Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

The sky was still dimly lit.

Chen Li had already moved aside the delicate body entwined with his own and quietly got up to walk out the door.

His house was located on the outskirts of the shantytown at the base of the mountain; not far beyond was the wilderness, which comprised grasslands, wetlands, lakes, and marshes—a primordial and untamed natural landscape.

It was spring, with gentle breezes and a revival of all things.

The wild frogs croaked loudly, insects chirped, competing to be heard, like a symphony from nature itself!

"Puchi!"

Chen Li stepped on an ill-intentioned white snake, flattening it, as he walked to an open area.

After using a ’Scolding Skill’.

An extensive area around him instantly fell silent; countless flying insects in the air dropped like raindrops, untold creatures perished in the wake of his attack.

Chen Li loosened up his body and began practicing the Yuan Magnetism Evasion Skill.

He chanted incantations, formed hand seals, and channeled spiritual power—all in one go.

Failure!

On the second attempt, he succeeded.

Accompanied by a series of crackling electromagnetic flashes, his body suddenly floated up. With a mere thought, he shot up from the ground like an arrow piercing the distant dark curtain.

Seconds later, he reached his maximum speed and savored the differences from the Wind Control Skill.

"Flight is much smoother, quieter," he noted.

"It’s slower than the Wind Control Skill, but it initiates faster and is more responsive."

Of course, as the skill level increases, it will make up for the speed.

The only downside that can’t be compensated for is the consumption of spiritual power; after all, it’s a First Order Ninth Grade spell, and its consumption of spiritual power is almost three times that of the Wind Control Skill when cast.

Chen Li sped through the air, making a large loop before landing back to the ground.

He dispelled the skill.

He opened the game panel to check.

"Yuan Magnetism Evasion Skill Beginner: 18/100"

Although he had only practiced this skill twice since yesterday, the proficiency had already reached ’Beginner: 18/100’

Chen Li was not surprised.

Proficiency in the early levels was easy to improve, given his solid foundation in spells—one through all, as they say. Novice spells were often mastered to a proficient level after just a dozen or so attempts.

But after reaching mastery, proficiency rarely made such leaps.

...

After practicing spells, he moved on to sword drills.

Time passed swiftly.

As daylight grew stronger and figures began to populate the wilderness, Chen Li sheathed his sword, cast a Cleaning Skill on himself to remove the sweat, donned his robe, and made his way home.

"It’s still somewhat inconvenient!" Chen Li missed the basement in Luoluo City, "Well, I might as well dig another one. It won’t take much effort, and I’ll feel more at ease."

It was still early in the day,

On the road, he occasionally encountered vendors and peddlers carting heavy goods towards the shantytown from the secular world.

The most common threat from the young widow next door when scolding her son was,

"If you don’t behave, I’ll let those peddlers take you away."

The population density was high at the base of the mountain in the shantytown, and it was a mix of good and bad, with all sorts of people from all walks of life. The area was much more chaotic than Luoluo City, with fighting, deaths, and kidnappings occurring as commonplace, usually with little intervention, ending unresolved.

Of course, this depended on the person.

Someone like Chen Li, wearing a high-grade robe, could nearly do as he pleased. As he walked, people stepped aside to make way, not daring to provoke him.

When passing by Zhang Yan’s house, Chen Li was reminded of what Zhou Hong had said the night before about Zhang Yan being beaten, and he paused in his steps.

He felt it would be good to pay a visit.

He approached and knocked on the door.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Who is it?" came a crisp voice from inside, that of Zhang Shuniang.

"Shu, it’s me. Is your father at home?" Chen asked.

After a wait,

"Creak," the door opened a crack, and a lovely little face appeared, blushing and darting her eyes away, not daring to look at him: "Uncle, my father just left; he went out early this morning."

"He left so early? I might as well come in and wait for him," Chen Li innocently suggested.

"No, you can’t, Uncle!" Zhang Shuniang widened her eyes in alarm, hurriedly responding: "I-I-I... need to sleep!"

"Alright then, it’s indeed inconvenient for a young lady," Chen conceded.

Zhang Shuniang immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, that’s right, Uncle, then I’m closing the door now!"

"Go ahead, close it," Chen said.

The door gently closed.

Having teased the young lady, Chen Li felt refreshed and pleased, and even the regret of not seeing Zhang Yan lessened a tad.

Alas, he wondered how badly Zhang Yan was beaten.

...

Days passed, and the atmosphere of war grew heavier with each day.

Half a month later.

Just a few days after Chen Li’s basement was completed,

this day, as he was testing the production of Golden Light Talismans in the talisman-making room, outside suddenly erupted with noise.

"Quick, look, what’s that?"

"Heavens! War is truly upon us."

Chen Li’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put down his brush and hastened to the courtyard gate.

Zhou Hong was not at home, having gone to the market to buy groceries.

The streets were packed with people, countless Loose Cultivators, looking up at the Flying Boats with expressions of fear mixed with inexplicable excitement.

Chen Li followed the crowd’s gaze upward and saw three huge Flying Boats slowly emerging from the perpetual mist that enshrouded the peak of Luanluo Mountain, with numerous cultivators, tiny as dots, bustling about in vast numbers, like a majestic tidal wave.

His face tensed, although the Flying Boats weren’t targeting this area, that terrible oppressive feeling still washed over him.

"As expected of the once Golden Core Sect, its foundation really is profound."

The Flying Boats slowly passed over the shantytown at the foot of the mountain, casting a large shadow on the ground. Many people excitedly chased after the Flying Boats, following them for a long time before they stopped, as the Flying Boats continued on, becoming more and more distant, and slowly turned into mere dots.

The crowd on the street began to disperse.

"Wuu wuu wuu!"

A muffled sobbing came.

A disheveled old man, drunk and sitting under a tree, was crying his heart out, whimpers breaking from his throat. A crowd had gathered around him, and Chen Li stepped forward to see that this man was the foul-mouthed steward in charge of renting out properties.

"Liu, have you lost your mind? The Longevity Sect has only just marched out. Even if you don’t boost the morale, why are you crying? It brings bad luck. Get up!" A cultivator laughed, enjoying the spectacle.

"A war only ever gets worse with fighting, never stronger. Even if they win this one, who knows how many will survive. Surrounding the Longevity Domain are packs of wolves, lying in wait, eyeing us predatorily. The Longevity Sect is finished, wuu wuu wuu... I’m sorry for our ancestors who ascended to immortality!" The old man was beating his chest and stamping his feet.

Chen Li remained silent in his heart.

Didn’t the Longevity Sect know this?

Of course they knew!

The Longevity Sect had only three cultivators who had reached Foundation Establishment left—losing even one would be a devastating blow that could undermine their ruling foundation.

But they were compelled by the situation and had no choice but to fight.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Longevity Sect was assassinated right outside their door, a blatant declaration of war.

With the internal outrage rising and the external pressures to govern, if the Longevity Sect kept enduring quietly, they would likely fall apart first.

...

Three days later.

At Luoluo City’s monthly auction.

"First Order Ninth Grade Spell, Golden Light Body Protection Skill, the strongest Body Protection Skill for those in the Qi Cultivation Stage. As everyone knows, a Spell is generally one level more powerful than its Talisman version, and the Golden Light Body Protection Skill is no exception. Even if a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level commanding a Second Order Low-grade Magical Instrument attacks with all their might, it would take two strikes to break through..." The auctioneer enthusiastically promoted it, his expression excited.

But most of the buyers below couldn’t muster enthusiasm.

Firstly, the level of the Spell was too high; there were very few people who could reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

Secondly, the majority of Loose Cultivators simply weren’t in the habit of learning Spells; although powerful, they were difficult to learn and use, and were far less convenient and quick than Talismans and Magic Artifacts during combat.

"The starting bid is three Mid-grade Spirit Stones, with each increase of one Mid-grade Spirit Stone." The auctioneer started the bidding directly.

"Four!"

"Five!"

Chen Li only raised his hand once.

After that, no one else bid.

"Five, any higher bids? Once, twice, three times! Sold."

Compared to the price of sixteen Mid-grade Spirit Stones for the Golden Light Body Protection Talisman making notes last time, this Spell version was practically a steal.

After the auction ended, Chen Li paid for his purchase and put it into his storage bag, preparing to leave.

"Chen?"

Chen Li turned around, it was Yu Fan Zhen.

Somehow this girl could always see through him, no matter how he disguised himself.

It was bizarre — he had deliberately altered his gait, and there was nothing on him that could reveal his identity; by all logic, no one should have been able to recognize him.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, what a coincidence," said Chen Li, covering his face with his sleeve and casually wiping himself, reverting to his true appearance. He wanted to ask how she had recognized him, but when he saw the worry on her face, the question fell back into his throat unasked.

Her concern was no surprise.

This time, the five affiliated families of the Longevity Sect in Luoluo City, who had cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level, had each sent one off to battle. Yu Cheng, the elderly ancestor of the Yu Family, was nearing the end of his lifespan, and this battle’s odds were likely grim for him.

"It really is you!" Yu Fan Zhen forced a small smile and said, "I felt the figure looked familiar."

"Did you also come to participate in the auction?"

"Yes!"

...

After a few mundane exchanges, the two had nothing more to say.

Before parting, Chen Li informed her of his current address.

"I have received much kindness from Elder Yu. If there’s ever an issue, feel free to come find me."

"Mhm!" Yu Fan Zhen’s eyes were slightly red as she nodded gratefully.

...

Several days later, in the wilderness.

"Finally mastered the Traction Skill to the highest level!" Chen Li exhaled deeply.

This was the fifth Spell he had mastered to the top level, following the Spiritual Power Finger Snap, Scolding Skill, Flash Skill, and Palm Thunder.

Centered around Chen Li, an invisible force field spread out, covering a radius of over thirty meters.

"Chirp chirp!"

Suddenly, a bird flew by low to the ground.

With a slight thought from Chen Li, the bird instantly froze midair, motionless.

He smiled lightly and let the bird go.

The bird, terrified, let out a mournful cry and hurriedly flew off with rapid wingbeats.

Chen Li then turned his attention to the surrounding trees. The next moment, several trees as big around as a bowl were uprooted and floated into the air. He swiftly drew his sword, and the sword’s light flashed by like a fleeting comet.

With a "boom,"

That strike was like a divide between heaven and earth; the trees floating in the air were cut in two, and at the same time, the ground was torn open by an invisible force, leaving a massive chasm over thirty meters long and a meter deep.