A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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As Jiang Cheng walked through the crowded market, his mind still churned with the new information he had gathered.

The strange beasts and unpredictable monster tides from the Endless Mountains weren't to be taken lightly. His instincts told him that something was amiss, and he couldn't ignore the warning signs.

But for now, his priorities lay elsewhere. He needed to return to his spiritual fields and tend to his crops. The idea of letting his responsibilities slip by because of some far-off dangers felt irresponsible.

Besides, it had been some time since he last took a good look at his spiritual rice, and the soil could always benefit from a little extra care.

Jiang Cheng made his way home, the pouch of spirit stones gently swinging at his side. When he arrived at his fields, his gaze fell on the five acres of fertile land.

The once-pristine rows of crops were now overgrown with wild grass, and a few pests lurked about, seemingly mocking his neglect.

After placing his spiritual meat and the stack of talisman paper inside his humble house, Jiang Cheng once again made his way to the spiritual field he was responsible for.

He rolled up his sleeves, grabbed his trusty hoe, and stared down at the overgrown mess.

"Alright, you overgrown weeds and freeloading pests," he muttered, gripping the hoe tightly.

"Prepare to meet your maker." The battle was fierce. Jiang Cheng swung his hoe like a seasoned warrior, hacking away at the weeds with the precision of a master cultivator.

The pests, however, were not going down without a fight. A particularly bold beetle charged at him, its tiny legs moving at an impressive speed.

"Oh, you want a piece of me?" Jiang Cheng said, raising his hoe like a sword. "Come at me, you six-legged menace!"

The beetle, perhaps sensing the futility of its actions, turned tail and fled. Jiang Cheng smirked.

"That's what I thought."

After hours of backbreaking labor, the field was finally clear. The weeds were uprooted, the pests vanquished, and the soil was ready for planting. Jiang Cheng wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed.

"I swear, farming is just combat with dirt."

With the field prepped, Jiang Cheng scattered the spiritual rice seeds with the care of a doting parent. Then, he stood in the center of the field, closed his eyes, and began the Spirit Rain Technique.

His hands moved in fluid motions, drawing spiritual energy from the air and condensing it into a fine mist that showered the field.

For half an hour, he maintained the technique, his focus unwavering. When he finally opened his eyes, he inspected the field carefully.

The seeds had taken root , their faint spiritual glow a sign of healthy growth. Satisfied, he nodded.

"Not bad for a day's work."

Jiang Cheng returned to his humble house, exhaustion weighing down on him despite the relatively simple tasks he had completed.

With the field cleared and the seeds thriving under the Spirit Rain Technique, his work for the day was done.

Once inside his house, Jiang Cheng immediately shed his outer robes, feeling the weight of the day settle into his bones. The physical labor, though routine, never failed to tire him, Jiang Cheng stretched his stiff limbs and groaned.

His back ached, his legs felt like lead, and his arms were sore from tilling the spiritual fields earlier.

Collapsing onto his wooden bed, he let out a long, suffering sigh.

"I was working like a cow and a horse in my previous life, and I'm still working like a cow and a horse in this life…"

He rubbed his temples. "Did I offend some deity? Is my fate to be a farm animal for eternity?"

Just as he was about to close his eyes, a thought struck him. His gaze drifted to the corner of his house, where a mirror stood.

With an exhausted shuffle, he forced himself up and walked over, staring at his own reflection. His once-sharp features now carried the look of a man who had seen too much hardship.

Dark circles under his eyes, straw sticking out of his messy hair, and his robes wrinkled beyond saving.

"...I look like a beggar," he muttered.

Just as he was about to collapse into his well-earned rest, a knock at the door interrupted his peace.

"Jiang boy! Are you home?"

It was Old Liu.

Jiang Cheng groaned, but he dragged himself to the door and opened it slightly, peeking out.

Old Liu immediately frowned. "What the hell happened to you? Did you lose a fight? Or did you fall into a pigsty?"

"...Neither." Jiang Cheng sighed. "Just farming."

Old Liu smirked. "You look like someone stole your life savings."

"They did. It was called 'hard labor.'"

The old farmer cackled. "That's why you should go to the Drunken Flower Pavilion! A little wine, a little company—works wonders for the spirit!"

Jiang Cheng stared blankly at him.

"...Old Liu, do you see me? Do I look like I have the energy to even walk to the pavilion, let alone 'enjoy' myself?"

Old Liu clicked his tongue. "Such a shame. Youth wasted on exhaustion."

Jiang Cheng shut the door.

With a tired flop, he fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Maybe in my next life… I'll just reincarnate as a potato."

After a simple meal, the sun had set, casting a warm orange glow over the horizon.

Jiang Cheng, still weary from the day's labor, lazily waved his hand and cast a simple Dust-Free Technique, instantly cleaning the dirt and sweat from his body.

"At least magic saves me from taking a bath," he muttered, stretching his sore shoulders.

With renewed focus, he sat at his desk, spread out the thirty talisman papers, and dipped his brush into the ink.

Each stroke had to be precise. The flow of spiritual energy needed to be controlled perfectly. A single mistake, and the talisman would be wasted.

Time passed unnoticed as he worked tirelessly, his hands moving with growing confidence.

One talisman… two… five… ten…

He continued, pushing himself until his mind blurred with exhaustion.

By the time he finished, the moon hung high in the sky, casting a cold silver light through his window.

Jiang Cheng exhaled deeply, staring at his results—twenty successful talismans out of thirty.

"Not bad…" he mumbled, rubbing his temples. The constant focus had drained him both physically and mentally.

His head wobbled, his vision swayed, and before he could even clean up properly, he stumbled toward his bed.

With a heavy sigh, he flopped onto the mattress and closed his eyes.

Within seconds, he was out cold, snoring softly.

Early the next morning, Jiang Cheng woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. He yawned, stretched his limbs, and reluctantly pulled himself out of bed.

He splashed cold water on his face, trying to shake off the remnants of his deep sleep, before changing into his usual clothes. Afterward, he sat in a quiet corner of his house for an hour of meditation to steady his mind and restore his energy.

Once he felt centered, Jiang Cheng made his way to the spiritual fields, his footsteps light. The sun had barely risen, and a cool morning breeze swept through the air.

He took a deep breath and surveyed the fields carefully. To his relief, there was no sign of pests or any other issues.

"Looks good," he muttered, nodding to himself. The spiritual rice seemed to be growing well, and the soil was healthy. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Satisfied, he returned to his house for a quick breakfast—just some rice porridge and pickled vegetables, nothing fancy.

It was all he needed to get through the morning.

Afterward, Jiang Cheng set off for the market, his spirit bag filled with the talismans he had crafted the night before. The market was already buzzing with activity as he arrived.

The familiar sights and sounds greeted him—the bustling crowd, the colorful stalls, and the air thick with the smell of street food and incense.

He made his way through the crowd, bypassing the usual distractions, and arrived at the store he frequented to sell his talismans.

As soon as he stepped inside, the same young woman, still wearing her light blue robes, looked up from behind the counter. She gave him a slight smile as recognition flickered in her eyes.

"Back so soon?"

she asked, her tone light and teasing. "Did you forget something, or are you here to sell more of your lucky talismans?"

Jiang Cheng smirked, setting the pouch of talismans on the counter. "I'm here to sell. No returns this time, I promise."

She raised an eyebrow, inspecting the pouch with mild interest. "Let's see what you've got this time, Mister. "

With a casual flick of her wrist, she opened the pouch and began pulling out the freshly made talismans. Her eyes briefly scanned each one.

"These look decent," she muttered, nodding with approval as she flipped through them. "You've improved since last time."

Jiang Cheng's lips twitched. "I told you, I'm just lucky. No need to get all impressed."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Lucky, huh? I've never met anyone who gets lucky so often."

She reached for the small pouch of spirit stones and quickly calculated the total. "twenty Minor Shield Talismans, four spirit stones each. That'll be eighty spirit stones."

Jiang Cheng took the spirit stones without hesitation, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. "Thanks. I also need more paper. Sixty sheets this time ."

She was already preparing the bundle. "One spirit stone for three sheets. That'll be twenty spirit stones for thirty."

Jiang Cheng handed over the coins with a smile. "You know, you really should offer a discount to regulars. You might just get more customers that way."

She looked up, feigning shock. "You want a discount? From me? Dream on !"

Jiang Cheng shrugged. "Hey, I'm just looking out for myself."

She grinned as she handed over the bundle of talisman paper. "You'll have to work for it, Mister Lucky. Don't expect discounts just because you're a frequent flyer."

"Fair enough," he said, taking the bundle and stuffing it into his pouch.

As he was about to leave, the young woman called out, "By the way, have you had any thoughts on telling me your name? I'm starting to think you're deliberately keeping it a secret."

Jiang Cheng paused, glancing over his shoulder with a smirk. "I'll think about it. Maybe when you start giving me those discounts."

She gave him a playful glare. "Hmph impossible."

Jiang Cheng chuckled, the banter lightening his mood, and left the store with his new supplies.

As Jiang Cheng made his way deeper into the market, his thoughts turned to practical matters. He still needed to restock a few essentials, and his stomach had been growling ever since he left his house.

At a nearby stall, he spotted a burly man with a thick beard and muscular arms, holding up a large chunk of monster meat.

The scent of roasted meat wafted through the air, making Jiang Cheng's mouth water.

The man caught his eye and bellowed, "Fresh monster meat! Full of spirit energy, perfect for strengthening your body! Only one spirit stones per two pounds !"

Jiang Cheng approached the stall, his stomach rumbling in agreement. "I'll take eight pounds," he said

With the monster meat and rice secured, Jiang Cheng made his way through the bustling market, the weight of the spirit stones in his pouch comforting him. The streets were still lively, with merchants shouting over each other, trying to attract attention to their goods.

But Jiang Cheng's mind was on other matters—primarily how he was going to make good use of his purchases.

He passed by a few more stalls, his gaze briefly flicking over them, but he didn't stop. His feet carried him back toward his home, where the peaceful solitude of his small abode awaited him.

Upon arriving, he set the bags of monster meat and spirit rice down in the kitchen, taking a moment to appreciate how much he had accomplished in just one day.

He quickly set about preparing a simple but hearty meal: some of the freshly purchased rice and monster meat cooked together, the savory aroma filling the house as it simmered.

After finishing the meal, he leaned back, full and satisfied. "Good food, good progress... I guess life as a farmer and talisman maker isn't *all* bad."

With his stomach full and the evening drawing near, Jiang Cheng made his way to the small desk where his talisman papers were neatly stacked. As he sat down, he briefly considered the weight of his next steps.

His mind was tired from the day's work, but there was still something to be done. The idea of stockpiling spirit stones for a weapon lingered in the back of his mind. After all, despite his abilities, he was still just a beginner—having something to defend himself with in the future might be wise.

With a quiet sigh, he set to work again, determined not to waste any time.