My stomach growled, and every time I sniffed, a scent of feces entered my nostrils. It was as bad as a public bathroom, the ones without proper care, like one at a countryside gas station. Yeah, it was that bad. I hadn't bathed in a few days, the result of my meditation effort to learn Materialization.
The rope inside the well, the one I used to get down when hurt, was still there. But after using the miraculous water pond and recovering my body to its peak, I did not need to use the rope again. All I needed was my body's power! I exerted strength into my legs, feeling a different sensation. It was the passive benefits of fusing with Big T! I skyrocketed up, leaving the well and feeling the sun hit my face after days.
I looked around my farm, and to my relief, everything appeared unchanged, except for the wild grasses that had sprouted around the crops. Despite their presence, the crops seemed unaffected, thriving in their healthy state. It seemed that neither bugs nor the encroaching wild grasses had hindered their growth.
An unsettling feeling gnawed at me, wondering how Big. F was faring. However, as soon as I stepped into my wooden cabin and gazed at the aquarium, there he was, swimming gracefully as always.
"You're such a resilient one," I remarked, offering him a few worms.
Although the cabin had gathered a layer of dust, it remained neatly organized, indicating that no intruders had attempted to break in during my absence. Before attempting to fuse with Big. F, I knew I needed a well-deserved bath and a satisfying meal.
Having tended to my immediate needs, I approached the aquarium, hoping to replicate the same connection I had formed with Big. T. However, my attempts proved futile.
"Why?" I whispered, my frustration mounting as I struggled to comprehend the situation.
Fortunately, the hidden lair of the cultivator still housed all the books, so with determination, I returned to that sacred place to delve into my research. It was there that I finally found the answer.
According to the ancient texts, it was indeed possible to merge with seven souls, just as I had read. However, the catch was that one could only fuse with a single soul in each realm. This meant that if I wanted to merge with Big. F, I would have to ascend to the lofty heights of the Foundation Establishment realm, a path still distant and uncertain.
But that did not discourage me in the slightest! The Spiritual Soul Fusion remained the foundation of my cultivation journey. It was through this primary meditation technique that I could gradually gather the Qi from the atmosphere and absorb it into my Dantian.
The grade of this meditation technique surpassed even those practiced by the sects in the surrounding area. It exceeded the techniques cultivated by the esteemed patriarchs themselves. This realization filled me with a sense of assurance about my future, despite the technique's incomplete state.
"I can seek out the missing parts in the future when I am stronger. Besides, reaching the Nascent Soul realm is no small feat," I murmured, reminding myself that the Spiritual Soul Fusion I had acquired consisted of only four parts, leaving the rest to be discovered and mastered.
I sat on my cheap bed, cross-legged, following the meditation technique, adjusting my breathing, and feeling the Qi in the surrounding area.
As the Qi flowed towards my Dantian in my belly, I sensed something unusual. There was another Dantian present! That shouldn't be possible! Upon further investigation, I realized it belonged to Big T, with his power residing in the first layer of Qi Condensation.
"So every time I cultivate, I have to cultivate for both of us? Does this mean my cultivation will take twice as long, but grant me double the strength, or even more?" I pondered to myself.
I could see how challenging this could be for ordinary cultivators, which might explain why this technique wasn't widely practiced. But for me? Not a big deal at all! Thanks to the System I possessed, I could acquire precious Spiritual Herbs, and through alchemy, I could consume numerous pills to enhance my cultivation.
And once again, this led me to confront the alchemy problem.
One had to practice an alchemy technique to start making pills. The grade of said technique would grant me something the cultivation world called an Alchemy Flame! The better the technique, the better the chances of having a higher-grade Alchemy Flame.
That did not mean it was impossible to improve the flame. Changing the alchemy technique to a better one in the future, even after receiving your first flame, would open room for improvement, and the flame itself could evolve to the next grade.
But I did not even have the basic alchemy techniques! Even the low-grade ones were difficult to come by, especially for a weak cultivator like me in a remote place like Riverside Village.
As I was lost in thought, someone knocked on my door. Who could it be? After all the mess that happened, I hoped it was not another problem coming to haunt me.
I opened the door, only to face the current mayor of Riverside, the person in charge.
"Tian Li! Where were you? And where is Kang Duyi?"
There was no room for lies, so I explained everything that had happened, including my battle with Kang Duyi and the discovery of two bodies in a cellar beneath a cabin in the woods.
The mayor, Dai Guiren, couldn't believe I was a cultivator!
"Forgive my earlier angry words, immortal," he said, bowing his head to me.
"No need for this. I know you'll keep everything a secret," I replied, with a slight threatening tone.
"Of course, of course! Is there something else the immortal needs?"
"Actually, there is!"
I could run from it as long as I wished, but I had to find an alchemy technique of some sort. For that reason, I asked Dai Guiren to take care of my farm while I was away. My destination? The city where immortals met!