Staying In The World Of Cultivation

Chapter 11: Wintering

Su Fan had just left the market when several huge flying boats flew over from a distance.

Each flying boat was dozens of zhang long, with a thin mist surrounding its exterior and occasionally emitting the aura of formations.

When passing over the market, one of the flying boats descended.

A large number of cultivators poured out from the market, including descendants of immortal cultivation families, disciples of sects, and many Independent Cultivators from around the market.

Every time there was a conflict between immortals and demons, the sects were quite generous in hiring Independent Cultivators as cannon fodder.

Not only were they given enough spirit stones, but they could also earn various cultivation resources on the battlefield, just like the disciples of the sects.

For these unfortunate Independent Cultivators, it was undoubtedly a rare opportunity.

Although they knew they would be used as cannon fodder, many Independent Cultivators still went to enlist.

Su Fan shook his head, wondering how many of them would come back alive.

Anyway, he wouldn't join in the excitement. Why risk his life when he could live well?

By the time he returned home, it was already afternoon. After having a meal, Su Fan began to process the monster meat.

He had originally planned to buy some smoked monster meat, but when he arrived at the market, there was none available.

Because it was convenient to carry, many cultivators who went to Qin Country to join in the excitement would buy some.

Even though the price had more than doubled, it was still in short supply.

By the time Su Fan went, there was no more left.

Moreover, the price of smoked monster meat had also more than doubled, and he couldn't afford to spend that much money.

There was no other way, he could only figure it out himself.

Su Fan cut the fresh monster meat into ten-centimeter-wide strips and washed them briefly with strong liquor.

He poured soy sauce into a pot, added spices such as fragrant leaves, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns, and boiled it for a while.

After scooping it out and letting it cool, he soaked the monster meat in the soy sauce broth for three days and three nights.

Then he took the meat out and hung it in the yard to air dry for seven days.

This kind of soy sauce meat could be stored for a long time. When you wanted to eat it, you just needed to slice it and steam it in a pot. The taste was amazing.

In his previous life, he was from the north and couldn't get used to the southern-style cured meat.

So he made this soy sauce meat at home, which had a taste and texture no worse than cured meat, and didn't have the taste he couldn't get used to.

The next day, the shop delivered water jars, a large cart of vegetables, and other supplies.

Winter was coming, and the temperature was already very low. Frost had begun to form on the withered grass and trees in the early morning.

At this time of year, the weather could change at any moment.

One night, the cold air from the north would descend, and the biting cold wind would make you feel bone-chilling.

Su Fan began to prepare for winter, and the first thing he did was dig a vegetable cellar.

He had seen people dig one at his grandmother's house in the countryside before, and it wasn't difficult.

In a corner of the small courtyard near the northern room, he dug a square pit and petrified the inner walls and bottom with a "Fossilization Talisman".

Then he used wooden boards to cover it, laid dry straw on top, and covered it with soil.

In the vegetable cellar, wooden shelves were set up to store winter vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and radishes, ensuring a supply of fresh vegetables throughout the winter.

He also used large Chinese cabbages to pickle several large jars of sour cabbage and made several jars of pickled vegetables.

He bought a lot of cucumbers and daikon radishes, cut them into strips, and salted them.

He strung them up with ropes and dried them in the courtyard along with Chinese cabbages, cowpeas, and green beans.

These dried vegetables would be stewed with meat in the winter.

With heavy snowfall outside, he placed the steaming dried green beans and pork belly on the heated kang bed, and enjoyed a drink of wine.

Su Fan didn't know how other cultivators were living.

But even if he became an immortal, he still wanted to live a flavorful life.

In the meantime, he went to the market and bought a lot of Spirit Rice and Monster meat. He also bought a lot of firewood for the winter.

The price of Spirit Rice had risen, and there were rumors of possible restrictions on its purchase in the future.

With the mountains sealed off by heavy snow in winter, even the most desperate independent cultivators wouldn't dare to hunt in this season.

As long as the war between immortals and demons continued, this situation would persist.

If the winter supplies were not prepared, one might not starve to death, but life would definitely be uncomfortable.

After two days of running around, he finally finished these tasks.

Su Fan walked around inside and outside the house with his hands behind his back.

The rice jar in the outer room was filled with crystal-clear Spirit Rice, and the firewood piled up next to the stove almost reached the roof.

In the courtyard, there were more than a dozen water jars and jars placed in the corner, and all the meat strips and dried vegetables were hung in the small courtyard.

With these things done, he could finally settle down and cultivate.

No matter how long the war between immortals and demons lasted, he didn't have to worry about shortages of supplies this winter.

In the early morning, snowflakes began to fall outside.

This was the first snow of the winter.

Su Fan took the tongs and put a few pieces of spiritual wood charcoal into the fire basin in the middle of the house.

The price of spiritual wood charcoal in the market had been rising, and he didn't know what it had to do with the war between immortals and demons.

There was no choice but to use it.

Ordinary charcoal would produce smoke and affect the cultivation of cultivators.

In this cold weather, without heating or air conditioning, everything relied on this fire basin in the house.

Don't think that cultivators can withstand the cold, that's only after reaching the Foundation Building stage.

Of course, if he could afford a sealed robe with a formation, he wouldn't have to suffer like this.

But even if he sold himself, he couldn't afford such a robe.

Su Fan rubbed his hands together and sat cross-legged on the cushion.

He took out a Qi Nourishing Pill, put it in his mouth, and then began to operate the Primordial Origin Technique.

After a month of summarizing, taking one Qi Nourishing Pill every three days, the proficiency of each month's Qi Refining stage increased by about eight points.

At this rate, it would take about a year to reach the peak of the third level of Qi Refining.

This cultivation speed was already quite fast.

Other independent cultivators also have such fast cultivation speed, I guess they can even wake up laughing from their dreams.

The reason for this speed, of course, cannot be separated from the game panel.

Also, Thunder Dao Body has improved his aptitude, coupled with taking the Qi Pill.

Anyway, Su Fan is very satisfied.

After cultivating the Primordial Origin Technique, he opened the panel.

[Name] Su Fan

[Life Span] 36/92 years old

[Realm] Qi Refining Third Layer: 9/100

[Cultivation Techniques]

1. Primordial Origin Technique (Rank One): 23/100.

2. Cross Training Body Tempering Art (Rank Two): 45/200.

3. Heavenly Demon Sacred Body Technique (Rank One): 100/100.

[Techniques]

1. Aura Examination Technique (Proficient): 85/800.

2. Light Body Technique (Proficient): 242/800.

3. Spirit Concealment Technique (Proficient): 72/800.

4. Intent Manifestation Fist (Great Completion): 265/400.

5. Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes (Great Completion): 151/400.

[Skills]

1. Green Lamp Talisman (Novice): 35/100.

[Divine Ability] None.

Both techniques have reached "proficient" level, and at least one level of improvement can be expected.

The current "Aura Examination Technique" and the Middle Grade "Aura Concealing Technique" are not much different.

The "Spirit Concealment Technique" is even more powerful, far surpassing the Middle Grade "Aura Concealing Technique".

The Nine Extreme Continuous Slashes and Intent Manifestation Fist, after reaching Great Completion, have greatly increased in power, but it is still only a quantitative change.

It seems that techniques can only undergo a fundamental qualitative change when they advance to the "proficient" realm.

When he first started using the newly bought sword, it didn't feel very handy.

After practicing with it for a month, he has now completely adapted to it as his strength has grown.

Feeling good, Su Fan adjusted his mindset and started drawing talismans.

With the increase in divine sense and continuous practice, he has now successfully drawn the "Green Lamp Talisman" with a success rate of about thirty percent.

This success rate is currently losing money, at least fifty percent is needed to see a profit.

Su Fan is not counting on making spirit stones with the Green Lamp Talisman, he is just using it as a beginner's practice to gain experience.

So, he doesn't plan to draw the Green Lamp Talisman next.

After careful consideration, Su Fan is ready to study the "Evil Expelling Talisman".

The dirty thing from last time still gives him lingering fear.

Today is his first time officially drawing the "Evil Expelling Talisman".

Although he has studied the Evil Expelling Talisman for several days and copied it many times on rice paper, he still doesn't have much confidence.

Su Fan held the brush, his gaze focused, his wrist moved like a snake, and the tip of the brush was agile and lively, spreading delicate and beautiful crimson arcs on the talisman paper.

Like flowing clouds and water, smooth and natural.

The ink was even, creating a world within the square inch.

When a complex and mysterious pattern appeared on the talisman paper, the surface of the paper suddenly brightened, then dimmed, returning to normal.

"It succeeded..."

Su Fan breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

He didn't expect to succeed on the first try, luck is good at the beginning.

He opened the panel, and the panel has been updated: Evil Expelling Talisman (Novice): 1/100.

So, he continued to draw talismans with even more effort.

Time passed bit by bit, Su Fan's expression focused and concentrated, he wielded the brush on the desk, completely immersed in a state of forgetfulness.

In this state, he seemed to have divine assistance, and he succeeded twice with the next five talisman papers.

Su Fan rubbed his slightly sore temples and got up to go to the courtyard.

Looking at the snowflakes falling from the sky, he started to miss home a little.

His father's leg is not good, and every winter, the old problem comes back.

At this time, his mother would scold him every day.

If something were to happen to him, they wouldn't know how sad they would be.

"Sigh... I won't think about it..."

Su Fan sighed and was about to turn around and go back inside when he heard a knock on the door.

He walked over and asked.

"Who is it..."

"Brother Su, I brought a bottle of spirit wine today. Do you want to taste it?"

Su Fan smiled and opened the courtyard door.

"Brother, I knew you would come when it snowed today..."

Xu Wen laughed and stuffed the spirit wine into Su Fan's arms, then handed over two oil-paper-wrapped packages.

"You take the wine inside, I'll go home first. I'll come over at noon, and the two of us can have a drink..."

After saying that, he turned and went to the neighboring courtyard. He hadn't been home for a few days, and the two concubines in the house didn't know how to nag him.

Su Fan went back to the house and put down the spirit wine and oil-paper-wrapped packages.

Taking advantage of the early time, he also prepared a few dishes.

One was Northeast-style sauerkraut with pork, one was stewed monster meat with dried beans, one was steamed soy sauce pork, and he also made a stir-fried vegetable dish.

Adding the two packages of cooked food brought by Xu Wen, everything was ready.

Thanks to the support and votes from the esteemed Bai and the monthly tickets, Old Bu feels deeply grateful. Thanks to Lao Yao for the continuous recommendations. Old Bu can only work hard to write the book and appreciate everyone's support and encouragement.

(End of this chapter)