Xie Qing and the immortal woman were eating mushroom soup in silence. Xie Qing''s cooking skills were decent, but not enough to satisfy an immortal''s taste buds. However, the immortal woman did notin and just ate the soup. Xie Qing was a bit puzzled.


    "She is different from the cultivators I have heard of...," Xie Qing thought, looking up at the night sky. "Arrogant, like stars in the sky, shining bright and illuminating the heavens. And I, along with all mortals, can only be worthy of being the dirt beneath their feet."


    A sense of mncholy overcame him. It was true that such a fate was pitiful. What mortal would not want a luxurious and healthy life?


    Xie Qing had also dreamed of this since he was a child. The day he learned about cultivators became the cause of his obsession and desire to be one.


    But how could a mortal touch the power of the immortals? Just attempting it could result in death. This was the reason why mortals were not allowed to be cultivators.


    The fiercepetition in the cultivation world was due to the limited resources. No matter how they wished, the resources that could help cultivators advance became less and less with each century.


    "How pitiful... to think that cultivators would be so greedy. I thought that once they gained power, they would no longer care about wealth and valuable resources...," Xie Qing thought.


    Sighing softly, he put aside his empty bowl. He did not have much of an appetite, but since the immortal woman wanted food, he could only use hisst bit of provisions to make it.


    However, it seemed that the girl was already satisfied. She licked her lips and then carefully ced the bowl on the ground, as if afraid it would break. She then looked at Xie Qing and pondered about something.


    Xie Qing felt extremely ufortable under her gaze. It was not easy for a mortal to withstand an immortal''s curiosity, so he could only pretend not to notice her gaze.


    And, as if hearing the call of his heart, the immortal woman stopped staring at him. However, she did say something.


    "Thank you for the food," she began, not allowing Xie Qing to say "You''re wee," and continued with a serious expression. "Since you have fulfilled thisdy''s wish, I will generously reward you!"


    "Reward, huh...," Xie Qing said weakly, looking slightly puzzled. "You don''t have to, really... it''s my duty."


    "Hmph! Are you trying to refuse thisdy''s kindness? You should know, no one has been so bold before!" the girl said, puffing out her chest arrogantly (which looked more seductive). With a flick of her left hand, which had a bronze ring, she said, "Catch!"


    The ring shone with a purple light, and two objects flew towards Xie Qing.


    "Ugh..."


    Xie Qing used his full reaction speed and managed to catch the two objects. When the nervousness subsided a bit, he was able to see what the two objects were.


    And his eyes widened, showing a storm of emotions - including shock, joy, and... wariness.


    For what he held in his right hand was a cultivation technique, and in his left hand - the size of a fist - was a stone that had a semi-transparent base and a light-blue tint.


    "This is...," Xie Qing thought.


    Even though these two items could cause a stir in the mortal world - so strong that even emperors would fight for just one of them...


    Xie Qing did not feel great happiness at receiving these items.


    "You... which sect are you from, madam?" Xie Qing asked with extreme caution.


    "Sect? Hm? Oh, um... that is...," the girl was flustered and then snapped her fingers, naming the sect. "Right! Sect of Spring Grace!"


    "A-ah... I see...," Xie Qing''s face showed a weak smile, and he nodded. "Who would have thought that a sect that only epts eunuchs would have such a beautifuldy! It seems that the cultivation world is improving..."


    "What?"


    Of course, the girl did not expect this and, realizing the situation, blushed heavily. She was very embarrassed!


    Not waiting for the man to react, she quickly disappeared in a bright golden light.


    "Strange girl...," the man thought and then looked at the two objects in his hands.


    Xie Qing''s eyes shone. It was unclear what he was thinking.


    ***


    The cultivation world. For mortals, this name seemed to further emphasize the fact that in this world, they were nothing but dirt and did not even have the basic right to exist.


    And it was sad that even if a mortal was talented enough, without the backing of someone influential, that mortal would not have a chance!


    This was a strict rule. Mortals were not allowed to cross the boundary into immortality. If such a precedent were found, the cultivation world would plunge into endless wars.


    That was why cultivation techniques were strictly guarded.


    "Is this a trap?" Xie Qing thought, looking puzzledly at the two objects in his hand.


    One of them was the cultivation technique "Lonely Executioner Technique," while the other object was a Spiritual Stone.


    "Although this is a low-quality spiritual stone and is so small, it is still worth as much as a hundred capitals!" Xie Qing thought, recalling the legends. He bit his lip. "And I... just got it like that? I don''t believe it. There must be something suspicious.


    Am I being used as a scapegoat?"


    After being silent for a bit, he just sighed. The chance that he was being used for nefarious purposes was close to zero. After all, if someone wanted to plunge the cultivation world into chaos, they could have chosen a much more talented person.


    Moreover, Xie Qing was not young, and even more so, not talented! This put him in a difficult position.


    "But... am I satisfied with my life?" he asked himself.


    What had he been doing all these years? Wandering, a traveler with no fixed ce of residence. He slept in a tent and ate barely ptable food...


    This was not a life. This was crap.


    Xie Qing had always been dissatisfied with his life. He had so many hopes, and so many chances for a future career. However, one single incident put an end to his efforts.


    Sighing, he opened the cultivation technique.


    "I have nothing to lose."


    ***


    Shu-u-u...


    In a small cave, a thin whirlwind of Qi appeared. It was so weak that it could be easily mistaken for the wind.


    Behind the small storm sat a man in his forties. He had a thick beard, and the wrinkles on his beard showed how much he had seen in his life.


    His hands were rough, covered in calluses. His hair was dirty, a mix of ck and gray.


    His unhealthy appearance could repel any woman or even any man. No one would even greet him on the street, mistaking him for some homeless person.


    However, this was our Xie Qing. And he had been sitting in this position for a month.


    The mastery of a cultivation technique was mainly achieved through practice. One had to work hard.


    With his perseverance, after a month of continuous meditation, he finally managed to feel that very feeling that was described in the books.


    "Gentle, like the wind, but firm, like a rock. Calm, like water, and passionate, like fire," the man muttered these words in a hoarse voice, and then opened his eyes, in which a weak blue light appeared for a moment. "This is Qi!"


    Although it was only for a moment, he was able to feel this Qi. Such a result was considered not bad, equivalent to an average level of talent.


    And although Xie Qing was pleased, as soon as he tried to move, he was ovee by pain.


    "Aaaaagh!"


    The pain was terrible. His muscles, bones, and even internal organs were screaming for help.


    "Damn, I haven''t eaten or drunk anything for so many days... everything is clogged up. My body is weak, like a prostitute''s self-respect!"


    The only reason he did not die was that the Qi was somehow supporting his life functions.


    He looked at the spiritual stone next to him. The stone had long turned to dust, having been exhausted a week or so ago.


    "Pity. I won''t be able to get this item in the future unless Ie across a cultivator who decides to sell it to me," Xie Qing thought and then shook his head, realizing how absurd this idea was. "Yeah, who in their right mind would sell it to a mortal? I may have gotten the cultivation technique, but I''m not a cultivator."


    This was his greatest regret. Although feeling Qi was an important step forward, this result was not enough. His chances of a breakthrough were extremely low.


    However, Xie Qing did not give up hope. At the very least, he now had something to hold on to. This added a bit of color to his life.


    The feeling of numbness and pain subsided after he ate twenty bowls of soup. It helped that he had the foresight to cultivate at least to ensure he had a supply of food and water, or else he would have died.


    And so, closer to the morning of the next day, he was able to move his body a bit. However, the body was still numb, and any sudden movement could cause sharp pain.


    That was why, during this time, he was trying to master the second page of the cultivation technique... and yes, you heard it right.


    "In a month, I was only able to understand how to feel Qi...," Xie Qing thought and blushed with shame. "These texts are extremelyplex, and the further steps can only be taken when I can freely feel the Qi."


    Although this result was disappointing...


    The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.