Spring comes after autumn, and a year and a half have passed in the blink of an eye.

During this year and a half, Lin Chen has been staying at Wendao City.

He has met many people and seen many things, broadened his horizons, and gained a deeper understanding of the Cultivation Realm.

Perhaps it is due to the long years of cultivation, or perhaps because he is far away from his hometown.

After arriving in Wendao City, Lin Chen gradually picked up the "bad habit" of writing diaries.

...

New Era 3040, March 11th.

In the sixteenth year since I stepped into the Cultivation Realm, my cultivation is drawing closer to the Nine Revolutions Golden Core.

At the age of only thirty-three, I am close to the Golden Core Peak. Doesn’t this talent qualify as genius in the Cultivation Realm?

Hmm, it has also been nearly a month since I arrived at Wendao City.

Unexpectedly, that No. 36 spirit fish actually lived to the end, and a thousand spirit stones turned into three hundred times, three hundred thousand spirit stones in hand... without any tax to pay.

I will go to Tianxiang Pavilion today to reward myself.

...

New Era 3040, March 26th.

Today’s cultivation made a small breakthrough, so I went to Tianxiang Pavilion to reward myself.

New Era 3040, April 15th.

I went to the gambling house today, just in time for a new round of fish betting.

The cultivator from before approached me again, this time suggesting I bet on the No. 42 spirit fish.

I chose to trust him. The odds for No. 42 spirit fish aren’t high, only 80 times, but it is still quite good.

I wagered eight hundred thousand spirit stones. If this spirit fish lasts till the end, I can earn 64 million spirit stones!

Even for me, this is an astronomical number.

I felt good today and went to Tianxiang Pavilion again.

New Era 3040, April 11th.

The result of the second round of fish betting came out today, and the No. 42 spirit fish survived, leaving only ten spirit fish.

According to the betting rules, I can place a second bet now.

But the odds for No. 42 spirit fish have dropped to five to one.

It’s a joke, why wouldn’t I take free spirit stones?

So I added another two hundred thousand spirit stones. If I win, I can earn an additional eight hundred thousand.

After going to the gambling house, I went to Tianxiang Pavilion...

New Era 3040, April 26th.

The final result of the fish betting was a loss; the No. 42 spirit fish came in second place.

Aside from the previously won three hundred thousand spirit stones, I still lost 2.5 million spirit stones.

I was in a very bad mood, so I went to Tianxiang Pavilion to drink.

Tonight, Tianxiang Pavilion was especially busy. Miss Wan’Er told me that these disappointed guests were all people who lost money betting on fish in the gambling house.

These people had prior information on the No. 42 spirit fish and collectively lost over eighty million spirit stones.

Among them, there was even a great Nascent Soul cultivator named "True Man Hejun," who lost thirteen million spirit stones in one go.

This Nascent Soul True Man tried to confront the gambling house, but was directly kicked out.

Only today did I realize that even the Cultivation Realm has schemes.

I regret having started this, and now I must quit gambling!

...

New Era 3040, June 17th.

For several consecutive months, I soaked myself in Tianxiang Pavilion every day, and my relationship with Miss Wan’Er has become increasingly good.

On this day, she successfully accumulated enough resources to purchase a Top-Grade Foundation Establishment Pill and successfully established her foundation.

I suspect a large portion of the resources she accumulated was contributed by me.

Although the food at Tianxiang Pavilion is delicious, my martial cultivation has improved greatly.

However, a place of pleasure is still better to visit less, as it destabilizes the heart of the Dao...

Before going to Tianxiang Pavilion next time, I must first drink a couple of cups of Clear Heart Tea to stabilize the heart of the Dao.

New Era 3040, June 24th.

Lin Chen, oh Lin Chen, you should not be going to Tianxiang Pavilion anymore.

What happened to the safety shelter plan?

Starting tomorrow, I must dig at least three safety shelters each day!

New Era 3040, June 18th.

After consuming another Jade Marrow Bone Forging Pill, my Jade Bone body finally reached great success.

Under Divine Soul Internal Observation, my bones are as crystal clear as white jade.

Altogether, I’ve taken over two hundred Jade Marrow Pills; the cost of this Jade Bone body is somewhat exorbitant.

However, the Great Xia Country has also begun to dig and purchase a large amount of jade marrow.

While jade marrow is rare on Blue Star, the effort of the entire nation can still collect quite a lot.

Today, after a breakthrough in cultivation, I’ll reward myself with another visit to Tianxiang Pavilion...

...

New Era 3040, October 2nd.

It’s been more than three months since I last visited Tianxiang Pavilion. Miss Wan’Er reached out to me yesterday, worried if something unfortunate had happened to me.

I told her I am about to emerge from seclusion and will visit after that.

During these three months, I have excavated over three hundred safety shelters altogether.

All are located a thousand miles underground, in the area between Wendao City and Celestial Dao City.

But within this thirty thousand miles, at least a thousand safety shelters need to be dug, so there is still a long way to go.

For the rest of the safety shelters, I’ll leave them for after I break through to Nascent Soul. Today, I’ll first head to Tianxiang Pavilion...

New Era 3040, November 30th.

Over the past two months, I have procured a large amount of equipment, including many Third Tier and even Fourth Tier exotic metals.

This cost me over 5 million spirit stones, ensuring that the Great Xia Country won’t be lacking exotic metal weapons for decades to come.

Through an introduction by Miss Wan’Er, I found the black market of Wendao City.

I sold a batch of magical artifacts and pills, replenished my spirit stones, and my wealth again exceeded ten million spirit stones.

...

New Era 3041, January 26th.

My Body Refining cultivation made a small breakthrough, finally reaching the mid-stage Martial Monarch.

It’s been over a year since the last breakthrough.

After reaching the Martial Monarch stage, progress in martial cultivation has become increasingly difficult.

For martial artists on Blue Star, the average time spent at the Martial Monarch level is fifty years.

At my cultivation speed, I should be able to break through to the Martial King level within five years.

A Martial King under forty, unparalleled on Blue Star...

Once my cultivation is successful, I’ll go to Celestial Fragrance Building to reward myself.

New Era, February 12, 3041.

Today, while strolling in Disaster North City, I happened to meet an old beggar.

This beggar had cultivation, even I couldn’t see through him.

He told me my talent was astounding, and my grand luck was deepening.

He had an unparalleled technique, and would sell it to me for just eighty-eight Spirit Stones.

Hmm, although it sounded unreliable, I believed it.

I brought this secret technique named "Great Harmony Under Heaven" back home to cultivate.

Speaking of which, this secret technique has the same name as Luo Ming’s Spear Intent back then...

New Era, February 15, 3041.

Every day I get fooled, each time differently!

That old beggar indeed tricked me. I cultivated for ten whole days, and not only did I not feel the Will of Heaven and Earth, 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

I almost had a mishap. Once I return to the Cultivation Realm, I’ll make sure that beggar pays!

New Era, February 20, 3041.

I found that old beggar, and yet he adamantly denied.

He also said I hadn’t activated my wisdom root and told me to play chess with him at the Celestial Essence Chess Hall in North City.

The Celestial Essence Chess Hall is a place in Wenda City specially for playing Go, and it’s said that it’s backed by a Nascent Soul True Man.

For a mere beggar to enter the Celestial Essence Chess Hall,

his identity must not be simple!

I knew I wasn’t mistaken! This beggar might just be a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

New Era, February 23, 3041.

I’ve been playing chess with this beggar for three days and nights.

The beggar’s chess skills are truly remarkable. I played 103 matches with him, and I didn’t win a single one.

Damn it, I must beat him at least once!

New Era, February 25, 3041.

Played chess for two more days, and I still haven’t won.

Finally, I took the opportunity when I went to the restroom to traverse back to Blue Star.

Then, I installed Blue Star’s most advanced artificial intelligence, "Alpha Cat," onto myself.

Hmph, this time I will surely win!

New Era, February 28, 3041.

Played chess for another three days, from being thoroughly defeated to gradually becoming evenly matched with the old beggar.

That said, this old beggar’s chess skills are truly remarkable.

Even with artificial intelligence, I only managed to draw even with him.

Damn it, once I get back, I must upgrade the artificial intelligence again.

New Era, June 30, 2041.

Unknowingly, it’s been almost a year and a half since I came to Wenda City.

In this past year, my cultivation has advanced, and I’m not far from the Nine Revolutions Golden Core.

Aside from regular visits to Celestial Fragrance Building, every few days, I would play chess with that old beggar at the chess hall.

Originally, with the upgraded artificial intelligence, I could remain even with him or even slightly gain the upper hand.

But this old beggar is truly tricky; now he’s started to win six out of ten matches, gradually overwhelming the artificial intelligence.

The old beggar expressed disbelief at my progress in chess skills, suspecting I was cheating.

Of course, I was cheating, but he couldn’t find out.

I just claimed to be a once-in-a-century Go prodigy.

New Era, July 15, 2041.

After over a year in Wenda City, I’ve accumulated nearly twenty million Spirit Stones.

I sold a large number of magical treasures and pills, and the preparations needed for Nascent Soul Formation were almost complete.

Meanwhile, with the various materials I brought back, the cultivation foundation of Great Xia Country has become increasingly prosperous.

Today, for the first time, the number of Golden Core Cultivators in Great Xia Country exceeded ten.

The only bad news came from the Righteous Alliance’s side.

After over a year of recuperation, the Demon Sect’s arrogance has grown stronger, and their power is increasing rapidly.

The number of cultivators the Demon Sect possesses has once again returned to its peak.

Thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, over forty Golden Core Cultivators.

Such significant changes in just one year.

Moreover, the entire northern border of Fog Country has been completely taken over by Demon Cultivators.

I reckon, the time for the Demon Cultivators to launch a full attack on the Righteous Alliance is not far off...

It seems I’ll soon need to return as well.

...

New Era, August 15, 3024.

Today, I went to Celestial Fragrance Building, becoming quite drunk.

Miss Wan’er asked what my cultivation level really was. I told her I was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, and she didn’t believe me. I chuckled and said nothing.

If we are talking in terms of Body Cultivation, I am indeed a Nascent Soul Cultivator. Of course, Dharma Cultivation is also very close to Nascent Soul.

This should be the last time I’ll visit Celestial Fragrance Building in recent years. The situation with the Righteous Alliance is worsening, and I’ve been "in seclusion" for almost a year and a half. It’s time to return to Yanlai Country.

Yesterday, I played chess with the old beggar for the last time, and he noticed I had something on my mind. I told him I was going to seek the opportunity to break through to Nascent Soul. He patted my shoulder, encouraged me with a few words, and told me to come back for a game once I reach my breakthrough.

To this day, I still don’t know if that old beggar was truly a hidden master.

Life in Wenda City is indeed great, but I’ve yet to find the Dao. I hope that next time I come to Wenda City, I can buy a cave dwelling on Wenda Mountain for myself.

"It’s time to set off..."

In his residence in Wenda City, Lin Chen put down his brush and ink, took one last look at the room.

Then, taking advantage of the early hour, Lin Chen left Wenda City.

He traversed mountains and rivers, over two hundred thousand miles...

...

Half a month later, within Yanlai Realm.

As a light of earthen color flashed in a certain wilderness,

Lin Chen appeared on the ground.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Lin Chen murmured:

"After two years apart, I’ve finally returned..."