His father, Zhou Qiankun, is a martial artist of the mortal world, a Martial Arts Innate, known across the world.
But here, in the Cultivation Realm, within Fengming Dock Marketplace, cultivators are abundant. Innate Martial Artists might be able to contend with Low-Tier Cultivators to some extent, but facing those beyond the Mid Stage of Qi Cultivation, they have almost no power to resist.
Realizing this reality, Zhou Qiankun, in order to survive in the marketplace, had no choice but to follow behind a team of cultivators, doing rough work like scouting, setting traps, and hauling demon beast corpses.
He could barely earn five or six pieces of Lower-Grade Spirit Stone a month.
Imagining the dangers involved is inevitable.
And his meager income, after deducting occasional injury recuperation expenses and two pieces of Lower-Grade Spirit Stone for the monthly house rent at the marketplace outskirts, leaves almost nothing.
As for Old Xu mentioning him, the reason is simple.
His grandson lacks a Spiritual Root, unable to practice Immortal Technique, so he thought of Zhou Changwang's father, hoping to pass on martial arts skills.
After all, regardless of the circumstances, it's considered a skill, isn't it?
...
He returned home with four Cyan Beetles in the evening.
As usual, his father hadn't come back.
Despite his worry, he remained helpless.
Fortunately, he knew his father had been cooperating with that loose cultivator team for four or five years, led by a loose cultivator at Qi Refining Fifth Level named Zhao Heng, who is always cautious, strong, and they've often been gone for ten days to half a month without returning, indicating their safety is somewhat assured.
Then, Zhou Changwang took out a small knife, peeled off the shell, and extracted the meat inside.
The insect meat was clustered, pure white, seemingly with flashes of Spiritual Light, making his finger itch to taste.
After simply cooking it, Zhou Changwang consumed it with ordinary rice, feeling a burst of delight in his heart.
It was delicious.
The most crucial part was the Spiritual Qi contained within it, which was ignited the moment he swallowed, circulating within him, unlike Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi which disperses quickly, leaving his stomach perpetually warm.
Consuming four pieces of insect meat in succession made him feel incredibly satisfied and fulfilled.
Even his spirit underwent considerable recovery.
He dared not hesitate.
Zhou Changwang quickly returned to his room to cultivate the Five Elements Technique, absorbing and refining the Spiritual Qi from the insect meat.
The previously sparse Spiritual Power quickly filled up with the operation of the cultivation technique.
Five Elements Technique +1
After a round of cultivation, he felt the Spiritual Qi from the spirit insect meat within his body still hadn't been completely refined and absorbed.
So, without stopping, he operated it once more.
Five Elements Technique +1
Cultivation +1
Upon seeing the changes on his panel, Zhou Changwang displayed an expression of joy.
His cultivation increased.
Although it only increased from (21/100) to (22/100) at Qi Refining Second Layer.
But he could genuinely feel his Spiritual Power becoming more substantial.
"If I could eat spirit insect meat every meal, it would greatly benefit my cultivation."
"If I could add spirit rice as the main dish, my Spiritual Power recovery would probably be even faster."
Zhou Changwang harbored expectations in his heart, yet sighed aloud.
Who would have thought, having started cultivating immortality, he'd still worry about three meals a day?
"Cultivating immortality depends on method, wealth, companionship, and location. Among them, wealth is the most crucial."
"And wealth here means Spirit Stones."
"I must quickly earn Spirit Stones to sustain my cultivation."
Zhou Changwang furrowed his brow slightly.
Without Spirit Stones, his cultivation speed is too slow.
Not to mention the increase in cultivation, even the speed of Spiritual Power recovery is a major obstacle to improving Magic Technique.
"Ah..."
Suddenly, a scream echoed.
This sound, full of panic and pain, abruptly ceased in an instant.
"It's the Tribulation Cultivator!"
Zhou Changwang's expression changed.
He knew this was the outskirts of Fengming Dock Marketplace, where disorder reigned, with no protection from Market Guards.
If it were daytime, the Tribulation Cultivators might hold back, not daring to act recklessly, but at night, once targeted, his life could be at risk.
He vividly remembered an incident where he returned late and was targeted by a Tribulation Cultivator—had they not seen him as just a Little Spirit Farmer with little profit, his fate might have been dire.
Feeling tense inside, and after sensing no further commotion outside for a long time, he finally relaxed slightly.
"This world is indeed even more dangerous than I imagined."
"Besides cultivating, I must quickly gain the strength to protect myself."
Reflecting within his mind, his first thought was naturally the only offensive magic technique he mastered, Geng Metal Finger.
"Though Geng Metal Finger is merely Spirit Plant Magic, effective on insects with an attack range of only about a yard, its power is not weak."
At the entry stage, it can kill cyan beetles with hard shells. If mastered, the power would certainly increase significantly, and even the attack range would likely expand.
It's just barely suitable as a self-defense method for now."
This is actually a desperate move.
Among the attack-type techniques he knows, there's only this one.
Other techniques, of course, can be learned; with his Five Elements Spirit Root, he can potentially learn any Five Elements Technique.
But.
It requires money!
Even the most basic technique costs five spirit stones and more, while those with greater power cost dozens to hundreds.
Currently penniless, he has virtually no choice.
Just then, his body was full of Spiritual Power.
Thus, he began cultivating the technique.
As for whether the room was suitable for casting?
He couldn't be bothered with too many details.
However, with Geng Metal Finger, a low-tier technique, the range of influence is small, the commotion isn't big, and it won't attract attention.
His Heart Spirit stirred to guide Spiritual Power, tracing runes, then combining them into the rune structure of the Geng Metal Finger technique.
Buzz~!
A slight fluctuation of Spiritual Energy arose.
Geng Metal Finger +1
Yet Zhou Changwang didn't truly cast the technique, but intended to gradually disperse it.
This isn't easy.
Since the technique forms a stable structure, dispersing it requires great control.
"This isn't good..."
Suddenly, Zhou Changwang's expression changed, he quickly pointed forward.
His form retreated swiftly, stopping at the doorway.
Poof!
The Spiritual Light of Geng Metal Finger exploded.
Creating a small pit on the ground.
"Indeed, the idea is good, but implementing it is not so easy."
Zhou Changwang's complexion paled slightly.
He initially thought to successfully cast a technique, then disperse it, maybe saving some Spiritual Power, thus casting more techniques to increase proficiency...
Now it seems impractical.
At least, currently, he doesn't possess this ability.
Fortunately, the proficiency of the technique increased, a sign of successful casting.
Except for the commotion...
He paused for a long time, confirmed no one was attracted to the scene, then relaxed.
Then, he continued casting the technique.
This time, he didn't dare to be reckless, honestly casting the technique step by step.