Chapter 26: The Struggles of a Wandering Cultivator
Living by hunting demonic beasts in cooperation with others, Lin Cong had managed to save up some resources over the years.
Now, with his successful breakthrough, his joy was beyond words.
For this reason, he didn't hesitate to treat his close friend to a lavish meal at Osmanthus Tower.
Osmanthus Tower
The most luxurious restaurant in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market—without exception.
The food served at Osmanthus Tower was extraordinary:
Rice made from spiritual rice.
Dishes crafted from spiritual herbs.
Meat sourced from demonic beasts.
Moreover, only the best parts of these ingredients were selected for cooking, ensuring the dishes were as delicious as they were nourishing.
What truly set Osmanthus Tower apart was that dining there not only filled the stomach but also provided significant cultivation benefits. The spiritual energy absorbed from a single meal could equal several days of rigorous cultivation.
Eating to grow stronger—with such an allure, it was no surprise that dining at Osmanthus Tower came with an exorbitant price tag.
Even a modest meal for two could cost several spirit stones at the very least.
If a larger group were to dine or rare delicacies were ordered, the bill could easily climb to dozens or even hundreds of spirit stones.
This extravagant cost gave Osmanthus Tower an unrivaled status within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
Ordinary wandering cultivators seldom dined there unless it was for a truly special occasion.
Most of the patrons who frequented Osmanthus Tower were members of prestigious clans or disciples of sects.
For individuals like them, the gap between their lives and those of wandering cultivators was as vast as an unbridgeable chasm.
"Then we won't leave until we're drunk!" He Song didn't hesitate to accept Lin Cong's invitation.
Lin Cong had made the decision himself to visit Osmanthus Tower; He Song had not pressured him into it.
Since the host had already set the venue, He Song saw no reason to decline.
Feigning humility or pushing back would only seem insincere or overly polite, something unnecessary between genuine friends.
Satisfied with He Song's straightforward response, Lin Cong nodded with a grin. He set down his tea cup, grabbed He Song, and headed out.
It was lunchtime—perfect timing for a meal.
After weaving through the bustling streets, the pair arrived at the renowned Osmanthus Tower.
The moment they entered, a waiter dressed in a neat uniform approached them, bowing politely.
"Welcome, esteemed immortals. Would you like to be seated on the first floor or the second floor?"
"The second floor, of course. The view is better," Lin Cong replied casually.
"Certainly. Please, follow me."
On the second floor of Osmanthus Tower
He Song and Lin Cong found themselves seated at a table by the window.
The location offered a spectacular view. A slight turn of the head revealed the lively street below, while a glance into the distance showcased majestic mountain ranges.
Thin wisps of mist wove between the peaks, accentuating the grandeur of the mountains as they stretched toward the heavens.
The waiter had left, and Lin Cong had already placed their order.
The two friends now passed the time by engaging in casual conversation.
"Do you know why my breakthrough took so long this time?" Lin Cong finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of heaviness as he lowered his gaze.
He Song thought for a moment before responding, his tone casual, "I wouldn't know—was it because breaking through the bottleneck was particularly challenging?"
"That's not quite it," Lin Cong replied with a shake of his head. "But I've often heard other wandering cultivators say that the life of a wandering cultivator is full of hardship. I didn't take it seriously before, but after this experience, I finally understood. Sigh…"
He let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"These past thirty days, I spent more than half the time preparing to break through my bottleneck. But who would have thought that when the moment finally came, I'd realize that, with my four-element root aptitude, breaking through wasn't all that difficult?"
As he spoke, Lin Cong gave a bitter smile, a complex mix of emotions evident on his face.
In preparation for breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, Lin Cong had spent considerable time and resources gathering items said to aid the process.
However, when the time came and he began his breakthrough, he found that these items were completely unnecessary.
For someone with his four-element root aptitude, advancing from the early to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement was actually not very challenging at all.
Fortunately, he succeeded.
The only downside was the spirit stones wasted on those unnecessary items.
Still, since his cultivation level had risen as he'd hoped, Lin Cong could now recount this as a humorous anecdote rather than a painful failure.
Had he failed to break through, the story would undoubtedly have had a much bleaker tone.
This experience gave Lin Cong a profound understanding of the hardships faced by wandering cultivators.
Wandering cultivators often relied on secondhand information, most of it hearsay. But who could guarantee the accuracy of such information?
For Lin Cong, this experience was a stark reminder.
Whether it was breaking through bottlenecks, cultivating techniques, learning spells, or selecting artifacts, wandering cultivators had to rely almost entirely on their own trial and error.
Compared to disciples of sects or clans, wandering cultivators faced an arduous and uncertain path.
This lack of proper guidance and knowledge was the greatest disadvantage of being a wandering cultivator.
"Breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement with four-element roots isn't that difficult?" He Song murmured, stunned for a moment. Then, as the words sank in, his eyes lit up with newfound hope.
He himself had four-element roots!
If Lin Cong's experience held true, He Song's own bottleneck at the fourth level of Qi Refinement Realm shouldn't be too difficult to overcome either.
His gaze toward Lin Cong grew warmer, filled with appreciation and gratitude.
He Song had always hoped that Lin Cong's breakthrough might offer some insight into his own cultivation journey.
But he hadn't expected such a direct benefit.
Lin Cong's experience would save He Song from the trial-and-error pitfalls that had cost Lin Cong so much time and resources.
In the world of cultivation, it was universally acknowledged that four elements—wealth, companions, methods, and environment—were crucial for success:
Wealth represented cultivation resources.
Companions referred to fellow cultivators, whether friends, mentors, or dao companions.
Methods encompassed techniques, spells, and the myriad cultivation arts.
Environment refers to a place rich in spiritual energy, conducive to cultivation.
He Song had always known these were important, but Lin Cong's words had deepened his understanding of just how critical they were.
Had he not known Lin Cong, he would never have learned this information.
If he hadn't, he might have fallen into the same traps as Lin Cong during his own breakthrough.
If Lin Cong had not trusted him enough to share the truth, He Song would have been left in the dark.
It was clear to He Song that he owed Lin Cong a favor.
"Thank you, Daoist Lin, for sharing this," He Song said earnestly. "When I reach the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, I'll certainly invite you here again for a proper celebration!"
Making the promise was a no-brainer for He Song. Spending a few spirit stones meant little in comparison to repaying Lin Cong's kindness.
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