Monsters also need to cultivate immortality scientifically (17): Changing the style of the entire cultivation world with one’s own strength

Chu Feng’s temperament in this world has never been particularly good.  

Otherwise, the surrounding cultivators wouldn’t be so terrified of him, not daring to utter an extra word in his presence.  

Over the years, as Chu Feng’s reputation grew fiercer, his might became deeply imprinted in the hearts of every cultivator, leaving no one bold enough to offend him—let alone the entire Lingxiao Sect. As a result, the number of times Chu Feng took action dwindled, and the deaths by his hand decreased year by year.  

For Chu Feng to be so enraged as to personally hunt down a cultivator and order all Lingxiao Sect disciples to kill on sight—such overwhelming fury transmitted through the voice talisman shocked the sect leader greatly.  

He hurriedly replied, “Understood. I will issue the order at once.”  

Turning to the elders beside him, he asked, “Do any of you know who this Zhou Junyi is?”  

Moments later, a disciple standing beside one of the elders answered, “Reporting to the Sect Leader, he is a Golden Core-stage cultivator who gained minor fame in the cultivation world due to sheer luck. His behavior is notoriously arrogant. It is said that not long ago, to save his own life, he betrayed a close friend and left them to die—his character is utterly despicable. Over a month ago, in a secret realm, he even led a group of cultivators in pursuing and attacking Master Si, angering Immortal Venerable Chu. Now, he is being hunted by many cultivators for possessing a great treasure.”  

Hearing this, the sect leader and the elders suddenly understood, displeased. “Why was this only reported to us now? Such a vile individual should have been issued a warrant long ago!”  

Especially upon learning that this fool had the audacity to stir up trouble in the secret realm and lead a mob to hunt down Si Qi—just the thought of it filled the sect leader and elders with fury.  

Who was Si Qi? A once-in-a-millennium prodigy, Immortal Venerable Chu’s only personal disciple, and the golden treasure of not just the Lingxiao Sect but the entire cultivation world! To chase after Si Qi for some petty trinkets in a secret realm—utterly unforgivable!  

The disciple hesitated, unsure how to respond. In truth, even he—a high-ranking elder’s disciple and a mighty late-stage Soul Projection cultivator—wouldn’t deign to pay attention to such a lowly rogue cultivator. How could he have thought to report such a trivial matter directly to the sect leader?  

Then, the sect leader commanded, “Issue the warrant immediately. All disciples are to be on alert for Zhou Junyi’s whereabouts. If encountered, show no mercy—execute him on the spot! Immortal Venerable Chu has decreed that his soul must be shattered. Understood?”  

The disciple thought to himself that this Zhou fellow had brought upon himself eight lifetimes of misfortune by provoking Master Si. But who told him to be so blind as to target Si Qi? Si Qi’s temperament was so gentle and harmless—this was entirely the result of Zhou’s own greed and foolishness. He quickly bowed in acknowledgment. “This disciple will relay the order at once.”  

“Good. Go.”  

Once the warrant was issued, all Lingxiao Sect disciples were incensed. Glaring at the portrait of Zhou Junyi, they gripped the weapons at their waists, thinking, Anyone who dares harm our Master Si was striking at the very lifeblood of their Lingxiao Sect. They must not be spared!  

As the disciples set out to search for Zhou Junyi, news gradually spread, reaching the ears of many outside sects and rogue cultivators.  

Sects like the Beast Taming Sect, upon hearing that this man had provoked Si Qi and even drawn a kill order from Immortal Venerable Chu himself, immediately understood the severity of the situation.  

Without hesitation, they volunteered their assistance, issuing identical commands within their own sects. They even promised generous rewards—whether for their own disciples or rogue cultivators—upon completing the mission, with each major sect offering its own substantial bounty.

As soon as this news spread, the entire cultivation world was shaken. Cultivators everywhere stared at the long list of rewards with reddened eyes, breathing heavily as they eagerly sharpened their weapons and scoured every corner in search of Zhou Junyi, determined to annihilate his soul.  

Si Qi couldn’t imagine how the Son of the World—who still possessed a fraction of the world’s energy—could possibly survive this. The cultivation world clearly had no place left for him. Even if he reincarnated or seized another body, people would still spend endless time hunting him down, leaving him no refuge.  

Not to mention, if the Son of the World wanted to rise again and seek revenge, he would have to follow the original protagonist’s path to power. But the moment he showed any sign of his “uncanny luck,” suspicion would immediately fall upon him. Whether he tried to save people to gain allies or chase after opportunities, he would be shackled at every step, unable to move forward.  

Xiu Xiu excitedly declared that the Son of the World would surely be exposed and killed again before long. Si Qi pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to the southeastern corner of the cultivation world map.  

That was the territory of the demonic beasts.  

Si Qi lightly tapped the table with his fingers, then took out dozens of spirit stones from his storage ring, arranging them in intricate formations.  

A few moments later, the array was complete, its faint shimmering glow indicating it was active.  

A rustling sound came from the table, and Si Qi spoke, “Old Tortoise, are you there?”  

Soon, the rustling turned into slow, heavy footsteps, and a hearty voice replied, “Ah, it’s you, little one. What’s the matter?”  

Si Qi: “The demonic cultivator I asked you to help me find earlier—they’ve already arrived in the cultivation world. Thank you.”  

Old Tortoise’s tone was carefree and generous. “No need for thanks! It’s only natural for us old folks to look after clever and well-behaved youngsters like you.”  

Si Qi smiled. “I’ll prepare some supplements and snacks for you later—consider them treats.”  

Old Tortoise was delighted. “That’s wonderful! I’ve always loved the little delicacies you human cultivators come up with. They’re truly delicious!”  

Si Qi: “There’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”  

Old Tortoise responded eagerly, “What is it? Just say the word!”  

Si Qi: “I suspect a cultivator has seized a body and reincarnated among the demonic beasts. Please keep an eye out for any high-level beasts—or their offspring—whose personalities have suddenly changed and who show extreme hostility toward the cultivation world.”  

Old Tortoise: “High-level beasts have resilient souls—it’s very difficult to possess them. Is this cultivator you speak of very powerful?”  

Si Qi: “No, but his luck is extraordinary. The body he seizes won’t be an ordinary one.”  

Old Tortoise pondered for a moment. “Very well, I’ll see if any young ones have been acting strangely lately. What should I do if I find them?”  

Si Qi carefully explained his plan. Old Tortoise listened attentively, then slowly replied, “Understood.”

At that moment, Si Qi heard a faint sound outside the courtyard and thought that Chu Feng must have returned. After bidding farewell to Old Tortoise, he deactivated the communication array and stepped out.  

He was openly wearing Chu Feng’s robes—the familiar sight of the slightly oversized garment draped over the youth’s frame instantly softened Chu Feng’s previously cold and irritated mood, replacing it with flustered awkwardness.  

The boy ran over, his expression innocent as he chirped, “Chu Feng, Chu Feng! Where did you go? You were gone for so long!”  

Chu Feng: “…You really only call me ‘Master’ when you need something, huh?”  

Si Qi grinned shamelessly. “Not just that—I’ve got other names for you in bed. Wanna hear them now?”  

Chu Feng’s breath hitched. With an exasperated flick of his sleeve, he strode past Si Qi without a glance, heading straight inside.  

Si Qi stood on his tiptoes behind him and called out, “Oho~ Master, going straight to the bedroom? That eager, are we?”  

Chu Feng’s steps faltered slightly before he quickened his pace, swiftly disappearing from view.  

Si Qi burst into laughter behind him, his bright, cheerful voice carrying through the door and straight into Chu Feng’s ears, making his fists clench and his lips pressed into a thin line.  

One day, he swore to himself, he’d make this brat—who feared nothing—whimper and beg for mercy with teary eyes, admitting he was wrong.  

— 

Chu Feng sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber, his brow furrowed. After several hours of cycling his spiritual energy, he finally retired to bed, his breathing steady as he drifted into sleep.  

The night was deep and silent. In his dreams, Chu Feng’s breaths gradually grew heavier. His body shifted slightly, his arm moving as if pulling something—or someone—close, his expression stubborn and resolute.  

“So disobedient…”  

A whisper so soft it was almost inaudible escaped him. His expression darkened with insistence as he leaned further down.  

The shadows of the night draped over his face as his body and mind sank deeper into darkness.  

—  

Some time later, the tension in Chu Feng’s brow finally eased. But soon, an unusual sensation in his robes slowly roused him from sleep.  

The moment his rationality returned, he jolted upright with a startled “Ah—!”, his eyes wide with disbelief.  

He looked down at himself, then guiltily in the direction of his disciple’s bedroom. After a long pause, he weakly pressed a hand to his forehead.  

This is really…  

—  

Si Qi had no idea just how eventful his beloved’s dreams had been the previous night. He had tossed and turned for hours before finally falling asleep while hugging Chu Feng’s robes. The next morning, he marched straight to Chu Feng’s room, shamelessly demanding another set of clothes.  

The moment he stepped inside, however, he caught a faint, unusual scent. He shot a puzzled glance at Chu Feng, whose expression was as calm and unreadable as ever. Was he mistaken?  

“Where’s the robe you wore yesterday?” Si Qi asked. “I need to wear your clothes to maintain my luck—don’t overthink it!”  

Chu Feng’s heart skipped a beat. “…”  

Si Qi added, “And the ones in the wardrobe don’t smell enough like you. They don’t feel right.”  

Xiu Xiu muttered in their shared consciousness: [What kind of outrageous line is that?!]  

Chu Feng averted his eyes. “This master’s worn robes have yet to be cleaned. They are… unclean.”  

Si Qi blinked. “Cultivators are free of dust and filth—your robes are pristine. They’re practically impervious to time itself. How could they be dirty?”  

Chu Feng: “…”  

Flustered, he snapped, “Enough! This master refuses!”  

What had happened last night was something he had never experienced—or even heard of—before. It had caught him completely off guard, leaving him at a loss for how to handle it. In his panic, he had destroyed all evidence.  

And just when he had finally managed to bury the memory through meditation, here came the cause of it all, prattling on first thing in the morning. How could he not feel embarrassed?  

His voice rose slightly in his agitation.  

Si Qi, suddenly being shouted at, was taken aback. Studying Chu Feng’s evasive gaze and recalling the scent he had dismissed earlier, he suddenly understood.  

“Ohhh~” He drew out the sound, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “You’re not unwilling—you just can’t, huh?”  

Chu Feng stiffened, his embarrassment deepening. Si Qi sauntered over, leaning into him and tilting his head up. “Tell me… did it feel good last night? I bet it did~”  

Chu Feng’s ears burned red. That tingling, electric sensation from the night before resurfaced, and where Si Qi pressed against him felt scorching hot.  

Just as Si Qi was about to tease him further, Chu Feng gently pushed him away and said, “Do you know that Zhou Junyi stole your destiny?”  

Si Qi: “…” Now of all times, you bring this up to kill the mood?  

But since serious matters were being discussed, Si Qi could only reply, “There’s such a thing?”  

Chu Feng frowned slightly. “This master only recently discovered it. The implications are grave—this must not be leaked. That man must be annihilated, soul and all, before he can utter a single word.”

Otherwise, if people could use such dark arts to steal others’ fortune and exploit the will of Heaven to kill without a trace, wouldn’t the world fall into chaos?  

Si Qi said, “He won’t tell a soul.”  

If word got out and others learned such a forbidden technique existed, every cultivator in the world would target him—whether to extract the secret from him or to eliminate the source of such calamity.  

The Son of the World wasn’t that foolish, and the Heavenly Dao wouldn’t stand idly by either. If anything, he’d be the first to die.  

Chu Feng nodded. “Regardless, we must find that cultivator as soon as possible.”  

Si Qi smiled mysteriously. “Even if we don’t go looking for him, he’ll eventually jump out on his own.”  

A person of such vile temperament would never endure humiliation for long. The moment he felt strong enough to seek revenge, he’d immediately leap out to provoke them, unable to bear even a single day more of suffering.  

Chu Feng gave Si Qi a thoughtful look, not entirely understanding but accepting his words. His goal of changing the subject had been achieved.  

Only after Chu Feng had slipped away did Si Qi realize he’d been played. “…Tch. What a sly man.”  

—  

Time passed in a blur. More than a year had gone by since Si Qi first arrived in this world and met Chu Feng—spring had faded, autumn had come and gone, and now snowflakes danced in the winter air.  

This year, the mortal realm was celebrating the New Year, and the nearby cultivation world was livelier than ever. Many cultivators who had just emerged from years of secluded training stepped into the city streets and nearly wondered if they had accidentally gone into closed-door cultivation for a millennium.  

Such cultivators appeared every now and then, and they were always easy to spot.  

For example, if a sudden exclamation rang out in an alchemy shop—”What?! Your entire store is stocked with supreme-grade pills?! Give me a bottle at once!”—or “A single supreme-grade pill costs only eight hundred spirit stones?! You must be joking!”—it was undoubtedly a cultivator who had just ended their isolation.  

But these shocks were only the beginning. After these cultivators emptied their savings to hoard supreme-grade pills, terrified of missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they would leave the shop in satisfaction, carefully hiding their storage pouches and hurrying out of the city to avoid being targeted.  

Then, just as they were about to make their escape, a merchant’s cry would ring in their ears:  

“Perfect-grade talismans! Invisibility, communication, protection, flame—all just one hundred spirit stones each! First come, first served, limited stock!”  

Their hurried steps would immediately freeze.  

What?! Perfect-grade talismans for only a hundred spirit stones?!  

They’d glance around warily, expecting the entire street to rush over in a frenzy.  

But the passersby would only spare the shopkeeper a casual glance. Aside from one or two who were drawn in, most would walk past without a second thought.  

The bewildered cultivator: “……???”  

Utterly confused but unwilling to miss out, they’d rush into the shop to inspect the talismans for themselves.

The lines were smooth, the spiritual glow flawless—this was indeed a perfect-grade talisman!  

Frantically digging through his remaining spirit stones from the pill purchase, he even pulled out some treasured spiritual herbs and materials, offering them to the shopkeeper. “Boss, I’ll trade these!”  

The shopkeeper amiably agreed, roughly estimating their value. The exchange was made, and both parties left satisfied.  

The only thing that puzzled the cultivator was that the few others in the shop—whom he had expected to be fierce competitors—merely glanced at the perfect-grade talismans (which would have sparked a frenzy anywhere else) with disinterest. They picked out a couple and left without a second thought.  

The cultivator stood there bewildered, sensing something was off. But since he’d gotten such a steal, he didn’t dare question it. He carefully stashed the talismans, glancing around like a thief afraid of being caught.  

And then—  

“Supreme-grade artifacts! Supreme-grade artifacts! Rock-bottom prices! Just 998 for a Supreme-grade artifact! Only 998 for a supreme-grade artifact—own it today!”  

The cultivator: “…………”  

Staring dumbfounded at the artifact shop ahead, he pinched his own face hard, wondering if he was still dreaming.  

The sharp pain confirmed reality. In a daze, he walked into the shop and spent nearly his entire remaining fortune on a supreme-grade artifact—something he had once only dreamed of owning.  

A supreme-grade artifact! A SUPREME-GRADE ARTIFACT!!!  

He nearly burst into delirious laughter on the spot, earning strange looks from passersby who deliberately sidestepped him.  

Watching him, they muttered to each other:  

“Another sucker.”  

“Heh, there’s always one or two getting scammed every month.”  

“What’s the big deal? Supreme-grade pills and artifacts are everywhere now.”  

“Might as well spend that money on Master Si’s memory pearls or sound pearls—those are the real novelties!” 

“Exactly! For just ten spirit stones, you can watch recorded battles of Void Tribulation and Transcendence stage experts up close. The insights are worth every penny!”  

“And the sound pearls! They record great masters’ cultivation insights and teachings. Subscribe for automatic updates and get a 10% discount! A single pearl lasts centuries—it’s a steal!”  

Their discussion not only drew the confused gaze of the near-bankrupt cultivator but also sparked enthusiastic agreement from others nearby.  

“True! I subscribed to Master Si’s channel. It keeps me updated on his latest research and upcoming products! If something really catches my eye, I can start saving up a month or two in advance!”  

“I bought a sound pearl just to subscribe to Immortal Venerable Chu’s channel… but he’s even more aloof than I imagined… Three months, and only one sentence… I’m about to give up…” The cultivator looked close to tears. “I bet he only agreed to open the channel because Master Si asked. I should’ve known.”  

“Ah, who doesn’t know that?”  

“Still, hearing even one word from him is worth the price! When else would we get to hear Immortal Venerable Chu’s voice?”  

“And the pearls are way cheaper than stacks of messaging talismans for long-distance calls with friends!”  

After half-hearted consolation, the crowd continued chattering:  

“Not long ago, Master Si came up with that ‘simulated cultivation scenario’ method. I tried it—absolutely mind-blowing!”

“You must be rich! I heard even the most basic simulation chamber costs a hundred spirit stones per hour! The intermediate and advanced ones are even pricier!” The crowd buzzed with curiosity. “What’s it actually like inside?”  

The cultivator puffed up with pride. “I spent five hundred spirit stones for an hour and a half in an intermediate simulation—just to preview my tribulation and avoid getting obliterated by heavenly lightning! The moment I stepped in, whoosh—actual bolts of terrifying lightning came crashing down! I nearly died of fright, thinking it was real! But when the lightning saw I couldn’t handle it, it veered aside and struck the ground instead. Not a scratch on me!”  

The listeners gaped in astonishment. The cultivator continued, “So I pulled myself together, prepared properly, and tried five or six more times. Finally figured out how to weather the tribulation. When my actual lightning tribulation came, I sailed through it smoothly. Now I’m a Nascent Soul cultivator! Hahaha!”  

The once-solemn cultivator laughed with the unrestrained joy of a commoner. Yet no one scorned him—instead, their eyes shone with envy.  

“Besides lightning tribulations, what other simulations are there?” they pressed.  

“They say there are trials of wind, fire, water, and earth; attacks from demonic beasts or ambushes by cultivators; even tailored environments like glaciers, volcanoes, abyssal trenches, and ancient forests—perfect for cultivation breakthroughs!”  

The crowd was practically vibrating with excitement. “Such a thing exists?!”  

“Cultivators with single-element techniques must be over the moon!”  

“And that’s not all.” The cultivator, clearly a die-hard fan of Master Si, lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Rumor has it… Master Si has something even bigger to share soon. Exclusively on his channel!”  

The audience nearly combusted from curiosity. “What?! What is it?! Stop teasing us!”  

Savoring the suspense, the cultivator finally announced with glee: “Master Si claims he’s found a way for us to peacefully trade with demonic beasts—using spirit stones to buy materials they naturally shed!”  

A stunned silence fell.  

Then—chaos.  

“Impossible! Those are demonic beasts!”  

“They go berserk at the sight of us! How could we ever negotiate, let alone trade? No way!” Skeptics shook their heads vehemently.  

The informant arched a brow. “Oh? So you’re calling Master Si a liar?”  

Dead silence.  

After a pause, someone ventured weakly, “Well… if Master Si says so…”  

“…Maybe it’s possible?”  

The long-isolated cultivator, already reeling from culture shock, blurted out, “Who is this ‘Master Si’ you keep talking about?”  

The crowd turned on him like a pack of outraged geese.  

“You don’t know Master Si?! What kind of cultivator are you?!”  

“Go home and educate yourself before embarrassing yourself further!”  

The Nascent Soul-stage cultivator shrank under the glares of juniors, not daring to utter another word. Ears burning, he listened intently as the crowd raved about the legendary Master Si—the man who’d turned the cultivation world upside down.

The cultivator who first brought it up continued, “As for the specifics—how could someone of my meager wisdom possibly guess? Just wait patiently! And remember to subscribe to Master Si’s channel! A mere few spirit stones a month is practically free!”  

The crowd nodded reflexively. If such a miracle were truly possible, they’d gladly pay even daily for it!  

The discussion quickly spiraled into excited chatter:  

“Remember that ‘air conditioner’ Master Si invented two months ago? My mortal relatives—the ones without spiritual roots—rave about it. A single low-grade spirit stone powers it all summer, turning rooms as cool as late autumn. Absolutely miraculous!”  

“Master Si cherishes peace. He once said mortals and cultivators are no different in his eyes. That’s why he invents affordable wonders for ordinary folk too… Those mortals must’ve burned lifetimes of incense to witness such a sage in their era.”  

“Indeed! Even we cultivators are blessed to live in Master Si’s time!”  

“Hear, hear!” The crowd murmured in agreement.  

Two years ago, who could’ve imagined supreme-grade pills becoming commonplace, perfect talismans selling for pocket change, or even mid-tier cultivators wielding supreme-grade artifacts? All thanks to Master Si…  

“Speaking of which—if Master Si’s brilliance can create ‘tractors’ for plowing fields, why hasn’t he invented self-flying skyships yet?”  

Thanks to Si Qi’s influence, even terms like “automation”, “mechanization”, and “rock-bottom prices” had seeped into everyday cultivation slang.  

Many found it odd—especially after seeing those popular memory pearls where Master Si always stood behind Immortal Venerable Chu, hitchhiking on his sword everywhere.  

“Master Si claims he dislikes sword flight, so he borrows others’ blades. But surely someone of his genius could solve that easily?”  

The crowd exchanged baffled glances.  

Only the die-hard fan—subscribed to Si Qi, Chu Feng, and the Lingxiao Sect leader’s channels—hesitated. Rubbing his nose, he kept silent.  

Ahem. The reason Master Si hadn’t invented flying skyships?  

Wasn’t it obvious…  

So he could press close against Immortal Venerable Chu’s back on that narrow sword, arms wrapped around him every single day!!!  

Judging by Chu Feng’s long-suffering yet indulgent expression…  

The fan smirked. Even the cultivation world’s strongest wasn’t immune to Master Si’s charms. If Si Qi wanted him bent, he would bend!  

Just then, a “ding!” chimed from the sound pearl at his waist—a breaking news alert:  

“URGENT: Demon Prince Junyi leads millions of beasts to invade the cultivation realm! War between immortals and demons is imminent!”  

“URGENT—”