After a long and unsuccessful 'treasure hunt,' Xitu dragged his tired body home.
His house, located in the southern outer ring of the Cultivation District, was sturdier than those near the forest's edge, though it still paled in comparison to the extravagant ones at the center.
The house was a one-story structure built from rough, gray stone blocks—simple and sturdy, like most dwellings in the outer ring. It had one bedroom, a small underground storage area, and a modest kitchen dimly lit by Illuminating Stones.
There were no protective formations, energy-gathering arrays, or a courtyard with spirit fields—just the bare structure.
The first thing he did upon returning was clean up. A day in the forest left him sticky and uncomfortable. He applied Fragrant Dew Lotion across his body, then wiped every inch with a damp towel. Finally, he plunged his face into a wooden basin, scrubbing through his tangled hair.
Xitu didn't know about others, but he couldn't stand the idea of slapping a Cleansing Talisman on himself every few days instead of bathing.
He dreamed of someday having enough Spirit Stones to stay at a house with a proper bathtub and an array that could create hot water endlessly. It would feel like having modern comforts again.
Feeling clean and refreshed, he headed to the kitchen to reheat his breakfast: congee with mushrooms. A simple Ignition Spell under the earthen stove did the job. Dinner was ready with the addition of some pickles.
Though humble, this meal was a luxury to enjoy twice a day. Made from Spirit Grain and Magic Beast bones, it wasn't cheap by his standards. On average, his food cost would be around half a Spirit Stone daily.
Including other necessities and the monthly residency fee, he needed at least 1 Spirit Stone a day to scrape by. Still, spending half his living expenses on food? He didn't consider it wasteful.
As he took the first spoonful, a wave of warmth spread through his body.
The broth, simmered from the bones of Magic Beast, was rich and savory. The Spirit Grain added a subtle sweetness and mellow taste, like morning dew on early rice stalks. It was both soothing and energizing.
Meals like this didn't boost your realm, but they stabilized your energy, helped ease fatigue, and soothed minor inner wounds. Until one became powerful enough to survive solely on Spiritual Energy, Spirit Grain and Magic Beast meat were worth every stone.
When Xitu finished dinner, the sky had already turned dark. In this cultivation world, it was the perfect time to begin meditating.
'Well, if you had extra wealth, you could indulge in endless pleasure at Red Light Street. I heard the ladies there know countless Dual Cultivation Arts.'
Clearing his thoughts, Xitu sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. As he recited the mantra of the Five Elements Technique, he began to absorb the natural Spiritual Energy around him, filtering out the unnecessary parts and refining it into usable Qi.
The Qi flowed steadily through his Twelve Primary Meridians, repeatedly circulating throughout his body, loosening blockages and gradually strengthening the channels.
After two hours, he completed a Full Circulation according to his cultivation method, and the Qi quietly dispersed from his body through various acupoints.
Cultivating at the Vein Opening Realm was a process akin to water slowly wearing away stone—painstaking and patient.
From the moment one first sensed Spiritual Energy, the task became clear: cleanse each meridian, purge internal toxins, and prepare the body to carry Qi freely. The more purified the meridians became, the faster and smoother Qi would flow.
Advancement in this realm depended on how many acupoints one had unlocked. An acupoint was only unlocked after you cleared its surrounding area thoroughly, allowing Qi to flow freely without resistance. When all 108 acupoints were unlocked and stabilized, a cultivator would be ready to step into the next realm—the Qi Foundation Realm.
'I once heard an Alchemist claiming he could make a pill helping someone break through the limit of 108 unlocked acupoints. Wonder if it was true?'
When midnight came, Xitu finished another Full Circulation and called it a day. Lying on his wooden bed, he stared at the ceiling, thoughts drifting through the silence.
He had spent over 30 years in this unforgiving cultivation world. At first, his heart swelled with joy for another chance at life. Later, as he grew older, learning about the magical aspect of this world made him excited for the future.
Then, one day, news arrived that his parents had disappeared on a clan mission and were assumed dead. He was just 10. The loss didn't hit too hard. They were away most of the time. He felt grateful to them, but there wasn't enough time to form a deep bond.
Still, he was looking forward to the future.
Time passed, and his Spiritual Root was measured. Without his parents, he had to demonstrate an exceptional talent for the clan to recognize his worth. It was the only way to obtain abundant resources for future cultivation.
Unfortunately, he was not a once-in-a-decade genius. One might even say he lacked the aptitude for the mysterious way. He only possessed a mediocre Mortal Spiritual Root.
As far as he knew, every person was born with a Spiritual Root. This Root was not a physical organ but rather an astral one closely tied to both body and soul. By the time one reached adolescence, the Root would solidify. A specially crafted talisman or array would then reveal their innate talent.
The Spiritual Root was the foundation of cultivation. It determined your sensitivity to Spiritual Energy, the absorbing speed, the ease of refining it into Qi, the stability of the flow, elemental conversion, spell usage, breakthroughs, and much more.
A Mortal Root was like an outdated CPU, slow and inefficient. Cultivating with it meant more effort, slower progress, and frequent bottlenecks.
A True Root, with more 'cores' and 'threads,' was considered the baseline for cultivation. Most people were born with this.
A Superior Root, however, was a different matter altogether. This kind of talent allowed for a much faster cultivation speed in the lower realms, often eliminating the need for pills to break through.
And of course, the world's favorite: Heavenly Root. Those blessed with it could cultivate as effortlessly as drinking water. Breakthroughs came with a single thought, no bottlenecks, no external help needed—a future Divine!
He doubted its credibility, though. Here in the Southern Wild, Heavenly Root was all but a rumor.
'Why didn't I get a cheat like all the other MCs I read about in those cultivation novels?'
'When will I get the power to enjoy this world and not just waste away?'
With those lingering thoughts, Xitu gradually fell asleep. Another uneventful day in the cultivation world quietly passed.