A second life, An Eternal journey to Immortality

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Jiang Cheng bought everything he could think of, such as armor, pills for restoring spiritual energy, The Qi recovering Elixir, along with his various Talismanes plus the two Thounder talisman that He still have from before.

As he was walking, he spotted a mortal vendor selling mundane items. Among the goods were clothes, gold, and silver, which could be exchanged for spiritual stones at a rate of one spirit stone for ten gold bars.

After thinking for a moment, he decided to approach the vendor.

He exchanged ten spiritual stones for gold and silver, then purchased a set of simple martial arts clothes. Once his business was concluded, he made his way out of the town.

The moment he stepped beyond the protective formation that covered the market, he felt the spiritual energy plummet.

Though it made him feel somewhat uncomfortable, the sensation was bearable. He quickly adapted and performed the perfected Wind Step Technique, propelling himself forward at incredible speed.

He swept across countless miles in just a few minutes. "The perfection of this technique is truly remarkable," Jiang Cheng thought smugly to himself. "It consumes so little spiritual energy, and the results are incredible. Even if a peak Qi Refining stage monk were to chase me, they'd never catch up."

As he zipped through the terrain, the landscape unfolded before him—lush rivers, tranquil lakes, towering mountains, and the occasional low-level monster appearing in the distance. Each scene felt like a painting, vibrant and alive.

"What an amazing view," Jiang Cheng murmured, his thoughts drifting for a moment as he marveled at the world around him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the raw beauty of nature. His journey, though fraught with danger, also held moments of wonder that reminded him why he sought power in the first place.

After a few hours, as Jiang Cheng neared the border between the world of cultivating immortals and the secular realm, he decided to put away his magic power. He subtly circulated his blood, activating the power within him, and then dressed himself as a warrior. With this simple yet effective disguise, he was ready to enter the secular world.

In the mortal realm, warriors were a common sight in many cities. The flower thief had likely been hiding out in Yanzhou City for some time, and Jiang Cheng knew he would need to be cautious—strangers, especially those with unusual appearances, would quickly draw attention.

If he dressed up as a weak scholar, a strange scholar, he would be the most likely to arouse suspicion from others. It was normal for a martial artist who traveled far and wide.

Moreover, in the eyes of a cultivator in the middle stage of Qi Refining, a martial artist was nothing at all. Even if he was in the innate realm, he could not withstand the powerful power of magic.

With his disguise in place, Jiang Cheng activated the light body technique that came with his Bloodforge Body Art, moving swiftly along the path.

As he continued on his way, he encountered a group of bandits lying in wait, hoping to ambush any travelers passing by. The moment they spotted him, they moved in for the attack, thinking he was an easy target.

The bandit leader, a burly man with a scar across his face, stepped forward and swung a large sword menacingly. "Hand over your valuables, stranger," he growled, "or you won't live to see another day."

Jiang Cheng's expression remained cold and unflinching. Without a word, he closed the distance in an instant. The bandit leader barely had time to register what was happening before Jiang Cheng's fist struck with brutal force, slamming into his chest with such power that the man's ribs cracked like dry wood.

The force of the blow sent the leader flying backward, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. His sword clattered uselessly to the side as he gasped for breath, blood spilling from his mouth. The life drained from his eyes almost immediately, his final moments filled with nothing but the weight of Jiang Cheng's lethal precision.

Without even pausing to look back, Jiang Cheng turned to the other bandits, his cold gaze locking onto them. They could already feel the terror seeping into their bones.

Jiang Cheng moved swiftly, methodically. The remaining bandits, stunned by the brutal demise of their leader, hesitated for a moment. But hesitation was their fatal mistake.

Without a second thought, Jiang Cheng surged forward, his movements fluid and precise. One by one, he struck them down, his strikes like lightning. His fist crushed skulls, his palm shattered spines, and his kicks sent bodies flying, broken beyond recognition. They had no time to react, no chance to fight back.

The last bandit, trembling with fear, attempted to draw a blade, but Jiang Cheng closed the distance before he could even raise it. With a single, efficient motion, Jiang Cheng snapped the man's neck with his bare hands, silencing any last cry for mercy.

Once the bloodshed was over, Jiang Cheng surveyed the scene. The once-vibrant forest was now eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves. The bandits' corpses lay in grotesque piles, their lives snuffed out in an instant.

Although Jiang Cheng feel a little uncomfortable, but the world was like this and he have to get used to it, he forced himself to look directly at the result of his actions and finally he feel relieved.

"This is the evil cause they planted with their deeds, leading them to their effect—death at my hands," Jiang Cheng muttered coldly, his expression hardening as he looked over the carnage. "No hard feelings. Even if it wasn't me, someone else would've come. They were destined to die."

The cause of their violent lives—their choices to prey on the weak—had now led to this irreversible effect: their annihilation. To Jiang Cheng, it was a harsh but simple truth.

With a cold, unfeeling gaze, Jiang Cheng waved his hand, using his spiritual energy to burn the bodies to ash, erasing any trace of their existence. There was no need to leave evidence behind.

Jiang Cheng wiped the blood from his hands expressionless, The world was brutal, and so was he. There was no need for remorse, no room for hesitation. "Those who kill will always be killed," he muttered under his breath, the weight of his words settling in his chest.

With a final glance at the remnants of the bandits, he turned and continued on his way, the unease now replaced by an unwavering focus on the path ahead.

To avoid drawing attention to his true identity as a cultivator and to conserve his spiritual energy, Jiang Cheng slowed his pace, blending in with the mundane world around him.

As he was still a day away from Yanzhou City, he noticed a caravan heading toward Yanzhou City. Seeing an opportunity to blend in, he quietly used some of his tricks to sneak aboard the caravan, which had a number of martial artists accompanying it.

The journey was not without its dangers. Along the way, the caravan was ambushed by bandits, but Jiang Cheng remained calm. He did not use any of his cultivation techniques, instead relying solely on his Qi and blood to fight off the attackers.

Despite the threats, his true strength remained hidden as he fought alongside the martial artists, presenting himself as nothing more than another skilled warrior. The caravan reached its destination safely, with Jiang Cheng's presence still concealed under the guise of a simple martial artist.

One day later, the caravan successfully arrived at Yanzhou City, the bustling metropolis where traders and travelers alike gathered. The caravan leader paid the warriors who had accompanied them, and Jiang Cheng , along with the others, received his due—a generous ten taels of silver. For an ordinary civilian in the secular world, that amount could sustain them for several years, making it a small fortune in their hands.

As Jiang Cheng pocketed the silver, a middle-aged warrior from the group patted him hard on the shoulder, his grin wide and mischievous. "Old Zhang, that was a thrilling journey, wasn't it? You saved me back there. How about we head to the land of flowers and moons now, have a good time and blow off some steam?"

The middle-aged warrior's eyes glinted with excitement as he spoke, clearly eager for some indulgence after the dangerous journey. His tone was lighthearted, as if the violent confrontations along the way were nothing more than a minor inconvenience in the face of the rewards waiting for them in the city.

When Jiang Cheng joined the caravan, he gave himself a very ordinary name: Zhang Yunsong. He dared not use his real name—too much risk. Who knew if the flower thief had heard of it, or if someone recognized him as the original owner of this body? He couldn't afford such a failure. His every move had to be calculated, his identity buried beneath layers of caution.

"Brother Wang, you go ahead. I want to find an inn to rest. This journey has left me exhausted," Jiang Cheng said, shaking his head in refusal.

The middle-aged warrior, Wang, looked disappointed but shrugged. "Well, suit yourself. I'm heading to the Flower Moon Land. You're missing out," he said with a wink before walking off into the crowd of bustling streets.

Jiang Cheng didn't mind. He had his own mission. Based on the intel he'd gathered, the flower thief's targets weren't the courtesans and prostitutes in the Flower Moon Land. No, the thief sought girls from respectable families. It made sense; a man who thrived on thrill and excitement wouldn't settle for easy prey. The rich, the innocent—those were the true prizes.

Jiang Cheng couldn't afford to waste time on frivolous distractions. His priority now was to gather intelligence, figure out the flower thief's next moves, and pinpoint the range of his attacks.

After a moment, he sighed, making his way toward a nearby inn to rest. Once settled, he asked the innkeeper for directions to the busiest restaurant in town. It was time to hear the latest gossip, to find the patterns in the city's rhythm. He couldn't afford to miss a single piece of crucial information.

This restaurant wasn't the most luxurious in Yanzhou City, but it was known for its affordability and the quality of its food and wine. Its reputation had spread far and wide, drawing in a mix of warriors, merchants, and civilians alike. The atmosphere was always lively, filled with chatter and the clinking of mugs and plates.

For Jiang Cheng, this was the perfect place to blend in and gather information. In a setting like this, rumors flowed freely, and the noise of the crowd would drown out any suspicion. Warriors who'd been on the road for days, civilians with a thirst for gossip, and merchants keen to stay informed—everyone in here had something to say.

As Jiang Cheng sat down at a quiet corner table, he ordered some food and settled in, his ears sharp for any conversation that might provide a clue about the flower thief or other matters of interest. He knew that in places like this, even the most casual exchanges could lead to vital pieces of information. His patience was key—he didn't need to rush, just listen carefully.