Zhang Chen and Shen Jie walked down the road with ease. Ever since he had stepped into the world of cultivation, Zhang Chen could feel his body growing stronger and his mind becoming clearer.
The change wasnât revolutionary, but it was still noticeable.
Once the two had gone far enough that their silhouettes had disappeared, the villagers began to leave their homes, watching in the direction they'd gone with eyes full of desire and envy.
âPhew... Who would've thought that kid would actually become a cultivator? Such incredible luck! And that little girlâjust because of their relationship, her lifeâs bound to improve fast. If the two of them get married, maybe heâll take her to the city,â said one of the villagers, sighing with envy.
But soon after, a more experienced voice chimed in:
âCity? You're naïve. Living in the city isnât that simple. Just because you become a cultivator doesnât mean you get to live there.â
âWhat do you mean by that? Are you saying weâll never have a chance to live there? Then the supervisors are lying?!â a surprised woman replied.
âAre you crazy? Iâd never say the supervisors are lying. But in the end, everything comes down to money. How could a newly promoted cultivator afford to live in the city?â
Although only the two of them were talking, many people nearby were listening intently.
The woman who had implied the supervisors were lying turned pale as she recalled the figures of authority.
Trying to change the subject, she asked, âIf itâs hard for them to live in the city, then where do they go?â
She directed the question to the old man, who shook his head helplessly. But before he could reply, a third villager jumped into the conversation.
âThatâs easy to explain. Do any of you know someone who lives up north?â the old man asked, watching everyone shake their heads. He continued, âThatâs normal. The north isnât just closer to the city; itâs also known as the 'District of Near-Cultivators.' Everyone who manages to become a cultivator but canât live in the city ends up there. Even human warriors live in that direction. As for the reason why, this old man doesnât know. Itâs just something my grandson, a cultivator himself, told me over dinner.â
The old man smiled proudlyânot only because of his knowledge, but also because he had a cultivator for a grandson.
As expected, once he finished, a wave of praise followed from the other villagers. He, on the other hand, tried to keep his composure, feigning modesty.
âNo wonder you know so muchâyour familyâs been blessed with a cultivator.â
âHaha, he certainly wonât be the last. We might be looking at the patriarch of a future cultivator family!â
âHoho, donât exaggerate. My grandson still has a long road ahead before we can think about that. But maybe I can ask him to give young Zhang Chen a few pointers.â
The compliments continued for a while until the conversation finally quieted down.
In homes with well-established families, some elders could afford to rest a few days, and stories of those who broke into cultivation spread quicklyâperfect topics for the more traditional households.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen and Shen Jie were descending the mountain, unaware of the conversations taking place around them.
Zhang Chen was in a good mood. Aside from some lingering doubts in his mind, everything seemed to be going well.
However, there was still a weight in his heart whenever he thought about his past life. Knowing he'd been killed before wasnât something easy to accept.
Even now, he still had some uncertainty about this new life, but little by little, he was starting to find peace in this new reality.
Talking along the way, they reached their workplace quickly.
The moment Zhang Chen stepped onto the field, he felt a pair of eyes locked onto him. A heavy pressure washed over his body, and when he looked up, he saw Lin Xiao, the supervisor, watching him from afar.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
âCome see me,â Supervisor Lin said. His voice was calm and effortless, but even from that distance, it reached Zhang Chen clearly.
Zhang Chen nodded. As he turned to speak to Shen Jie, she was quicker:
âGo ahead, Iâll take care of my work,â she said with a smile before heading to her field.
Zhang Chen then made his way toward the large rock where Supervisor Lin stood.
Even before he got close, he could feel the wind carrying him again. But this time was different: now, as a cultivator, he perceived everything more clearly.
The wind felt more solid, filled with spiritual energy that didnât belong to him, and he could sense a subtle threat coming from the supervisorâs power.
Soon enough, he reached the top of the rock. There, Supervisor Lin was already waiting, his eyes scanning Zhang Chen from head to toe, as if trying to see straight through to his soul.
âI see you've broken into the first level of Qi Training. I assume you know the rules: now that youâre a cultivator, it'll be easier for you to earn spirit stones. Staying here would mean taking the spot of someone still striving to reach cultivation,â Lin Xiao said calmly. To him, this was routine, and he wasnât impressed.
Zhang Chen listened silently. When Lin mentioned the rule, his memory brought the relevant information to the surface. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he still nodded.
Supervisor Lin frowned at the reaction. That surprise made no senseâafter all, everyone knew that the landowner wanted to give commoners a chance.
That was precisely why it didnât make sense for a cultivator to stay.
The diversity between the young and the old made it clear: the elderly were seeking opportunities for the next generation, while the young sought chances for themselves.
âI understand, Supervisor Lin. When should I leave? Today?â Zhang Chen asked, taking a few seconds to fully process the situation.
"No. The young lady found you likable. You can stay until the third payment. That should help you out a bit," he replied, lost in thought.
"Understood. Thank you for the consideration, Supervisor Lin."
"Donât thank me. This has nothing to do with me. But be carefulâthis world is not kind. And itâs even crueler to the weak and the lonely. You may go now," Lin Xiao said, turning his gaze forward again, his thoughts unreadable.
Zhang Chen cupped his hands respectfully and walked away, following the familiar path. With a light leap, he quickly returned to the fields.
Their conversation had been no secret, and Supervisor Lin made no effort to hide it.
When Zhang Chen arrived back at the fields, he immediately noticed several pairs of eyes watching him.
Glancing at Shen Jie, he saw her already preparing to fetch water, so he made his way toward the well too.
"Well done, young man. But be carefulâ¦" said his field partner, an older man who had already finished his shift and was heading out. Upon seeing Zhang Chen, he offered a few words of praise and a warning.
Zhang Chen responded with a respectful gesture, and seeing the sincerity in his eyes, the old man offered a rare smile before departing.
With a soft sigh, Zhang Chen grabbed the bucket and went to draw water. To his surprise, everything felt much easier now.
As he filled the bucket, others around him began offering congratulations on becoming a cultivator. He expressed his thanks, but it took him a few minutes to escape the wave of compliments and get back to work.
That was when he began to clearly feel the shift in status brought by becoming a cultivatorâa sensation that stirred echoes of the glory from his past life.
Without delay, he began irrigating the rice stalks. Thanks to his increased physical strength, he watered the four plots quickly and efficiently.
Before long, lunchtime arrived, and since Zhang Chen had already finished his share of work, he joined the line.
Shen Jie soon joined him, and with a simple greeting, the two waited for their turn.
From afar, Zhang Chen noticed Tan Rui watching him with a strange expression, but this time, he didnât approach.
With their bowls full of rice, the two found a place to sit and eat.
With the first bite, Zhang Chen realized how low the spiritual energy in the rice was. Even the rice he usually bought wasnât of great qualityâso one could only imagine the level of this one.
Still, it was better than regular rice and provided a bit more energy to ordinary humans.
The brief moment of peace soon ended, and the two began their walk back up the mountain toward home.
As they walked, Zhang Chen told Shen Jie about his conversation with the supervisor. They also discussed the changes he had felt after becoming a cultivator.
â¦
In the northern district, where houses were crowded tightly together, the atmosphere felt tense.
Though many chimneys released smoke, not a trace of food scent came from them.
Few people walked the streets, and those who did cast predatory glances at each other.
On a street corner, a burly manânearly two meters tall, his muscles hard as stone and his beard scruffyâapproached a house and knocked forcefully on the door.
A few moments later, a disheveled old man opened it with an irritated expression. Without a shred of politeness, the old man said, "You interrupted my alchemy. This had better be importantâ¦"
"Old man, screw your alchemy! The brat broke through and became a cultivator. What are you planning to do now? I told you we shouldâve dealt with him earlier!" the man growled through clenched teeth, fury clear on his face.
"Who broke through? Zhang Chen? Who would've thought that brat could manage it. At least it means he has a cultivation technique, and I donât recall him getting one from the city. None of the transporters here ever did such a thing."
"So, are you sticking to your plan?"
"Donât worry about it. Him becoming a cultivator doesnât change muchâ¦"
"Youâre forgetting heâs caught the supervisorâs favor. If he gets a job in the city and protectionâ¦"
"For someone so rough, youâre more of a coward than I thought. Donât worry. The supervisorâs goodwill is all because of that girl. Iâve already looked into it. Still, we should be cautious. Letâs just move things up a bitânothing too serious."
While the two plotted in secret, Zhang Chen and Shen Jie climbed the mountain, unaware that danger was already drawing near.