Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 146: Dream Creation

Spirit Valley Residence, Winter Section, Room Seven.

It had to be said: a Second-Order Spirit Vein was leagues ahead of a First-Order one.

After cultivating for roughly half an hour, Wang Ba successfully refined a single drop of Qi.

However, before he could feel any joy, he sensed the vast, empty expanse of his Dantian. A feeling of futility washed over him. The drop of Qi he had painstakingly refined was like a single tear in an ocean.

“It seems the road to reaching the bottleneck of early Foundation Establishment is still long and arduous,” he muttered, shaking his head helplessly.

He retrieved the Spirit Poultry Essence and Spirit Turtle Essence.

Swallowing nearly twenty spoonfuls in one go, he began refining the Spiritual Qi while simultaneously performing the Visualization of the Yin Spirit.

Finally, a drop of Yin Spirit Power slowly manifested within the temple in his Spiritual Platform, gradually expanding.

One drop, two drops…

By the time Wang Ba finished digesting the essences, four more drops of Yin Spirit Power had accumulated within the temple.

“Only four drops… At this rate, when will I ever fill the entire temple?”

Wang Ba sighed.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. He hurriedly reached into his Storage Bag and retrieved an item.

A spherical, colorless droplet of liquid suspended in the air.

It was the Divine Essence Dew, a soul treasure he had obtained from the Cultivator of the Incense Path.

This item was a critical resource for soul-refining cultivators, offering immense benefits for strengthening the soul. It was extremely precious.

Wang Ba had obtained fifteen droplets in total. He had used one previously and given two to Shen Fu, leaving him with twelve.

After a moment’s thought, he set two aside for Bu Chan.

Then, grasping a droplet of Divine Essence Dew, he began his cultivation.

To his delight, as he entered the Visualization state, the Divine Essence Dew vanished from his palm. Within the temple of his mind, twelve drops of Yin Spirit Power condensed rapidly!

Without hesitation, he refined all the remaining droplets.

In a corner of the Spiritual Platform’s temple, a small, insignificant puddle of crimson water formed from Yin Spirit Power finally appeared.

With the replenishment of Yin Spirit Power, he felt his soul strengthen significantly. The range of his Divine Sense expanded in kind.

“Divine Essence Dew… this truly is a treasure,” Wang Ba remarked, marveling at the increased clarity of the world through his Divine Sense.

Unfortunately, he had only ever seen this dew in the possession of Incense Path cultivators; it never appeared in the markets. Otherwise, he would have bought a batch to accelerate his cultivation.

As for leaving the Sect to hunt Incense Path cultivators for loot… that was a thought he didn’t dare entertain for now.

He continued cultivating for several days.

Eventually, he returned to the chicken farm to harvest a batch of lifespan from the Spirit Poultry and Spirit Turtles.

As expected, the lifespan provided by a First-Order Low Grade Spirit Poultry had dropped from five or six years to less than one year. The First-Order Low Grade Spirit Turtles, due to their natural longevity, could still provide a little over a year.

In total, he successfully harvested around 1,500 years of Lifespan.

Returning to Room Seven of the Winter Section Residence, he immediately activated the cheat.

[Current Lifespan -759.1 years]

The exclusive, powerful technique of the Yin Spirit Great Dream Scripture’s second layer—Dream Creation—was mastered!

In that instant, complex nodes of the “Dream Creation Technique” surfaced within his soul, operating along a profound and mysterious trajectory.

Initially clumsy, the trajectory quickly became fluid and familiar until it was indelibly engraved into Wang Ba’s soul.

Wang Ba opened his eyes and exhaled slowly.

A trace of deep fatigue flashed through his gaze.

Mastering such a profound technique in an instant, even with the aid of lifespan consumption, placed an unprecedented strain on his mental energy.

After resting for a while, he returned to refining Qi. Only when he felt the fatigue creeping back did he finally stop.

He stood up and pushed open the door.

…

Li Qi was a Laborer Disciple.

At eighteen, he had joined the famous Eastern Sage Sect nearby, becoming one of its many laborers.

He had once dreamed of obtaining a spiritual root by cultivating the Physique Strengthening Scripture, hoping to embark on the path of Cultivation.

However, after three years of arduous effort yielded nothing, he realized he wasn’t cut out for it and wisely chose to give up. He planned to muddle along in the Sect for a few years, save some silver, and then use his connections to retire down the mountain and enjoy a mundane life.

He never expected change to come so violently.

First, the Sect closed all channels for leaving. Then came the earth-shattering upheaval he would never forget.

Overnight, the Eastern Sage Sect was gone.

It was replaced by an evil cult calling itself the Heavenly Gate Sect.

Watching the once-lofty Cultivators lying on the cold ground like dead dogs, Li Qi’s heart had sunk to the abyss.

Unexpectedly, perhaps because Li Qi was merely a mortal, the terrifying Heavenly Gate disciples didn’t kill him. Instead, they gave him work.

Despite his fear, the instinct to survive compelled him to accept without hesitation.

Jokes aside, the old Cultivators hadn’t given him any real benefits; he had no obligation to die for them.

He had been working like this for over ten years.

Li Qi had gone from a vibrant young man to the gloomy, weathered middle-aged man he was now.

Every day, he stayed in the Spirit Valley Residence, sweeping the already spotless corridors and walkways over and over again.

He didn’t know the point of it. The Senior guarding the place, Immortal Jiang, said it was to make the residents feel their Spirit Stones were well spent. Li Qi didn’t really understand, but he kept sweeping.

The day he couldn’t sweep anymore would be the day he closed his eyes for good.

At least these cultivators hadn’t turned him into one of those mindless puppets.

Lost in these thoughts, he swept from the Spring Section to the Summer Section, then to the Autumn Section, and finally arrived at the Winter Section Residence.

The doors were tightly closed. It was rare to see a soul here.

Li Qi was used to it. These Seniors were elusive dragons; even when in residence, they might not emerge for weeks.

He hadn’t been sweeping long when he heard a door open near Room Three.

He didn’t even look up. Instinctively, he lowered his head and bowed respectfully toward Room Three.

This was a rule enforced by Immortal Jiang. It wasn’t hard to do, though lately, his aging waist protested the constant bowing.

The Senior from Room Three didn’t speak. Li Qi wasn’t surprised; why would a Cultivator care about a mortal like him?

Estimating the time, he cautiously raised his head. Confirming the Cultivator had left, he straightened his back and hammered his aching waist with a fist.

“Sigh…”

Just then, his ears twitched.

The door to Room Seven was moving.

Ignoring the stabbing pain in his lower back, he hurriedly bent double again without a second thought.

This is pure torture, he groaned internally.

As usual, there was silence.

After waiting a respectful amount of time, Li Qi cautiously raised his head.

He froze.

The door to Room Seven was open, and standing right in front of it was a Cultivator. He looked to be about thirty years old, with an ordinary, unremarkable face.

Not only had he not left, but he was staring directly at Li Qi.

In the Cultivator’s eyes, there seemed to be a faint, fleeting flash of crimson.

“Senior, forgive this offense!”

Li Qi was scared out of his wits.

Forgetting his back pain, he threw himself to the ground, kneeling and kowtowing frantically.

Laborer Disciples were absolutely forbidden from looking directly at Cultivators. If Immortal Jiang found out, Li Qi would be executed on the spot!

This was the iron rule.

What Li Qi completely failed to notice was that a trace of crimson also flashed briefly in his own eyes.

He focused only on kowtowing.

Suddenly, he heard a calm voice.

“No need for such courtesy.”

Li Qi felt his body stiffen. It was as if his limbs were no longer under his control; he physically could not continue kowtowing.

Stiffly, he stood up.

He felt the invisible force withdraw from his body. Endless terror rose in his heart.

But amidst this terror, a strange thought surged from the depths of his mind.

If only… I could be like this Cultivator. How wonderful that would be!

If only… I could also cultivate. How wonderful that would be!

The thought was overpowering, so intense it felt alien, like an intruder in his own skull.

Although his instincts screamed that something was wrong, the thought rapidly mutated into an impulse that burned away his reason. He bowed down with all his might, his voice trembling with a sudden, fanatical fervor.

“Senior! This humble one wishes to become your disciple, to serve by your side for life!”

Li Qi lay prostrate on the ground, consumed by a manic desire to fulfill this new, burning directive. The original fear and timidity were crushed, buried deep beneath this artificial obsession.

After a long silence, he heard the Cultivator’s voice, sounding like sweet rain descending upon a parched world.

“What is your name?”

Li Qi’s heart erupted with joy.

The Cultivator… he agreed?!

“This humble one is Li Qi!” he replied hurriedly, his voice thick with reverence.

“Then let’s go,” the Cultivator said slowly.

As he spoke, Li Qi felt the invisible force seize him again, lifting him off the ground.

Li Qi was a mix of shock and delight.

Soon, they encountered Immortal Jiang, the guardian of the residence. Immortal Jiang looked at Li Qi with unmasked shock, seemingly unable to comprehend why a lowly laborer had been chosen.

More shockingly, the usually profound and arrogant Immortal Jiang bowed his head to the man from Room Seven, his face displaying utmost respect.

This Cultivator… is he some important figure?

The thought made Li Qi’s heart burn even hotter. To follow such a great figure—his future was surely limitless!

“Senior Wang,” Immortal Jiang said respectfully, “taking a liking to this Laborer Disciple is his good fortune. You may take him directly; leave the paperwork to this Junior.”

“Thank you,” the Cultivator replied.

Senior Wang? His surname is Wang? Li Qi memorized this precious detail instantly.

He followed Senior Wang outside. A palm-sized boat flew from the Cultivator’s sleeve, expanding in the wind to become a small skiff.

“Let’s go,” Senior Wang said softly.

Li Qi was swept onto the boat.

It was his first time flying. He glanced down and his legs turned to jelly, a sudden wave of bewilderment washing over him.

Why did I have such courage just now? How did I dare ask a Cultivator to take me as a disciple?

But the doubt lasted only a blink of an eye. His heart was immediately refilled with the overwhelming joy of servitude.

They arrived at the Cultivator’s Dao Field by the South Lake. Li Qi gaped in wonder. Aside from the Rare Fowl he recognized, there were spirit beasts everywhere!

A turtle as big as a carriage!

An impossibly beautiful Divine Chicken!

An ape sitting in meditation!

This spectacle solidified his belief: he had made the most correct decision of his life.

Senior Wang led him just outside the Dao Field. With a casual point of his finger, trees fell. Another expressionless Cultivator appeared and rapidly constructed a wooden hut.

“You will live here,” Senior Wang said, looking at Li Qi.

For a split second, Li Qi thought he saw another flash of crimson in the Cultivator’s eyes.

And what he didn’t know was…

At that exact moment, a mirror image of that crimson light flashed through his own eyes.