I Live Forever With My Proficiency

Chapter 3: New Home

Wang Steward's Room

"Chen Ping, are you really going to give up on this mission?"

Upon hearing Chen Ping's excuse, Wang Steward couldn't help but understand, but he didn't know why Chen Ping had come up with this.

What a great opportunity.

Something that many people long for.

Can money compare to that?

Without saying much, Wang Steward immediately handed over a small bag of silver: "Wang Steward, you should have some tea. Fellow Daoist Chen is not feeling well, so I am willing to complete this mission on his behalf."

Wang Steward glanced at the money bag and temporarily didn't accept it, just looking at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping spoke up: "Wang Steward, to be honest, I have a hidden illness from a previous mission, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to recover in a short period of time. So I can only endure the pain and give up on this mission. Not only that, I also want to resign from my position as a servant in the Ning Mansion and go home to recuperate."

"Is that true?" Wang Steward was taken aback.

Not only Wang Steward, but Chen Ping also attracted the attention of others.

"It's true," Chen Ping said firmly.

"Do you know how many independent cultivators are eager to get in, but don't have such an opportunity? It will be difficult for you to enter again after giving up your cultivation," Wang Steward reminded.

In fact, he didn't really want Chen Ping to resign. Chen Ping didn't cause trouble and had a good personality. It was precisely because of this that he arranged for Chen Ping to accompany Miss Seven on this mission.

Especially Chen Ping's excellent skills in dissection of Demonic Beasts and his ability to endure hardships impressed him even more.

His knife skills were so good, and he worked so hard. He was a good young man.

Chen Ping's tone was resolute: "I have made up my mind."

Chen Ping moved out of the Ning Mansion that day.

He didn't have many belongings. Valuable items for cultivators were usually carried with them, so he only needed one pocket to hold all his belongings.

After leaving the Ning Mansion, he looked back at the place where he had worked for several years, feeling quite emotional.

Looking ahead, Chen felt full of anticipation.

"Finally free."

At this time, it was already late winter and warm spring had arrived. Green buds were sprouting everywhere on the streets, full of vitality.

Chen Ping walked along the main road of the city towards the east, which was the plan he had made before resigning.

Cloud Link City was large, divided into two areas, east and west.

The west area was generally inhabited by prestigious families, such as the Ning Mansion. When someone became a core cultivator of the Azure Cloud Sect, the whole family would move here and branch out.

The east area was where independent cultivators without any roots lived.

The east area was also known as the Independent Cultivator District.

There was no city wall or clear boundary between the east and west areas, nor were there checkpoints for entry and exit.

But the difference in status naturally made it rare for cultivators from the two areas to interact.

This was an invisible barrier.

Chen Ping was now heading to the Independent Cultivator District.

Without a job at the Ning Mansion, there was no need to stay in the west area. On one hand, it was not easy to find a profitable and safe occupation, and on the other hand, the rent here was exorbitant.

The prices in the east area would be more affordable.

As for leaving Cloud Link City?

That was impossible. It was too dangerous outside the city.

Cloud Link City was protected by high walls and patrolling cultivators. Demonic Beasts couldn't enter, and evil spirits were unlikely to appear in the bustling city, making it relatively safe here.

Upon reaching the Independent Cultivator District, Chen Ping relied on his memory to find a target house, only to find that it was empty.

He asked a shop assistant nearby: "Excuse me, do you know where a Fellow Daoist named He Xianxiang lives? He's around sixty years old and used to live across the street."

"He Xianxiang? Who's that? Is he powerful? I don't know him," the shop assistant replied.

Chen Ping sighed.

Finding someone in this world was troublesome without phones.

He asked several cultivators in a row before finally meeting someone who knew He Xianxiang.

"Oh, you're looking for the one who sells meat ears? He's missing an ear and is quite old," the person said.

"Yes, that's him," Chen Ping quickly responded.

"Oh, if you're looking for someone who sells meat ears, just say that. Not many people know his name," the cultivator complained. "You go along this street and then turn west, go all the way to the end and then turn north, then turn east again, and go a little further north."

Ah, couldn't you just say left or right?

Chen Ping racked his brain and silently remembered the directions.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Following the directions he had silently memorized, Chen Ping made several turns and had to ask two more cultivators before finally finding He Xianxiang's house.

He Xianxiang was an elder Chen Ping had met while working at the Ning Mansion. He used to be one of the important figures in the Ning Mansion, but as he grew older, he didn't want to take risks anymore and moved to the Independent Cultivator District.

At Ning Mansion, He Xianxiang took good care of Chen Ping because of his young age.

The relationship between the two was good.

But in recent years, they didn't interact much. After all, they lived in different areas and had their own busy lives.

When He Xianxiang saw Chen Ping visiting, he was quite surprised.

He warmly welcomed Chen Ping into the house.

When He Xianxiang heard that Chen Ping was no longer working at Ning Mansion, he was even more surprised and sighed.

"If you're out, then you're out. It's not a big deal. Although this is the Independent Cultivator area, some people eventually join the Azure Cloud Sect," said He Xianxiang. Despite being over sixty years old, he still looked good.

"That's true," Chen Ping smiled.

Whether it's the Azure Cloud Sect or not, it doesn't matter. I just want to find a place to quietly cultivate.

This was his confidence.

And his aspiration for immortality.

"He Xianxiang, this time I came out, I plan to find a house here and temporarily settle down. Do you have any recommendations?" Chen Ping got straight to the point.

He Xianxiang nodded, "Are you looking to rent or buy?"

"How much does it cost to buy?"

"A house in the Independent Cultivator area, like mine, is around 500 Low Grade Spirit Stones."

Chen Ping's mouth twitched.

"Rent."

He said this word with conviction.

"Alright, living in this area is not bad. In our free time, we can also have a drink. Wait a moment, I'll go and call the person in charge," He Xianxiang said.

He Xianxiang quickly called the person in charge.

Chen Ping explained his needs, and the person in charge assessed them and gave targeted rental suggestions.

Throughout history, the process of renting a house has never changed.

After some discussion, He Xianxiang pointed to a house diagonally across from his own and said, "I heard that the owner of that house moved out yesterday."

The person in charge snorted arrogantly, "That one is expensive."

Meaning it didn't meet Chen Ping's requirements.

Chen Ping was speechless, "How much per month?"

"3 Low Grade Spirit Stones for two months," the person in charge glanced at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping was somewhat dissatisfied, "Why is that one half a Spirit Stone more expensive per month compared to other places?"

According to the person in charge's introduction, the size of the house was not much different from others in the area.

This neighborhood was not more upscale than other streets.

It was pretty much the same.

"Don't you know who lives next to that house?" the person in charge looked at Chen Ping and thought, "You don't even know?" He added, "Do you know Yu Qingyi?"

Yu Qingyi?

Chen Ping had heard of this name to some extent.

He was quite famous in the Independent Cultivator area.

Yu Qingyi was older than He Xianxiang, had a higher cultivation level, and was known for his chivalry and generosity. He was highly respected by the Independent Cultivators and had a good reputation.

Living next to him undoubtedly added an extra layer of security.

No one would cause trouble here.

In this world, land was not valuable.

Houses were not valuable.

But safety was valuable.

"Go take a look at that one," Chen Ping said with a hint of pain.

The house was a combination of wood and rammed earth structure, not too big or too small. It had three rooms, totaling a little over a hundred square meters, with an external kitchen.

There was a small courtyard outside the house, not very big, but enough for practicing swordsmanship or other activities.

Chen Ping was quite satisfied.

He also liked the environment of this street. The stone path was relatively clean, and the houses were arranged in an orderly manner. Although it couldn't compare to the luxury and grandeur of the western district, it still gave a comfortable feeling.

After seeing it, Chen Ping decisively paid the deposit and rent, and rented the house.

It may be a bit expensive.

But it was worth it for the sake of safety.

After seeing off He Xianxiang and the person in charge, Chen Ping tidied up the house. Since the previous tenant had just moved out yesterday, the house wasn't dirty and didn't leave much garbage, making it easy to clean.

After finishing, he went out to buy some daily necessities, including a month's worth of Spirit Rice and Demonic Beast meat. When he returned home, he decorated a bit.

Lying on the soft bedding at night, without any sour smell, Chen Ping smiled contentedly.

"I finally have a home."

(End of this chapter)