Chapter 1: The Opportunistic Cultivator

Tianyuan World, Zhao Kingdom, Hengduan Mountain Range.

At the core of the mountain range, a fifth-grade spirit vein emits a rich spiritual aura, making it a holy land for cultivators to practice.

Unfortunately, it is dominated by the first-rate cultivation sect of the Zhao Kingdom, the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect. Those who have not joined the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect naturally cannot enjoy such an opportunity.

They can only stay on the outskirts of the Hengduan Mountain Range, absorbing the meager spiritual aura that leaks out from the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect, struggling to cultivate.

The powerful cultivators of the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect feast on meat.

The rootless, drifting independent cultivators can only taste a bit of the thin broth.

Under a clear sky, a Taoist in a green robe flew in on a sword, disrupting the peaceful lives of over a hundred independent cultivators nearby.

"Isn't that Li Cheng? How did he get so injured that he can't even fly steadily?"

"He went to explore the ruins that appeared in the Hengduan Mountain Range. Ha, he really doesn't care about his life, actually competing for opportunities with the disciples of the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect. It's simply courting death!"

"Alas, for us independent cultivators with mediocre talent, achieving immortality is too difficult, too difficult!"

Li Cheng's pitiful state made the other independent cultivators shake their heads and sigh.

Watching Li Cheng fall onto a small hill that he did not occupy, his heart remained calm.

Because they had seen such things many times.

In the nearby area, every year, some familiar faces would disappear, and new faces would appear.

...

At this moment, Xia Changge was still diligently cultivating.

His talent was very poor, a cultivator with four spirit roots: fire, earth, wood, and water.

With low comprehension, he ultimately failed to join the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect.

He could only be an independent cultivator outside.

However, because he had great perseverance, a great interest in cultivation, and great determination,

After more than twenty years of hard cultivation, Xia Changge now had the cultivation of the Fifth Layer of the Qi Condensation Realm.

His hard work was well-known in the small circle nearby.

"Hmm?"

Sensing something falling outside his cave dwelling, Xia Changge immediately got up to check.

Naturally, he saw Li Cheng lying at the entrance of his cave dwelling.

Xia Changge hurriedly went forward to help him up, concerned, "Daoist Li, who did this to you?!"

At this moment, Li Cheng's breathing was disordered, his dantian had been destroyed, and the aura of death enveloped him.

Moreover, he had struggled to fly back using his qi.

Even if Xia Changge had healing medicines, he was too poor to have any.

Even if he did, it would be useless.

He couldn't save him!

Li Cheng knew his body well and understood that he had only a few hours left to live.

At this moment, he still had unresolved concerns and could not die yet.

Li Cheng tightly grabbed Xia Changge's shoulder, "Daoist Xia, I was wrong. I didn't listen to your advice and went to compete for that opportunity. Now... sigh, the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect is too domineering, treating us independent cultivators like nothing. Those who go are risking their lives!"

Xia Changge couldn't respond to Li Cheng's words.

People should know their own limits.

In the eyes of the Sky-Cleaving Sword Sect, they, the independent cultivators, were like ants and pests living under their feet.

If they accidentally took a few steps forward, they would crush a large number of them without feeling.

Li Cheng shakily took out his storage bag and placed it in Xia Changge's hand, pleading, "Daoist Xia, I know your character. Among the hundred fellow cultivators nearby, I only trust you. I... I have a partner and a daughter in the mortal world. My daughter is only four years old. I... I beg you, Daoist Xia, to take care of my wife and daughter for a few years. This is my reward, please... please help me..."

Li Cheng and Xia Changge had been neighbors for five years, and he knew his neighbor's character well.

He never did anything to harm others.

In these five years, he had never even seen Xia Changge kill a chicken or a fish.

Of course, he had seen Xia Changge eat them.

Additionally, he had never seen Xia Changge travel more than a hundred miles from their living place!

He never went to explore any ruins or places with even a slight danger!

This kind of calm and refined person, Li Cheng could trust.

He trusted him more than any other neighbor.

"This... sigh! How can I refuse a dying request from a fellow cultivator!"

Seeing his brother, with whom he had discussed cultivation just a few days ago, now entrusting his last wishes, Xia Changge felt helpless.

Fortunately, he hadn't been blinded by the legacy left by a Golden Core Realm cultivator, or he might have ended up in a similar situation.

After Xia Changge agreed, Li Cheng, who had been tense, relaxed.

Then, Li Cheng's arm fell weakly to the ground.

Xia Changge reached out to close Li Cheng's unblinking eyes.

Then he picked up Li Cheng's storage bag.

"Twenty-seven low-grade spirit stones, three Qi Gathering Pills, a low-grade magical tool, the Wooden Stone Shield, a cultivation manual that can reach the Eighth Layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, the Water Essence Scripture, three low-level spells, hmm... this is..."

Xia Changge carefully inventoried the items, looking for anything useful to him.

This inventory made him envious.

Li Cheng, as an independent cultivator who fought for survival outside, had accumulated much more wealth than Xia Changge, who stayed at home.

Xia Changge only had three spirit stones on him, and he was as poor as a church mouse.

"These characters... how is this possible..."

Xia Changge found a book among Li Cheng's possessions.

The characters on it were not from Tianyuan World!

They were... the characters from his previous life!

"Saint Heart Sutra? Is this a joke!"

Xia Changge was momentarily stunned when he saw the title.

He was not unfamiliar with these three characters.

"The Saint Heart Sutra is divided into nine layers. Cultivating the first layer can extend one's lifespan by twenty years, the second layer by fifty years, the third layer by one hundred and twenty years, and it can condense the immortal true qi, allowing one to regrow severed limbs and even bring the dead back to life..."

Reading the introduction, Xia Changge became increasingly astonished.

This was not a cultivation technique but a martial technique!

But it was no less powerful than a cultivation technique!

In fact, it was more powerful than many techniques!

"If I can extend my lifespan by over a hundred or two hundred years, wouldn't I be able to... easily reach the Foundation Establishment Realm? Then extend my lifespan by another one hundred and fifty years?!"

Xia Changge's eyes sparkled.

For independent cultivators like them, who lack resources, cultivation is very slow, and by the time they reach the Ninth Layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, they are already on the brink of death. How could they talk about reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm?

But with the Saint Heart Sutra, he could still be in his prime at one or two hundred years old.

At that time, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm would greatly increase his chances.

Even if he failed, it wouldn't matter much because he could easily recover!

"I'll give it a try!"

Xia Changge's boldness increased this time because it was about his future!

He first used the Fireball Spell to cremate his good brother's body, placed the ashes in a clay jar, and set it aside.

Then he began to cultivate according to the content of the Saint Heart Sutra.

"I can do it!"

Two hours later, Xia Changge's dark eyes opened, his joy uncontainable.

He could clearly sense that cultivating the Saint Heart Sutra was not a problem.

He might even reach the first layer in just a few days.

Extend his lifespan by twenty years?!