A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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After a few minutes, Jiang Cheng finally calmed down. He took a deep breath, steadying his trembling hands, then turned his gaze toward the gruesome remains on the ground. His expression twisted in disgust.

Without hesitation, he retrieved a small jade bottle of Bone-Eating Powder from his spirit bag and carefully uncorked it. A faint, acrid scent drifted into the air. He poured the fine, dark powder over the mangled corpse, watching as it reacted instantly.

The flesh sizzled and melted away, dissolving into a thick, inky sludge. Within moments, bones, organs—everything—had been reduced to nothingness. All that remained was a small pile of black residue, barely the size of a fist.

Jiang Cheng frowned. "Even this is too much."

With a flick of his fingers, he cast a basic Fire Incantation, sending a small but intensely hot flame to consume the remaining residue. It burned quickly, leaving behind only a faint trace of ash, which he scattered with a casual wave of his sleeve.

Still, he wasn't done.

Moving with precise, practiced motions, he activated a Cleansing Spell, sweeping away every last drop of blood, every lingering trace of death. He repeated the process multiple times, ensuring no spiritual remnants of the battle remained. The metallic stench of blood, the faint aura of conflict—even the disturbed air from the fight—vanished completely.

By the time he was finished, his surroundings were exactly as they had been before the intruder arrived. The room was pristine, undisturbed—silent.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Jiang Cheng took a step back and surveyed his work. The air was clear, the floor spotless. Not a single drop of blood remained. The hesitation, the trembling—gone. He had taken a life, erased the evidence, and accepted what needed to be done.

"This is the world of cultivation," he murmured to himself. "Only the strong survive."

Stepping outside into the cool night air, he glanced up at the moon, which hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the distant marketplace. From here, it looked so peaceful, so ordinary—blissfully unaware of the life-and-death struggle that had just unfolded.

He reached into his robe and pulled out the spirit bag he had taken from the dead man. It was simple, made of worn gray cloth, but he could sense the spiritual energy sealed within. Without hesitation, he injected a thread of Qi into it, breaking the previous owner's imprint and binding it to himself.

The bag trembled slightly before submitting, its contents now fully under his control.

Jiang Cheng didn't waste time. He opened it and peered inside.

Two thousand spirit stones, a few bottles of low-grade healing elixirs, a middle-grade Earth Shield Talisman, a spare robe… and then—

His brow furrowed as he pulled out a pair of women's pants and socks.

Jiang Cheng blinked.

"…The hell?"

Shaking his head, he tossed them aside and continued searching. His fingers brushed against something hard and cold—an ancient jade slip. He plucked it from the bag, scrutinizing it for any hidden dangers before pressing it against his forehead.

Information flooded his mind instantly.

Jiang Cheng sat cross-legged on the floor, his hands trembling—not from fear or exhaustion, but from sheer excitement. His eyes gleamed as he absorbed the knowledge from the jade slip, a grin slowly stretching across his face.

"Bloodforge Body Art?!"

He clenched his fists, feeling his heart race. A technique that used the blood of spirit beasts to refine the body? The stronger the beast, the more terrifying the power? By the first level, he could lift 100,000 kilograms with a single hand? By the second, a million? And the third stage—he hadn't even finished reading, but he could already tell it was monstrous.

His fingers tightened around the jade slip, his breath growing heavy.

Then, all of a sudden—

"I'm rich! Hahaha!"

Jiang Cheng threw his head back, laughing like a man possessed. He clutched the jade slip to his chest as if it were a priceless treasure.

Just moments ago, he had been overwhelmed by guilt, shaken by his first kill. But now? Now he wanted to thank the guy!

Turning to where the assassin had once stood, he clasped his hands together and gave a deep, respectful bow.

"Senior Brother, you have done me a great service!" he said solemnly. "If not for your generosity, how would I have obtained such a heaven-defying technique?"

He straightened up, rubbing his chin in thought. "Now that I think about it… Didn't you also bring me two thousand spirit stones, some elixirs, and even dozens of Earth Shield Talismans? Such kindness! Such selflessness!"

His expression turned serious. "I… I misjudged you. You weren't an assassin—you were a courier! A delivery boy sent by the heavens!"

He picked up the spare robe from the assassin's belongings, holding it in both hands. "Senior Brother, I shall cherish this in your memory."

But as he shook it open, a pair of women's undergarments fluttered to the floor.

Jiang Cheng froze. His triumphant expression slowly crumbled.

A long, awkward silence filled the room.

His eye twitched.

"What the hell were you into…?"

A deep sigh escaped his lips. He quickly shoved the questionable items back into the bag, shaking his head. "Forget it. Let's just pretend I never saw that."

Still, as he looked at the pile of treasures before him, his grin returned.

"Assassins should come knocking more often," he muttered, chuckling to himself.

The morning sun cast a warm golden hue over the small farming village. Jiang Cheng stood outside his humble dwelling, gazing at it for one last time. The place had sheltered him through his weakest days,

With a deep breath, he adjusted his pack and began walking toward the market.

As Jiang Cheng walked down the familiar dirt path leading out of the village, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Boy Jiang, wait up!"

Turning around, he saw Old Liu hurrying after him, his sturdy frame carrying a large woven basket filled with freshly harvested spirit herbs. Despite his age, the old man still moved with surprising agility.

Let's go together," Old Liu said, falling into step beside Jiang Cheng. "I'm heading to the market anyway, and it's the same path. No harm in having some company, eh?"

Jiang Cheng smiled. "That sounds good, Old Liu. It's been a while since we walked together like this."

The two of them strolled along the winding path, the cool morning breeze rustling through the trees. Birds chirped in the distance, and the faint scent of damp earth lingered in the air.

Jiang Cheng was walking peacefully when Old Liu suddenly sighed softly. "Ah, life is hard, boy."

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What's wrong, Old Liu?"

Old Liu patted his heavy basket and grinned. "I have to sell these spirit herbs for some spirit stones then go to the inner city ." Then, suddenly, his expression changed—his eyes narrowed, his lips curled into a knowing smirk, and he stroked his scruffy beard like a sage contemplating the mysteries of the universe.

Jiang Cheng immediately sensed danger.

"And then…" Old Liu lowered his voice, glancing around as if someone might overhear, "I have to visit Moonlit Blossom Pavilion to see Sister Su Su. She and I need to… discuss the ways of life."

Jiang Cheng almost tripped over his own feet. "…Discuss the ways of life ? "

Old Liu nodded solemnly. "A man must pursue wisdom, boy. The Dao of Cultivation is vast, but the Dao of Pleasure is equally profound! Sister Su Su is a saint in that regard, guiding lost souls like myself on the path of enlightenment."

Jiang Cheng coughed. "Enlightenment ? "

Old Liu sighed wistfully. "Ah, you wouldn't understand, boy. Sister Su Su has a way with words… and hands… and—"

"Alright, stop." Jiang Cheng quickly cut him off before his imagination went somewhere it shouldn't.

Old Liu ignored him, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You know, Jiang boy, if you ever feel lost on your cultivation journey, you should visit Moonlit Blossom Pavilion too. A young man like you needs experience! Can't let your sword techniques be the only sharp thing about you!"

Jiang Cheng's face twitched. "I think I'll pass."

Old Liu scoffed. "Tsk, tsk. So young, yet so serious. One day, you'll understand." He patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder like an elder imparting life-changing wisdom. "When that day comes, remember Old Liu's words: 'A true man cultivates both the body and the heart… in the company of beautiful women!'"

Jiang Cheng sighed. "Old Liu, are you sure you're not just wasting spirit stones?"

Old Liu gasped in mock offense. "Boy, how dare you! Do you think enlightenment is free? Wisdom comes at a price! A very expensive price! But one that is worth every spirit stone."

Jiang Cheng shook his head, exasperated. "Alright, alright. Go pursue your… 'wisdom.' Just don't come crying to me when you're broke."

Old Liu laughed heartily. "Hah! Boy, I've never regretted a single spirit stone spent on the Dao !" Then he sighed dramatically. "…Though I do regret not having more spirit stones."

Jiang Cheng smirked. "Then sell more herbs, Old Liu."

Old Liu sighed again. "Yes, yes… the cycle of life. Earn spirit stones, spend them, earn more, spend again… Ah, truly, this is the ultimate Dao."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "Alright, pervy old man, let's hurry up. The market isn't getting any closer."

And with that, the two continued on their way—one looking for cultivation resources, and the other seeking ahem enlightenment.

Jiang Cheng and Old Liu arrived at the bustling market, where the air was thick with the scent of rare herbs, roasted demon beast meat, and the faint metallic tang of freshly forged weapons.

The streets were packed with cultivators haggling, street vendors shouting out their prices, and the occasional flash of spiritual light from a demonstration of a talisman or magic tool.

Jiang Cheng suddenly remembered something. "Old Liu, let's exchange contact talismans. If there's news or danger, we can warn each other."

Old Liu chuckled. "Boy, you're finally learning! Good, good. Can't be too careful these days."

The two quickly exchanged their jade communication slips, linking their divine senses to them. " Alright, take care, Old Liu."

"Heh, don't die too soon, boy." With that, they separated—Old Liu heading towards a herb shop, while Jiang Cheng began exploring the market.

All around him, vendors were shouting:

"How to sell this Spirit-Gathering Pill?"

" A bottle of ten Spirit-Gathering Pills for only twenty low-grade spirit stones! High-quality, personally refined by a master alchemist!"

"No, no, too expensive!"

"Fellow Daoist, if you think it's too costly, make a counteroffer. Everything is negotiable!"

Another stall caught his attention.

" What kind of monster meat is this?" a cultivator asked.

"Four-Horned Demon Beef! Rich, juicy, and excellent for body refinement! Fellow Daoist, buy a few kilograms to try it! Just one low-grade spirit stone for three kilograms!"

Jiang Cheng walked through the stalls, his eyes widening at the sheer variety of goods. Although he maintained a calm and composed exterior, inside, he was still a little overwhelmed. He had lived as a low-level spirit farmer for years—he had never seen such an array of treasures before.

However, his curiosity did not go unnoticed.

A sneaky figure stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

Jiang Cheng immediately became alert, fingers twitching towards his spirit bag. He discreetly prepared his Dark Light Shuttle, a Flying Sword Talisman, and a Fireball Technique, just in case.

The man in front of him wore a gray robe, his face sharp and slightly sinister. Yet, he smiled warmly and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoist, is this your first time in Puchan City?"

Jiang Cheng snorted coldly. "That has nothing to do with you." He turned and walked away, keeping his guard up.

Despite his attempts to blend in, it was clear that experienced eyes could still pick him out as a newcomer. He cursed inwardly—he had to be more careful.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist, don't be so cold!"

The gray-robed man quickly caught up to him, speaking eloquently. "You must have noticed that Puchan Immortal Square is rich in spiritual energy—a great place to cultivate and live. But, of course, the cave dwellings inside are absurdly expensive, far beyond what we casual cultivators can afford."

Jiang Cheng remained silent, only listening.

"But worry not! Many of us have built comfortable houses just outside the square. They are also suitable for cultivation and living, and the price is dozens of times cheaper than the cave residences inside."

The man smiled cunningly. "Fellow Daoist, you should take a look! For just five hundred low-grade spirit stones, you can own a house of your own!"

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. " Oh? And why are you offering me such a 'great deal' out of the kindness of your heart?"

The gray-robed man let out a dry laugh. "Hehe, Fellow Daoist must be joking. We are all struggling cultivators, are we not? Helping each other is the way of the world!

Besides, a home outside the square is far better than sleeping in the open or wasting money on inns."