Chapter 588: Bottleneck

"Fortunately, I didn't lose my head and try to learn from Song Shentong back then; otherwise, I fear my bones would have gone cold long ago..."

After seeing the old man Donglong off, Aaron sighed inwardly.

"However... I should have guessed it sooner. Since Immortal Cultivators are not without desire or need, it is obvious they wouldn't truly leave the secular world alone..."

According to the old man Donglong, the ironclad rule that "Immortal Cultivators cannot interfere in secular affairs" is actually a regulation promulgated by the Qingding Sect.

In the Lin Kingdom, there is indeed no Immortal Cultivator who dares to defy it.

Of course, they dare not do so openly, but they often skirt the rules in private; as long as it isn't exposed, the Qingding Sect generally cannot be bothered to intervene.

Only when it involves major events like the succession of the imperial throne does the Qingding Sect inevitably take notice.

"Or rather... is this what it feels like to cultivate immortality?"

But it doesn't matter; he still has Spirit Stones, and once he finishes eating, he can just buy another stone.

The old man Donglong's eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly revealed a knowing smile that all men understand: "I see, Brother Yu, could it be that you have a particular fondness for brothels? I must say, I visited secular brothels in my youth, but I always felt they were lacking something... they don't compare to the charm of female cultivators, hehe... There are no brothels on the surface within our market, but in reality, there are a few female cultivators who secretly run such businesses, all of whom have practiced Charm Technique, Cauldron Maiden Technique, or even the Spring Chirp Technique... Shall I take you to see for yourself another day?"

"Taking a 'Foundation Establishment Pill' not only greatly increases the chances of Foundation Establishment, but even if one fails, it can save one's life... It is fundamentally impossible for anyone to sell one."

Hearing him say this, Donglong also revealed a look of emotion: "You've hit a bottleneck, haven't you? We cultivators are all driven to the brink of madness by bottlenecks..."

He now knows that a Qi Refining Tenth Layer Immortal Cultivator needs the assistance of a "Foundation Establishment Pill" to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Of course, it is not impossible to attempt it on one's own, but the success rate is extremely low, only about ten percent, and failure results in the meridians snapping and death!

"The second method is to take risks and engage in magical combat... to gain enlightenment on the edge of life and death; those who survive break through, but more die."

After inwardly despising Donglong, Aaron heard Donglong continue: "Brother Yu, do you want to take a few concubines? Now is a good time; the world outside is in chaos, and even the daughters of noble families and prominent clans are available in abundance. Just take your pick..."

The two had been acquainted for several months, so his speech had become much more relaxed.

"That goes without saying, how precious are Spirit Pills that break through realms? Especially those that assist in breaking through from the Qi Refining Middle Stage to the Late Stage... According to my estimation, one can occasionally see them at the annual small Auction House... and at the decennial grand Auction House, one is bound to see them!" The old man Donglong was indeed a local expert, having heard much of such news.

Thus, several months passed.

Furthermore, since there are more men than women in the Immortal Cultivation World, it is not at all strange that every young female cultivator is followed by several or even a dozen suitors.

"What a pity, could it be that you, Brother Yu, want to find a female cultivator as a wife? That would be a bit difficult..."

Aaron sighed: "Moreover, in those pill shops, the Spirit Pills that can increase cultivation are in short supply, and I have never once seen pills that assist in breaking through realms..."

"No... I have never thought about starting a family."

The old man Donglong chuckled: "Once one appears, even the Dongmen Family would tear off their masks and ignore all rules... Otherwise, if another Foundation Establishment cultivator were to emerge among us Loose Cultivators, wouldn't that shake the foundation of the Dongmen Family's rule?"

During this period, the chaos in the Lin Kingdom spread; it is said that several battles have already been fought, creating mountains of corpses and seas of blood everywhere, resulting in many refugees.

In Aaron's view, it truly had the flavor of strolling leisurely, unconcerned with the world, watching the flowers bloom and fall.

This was a lie; in reality, Aaron felt that breaking through to the Qi Refining Late Stage was a matter of these next two days.

Aaron smiled and shook his head.

"My path is still full of hope, and I do not wish to spend time on meaningless things..." Aaron feigned the image of a seeker of the Tao and politely declined Donglong's suggestion.

He would absolutely not gamble, so he could only plan for the Foundation Establishment Pill in advance.

Female Immortal Cultivators are very fond of techniques that include Youth Preserving or even beauty-enhancing effects, so there are basically no ugly ones.

"Oh? Then are there any 'Foundation Establishment Pills' for auction?" Aaron's eyes lit up.

"Cough, cough... I didn't buy this, I rented it, and the rental period is already half over..." Aaron sighed: "I originally thought about spending all my savings to make a push to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage... I didn't expect it to be so difficult."

"Tsk tsk... this environment, this Spirit Qi..."

One day.

"Old man Donglong, didn't you claim to be a collateral branch of the Dongmen Family?" Aaron glanced at him sideways and said.

Inside the Bing-37 Cave Abode.

The old man Donglong, visiting for the first time, looked left and right with a face full of envy: "If I, an old man, had a house like this in the market, it would be worth dying for..."

Their interactions during this time had allowed Aaron to know that this old man Donglong was old in years but not in heart, with a house full of wives and concubines, all of whom were mortal women he had collected.

The old man Donglong sighed: "Whenever one encounters a bottleneck in cultivation, one must either rely on time to slowly endure it, but who knows if that will take years, decades, or even a lifetime!"

'Thinking about it this way... is it possible that Huang Wenlong himself is related to Immortal Cultivators?'

Of course, all of this had nothing to do with Dongmen Valley.

Therefore, the chaotic world of the Lin Kingdom was merely fodder for conversation among Immortal Cultivators in Dongmen Market after tea and meals...

Not to mention that ordinary people and the chaotic armies could not enter Dongmen Valley at all; even if they did, facing Immortal Cultivators, they would only be slaughtered like vegetables.

After all, this old man was naturally a bit of a blabbermouth.

Aaron walked with his hands behind his back, strolled around the market a bit more, and then returned to his Cave Abode to start cooking Spirit Rice.

"The third method is the safest and most convenient, which is to go and purchase various spiritual items that can help with breakthroughs, such as Spirit Pills!"

"Hehe... even the grace of a gentleman is cut off after five generations; what is there to say about someone like me who has even changed his surname?" The old man Donglong didn't care at all, pulled out his jade-mouthed pipe, and took a puff after lighting the tobacco: "I am limited by my aptitude, and this is all I will ever be, but my obedient son has truly exceptional aptitude. When he grows up a bit more, I will send him to the Qingding Sect!"

Donglong shook his head and swayed.

Furthermore, his eldest son was only a mortal and had already died of old age, while his youngest son was not yet ten years old...

"The first two methods are not very reliable; the third method is the best... but alas, I lack Spirit Stones."

One stone of rice in the Lin Kingdom is one hundred catties; he eats at least two catties a day, so it would be finished in about fifty days.

"Oh?"

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

Aaron thought for a moment and said righteously: "We righteous cultivators are at odds with Demonesses and enchantresses... even if I am short on funds, I must go and properly criticize them!"

(End of chapter)