Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Chen Li mingled with a few familiar Foundation Establishment cultivators and chatted idly.

From time to time, people joined in the conversation voluntarily. Nowadays, Chen Li was no longer the unknown figure he used to be; many came to meet him out of admiration.

One had to say that even now, Chen Li had not gotten to know all of the Returning True Sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators; every gathering, many were either in closed-door cultivation, traveling abroad, or stationed in marketplaces far and wide.

"Alas, many familiar faces have disappeared!" Xiao Yuan said with a melancholic sigh, "Now the gatherings have become much less lively."

The atmosphere grew somewhat silent.

Chen Li couldn’t help but recall Guo Xingquan, the companion he was closest to:

"Does Fellow Daoist Guo Xingquan have any family?"

"He probably doesn’t. I remember Fellow Daoist Guo is a Loose Cultivator and has always been alone. As for whether he has relatives, it’s not very clear," a middle-aged, long-bearded Foundation Establishment cultivator pondered and said, "Such young Foundation Establishment cultivators still have prospects for their paths; who would think about starting a family."

"Sigh, many can’t even find anyone to claim their pensions, which is why you should have offspring early. Otherwise, when you die, you die in vain. No matter which hill you’re buried on, there’ll be no one to pay homage," another cultivator lamented.

"If you have a no-good descendant, it’s even more troublesome. Sometimes you wish you could just pinch two to death with one hand, as if they were never born."

"Descendants can at least be sent far away if they turn out disappointing, but women are troublesome—when they’re young, they are jealous and sour; as they age, they not only get jealous and sour, but they also become nagging and clueless, detestable to look at, and infuriating just by being seen!"

Chen Li listened to a group of middle-aged and elderly Foundation Establishment cultivators gossiping about household affairs and found it quite interesting.

After watching the ceremonies and eating the midday feast, the customary small-scale exchange meeting took place.

The price of Second Order magic artifacts had maintained a low for nearly two years and had now begun to rise slowly, but compared to the past, it was still pitifully low.

The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the surrounding areas was limited annually, and Chen Li estimated that to return to the previous prices, they would probably have to wait another five or ten years.

He wandered from stall to stall, seeking intriguing items.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on a wooden sign at one of the stalls, which read: "70% new Second-rank Low-grade Spiritual Wood Flying Shuttle, price negotiable."

His eyes lit up.

Such low-order small flying artifacts were rarely seen.

Unlike ordinary flying swords and other magic artifacts, these were more akin to formations than magic artifacts. The large Flying Boats of the Returning True Sect were of this category, only much larger and more expensive, and only massive entities like Golden Core Sects had the resources to purchase them.

These artifacts did not consume the cultivator’s own Spiritual Power when flying; they used Spirit Stones as fuel and came with defensive formations. As long as the Spirit Stones weren’t exhausted, they could continue to fly without interruption.

Naturally, the price was not ordinary, higher than that of standard artifacts of the same grade.

Considering the current situation inside the sect, Chen Li felt it was necessary to prepare one, just to be safe.

If one were to travel alone, then such flying artifacts would be unnecessary, but he was not alone; he had a wife and concubines, a family to care for. In the event of an emergency, escape would be difficult without such a means.

"... It can accommodate five to eight people. When its defense is activated, it can withstand attacks from a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator using a medium-grade magic artifact for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

... Indeed, the defense is fairly average, but on the other hand, it’s economical in terms of Spirit Stone usage, and the speed isn’t slow. Even at full capacity, it’s faster than a cultivator who has just entered Foundation Establishment. If I weren’t in urgent need of money..."

One pointed out flaws, while the other highlighted advantages.

Chen Li haggled back and forth and finally secured the item for 23 Top-grade Spirit Stones.

It could be considered a bargain thanks to the post-war depression in prices; otherwise, it would likely cost no less than thirty Top-grade Spirit Stones.

Chen Li placed the Spiritual Wood Flying Shuttle into his storage bag.

’Only twelve Top-grade Spirit Stones left!’ He sighed inwardly.

Fortunately, all his necessary purchases had been made.

An Evil-Slaying Sword of third-rank low-grade, a Water Moon Robe of second-rank middle-grade, a Silver Frost Sword of second-rank middle-grade, a Protector God Mirror of second-rank low-grade, and Step Cloud Boots of second-rank low-grade would be considered luxurious for a cultivator not even at mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

There would be no significant expenses for a while.

To this day, with expenses like medicinal baths and pills, the balance of his daily expenditures was maintained by the increasing number of Golden Light Body Protection Talismans he drew each day. With twelve Top-grade Spirit Stones to spend carefully, he could last a year or two.

Worse comes to worst, his storage bag still contained blood-soaked wealth worth hundreds of Top-grade Spirit Stones.

If he was willing to sell at a discount, he could immediately refill his withered storage bag.

He checked his game panel:

"Realm: Foundation Establishment third level: 57/100"

’Within a year, I could step into mid-stage Foundation Establishment.’ He exhaled a breath of turbid air, and his previously somewhat heavy mood lightened a little.

From the third to the fourth level, from the sixth to the seventh level.

This was a minor qualitative change. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

With his strength at that time, as long as Golden Core cultivators didn’t interfere, he should be able to contend with most late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

...

Spring passed and summer arrived, and soon it was autumn.

Time kept slipping away in the midst of Chen Li’s dedicated and arduous cultivation.

The night was like water, eerily quiet.

In the courtyard in front of the cave dwelling.

Two ’Chen Li’s stood facing each other, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.

Both ’individuals’ used a Golden Light Body Protection Talisman. Even though the phantom was also controlled by Chen Li himself, he didn’t dare to be careless. One careless move could be fatal. After reaching the Grandmaster level, the Phantom Skill had become even more powerful, and even terrifying.

The Phantom Skill was originally a Second Order Third Grade spell.

It was the highest-level spell Chen Li had learned.

Mastered to the Grandmaster level it would be comparable to a Second Order Sixth Grade spell, and if perfected to max level, it could even reach Second Order Seventh Grade—how terrifying!

Even if not yet perfected to the highest level, the simulated spiritual power within the phantom body was already comparable to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, even more than the real body.

This meant that all the spells Chen Li had learned could be released through the phantom.

And then there was that ghost-like speed.

Unless he intentionally held back, or used the Scolding Skill, which was lethal to the phantom, Chen Li didn’t stand a chance of defeating ’him’.

Under the night sky, a cold autumn breeze swept through, and a leaf spiraled up into the air.

The two figures moved in an instant.

A barrage of low-level spells came like a violent storm.

"Spiritual Power Finger Snap!"

"Flash Skill!"

"Palm Thunder!"

...

Before the ripples of old spells had dissipated, new ones arrived, the air turbulent and dust rising everywhere.

The entire courtyard crackled and popped incessantly.

Fortunately, the area was soundproofed by an array and also concealed from sight; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been long before it drew a crowd.

Chen Li had his hands full, fighting with himself, and he was quite busy.

Only through personal experience could one understand the nastiness of the super strong Flash Skill. The rapidly deployed consecutive Flash Skills almost formed an unbroken sequence, turning the night almost to day. Everything within sight was a blinding white, with nothing visible.

One could only just barely make out shapes through Foundation Establishment-level spiritual sense, but even spiritual sense had its limits—it was more like a strong intuition, which could only provide a general judgment and wasn’t as direct or clear as eyesight.

Thankfully, the intensity of the fight was under his own control, to be extravagant or frugal as he pleased.

"Traction Skill!"

"Ice Skill!"

...

As the spells were upgraded, even the max level Golden Light Body Protection Skill, comparable to a Second Order Fourth Grade, was shattered repeatedly in the face of such a relentless and violent attack. As the level of the spells deployed increased, the battle between the two moved from the ground into the air.

The figures darted back and forth like lightning, shifting and maneuvering through the air, occasionally erupting with intense magical glares.

The battle finally ended when Chen Li’s spiritual power was nearly exhausted.

Chen Li landed and dispelled the phantom.

’It’s just that the weakness is too obvious,’ Chen Li panted, thinking to himself.

After all, a phantom was just a thought given form.

It had virtually no resistance to attacks on the mind.

A single Scolding Skill, even if partially nullified by a Golden Light Body Protection Talisman, could still leave the phantom dazed for a long time.

Of course, this refers to a max level Scolding Skill, comparable to a First Order Seventh Grade.

Ordinary Scolding Skills naturally did not count.

"Fortunately, mental attacks are rare to encounter. As long as I don’t get too close during battle and release spells from a distance, there shouldn’t be too much trouble," Chen Li muttered to himself.

PS: Sorry for being half an hour late, this Chapter is for yesterday.