I Live Forever In The World of Cultivation World

Chapter 57: Betting It All

Meng Guan’s decision to remain in the Immortal City was something Wei Fan initially struggled to understand.

He had tried to persuade him otherwise.

But—

When Meng Guan revealed his innermost thoughts, Wei Fan was left speechless.

“Brother Wei, from the moment I left Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market three years ago, my fate was already sealed. Either I risk everything to succeed in Foundation Establishment, or I die trying. There is no other path.”

“I possess the five-element root, unlike you, Brother Wei, with your four-element root. With your aptitude, advancing step by step, you still stand a chance of glimpsing the Foundation Establishment Realm before the age of sixty.”

“Although not relying on Foundation Establishment Pills and breaking through naturally is difficult, it still offers a slightly better chance than someone like me with five-element roots.”

“Without an opportunity, without a fight to the death, reaching the late stage of Qi Refinement is my limit. That’s why I left the Immortal Market, staking everything on this gamble.”

“Thankfully, I bet right. Now, with the bottleneck of the late stage of Qi Refinement Realm broken, the road ahead is clear. If I can cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement before sixty, I will have a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment.”

“Unfortunately, I wasted my youth and failed to master a useful skill. Now, it is too late for regret.”

“Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market is far too small. Only in the Immortal City can I find the resources necessary to ensure I reach Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty.”

“Brother Wei, take care.”

Recalling Meng Guan’s words from their heartfelt conversation after his breakthrough, Wei Fan exhaled deeply.

He repeated those words to He Song, his tone solemn.

Hearing them, He Song too fell into silence.

In the Spirit Builder Pavilion, on the second floor, the room grew so quiet that even a pin drop would be audible. The only thing that lingered in the air was the faint fragrance of tea.

He Song never imagined that Meng Guan had already formed such a plan three years ago.

From the moment Meng Guan resigned from his position in the Spirit Herb Pavilion and left the Immortal Market, he must have made up his mind.

Either break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and become a lofty Foundation Establishment cultivator, or fall on the path toward Foundation Establishment, a nameless corpse along the way.

There was no third option.

“Ah, it seems Old Meng is truly determined. I hope he can forge ahead smoothly in the Immortal City.”

After a long silence, He Song raised his tea cup, toasting in the direction of Azure Cliff Immortal City, before downing it in one gulp.

This cup of tea was his blessing.

A blessing for Meng Guan to succeed in his journey within the Immortal City.

With his current cultivation still shallow, He Song could do little to help Meng Guan.

For now, all he could do was hope for the best.

After all, Meng Guan had been his guide on the path of cultivation and had shown him great kindness.

Had it not been for Meng Guan gifting him the Spirit Plant Cultivation Techniques Book, He Song’s days as a wandering cultivator would have been much harsher.

Though he couldn’t offer aid at the moment, he wouldn’t withhold his well-wishes.

“Let’s hope so,” Wei Fan said from the side.

Seeing He Song’s toast, Wei Fan smiled and shook his head. Though he thought such sentiments were of little use, he chose not to voice his doubts.

Foundation Establishment—it was anything but easy.

The thought crossed his mind, but he kept it buried in his heart.

For the remainder of their time together, the two, having not seen each other for several months, shared their experiences and encounters during that time.

Through Wei Fan’s account, He Song gained a deeper understanding of the distant Azure Cliff Immortal City.

Azure Cliff Immortal City, under the governance of the Golden Core Sect Vast Earth Sect, lies over 2,000 miles north of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

This immortal city is a bustling hub for all kinds of cultivators: wandering cultivators, sect disciples, family heirs, and market practitioners—all mixed together.

Remarkably, Azure Cliff Immortal City even reserves a quarter of its area for mortals to reside in, making it a unique city where mortals and cultivators coexist.

The mortals living in the city are generally descendants of cultivators, many with indirect connections to the city’s practitioners. They typically survive by taking on tasks that cultivators disdain.

The city’s safety is well-assured, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators permanently stationed there.

These Foundation Establishment cultivators include members of the Vast Earth Sect, ancestral cultivators from prominent families, and, as rumored, even wandering cultivators who have successfully reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The presence of these cultivators significantly enhances the city’s safety, but it also adds to the complexity of its social structure.

The danger of offending someone who has the backing of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is very real, as one can never be sure of another’s connections.

At the same time, the city provides a fertile ground for late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators aspiring to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Compared to Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, Azure Cliff Immortal City boasts a significantly larger population of late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.

For individuals like Meng Guan, who wish to establish themselves while preparing for the immense challenge of Foundation Establishment, Azure Cliff Immortal City offers far greater opportunities and resources.

Yet, the chasm between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment remains vast, stopping countless cultivators in their tracks.

Over the years, late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators who fail to advance often end up opening businesses or shops to earn spirit stones.

The motivations for this are fourfold:

1. To have the means to bid for a Foundation Establishment Pill if it ever appears at an auction.

2. If unsuccessful, to save their spirit stones for their descendants with spirit roots, increasing their chances of success in Foundation Establishment.

3. To keep themselves occupied, as the stagnation of their cultivation often leads to mental distress, even heart demons, without something to divert their focus.

4. The increased competition in Azure Cliff Immortal City forces them to innovate and strive harder to earn spirit stones.

With so many late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators participating in this cycle, wandering cultivators like Meng Guan stand a better chance of acquiring resources in Azure Cliff Immortal City than in the smaller Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

The city’s safety guarantees and the sheer volume of available resources make Azure Cliff Immortal City an attractive place for someone of Meng Guan’s background and cultivation level.

After hearing Wei Fan’s description, He Song gained a clear understanding of Azure Cliff Immortal City and its inhabitants. He could see why Meng Guan had decided to stay there.

“Let him stay if he wants to,” He Song concluded.

After all, Meng Guan could live comfortably in the city.

And if things ever turned sour and he had to leave, He Song and Wei Fan in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market could still serve as a safety net for him.

Finally, after Wei Fan officially handed over his duties as a steward of the Spirit Builder Pavilion, He Song returned to his home to focus on cultivation.

Several days had passed since He Song’s trip to the Spirit Techniques Pavilion.

During this time, his mastery of the Fireball Technique had advanced rapidly.

This remarkable progress was thanks to He Song’s unique situation as a transmigrator. With a soul far stronger than that of the average cultivator, his ability to learn and control techniques was significantly enhanced.

Now that Wei Fan had returned, freeing him from his daily responsibilities at the Spirit Builder Pavilion, He Song could dedicate himself fully to studying and perfecting his techniques.