"Lin Chang'an — low-grade spiritual roots!"
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Startled awake from a dream, Lin Chang'an opened his eyes and saw the season's first spring rain trickling off the eaves outside his window.
The faint scent of damp earth filled the air, a familiar fragrance that stirred his memories. For a moment, Lin Chang'an felt as though he were back in his early twenties—youthful, full of ambition, newly stepping into the world of cultivation.
"Time really flies... It's already been forty years in this life."
The patter of rain against the roof accompanied his long sigh.
"I'm no longer young. After all these years of obsession, maybe it's time to let go."
He had lived a full life—seen enough, endured enough. It was time to accept things as they were.
Gazing out into the rainy night, Lin Chang'an said he was letting go—but he couldn't stop the memories from rising in his mind.
Twenty years ago, he and three others were chosen by Immortal Master Lu, who brought them to the entrance trial for the Palace of Blazing Fire.
But the result had been brutal.
With low-grade spiritual roots and already twenty years old, he wasn't just rejected from the sect—even applying as a servant, he was considered too old.
Fortunately, Master Lu took pity and referred him and another rejected youth, Li Erniu, to the Qingzhu Mountain Market Town.
And just like that, twenty autumns and winters had passed.
His poor spiritual roots, coupled with scarce cultivation resources, led to two decades of stagnation. He had only just reached the third level of Qi Refining—thanks solely to his acquired skill in talisman crafting.
"I should be content. At least I've settled in this market town and become a recognized talisman master. No need to risk my life hunting beasts."
He shook his head. He had done his best.
For twenty long years—no indulgence in wine, women, gambling, or sloth. He woke earlier than the roosters and slept later than the dogs. Nearly every waking hour had gone into cultivation and drawing talismans.
It had been hard.
He was caught in the rat race in his previous life—and again in this one!
Even after grinding so hard... what else could he possibly do?
He had tried everything.
"The years have slipped by. I'm forty now. Time to accept my fate."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A knock came from the door.
"Brother Lin, are you alright? You drank so much at the brothel last night—I was worried about you."
When the door opened and Li Erniu saw Lin Chang'an's haggard face, he let out a breath of relief.
"I'm fine, Erniu."
Seeing his old friend brought a smile to Lin Chang'an's face.
Li Erniu—his companion in rejection from all those years ago. The two had come to Qingzhu Mountain together. But unlike Lin, Erniu later chose to marry into a powerful family.
Twenty years had transformed the once simple farm boy. Now, Erniu was a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator, respectable and composed.
Seeing Lin's weary state, Li Erniu clapped him on the shoulder sympathetically.
"Brother Lin, we've been through a lot together. I understand."
Lin Chang'an was warmed by his friend's concern.
Being a live-in son-in-law wasn't easy either. Back then, the Zhou family had suffered from a major internal power struggle. Desperate to recover, they had opened the door to outsiders.
Normally, someone like Erniu wouldn't have had a chance.
Lin's eyes drifted to Erniu's enchanted robe, a sign of his modest prosperity.
He had tried to marry in as well, but the Zhou family didn't pick based on looks—they wanted someone honest and dependable.
Naturally, Lin had been rejected outright.
"Brother Lin."
Li Erniu sighed. He wasn't that naïve farm boy anymore—his speech and manners now bore the polish of a noble clan.
Trying to lighten the mood, Lin Chang'an smiled and waved it off.
"Erniu, I'm still a Qi Refining cultivator. Someday, I'll settle in the mortal world, buy land, build a grand house, and marry a few lovely ladies. Just you wait."
He chuckled and added teasingly:
"My best days are ahead. Don't get jealous when they come!"
"You've got a point." Erniu laughed, thinking of his own life as a son-in-law.
That carefree laughter—about enjoying a mortal life—might've convinced others.
But Lin Chang'an?
This man who had lived and trained like a monk for twenty years?
Was that smile really sincere?
"Brother Lin..."
Erniu suddenly remembered the real reason he came. He scratched his head awkwardly.
"About going back to the mortal world... that might have to wait."
"Why?"
"This time's different. The higher-ups are ordering a major expansion of the frontier..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but after twenty years here, Lin Chang'an knew exactly what he meant.
Of course. Just when he was ready to give up and leave... this happens.
The current scale of the market town had taken over twenty years to develop. Every three years, there was a frontier-expansion campaign. Anyone who didn't want to join had to pay a heavy tax.
But this time, it was clear—they were ramping it up.
Taxes would likely double.
"I see. Looks like I'll have to go back to the grind for a while."
He had wanted to leave, but fate had other plans.
Lin Chang'an sighed.
Erniu glanced around, then cautiously took off his boots—and pulled out a smelly cloth bundle.
"You never change, do you, Erniu?" Lin laughed and scolded him as Erniu unwrapped the bundle, revealing twenty-six thumb-sized spirit crystals.
In the cultivation world, spirit crystals were a smaller and rarer currency than spirit stones.
"Brother Lin, take these—for now."
Clearly, Erniu knew Lin had been preparing to return to the mortal world and probably had already converted most of his savings into mundane currency.
Lin didn't refuse this time. Truth be told, his coin pouch was emptier than his face was pale.
"Thanks, Erniu."
"You helped me so much back then, Brother Lin." Erniu spoke seriously.
When they first entered the cultivation world, Lin had taken care of him.
Even the opportunity to marry into the Zhou family had come from Lin's tip-off.
After Erniu left, Lin watched him walk into the rain—untouched by a single drop—and couldn't help but feel envious.
"Low-grade enchanted robe... First a child with spiritual roots, now a breakthrough of his own. Looks like Erniu's future in the Zhou family is secure."
Closing the door, Lin glanced at the gold, silver, and jewels piled on the table—treasures that would make any mortal drool.
But to him, they were nearly worthless.
With a sigh, he tossed them into a cloth bag and shoved them into a corner to gather dust.
"Looks like this money will sit around a while longer."
Still, it would come in handy when he did return to the mortal realm.
"Back to drawing talismans..."
Massaging his brow, Lin Chang'an sat cross-legged on his bed.
Talisman crafting required focus, precision, and spiritual clarity—he couldn't afford to waste precious materials like talisman paper and cinnabar.
As he began meditating and activating his Everlasting Spring Technique, a sudden flash of light appeared before his eyes.
His vision went wide.