Only in the dead of night, when the watchful eyes had temporarily closed, could Chen Ping snatch a moment’s respite.
Dragging his utterly exhausted body, his consciousness sank into the Jade Pendant space.
Warm white light enveloped him, isolating him from the cold and malice of the outside world.
He threw himself before the pile of white rice like a starving wolf, swallowing mouthfuls of raw rice in great gulps. A warm current once again washed over his body’s fatigue and injuries.
Under the continuous nourishment of the Spirit Rice, the healing speed of his fractured arm bone had accelerated significantly. Though it still hurt, that sharp sensation of bone fracture was diminishing.
After finishing the rice, he did not rest immediately.
Suppressing the soreness and drowsiness of his body, right there in that tiny space, he began practicing the “Vitality Technique.”
Every movement was performed with extreme slowness and care.
Raising his hand pulled at the injury on his left arm, the pain making him grimace, sweat instantly beading on his skin. But he gritted his teeth, persisting to complete the movement correctly.
Kicking out, his center of gravity wavered, nearly causing him to fall. He steadied himself and continued.
His breathing matched his movements, deep and labored. Every muscle in his body trembled with soreness, but he dared not stop.
He knew this was his only hope. Only greater strength could withstand Manager Wang’s harassment. Only greater strength could allow him to survive.
With each practice session, he felt that heat deep within his body being squeezed out, flowing between his muscles and bones.
When he practiced until completely drained, he would collapse beside the rice pile, gasping for breath. Then he would struggle to get up and practice again.
Only when his mind and body had reached their limits did he leave the space and return to the cold shack.
Amid endless fatigue and aching muscles, he would sleep deeply for hours, only to be woken before dawn by the Foreman’s shouts and sent into another day of labor.
So the days passed: endless labor, constant watching, then nights spent desperately eating rice and practicing the Vitality Technique in the space.
His body was like a bow repeatedly drawn taut, always on the verge of breaking.
But that innate tenacity within him was thoroughly ignited by Manager Wang’s relentless pressure.
Every lash of the whip, every withheld ration, every sting from a watchful gaze transformed into deeper resolve as he gritted his teeth during his nightly practice sessions.
One late night, he entered the space as usual to eat rice and practice.
After finishing his practice, he habitually glanced at the items piled in a corner of the space.
The white rice pile remained. Next to it were stacked pieces of Wild Boar meat from after it had been butchered.
As his gaze swept over those dark red pieces of meat, it suddenly halted.
Something was off.
Nearly a month had passed since he butchered that Wild Boar and brought it inside here.
Outside, early summer had arrived, and the weather was growing hot. While cleaning a cesspit that day, he had smelled how much worse rotting matter stank in the heat.
But those pieces of pork in the corner of the space—their color was still dark red with streaks of white fat. No graying. No greenish tinge. Not even a hint of rot!
There wasn’t even a trace of foul odor. Even that little bit of blood seeping from their edges maintained its original dark red hue; it hadn’t dried up or turned black.
Chen Ping’s heart gave a violent leap. Ignoring his physical exhaustion, he took several steps to stand before the meat pile. He crouched down for a closer look.
He even picked up a smaller piece of meat and brought it close to his nose to sniff—only a faint scent belonging to raw meat; no putrid smell at all!
It even felt like freshly butchered meat, springy beneath his fingers. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
He then looked at that pile of white rice.
The grains remained pure white; not a single one had yellowed, become infested with bugs, or developed mold spots.
“It doesn’t spoil?”
A massive wave of surprise struck him like an electric current, instantly dispelling all fatigue and gloominess.
He checked repeatedly; even his breathing became rapid.
Items inside the Jade Pendant space did not rot! Whether it was Spirit Rice or ordinary flesh and blood!
What did this mean?
He would no longer have to worry about Spirit Rice going bad. The Wild Boar meat could feed him for a long time, giving him a steady supply of nourishment to support his practice.
This was simply an immense boon.
Immense joy washed over him; he almost laughed out loud. But he immediately covered his mouth, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions.
He mustn’t get carried away.
From that day on, besides eating rice and practicing the Vitality Technique, his nightly visits included one more task: carefully cutting off a small piece of Wild Boar meat, lighting a fire in the space, and roasting it.
Outside, other things might be scarce, but kindling like dry leaves was plentiful.
Though there were no seasonings at all, that aroma of fat and sense of fullness were incomparable to bland Spirit Rice alone.
The energy provided by meat was more abundant. He felt during practice sessions that warm current seemed slightly stronger. His body also recovered faster.
His Physical Strength, under this extreme exertion coupled with ample nutrition support, grew slowly yet steadily.
After one month, his left arm bone finally completely healed.
Though occasionally still faintly painful when exerting force, it no longer hindered movement.
Food of the immortals really was extraordinary.
People said injuries to tendons and bones took a hundred days to heal. Even a cracked arm bone, left untreated, would take at least that long.
Eating raw Spirit Rice every day had greatly shortened that recovery.
He could feel now that moving those large stones at the Stone Quarry seemed slightly easier than before the injury.
Whenever he silently hoisted a load heavier than the others could carry under the Scarred Foreman’s eye, he caught a flicker of surprise and doubt in the man’s gaze.
He knew he was growing stronger, drawing closer to the five hundred jin needed to become a Regular Disciple.
That afternoon, Chen Ping was clearing overgrown thorn bushes on a steep slope of the Back Mountain. As usual, the Scarred Foreman was dozing on a rock in the shade nearby.
Suddenly, a strange fluctuation swept across the entire Servant Peak.
It was not wind, but something like an invisible pressure. The working servants instinctively stopped, an inexplicable awe rising in them.
Even the dozing Scarred Foreman jolted awake, looking around bewildered.
Immediately after, an azure streak of light traced across the sky. Its speed was not fast, yet it carried an indescribable grace and pressure, steadily landing in the open area before the Servant Peak manager’s quarters.
The light dispersed, revealing a figure wearing an azure Daoist robe.
He was a handsome young man with an indifferent expression. Wherever his gaze fell, the servants felt as though invisible needles pricked them. They lowered their heads, unable to meet his eyes. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
There was no dust on him; his Daoist robe was spotless. He could scarcely have been more different from the grimy, sweating servants around him.
Immortal!
A true Immortal had descended upon Servant Peak.
The entire Servant Peak instantly plunged into hushed, reverent awe.
Manager Wang came scrambling out of the manager’s quarters, his face overflowing with an obsequious smile. He nodded and bowed, running before the young Immortal, his waist bent almost touching the ground.
“Exalted Immortal, forgive me for failing to welcome you as you arrived at Servant Peak! What are your instructions? I am Wang Youcai, ready to serve you in any way!”
Manager Wang’s voice trembled with excitement and nervousness.
The young Immortal frowned slightly, seemingly put off by the smell of Manager Wang and the filth of Servant Peak.
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly transmitted throughout the entire area, carrying undeniable authority.
“I am Zhou Qing, a disciple of the inner sect’s Hall of Affairs. On an Elder’s orders, I am inspecting the Qi nodes of the various peaks. Over the past month, the sect has detected unusual changes in the Qi concentration around Servant Peak. I have come to investigate.”
He paused and looked over the shabby huts and ragged servants, his expression unchanged.
“I will also stay here for several days. I need two quick, honest servants to clean my meditation room and prepare simple meals. Those two will do.”
He pointed casually to the two nearest young servants, who looked reasonably clean.
The two pointed out were both shocked and delighted, hardly believing their ears. They hurriedly knelt, kowtowing.
Manager Wang smiled even more obsequiously.
“It is their good fortune to serve you! Exalted Immortal Zhou, please give whatever orders you wish!”
Zhou Qing nodded slightly, then ignored the rest and walked straight toward the only fairly tidy stone house beside the Manager’s quarters. It was the guest room that even Manager Wang usually dared not occupy, now cleared at once for the Immortal.
An Immortal inspecting the Qi? Choosing servants to attend him?
The news spread like wind through the hushed Servant Peak, instantly igniting a flame in everyone’s hearts.
It was only temporary service, but everyone knew what it meant.
Escape heavy, dangerous labor. Escape the Foreman’s whips. More importantly—being near an Immortal’s presence!
Even if just serving tea, water, or sweeping the courtyard, it was still a place permeated with Immortal aura.
Perhaps some chance at cultivation would rub off on them. Failing that, they might receive a reward from the Immortal—or learn a little something.
Countless gazes instantly became intensely fervent, filled with longing and envy, fixedly staring at those two chosen lucky ones and that tightly closed stone door.
Chen Ping, standing amidst the thorn bushes, paused his chopping knife mid-air.
Immortal Zhou Qing’s words struck his heart like heavy hammer blows.
“Clean the meditation room and prepare simple meals…”
“Stay for several days…”
Opportunity!
Chen Ping’s eyes lit up brightly.