Li Banfeng asked, "If one cultivates to the Ninth Layer, how many times can one's lifespan be extended?"
"The Ninth Layer won't extend it!" Ma Wu waved his hand. "Only upon reaching the Tenth Layer can one change their fate. At the Ninth Layer, one still has the lifespan of an ordinary person. If one cannot reach the Tenth Layer within one's lifetime, all previous efforts are wasted."
This seemed quite harsh. Even before reaching the Tenth Layer, one could not extend their life.
If one cultivates step by step, it takes eighty years to reach the Ninth Layer. Even if one starts cultivating at the age of ten, one would be ninety years old upon reaching the Ninth Layer. Would one still have the energy to continue cultivating then?
This was probably why Cultivators all desperately sought to earn time and shorten their cultivation period. They all wanted to strike for the Tenth Layer in their lifetimes.
"Is it the same for every Taoist Sect?"
Ma Wu nodded. "It's the same for every Taoist Sect. If you want to change your fate, you must cultivate with all your might, aiming for the Tenth Layer and beyond. Martial Cultivators must train desperately every day, Literature Cultivators must study desperately, Food Cultivators must eat desperately, and Lust Cultivators must indulge desperately.
"Of course, there are shortcuts, like consuming herbs, drinking medicinal soups, and ingesting Elixirs. But those things are too expensive and not a sustainable path."
Li Banfeng pondered and then asked, "What about Farming Cultivation?"
Qin Xiaopang was taken aback. "Why would you choose Farming Cultivation? You're not just looking for a bargain, are you?"
Li Banfeng really was looking for a bargain.
He had only two thousand yuan on him and couldn't afford Medicinal Powder.
Before leaving, Monkey Qiu had promised he would pay for the Medicinal Powder, and Li Banfeng could choose any Taoist Sect.
But Li Banfeng was not shameless. Two boxes of instant noodles in exchange for his life—that was enough. Why should others spend so much money on him?
Ma Wu shook his head. "Brother Li, you must be cautious. This bargain isn't worth it. The value of Medicinal Powder isn't based on price; it's the wisdom of our forebears. The Medicinal Powder for Farming Cultivation is cheap because no one buys it, for Farming Cultivation is the most arduous path."
"How so?"
Ma Wu said, "I don't know the situation in the Outside Provinces, but there should be farmers, right? You must be aware of the hardships farmers face.
"They sow in spring and harvest in autumn, working tirelessly every day. All this can only count as routine daily cultivation.
"Exerting all efforts to find good seeds and cultivate rare flowers and herbs—that is the method to earn time.
"Brother Li, just imagine when you reach seventy or eighty years old, will you still be able to till the land?
"If you encounter wind disasters, floods, droughts, or locust plagues, and the year's harvest is insufficient, not only will you fail to earn time, but your cultivation level could also be damaged.
"If you encounter enemies or villains who come to steal, rob, or set fires, you might end up with nothing for the entire year. This isn't just a setback to your cultivation level; it could be a life-threatening crisis.
"Brother Li, this path is too arduous. Be cautious, extremely cautious!"
It seemed Farming Cultivation was not an option. Ma Wu was right; this path was indeed difficult.
Li Banfeng now had a general understanding of Lust Cultivation and Food Cultivation.
"Then how does one cultivate as a Traveling Cultivator?"
"You just travel everywhere!" Little Fatty could answer this question. "The more places you go and the farther you travel, the faster your cultivation level grows and the more time you earn. People with no fixed abode prefer Traveling Cultivation!"
"What about Home Cultivation?"
"You lie down at home. The longer you lie down, the faster your cultivation level grows!"
Li Banfeng was astonished. "You mean you can cultivate just by lying down at home?"
"Yep, that's why the Medicinal Powder for Home Cultivation is expensive!" Little Fatty said with regret. "If I had saved up enough money, I would have chosen Home Cultivation. Ma Wu, you look like a wealthy man. Why don't you choose Home Cultivation?"
Ma Wu shook his head. "I can't stand the boredom. Most of the year, I'd have to stay inside the residence. I couldn't survive the monotony. To be honest with you both, my favorite thing in life is 'pleasure.' If there are no ladies around, I can't last a day."
Li Banfeng said, "That's easy. Just bring the ladies to your residence."
Ma Wu sighed softly. "It's not something that can be done so casually. The principles of Home Cultivation are different from other Taoist Sects. The cultivation level isn't earned by oneself alone but in tandem with the House Spirit."
What's a House Spirit? Li Banfeng was confronted with yet another new term.
This question actually stumped Ma Wu.
"What exactly a House Spirit is, I can't say for sure. Home Cultivators rarely show themselves, especially after achieving a certain layer. You seldom see them.
"I only know that Home Cultivators need to buy a good residence, one that isn't too conspicuous, to avoid disturbances, and not too isolated, so they have access to necessities.
"The residence itself must have Spiritual Energy. Once this Spiritual Energy is sufficiently nurtured and forms a Spiritual Object, that is the House Spirit.
"What this Spiritual Object truly is, I don't know. But to advance in layers in Home Cultivation, one must have a House Spirit, and this hurdle is quite difficult to overcome.
"House Spirits have temperaments. If a Home Cultivator can please the House Spirit, it can help them earn a substantial amount of cultivation.
"If they fail to please the House Spirit, their cultivation won't increase. If they anger the House Spirit, there have even been cases where the House Spirit killed its master—that is, the Cultivator."
Li Banfeng listened with wide eyes, and Qin Xiaopang also paid serious attention. Home Cultivation truly is a mysterious Taoist Sect.
Li Banfeng asked, "Why would a House Spirit be angered? How could it come to the point of killing its master?"
Ma Wu said, "I've only heard of such a thing happening once, an incident that took place in Medicine King Valley.
"House Spirits love cleanliness. When they encounter something dirty, they will try to clean it up. Therefore, Home Cultivators also have to diligently take care of their residences.
"There was a Home Cultivator in Medicine King Valley who was especially slovenly. He neglected his residence, didn't wash his face, bathe, wash his hair or clothes, or groom his beard and hair. He was always dirty.
"The House Spirit initially tolerated it and even frequently helped him wash his clothes, wipe his face, cut his hair, and help him tidy up a bit.
"But this person didn't mend his ways. Not only was he slovenly himself, but he also brought a group of slovenly friends to live in the residence for many days.
"Without the House Spirit's permission, outsiders cannot stay in the residence. These people also made the residence a complete mess. The House Spirit became enraged and, one night, killed the Cultivator and all his friends, leaving none alive!"
Qin Xiaopang shuddered. He was somewhat slovenly himself. "So what happened to the House Spirit after that?"
"It stayed in the residence and became an Evil Spirit, and it's still harming people to this day."
"Doesn't anyone take care of this matter?"
"Who would bother? There are countless Evil Spirits out there. Who has the time to care about this one?"
「...」
As Li Banfeng listened to the conversation between Ma Wu and Qin Xiaopang, he fell into thought.
Which Taoist Sect should I choose?
Is this decision important?
It's very important, for the sake of my survival.
According to the Peddler, if you've been exposed to the Heavenly Light and haven't entered a Taoist Sect, you are undoubtedly doomed to die.
But as long as I randomly choose a Taoist Sect, won't my life be saved?
Isn't the purpose of my trip here to save people? Is choosing a Taoist Sect that important?
Of course, it's important!
This opportunity is incredibly rare!
I've offended those people from the Dark Star Bureau, and they said they want to kill me. If I want to live, I must learn some real skills to protect myself!
More importantly, there's the grand dream of reaching the Tenth Layer of cultivation!
"Good things are good, and bad things are bad. The principle is that simple," Li Banfeng muttered to himself.
Qin Xiaopang didn't hear clearly. "Brother Li, what are you saying about good things and bad things?"
Li Banfeng didn't answer.
The matter at hand is a good thing. No matter how many other factors there are, gaining supernatural powers and an extended lifespan—these are good things.
Choosing a Taoist Sect that suits me would be the best of good things.
But which Taoist Sect is the right choice for me?
I know too little about these Taoist Sects.
"What abilities do Cultivators from each Taoist Sect have?"
"That's complicated," Ma Wu said. "Martial Cultivators can fight, Literature Cultivators can curse effectively, Traveling Cultivators are good at running, and Food Cultivators, being well-fed and nourished, possess both Techniques and physical strength."
Qin Xiaopang added, "Lust Cultivators can go at it ten times a day, and that's nothing for them!"
Ma Wu laughed. "But that's not their only skill. Lust Cultivators also excel at unsettling people's minds."
"What about Home Cultivation?"
Ma Wu said, "Home Cultivators are versatile in both offense and defense, but it specifically depends on the temperament of the House Spirit. Outside their residence, a Home Cultivator's combat strength is average among those of the same layer. However, inside their residence, a Home Cultivator is unbeatable among peers of the same layer and can even contend with those one layer higher!"
Is Home Cultivation that strong?
Should I choose Home Cultivation?
I can repay Monkey Qiu for the money later, but where would I even buy a suitable residence?