Chapter 119: At Any Cost

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The cloud ship had been sailing for more than ten days and had yet to leave the southern territory.

“How much longer, Li Fusheng?” Wang Changsheng asked. “Can the cloud ship go any faster?”

“It’s already fast enough. Do you think this is a teleportation array?” Li Fusheng replied irritably. “I don’t know who insisted on using a cloud ship!”

After speaking, Li Fusheng went straight into his room, ignoring Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng sighed helplessly.

Such a colossal cloud ship was truly a precious asset!

“Hm? Zhang Cunzong?”

Wang Changsheng noticed Zhang Cunzong sitting on the edge of the cloud ship, staring blankly into the endless sea of clouds.

He slowly approached and sat cross-legged beside him.

“Steward Wang?” Zhang Cunzong immediately greeted him upon seeing Wang sit down.

“What are you thinking about?” Wang Changsheng asked right away.

“N-nothing...” Zhang Cunzong stammered.

Wang Changsheng could tell that Zhang Cunzong was feeling somewhat downcast.

“Is it because your cultivation level has declined?” Wang Changsheng said gravely.

Zhang Cunzong remained silent, but from his expression, Wang Changsheng could see that it was indeed the case.

“Steward Wang, tell me, what is the purpose of our cultivation?” Zhang Cunzong asked.

Originally, Zhang Cunzong had been part of the Corpse Refining Sect. Within that environment, everyone cultivated; not doing so would make one appear very out of place, so Zhang had never pondered this question before.

Now, having left the sect—especially after recent events and spending time in the outer courtyard, witnessing many aspects of the cultivation world—Zhang Cunzong was deeply contemplating this issue.

Wang Changsheng was momentarily stunned by Zhang’s question, then gave a wry smile.

“Cunzong, your cultivation is even higher than mine; if you can’t figure it out, do you think I have the answer?” Wang said helplessly.

This was not a question Wang Changsheng could answer, nor could anyone in the cultivation world easily respond to it.

Each person embarks on the path of cultivation for different reasons, shaped by their own experiences and thoughts.

For example, those in the Qi Refinement stage haven’t truly set foot on the path of cultivation; their goal is to break into the Meridian Opening stage and truly enter the way of cultivation.

Whereas those who have attained the Golden Core and stand at the pinnacle of the Shen Tian realm have entirely different aspirations.

Without an answer from Wang, Zhang Cunzong looked disappointed.

“Well then, Cunzong, let me tell you a story,” Wang said softly.

Without waiting for a reply, he began.

“Once, there was a man who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation in his place. He lived for centuries but could not break into the next realm. His lifespan was near its end, and his body was utterly exhausted...”

“But he knew that his realm was not the ultimate end of cultivation; unfortunately, there was no way forward... so he was filled with despair...”

“At that time, he had a thought: if one day he could step into a higher realm, he would definitely attain the Dao and become immortal, living forever in this world...”

“Near death, he finally received an opportunity and, for various reasons, entered the cultivation world!”

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“But upon entering the cultivation world, he found that cultivators were not all pursuing immortality; the world was rife with treachery and endless struggles for survival...”

“His goal became very simple...”

“To survive...”

At this, Wang Changsheng’s expression turned wistful.

“To survive?” Zhang Cunzong looked puzzled. “Just to survive? Is surviving really so difficult?”

“Very difficult!”

“Extremely difficult!” Wang Changsheng said solemnly. “For someone just stepping into the cultivation world, surviving is incredibly hard. To protect himself, he cultivated day and night, just to survive...”

“So, was his goal immortality or survival?” Zhang asked, confused.

“Heh...” Wang Changsheng gave a bitter smile. “If you cannot survive, how can you talk about immortality?”

Only by surviving can one hope for immortality!

“So, no matter why people cultivate, everyone has their own reasons,” Wang Changsheng said gravely. “These reasons change as one’s cultivation grows, but they do not conflict, for only through cultivation—and increasing one’s power—can one satisfy their desires!”

The so-called purpose is merely what the heart desires when one’s ability is insufficient.

Since the ability is lacking, one must strive to cultivate.

“I think I understand now...” Zhang Cunzong stood and bowed respectfully to Wang Changsheng.

“Steward Wang, my goal is simple: I hope the Corpse Refining Sect prospers, and every disciple can cultivate freely!” Zhang said solemnly. “Even if it costs my life, I am willing to pay that price!”

Seeing Zhang’s reaction, Wang Changsheng was taken aback.

He had never grown up in the sect, and had only entered it due to circumstances where the sect tried to persecute him. Wang had little affection or sense of belonging toward the Corpse Refining Sect.

It was impossible to expect him to sacrifice his all for the sect.

But Zhang Cunzong was different. He had spent most of his life within the sect and had developed a deep and unique bond with it. Wang understood why Zhang was willing to do so.

After Zhang left, Wang Changsheng sat by the cloud ship’s edge, gazing blankly at the endless sea of clouds.

Having guided Zhang, Wang himself fell into deep thought.

The man in the story was actually Wang Changsheng.

His purpose for cultivation was simple: to glimpse the gate to immortality. One who has never experienced despair does not know the preciousness of life. Having lingered at the edge of life and death for so long, Wang possessed an even more profound and incomprehensible obsession with immortality.

As Wang said, cultivating now was about living better—and living a very long time—that was immortality.

“Perhaps this is the meaning behind most people’s cultivation,” Wang muttered quietly.

He touched the hair slowly growing back on his head and returned to his room.

This time, his room was the cloud ship’s finest, with a broad view and windows all around, allowing him to see outside.

Moreover, the room was vast and rich in spiritual energy; cultivating here was even faster than absorbing inferior spirit stones.

He began to cultivate. The massive spiritual energy gathered toward him, forming a vortex above his head that grew steadily larger. The abundant energy was absorbed by Wang, surging through his body.

Boom, boom, boom...

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Wang Changsheng could now hear thunderous rumblings within his body as he cultivated—though this sound was inaudible to others.

“This absorption speed is terrifying... unbelievable!” Wang immediately stopped cultivating, his face showing shock.

This was his first time cultivating at full power after his breakthrough, and even he was startled by how quickly he absorbed spiritual energy.

By Wang’s estimation, his absorption speed was now at least tens of times faster than before his breakthrough!

An incredibly frightening figure!

“Reporting, Master, there was a sudden massive loss of spiritual energy just now...”

“What happened?” Li Fusheng asked.

“Unknown. It’s probably someone cultivating!” the Li family cultivator controlling the cloud ship replied.

“Impossible. Given the size of this cloud ship, even if everyone on it cultivates simultaneously, it shouldn’t be a problem!” Li Fusheng said immediately.

“That’s true,” the Li family cultivator said. “But based on our estimation of everyone’s cultivation activity on the cloud ship, this anomaly shouldn’t have occurred. We suspect there might be a problem with the cloud ship itself and we need to stop for an inspection.”

Li Fusheng thought for a moment, then said gravely, “Don’t stop yet. Let’s inspect when we reach Yun Palace Peak.”

“Yes!” The Li family cultivator saluted and left.

Li Fusheng didn’t pay the matter much mind and resumed cultivating.

The cloud ship’s speed was extremely fast; within three months, it had already entered the territory controlled by Yun Palace Peak.

Within the Shen Tian realm, the territory of Yun Palace Peak was by far the largest among all major forces. The Corpse Refining Sect was confined to its mountain gate, and the Sun Yang Li family possessed only a small world, which was insignificant compared to Yun Palace Peak.

Of course, in terms of quality, the Sun Yang Li family’s small world was the most precious—it was not something that could be matched by just any blessed land.

Hadn’t the Sun Yang Li family transformed the Fire Phoenix Pond into the perfect cultivation place for their disciples?

When the cloud ship entered Yun Palace Peak’s territory, its speed began to gradually slow.

Two days later, the cloud ship was intercepted and forced to stop.

The cloud ship Li Fusheng had acquired was simply too massive—more like a war fortress. Yun Palace Peak did not trust such a huge vessel moving about in their domain.

“Cloud ship, halt immediately!”

The cloud ship was forced to stop.

Wang Changsheng and others appeared on the deck as soon as they saw this.

“What is the meaning of this?” Li Fusheng asked immediately upon seeing a group blocking the cloud ship.

“This is Yun Palace Peak territory. Any cloud ship crossing the border must report!” the intercepting party said. “Who are you? Why are you piloting such a massive cloud ship in Yun Palace Peak territory?”

Li Fusheng frowned.

As far as he knew, Yun Palace Peak had no such regulation. He was unaware of when Yun Palace Peak had suddenly imposed this rule.