Everyone had their own path. Their own choices to make.

As a seeker of eternal life, Jiang Chen viewed himself primarily as an observer. He watched the world flow by, rarely stepping into the current unless necessary.

Thus, he didn’t disturb Chen Bo as the man walked off the arena stage. Instead, Jiang Chen turned and quietly slipped away.

Before long, he returned to his own sanctuary.

He had only been gone for a night, but Da Huang reacted as if it had been a decade. The moment Jiang Chen approached, the dog scrambled out of his kennel, tail wagging furiously. He bounded toward his master while simultaneously relieving himself, managing the impressive feat of tracing a jagged, winding “straight line” across the dirt.

Inside the coop, the guinea fowl cooed twice, watching the commotion with calm, judging eyes. Above the Spirit Farm, the five fire crows circled in formation, their caws echoing in the crisp air.

Under the great poplar tree, the Fortress rumbled, its voice deep and muffled like shifting stones. “Welcome home, Master.”

Taking in the scene, a profound sense of satisfaction swelled within Jiang Chen’s chest.

When Da Huang finally reached him, Jiang Chen crouched down and vigorously ruffled the dog’s head, scratching behind the ears until the animal melted with joy. After playing for a moment, he gathered his purchases and entered the stone house.

It was time for the upgrades.

The first floor consisted of the living room and kitchen.

In the living room, he arranged the brand-new peachwood table and chairs, setting out the exquisite lacquerware bowls and plates. The warm, reddish hue of the wood instantly transformed the room from rustic to refined.

In the kitchen, the battered old cookware was discarded. In its place went a heavy cast-iron wok and a pristine ceramic steamer, tools worthy of a spirit chef.

He moved to the second floor: the bedroom and the study.

The ordinary wooden bed, which had served him faithfully but uncomfortably, was dismantled and relegated to the firewood pile. He replaced it with a high-grade Nanmu wood bed. The timber was fragrant, repelling insects naturally, and the mattress was soft and yielding.

Near the door, he positioned a bluestone screen. It blocked the direct line of sight to the bed, adding a layer of privacy and elegance to the chamber.

Then came the lighting. Five glass lamps were distributed throughout the house: one each for the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and study, with the last kept as a spare. The clear glass would allow the spirit flame to shine far brighter than his old oil lamps.

He unrolled the vine carpet, cutting it into two sections. The larger two-meter piece softened the stone floor of the bedroom, while the one-meter section added a touch of warmth to the study.

Finally, three storage cabinets were placed in the living room, bedroom, and study respectively, organizing the clutter.

As for the manuals—Detailed Explanation of Basic Spirit Patterns and Simple Spirit Artifact Refining Atlas—their contents had already been imprinted directly into his mind via spiritual sense. The physical copies were placed on the bookshelf for reference and aesthetic.

When the work was done, Jiang Chen stood in the doorway, surveying his brand-new bedroom and study. He frowned slightly. “I feel like something is missing…”

He retraced his steps to the first floor and headed for the kitchen. But instead of stopping at the stove, he went to the basement entrance and descended.

The basement was no longer the cramped cellar of the past. It was spacious now, matching the footprint of the floor above, and had been expanded into two distinct levels.

The first underground level was dedicated to storage and brewing.

Here lay his collection of wines: High-quality Spirit Wine, Top-quality Spirit Wine, and the prized Top-quality Golden Wine.

The plan was simple. The High-quality Spirit Wine was inventory for the Loose Cultivator market. The Top-quality Spirit Wine was reserved for gifts and friends. The Top-quality Golden Wine? That was for him alone.

The second underground level was his workshop, divided into three zones: the Alchemy Area, the Artifact Refining Area, and the Cultivation Room.

The first two were self-explanatory, housing his newly acquired furnace, casting molds, and tools. The Cultivation Room was an empty, reinforced space where he could safely test new techniques and spells without destroying his furniture.

“A brand new home,” Jiang Chen murmured. “This setup should last me at least ten years without needing major changes.”

He grinned, feeling a rare surge of excitement. “I still have five days before I need to meet Senior Sister Yu. That’s enough time to try refining the Foundation Spirit Pill, and maybe even attempt forging a basic spirit artifact.”

Suddenly, his days felt incredibly full.

Before, his life was an endless loop of farming and tending to spirit plants. Now, he was a pill refiner, a smith, and a spirit chef. As his cultivation deepened, so too did his mastery over the arts of life.

He spent the next hour meticulously arranging his alchemy and smithing equipment. Before leaving the first underground level, he tapped a small flagon—about one liang—of the Top-quality Golden Wine.

In a way, this was his housewarming party.

He had no intention of inviting friends. The New Year was approaching, and everyone was scrambling. Those aiming for the [Formal Disciple Grand Competition], like Chen Bo, were busy grinding at Fire Peak, honing their combat skills from dawn till dusk. Jin Fugui and the others were likely doing the same.

Only Jiang Chen, who had zero interest in the competition, enjoyed the luxury of a relaxed schedule.

He celebrated in private, sharing the moment with Da Huang, the guinea fowl, the fire crows, and the Fortress.

Dinner was sumptuous. To mark the occasion, Jiang Chen used a generous portion of meat. He stir-fried a plate of Spirit Beast meat with top-quality chili peppers, the spicy aroma filling the stone house. Alongside it, he stewed a rich pot of winter melon and pork rib soup.

With an unlimited supply of Top-quality Spirit Rice, the meal was a feast fit for a king.

Outside, the winter wind howled, biting and cold. Inside, Jiang Chen savored the delicious food and the warmth of the spirit wine spreading through his veins. It was a unique flavor—the taste of security and progress.

Once he had eaten and washed the dishes, Jiang Chen sat in his new peachwood chair and focused his mind. He began to study the second formula he had acquired: the Foundation Spirit Pill.

This was a medicinal pill exclusively for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Its primary function was to accelerate the absorption and refinement of Spirit Qi.

Thanks to his high comprehension, he grasped the fundamentals quickly.

[Foundation Spirit Pill (Standard)]

Effect 1: Spirit Qi Perception +15%

Effect 2: Spirit Qi Absorption Efficiency +20%

Effect 3: Meridian Toughness +10% (Temporary)

Jiang Chen nodded in approval. “As expected of a Foundation Establishment tier pill. Its base effects are already comparable to the High-quality Spirit Wine.”

Then, the familiar prompt floated into his vision.

[Consume 7 years of Lifespan to elevate the Foundation Spirit Pill to Masterful?]

Jiang Chen didn’t hesitate to check the potential outcome.

[Foundation Spirit Pill (Masterful)]

Effect 1: Spirit Qi Perception +50%

Effect 2: Spirit Qi Absorption Efficiency +80%

Effect 3: Meridian Toughness +30% (Temporary)

Special Effect 1: Long-term consumption permanently increases Meridian Toughness by +10%.

Special Effect 2: Chance to form a Spirit Qi Vortex upon consumption, increasing absorption efficiency by an additional 50%.

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up. “Now that is interesting. When the Spirit Qi tide hits next spring, this will be the perfect catalyst.”

Of course, the standard Foundation Spirit Pills were for sale.

The Vitality Pill was the staple for Qi Condensation loose cultivators. The Foundation Spirit Pill would be the staple for those at Foundation Establishment.

But the market would never see the Masterful version. Those, with their permanent buffs and vortex effects, were strictly for Jiang Chen’s personal consumption.

He reviewed the recipe. The main ingredients were Iron Sand, Greenwood Vine, Cold Pool Water, Flame Grass, and Spirit Rice.

Aside from the Spirit Rice, he had none of them.

“Looks like I need to make a trip to the Red Leaf Valley market,” he mused. “I can’t start until I have the materials.”

In the past, Jiang Chen might have hesitated. A round trip on a Paper Crane was slow and tedious. But things were different now. He had upgraded his arsenal.

He had the Giant Leaf.

It was like trading a musket for a howitzer.

Without a second thought, he walked out the door. To test the artifact’s limits, he infused a trace of Fire Spiritual Power into it. The Wood Spiritual Power within the artifact ignited instantly, acting as a turbocharger.

Whoosh!

The Giant Leaf shot forward like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Chen vanished from the horizon.

He arrived at the Red Leaf Valley market in record time.

The place was bustling. The air buzzed with the noise of haggling and the dense crowd of cultivators. The trading posts of the five major forces were packed to the brim. It seemed everyone was making last-minute preparations for the post-New Year competition.

Jiang Chen moved with purpose.

Iron Sand and Cold Pool Water were standard refining materials, available at the [Artifact Hall]. Greenwood Vine and Flame Grass could be found at the [Harvest Alliance] or the [Pill Alliance].

While the prices inside the Immortal Sect were steeper than the black market, the quality was guaranteed. And right now, time was more valuable to Jiang Chen than a few spirit stones.

Considering he planned to practice artifact forging immediately after his alchemy sessions, he didn’t want to waste time on multiple trips.

Jiang Chen stepped up to the counter. He was going to buy everything he needed in a single, massive haul.