Chapter 8

After eating three steamed bun baskets and two bowls of noodles at the breakfast shop, he felt only a third full, thinking he could still eat two more servings.

However, Jiang Le didn’t dare to eat any more.

If he continued eating like this, the neighborhood would probably start spreading rumors that the Jiang family boy had turned into a foodie.

He quickly pretended to be full, paid with a smile, and ran off.

After turning down two streets and getting away from his own neighborhood, Jiang Le entered another breakfast shop and ate another bowl of noodles and two steamed bun baskets.

In this way, Jiang Le visited four breakfast shops in succession, finally satisfying his rumbling stomach.

However, seeing that his money was reduced by half, Jiang Le felt like crying but couldn’t.

He was too hungry, and at this rate, how could he possibly keep up?

No, he had to find his master in the evening and ask for an explanation, to make sure there wasn’t something wrong with his cultivation.

With a troubled heart, Jiang Le went to school, found the homeroom teacher of Class 3-7, and asked for a three-day leave. Then he quickly rushed to the antique shop.

At this moment, the antique shop was already draped in white mourning banners, and the two neighboring families were very devoted to handling the funeral arrangements for Old Man Jin.

Jiang Le expressed his gratitude and then started to busily help out.

Although Old Man Jin had no relatives, the funeral wouldn’t be very grand, but Jiang Le insisted on giving him a proper send-off.

At the crematorium, he thanked the guests as a family member.

He invited guests, all of whom were fellow antique dealers from the antique street. They didn’t need to give money, but they had to show up to add to the funeral’s atmosphere.

So, the whole day was carried out with great solemnity.

After sending Old Man Jin to be cremated in the afternoon, the process was finally over.

After thanking and seeing off the guests who came to the funeral, Jiang Le took Old Man Jin’s ashes back to the antique shop.

The urn was naturally placed in the Jin family ancestral hall, at the bottom of the row of spirit tablets.

He still lacked a spirit tablet, which Jiang Le had already commissioned, but it would take a few days to arrive.

However, looking at the dozens of Jin family spirit tablets, Jiang Le couldn’t help but sigh.

This Jin family, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, was now at an end.

He also couldn’t understand why Old Man Jin hadn’t left any descendants. He didn’t seem like someone who couldn’t afford a wife.

"Throughout history, many cultivators have met with misfortune. How many return from their graves? This old man, despite his family being scattered and his life being tumultuous, still had someone to see him off in his old age, which is much better than most of his peers who died in the wilderness without a proper burial." A red light flashed, and Mao Xiaofang emerged from Jiang Le’s backpack, sighing.

Jiang Le turned to look at Mao Xiaofang and couldn’t help but ask, "Master, why didn’t Old Man Jin leave any descendants?"

Mao Xiaofang was taken aback by the question, fell silent for a moment, and then his expression turned somewhat melancholic.

Jiang Le looked at him, puzzled.

After a long time, Mao Xiaofang sighed, "To be honest, I haven’t left any descendants either."

Jiang Le was shocked. How could this be? Does entering the Daoist path mean you have to abstain from sex like a monk?

No way, this can’t be.

As a child from a single-parent family, whether by his own will or by moral standards, he couldn’t abstain from sex.

"Master, does learning Daoist techniques mean you have to abstain from sex? If so, can I quit?" Jiang Le asked weakly.

Mao Xiaofang was exasperated. Where did this kid’s mind go? He flicked Jiang Le’s forehead with a red light, making him wince in pain.

"If you ever say you want to quit again, I’ll destroy you."

Jiang Le shrank back, but his eyes met Mao Xiaofang’s straight on.

Even if you destroy me, I can’t abstain from sex. This is a basic principle. Without sex, life would lose half its fun.

"Hmph, rest assured, the Daoist path doesn’t require abstaining from sex." Mao Xiaofang reassured Jiang Le, then continued, "However, finding a wife in the Daoist path isn’t easy."

Jiang Le, puzzled, said, "It can’t be that hard, right? Learning Daoist techniques is so cool, subduing demons and showing off your skills, with a wave of your hand, golden light shining, girls would scream and rush over like moths to a flame. How could you not find a wife?"

Suddenly, Jiang Le realized, "Unless Master doesn’t like women."

As soon as he said it, Jiang Le was startled, took a few steps back, and looked at Mao Xiaofang warily.

Mao Xiaofang was both amused and exasperated. This brat, getting more and more out of line, daring to joke about his master?

"Hmph, you don’t understand. Cultivators, after constant cultivation, have bodies that are far beyond ordinary people. It’s very difficult to conceive a child. At our level, to find a wife, you need someone from the same path, only then is it possible to have children. However, there are very few female cultivators in the Daoist path, and even fewer who have achieved cultivation. The competition is intense, and it’s all tears when you talk about it." Mao Xiaofang looked very pained, deeply saddened by the imbalance of men and women in the Daoist path. Many cultivators, unable to achieve their goals, would die with the regret of not being able to pass on their lineage.

Jiang Le finally understood, but his face turned grim.

In the era when Master’s Daoist path was still prosperous, good female cultivators were already rare. In this era where male cultivators are even rarer, how could he find a wife?

"I suddenly feel that entering the Daoist path isn’t a very ideal choice. Is it too late to regret now?" Jiang Le said with a sad face.

Mao Xiaofang coldly snorted, "You’ve already become my disciple, there’s no room for regret. If you slack off, I’ll destroy you, so I don’t have to see a good seed go to waste, which is very distressing."

Jiang Le was speechless.

Seemingly afraid that Jiang Le would really give up, Mao Xiaofang’s expression softened, "Actually, you don’t need to worry too much. When you first enter the Daoist path, it’s better to remain a virgin. Maintaining pure yang is very beneficial for your cultivation. Once you achieve some level, you can find and cultivate a potential female partner, which is also a viable method."

Jiang Le’s eyes lit up. That sounds pretty good. Cultivating a partner, is this like raising a wife? There’s potential here.

Wait, no, this old man is tricking me. By the time I achieve some level, I’ll be so old that even if I cultivate a partner, it will be for someone else. What a bleak future.

"Alright, stop thinking about this and that. You need to focus on cultivating your magical power. Without it, you can’t even enter the path, and talking about other things is just a joke." Mao Xiaofang scolded.

Jiang Le pouted, "Speaking of which, I almost forgot. Master, why was I so hungry in the morning after cultivating all night? You don’t know how much I ate; it could scare someone to death. Is there something wrong with my cultivation?"

Mao Xiaofang, however, praised, "Not bad, not bad. Being able to stimulate your essence and qi on your first try, you truly are a natural for the Daoist path. I believe within three days, you will definitely be able to sense and control your internal essence and qi."

Jiang Le frowned, "Stimulate essence and qi? What does that have to do with being hungry?"

Mao Xiaofang explained, "Essence and qi are the foundation of the body. When your essence and qi are abundant, your body is strong. You were hungry in the morning after cultivating all night because your essence and qi were insufficient. If you had enough nutrition, your essence and qi would be full, and you wouldn’t be hungry."

Jiang Le widened his eyes, gesturing at his arm, feeling quite solid. How could he not be strong? You’re tricking me, right?

Mao Xiaofang continued, "Don’t doubt it. To cultivate magical power, you need a lot of essence and qi. You look good now, but once you start using your essence and qi, you’ll find it insufficient. So, you need to replenish it. Last night, you just started cultivating after hearing the Daoist techniques, and I didn’t have time to tell you."

"Is that so? Then does that mean I need to eat a lot after each cultivation session?" Jiang Le’s face turned grim. Eating a lot requires money, and he was short on money.

Mao Xiaofang laughed, "This isn’t just you. Any Daoist, when they first start, lacks essence and qi and needs to replenish it. However, relying on food to replenish essence and qi is the least ideal method. Grains and cereals are enough to nourish the body, but they aren’t enough to replenish essence and qi. Most sects or families use ginseng, yellow essence, and other spiritual medicines to refine pills to replenish the essence and qi of new disciples."

Jiang Le was startled. If I can’t even afford food, how can I afford ginseng and yellow essence?

Forget it, this cultivation is definitely not something I can afford.

"Master, this isn’t me being cowardly. I really can’t afford to cultivate. You should find a rich second-generation disciple." Jiang Le said bluntly.

Mao Xiaofang glared and scolded, "Unambitious brat, are you scared by this? Cultivators defy the heavens; how can you give up so easily? I don’t want to hear this again, or I’ll destroy you."

Jiang Le said bitterly, "But I’m really poor now. I can’t even afford food. You’re talking about ginseng and yellow essence? I’ve lived for eighteen years and don’t even know what they look like."

Mao Xiaofang said, "You fool, didn’t Old Man Jin give you a legacy? Since he intended to take you as a disciple, he must have left you the necessary resources for cultivation."

Jiang Le was stunned, then his eyes lit up.

That makes sense.

Old Man Jin wouldn’t just give him a house. Since it’s a legacy, there must be more.

"Let me check," Jiang Le said excitedly and hurried into Old Man Jin’s room.

After a thorough search, Jiang Le finally found a hidden compartment in a cabinet. Pulling it out, he found a red cloth bag.

Opening the red cloth bag, Jiang Le saw five items.

A root-like object.

A book.

A jade pendant.

A bank card.

And a letter.

Seeing the letter, Jiang Le was stunned.

The envelope read, "To be opened by Jiang Le."

This is a letter Old Man Jin wrote to me? Did he leave this will a long time ago, knowing he didn’t have much time left?

His expression changed, and Jiang Le opened the envelope and read it silently.

After reading it, Jiang Le’s eyes flickered, deeply moved.

The letter was not long. Old Man Jin had a premonition that his time was short and left this as a precaution. If he was still alive, the letter would have been burned. If he had passed away, this letter would serve as proof of his legacy to Jiang Le.

The letter mainly described how he observed Jiang Le, discovered his talent and character, and decided to take him as a disciple, passing on his legacy. He hoped Jiang Le would work hard and not let the legacy die out. It also included a signed will from the two neighboring families and a list of the items in the red cloth bag, which were the resources he had reserved for Jiang Le’s cultivation.

Holding these items, Jiang Le felt a heavy weight.

He had only come here to work and earn money, but he had unknowingly become the chosen successor of this lonely old man. The feeling of being noticed and expected was something he had rarely experienced in his life.