Chapter 21: The Eager Lu Jing

The morning light spilled softly through the window as Lin Ke’er finished her morning routine. She carefully tucked the cultivation pills she had prepared into her robes, the warmth of the small pouches brushing against her skin. A change of clothes was slung across her back, and in her hand, she gripped a longsword.

It was no magic tool, but a finely crafted sword of tempered iron, with a small amount of materials used in magic tool crafting mixed into the blade. It was sharp, though lacking the ability to channel spirit qi or unleash spells like a true artifact. Yet, it was affordable and efficient for her needs.

Once everything was packed, Lin Ke’er stepped out of her room. Her gaze turned toward the distant mountains, where the early morning fog still clung to their peaks. In the distance, faint beastly roars echoed through the air, reminding her of the dangers she would have to face..

Most cultivators were reluctant to venture into the mountains. The rewards were great, but so too were the risks. Not everyone had the courage to face such uncertainty. However, Lin Ke’er had grown weary of the struggle to make ends meet.

She longed to grow stronger. If she could break through to the later stages of Qi Refining, everything would be different. Every endeavor would yield more than it did now. And with more resources, she could reach greater heights in her cultivation. Perhaps one day, she might even break through to Foundation Establishment, or even beyond. For that, she knew she had to take a gamble.

As she walked out the door, she saw Lu Jing just stepping out as well. A smile immediately formed on Lu Jing’s face at the sight of Lin Ke’er. But Lin Ke’er offered no such smile in return, her face cold as she ignored Lu Jing and walked past her without a word.

Lu Jing, unfazed by Lin Ke’er’s demeanor, let her lips curl into a smile. Lin Ke’er was leaving. The opportunity she had been waiting for had arrived.

As Lin Ke’er stepped out of the courtyard, she found no trace of Ye Chen. She had secretly hoped Ye Chen might come early to send her off, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. It seemed he truly had nothing left to give her.

A sense of waste filled her thoughts. Her visit to Ye Chen the previous day to remind him felt like a futile effort. After all, a useless person like Ye Chen being taken away was of no consequence to her.

Moreover, it was evident that Lu Jing’s intentions were driven by Ye Chen’s resources. If Ye Chen truly had nothing left to offer, Lu Jing would surely stop wasting her time.

Turning back, Lin Ke’er gazed at the dilapidated courtyard, her heart brimming with resolve. She swore to herself, “It is better to rely on oneself than on others.”

She would never again live in such a crumbling house. She would not remain in Silver Moon Market either. She was determined to move to Green Cloud City. Whether it was Ye Chen or Lu Jing, both were destined to belong to worlds far removed from her own.

With this thought, Lin Ke’er’s confidence grew. Filled with anticipation for the future, she took a firm step forward, heading toward the meeting place of her team.

…

The morning sun filtered gently into Ye Chen’s room as he woke up leisurely. After being attended to by the maid and finishing his morning routine, he suddenly recalled that Lin Ke’er had probably already set off.

But Ye Chen paid no mind. So what if she left? He proceeded with his usual daily routine.

First, he practiced his cultivation method in the morning. Then, he focused on his external training. Before he knew it, the morning had passed.

After a brief rest at noon, he began researching new spells. Once that was done, he started refining pills. He made two batches each day.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Most of the time, he focused on making Qi-Nourishing Pill. Once his stock of Elephant Blood Pill ran low, he would make those as well. After everything was finished, it was time for rest and relaxation.

Ye Chen knew the importance of balancing work with rest. While the cultivation world lacked the internet, it was not devoid of cultural entertainment. Many common folk lived off the prosperity of cultivators.

To hear a song, one didn’t need speakers. Just summon a mortal songstress. If one desired a performance, a seat could be secured with just a small fee. For a thrill, one had more than ten choices, even without counting the street vendors. Mortals and immortals alike could entertain and be entertained. All of it was supported by specific sects of cultivators.