Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 145: Spirit Valley Residence

A wave of lingering fear washed over Wang Ba’s heart.

Only now did he realize the gravity of what had just happened. If not for the “Substitute Death” divine ability taking effect, he would have truly died inside the Yin Spirit Abode.

That single male Green Water Spirit Turtle had taken the calamity in his place.

Perhaps that strike had consumed most of the mysterious voice’s power, leaving the residual force insufficient to instantly destroy Wang Ba’s soul a second time. This, in turn, gave his soul the chance to recover.

The realization doused the smug satisfaction of his successful Foundation Establishment like a bucket of ice water.

“The world of cultivators is mysterious and unpredictable, filled with endless experts. There is always someone stronger, always a heaven beyond the sky.”

“No matter when, one must not become complacent.”

He silently admonished himself.

Without delay, he bound his only remaining Second-Order Low Grade male Green Water Spirit Turtle.

The lifespan cost for binding remained unchanged.

Only after this was done did the restless anxiety in his heart finally settle.

Confirming once more that there were no oversights, he picked up the completely drained hourglass and walked out of the cultivation chamber.

As he pushed the door open, a flood of warm sunlight washed over him.

“Hey! You, the one who just walked out! Yes, I’m talking to you!”

A bald cultivator, the guard of the cultivation chambers, stormed over, shouting angrily. “You booked for two days, and you’ve already overstayed! Get out quickly! Let others in! And don’t forget to pay the triple fine!”

“Are you talking to me?”

Wang Ba stood at the entrance, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Who else would I be—”

The bald cultivator froze mid-step. His pupils contracted slightly as he sensed the aura radiating from Wang Ba.

The impatience on his face vanished, instantly replaced by a stiff, forced smile.

“Heh… I wasn’t talking about you, Senior! I was talking to that one over there… Hey! You! Stop right there!”

The guard bowed deeply to Wang Ba, then scurried past him, muttering curses as he accosted another cultivator who had just exited a nearby room.

Wang Ba glanced at the bewildered cultivator holding a half-drained hourglass, then down at his own empty one.

He chuckled wryly.

“So, this is what it feels like to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator…”

A strange sense of satisfaction rose in his chest.

For years, he had been the one bowing and scraping, walking on eggshells around others. When had anyone ever shown him such reverence?

He had finally tasted the privileges of power.

However, the feeling didn’t linger long. Wang Ba left the market and hurried back to the chicken farm.

Eager to test his new abilities, he didn’t use a flying artifact. Instead, he walked on air, relying solely on his own power. Though slower than a Top Grade First-Order artifact, the sense of freedom was intoxicating.

Soon, he landed in front of the chicken farm.

To his surprise, the Spirit Fields outside were overgrown with weeds after just two days of absence.

“Strange. Why didn’t Junior Sister clean up?”

Bu Chan hated weeds in the Spirit Fields and personally cleared them daily. While the human puppets could do the job, their clumsy Qi control often damaged the crops.

Wang Ba quickened his pace and pushed open the gate.

He found a familiar figure sitting on the steps of the wooden hut, chin resting in her hand, lost in thought.

Hearing the noise, she looked up.

Their eyes met.

No words were needed.

…

Bu Chan’s joy upon learning of Wang Ba’s success was beyond description.

For several days, she was in a state of high excitement, and the small wooden hut was constantly on the verge of collapse.

Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Wang Ba began to feel the strain on his lower back.

“I should visit the bookstore… see if the Joyful Life Path has any suitable techniques…”

By the pond, Wang Ba fed the turtles while rubbing his sore waist.

His gaze swept over the Shield-Armored Giant-Headed Turtles lazily sunbathing on the rocks. His eyes lit up.

“Aren’t these ready-made tonics right here?”

The turtles suddenly felt an inexplicable chill, though they had no idea where it came from.

Wang Ba dismissed the thought. These turtles were his treasures, essential for breeding the Green Water Spirit Turtles. Maybe in the future, he could eat them freely like the Yellow-Throated ones, but not now.

He had to admit, the past few days of “fierce battle” had shown him Bu Chan’s tenacity.

Although only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, her long-term labor in the Spirit Fields, nurtured by the earth veins, had toughened her physique. She was beginning to resemble a body cultivator.

This was why Wang Ba, despite his higher realm, struggled to keep up. Qi Refining cultivators were physically weak by default, far inferior to body cultivators.

“Senior Brother, come eat!”

“Coming.”

Wang Ba dropped the remaining turtle food, clapped his hands clean, and leisurely walked toward the hut.

Bu Chan had prepared a feast to make up for the one missed during his “Union of the Three Primes.”

Wang Ba didn’t object. He casually sent a transmission talisman to Cultivator Yan, intending to invite him over. Unfortunately, the man seemed to have gone to another outpost, out of range.

Wang Ba didn’t mind. He simply wanted to return the favor from Yan’s banquet. Since he couldn’t reach him, he happily enjoyed a world of two with Bu Chan.

Delicious food, fine wine, and a lover flushed with desire.

Bu Chan’s cheeks were rosy, her eyes burning with passion.

Even though his waist protested, Wang Ba found himself unable to resist.

In the blink of an eye, the wooden hut began to shake again.

Several days later.

Spirit Water Courtyard.

Wang Ba rubbed his aching back as he took out his Spirit Poultry essence and a small amount of turtle essence.

“Such a waste of time… I’ve squandered days like this.”

“I definitely can’t do this next time.”

Sighing, he closed his eyes and consumed the essence.

A moment later, he opened them with a frown.

He looked at the essence, then at the Gathering Spirit Formation in the room.

“The Spiritual Qi concentration of a First-Order room is inadequate now…”

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, absorbing First-Order Spiritual Qi was painfully slow. It would take half a day to refine a single drop of Qi.

Even the Spirit Poultry essence felt less potent. Ten spoonfuls now didn’t provide the fullness one spoonful used to.

The essence hadn’t changed; his demand for quality and quantity had simply skyrocketed.

The Spirit Water Courtyard could no longer keep up with his needs. It was tasteless food—a pity to discard, but not worth keeping. Spending nearly a hundred Spirit Stones a month here was wasteful.

He didn’t hesitate. He found the steward, terminated the lease, and retrieved his deposit.

The new steward, a Qi Refining cultivator, was shocked by Wang Ba’s Foundation Establishment pressure. He processed the request immediately and even offered advice.

“Most of the spiritual veins here have been diverted behind the old mountain gate. In this outer area, only the ‘Spirit Valley Residence’ has Second-Order rooms, but they are almost always full.”

“Take my token. They will arrange something for you.”

“Thank you. That is very kind.”

Wang Ba habitually tried to tip the man with Spirit Stones, but the steward refused in panic.

Only then did Wang Ba realize that as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he didn’t need to bribe ordinary stewards. They would serve him obediently regardless.

Still, he insisted on giving the stones. Oppressing others with his rank wasn’t his style.

The steward looked flattered and honored.

Hesitating, the man added, “Senior, if you go to the Spirit Valley Residence, try to choose a room on the north side. The Spiritual Qi quality there is slightly higher. It’s subtle, but over time, it makes a difference.”

Wang Ba nodded. “Thank you for the tip.”

He left the office and headed for the Spirit Valley Residence, located at the site of the former West Garden Market.

En route, he paused before a dilapidated, ruined village.

Even though the walls had collapsed, every brick felt familiar.

This was the former Ding Eighty-Seven Village—his first foothold in the Eastern Sage Sect, the starting point of his journey.

Since the night of the great upheaval, he had never returned.

Now, over a decade later, seeing it again stirred a faint emotion in his heart.

But he lingered only a moment before flying on.

The Spirit Valley Residence was a medium-sized mountain villa located in a valley. It was divided into three zones: dense, sparse, and moderate. Overall, it was smaller than the previous residential areas.

The steward here was also a Qi Refining cultivator. Seeing Wang Ba’s undisguised aura, he bowed respectfully.

“Senior, how may I assist you?”

Wang Ba stated his needs.

“For cave dwellings, we have three grades,” the steward explained. “First grade is 8 Middle Grade Spirit Stones per month. Second grade is 6. Third grade is 4.”

Wang Ba frowned internally.

His Spirit Poultry sales had stagnated in recent years. In contrast, Bu Chan’s Spirit Rice business was booming, earning twenty to thirty Middle Grade Spirit Stones last year. She was effectively supporting him now.

But even with her income, these prices were steep.

“What are the differences?” Wang Ba asked.

“All three are Second-Order Low Grade Spiritual Qi, but there are slight differences in concentration and environment.”

“Then the third grade will do,” Wang Ba decided.

“Yes. Monthly or yearly payment?”

“Monthly,” Wang Ba said helplessly. Being poor limited his options.

“Alright. Please pay the deposit and the first month’s rent—totaling 4 Middle Grade Spirit Stones.”

“Hmm?” Wang Ba paused. “Four?”

Shouldn’t it be eight?

“Correct. 4 Middle Grade Spirit Stones,” the steward said with a beaming smile. “You are a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Naturally, you do not pay the market price like ordinary Heterodox Path cultivators. You receive our internal price.”

Market price. Internal price.

Wang Ba understood immediately.

The “market price” was the exploitation rate for the heterodox cultivators—double the actual cost. The “internal price” was the standard rate for Sect members.

It was likely the Spirit Water Courtyard prices were similarly inflated.

But the heterodox cultivators had no choice but to pay.

Wang Ba marveled at the Sect’s psychological manipulation. Even if heterodox cultivators resented the Sect, once they reached Foundation Establishment, they became beneficiaries of the system. Their loyalty was bought with privilege.

Those who failed to advance couldn’t stir up trouble anyway.

It maximized exploitation while ensuring that successful cultivators became loyal new blood. Two birds with one stone.

The steward processed the paperwork and led Wang Ba to select a room.

There were few left. Remembering the previous steward’s advice, Wang Ba picked a north-facing room.

Room Seven, Winter Section Residence.

He tipped the steward, who left with a mix of surprise and joy.

Sitting in the room, Wang Ba felt the Spiritual Qi seemed slightly denser than expected.

Dismissing it as an illusion, he sat cross-legged and began his cultivation.