Chapter 17 The Secret of Longevity: Never Meddle in Others' Affairs

The next day, Chen Xun bid farewell to Ning Si with a bow. They were heading back to the blacksmith shop, which was their true home in Panning City. A few days later, Chen Xun smiled as he pushed open the door, revealing a room filled with dust that made him cough. He looked at the empty space and softly said, "Sun Lao, we're back." "Moo~" The big black cow also let out a couple of calls. "Old cow, let's get to work and clean up a bit." "Moo!" The man and the cow busied themselves, cleaning every corner of the blacksmith shop until it was spotless. Passersby were surprised to see the blacksmith shop's door open and shouted, "Has Brother Chen Xun returned? I'm your Aunt Li." "Aunt Li, it's me." A loud response came from the blacksmith shop, delighting Aunt Li, who quickly spread the news to the neighbors that Brother Chen Xun had returned. It had been over a decade since they last saw Chen Xun, the skilled blacksmith whose ironware had never failed the people. The neighbors all gathered, some familiar faces and some strangers, all praising Chen Xun's craftsmanship and complaining about other nearby blacksmiths' high prices and inferior quality.

"Hey, Brother Chen Xun, you haven't changed a bit. You even look younger," Aunt Li marveled as she examined Chen Xun, realizing how much older she had become. "Hehe, I went to apprentice as a doctor and learned the art of health preservation," Chen Xun explained, looking at Aunt Li. "The most important thing is to maintain an optimistic attitude. The more positive you are, the younger you'll feel." "Brother Chen Xun, really?" "Of course, just crawl under your husband's blanket, and you'll know." Laughter filled the air as Aunt Li blushed and scurried off. "Alright, everyone, come back tomorrow. I need to prepare," Chen Xun said. "Sure, Brother Chen Xun, best of luck with your business." "Absolutely, we'll be there to support you." The neighbors were enthusiastic, and Chen Xun smiled and bowed, his mindset completely transformed from before.

The owners of the blacksmith shops on the surrounding streets cursed vehemently upon hearing of Chen Xun's return, demanding lower prices. However, Chen Xun's shop only opened for half a day each day and stopped taking orders afterward. He was too busy just trying to make ends meet. In the backyard, they were working on medicinal herbs. Even when these herbs were removed from the soil, they could still increase in potency, a miraculous phenomenon.

"Old cow, I've noticed a fundamental issue," Chen Xun said seriously, having pondered over it for a while. "Moo?" The big black cow looked puzzled. "Do you feel like we've hit a bottleneck in the Qi Refining Stage? It's hard to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and it takes time to refine it." "Moo." "Do you think that as long as we have enough time, we can continuously enhance our cultivation? Can we always progress with time?" "Moo." "Hehe, old cow, you're so naive," Chen Xun chuckled softly. "Innate talent is crucial. While we might be able to refine our cultivation in the Qi Refining Stage, it's not guaranteed in the Foundation Building Stage." "Moo?" "Without external assistance, that is, opportunities, we might get stuck at a certain realm and never break through in our lifetime. That's talent, something that can't be honed with time alone." "Moo? Moo!" The big black cow exclaimed, realizing the truth more and more. Chen Xun thought of the world-renowned figures from his past life. Some things couldn't be caught up with just by time. Ordinary people could only increase their knowledge and experience no matter how long they lived. They might never reach the heights of those geniuses, and that was talent, a harsh reality. Unfortunately, Chen Xun and the big black cow were just ordinary people seeking longevity. They looked at each other deeply and suddenly embraced. Behind their affectionate embrace, they both smirked, "So, you're also a noob." "But we need to be careful. We haven't done anything in the mountains, so we shouldn't provoke anyone," Chen Xun said solemnly, sensing something amiss. "The situation is off. Don't be curious. Let's stay out of it like we are now." "Moo moo!" The big black cow looked at Chen Xun with admiration. Back in the village, when people asked Old Li about the secret to his longevity, he would always say, "I never meddle in others' affairs." The big black cow now understood the wisdom behind those words, feeling excited about the experience.

"Following you, Brother Xun, everything will be clear and arranged, right?" "Moo!" The big black cow was completely convinced; Chen Xun was indeed very clever. "As I said, even if there are millennium herbs in the Ningyun Mountains, we won't go. Let's not risk our lives for opportunities. Keep a stable mindset." "Moo moo~" The big black cow nudged Chen Xun. Chen Xun smiled faintly, patting its head, "With the essence of all things, our strength will gradually increase. We don't need to seek revenge on anyone, lest it affects our happy days." The big black cow nodded heavily, feeling a bit restless after practicing the Qi Refining Technique.

"Old cow, don't confuse priorities. Even if we reach the highest realm of cultivation, achieving immortality and the power to destroy the world with a thought, we still have to live our lives," Chen Xun pointed out. He had noticed the big black cow's restlessness. "The process we go through is the most important, not the realms we reach. Even if luck isn't on our side, who cares." "Moo moo moo moo!" The big black cow nodded vigorously, finally understanding. "Maybe some powerful being doesn't like us, waves a hand, and we die together. In the next life, we can continue together," Chen Xun said matter-of-factly, his mindset clear. Death was inevitable, and immortality was just a fantasy. The big black cow, enlightened by his words, rushed to Chen Xun, ready to face whatever came their way together.

"Haha..." Chen Xun laughed heartily, pushing the big black cow away, only for it to come back. Six months later, a deafening roar shattered the tranquility of Panning City as countless cultivators stood tall in the sky, visible even from the city, resembling UFOs. "Holy cow, come out and see the flying people," Chen Xun shouted, grabbing a handful of melon seeds from the table and grabbing a stool before heading out. "Moo moo!" The big black cow bounced out, also munching on melon seeds, its eyes fixed on the sky in the distance, truly impressive. People crowded the streets, some kneeling and praying for blessings. Chen Xun and the big black cow had much better vision than the common folk, almost like having built-in binoculars.

"Old cow, what's happening? Are they fighting?" Chen Xun sat on the stool, leisurely eating melon seeds. "Why are they all standing together? Shouldn't they form a formation or something?" "Moo?" The big black cow didn't understand the situation either, continuing to eat melon seeds on the ground. In the sky, a rainbow light flashed, followed by a violent explosion that shook the heavens, causing countless people to prostrate on the ground, muttering prayers. "Incredible, they must be at least in the Foundation Building Stage," Chen Xun marveled, the melon seeds tasting better and better. "Hey, old cow, when we can fly in the future, will we be called 'awesome to the sky'?" "Moo moo!" The big black cow was furious, realizing Chen Xun was teasing it. It immediately snatched the melon seeds from Chen Xun, who quickly pried open its mouth to retrieve them. The battle in the distance intensified, with various spells and lights flashing, and even cultivators falling, making for a spectacular scene.

Clapping uncontrollably, Chen Xun and the big black cow found the display much more enjoyable than watching acrobatics. "My goodness, they're like human weapons," Chen Xun exclaimed, amazed. "No matter how skilled a mortal warrior is, these spells are like lasers, who can withstand that?" "Moo!" The big black cow also widened its eyes in agreement, finding it all too extraordinary. The people in the city looked on with awe; this was the power of cultivators, an ultimate height unattainable by mortals. The battle of the cultivators came and went swiftly, with various lights disappearing from the sky after a fierce exchange.

"Is it over already? I wasn't done watching yet," Chen Xun sighed. "Moo~~" Chen Xun and the big black cow were still eager, knowing they could watch for at least a month, far more exciting than any TV drama. "Old cow, let's get back to work." "Moo!" Life had to go on, and the battle had nothing to do with them. However, Chen Xun couldn't help but fantasize about entering the world of cultivation, where watching others battle with spells would be quite enjoyable.