In the early morning, the air after the spring rain carried a faint earthy scent.
The marketplace was already bustling with activity.
Vendors were loudly advertising their wares at their stalls:
"Fresh beast meat here! Slaughtered just yesterday—ten pounds for a spirit crystal, guaranteed tender!"
"Fasting Pills! A must-have for deep expeditions!"
Walking along the familiar cobblestone streets of the market, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath.
"It really is better to stay here."
All the unwillingness and regret he had felt when preparing to leave had now faded. It felt as if he had been given a second life.
This feeling—was truly wonderful.
Yet his bloodshot eyes didn't go unnoticed by familiar faces, who secretly shook their heads. In truth, wasn't he just a reflection of their own future?
Passing strangers gave him barely a glance, while familiar faces greeted him with polite cupped fists and a "Fellow Daoist."
Though he had lived here for twenty years, this time was different. With a new mindset, a rare smile bloomed on his face.
"There are many here worse off than I am."
But upon seeing the numb expressions on the faces around him—once proud cultivators now worn down by harsh reality—he couldn't help but feel his excitement wane. This was once his own expression too.
Bitterness drove them forward, clinging on with gritted teeth despite exhaustion.
Seeing those all-too-familiar hollow faces, Lin Chang'an's elation slowly dissipated.
"The cultivation world is treacherous and ever-changing. I still have a long way to go."
Bathed in morning sunlight, Lin Chang'an walked with steady steps—his determined figure a sharp contrast to the weary and aimless crowd.
The butcher, surnamed Luo, watched Lin Chang'an's departing back, scratching his head in confusion.
"Why does Fellow Daoist Lin seem... different today?"
"Ah, what else could it be? I heard he was planning to return to the mortal world," someone said.
Realization dawned on Butcher Luo, who sighed. "So that's it."
The other familiar cultivators around shook their heads. They'd seen this happen before. One day, it could very well be them.
Some cultivators had even given up the chance to return to the mortal world to enjoy a peaceful life—just so they could have a child with spiritual roots. They gritted their teeth and kept going.
…
Following the main road of the market, Lin Chang'an arrived at Treasure Pavilion, a storefront operated by the Lihuo Sect.
"Ah, Fellow Daoist Lin! You're here early today," greeted Shopkeeper Miao, a middle-aged man with a warm, familiar smile.
When he saw the talismans Lin Chang'an had brought, his expression lit up with genuine delight.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, I knew it! Why go to the mortal world when your talisman work keeps improving? And your Evergreen Technique is known for building a strong foundation with time!"
"Shopkeeper Miao, your eye is as sharp as ever," Lin Chang'an replied with a smile, acknowledging that he had decided to stay.
From his early days in beast-hunting teams to becoming a talisman maker, the two had known each other for nearly two decades. Given that he sourced his talisman materials—ink and paper—from this shop, they understood each other well.
When he laid out twenty Golden Light Talismans and eight Fleetfoot Talismans, it was clear he had abandoned the idea of leaving for the mortal world.
After all, no one going back to the mortal world would be buying up talisman materials—those were hard to find outside.
"This one—!" Shopkeeper Miao's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A premium Golden Light Talisman!"
"You truly have a keen eye, Shopkeeper Miao," Lin Chang'an said, nodding.
Miao chuckled. "No wonder you looked so different today. So this was the reason."
He was genuinely happy for Lin Chang'an—not just because he had gained another high-level client, but also because an old customer of twenty years had finally made a breakthrough.
"Tsk tsk, as the saying goes: Of the hundred arts of cultivation, talismans, pills, tools, and formations stand foremost. Talismans may seem simple but are easy to learn and hard to master. Fellow Daoist Lin, congratulations on your impressive progress!"
Lin Chang'an nodded, filled with emotion. "Sometimes all it takes is letting go. Who would've thought I'd have a breakthrough after releasing my attachments?"
The sigh came from the heart. Only he knew how bitter those twenty years of hard work had truly been.
Shopkeeper Miao also nodded in understanding. Many cultivators spent a lifetime just one step away from their breakthrough—blocked only by a thin layer of doubt.
"Would you prefer spirit stones or materials, Fellow Daoist Lin?"
Spirit stones. Just hearing the word stirred something deep in Lin Chang'an's heart. After twenty years of cultivation, he could finally trade in spirit stones instead of just spirit crystals.
"The usual," he said with a smile.
"Very well—two stacks of talisman paper, and a bottle of gold-element talisman ink," Miao called out.
Soon, two thick stacks of yellow talisman paper and a jade bottle were placed before him.
"These materials cost 20 spirit crystals. I'll give you 34 spirit crystals as change. And for this premium Golden Light Talisman—1 spirit stone."
Staring at the baby-palm-sized spirit stone, Lin Chang'an's face lit up.
A premium Golden Light Talisman was worth five times the regular amount—now calculated in spirit stones, not just spirit crystals.
Miao was all smiles as well.
A talisman maker capable of producing premium-quality talismans had great potential.
Tucking the spirit stone carefully into his robe, Lin Chang'an cast a longing glance at the store's spirit-gathering array, silently vowing that once he earned enough to cover his labor tax, he'd come back for it.
On the way home, he picked up 50 jin of spirit rice, 10 jin of beast meat, and some spirit vegetables. While he trained hard, he never skimped on meals.
This wasn't just about appetite—it was a part of his cultivation.
Back home, seeing his rice jar full, a pot of steaming spirit rice on the table, and a cauldron brimming with fragrant beast meat, a warm smile spread across Lin Chang'an's face.
"If I could eat like this every day, I wouldn't have needed twenty years."
It was true his spiritual roots were low-grade, but staying at the third stage of Qi Refining for twenty years—that was a matter of poverty, not talent.
This was the reality for most cultivators. On paper, they trained for twenty years, but in practice, most of their time was spent scraping by, leaving little for actual cultivation.
Now that he saw hope for better days, Lin Chang'an picked up his chopsticks and began devouring his food with great enthusiasm.
Beast meat by the pot—such luxury had been rare even on his best days.
He ate to his heart's content, lips gleaming with grease, and could clearly feel the nourishing energy flowing through his body.
He thought of how, in the great foundation-establishing clans, even those with the lowest-quality roots could easily reach mid-stage Qi Refining with good food, good training, and ample resources.
"Truly, no matter the world, what some people spend their whole lives chasing… others are simply born into."
With daily spirit rice and beast meat, diligent cultivation would guarantee at least a fourth-stage breakthrough.
"When I start earning spirit stones, not only will I eat meat every day—I'll buy a storage pouch too!"
Dreaming of a future where he could eat well and access his belongings with a flick of the wrist, Lin Chang'an felt his determination burn even brighter.