Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 742: Setting Up a Chessboard in the Shade of the Mountain

The scenery of Longquan Prefecture was vastly different from other places.

Whether it was Bei Ya Mountain or Lanxi Cave, the Cultivators in Longquan Prefecture always gave Song Yan a sense of ease and leisure.

From Mortals to Cultivators, the pace of life was very slow.

Perhaps it was due to its proximity to Shaoliang City, but Lanxi Cave, from its market to its courtyards, subtly exuded an ancient charm. Bluestone paved streets and alleys, wine shops and tea houses.

Cultivators gathered in twos and threes, either playing chess or chatting idly.

Some Loose Cultivators with low cultivation set up stalls at the street corners of the market, selling simple Talismans. Their hawking was weak, tinged with a hint of laziness.

Even Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators occasionally appeared, but only to buy a pot of Spirit Wine from a wine shop to satisfy their cravings. Their steps were unhurried, completely lacking the sharp aura of Cultivators elsewhere.

During this month, Song Yan’s Cultivation had not stopped, but it was not as urgent as before.

His main focus was on gathering Materials for the Wu Xiang Pill and inquiring about the Luo Zhen Vine.

Morning breathing exercises, with the mountain mist still lingering.

Occasionally, the sound of a zither or flute drifted from afar, making the valley even more serene.

Xiao Ju’s Cultivation gradually got on track. Although her Spiritual Root was mixed, her Comprehension Ability was outstanding, and she was receptive to advice.

Xiao He lay lazily on a bluestone by the stream, basking in the sun, occasionally flapping her tail to scare the small fish in the pond.

Liang Feng would come to the pond in the valley every three to five days to tend to the moon-bearing ancient lotus.

Sometimes, during his leisure time from Cultivation, Song Yan would chat with him and learn about things he usually didn’t pay attention to.

For example, the Cultivation World of Chu State had been holding a chess tournament for the past few months, and the finals were approaching.

The finals were scheduled to take place in Bei Ya Mountain City.

Liang Feng said that his wife really loved chess, and Lanxi Cave had some spectator seats. A few days ago, he went to great lengths to get one, planning to attend the finals.

It must be said that this "unorthodox" trend of cultivating the mind was very strong in Longquan Prefecture.

Among these, chess was the most popular.

Perhaps influenced by this, Song Yan also bought a chess set and studied game records in his spare time.

The Five Stars Pulse Grasping Skill clearly stated that playing chess and practicing calligraphy and painting could assist in Cultivating Divine Sense strength.

Among these, chess was the most effective in promoting the growth of Divine Sense.

However, every time Song Yan thought of "cultivating the mind" arts before, it was always after intense Cultivation, and he was unwilling to choose the tiring and brain-consuming chess, usually opting for calligraphy.

He had never given up on the Cultivation of Divine Sense, but recently, the growth rate of his Divine Sense had become increasingly slow.

"The way of both civil and martial arts involves both tension and relaxation. Perhaps ’cultivating the mind’ arts are indeed needed for adjustment."

Before he began Cultivating, Song Yan had learned some chess from his grandfather and the village teacher in Shiliang Town.

His skill level was, of course, very ordinary, but his strong Divine Sense meant his deduction ability was far superior to that of Mortals.

Liang Feng’s wife was named Hu Qing, and she was indeed a woman who loved chess.

Liang Feng said that when his benefactor set up a chessboard in his bamboo house during his leisure time, she would also come to visit.

Song Yan was worried about not finding anyone to play against, so he was naturally very welcoming.

The two played back and forth.

However, Hu Qing relied on her chess skills and techniques, while Song Yan relied on his Divine Sense, which far surpassed ordinary people.

From the results alone, they were evenly matched, with each having wins and losses.

This elegant and mysterious "game" played by the two naturally attracted Xiao He’s attention, and she had been clamoring for Song Yan to teach her these past few days.

Coincidentally, Xiao Ju was also very interested in playing chess, so Song Yan started a class to teach these two curious little ones.

The knowledge and techniques he had regarding Go were actually quite limited, so teaching them was not troublesome.

"Watch closely," Song Yan picked up a black piece. "This black piece, it goes here."

He placed the piece.

Xiao He’s bright eyes widened, watching intently as the black piece landed.

At this moment on the chessboard, the black piece was surrounded by a scattered array of white pieces, with white pieces menacingly eyeing it from different directions.

"If the black piece has no escape, it dies."

Xiao He stared at the chessboard and repeated, "Dies."

"But if this black piece is placed here, then it lives."

Xiao He stared at the chessboard and repeated, "Lives."

"Hey, what if I put this black piece here?"

Xiao He looked up and said seriously, "Half-dead."

"No..." Song Yan rubbed Xiao He’s head a bit exasperatedly, messing up her hair.

"Senior Song, if the black piece is placed here, and the white piece doesn’t respond, it seems like the white piece itself will be in danger of being surrounded by the black pieces," Xiao Ju, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

Song Yan nodded approvingly, thinking that Xiao Ju’s mind was indeed sharp.

"That’s right, this is a brilliant move. If the white piece doesn’t respond, its own situation will be extremely dangerous. But if it does respond, it will be led by the nose, allowing the black piece to turn the crisis into safety."

"Ultimately, the white piece will still be captured by the black piece."

"Ah..." Xiao He looked at the white pieces with a worried expression.

In her eyes, white represented good people, and black naturally represented bad people.

With a wave of her small hand, her demonic power controlled the black pieces to form a small snake, which slithered off the chessboard.

"Good, good." Xiao He pointed to the chessboard, which only had white pieces left, and looked up, saying, "The black pieces ran away, so white won."

Song Yan flicked her forehead. "That doesn’t count."

Snake Babe’s little face fell, seemingly very displeased.

This made Xiao Ju also laugh.

During this period, a major event also occurred in Chu State, a piece of news from the Mortal world.

News from the Mortal world that could reach the ears of Cultivators was nothing more than dynastic changes and imperial successions.

A few days ago, the capital established an heir, and King You Su of Chu appointed the First Prince, Shi Ying, as the Crown Prince.

However, it was merely Mortal news, and Cultivators only treated it as a topic of conversation, not paying much attention.

Perhaps only a small number of minor Cultivation Families that still had interests tied to the Mortal Dynasty would view this as a significant matter.

On this day, Song Yan had just finished his morning Qi absorption from the rising sun.

This habit had been formed in the Sect, and he maintained it wherever he went.

"This place is truly suitable for retirement."

The Cultivators of Longquan Prefecture lived truly like Mortals.

But could one say that behind this ease, there wasn’t another kind of Cultivation?

"If I hadn’t seen the Immortal path, being a Mortal like this also seems pretty good."

He stretched, told Xiao Ju and Xiao He to look after the house, and then walked out of the valley alone.

There was a distance from the nameless mountain valley to Lanxi Market.

Walking along the gurgling stream, he occasionally encountered Cultivators fishing. Song Yan quietly detoured, avoiding startling the fish and causing an argument.

Spirit Fields were scattered throughout the valley, and Spirit Plant Masters unhurriedly tended to the Spirit Medicine, occasionally chatting with their neighbors.

Lanxi Market was also built along the stream, with bamboo buildings and wooden pavilions interspersed.

All seven auxiliary Medicinal Pill for the Wu Xiang Pill had already been gathered. In fact, a few days ago, he had already attempted to refine a batch, but it failed, without surprise.

Song Yan was not discouraged, as it was already considered a second-tier Medicinal Pill.

He came to the market this time, firstly, to replenish some Alchemy Materials, and secondly, to inquire about the main ingredient for the improved Foundation Establishment Pill, the Luo Zhen Vine.

The Cultivators of Lanxi Cave were skilled in business, and the various shops exchanged goods, making information well-circulated.

Liang Feng told him that Lanxi Market would hold an auction in a few days, and it was rumored that there would be some precious Spirit Medicine there.

He hurried over to inquire.

If the Luo Zhen Vine was among them, that would be for the best.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Li Yi has achieved Foundation Establishment yet."

At the time of the decisive battle, Li Yi was at Level 9 Qi Refining, close to Perfection in his Cultivation. After winning the top spot in the decisive battle, he received a reward: a Foundation Establishment Pill.

It was truly enviable.

In fact, Disciples with outstanding talent like Song Yan and Xiang Zhaoling, upon returning to the Sect after reaching Qi Refining Perfection, would most likely also receive a Foundation Establishment Pill if they applied to the Sect.

However, Song Yan was not an Immortal Reincarnation. He had never experienced the hurdle of Foundation Establishment before and lacked experience.

He always felt that one Foundation Establishment Pill was not stable enough.

It would be best to have multiple ready, just in case.

Moreover, his Spiritual Root was gone, leaving only the Sword Dao Seed. The information regarding Foundation Establishment in the Cave Abyss Sect could only be used as a reference, not followed step by step.

Song Yan stepped into a Medicinal Pill shop named Rudan Hall.

This was an old shop, with business neither booming nor declining. The shopkeeper lay on a recliner behind a screen, humming a tune Song Yan had never heard.

There were two assistants in the shop, one of whom was at the counter, negotiating with a few familiar customers.

The other assistant, seeing Song Yan enter with an extraordinary demeanor, quickly came forward.

He cupped his hands and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what do you need? Our shop has a complete range of Medicinal Pill, and we also deal in Spiritual Plants and Spirit Materials."

Song Yan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the screen behind the counter, and said directly, "Please inform Shopkeeper Zhang that I, Song, have something to inquire about."

The assistant was startled by this, then smiled and said, "So Fellow Daoist knows our shopkeeper. Please wait a moment."

With that, he quickly went to the back hall and whispered softly.

Before long, a rustling sound came from behind the screen, and a middle-aged man in an indigo robe with slightly graying temples walked out.

He was holding a yellowed ancient book, and when he looked up, his eyes were like torches. It was none other than Shopkeeper Zhang Dandong.

"Oh? It’s Fellow Daoist Song."

Zhang Dandong closed the ancient book, tapping gently on its cover with his fingertip.

Song Yan clasped his hands in greeting: "Shopkeeper Zhang, I trust you’ve been well. This assistant is quite new."

"Hired him just these past few days."

Song Yan initially came here to sell some of the Medicinal Pill he had previously refined, and to inquire if there were any Materials for the Wu Xiang Pill and the improved Foundation Establishment Pill.

He didn’t expect that this Medicinal Pill hall was truly not to be judged by its appearance. Almost all the auxiliary Medicinal Pill for the Wu Xiang Pill could be bought here.

He simply purchased everything from Rudan Hall, making him a major customer.

Over time, he became acquainted with the shopkeeper.

Shopkeeper Zhang invited Song Yan to sit down, and then called an assistant to serve a cup of Spirit Tea. The two then began to chat.

After some pleasantries, Song Yan directly got to the point: "I heard that Shopkeeper Zhang is one of the managers of the Lanxi Cave auction?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dandong roughly knew what this distinguished guest had come for.

He nodded and said, "That’s right, I, Zhang, am honored to be one of the seven managers of the Lanxi Market Joint Auction."

"Does Fellow Daoist Song have any treasures he wishes to consign, or does he wish to know about the treasures that will be auctioned at the upcoming auction?"

It was always less effort to talk to smart people.

Song Yan got straight to the point: "I, Song, heard that there will be a batch of precious Spirit Medicine at the auction in a few days."

Seeing Shopkeeper Zhang nod, he continued to ask, "I came here mainly to inquire if ’Luo Zhen Vine’ is among them?"

Zhang Dandong’s eyebrows twitched slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist’s information is very well-informed. Indeed, there is a batch of rare Medicinal Materials transported from a Secret Realm in Northern Chu at the auction."

However, he changed his tone: "But the Luo Zhen Vine... this item is truly rare. It has never appeared in the auction catalog of Lanxi Cave in recent years."

Seeing Song Yan’s expression slightly condense, he added, "However, if Fellow Daoist is not in a hurry, I, Zhang, can keep an eye out for it and inform you if there’s any news."

Song Yan pondered for a moment, then took out some Spirit Stone from his qiankun bag and pushed them onto the table: "Then I’ll trouble Shopkeeper Zhang."

"Oh, Fellow Daoist Song is truly wealthy. I, Zhang, won’t be polite and will gladly accept these."

Zhang Dandong noticed the excellent quality of the Spirit Stone, and his smile deepened a few shades. As he accepted the Spirit Stone, he casually took out a bamboo scroll from under the counter and unrolled it.

"Here." He pointed at a certain spot on the bamboo scroll: "Fellow Daoist might want to look at the list. These are the Spirit Medicine that will be sold at the auction in a few days."

"Although there’s no Luo Zhen Vine, there is another ’Profound Spirit Grass’ whose medicinal properties are similar to the Luo Zhen Vine. Perhaps it can be used?"

Song Yan’s gaze swept over the bamboo scroll. There were indeed many precious Alchemy Materials, but none of them were what he wanted, so he shook his head and politely declined.

After purchasing and replenishing some of the Medicinal Materials for the Wu Xiang Pill there, he walked out of Rudan Hall.

He prepared to return to the nameless mountain valley.

Is this Luo Zhen Vine so difficult to obtain? I can’t find it anywhere.

Song Yan planned that if he still hadn’t found this Medicinal Material by the time his Cultivation reached Qi Refining Perfection, he would return to the Sect.

He would try his luck one last time. If there was truly none, then there was nothing he could do. He would see if he could exchange his Sect contribution points for an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill.

In the current Cultivation World of Chu State, the Medicinal Materials required for refining Foundation Establishment Pill were extremely difficult to find.

Someone once calculated that even if all the Foundation Establishment Pill produced by the Six Major Sects over ten years were added together, there would only be a little over a thousand.

With such rarity, he wondered if his contribution points would be enough.

He heard that some Disciples in the Sect only did two things from the moment they entered the inner Sect: one was to bury themselves in Cultivation, and the other was to tirelessly complete Sect missions to earn contribution points.

All just to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible.

After all, Spirit Pill were scarce and limited. If one was lucky enough to exchange for one, there would be a chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. If luck was bad, one could only sign up and wait in line.

Song Yan had not walked far from the Medicinal Pill hall, and as he was slowly pondering, he heard a commotion coming from the entrance of the market.

The crowd was subtly stirring.

A ragged young man suddenly rushed out of the crowd, actually heading straight for Song Yan.

After staggering a few steps, he lunged forward, grabbing his sleeve, his voice urgent and hoarse: "Fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist, don’t go!"

"Hmm?"

Song Yan frowned slightly, his Divine Sense sweeping over the person.

It was actually a Mortal?

How did this person get in here...?