Wherever he went, the original owner made it a point to inquire about the nearest immortal market or city. He asked traveling merchants, barkeepers, and even fortune-tellers. His most memorable stop was in Yanzhou City, famous for its golden pagodas and fragrant lotus ponds. There, an elderly tea shop owner told him about the Qinglin Sect's immortal market—a grand place filled with cultivators from all walks of life, where one could trade, buy treasures, and even hear news of the wider cultivation world.
The original owner’s excitement was palpable. His eyes sparkled as he imagined himself walking through the immortal market, admired by everyone as a rising star. But to Jiang Cheng, his excitement was laughable. You’re going to show up in those tattered robes, with that ridiculous sword, and expect people to take you seriously? Oh, this is going to be good.
Despite all his boasting and posturing, the journey wasn’t entirely without charm. The original owner was genuinely moved by the beauty of the mortal world. He stood in awe beneath the cascading waterfalls of Baiyun Gorge, strolled through the endless fields of blooming peach blossoms in Chunfeng Valley, and even climbed the famed Emerald Ridge, where he watched the sunrise paint the skies in hues of gold and crimson.
Though naive and a little foolish, the original owner found joy in the simple pleasures of life—a joy that even Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but appreciate in quieter moments. For all his faults, the man had a way of marveling at the world that was almost… endearing.
One fateful evening, while resting at a shabby little inn in one of the cities along his journey, the original owner sat at a dimly lit table, munching on some stale bread and sipping watered-down wine. It was then that he overheard a conversation from a group of locals sitting near the counter. Among them was an old man with a long, wispy beard, his face lined with the marks of age and wisdom—or so it seemed.
The old man turned toward the original owner, having noticed his somewhat shabby yet overly confident appearance. “Young man,” the old man said, stroking his beard. “You seem to be on a journey to the Immortal Market, yes?”
The original owner, trying to appear dignified, sat up straighter and cleared his throat. “Indeed, old sir. I am traveling to further my immortal path,” he said in a tone that was supposed to sound mysterious but instead came off as overly theatrical.
The old man chuckled and shook his head. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But you should know, the path to the Immortal Market is no simple stroll. The road is filled with treacherous mountains, raging rivers, and creatures that would devour a mortal—or a low-level cultivator—without a second thought. Not to mention the evil cultivators and bandits who would happily relieve you of your life and belongings.”
Hearing this, the original owner’s expression stiffened. While he tried to keep his calm, Jiang Cheng—watching all this through the memories—could tell the panic bubbling just under the surface.
*Oh, this is going to be good,* Jiang Cheng thought, already amused by the original owner’s growing unease.
The old man continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “Fortunately, a Cloud Boat will be descending in the capital in a few days. It’s a safe and reliable way to travel to the Immortal Market. Though it’s not free, it’s worth it to avoid certain death on the road. You’d best head there if you value your life, young man.”
The original owner’s expression softened as he exhaled in relief. “A Cloud Boat, you say?” he asked, feigning calmness. In truth, he was mentally calculating how many spirit stones he had left and whether he could afford such a luxurious mode of transport.
“Indeed,” the old man replied with a nod. “But make no mistake, the fee isn’t cheap. And even if you manage to board it, don’t go causing trouble. Those who operate the boat are cultivators of considerable strength. They wouldn’t hesitate to toss a troublemaker overboard mid-flight.”
The original owner nodded seriously, trying to look like someone who could easily afford the trip. But Jiang Cheng, observing this memory, was already rolling with laughter in his mind.
*You’re about to bankrupt yourself just to avoid walking! And here you thought you were ready to conquer the world. Look at you, scared of a few monsters and bandits.*
As the original owner left the inn, he couldn’t help but look to the horizon with determination. “A Cloud Boat… yes, that’s how I shall make my grand arrival at the Immortal Market,” he said to himself, clutching the hilt of his poor-quality sword. His tattered robe fluttered slightly in the evening breeze, giving him an air of dramatic flair—at least in his own mind.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Jiang Cheng shook his head in disbelief. *Brother, you’re one step away from being mugged by a squirrel in these woods. Let’s see how you handle yourself once you’re on this so-called Cloud Boat.*
A few days later, the original owner arrived at the bustling square outside the capital where the Cloud Boat was set to descend. It was a rare sight, and a small crowd had already gathered, some looking excited and others nervous. The original owner stood tall—or at least tried to—amidst the mortals and low-level cultivators.
The sound of rushing wind suddenly filled the air, and a massive Cloud Boat, glowing faintly with runes, descended slowly from the heavens. It was a majestic sight, with its sleek design and shimmering surface that looked as though it were carved from clouds themselves. The boat emitted a faint spiritual pressure,
causing the mortals in the crowd to bow their heads in awe.
The original owner straightened his back and held his tattered sword close, pretending to be unfazed by the grandeur. However, Jiang Cheng, observing from the sidelines of his memories, could feel the excitement and awe bubbling within him.
When the boarding fee was announced—10 low-grade spirit stones—the original owner’s face twitched ever so slightly. He reached into his small spirit pouch, his heart aching as he counted out the stones. "Ten spirit stones... a little expensive," he muttered under his breath. Though he still had some left from his "glorious" journey, having already spent fifty on his extravagant meals, brothel visits, and flashy displays, the cost still stung.
He handed over the spirit stones, his fingers gripping them tightly for a moment before finally letting go. "This better be worth it," he muttered, trying to maintain his composure as he climbed aboard.
The journey was surprisingly short, lasting only a few hours. The Cloud Boat glided smoothly above forests and rivers, its passengers gazing out in awe at the scenery below. Even the original owner, with his inflated sense of self, couldn’t help but marvel at the view.
When the boat finally began to descend, Jiang Cheng was struck by the breathtaking sight of the Immortal Market. Nestled between towering mountains, the market stretched 50 miles long and 10 miles wide, its borders glowing faintly with the light of Qi-gathering arrays. From above, it looked like a hidden gem of the heavens, the spiritual energy within it forming a misty shroud that made the entire area seem ethereal.
The original owner stood at the edge of the deck, his eyes wide with wonder. "So this... is the Immortal Market," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.
As the Cloud Boat touched down at the market’s entrance, the original owner stepped off with as much poise as he could muster, despite being slightly overwhelmed. The entrance was bustling with cultivators of all kinds, from low-level Qi Refining cultivators to high levels.
When the original owner first set foot in the Immortal Market, he was brimming with excitement and an air of self-importance. With his head held high, his tattered low-grade robes fluttered dramatically in the breeze as though he were a legendary figure returning from a victorious campaign. He struck a bold pose, hands clasped behind his back, and looked toward the horizon with an exaggerated sense of grandeur. Taking a deep breath of the pure spiritual energy, he declared loudly to no one in particular:
"Who is responsible for the ups and downs of this vast land? Only I, Jiang Cheng!"
Nearby cultivators and mortals turned their heads, confused by the sudden outburst, while Jiang Cheng's internal self—now an unwilling spectator in this body—was nearly choking with laughter. “This guy really thought he was the protagonist of a legendary tale!” Jiang Cheng mocked in his mind.
Undeterred, the original owner strutted through the market’s bustling streets. His excitement only grew as he passed stalls selling talismans, alchemy pills, weapons, and array disks. The sight of cultivators ranging from low-level Qi Refining to the high level experts left him both awed and nervous.
Still riding high on his delusions of grandeur, the original owner confidently made his way to the sect's recruitment pavilion, his heart brimming with dreams of becoming a peerless cultivator. When he reached the Outer Elder in charge of testing recruits, he was greeted with a neutral yet slightly amused gaze.
The original owner proudly stepped forward, holding his head high as he said, "I am here to test my talent. Prepare yourselves to witness greatness!"
The Outer Elder raised an eyebrow but said nothing, motioning for him to place his hand on the crystal ball that measured spirit roots. The ball emitted a faint flicker of light, dim and uneven, as a voice intoned:
“Pseudo five-element spirit root detected.”
The Elder's expression immediately shifted to one of disdain. "Pseudo spiritual roots? Hmph. You’re already over twenty and have such poor aptitude. You’re dreaming if you think you’ll ever reach the Foundation Building Realm. At most, you’ll muddle through the Qi Refining stages until your lifespan runs out."
The original owner’s face turned stiff, but he stubbornly retorted, “Outer Elder, isn’t talent secondary to hard work and determination? I believe I can achieve great things with effort!”
The Elder sneered. “Great things? With that kind of spiritual root, you’d be lucky to break through to the third level of Qi Refining in your lifetime. You want to join our sect? Stop wasting my time and go back to farming spirit rice.”
The harsh words were like a dagger to the original owner’s chest. His once high spirits deflated like a punctured balloon, but he refused to show defeat. He straightened his back and left the recruitment pavilion, muttering to himself, "What do they know? They’ll regret underestimating me!”
Meanwhile, the real Jiang Cheng, witnessing this entire scene from within, was shaking with silent laughter. “What a performance! I think the Elder nearly choked holding back laughter himself,” he thought. The sight of the original owner puffing up his chest in defiance, only to be mercilessly humbled, was almost too much for him to bear.
Refusing to give up, the original owner spent fifty spirit stones on two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills. Four months of hard practice saw him break through to the second-level peak of Qi Refining. But just as he was basking in his "success," the harsh reality of bankruptcy hit him. With no spirit stones left, he was forced to join a group of cultivators venturing into nearby mountains to hunt spirit beasts for coin.
For two years, he scraped by, risking his life hunting beasts and selling their materials for meager sums. Each encounter with death chipped away at his delusions. Jiang Cheng, reflecting on these memories, noted how the once-idealistic fool slowly turned cautious and pragmatic.
Eventually, the original owner saved enough to buy a beginner's talisman set, hoping to master the art and change his fate. But a year of grueling practice yielded nothing but failure, forcing him to abandon yet another dream.
Finally accepting his limits, the original owner became a spirit farmer, renting three small fields to grow spirit rice. Though mundane, the work was safe, and it brought a steady, if modest, income.
Jiang Cheng sighed as he watched the original owner settle into his new life. From delusions of grandeur to a farmer of rice... What a fall.