Chapter 68: A Smooth Life Rising to Nobility
Seated within the tranquil courtyard of his villa, Gu Qing Yi reclined lazily in a lounge chair, taking an idle bite from a steamed bun. Her voice was unhurried as she spoke, “You mean to tell me that the manual left to you by the Venerable One contains no mention of cultivation stages?”
Opposite her, Chen Yan sat upright, his posture as earnest as a studious child before a master, nodding solemnly. “Yes. It only contains the Vital Energy Circulation Method but says nothing about how to temper the Primordial Spirit or progress beyond the Origin Stage.”
Gu Qing Yi frowned slightly, a trace of curiosity flickering in her gaze. “Before reaching Origin Stage, we cultivators guide energy into our bodies, using it to temper our flesh, fortify our bones, and strengthen our internal organs. Our bodies become the vessel—capable of holding greater and greater reserves of energy. But there is a limit to how much the body can be refined through energy alone.
Unless one follows the path of Battle Method cultivation, like I do, continuing to hone the body for combat, most cultivators take a different road at this stage. Origin Stage marks the point where Vital Energy has refined the body to its utmost—further improvement becomes minimal. Thus, one must begin the cultivation of the Primordial Spirit.
Beyond Origin Stage lies Platform Ascension Stage, a crucial step before breaking into the legendary Celestial Realm. That transition is blocked by an immense threshold, requiring mastery in two areas.
The first is Vital Energy Cultivation—in essence, a continued refinement of the body. A weak vessel cannot hold immense power. So, even those who focus on the Primordial Spirit must first perfect their physical foundation.
The second is the test of the Primordial Spirit itself. If one’s spirit lacks strength, they will never breach the threshold into Celestial Realm.
For most cultivators, Origin Stage is when they turn their focus inward—to temper the Primordial Spirit, preparing for the next great ascent.”
Chen Yan furrowed his brows. “But the Old Madam left me no techniques for refining my Primordial Spirit. Just a single method for circulating Vital Energy…”
Gu Qing Yi’s chewing slowed, her expression momentarily frozen in disbelief. “That… is very unusual. If she did not intend for you to pursue the Battle Method, why would she withhold Primordial Spirit cultivation techniques? She gave you the Vital Energy Circulation Method, so why stop there?”
Chen Yan sighed, lowering his gaze in thought. “I don’t know… Can you teach me a method to temper the Primordial Spirit?”
Gu Qing Yi shook her head slowly. “It’s not that I don’t want to—it’s that I can’t.”
A quiet sigh escaped her lips, her tone calm yet resolute. “I follow the Battle Method. In my path, we do not cultivate the Primordial Spirit in the traditional sense. Instead, we temper our spirits through battle, forging our wills through conflict and bloodshed.
That is why I spent five years on the Hell-Suppressing Platform. Our method is to sharpen ourselves against adversity—strengthening our spirits through relentless combat.
But this path is not for you. Battle Method cultivators must begin as children. I entered at five years old. You are twenty-two now—your bones have set, your body is formed. Even if you were to switch paths now, you would never reach true mastery.”
Chen Yan’s heart weighed heavy with uncertainty. “Then… does this mean I will be stuck in Origin Stage forever?”
“Not necessarily. You can still progress to Platform Ascension Stage. But without a way to refine your Primordial Spirit, you will be one of the weakest within that realm. Any seasoned cultivator in Platform Ascension Stage could suppress you with a mere thought.”
A long silence stretched between them before Chen Yan finally murmured, “Maybe… the Old Madam never intended for me to break into Celestial Realm at all. Maybe she wanted me to stop at Platform Ascension Stage, to remain among mortals.”
Gu Qing Yi said nothing, simply watching him with an unreadable expression.
Chen Yan exhaled slowly, voicing the thoughts unraveling in his mind. “My father, Chen Jue, was reviled in your Domain Realm—whatever he did, it must have been grave. He must have incurred immense karmic burdens. Perhaps… the Old Madam did not want me to inherit that fate. Perhaps she wanted me to remain in this world, untouched by the conflicts of the greater realms.”
A wry smile tugged at his lips. “If I stay at Platform Ascension Stage, I am of no consequence to the Domain Realm. But here, in the mortal world, the knowledge she left me is more than enough to live in wealth and ease.”
A flicker of complexity stirred in Gu Qing Yi’s gaze as she murmured softly, “Then, the Venerable One wished for you… to live a smooth life, rising to nobility, untouched by calamity?”
Chen Yan felt a pang deep within his chest.
For a moment, he longed for the Old Madam’s presence.
Yet, if this truly was her will, he bore no resentment. Everything he had—his skills, his life—had been gifts from her. Her intentions, whether for his protection or limitation, could only be met with gratitude.
——And from the fragments Gu Qing Yi had spoken of, Chen Yan could already glimpse the truth: the Domain Realm was no paradise.
“Then… what about the Sinister Yin Energy we gathered from slaying the Mountain Fiend last night?” Chen Yan asked suddenly. “You mentioned it could help me temper my Primordial Spirit—but if I have no method, isn’t it useless?”
Gu Qing Yi chuckled bitterly. “I hadn’t realized back then that the Venerable One had never given you a Primordial Spirit cultivation method.”
Seeing the flicker of disappointment in Chen Yan’s eyes, she hesitated—then spoke with careful deliberation. “Tempering the Primordial Spirit is like forging a divine weapon. Without a forge, you cannot craft the blade.
But… even without a forge, one can still sharpen a dull edge.
Though you lack the means to forge your Primordial Spirit, you can still harden it. The Sinister Yin Energy may not let you craft a divine blade, but it can still serve as a whetstone—honing your spirit, making it just a little more resilient.”
Chen Yan looked up, his eyes glimmering with newfound resolve.
Chen Yan waved his hand, his thoughts tangled like threads in the wind. “Keep it, then. If it proves useful, it won’t be a waste.”
Yet, deep in his heart, he knew—his path of cultivation was drawing to a close. He had reached the Origin Stage, and beyond that, only the Ascension Stage awaited. And after that? The end of the road. No further paths revealed themselves.
Thinking of this, a sense of listlessness seeped into his bones, his usual vigor dulled.
—
At that very moment, Hu Shang Ke found himself at the peak of his mortal journey.
Seated in the reception hall of a real estate agency, his trembling hands clutched a thick folder. Page after page of property deeds lay before him, along with neatly arranged copies of ownership certificates.
Across from him, Assistant Yan sat in quiet composure, his sharp gaze dissecting every flicker of emotion on Hu Shang Ke’s face. Slowly, he spoke, “The last time, it was you who managed to lease out my employer’s villa. Your efficiency was commendable. I reported back, and my employer was quite pleased with your capabilities. As a result, he has decided to entrust you with a greater responsibility.”
Hu Shang Ke’s eyes widened as he gripped the folder tighter. “These… all of these?”
“Seventeen properties in total,” Assistant Yan confirmed. “Four of them will have their leases expire this month, two more next month. The rest remain vacant, awaiting tenants. These are properties my employer has acquired over the years as investments. And from now on, their leasing and management shall fall under your sole authority.”
Hu Shang Ke swallowed hard. “So… all this business… it goes to our company now?”
“Not your company.”
Assistant Yan shook his head.
Hu Shang Ke blinked, uncertain.
Assistant Yan’s lips curled into an amused smile. “They go to you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. My employer has decreed that these properties are now your exclusive domain. We will only recognize you in any transactions. No one else.”
Hu Shang Ke’s heart thundered like a war drum. He skimmed through the documents, his mind racing. These were not just ordinary properties—they were prime residential units, each roughly a hundred square meters, fully furnished, ready for immediate occupancy. Situated in mid-to-high-end districts, such properties rarely lingered long in the rental market. If priced right, they would move swiftly.
And—seventeen of them!
If he brokered the deals personally and earned commissions on each, the cut he’d receive…
Seventeen transactions. That was nearly a hundred thousand in commission alone!
“You may list them through your agency’s platform, on other platforms, or even operate privately. We won’t interfere. We recognize only your hand in these dealings.”
As Assistant Yan laid out the conditions, Hu Shang Ke’s eyes gleamed with ambition, though a tinge of anxiety crept into his thoughts. He stole a glance at Assistant Yan, hesitating before shifting his gaze back to the folder in his grasp.
“Uh… Assistant Yan…”
“Just Assistant Yan is fine,” the man corrected him with a warm smile.
Hu Shang Ke licked his lips, his voice steadier now. “I may be young, but I know there’s no such thing as a favor without reason. You and your employer have placed such trust in me—I know my own worth, and it certainly doesn’t merit this level of generosity. Sure, I handled the villa rental, but that hardly justifies all this.”
His hands clenched. “So what is it you’re really after? Let’s be clear—I’m just a regular guy, and I won’t touch anything illegal.”
Assistant Yan let out a quiet chuckle. He leaned forward, patting Hu Shang Ke on the shoulder in a reassuring manner. “You think too much. There’s nothing illicit about this arrangement—absolutely nothing shady involved.”
His voice turned lighter, almost casual. “And let’s not exaggerate the scale of this favor. You’re simply leasing the properties, not owning them. In the end, rent is rent, no matter who handles it. For us, the revenue remains unchanged. To my employer, it’s a trivial matter.”
Hu Shang Ke exhaled sharply, his mind spinning.
[To me, this is a windfall. No—a golden goose that keeps laying eggs.]
These seventeen properties weren’t a one-time opportunity. If the arrangement continued, once the leases expired and new tenants moved in, he’d earn yet another round of commissions.
[This is a lifelong meal ticket!]
For a fleeting moment, he considered if he was being groomed for something beyond business. Were they targeting him for some secret reason? But no—wasn’t it said that those shadowy figures preferred rugged, square-jawed types with cropped hair and beards?
[I’m definitely not their type.]
“Don’t overthink it,” Assistant Yan reassured him. “My employer has always had an eye for nurturing young talents. You showed competence, and so he gave you a chance. Keep proving yourself, and you’ll earn even greater opportunities.”
Then, glancing at his watch, Assistant Yan stretched slightly. “It’s almost noon. Shall we have lunch together?”
“Yes! Absolutely!” Hu Shang Ke, ever the socialite, was quick to respond. “My treat!”
Assistant Yan gave a knowing smile, neither overly enthusiastic nor distant. “Alright. I’ll let you arrange it.”
At noon, they found a well-rated restaurant near the agency. Hu Shang Ke had initially wanted to book somewhere grander, but Assistant Yan declined, citing a busy afternoon ahead.
Despite the modest venue, Hu Shang Ke went all out—ordering a full spread and even stepping out to purchase a fine bottle of wine.
Half a bottle in, the atmosphere grew warm, laughter smoothing the tension. Though Hu Shang Ke was skilled at socializing, he was still young—barely half a year into his career. Against a seasoned veteran like Assistant Yan, he stood little chance.
With well-placed curiosity and feigned casualness, Assistant Yan brought up Chen Yan.
“A man who dares to rent a haunted house is bound to attract intrigue. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Unaware of the trap, emboldened by drink, Hu Shang Ke loosened his tongue and began to talk…
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation