Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

"Sigh, am I really... too stupid?" Niu Ganshan furrowed his brows, sweeping the floor while questioning himself.

After three years in the academy, Niu Ganshan had only managed to learn the most basic Five Elements Qi Refining Technique, barely breaking through to the Qi Refining Second Level, and had fallen to the lowest among his peers.

One must know that the "Five Heroes" of the same cohort had all broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and it was said that the most advanced, Chen Jinhui, was close to reaching the Qi Refining Late Stage.

By the way, due to farming needs, Niu Ganshan had also learned two "free" trivial spells: the Loosening Soil Technique and the Cloud Rain Technique.

Yet, of what use are these?

Even if he learned more trivial spells, they couldn't be used to kill foes or protect his path; was he content to be a spirit farmer his whole life?

It wasn't surprising that Niu Ganshan felt more and more lost; it was all because the Beihai Daoist School had a strict rule that those who couldn't reach Foundation Establishment within twenty years were immediately expelled.

Judging by his current progress, in twenty years' time, he would definitely be swept out the door, becoming a member of the academy's shameful circle.

As Niu Ganshan became more frightened by his thoughts, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder, and an unexpected voice came to his ear: "Hey!"

"No! Ah..."

Niu Ganshan shivered all over, quickly turned to look, and upon seeing the thick-browed, big-eyed face of the newcomer, immediately breathed a sigh of relief, complaining: "Brother Sheng, you startled me!"

Hu Sheng patted his shoulder, pretending to despise, "With such a timid demeanor, how will you venture out to achieve fame and fortune and establish a family with me in the future?"

Niu Ganshan chuckled sheepishly, not responding to the reprimand.

Seeing this, Hu Sheng didn't mind and immediately stated his purpose: "Ganshan, big brother has something to discuss with you. This month's Spirit Stones from selling the Spirit Rice, I need to use them. Also, I've rented another ten acres of spirit field. So now, we have a total of thirty acres together. Let's earn some more Spirit Stones, so we don't have to scrimp and save all the time."

Niu Ganshan was unwilling in his heart, but unable to brush off the brotherhood, he could only ask: "Brother Sheng, what do you need so many Spirit Stones for? The last two times, you also..."

"Aha, this time is different from the last two times. Your brother is about to turn his luck around." Hu Sheng said with a proud smile, "I've got good fortune; I accidentally learned of an opportunity. Once I find it, I, Hu Sheng, will surely stand out among my peers, and future prosperity will be inevitable."

Seeing Niu Ganshan's dejected look, Hu Sheng's eyes twinkled cunningly, and he affectionately comforted, "Don't worry! We're brothers, and once it's achieved, I surely won't treat you poorly. After all, aren't we the closest brothers!"

Watching the eager and restless Hu Sheng, Niu Ganshan swallowed back the words that came to his lips, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

The Beihai Daoist School has stood for eight thousand years, unknown how many prodigies have emerged, and thus the Thousand Peak Blessed Land within a radius of three thousand li is filled with countless ancestral cave mansions. Almost every generation of academy disciples inadvertently or deliberately leaves behind some "legacy."

Whether it's ancestral cave mansions or "legacies," they are seen as "opportunities" by the subsequent generations of academy disciples.

It's said that every generation has a number of lucky ones who, by finding opportunities left by predecessors, ultimately change their fate and stand out.

Of course, opportunities vary; some are precious beyond measure, while others are not worth mentioning. Among them are some left by predecessors to deliberately tease the later disciples.

Although Niu Ganshan did not know what kind of "opportunity" Hu Sheng was referring to, he was not optimistic about it, considering his elder brother's frivolous and unreliable nature.

Just then, a shadow suddenly descended from the sky, landing on the steps near the two.

The newcomer was tall, with a full beard, around thirty years old, with a slightly fierce appearance.

"Junior Brother Hu, you were hard to find! So, have you gathered the Spirit Stones?"

Hu Sheng's pupils shrank, quickly nodding and bowing, "Brother Wang, isn't it just a hundred Spirit Stones? Such a small thing shouldn't trouble you! Rest assured, once this month's Spirit Rice is sold, the Spirit Stones will be returned immediately..."

"It's a hundred and twenty!" the bearded man suddenly interrupted Hu Sheng.

Hu Sheng's smile stiffened, glancing at Brother Wang's expression, gritted his teeth, and forced a bitter smile: "Fine, a hundred and twenty it is, the extra can be Brother Wang's errand fee!"

"Fee your mother... fee!" The bearded man slapped Hu Sheng almost flying, cursing, "How could I covet such petty Spirit Stones? The Golden Loach Spirit Rice won't mature for over twenty days. Don't you need interest for these twenty plus days?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I just misspoke, I deserve to be beaten!" Hu Sheng endured the severe pain, quickly bowing and laughing.

"Hmph, I'll give you at most one month. If you can't return the Spirit Stones by then, you'd better figure out what your fate will be," the bearded man said, striding away.

Once the man was far away, Hu Sheng's face turned full of resentment, standing in place moodily, seemingly contemplating something.

Niu Ganshan sighed silently and was just about to ask.

But Hu Sheng spoke first, forcing a smile as he said, "Haha! Nothing to worry about, once I get the opportunity, forget about just a hundred Spirit Stones, we could easily gather thousands upon thousands. This day's grudge will temporarily be remembered, and in the future, I'll repay it a hundredfold."

Upon hearing this, Niu Ganshan swallowed his words again, though he couldn't help but feel a faint dissatisfaction in his heart.