For most people in Huan Country, buying a house is the world's greatest challenge, without a doubt.
And there's a very critical question involved: where should the house be purchased?
Should it be in Yue State City or Medicine King Valley?
Forget about Yue State City; the price of properties there could make one lose the will to live.
Should I just buy the house in Medicine King Valley and live there from now on?
Looking around at the green trees and blooming flowers, living here wouldn't be too bad.
The property prices in Medicine King Valley shouldn't be too expensive.
Li Banfeng touched the two thousand yuan in cash in his pocket and estimated what kind of house he could buy with it.
The carriage fare I paid just now was about five hundred yuan…
"Before having a house, does Home Cultivation have any special abilities at all?"
"Are you talking about Technique?" Ma Wu thought for a moment and said, "There are indeed some Techniques. Once you enter the Path Gateway, even without a house, the body of a Home Cultivator becomes stronger than average people. Moreover, they can avoid drawing attention."
"What do you mean by avoiding attention?"
"Home Cultivators never stand out and are often overlooked in a crowd, capable of evading surveillance. High-level Home Cultivators can even avoid detection by Listening Cultivators."
Avoiding surveillance. This could be very useful to me!
Li Banfeng was inclined to choose Home Cultivation, and Qin Xiaopang reminded him, "Brother Li, if you choose Home Cultivation, what will you rely on to make a living? Those who choose Home Cultivation usually come from wealthy families and don't worry about food and clothing."
Li Banfeng glanced at Qin Xiaopang. "Do I look like someone worried about food and clothing?"
I'm actually exactly that kind of person right now.
This is indeed a troublesome matter.
Can Home Cultivators not even go out to work?
Must I always stay at home?
If all else fails, I could find a job that allows working remotely.
The question is whether this place has internet access...
Looking at the long-term prospects, the restrictions of Home Cultivation are indeed quite significant.
What about choosing to be a Traveling Cultivator?
"Does Traveling Cultivation also require a special talent?"
"Yes!" Ma Wu nodded. "Traveling Cultivators can move quickly, but they must walk every day. The higher their level, the further they must walk. Therefore, Traveling Cultivators don't have a fixed residence; they stay wherever they go."
Given the current situation, walking around every day could easily lead to being hunted by the Dark Star Bureau.
In the long term, the fact that Traveling Cultivators have no fixed abode also poses livelihood problems, unless one pursues a career like a tour guide.
Should I join Ma Wu and become a Lust Cultivator?
Ma Wu heartily agreed. "Brother Li, considering your robust build, you'd suit being a Lust Cultivator. Lust Cultivators excel at confusing the mind, allowing them to severely injure an enemy without them noticing."
That's also a good path.
But Ma Wu raised a very serious concern.
"Brother Li, how is the physique of your beloved?"
Beloved?
"What beloved?"
Ma Wu raised his eyebrows. "If Brother Li is still single, that's a problem indeed. Flings aren't a long-term strategy."
This is a real-life issue. Ma Wu doesn't lack companions, but Li Banfeng certainly doesn't have the same conditions.
Go back to the university to find Teacher Song?
Li Banfeng couldn't possibly return to school in the short term.
Even if he did go back, ten times a day, the teacher wouldn't be able to handle it!
Amid consideration, Li Banfeng had a bold idea. "Can I choose several Taoist Sects at once?"
Practice several Taoist Sects together, acquire all the talents first, then choose the most suitable Taoist Sect to cultivate later on.
Qin Xiaopang shook his head with a smile. "There's no such good thing. If you can't even get one Taoist Sect right, you're thinking about several?"
Ma Wu didn't laugh; he had heard of such things. "Choosing several is certainly out of the question," he said. "But choosing one more, that is, Dual Cultivation of two Taoist Sects, has happened. However, those people are generally compelled to do so and find it very hard to achieve success. Think about it, how much energy does it take to cultivate one Taoist Sect? For a Food Cultivator, they need to consume at least five kilograms of food every day. If they add Alcohol Cultivation, they also have to drink three to five kilograms of alcohol daily. Never mind earning extra time; even following a normal course of cultivation would be challenging."
Li Banfeng asked, "Do you have to cultivate two Taoist Sects at the same time? Can't you give up one of them?"
"Of course not! Once you've chosen two Taoist Sects, you can't abandon either. If you neglect one while focusing on the other, a Cultivator will lose their life as a result. Therefore, the two Taoist Sects in Dual Cultivation must have similar characteristics and complement each other. If the two Taoist Sects don't match, a Cultivator might die on the spot."
Upon hearing this, Li Banfeng immediately dismissed the idea of Dual Cultivation.
If one must manage both Taoist Sects at once, such a choice would be neither wise nor realistic.
Ma Wu was right; a person simply doesn't have the energy to Dual Cultivate two Taoist Sects.
And if Food Cultivation and Alcohol Cultivation even had the potential for Dual Cultivation, eating and drinking would be typical of similar characteristics, complementing each other.
But among the Taoist Sects offered by the Peddler, there seem to be none that complement each other.
Ma Wu then asked, "Dual Cultivation of Taoist Sects requires profound Taoist Fate. How's your Taoist Fate, Brother Li?"
Li Banfeng was puzzled. "What is Taoist Fate?"
Seeing Li Banfeng's clueless expression, Ma Wu was stunned, and so was Qin Xiaopang.
"You don't even know what Taoist Fate is?" Qin Xiaopang was astonished. "If you don't have Taoist Fate, why are you here to buy medicine? Isn't that seeking death?"
As Li Banfeng continued to look baffled, Ma Wu explained, "Taoist Fate is the foundation. To accumulate this foundation, I spent a lot of money purchasing water from Wise Spring. It took me more than thirty liters to solidify my foundation."
Qin Xiaopang snorted. "We're not wealthy, so we've also tried all sorts of small remedies. It took us five years to dare to buy medicine."
Li Banfeng still didn't understand the concept of Taoist Fate. "Is Taoist Fate necessarily obtained through special medicines?"
"Medicines?" Ma Wu thought the term wasn't quite appropriate.
Little Fatty understood Li Banfeng's meaning. "It's not necessarily just about taking medicine; you could also accumulate Taoist Fate by going to specific places. The Three-Head Fork is one place where you can accumulate Taoist Fate!"
As soon as Three-Head Fork came to mind, Li Banfeng shuddered.
To gain Taoist Fate at the cost of growing three heads seemed hardly a good deal.
Li Banfeng cautiously asked, "Is having Taoist Fate absolutely necessary?"
Qin Xiaopang said, "Or else what? Do you think just anyone who seeks a Peddler for medicine can become a Cultivator? Taoist Fate is an opportunity, a one-in-a-million chance! Cultivators are extraordinary beings, the dragons and phoenixes among humans!"
Dragons and phoenixes among humans? Isn't that an exaggeration? I reckon that rickshaw puller is also a Cultivator. Is he a dragon or phoenix among humans?
Ma Wu looked at Li Banfeng. "I wouldn't dare claim they're all dragons or phoenixes, and you'd best not go to Three-Head Fork. If you go, you might not return. Let's not discuss other matters for now; you can't be reckless with your foundation. Brother Li, do you truly have Taoist Fate? Don't delude yourself. This is genuinely a matter of life and death."
After pondering for a long while, Li Banfeng asked carefully, "Would being bathed in Heavenly Light count as having Taoist Fate?"
"You've been bathed in Heavenly Light?" Ma Wu, who had been clutching his chest, suddenly let go and stood up.
Qin Xiaopang also stood up. "When were you bathed in Heavenly Light?"
Li Banfeng recalled, "Around two in the afternoon."
Qin Xiaopang looked at the position of the setting sun, while Ma Wu pulled out his golden pocket watch.
"Brother Li, how have you held on until now?" Ma Wu took several steps back, with Qin Xiaopang following suit, standing beside him.
Li Banfeng forced a laugh and confirmed again, "Bathed in Heavenly Light, and if I don't Enter the Path Gateway, I will die?"
Ma Wu nodded. "Brother Li is correct."
Qin Xiaopang retreated another two steps. "Not only will you die, but you might also cause trouble for others. I'd better leave first."
Qin Xiaopang covered his stomach and staggered away into the distance, as the Peddler called out, "It hasn't even been half an hour yet!"
Qin Xiaopang waved his hand. "It's fine, close enough."
The two attendants supporting Ma Wu also prepared to leave. Seeing Li Banfeng still standing there, Ma Wu turned his head back and warned, "Brother Li, hurry and Enter the Path! If you delay, you risk exploding. It's hard to say what might come out when you explode, or how many people might get hurt. This is a matter of life and death; you absolutely cannot delay!"
Li Banfeng asked, "Does being bathed in Heavenly Light count as having deep Taoist Fate?"
"Deep, very deep!" Ma Wu said while walking away. "Brother Li, forget about Dual Cultivation for now, just focus on saving your life!"
「...」
When the two had left, the Peddler was still busy with his business.
A woman around fifty bought a bottle of Snow Cream from him, and also asked the Peddler for a small pinch to apply directly onto her face.
"Don't feel bad, I need to see if this stuff is pure!"
The Peddler smiled. "Why would I mind, Ma'am? With my Snow Cream, your skin will be so supple it's practically bursting with hydration!"
"Oh, you sweet talker!" The woman laughed and walked away.
Snow Cream, the ancestral skincare product. This item was not much different from today's face cream. Its main function was to prevent the skin from drying and cracking. Li Banfeng had seen bottles of Snow Cream in Old Lady Wu's room at the orphanage and had even applied it to his own face.
And truth be told, this Peddler's Snow Cream was extraordinary. After the woman applied it, her face truly gained an added luster. Perhaps this was why she had come to the wilderness to purchase goods from the Peddler.
As night approached, all the customers were gone.
The Peddler turned to look at Li Banfeng and asked, "Have you made your choice? The Soul-Returning Soup can only save your life for four hours, and you don't have much time left."
With that, the Peddler waved his hand, and a row of drawers automatically slid open on the cabinet, each filled with different colored Medicinal Powders.
He was urging Li Banfeng to use the medicine immediately. Indeed, time was running short, as Li Banfeng had drunk the Soul-Returning Soup shortly before three o'clock, and now it was not far from seven.
He had made up his mind to choose the path of a Traveling Cultivator. Even though he was more inclined towards Home Cultivation, buying a house was too difficult a task. For the sake of his future cultivation, being a Traveling Cultivator was the most reasonable choice.
"I choose Traveling Cultivation..."
No sooner had he spoken than someone from behind him shouted, "I want Soul-Returning Soup! I want Soul-Returning Soup!"
Li Banfeng turned around and saw a figure both familiar and strange. He was familiar because he was often seen in the news, yet strange because it was the first time Li Banfeng was seeing him in person.
Legendary sprinter Qiao Yuesheng, with vigorous strides, charged towards Li Banfeng at breakneck speed. Under the sunset, his body cast multiple afterimages. Li Banfeng was convinced that with his current speed, Qiao Yuesheng could undoubtedly set a new world record.
But that wasn't the point. The point was, he was charging straight at Li Banfeng and collided with him head-on.
Li Banfeng was knocked into the air and sent flying towards the Peddler's cabinet. The Peddler hurried to retract the drawers, but he was a step too late.
Li Banfeng hit the cabinet with a dull THUD.
Two drawers that hadn't been retracted in time spilt their contents.
Blue Traveling Cultivator Medicinal Powder and golden Home Cultivator Medicinal Powder fell onto Li Banfeng's face. An unbearable pain washed over him, and Li Banfeng immediately lost consciousness.
The Peddler looked at Li Banfeng, then turned to Qiao Yuesheng in front of him.
Qiao Yuesheng, with tears in his eyes, clutched the Peddler's shoulder. "I want Soul-Returning Soup! I need it!"
Veins protruded clearly on his skin. Some veins were slowly bursting.
Qiao Yuesheng gazed at the Peddler, his face full of pleading.
The Peddler looked at Qiao Yuesheng, his frown deepening.
After a moment of silence, the Peddler's tone turned icy. "You've endangered his life and tarnished my reputation. How do we settle this account?"
PS: Dear readers, Shala has updated with ten thousand words. Are you satisfied today?