« Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter » Chapter 44: White Ant Queen Half a month later. Outside the mountain, the summer heat was sweltering, but inside the mountain, it remained cool. Accompanied by Bai Jing, Fu Shaoguang left the Demon Market . Soon, a gigantic earthen fortress came into view. It was the Ant Nest . Fu Shaoguang entered it, marveling at the sight. The Termite Demons truly deserved their reputation in the Demon Market for their construction skills. The Ant Nest stood tall like an earthen mound, magnificent on the outside, and even more intricate on the inside, with roads extending in all directions. Crisscrossing and dense with tunnels. Like a dense, sprawling network. Fu Shaoguang believed his memory was good and his sense of direction accurate; he could remember the path at first, but he quickly became disoriented. His head was spinning. He stuck closely behind Bai Jing. Perhaps only Termite Dem...
Achieving Immortality in a Cultivation World by Extraordinary Means: Chapter 3: Introducing Qi Into the Body
Chapter 3: Introducing Qi Into the Body
The mountain stream was clear, and the water flowed gently.
At this time of year, the mayflies born a year earlier than Fu Shaoguang welcomed the shortest yet most brilliant moment of their lives. Batch after batch of mayflies crawled out of their mud holes, disregarded their predators, and resolutely floated to the water's surface.
They no longer had tracheal gills, breathing instead through spiracles, beating their wings which were not yet capable of flight, staying in secluded spots on the water's surface or climbing onto rocks, hiding quietly, waiting for their final metamorphosis.
Hiding at the entrance of his mud hole, Fu Shaoguang looked at these seniors who viewed death as if returning home, feeling both awe and sorrow. Especially when, on the evening of the next day, he saw the predators gather, reveling freely and enjoying a gluttonous feast consisting mainly of male mayfly corpses, the suffocating feeling of death drawing ever closer made him empathize deeply.
The tightly locked memory box opened. Memories surged forward like a tide.
He felt as if he had returned to his previous life, surrounded by the smell of disinfectant, lying on a hospital bed, his breathing growing difficult. Each breath felt like his internal organs were being scorched, and his throat and nasal cavity were being sliced by a thousand cuts. Even if he exhausted all his strength, he could only sink step by step into despair and darkness amidst the pain.
At this moment, Fu Shaoguang was filled with low spirits, as if a voice was speaking to him:
"Forget it! Why struggle? Even if you try harder, you can only extend your lifespan by a few days at most. You are still just a mayfly, your life as fleeting and insignificant as a shooting star falling from the sky. Just like your previous life, fate is already decided. Rather than exhausting yourself only to gain nothing, it's better to accept reality and make your life as brilliant as possible in the short time you have."
Similar words kept ringing out, surrounding Fu Shaoguang's heart like a three-dimensional curse, full of persuasion, comfort, and temptation, making the listener unable to resist lowering their guard. They couldn't help but want to believe and obey.
"Even with a thousand lofty aspirations, one must eventually yield to the will of Heaven. In your previous life, you were exhausted fighting illness, only to end tragically. Why not be more carefree in this life and make your limited existence magnificent? Why hold on so tightly? Why strive so hard for gain? Let go boldly, enjoy yourself, indulge, and accept the gifts of fate with equanimity—wouldn't that be better? Forget it! What if there are demons? Didn't the clam demon still lose its life? You studied breathing techniques for two months yet gained nothing, right? What is destined to be yours will be yours; do not strive for what is not."
Fu Shaoguang wavered. A voice appeared in his heart. His fighting spirit was slowly being worn away. It was like a reef about to be eroded and scattered by the waves.
Just as the great mountain in his heart was about to collapse, Fu Shaoguang suddenly realized something.
Something is wrong! This is very wrong!
Although the outcome of his previous life was poor, at least he had strived, fought, and sought to live. Therefore, even as his body grew cold and his heart was filled with fear and reluctance, deep down, he had no regrets. If he were to give up completely in this life without even trying, he would certainly be filled with regret and sorrow upon death.
In the life of an insect, living one more day is a profit. For the mayfly that lives only from dawn till dusk, living one more day means living another lifetime, allowing for many variables to appear. Especially since this world has demons! If he didn't fight for it, he would only drift further away from cultivation, and in the end, he would have one more regret in his heart.
Thinking of this, the great mountain that was tottering in Fu Shaoguang's heart not only stabilized but also rose steadily. Eventually, it pierced the sea of clouds and saw the dazzling sun. Once at the summit, all mountains appear small.
Inside the mud hole, the mayfly's aura changed. A thick shell condensed on its body. A day later, when it completed its thirty-third molting, its body was larger, its strength was greater, and its mouthparts and six legs were more developed. Furthermore, it gained a subtle connection with Heaven and Earth.
That night, Fu Shaoguang tried the breathing technique again and found his mood was unprecedentedly calm. Many multicolored spots of light appeared around him, dancing like numerous fireflies. He was overjoyed.
Although he couldn't guide Qi into his body yet, Fu Shaoguang was still ecstatic. The first step is the hardest; he had already taken half a step forward. Could the remaining half step be far behind?
Frost formed by the riverbank, and maple leaves drifted red. In the golden autumn season, inside the mud hole, a mayfly slowly crawled out of its old shell, turned around, opened its sharp mandibles, and crunched down on the old shell, chewing it like potato chips. And it was the original flavor!!!
This was the thirty-sixth molting!
The autumn moon over the mirror-like water at night was like snow. Fu Shaoguang slowly crawled out of his earthen hole, performing the breathing technique as usual, trying to get close to the colorful Spiritual Qi light spots. Unexpectedly, shortly after starting, two colored light spots eagerly rushed into his body. His insect body immediately felt warm and moist, like soaking in a hot spring in the dead of winter—comfortable and pleasant.
After swallowing four light spots, Fu Shaoguang felt stuffed, realizing he had reached his limit. Stopping the breathing technique, he happily returned to his hole: He had finally succeeded in guiding Qi into his body! This meant he had officially embarked on the path of cultivation.
Once his emotions stabilized slightly, Fu Shaoguang quickly savored the previous sensation and reviewed his gains, lest it be a fleeting moment. The next morning, his appetite greatly increased, and he became able to eat more than before.
Fortunately, food was plentiful during the autumn season. The eggs of his predator, the dragonfly, also hatched, and dragonfly nymphs were born one by one, only to be hunted and devoured by him. This indirectly saved many of his younger kin.
Breathing technique, gathering Qi, foraging, devouring! Fu Shaoguang's daily life was simple yet fulfilling. In late autumn and early winter, he completed his fortieth molting. His body was the size of a pinky finger, which was the limit for a mayfly. After eating his old shell, Fu Shaoguang lay in his hole, quietly meditating while recovering his strength.
He had a strong premonition that he would probably have to wait a long time before molting again, and that this next molt would be crucial for him. Fu Shaoguang waited patiently. However, his appetite grew even larger. Since food was already scarce in winter, he ventured out again, driven by hunger.
Finding several sharp spines and hiding in the dark mud layer, Fu Shaoguang patiently lay in wait. A mischievous little shrimp bounced over, but before it even entered his attack range, it was clipped on the face by its mother, staggering back dizzily to rejoin the group. A crab swaggered past, its carapace hard and its claws sharp; it looked difficult to deal with.
As a seasoned hunter, Fu Shaoguang endured his hunger and selected suitable prey. After an unknown amount of time, a small fish lagged behind, slowly swimming over, gulping water, and playing. The mud and sand shifted silently. Fu Shaoguang was poised to strike. When the small fish entered the attack range, he struck without hesitation, thrusting a sharp spine diagonally forward.
The small fish was startled and dodged skillfully, but Fu Shaoguang, having anticipated its movement, seized the opportunity to pin it down. His six legs seemed embedded in the small fish. Fu Shaoguang opened his mouth and bit into its eye, sucking the blood. The fish's struggle weakened until it finally went silent.
After swallowing the fish fry, which was the size of his own body, Fu Shaoguang hid in the mud and sand, slowly approaching his hole and eventually retreating into it to slowly digest and rest. Similar scenes frequently played out in this body of water. Sometimes it was shrimp, sometimes snails. Sometimes he was stabbed, sometimes he was bitten blind.
Of course, Fu Shaoguang also brushed past the Grim Reaper several times. Once, he was targeted by a crucian carp. If he hadn't risked entering the black fish's domain, causing the carp to be preyed upon by the black fish instead, he probably wouldn't have escaped. Fu Shaoguang did not molt once throughout the entire winter, even though he performed the breathing technique every night and ate flesh to fill his stomach.
It wasn't until the following spring that a turning point finally appeared.
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