"Fellow Daoist, what did you do before?"

Chu Mu asked, a bit curious.

"Me?"

Old Chen didn’t seem to mind Chu Mu’s abrupt question. He scratched his head and chuckled. "When I was young, I collected manure in the town. Then, by a stroke of luck, I set foot on the Immortal Path."

"I don’t know how to do anything else, so I’ve been doing this same job in various Marketplaces."

Chu Mu asked again, "Then how old are you, Fellow Daoist?"

"I’m sixty-three this year."

Chu Mu was speechless. He didn’t quite understand.

At his age, why not return to the mortal world? Even if he had to live incognito, with his Cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, he could definitely live a carefree life among mortals.

Chu Mu hesitated. "Sixty-three... Then, Old Chen, you..."

"Young man, don’t even ask. This Old Chen is a fool, a complete and utter fool!"

Before Chu Mu could finish, the disdainful voice of the Female Cultivator from the neighboring shack rang out.

Puzzled, Chu Mu looked toward the Courtyard Lady Cultivator leaning against her doorframe.

The Female Cultivator glanced at the chuckling Old Chen and said irritably:

"This Old Chen, at his ripe old age, went and had a young son with who knows who!"

"After bringing his son to Jade Emperor Valley, he sent the boy to live inside the Marketplace."

"He rents a place for three Lower Spirit Stones a month for his son to live in, and even enrolled him in the Longevity Sect’s Cultivation classes..."

"But he stays out here beyond the Marketplace, hauling manure and doing manual labor every day, scrimping and saving every last Broken Spirit Stone!"

"And what’s the result? That little bastard, every time he comes out of the Marketplace, he just holds out his hand to this old fool for Spirit Stones. He’s quick to beat and kick him..."

"He’s worked himself to the bone, raised a monster at his age, and he still shamelessly fawns all over that little beast. Young man, you tell me, if that’s not a complete fool, what is?"

The Female Cultivator showed no mercy, her tone like someone furious at a person for failing to live up to their potential. Old Chen just stood there meekly, still chuckling.

Chu Mu gave a dry laugh, thoroughly regretting his nosiness. ’Why did I have to run my mouth and ask about things that aren’t my business!’

"Uh, Fellow Daoist Chen, what did you need me for just now?"

Chu Mu quickly changed the subject.

"I was just about to tell you about the exchange meeting tonight."

Old Chen didn’t seem to mind the Female Cultivator’s scorn and immediately began to explain to Chu Mu.

"The people attending the exchange meeting are all our neighbors here."

"If you want to trade for anything later, Fellow Daoist, you should prepare something. Otherwise, you’ll only be able to watch."

"Also, the exchange meeting is technically against the Longevity Sect’s rules, so you can’t go spreading it around, Fellow Daoist."

"Got it."

Chu Mu nodded. After giving a few more instructions, Old Chen returned to his hut with a stoop in his back.

Just as he was about to go back to his own place, the Female Cultivator called out to him.

"Young man, we’ve been neighbors for so long, and I still don’t know your name. What is it?"

"Xu Tao."

Chu Mu turned and gave his fake name.

The Female Cultivator smiled, pursing her lips. Her slender fingers moved gracefully. "My name is Miaoyu."

"Miaoyu, Wang Miaoyu..."

Chu Mu nodded. Without another word, he turned and entered his room.

’Courtyard Lady Cultivators are bewitching and soul-stealing. Even though she’s only at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, it’s best to keep my distance.’

He scanned the room with his Divine Sense for a moment. After confirming nothing was amiss, Chu Mu redeployed the miniature isolation Restriction he had packed up before leaving.

Once the isolation Restriction was active, Chu Mu began to consider what he should bring to the exchange meeting later that evening.

He obviously didn’t have high expectations for this so-called exchange meeting.

After all, the people living here were mostly those with Low Cultivation, toiling away day after day for a few Broken Spirit Stones. What good things could they possibly have?

But since he had decided to live here, he clearly had to go with the flow and adapt to the town’s alternative lifestyle.

’One Vein Nourishing Pill, eight Lower Spirit Stones, and five Broken Spirit Stones.’

’That should be about right...’

In the end, he took this pitifully small collection of items from his Storage Talisman and placed them in his robes, preparing them as his capital for the exchange meeting.

Under the concealment of the Illusion God Mask, his apparent Cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. This small fortune was consistent with that level.

’If I really come across something I like, it shouldn’t be a problem to be a little more generous...’