Chapter 24: Chapter 24: The Spider Demon’s Reciprocity, the Scatter-Wealth Girl [Seeking Collection and Recommendation Tickets] _1
After Sha Chen’s talent enhancement, his cultivation speed soared dramatically.
He became even more eager for a potential transformation akin to a rebirth.
Only after becoming a genius did he realize how important talent truly is. Before, he was merely wasting time.
Previously, refining Elixirs and Immortal Herbs was like a cow chewing on peonies; his earlier cultivation progress was like a child playing house.
Now that his talent and potential had changed, and he also cultivated the Primeval Chaos Dao Method, his cultivation finally seemed to be on the right track.
Sha Chen felt that with this talent, even his survival tactics were more enjoyable.
However, after the talent enhancement, Sha Chen found himself even poorer. The cultivation resources he originally had were running low, and the Immortal Elixirs compensated by the Tongtian Hierarch were nearly all refined away.
He had thought what was left would support him for decades, but following the talent improvement, it probably wouldn’t last more than a few months. Now, he was left with only a dozen or so Elixirs and Immortal Herbs. Those were what he had managed to save by scrimping and saving.
The Peaches of Immortality tree hadn’t matured yet, nor were other Elixirs and Immortal Herbs cultivated. After all, growing crops takes time. Even though he had Post-Heaven Earth to shorten the cultivation period, it didn’t eliminate the growth process entirely.
Three months later, Sha Chen had exhausted all his Elixirs and Immortal Herbs.
His cultivation level still hadn’t broken through, and he couldn’t even think about accessing more resources.
Sha Chen started accepting the reality of true ascetic cultivation without resources, a process that required time to simmer and temper. The ’years of cultivation’ a certain Elixir claimed to add merely represented the cultivation accumulated by someone at a particular level over many years, under conditions of having no cultivation resources and only an ordinary Cultivation Method.
Sha Chen now needed to accumulate Mana. He was prepared for a long and arduous struggle, and he estimated that his next breakthrough might come after a thousand years. This was already considering his enhanced talent and the switch to the Primeval Chaos Dao Method. Otherwise, it would be at least ten thousand years. This is the reality of the cultivation realm: harsh and true.
That is why the Tongtian Hierarch said, how can you improve yourself if you don’t struggle or compete?
Meanwhile, the Tongtian Hierarch, at Zi Zhi Cliff, also noticed Sha Chen’s plight and found it amusing. Without cultivation resources, I’d like to see how you cultivate. Not fighting, not robbing, do you really think you’re in for bitter cultivation? I don’t believe it!
The Tongtian Hierarch chuckled to himself, also thinking that Sha Chen might not be able to resist breaking out soon. If Sha Chen really did break out, he would have a reason to pull Sha Chen into his ranks. However, he also decided that if Sha Chen really did come out, he planned to teach him a lesson before recruiting him. Young people must be taught a lesson; otherwise, he might think I absolutely need him.
But then, the Tongtian Hierarch was disappointed.
After Sha Chen ran out of cultivation resources, he didn’t even shift his position but continued to cultivate. He really could withstand loneliness and remain in poverty, focusing solely on his arduous training.
A year went by like this, and he planned to continue for thousands, even tens of thousands of years. The Tongtian Hierarch completely lost his patience. How can his willpower be so strong? How can he be so patient? Impossible! The Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart torment him every day, and with a lack of resources, he should want to leave even more. But he has endured the Thousand Swords Piercing The Heart, can withstand loneliness, and continues to focus on his bitter cultivation. How is this possible!?
The Tongtian Hierarch was astonished, his gaze growing increasingly complicated. He had originally thought of Sha Chen as possessing mere determination and eccentricity, worthy of becoming an acknowledged Disciple. But now, he realized that Sha Chen possessed the necessary qualities for success, which made him value him even more. He now wanted Sha Chen even more!
Several years passed since Sha Chen had to cultivate without resources. His cultivation level continued to improve steadily, yet there were no signs of a breakthrough.
「This day.」
Someone beyond the river was shouting Sha Chen’s name. "General for Folding the Curtain, are you still there? It’s me, Seventh Mother. I’ve come to see you." It was Seventh Mother, a Spider Essence and one of the Seven Immortal Maidens.
Sha Chen opened his eyes and looked over with his Fiery Golden Eyes. He muttered, Didn’t we agree that the matter was settled? Why have they come again?
Sha Chen did not respond, feeling that the Spider Essences might be looking for trouble. But this time, the Spider Essences did not get angry. Instead, they stated their purpose frankly and even directly descended to the bottom of the river, right in front of the Formation. Although they could not see the Formation, they knew it was before their eyes.
The seven Spider Essences stood in a row, quite a pleasing sight, yet Sha Chen was filled with revulsion. He did not see them as beauties, but as seductive skeletons, there to disturb his Dao heart. Seventh Mother said, "General for Folding the Curtain, please respond to us. We know you are here."
Sha Chen eventually replied, "What is it? Didn’t we agree that the matter was over?"
The seven Spider Essences were instantly overjoyed. Knowing that Sha Chen was rather aloof, they promptly declared their intentions. Seventh Mother said, "General, we learned from the Third Prince of the West Sea that you enjoy cultivating and dislike fighting. We took that to heart. But then, after returning, we felt you must be suffering here, probably depleted, with no resources for cultivation. So, over the past few years, we’ve collected some resources and brought them to you, hoping you won’t disdain them."
Then, each of them took out a Qiankun Bag, their faces full of shyness and anticipation.
Sha Chen was taken aback and quickly manifested his image above the Formation. Upon looking at the seven Spider Essences again, he had a different thought: These are hardly seductive skeletons! Clearly, they are Scatter-Wealth Girls, and there are seven of them. Good people indeed!
Sha Chen quickly manifested his form and said, "I thank you all for your generous offer, but I cannot accept rewards without services rendered. I truly dare not accept." He feared that the Spider Essences had some ulterior motive. Accepting favors could leave him indebted and entangled in karma.
The Spider Essences quickly waved their hands, saying, "General, you misunderstand. Our respect for you is sincere, and we simply wish to do something for you." Seventh Mother added, "General, don’t be wary of us. We truly want to help you."
Sha Chen was suspicious and uncertain, then called out to the Choice System in his heart. However, the system did not respond. He knew then that the Spider Essences likely had no schemes; otherwise, the system would certainly have prompted him to make a choice.
The Spider Essences were offering resources. Sha Chen felt he had to give something in return, or else he would owe a favor, which would make him uneasy. He then said, "I cannot accept rewards without services rendered. How about this: I shall reciprocate by gifting you ladies some Mysterious Heavenly Water."
He then filled a small pond’s worth of Mysterious Heavenly Water and gave it to the seven Spider Essences. Afterward, he accepted the resources they offered him. The Spider Essences were very happy, and Sha Chen was even happier. It was truly a joyous occasion for all.
Then, Sha Chen was eager to continue his seclusion, but his benefactor, Seventh Mother, clearly had more to say, so he patiently waited for them to bid farewell. Seventh Mother said, "General, there’s one more thing. We have an elder brother who, upon hearing about you, plans to force you out of the water. We think that’s not right, so we came to inform you."
Sha Chen was startled, suspecting that the one Seventh Mother referred to was probably the Centipede Essence. Why would he also come to cause trouble!? Sha Chen had a headache but believed that the Centipede Essence would not be able to enter the Formation. He could simply ignore him when the time came.
Then, with anticipation, he said, "Is there anything else? If not, you should hurry back and take a bath. The water here is dirty and not fit for a prolonged stay." He was tactfully issuing a dismissal, as it would not do to be too blunt with his benefactors.
But they misunderstood!