Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Wasteland City, West Gate.

Two years have passed, and the place remains as lively as ever.

The towering, majestic city walls stand like giants on the horizon, gazing unchangingly at the desolate marshes in the distance.

The monks came and went through the west gate, each with a different expression.

Some couldn't contain their joy, sharing the fruits of their labor upon returning from the marshland...

Some looked worried, having failed to find any spirits while out and about, and were now anxious about next month's rent...

"Sigh, it was so hard to find a top-grade first-tier Jade Moss Flower on this trip to Ruze."

As a result, they encountered two demonic beasts guarding them.

Luckily, I was quick-witted and ran fast, otherwise I would be dead.

"Yes, it's strange, but I feel like I've encountered more monsters on these two trips into the marshland."

"I feel the same way about what you said, fellow Daoist. In the past, the area within five thousand miles of the water marshland had been almost completely explored."

This time, while passing by, I discovered many more traces of ferocious monsters.

"They all seem to have come from the marshland?"

Someone's expression shifted, and they suddenly spoke up: "Don't you think a beast tide is about to break out?"

The cultivators nearby were taken aback upon hearing this, but shook their heads in denial.

"It's unlikely. The last time a beast tide broke out in Huangze City was just over a hundred years ago."

"The demon beast race couldn't possibly have multiplied so quickly..."

Another cultivator chimed in:

"That's right, fellow Daoist, you're overthinking it."

Even if a beast tide were to erupt, the walls and formations of Desolate Swamp City are not just for show!

.........

On the other side, Mo Haoxuan was queuing up to walk out of the city.

He kept his head down, his face was grim, and a hint of gloom and resentment lingered on his expression.

It was as if everyone around him owed him tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Especially when Mo Haoxuan heard that there were more traces of monsters in the swamp, his face became even more gloomy.

"Damn it, I found some pretty good spiritual items in those water-core raw stones I brought back two years ago."

The spirit stones they acquired were all squandered!

The family is useless too; they're always hesitant and stingy when it comes to asking for spirit stones.

That useless old man, Mo, is dead too.

Without spirit stones, it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay in this desolate city...

I hope that guy surnamed Song will keep his promise this time and won't cheat me..."

Two years ago, Mo Haoxuan escaped from the water marshland back to the desolate marshland city.

Still shaken, he spent half a year hiding in the city.

It wasn't until six months later, after confirming that the Puppet Demon Elder hadn't caused him any trouble, that Mo Haoxuan dared to resume his activities.

However, he did not know that the Puppet Demon Elder had already died at Lu Zaian's hands.

Later, Mo Haoxuan used the dozens of raw water stones he brought out to maintain a carefree life for a year and a half.

The spiritual treasures extracted from those raw stones were originally enough to support his arduous cultivation to the late stage of Qi Refining.

But he simply couldn't resist the various temptations in the desolate city.

He didn't achieve much in his cultivation of immortality, but he was proficient in all sorts of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

So, a while ago, he borrowed a sum of spirit stones at high interest rates, and with his last remaining wealth, he wanted to gamble away a fortune at the Green Stone Shop.

The result, naturally, was a complete loss.

On the contrary, they owe Qing Shi Xing a large sum of spiritual stones.

With nowhere else to turn, he set his sights on the Shuixin ore mine.

If only we could avoid the Wood Crocodile Demons like last time and dig up a batch of raw stones from the mine.

He will be able to make a comeback.

However, reality is always cruel.

Just as Mo Haoxuan re-entered the marshland.

He then realized that without Elder Mo's protection, he was practically helpless.

Neglecting his cultivation, he, despite being at the sixth level of Qi Refining, couldn't even defeat a decent mid-grade first-order demonic beast.

And so he was sent back to Huangze City in disgrace.

Little did they know, the owner behind Qing Shi Xing was watching all of this.

Qing Shi Xing is a gambling stone shop opened by the Song family of Tianqinghe in Huangze City.

They specialize in the jade business, including jade gambling.

They had long suspected that Mo Haoxuan's extravagant spending was linked to the presence of Shui Xin Yuan Shi (a type of raw stone).

That's why they set up the trap to lure Mo Haoxuan into the net.

Later, Mo Haoxuan, driven to desperation by loan sharks, was forced to agree to the Song family's so-called "cooperation".

He led the way to the Shuixin Yuanshi Mine.

The Song family was responsible for dealing with the monsters and dangers around the mine before mining began.

Finally, you can promise him half a percent of the benefits...

Today is the day that Mo Haoxuan and the Song family agreed to meet at the city gate.

Just outside the city gate.

Mo Haoxuan glanced up casually, but his pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Following his gaze, two figures slowly approached from afar, about to queue to enter the city.

One of them was an old man with an air of otherworldly wisdom. He wore a light blue cloak, had silver hair and white eyebrows, a white beard, a weathered and resolute face, and eyes as deep as the sea.

The other person was a beautiful and charming female cultivator who followed closely behind the old man.

These two were none other than Lu Zaian and Xu Yan'er, who had leisurely returned to Huangze City.

"Yan...Yan'er? Is that you? You're not dead?!"

Mo Haoxuan quickly ran forward and blocked the two people's way into the city.

He never expected to see Xu Yan'er again two years later; he thought she had already died at the hands of the Puppet Demon Elder.

When Xu Yan'er saw Mo Haoxuan at the city gate, her beautiful brows furrowed involuntarily, and her expression turned disgusted.

"Mo Haoxuan, how dare you ask me that?!"

If it weren't for your greed, Old Master Mo and Aunt Hong wouldn't have died!

And yet, when danger struck, you were the first to run away, disregarding the safety of the entire squad!

Mo Haoxuan was somewhat embarrassed, and then awkwardly explained:

"In that situation, of course, saving your life is the priority."

As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood, you know?

Anyway, I'll kill the Puppet Demon Elder later to avenge Elder Mo and the others..."

Before he finished speaking, Mo Haoxuan looked at Lu Zaian beside him, his eyes filled with undisguised questioning.

"Yan'er, how did you escape the old man's pursuit?"

Why are you with this old man again now?

Mo Haoxuan naturally had not forgotten Lu Zaian.

Even during the two years that Lu Zaian disappeared, Mo Haoxuan thought he had also died in the swamp.

Mo Haoxuan was secretly pleased.

It's because he can't stand seeing someone doing better than him.

Especially an old man I used to look down on.

Little did he know that these words would provoke a strong reaction from Xu Yan'er.

The saying goes, "A servant dies when his master is humiliated." As Lu Zaian's maid, Xu Yan'er naturally couldn't stand by and watch others insult Lu Zaian.

She glared fiercely at Mo Haoxuan and coldly shouted:

"You arrogant, reckless bastard."

How dare you speak to Old Master Lu like that! Apologize right now!

Mo Haoxuan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Xu Yan'er to react so strongly.

He then pointed at Lu Zai'an with one finger and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, what? Yan'er, what's wrong with you? You want me to apologize to this old man?"

Just because he's a mid-grade first-level alchemist? Or even a late-stage Qi Refining alchemist?

Hmph, I've said it before, I'll surpass an old codger like him who's run out of potential sooner or later.

It's a pity that by then he'll probably be buried in the ground and won't see that day...

Yan'er, I'm so glad you're back.

But I'm very unhappy that you're siding with this old man.

What I said before still holds true; as long as you follow me, you'll definitely reap the benefits.

You probably don't know this, but this time I'm going out to meet with...

At this point, Mo Haoxuan realized he had almost let something slip, so he quickly stopped himself.

However, youth is the capital that Mo Haoxuan can flaunt at will.

Moreover, he was still indulging in the fantasy of cooperating with the Song family to mine the Shuixin raw stone mine.

At that time, you'll have plenty of spirit stones, and your cultivation level will also improve.

Therefore, he naturally didn't take Lu Zaian seriously.