Chapter 1142: Fragmented Ramblings of Huang Fugui

Wang Mingren frowned. As far as he knew, being trapped in the Land of Absolute Spirit meant practically waiting for death.

He couldn't use his magic power now. Even encountering a slightly larger wild beast would be a challenge; after all, he was now just a mortal, unable to use not only his magic power but even his spiritual sense. He was merely an ordinary person.

He looked at Huang Fugui with a hint of wariness. Huang Fugui was a rogue cultivator and carried hidden weapons; if it came to a fight, he certainly wouldn't be able to defeat him.

It's always wise to be wary of others. Although Huang Fugui was notoriously cowardly, no one could guarantee he wouldn't harbor ill intentions. The world has both honorable gentlemen and hypocrites who feign virtue.

"In the Land of Absolute Spirit, where magic power cannot be used, only a fool would kill a companion. I'm not that foolish. It's good to have someone to talk to. You haven't been trapped by a restriction for twenty years; you don't know what that feels like. Unable to cultivate, with no one to talk to, a person can go mad."

Huang Fugui said meaningfully and stepped forward.

"Fellow Daoist Huang, where are you going?"

"To find a way out, of course! We can't just stay here and wait to die. The space in the Purple Fire Abyss is extremely unstable; there might be a way out! If you don't want to die, come along!"

Huang Fugui offered a brief explanation and continued walking.

Wang Mingren hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed.

This space was vast. Without magic power or spiritual sense, they could only wander aimlessly. The most troubling fact was that they had become mere mortals; without food, they would literally starve to death here. This was the true horror of the Land of Absolute Spirit.

A month later, on a desolate mountain peak, Wang Mingren and Huang Fugui sat among a pile of scattered rocks. Huang Fugui looked content and quite optimistic, while Wang Mingren frowned deeply, his face etched with worry.

They had walked for a month and hadn't seen a single demonic beast, let alone other cultivators.

Wang Mingren's stomach rumbled; he felt utterly weak and ravenously hungry.

Huang Fugui took out a white porcelain bottle, poured out a yellow pill, and swallowed it. He then handed the bottle to Wang Mingren, saying, "This is a Bigu Pill. Take it and use it sparingly. One pill will sustain you for a month without food. This should last you a year."

Wang Mingren's expression was a little strange. He asked doubtfully, "Do you have many Bigu Pills on you?"

Huang Fugui was famously cowardly, and at a time like this, Bigu Pills were life-saving items. Was Huang Fugui really this generous?

"Heh heh, I've long been worried about a situation like this. I have enough Bigu Pills on me to last us for decades. You cultivators from immortal cultivation families or sects simply lack a sense of foresight. I, an old man, considered all sorts of possibilities long ago. You probably only bought maps and detoxification pills, never bothering to carry large quantities of Bigu Pills and antidotes."

"Your origins are extraordinary; you've never known want since childhood. There was no need for you to come to a perilous place like the Purple Fire Abyss. Your sect can provide you with all the cultivation resources you need, as long as you accumulate enough contribution points. Unlike us rogue cultivators, who rough it, enduring the elements, and whose cultivation techniques are often incomplete, not to mention lacking other necessities."

Huang Fugui spoke as he walked, seemingly addressing Wang Mingren but also as if talking to himself.

"You don't have to rough it, do you? Don't the major sects establish marketplaces? Couldn't you just make a living there? If you possess a skill, why worry about supporting yourselves?"

Wang Mingren spoke casually, but regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. Rogue cultivators often lacked complete cultivation techniques, let alone specialized skills.

Huang Fugui gave a self-mocking laugh. "A specialized skill? Who wouldn't want one, but how many truly succeed? There are jobs in the marketplaces, but they only provide enough for basic survival. Working like oxen and horses for others, just to scrape by, we might as well go to the mortal world and live as carefree local lords."

"To advance further on the path of immortality, most of us rogue cultivators make a living by hunting demonic beasts, constantly risking our lives. After finally accumulating a few spirit stones, you suggest we learn a trade? If we learn it well, that's fine, but if we don't, we'd have to start all over again. Do you think hunting demonic beasts is easy? Even a slight mistake can cost us our lives. We hunt demonic beasts to earn spirit stones, while you do it for experience, carrying numerous valuable items."

"I knew a few rogue cultivators at the Core Formation stage. They endured countless hardships to cultivate to the ninth level of Core Formation. To form their Nascent Souls, they had to come to the Purple Fire Abyss in search of spiritual items. Unfortunately, they died in the jaws of fourth-tier demonic insects. If I hadn't run fast, I would have perished alongside them."

Huang Fugui sighed, a look of reminiscence on his face.

Wang Mingren remained silent. He and Huang Fugui were from two different worlds, with disparate upbringings. He could neither understand nor agree with Huang Fugui's actions.

As a Core Formation cultivator, there was nothing wrong with being polite to those of the same cultivation stage. However, Huang Fugui's constant fawning over others stemmed from fear, which Wang Mingren found deeply shameful.

"I know you look down on me, you think I'm disgraceful. You've never been hungry; you don't know what it feels like to starve. I just want to live. Only by living can I strive for more. What's pride worth? You'll never know what it's like to see your parents starve to death in front of you, nor have you witnessed cannibalism or gnawed on tree bark. You've been pampered since childhood, living in luxury; it's natural for you to value honor."

Huang Fugui stretched, then lay down on the ground, gazing at the white clouds in the sky with a contented expression.

Wang Mingren was silent for a long moment before asking, "If you could start over, would you still cultivate immortality? Would you still choose to be a rogue cultivator?"

"Of course I'd cultivate immortality. If I didn't, I'd eventually be caught for tomb raiding. If I cultivate, as long as I don't provoke cultivators from major powers, there's no problem. At worst, I'd just run; there's nothing shameful about retreating when outmatched. Being a rogue cultivator is still more freeing. If you join a sect, can you just quit halfway? The higher your cultivation, the more restrictions you face. If you could start over, would you still join the Taiyi Immortal Sect, or remain with your family?"

Wang Mingren was silent for a long moment, then sighed, "I probably would join a sect. But time doesn't flow backward, and there's no medicine for regret in this world. I wonder how Feng'er is doing; I hope she's alright!"

Ximen Feng's cultivation was inferior to his, and he worried she might encounter danger.

"You should worry about yourself first! If we can't leave this cursed place, once the Bigu Pills run out, we'll turn into skeletons. Alright, let's keep going! Hopefully, we can find a way out."

Huang Fugui stood up, patted the dust from his clothes, and walked down the mountain.

Wang Mingren let out a long sigh and quickly followed.

Below the mountain lay a vast, dense gray forest. The trees had sparse leaves, and their thick trunks were covered in sharp thorns.

Before long, they disappeared into the gray forest.