1 Ouyang Li's Musings

The Outer Sect area of the Gentle Wind Valley was quite small. It certainly wasn't as grand as Ouyang Li imagined immortals' dwelling to be.

"Well, I suppose my expectations were influenced by watching too many movies and reading too much fiction in my previous life." He sighed.

That's right. Ouyang Li was a transmigrator. It's only been a few months since he appeared in this strange, new world.

"Oh, how I miss modern life…" He murmured while walking back to his cottage.

The life of an immortal cultivator wasn't bad. Every month, he would receive gold coins and Spirit Stones. He would also eat spiritual vegetables and the meat of demonic beasts. They were delicious!

And the hot springs were much better than any modern-day baths!

Besides that, he could also wear dust-repelling robes. They would even prevent smudging!

Still, he thought that… something seemed to be missing.

"Perhaps, it's the loneliness. After all, my last days on Earth were spent in solitude too. I guess I just need some time to adjust."

Ouyang Li died because of COVID-19. Before that, he had stayed isolated for months. On the one hand, he was now tired of being lonely. At the same time, thinking about the cruelty, never-ending competitiveness, and the lawlessness of the cultivation world, he was appalled.

"Those demonesses are the most cunning kind. They look like fairies, and their skin is spotless. Their pale carnations perfectly match my beauty standards! And those slender physiques of theirs! They are simply breathtaking!"

He mused. His eyes glinted at this thought, but he soon regained his calm.

"I can't fall for their tricks." He reminded himself. "I must remember that they just want to use me for my cultivation resources."

All members of the Gentle Wind Sect were fighting for resources. Although it was forbidden to kill and steal from fellow disciples, 'giving gifts' was accepted. Oh, well...

"It's a strange world. One where the strong prey upon the weak. There are countless crouching tigers and hidden dragons here. Who knows what schemes hide behind the beautiful faces? I can't let my gourd down. I should keep a low profile."

Unlike others, he didn't have to go out and complete difficult tasks. It was because Spirit Stones weren't that important to him.

He didn't have to compete with others either. Fighting for the possibility of entering some sacred grounds or ancient ruins was just… meaningless.

"I'm so glad that I transmigrated with a Mysterious Bead. It might not be a typical golden finger, but it seems to be equally useful, at least at my current level."

He was back at his courtyard now, so he wasn't afraid of speaking to himself loudly. It was a bad habit that he picked up during the quarantine.

"It's actually thanks to the bead that my soul was seized just after my death on Earth." It was then that he was transported to this dangerous land of opportunity.

Looking around, he found his courtyard to be quite empty. Although he recently bought some pieces of furniture, the courtyard still resembled abodes of ancient ascetics.

"It's just that this world is so much different from what I'm used to. Never mind cultural differences, even physics and fundamental laws of the universe give me a headache!"

High-level cultivators were soaring on their Flying Swords here, and mystical powers were present as well.

He was glad that he knew some ancient Taoist philosophy. Heavens know how it appeared in a different universe too. However, it was clearly much more developed here!

There was no Lao Tzu in this land. Instead, there were many other, equally or even more formidable, sages. Basically, they advocated the same thing, namely the Tao. And they spent hundreds of years compiling their great works.

After all, cultivators lived for a very long time. That was another thing that he had to get used to. For example, someone he had accidentally offended in the past could come knocking after hundreds of years passed! After all, revenge is said to be best served cold.

Also, there was this mysterious substance called Spiritual Energy or, to put it more poetically, the Essence of Mountains and Seas. It was also known as the ambient Qi.

Just as the Spirit Veins, which were located deep underground, the Qi was considered a gift of Heaven and Earth.

"After all, it allows mortal men to shed their mortal coils." He whispered. 'It is no wonder that immortal cultivators appeared in such a world. After so many years of accumulation, numerous spiritual herbs and rare treasures can be seen all around. In such an environment, even a pig could accidentally eat some panacea, entering the path leading toward the Great Tao…"

Ouyang Li was actually quite indignant of the inner workings of this universe. It actually disfavored humans! Just looking at the beasts that transformed and gained some wits… They would immediately become a threat to human societies!

"Well, I suppose no one would be pleased to realize that their species are raised and hunted as a source of food. Especially if it is done by a physically weaker race."

As a result, cultivators often had to descent from the mountains to protect secular empires from massive stampedes of the demonic beasts.

"Otherwise, they would soon lose the population, and with no population, there would be no immortal cultivators!"

That was what he found out after his first few months here. It didn't concern him much, though. Whether he ate, walked, or slept, his cultivation base was constantly growing, and that's all he cared about. That's what kept him safe!

He didn't bother about other things. After all, he had a cheat. His rapidly advancing realm was the greatest thing about the bead.

"Here, they also have the concept of the Three Treasures. Jing functions as the body's vitality. Qi is defined as breath. Finally, there is the most mysterious of the three, namely Shen."

He liked to measure the last one by his mental capacity and creative energy.

Even though his mystical bead was constantly nurturing all Three Treasures, in the early stages, Qi was the key. Accumulating it was what allowed the other three to improve as well.

It didn't matter whether he meditated or not. He didn't have to. Transforming his Jing into inner Qi to nourish his Shen was tiring and complex. Thanks to the bead, this process was already running!

When he transmigrated, he was but a talented mortal. Now, after a few months of 'hard work', he was already at the 2nd stage of the Qi Refinement Realm!

Although he was an extremely weak cultivator, he was still high above mortal men. His Shen was strong, and his neurons were constantly evolving and multiplying. At least, that's what he suspected.

That was also why he had no problems learning the local language.

Furthermore, the previous body owner was a native. Although he didn't remember the life of his predecessor, emotionally charged memories and language were slowly coming back to him. It was happening during his sleep.

"Well, I suppose I should plan for my future now." He murmured, lighting up some precious incense and sitting down on his cushion.

As he didn't spend his assigned Spirit Stones quota on cultivation per se, he could actually afford to buy some luxuries. Right now, he was saving money for the calming-jade bed. He still had too many nightmares.

"I suppose it's because my predecessor died too suddenly. He was just too poor, and his talent was limited. I suppose my potential is limited too…" he analyzed.

Only those who were born with Spiritual Roots had a chance to embark on the cultivation path. Although he had some talent, his immortal destiny was pretty much nonexistent.

From what he had learned so far, Spiritual Roots were separated into low-grade, medium-grade, and high grade. There was also legendary top-grade. However, no such roots appeared in the past millennia.

"It isn't my greatest weakness, though. From what I've noticed, my affinity with Spiritual Energy seems to be growing. The bead must be helping me with this aspect as well. Besides, my predecessor also left me a strange bracelet…'.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be useless. Ouyang Li only suspected that it was a broken treasure.

Slouching down, he looked out the window. He saw many low-level cultivators soaring on their Flying Swords and happy couples climbing the nearby slope.

"I must first accept that this world is crueler than the previous one. I have to stop thinking as I used to back on Earth. Also, I need to come to terms with the fact that I can only count on myself from now on. Otherwise... I would be backstabbed by others in no time!"

It hasn't been long since he came to this world. He knew that he couldn't expect his state of mind to change quickly.

Finding peace was not impossible. However, it might take some time.

After all, he knew that fighting with whatever caused him to die and transmigrate was unrealistic.

"Perhaps, it's just fate." He mused. "After all, who can escape death? Even here, cultivators are bound by fortune and karma. How many can gain eternal life or progress without any fortuitous encounters?"

Suddenly, as if in response to his musings, the bead in his soul pulsed and moved.

At the same time, a strange thought appeared in his mind.

The sensation was indescribable!

"Could it be that this bead is actually a non-karmic treasure? But that would mean that I've never received enough merit to even attempt to shed my mortal coil. Would that enrage the Heavens?"

He was not good at such philosophical questions. However, from what he had heard, those born with Spiritual Roots usually deserved them. It was all because of the karma of their previous incarnations.

"I don't suppose I was good enough to deserve it. At least, not during my life on Earth."

Ouyang Li decided to spend the rest of his savings to borrow some local Taoist texts. He needed to do more research! After all, he didn't want to die in the first heavenly tribulation brought about by the bead!