Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

After the New Year festivities, Chen Li’s life returned to its ordinary calm.

Days passed by, one after another.

He spent each day withdrawn and secluded, wholeheartedly devoted to his cultivation. Time flew like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, over half a year had gone by.

...

Atop a mountain near Luanluo Mountain.

Chen Li stood on a huge rock at the summit, facing the cold wind of late autumn, his brows deeply furrowed.

"What exactly is the opportunity for Foundation Establishment?"

The max-level Longevity Skill, when reaching complete Qi Cultivation, was naturally succeeding without any hindrance. He had broken through more than two months ago, yet he still hadn’t felt the so-called opportunity for Foundation Establishment mentioned by the ancestor of the Yu Family.

In fact, at this stage, he could attempt a forceful breakthrough, but without even thinking about it, he knew the success rate wouldn’t be high.

And in the event of a failed breakthrough.

Not to mention a severe setback to his vital energy and reduced lifespan, the chances of successfully establishing foundation later on would be even slimmer, an even more remote opportunity.

"Living in Luoluo City is too chaotic after all; there are too many desires and distractions, making it difficult to truly settle one’s mind and focus," Chen Li thought to himself, "It’s just a pity that the ancestor of the Yu Family passed away too soon; otherwise, I could have sought his advice..."

...

A few nights later.

Afterward!

"I’m preparing to go out and find a place to seclude myself for cultivation!" Chen Li suddenly said.

Zhou Hong stiffened at these words, fell silent for a long while, and finally spoke softly, "When do you plan to leave?"

"It makes no difference to stay a few more days, I’ll leave tomorrow," Chen Li said as he caressed her delicate body, "With this step I’m taking, life and death are unpredictable..."

Zhou Hong quickly covered his mouth:

"Don’t say such ominous things; you will definitely succeed. You’re a genius; you will surely succeed..."

Her voice was choked with emotion.

"Let me finish!" Chen Li gently removed her hand and continued, "This matter is about fate, there’s no need to be superstitious. Success or failure is uncertain, and it’s possible I won’t be able to return. I’ll leave all the money to you. If I haven’t come back in three years, consider me dead."

"Wuu..."

Zhou Hong could no longer hold back her tears.

"Why cry? I’m only talking about possibilities, the worst-case scenario," Chen Li said as he wiped away her tears, comforting her, "Although the older one gets, the more dangerous Foundation Establishment becomes, I have succeeded in Body Refinement and have a strong physique. Even if I fail, the chance of an accident is slim."

"I don’t want to hear these things; I believe... you will definitely come back," Zhou Hong said through her heartache, "You must come back!"

"I will come back," Chen Li said solemnly.

...

Before dawn.

Chen Li felt Zhou Hong had fallen into a deep sleep.

He gently moved aside the arm wrapped around his body, quietly got up, put on his robe, and from his sleeve, he took out a triangular storage bag and gently placed it beside her bed. After a final glance at her, he resolutely turned and left the bedroom, opened the front door, then closed it again behind him, and leaped out of the courtyard wall.

The sky had not yet brightened.

The streets were eerily quiet. Chen Li took a deep breath and began to walk down the street.

He had only taken a few steps.

When behind him came a "creak," as the courtyard door suddenly opened.

Zhou Hong leaned in the doorway, her tearful eyes glistening.

"Go back!" Chen Li said, looking at the red silhouette. He steeled his heart and turned to stride away quickly.

He walked all the way out of the city gates and then used the Wind Control Skill. His body swiftly rose into the air and flew rapidly toward the distance, soon disappearing into the vast night sky.

...

Three hours later, as the sky gradually brightened.

Chen Li wiped the dew-soaked water off his face.

The forest was damp with moisture in the early morning, and the dew that had accumulated all night fell from the leaves without stopping, walking among them was like being in a light rain.

He walked up to the charred corpse of the bird demon.

Flying in the forest was extremely dangerous, fraught with crises. Just after entering the forest for a short while, he had been targeted by a bird demon.

Luckily, he reacted quickly and disposed of it with a swift Palm Thunder.

"What an unlucky start to the trip," Chen Li muttered to himself.

He pulled out his Green Jade Sword from the storage bag, took some meat from this foolish bird, and continued on his journey. Soon after, he arrived at the top of a mountain, where he stood on a giant rock, silently chanting spells and quickly forming hand seals.

The next moment, a light shone brightly in his eyes as he looked around.

Under the state of the Qi-watching Skill, the whole world seemed to be covered with a layer of soft light in his eyes. The light varied in thickness, flowing slowly, like undercurrents, like whirlpools. Some contained faint patterns, while many were completely disorderly, complex, and tangled.

This was the Spiritual Energy of the world.

"The Spiritual Energy here is far inferior to that of a first-order spiritual land like Luoluo City," Chen Li thought. "The best place for a breakthrough retreat is in a first-order spiritual land. If I really can’t find one, I’ll have to settle for a place where Spiritual Power is slightly richer. I hope my luck isn’t too bad!"

After deactivating the Qi-watching Skill, he cast the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill.

In the past half year, with his intentional practice, the Fortune Seeking and Disaster Avoiding Skill had reached Grandmaster level. Not only was his intuitive sense of good and bad fortune sharper, but the duration had also increased from less than half a minute initially to over ten minutes.

Chen Li, following an indistinct feeling, chose a direction at random and used the Wind Control Skill to fly off swiftly.

Looking down from the sky, an endless sea of forest spread out to the horizon, like a vast, undulating ocean.

...

Nighttime.

In a newly dug cave.

Chen Li couldn’t be bothered to fix himself something to eat, so he took out a Fasting Pill and swallowed it, didn’t undress, and crawled into the freshly laid bedding.

Before he set out, he had prepared for several years of retreat. For things like Fasting Pills, he had brought twenty-five bottles, enough for two years’ worth. As for other living supplies, he also had several sets.

Lying in bed, listening to the constant sound of rain outside, Chen Li felt an unprecedented sense of loneliness welling up in his heart.

It was already the eighth day since he had set out.

He didn’t know how deep into the forest he had gone, but there was still no sign of a first-order spiritual land.

Wandering alone in the forest, exposed to the elements and surrounded by dangers, with no one to talk to, and besides the wild animals, there wasn’t a single person in sight, no traces of human civilization—it was as if the entire world had only him left.

Not long after lying down, Chen Li threw off the covers and got up, cursing, and took out his Green Jade Sword.

"Can’t even get a good night’s sleep without something happening!"

Amidst the incessant sound of the autumn rain, a heavy set of footsteps approached, clearly having spotted the cave and deciding to come in for shelter.

Chen Li hid in the darkness, waiting silently.

The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by the heavy breathing of a wild beast.

As soon as it showed its face.

An extremely cold ray hit its massive body instantly, terrifying frost spread rapidly, and before the beast could struggle, it was frozen into a rigid ice corpse.

He crawled back into the warmth of his bedding.

With this ice corpse blocking the cave entrance.

He could probably have a much more peaceful night.

The next morning when he woke up.

The rain outside had stopped.

Chen Li threw off the damp bedding that had absorbed moisture overnight.

He used a Cleaning Skill on the blanket to shake off the water inside, stuffed it into his storage bag, stepped over the beast’s carcass, and set off once more.

ps: Before midnight, there will be another Chapter.