Chapter 26: The Hardships of Rogue Cultivators  

As someone who made a living by partnering with others to hunt demon beasts, Lin Cong had managed to save up some wealth. 

This time, having successfully broken through, the joy in his heart was beyond words. 

Therefore, even if it meant treating his friend to a lavish meal at the Osmanthus Tower, he was willing to spare no expense. 

The Osmanthus Tower was the most expensive restaurant in the Zhushan Immortal Market, bar none. 

The meals served at the Osmanthus Tower were made from spirit rice, spirit vegetables, and demon beast meat. 

Moreover, only the finest and most delicious parts were carefully selected for cooking. 

Most importantly, eating a meal here could provide spiritual energy equivalent to several days of hard cultivation. 

Eating to increase one's cultivation—this made the Osmanthus Tower's prices exorbitantly high. 

Even a simple meal for two would likely cost at least several spirit stones! 

And that was just for two people, ordering non-premium dishes. 

If there were more people and premium dishes were ordered, the cost could easily reach dozens or even hundreds of spirit stones. 

Such staggering prices gave the Osmanthus Tower an unparalleled status in the Zhushan Immortal Market. 

Ordinary rogue cultivators would rarely go there unless it was for a major occasion. 

Those who could casually dine at the Osmanthus Tower were usually from cultivation families or sects. 

The gap between such individuals and rogue cultivators was as vast as a chasm. 

"Then let's drink until we drop," He Song responded to Lin Cong's invitation without the slightest hesitation. 

Lin Cong had decided to invite He Song to the Osmanthus Tower of his own accord. 

It wasn't as if He Song had forced him to go there for a meal. 

Since the one inviting had made the decision, He Song simply followed along. 

Rather than pretending to decline, it was better to be straightforward. Otherwise, it would seem overly pretentious and insincere. 

As friends, there was no need for such affectations. 

Seeing He Song agree, Lin Cong nodded in satisfaction, immediately put down his teacup, and pulled He Song out the door. 

It was currently lunchtime. 

Soon, after navigating through the bustling streets, the two arrived at the famous Osmanthus Tower in the Zhushan Immortal Market. 

As soon as they entered, a waiter approached them, his voice ringing out. 

"Welcome, Immortal Masters. Would you like to sit on the first floor or go upstairs to the second floor?" 

"The second floor. The view is better," Lin Cong replied casually. 

"Right this way, please." 

On the second floor of the Osmanthus Tower, He Song and Lin Cong sat at a table by the window. 

This was a prime spot where, with a slight turn of the head, one could see the bustling street outside. The view was excellent. 

Looking into the distance, one could even see the towering mountains far away. 

Wispy clouds and mist adorned the mountains, making them appear even more majestic and towering. 

The waiter had left after taking their order. 

Now, the two were chatting idly. 

"Fellow Daoist He, do you know why my breakthrough took so long this time?" Lin Cong asked, his tone slightly somber, as they waited for their food. 

"I don't know. Was it difficult to break through the bottleneck?" He Song thought for a moment and then ventured a guess. 

"That's not it. But I've often heard other rogue cultivators say how hard it is to be a rogue cultivator. I used to pay no attention, but after experiencing it myself, I suddenly understand. Sigh." Lin Cong shook his head and sighed. 

But then he continued. 

"Out of this past month, I spent more than half of it preparing to break through the bottleneck. But when I actually tried to break through, I realized that, with my four spiritual roots, breaking through wasn't actually difficult." 

As he spoke, Lin Cong let out a bitter laugh, his feelings indescribable. 

To break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he had prepared for a long time and gathered many things he had heard were necessary for the breakthrough. 

But when he finally bought all those things and began the breakthrough, he suddenly realized that none of them were of any use to him. 

With his four spiritual roots, breaking through from the early to the mid-stage of Qi Refining was actually quite easy. 

Fortunately, he had succeeded. 

But he had wasted the spirit stones spent on those unnecessary items. 

Although the things he bought turned out to be useless, his cultivation had still advanced to the mid-stage of Qi Refining as he had hoped. 

This was why he could now share this story with He Song as a joke. 

If he had failed, the situation would have been entirely different. 

At the same time, after experiencing all this, Lin Cong truly understood the hardships of being a rogue cultivator. 

Rogue cultivators relied mostly on hearsay for information, but who could guarantee that such information was accurate? 

Take his own experience, for example. 

If he hadn't gone through it himself, he wouldn't have believed it. 

And the many challenges rogue cultivators faced in their cultivation journey— 

How to break through bottlenecks, how to cultivate techniques, how to practice spells, how to choose magical tools— 

All of these had to be figured out through trial and error. 

Compared to sect disciples and family members, it was truly much harder for rogue cultivators to progress in their cultivation. 

This was the disadvantage of having limited knowledge and no elders to guide them. 

"Breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining isn't difficult for someone with four spiritual roots?" He Song was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up. 

He also had four spiritual roots! 

According to Lin Cong, when he needed to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, the bottleneck shouldn't be too difficult either. 

Thinking of this, He Song's gaze toward Lin Cong became filled with a hint of joy. 

He had originally thought that once Lin Cong successfully broke through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, it would provide some insight for his own future breakthrough. 

But he hadn't expected that Lin Cong's firsthand experience would bring him such valuable information. 

This meant that when he needed to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, he wouldn't have to go through the same detours as Lin Cong. 

In the cultivation world, everyone knew that wealth, companionship, techniques, and a good cultivation site were extremely important. 

Wealth referred to cultivation resources. 

Companionship referred to fellow cultivators, mentors, or friends with whom one could discuss the Dao. 

Techniques included cultivation methods, spells, and various arts of cultivation. 

A good cultivation site referred to a place with abundant spiritual energy. 

He Song had always thought that wealth, companionship, techniques, and a good cultivation site were important. 

But after hearing Lin Cong's words, he finally understood just how crucial they were. 

If he didn't know Lin Cong, he would never have learned this information. 

If he didn't know this, he might have ended up making the same mistakes as Lin Cong when breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. 

If Lin Cong hadn't been honest with him, he wouldn't have known any of this. 

In this way, He Song owed Lin Cong a favor. 

The fact that Lin Cong had shared this with him showed that he was someone worth befriending! 

"Thank you for telling me this, Fellow Daoist. When I break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, I'll definitely invite you here for a meal!" 

Faced with this debt of gratitude, He Song didn't hesitate to make a promise. 

Spending some spirit stones was nothing. 

Repaying Lin Cong in some way was what He Song wanted to do now. 

(End of Chapter)