ALL NOVEL Chapter 30: Moving Out?
“Brother Wei, is the Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed in the Immortal Market still around?” He Song suddenly entertained the thought of leaving the market, but after considering it for a moment, he decided to ask this question.
If the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market’s resident Foundation Establishment cultivator was still present, he might not need to flee just yet.
However, if that cultivator had also left for the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, He Song felt that he would need to leave immediately.
If something were to happen, and the Immortal Market was left unguarded by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, chaos would likely erupt instantly.
And in such a scenario, as a small-time early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, He Song would be entirely at the mercy of fate.
Such an outcome was precisely what He Song wanted to avoid.
He simply wanted to cultivate in peace, far removed from any life-threatening conflicts.
“Of course, he’s still here. Just yesterday, I caught a glimpse of him from afar. Why do you ask?” Wei Fan responded curiously.
“The Crimson Spirit Gold Mine is located right next to the Immortal Market. If something happens there and the market has no Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed, I’m worried evil cultivators might take advantage of the situation,” He Song replied, visibly more at ease after hearing the answer.
Still here. That’s good. Still here.
A massive wave of relief washed over He Song.
As long as the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market had its Foundation Establishment cultivator in place, there would be no disorder.
Even if evil cultivators dared to strike, they would be crushed like eggs against a stone when facing a Foundation Establishment master.
However, even with the reassuring news, He Song had already begun contemplating whether he should leave the Immortal Market to avoid potential trouble altogether.
To him, the area around the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine was akin to a powder keg.
It was fine as long as nothing happened, life could continue as usual.
But if something did happen… all the nearby Immortal Markets would likely face significant trouble.
The Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market was close enough to the mine that it would almost certainly be affected.
Remaining here with his current cultivation of the third level of the Qi Refinement Realm felt like an unnecessary risk.
“There’s no need to worry,” Wei Fan said with a comforting smile. “The Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market is under the jurisdiction of the Vast Earth Sect, a prominent Golden Core sect. Who would dare to cause trouble here? Brother, your cautious nature hasn’t changed one bit.”
But as Wei Fan spoke, a flicker of realization crossed his face. His expression stiffened slightly before he added,
“If you don’t mind, why not move in with me? We can look out for each other. Even if chaos breaks out in the market, I’ll ensure your safety.”
Having been friends with He Song for five years, Wei Fan was well-acquainted with He Song’s cautious personality.
In fact, on one occasion, it was precisely He Song’s cautious advice during one of their monthly gatherings that had helped Wei Fan avoid a minor crisis.
Because of this, Wei Fan held no objections to He Song’s cautious demeanor.
Moreover, given his own suspicions about the abnormality surrounding the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, he found himself agreeing with He Song’s prudent approach.
This was why he extended the invitation to He Song to move in with him.
It was both a gesture of friendship and an acknowledgment that caution often equated to longevity.
Having a cautious friend nearby could be an asset in the face of unexpected events.
Wei Fan’s words interrupted He Song’s train of thought.
He had been contemplating how to leave the Immortal Market, how to survive in the mundane world with only third level Qi Refinement cultivation, and how to avoid disaster without drawing undue attention to himself.
He Song hadn’t anticipated that just as he was halfway through his considerations, Wei Fan would propose a solution he had never thought of:
Moving?
Not out of the Immortal Market, but into Wei Fan’s residence to live together?
This…
He Song’s mind raced with thoughts, and after some serious deliberation, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Even if chaos erupted at the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, the area was still within the domain of a Golden Core sect, the Vast Earth Sect, and had multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there.
If something were to happen and a battle broke out, it would undoubtedly be centered around the mine itself.
Although He Song had never personally witnessed a battle involving Foundation Establishment cultivators, he was certain its effects wouldn’t extend to Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
After all, while the Immortal Market wasn’t too far from the mine, it wasn’t exactly close either—several hundred miles separated the two locations.
A battle involving Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t possibly span such a distance.
Moreover, the Vast Earth Sect had Golden Core cultivators at its disposal!
If something truly serious happened at the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, the Golden Core cultivators would likely step in as a last resort.
With this in mind, even if a large-scale battle broke out at the mine, the most that would happen is that the Immortal Market’s Foundation Establishment cultivator would leave to assist.
This was precisely He Song’s initial concern.
The Immortal Market’s safety largely depended on the presence of its Foundation Establishment cultivator, which deterred evil cultivators from daring to strike.
However, if the stationed cultivator left to provide backup at the mine, the Immortal Market’s defenses would be significantly weakened.
In such a scenario, as a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, He Song would be powerless in the ensuing chaos, forced to leave his fate to chance.
But the moment Wei Fan suggested moving in together, all of He Song’s worries evaporated.
Wei Fan was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, falling into the late stage of Qi Refinement.
He resided in the area of the Immortal Market with the densest spiritual energy, close to where the Foundation Establishment cultivator lived.
The cultivators residing nearby were almost exclusively late-stage Qi Refinement practitioners. While a few lower-stage individuals lived there, they were typically family members or close friends of those stronger cultivators.
In such an environment, surrounded by powerful allies, even if evil cultivators attacked, they would likely avoid that area altogether.
One late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator wasn’t too fearsome.
What was terrifying was a group of them.
“Alright, then I’ll take you up on your offer, Brother Wei,” He Song said after a moment of thought, deciding quickly.
He already had a solid foundation in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market. Leaving now would severely hinder his future development.
In the mundane world, spiritual energy was sparse, and his cultivation speed would plummet.
Additionally, mundane areas were devoid of spirit stones, and He Song would lose his current annual salary of 150 spirit stones.
The mundane world also occasionally harbored roaming evil cultivators. With his low cultivation level, being targeted would mean certain death!
Beyond that, leaving now would make it much harder to return in the future. Reclaiming his position as a spirit planter wouldn’t be as easy as before.
Even though he had a good relationship with Zhao Lin, who oversaw spirit planter recruitment at the Spirit Herb Pavilion, there was no telling whether Zhao Lin would survive the potential chaos.
Moving in with Wei Fan, on the other hand, while slightly inconvenient, was the best option for the moment.
First, it allowed him to stay within the Immortal Market and maintain his current cultivation speed.
Second, he wouldn’t need to resign from his position, ensuring he could continue earning 150 spirit stones annually.
Third, with Wei Fan, a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, by his side, his safety would be much more secure.