A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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As the first light of dawn crept over Puchan Town, Jiang Cheng stirred awake, his body feeling refreshed from the previous night's cultivation. Stretching lazily, he exhaled a breath of spiritual energy before rising from his bed.

Casting a cleaning technique on himself and a Cooling Breeze Spell in the room , he prepared a hearty breakfast—pan-seared spirit beast meat with a side of steamed spirit grains. The aroma filled the cave, invigorating his senses. Each bite was packed with energy, nourishing both body and mind.

Satisfaction in life starts with a full stomach.

Once he finished his meal, Jiang Cheng didn't rush out. Instead, he settled into his meditation posture, circulating his spiritual energy and refining his state to perfection. The hours slipped by in quiet focus until he finally opened his eyes, feeling his condition reach its peak.

"Alright, time to get to business."

He stood up, straightened his robe, and left his cave, heading toward the bustling market.

A few breaths later, The streets were already lively with cultivators and merchants setting up their stalls.

The scent of incense, roasted spirit beast skewers, and medicinal herbs mixed in the air. Talismans, pills, and magical tools were displayed openly, with buyers haggling over prices.

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, his mind weighing the risks. Since he was heading to the mortal city for his first real hunt, it was only natural to be cautious.

Though the flower thief had been eluding capture, there was always a chance he was stronger than expected.

Better to be overprepared than underprepared.

With that thought, he decided to pay a visit to Qinglin Treasure Pavilion to restock on some crucial supplies.

_

Stepping into the familiar treasure pavilion, Jiang Cheng expected to see the quirky Ruan Xue at the counter. Instead, a different girl stood in her place.

She glanced at him before offering a polite smile. "Welcome, honored guest. How may I assist you today?"

Jiang Cheng blinked in mild surprise. Where's Ruan Xue?

His curiosity got the better of him. "Where is the girl who was usually here?"

The shop assistant's expression brightened. "Oh, you must mean Senior Sister Ruan Xue. She was recently promoted—she's now a manager of the shop."

Just as Jiang Cheng processed that information, a familiar voice drifted from behind him.

"Brother Jiang, long time no see."

Ruan Xue appeared silently, like a ghost materializing from the shadows. There was a noticeable change in her presence—her aura had grown significantly stronger.

The pressure she gave off was unmistakably that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Jiang Cheng turned to her with a smile. "Congratulations, fellow Daoist Ruan, on your breakthrough to late-stage Qi Refining."

Jiang Cheng was about to respond when Ruan Xue suddenly raised her chin high, her expression filled with haughty arrogance.

Her aura surged, spreading across the pavilion like an invisible tide. A moment later, she floated a few meters into the air, her robes fluttering dramatically as if caught in an unseen wind.

With a gaze full of pity and disdain, she looked down at Jiang Cheng like an exalted celestial overlooking a mere ant.

"Praise me, mortal!" she declared, her voice filled with mock grandeur. "Kowtow before this Empress Ruan and thank me for bestowing my presence upon you! Hmph!"

Jiang Cheng blinked.

The shop assistant at the counter nearly choked on her own saliva.

A few other customers turned to stare, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned.

Jiang Cheng rubbed his temples, sighing. "I see success has gotten to your head. One breakthrough and suddenly you think you're an empress?"

Ruan Xue crossed her arms, still floating. "Hmph! You wouldn't understand. This Empress has transcended her past self! From now on, the people of Qinglin Market shall sing songs of my brilliance!"

Jiang Cheng speechless . "I'll pay someone five spirit stones to spread rumors about how ridiculous you look right now."

Ruan Xue staggered midair, nearly losing her balance. "You—! You wouldn't dare!"

Jiang Cheng smirked. "Try me."

The shop assistant coughed awkwardly. "Manager Ruan, please come down… you're scaring the customers."

Ruan Xue huffed but gracefully descended back to the ground, flipping her sleeves dramatically. "Hmph. This Empress will forgive your ignorance this time. Now, what do you want to buy?"

Jiang Cheng chuckled. "I need a Spirit armor , preferably a high level

Ruan Xue raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Going somewhere dangerous? Don't tell me… you're finally going on a grand adventure? A heroic journey? A fateful encounter with a goddess?!"

Jiang Cheng's lips twitched. "…I'm going to beat up a pervert."

She studied Jiang Cheng closely, her eyes narrowing with a knowing gleam.

"Wait, are you talking about that monk who's been wreaking havoc in the Mortal Country? The one who's been using his cultivation to make trouble with cultivators and mortals alike? He's been a thorn in the side of a lot of people in the area, especially with his constant escapes."

" that right do you know something about it fellow Daoist "

Ruan Xue blinked, then grinned mischievously. " This Empress will give you a piece of information about that pervert"

Ruan Xue leaned in slightly, her voice low but filled with intrigue. "He's not just some lowly criminal. The Qinglin Sect sent people after him multiple times, but he keeps slipping away. The guy is a peak Sixth Level Qi Refining cultivator, and his specialty is escape techniques. If you want to take him down, you'll have to ambush him when he least expects it."

Jiang Cheng felt his eyelid twitch.

Peak Sixth Level?

He had assumed this so-called flower thief was nothing more than an opportunistic rat—a coward running from stronger cultivators. But this? This was different.

Jiang Cheng stroked his chin, his mind rapidly calculating.

So he's slightly stronger than me… and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

A difficult opponent.

Jiang Cheng's determination wavered for a moment.

Should he really go through with this?

What if this pervert turned out to be stronger than expected? What if he had some trump card that allowed him to turn the tables?

He could already imagine the scene—him getting overpowered, tied up, and the next thing he knew, his belongings would be stolen instead.

His hard-earned talismans, his spirit stones, his dignity—gone.

Jiang Cheng shuddered.

Ruan Xue watched him with an amused expression. "What's wrong, Brother Jiang? You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

Jiang Cheng snapped back to reality, his face calm. "Hmph. Of course not."

Ruan Xue smirked. "Oh? Your expression just now looked like you were seriously reconsidering your life choices."

Jiang Cheng scoffed. "Nonsense. I was merely… formulating a strategy."

Ruan Xue rested her chin on her hand, giving him a teasing look. "Oh, really? Then tell me, great strategist, what's your plan?"

Jiang Cheng opened his mouth—

…Then closed it.

He had no plan.

Yet.

Ruan Xue burst into laughter. "Hahaha! So you really are hesitating!"

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth. "I'm just being cautious. Unlike some people, I don't rush into things without a proper plan."

Ruan Xue grinned. "Oh? So you're not an impulsive hothead who likes to take risks?"

Jiang Cheng: "…"

He suddenly had the urge to seal her mouth with a talisman.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Cheng straightened up, his gaze turning sharp. "Fine. I'll go. But first, I need to make some extra preparations."

Ruan Xue clapped her hands in delight. "That's the spirit! Now, let's talk business. Since I just gave you valuable information, naturally, there's a fee."

Jiang Cheng's expression darkened. "I should've known."

"Relax, I'll give you a discount! Only fifteen spirit stones for this priceless intelligence~"

"…Ruan Xue, do you think my money falls from the sky?"

She giggled. "If it did, I'd set up a formation and collect it all~"

Jiang Cheng massaged his temples. Why do I keep coming to this place?

Ruan Xue thought for a moment before saying, "Since you're one of my few friends, and you're heading into a serious hunt, you'll need armor that suits you. I'll be magnanimous and recommend this piece to you."

She stood up, and Jiang Cheng followed her to the weaponry section.

She gestured toward a cloak. "This is the Phantom Shadow Cloak, made from Nightshade Spider Silk and Shadow Essence. It's weak in direct combat but excels against detection techniques. It can conceal your aura and presence, making ambushes much easier."

Jiang Cheng's eyes lit up. This cloak was practically made for him.

He reached out, brushing his fingers against the fabric. It was impossibly light, yet there was an eerie sensation—like his hand was slipping through a shadow.

Ruan Xue smirked. "See? Even the cloak recognizes you as one of its own. It's practically begging to be yours."

Jiang Cheng ignored her teasing, his gaze fixed on the craftsmanship. The dark silk shimmered faintly, absorbing light rather than reflecting it. The Shadow Essence woven into it pulsed with a barely perceptible Qi fluctuation, making the cloak feel as if it existed half a step outside reality.

"This is perfect," he muttered, already picturing how he'd use it. With his Breath-Holding Technique, this cloak would make him nearly undetectable. The pervert wouldn't even realize he was being hunted until it was too late.

"How much?" Jiang Cheng asked, trying to keep his excitement in check.

Ruan Xue tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm… since this Empress is in a good mood today, I'll give you a discount. 950 spirit stones."

Jiang Cheng's mouth twitched. "Ruan Xue, are you robbing me?"

She crossed her arms, looking smug. "Oh? You think that's expensive? This is a treasure that even Qi Refining late-stage cultivators would kill for! With your sneaky nature, this cloak is practically an investment!"

Jiang Cheng sighed. He had money, but he hated spending it. Still, he couldn't deny that this cloak was the perfect tool for his mission. After a moment of internal struggle, he reluctantly handed over the spirit stones.

Ruan Xue grinned as she took the payment. "A wise choice, Brother Jiang! May your enemies never see you coming… until it's too late."

Jiang Cheng draped the cloak over his shoulders, and instantly, his presence seemed to fade. Even standing right in front of her, Ruan Xue had to focus her spiritual sense to track him properly.

She whistled. "Not bad. You look even more like a villain now."

Jiang Cheng cursed inwardly, resisting the urge to snap at her. He quickly turned and left, trying to avoid any unnecessary conflict. Behind him, he could hear her laughter echoing through the pavilion, but he refused to turn around.

Ruan Xue sigh " Well, have a safe journey brother Jiang"

The Girl behind her was curious " who is that brother, senior sister Xue?"

Ruan Xue smile a little " he is an interesting person"

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Once outside, Jiang Cheng made his way to the stall area, scanning the various vendors. He wandered through the bustling market until he spotted the monk who had sold him poison the previous time.

He quickly approached him, a sense of purpose in his step. "Fellow Taoist," Jiang Cheng greeted. "Do you have any poison that can take down a high-level cultivator if it strikes them?"

The monk looked up from his stall, his expression calm as always, though his eyes sharpened slightly at the mention of poison. He scratched his chin thoughtfully before replying, "Ah, I see you're not looking for the usual stuff. You're in need of something... potent."

He reached beneath his stall and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. With a careful hand, he opened it, revealing several vials containing a thick, dark liquid that shimmered ominously.

"This," he said, his voice lowering, "is the Soul-Devouring Venom. It's not just for weaklings. This poison is crafted to penetrate even the strongest cultivators' defenses if it hits the bloodstream. It's especially effective against those in the late stages of Qi Refining or higher."

Jiang Cheng's eyes gleamed as he inspected the vials. The liquid seemed to ripple with a faint, ethereal glow. He could feel the faintest pressure emanating from it, as if the poison itself were alive, waiting to strike.

He frowned slightly, considering the risks. "How much for one vial?" he asked, his voice steady.

The monk gave a small, calculating smile. "For you, fellow Daoist... two hundred spirit stones per vial. But be warned, this poison is not something to use lightly. If it's not handled carefully, it could be just as deadly to the user as the target."

He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.

Two hundred spirit stones... for each vial. His thoughts raced. The price was steep, but if the poison worked as promised, it could give him an edge over his much stronger opponent. Still, the risks were high.

What if it backfired? What if it got into his own bloodstream somehow—what would be the point of all this preparation if he ended up poisoning himself in the process?

The monk, seemingly reading the hesitation in his expression, gave a slight chuckle. "You seem like a cautious one, fellow Daoist. Trust me, the price is well worth it if you know what you're doing."

Jiang Cheng's gaze shifted from the vials to the monk's calculating smile. His fingers twitched, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. I've come this far. I can't afford to be cautious now. But I'll need to be careful.

He reached into his pouch, fingers brushing against the cold spirit stones. The faintest flicker of doubt passed through his mind, but he steeled himself.

"I'll take two," he said, his voice steady.

As the monk handed over the vials, Jiang Cheng couldn't shake the feeling that the true test would come the moment he actually used them. But for now, there was no turning back.

The monk raised an eyebrow but didn't protest. He handed over the vials with a knowing smile. "Very well, fellow Daoist. May your hunt be successful—and may your enemies fall swiftly."

With the vials secured, Jiang Cheng gave a brief nod and turned to leave. He was now better equipped for the dangerous hunt ahead. The anticipation of the chase, mixed with the thrill of having such potent tools at his disposal, sent a rush of excitement through him.

His eyes burned with determination. The flower thief wouldn't know what hit him.