Chapter 3

"Huniu, don’t be so upset. If you follow the immortal to practice cultivation, you won’t have to suffer anymore!"

Jiang Ping’an, seeing Huniu throwing a tantrum, hurriedly shouted to comfort her.

Hearing that immortals can live forever, hearing that immortals don’t have to go hungry, hearing that immortals won’t be bullied by soldiers.

This is an opportunity, an opportunity to change Huniu’s life.

Huniu is still young and doesn’t understand what this means, but Jiang Ping’an does.

Although he was disappointed that the other party didn’t look favorably upon him, it doesn’t matter. He has the treasure pot, so he won’t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of his life.

“No! I want Brother Ping’an!” Li Yueyue waved her candy skewer and cried loudly.

The woman smiled and said, “If you don’t practice cultivation, your Brother Ping’an might be killed by bandits in the future. Do you want your Brother Ping’an to die?”

“No!” Li Yueyue was frightened and quickly shouted.

Jiang Ping’an is her last relative; she doesn’t want to lose him.

“Then you must practice cultivation.”

“But...”

“To ensure Brother Ping’an’s future happiness, you must practice cultivation. I’m taking you away now so that you can see him again.”

The woman threw down a useless breathing technique and three spirit stones.

“I’ve given Brother Ping’an the method and resources for cultivation, so he won’t be bullied by others.”

Li Yueyue wanted to say more, but the woman blew a breath at her, and she immediately fainted.

When this girl starts practicing cultivation and grows older, she will forget about this so-called Brother Ping’an.

The women transformed into a stream of light and disappeared without saying a word to Jiang Ping’an or paying him any attention.

Watching Huniu being taken away, Jiang Ping’an felt an emptiness in his heart.

It felt as if the whole world was left with only him, and from now on, he had no place to call home.

However, he was also happy for Huniu, knowing that she would become an immortal and live a happy life.

Jiang Ping’an took a deep breath and calmed his complex emotions.

He walked to the book and three translucent stones that the immortal had thrown down.

The other party said these were the method and resources for cultivation, which seemed very valuable.

Could learning this make one an immortal?

If it could, why didn’t they take him away?

Jiang Ping’an put the items back in the room, temporarily ignoring them, and instead buried the villagers’ bodies.

Although the villagers usually had a lukewarm relationship, they had all helped him in some way.

Now that everyone had been killed, he couldn’t let the villagers rot outside and be eaten by wild dogs.

It took him a whole day to carry the villagers to a pit and bury them.

Li Min was buried separately, and he planned to put up a tombstone later. After Huniu becomes an immortal, she might come back to pay respects, so he couldn’t let her lose her father.

As night fell, Jiang Ping’an sat in front of the thatched cottage. The village was empty, with no dog barking, only the sound of mosquitoes, and a wave of loneliness washed over him.

His parents were dead, the villagers were dead, and Huniu was gone, leaving only him.

Looking at the book in his hand, Jiang Ping’an gently stroked it.

“I swear, if I can practice cultivation, I will kill all the soldiers who oppress the people!”

“I swear, if I can practice cultivation, I will kill all the bandits I encounter!”

“I swear, if I can practice cultivation, I will do my utmost to protect every person worth protecting!”

The stars twinkled, the night sky was a deep blue, and the young boy’s body was frail, but his eyes were incredibly bright.

He lit the oil lamp left by the villagers and opened the book called "Detailed Explanation of the Thick Earth Breathing Technique."

Fortunately, his father often taught him to read, so he could understand what was written.

It said to use one’s mind to control the breathing rhythm, allowing the body to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and to open the meridians in the body.

The book also said that opening ten meridians means mastering the technique, which can be used for the Foundation Establishment stage.

What is the Foundation Establishment stage?

Jiang Ping’an didn’t understand.

But he didn’t need to understand; he just needed to follow the instructions.

He also discovered that when he held the strange white stone while practicing, his cultivation would accelerate, and his body would feel very comfortable.

After a whole night, Jiang Ping’an was shocked to find that he wasn’t at all sleepy!

Not only that, but he felt more energetic than ever before!

This made him very happy; maybe he could become an immortal too!

He simply made some rice and continued practicing according to the instructions.

Soon, two of the spirit stones in his hand shattered.

One remained.

“I wonder where I can get more of these stones.”

He recognized the value of these stones, but their quantity was limited.

The first meridian was already 20% open, and with eight more spirit stones, he might open the first meridian as described in the book.

Jiang Ping’an was about to use the last spirit stone when he suddenly thought of something and stopped.

When the bronze pot could replicate resources, he experimentally placed the white stone inside.

Yes, he wanted to replicate this stone.

But he didn’t know if it would work; he just wanted to try.

As the treasure pot flashed with a light, Jiang Ping’an looked into the pot and then his face lit up with joy.

The treasure pot was filled with a pile of spirit stones!

It turned out that the treasure pot could not only replicate copper coins but also spirit stones!

No, perhaps the treasure pot could replicate anything!

Jiang Ping’an’s breathing quickened; for a young boy, this was a very exciting discovery.

He kissed the treasure pot and picked up a white stone to continue his cultivation.

After about a day, the eight spirit stones were used up.

“Crack!”

Jiang Ping’an’s first meridian was opened, and a cracking sound came from inside his body.

According to the book, he had officially entered the first level of Qi Practice.

At this moment, the thin and small Jiang Ping’an grew a little taller, and his skin was no longer so dark.

Most importantly, he felt a significant increase in strength, as if he had endless energy.

A strange energy flowed through the meridian he had opened.

The book said this energy was called spiritual energy.

“Clomp, clomp, clomp~”

“Where are all the people!”

With the sound of hooves, a curse followed.

Jiang Ping’an’s face suddenly changed, and he quickly put away the treasure pot.

The tax collectors had arrived!

He prepared ten copper coins, opened the door, and walked out, saying to the only soldier, “I want to report to the authorities; the villagers were all killed by bandits.”

“Killed by bandits again?”

Yang Yuan’s face darkened; this was the third village to be massacred, and he had lost the tax from three villages.

“Why didn’t you die?” Yang Yuan jumped off his horse and questioned.

“I was lucky to be out and escaped. When will the soldiers go to suppress the bandits and bring peace to the people?”

Jiang Ping’an hated the bandits deeply; they robbed and killed, real scoundrels.

If the soldiers fought the bandits, it would be a dog-eat-dog situation.

“Damn, you dare to question me! Since everyone in your village is dead, you’re useless too. Go to hell.”

Because he hadn’t collected much money and couldn’t get many kickbacks, Yang Yuan was in a bad mood and needed to vent.

Seeing this boy dare to question him, he drew his sword and walked over.

Jiang Ping’an’s face changed drastically, and he kept retreating. “You’re a soldier; how can you kill people randomly!”

“Who will know if I kill you.” Yang Yuan’s expression was fierce, and he swung his sword.

In that instant, many images flashed through Jiang Ping’an’s mind: his mother who died working in the fields, his father who was mauled by a tiger, and himself being beaten...

At that moment, Jiang Ping’an exploded, gathering all his strength into his fist and roaring in anger.

“Die together!”