Cautiously Cultivating Immortality in a Strange World

Chapter 26: Meeting Again

He didn't expect Chen Lin to refuse, and to refuse so decisively. Zhang Mazi's face immediately showed some anger.

He thought that the conditions he had offered were already quite generous, and he had assumed that Chen Lin would be grateful. But he didn't expect such a refusal.

"Since that's the case, then forget it. You're a cultivator with your own principles."

As the manager of a merchant shop, he still prioritized making a profit with a smile, even though he was unhappy in his heart. However, he didn't show it too clearly.

On the other hand, the people around them looked at Chen Lin with a strange gaze, as if they were disappointed.

This unexpected turn of events made Chen Lin not want to buy anything else, so he turned around and left.

Just then, Zhang Mazi suddenly stiffened his neck, gave a cold smile, and said, "Hmph, you really don't know how to appreciate favors. I was going to give you a way out, but since you don't want it, then just wait to be targeted by the monsters…"

He said half of the sentence, then seemed to react as if he had realized something, and quickly shut up.

Then, he walked back to the counter with a expressionless face.

Chen Lin didn't stop in his tracks, and walked out of the Zhang merchant shop. However, he was secretly shocked in his heart.

Although Zhang Mazi didn't finish his sentence, what he said seemed to imply that he knew about the existence of monsters.

If that was the case, it meant that Zhang Mazi's position in the Zhang family was not low.

But why was the Zhang family still recruiting people at this time? Were they trying to take them away together?

According to Yu Yuehai's words, if they left, the fewer people, the better, to avoid being noticed by the monsters.

He also thought it made sense, as he himself was connected to the red thread after the monster's shadow appeared.

The Zhang family's actions were either due to their ignorance of the situation or some other reason.

But if too many cultivators left the city, it would definitely cause chaos.

As he walked, he thought about how the future situation would develop, whether Yu Yuehai could successfully establish his foundation, and whether he could smoothly cut off the red thread and leave. Would they be discovered and wiped out by the monsters?

After thinking for a while, he felt that these were all things he couldn't change, and suddenly felt that he was too insignificant.

It was a terrible feeling, like being a fish on a chopping board.

With a gloomy mood, he arrived at the Treasure Pavilion, bought some alchemy materials, and a flying sword.

His previous Wandering Sword had been shattered by Yu Yuehai, so he had to buy a new one.

The flying sword was over a foot long, with a pale silver color, and no name. It was just an ordinary lower-grade spiritual treasure.

It wasn't that he didn't want to buy a good one, but he didn't have many spirit stones left. The fifty middle-grade spirit stones he had obtained from Lu Li had almost been used up.

He had originally wanted to buy techniques to conceal his cultivation and spiritual treasures, but he didn't have enough money.

Even so, he didn't want to make talismans to earn money during this period. His priority was to quickly increase his strength to deal with unknown dangers.

So, he planned to use the Enlightenment Pill to practice the techniques in the manual.

Unfortunately, he didn't have a storage bag, or else he could have refined more Thunderbolt Beads.

Chen Lin once again felt the bitterness of poverty, which was really restrictive everywhere.

This was still okay for him, as he had a talent that allowed him to cheat. Ordinary cultivators were even more pitiful, which was why the original owner's cultivation had stagnated for twenty years.

After buying what he needed, he headed back.

After thinking about it on the way, he had already come to a realization. Following Yu Yuehai was currently the best choice, so he decided to wait patiently for him to establish his foundation, and not have any other thoughts.

"Wait a moment, Fellow Daoist!"

Just as he was about to leave the market, a figure suddenly appeared beside Chen Lin, causing him to immediately grip his flying sword and look over warily.

"Who are you, and why do you want to stop me?"

Seeing that it was a female cultivator he had never seen before, Chen Lin couldn't help but ask suspiciously.

However, since the opponent only had a Qi Refining third-stage cultivation, Chen Lin slightly relaxed his guard.

"Can I borrow a moment to talk to you?"

The female cultivator glanced at the distant stalls, beckoned Chen Lin to follow her, and whispered, "Let's talk somewhere else."

Seeing that Chen Lin didn't move, the female cultivator whispered, "Weapon Refining manual."

Chen Lin's eyes flashed, and he sized up the female cultivator from head to toe, revealing a surprised expression.

It turned out that the opponent was the same female cultivator who had sold him the broken Weapon Refining book in the inner city. Although she had changed her appearance, her malnourished look and aura were still very similar.

"Is it you? What do you want from me, and how did you recognize me?"

Chen Lin was surprised that he had been recognized despite changing his appearance.

Although he was surprised, Chen Lin still followed the female cultivator to a distance outside the market.

He cooperated because the female cultivator had been at the Qi Refining second stage in the inner city, and now she was at the Qi Refining third stage. She didn't seem like she had just broken through, so she must have used a technique or spiritual treasure to conceal her cultivation. Chen Lin wanted to see if he could get it at a low price.

"Now, tell me, how did you recognize me?"

There was no one around, so Chen Lin's voice was a bit louder.

The female cultivator first bowed, then smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, please don't be suspicious. I'm just very sensitive to auras, and I have a deep impression of you, so I recognized you as soon as I saw you."

Chen Lin was stunned.

He didn't expect it to be because of this reason.

This was really a unique ability. He would have to be careful about this aspect when disguising himself in the future.

"What do you want from me?"

Chen Lin didn't directly ask about the technique to conceal cultivation.

The female cultivator hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply and said, "I am Xu Ruolan, and I have a request."

Chen Lin furrowed his brow, not feeling that he had anything worth seeking help from the opponent, but still asked, "What is it?"

The female cultivator hesitated again, then said with a determined expression, "Fellow Daoist, do you lack a dual cultivation partner?"

"What!"

Chen Lin thought he had misheard.

With his current figure and appearance, a female cultivator took the initiative to approach him?

The female cultivator calmed down and said seriously, "Fellow Daoist, you didn't mishear. If you're willing, I'm willing to form a dual cultivation partnership with you. I'm only twenty-eight years old, and although my cultivation is lower than yours, you won't be at a disadvantage."

Chen Lin stared at the female cultivator, wondering what she was hiding.

Was it love at first sight?

He's not that narcissistic yet.

If he had a cultivation of Qi Refining late-stage, it was reasonable for the female cultivator to take the initiative to approach him, but with his current Qi Refining middle-stage cultivation, it was still a bit lacking.

Even though Zhang Mazi wanted to introduce him to a female cultivator from the Zhang family, it was just a marriage, which was not much different from selling himself.

"Speak up, what do you really want? If not, I'll leave!"

Chen Lin didn't want to play hide-and-seek with the opponent. He had many things to do.

Seeing Chen Lin's attitude, Xu Ruolan knew she had been a bit too bold. She pursed her lips and said, "Fellow Daoist, do you have a pill that can increase cultivation, or a channel to buy one?"

Chen Lin suddenly realized.

So, it was about this.

Why bother with dual cultivation partners? Just say you want to buy a pill!

Chen Lin secretly cursed, furrowed his brow, and said, "How do you know I have a pill? The pills in the city are all controlled by the five major families. As a small, scattered cultivator, how can I get one?"

Xu Ruolan smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be humble. If it weren't for the power of the pill, with your age, it would be difficult to break through two levels in a row and enter the Qi Refining middle stage!"