A New Beginning

——Mountain Stronghold——

Bai Qiuyuan sat on the tiger-skin stone seat, feeling somewhat bored.

After a night of ‘friendly persuasion’ with the bandits and his discussion with Lin Ziya during the day, Bai Qiuyuan had pieced together some information about this world.

‘The cultivation realms in the Immortal Realm are ranked from lowest to highest as: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Void Refinement, and Ascendant.’

‘In the mortal realm, it seems that the laws of heaven and earth limit the highest cultivation level to Foundation Establishment Stage One.’

‘So, am I in a place similar to a beginner’s village in this mortal realm?’

‘No wonder there are so many ordinary people without cultivation here.’

Bai Qiuyuan pondered, looking at the cultivation section of the Modifier.

‘Ziya said there are two methods to ascend to the upper realm: one is to break through on one’s own. When cultivation reaches Foundation Establishment Stage Two, the laws of the upper realm will guide one to ascend. It seems that one can refuse, but refusing will reset one’s cultivation back to the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage One…’

‘The other method is to use a transmission gate connected to the upper realm, but it requires a considerable amount of spirit stones…’

‘People from the upper realm who wish to come to the mortal realm must also have a cultivation below Foundation Establishment…’

‘It seems that starting from Core Formation, one must undergo tribulation and be struck by lightning…’

Bai Qiuyuan fell into deep thought, looking at the ‘Modifiable’ mark next to his cultivation level on the Modifier.

‘For now, I won’t go to the upper realm yet.’

‘After all, I’ve only been in this world for a day, so there’s no rush to go to the upper realm.’

‘I’ll just enjoy a few more days in the mortal realm.’

Saying this, Bai Qiuyuan made a sword-finger gesture, slicing through the air to close the Modifier.

Previously, when Bai Qiuyuan changed his spiritual root, Lin Ziya saw the ‘sword incantation’ Bai Qiuyuan made with his hand, which was actually the quick gesture to open and close the Modifier.

Bai Qiuyuan then extended his hand, looking down at his small, delicate palm, and thought to himself.

‘Since there’s no rush to go to the upper realm, if I get the chance, I might as well look for clues about the original owner of this body…’

‘Although it’s possible that this body came into existence naturally due to my appearance…’

Bai Qiuyuan: “…”

‘Speaking of which, I didn’t sleep all night, but I don’t feel tired at all?’

‘Is this what it means to be an immortal?’

“Big Boss! Everything has been cleaned according to your instructions!”

Just then, a robust man with short black hair, wearing a black cloth robe, stopped a short distance from Bai Qiuyuan, knelt on one knee, and reported loudly with a cupped fist.

Bai Qiuyuan smiled.

“Then I’ll inspect your morning’s work.”

After saying this, Bai Qiuyuan stood up and walked towards the door.

— Mountain Stronghold Training Ground —

It had been a night since Bai Qiuyuan had beaten up all the bandits in the stronghold.

After bonding with all the bandits through a night of “sparring,” Bai Qiuyuan wandered around the stronghold and gave everyone their first order.

That was to clean the entire stronghold early the next morning!

In Bai Qiuyuan’s eyes, this stronghold was incredibly dirty!

The environment inside the stronghold could be described as filthy, chaotic, and substandard!

Coming from a modern civilized society with a certain level of cleanliness, Bai Qiuyuan found it hard to accept!

Bai Qiuyuan imagined himself lying in a messy room filled with stinky clothes and socks, sleeping on a bed with sweat stains, and felt his temples throb.

Originally, Bai Qiuyuan planned to practice hard all night and then rent a room at an inn to sleep.

However, after discovering that practice could replace sleep, Bai Qiuyuan simply stayed up all night practicing.

After wandering around again, Bai Qiuyuan returned to the training ground, looking at the bandits neatly lined up, and said.

“See? It doesn’t look half bad when it’s cleaned up.”

The bandits with bruised faces all showed awkward smiles and nodded in agreement.

Bai Qiuyuan was silent for two seconds, then swept his sleeve towards the crowd.

Just as everyone was puzzled, a large number of healing pills, which he had stored in advance, flew out of Bai Qiuyuan’s sleeve!

Everyone: !!!

Then the pills fell from the air, suspended by True Qi, floating in front of each person.

“These are high-efficiency healing pills, but I’ve also put poison in them. If anyone betrays me in the future, I’ll trigger this poison.”

“This poison is not fatal, but once it activates, it will make one wish for death…”

Everyone shivered after hearing this.

“Of course, you can choose not to eat it…”

Bai Qiuyuan finished, smiling as he took out the Ink Severing Sword from his sleeve, looking mischievously at everyone.

It seemed as if he was about to chop them down on the spot if they didn’t take it.

Seeing this, everyone unconsciously swallowed, then quickly took the pills floating in front of them and consumed them.

After seeing everyone swallow the pills, Bai Qiuyuan finally let go of the Ink Severing Sword.

The Ink Severing Sword then floated beside Bai Qiuyuan, ready for action.

After eating, everyone immediately felt their injuries healing rapidly!

“An Immortal Pill!”

Soon, everyone started whispering.

In reality, the pills were just ordinary high-efficiency healing pills, and there was no poison at all.

The poison was just something Bai Qiuyuan made up to bluff them.

Although the pills themselves had no poison, the bandits did not doubt Bai Qiuyuan’s words.

In their eyes, a Sword Immortal wouldn’t deceive small fries like them!

Some bandits who planned to escape after finding an opportunity now looked miserable.

“Isn’t it an honor to follow the Sword Immortal boss?”

The former bandit leader looked at the sorrowful faces and said with exasperation.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then became excited.

Bai Qiuyuan looked at the robust man and asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Reporting, sir, I am Guangchuan!”

The man quickly replied.

“From now on, you are the second-in-command of this stronghold.”

“Most of the stronghold’s affairs will still be handled by you.”

Bai Qiuyuan smiled.

“Thank you, Boss!”

Guangchuan was so excited that he almost knelt down.

Bai Qiuyuan continued.

“By the way, from now on, it is forbidden to injure people without reason, to rob, or to use any improper means to make money.”

“Yes!”

Bai Qiuyuan looked at the bandits’ tattered clothes, with no one even mending the patches, and swept his sleeve, placing a stack of neatly wrapped quilts and clothes on the training ground.

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard cleaning this morning. Go take a bath and change into new clothes.”

“It seems there is no place to bathe in the stronghold.”

“I’ll help you modify this stronghold a bit.”

“Rise.”

Just as everyone was puzzled, the ground of the stronghold suddenly shook violently!

Several large natural hot springs suddenly appeared in a clearing at the back of the stronghold!

Bai Qiuyuan looked down at the uneven, bumpy soil surface, and continued to gesture on the Modifier, saying.

“Solidify.”

Then everyone felt a squirming under their feet!

When they looked down, the soil surface had turned into neatly arranged, smooth, and glossy stone slabs!

“This isn’t a Sword Immortal…”

“Speak and it shall be done… this is clearly a Celestial Immortal!”

“Boss!!!”

…

Instantly, those who had planned to rebel completely abandoned their thoughts.

Everyone then forgot about the incident of being beaten by Bai Qiuyuan the day before!

“Go take a bath. After you eat, tidy up all the things in the stronghold.”

“Throw away what’s unnecessary and repair what can be used.”

Bai Qiuyuan said, looking at everyone.

“Boss, if we don’t do robberies, how will we make money?”

“The brothers’ monthly expenses aren’t a small amount.”

Guangchuan asked in confusion.

Bai Qiuyuan smiled and said.

“From now on, this place will no longer be known as [Coiled Serpent Stronghold], but as [White Egret Villa].”

“Don’t worry about the money; I’ll arrange it later. You just do as I say for now.”

“I have something to do in the city. I’ll be back by evening. If there’s an emergency, use the smoke signal to notify me.”

“Quickly divide these new clothes. If there aren’t enough, I’ll bring more when I return.”

Saying this, Bai Qiuyuan walked towards the exit of the stronghold.

Everyone then quickly started grabbing the new clothes, and some even cried happily, holding the new clothes.

Bai Qiuyuan: “…”

‘If I keep relying on the system for expenses, I can support them.’

‘But with currency inflation and rising prices, ordinary people’s lives will become even more difficult.’

‘Opening a hot spring villa might earn some money, enough for them to be self-sufficient.’

Bai Qiuyuan had discovered a suspected underground hot spring deep beneath the imperial city while shopping the day before.

Originally, Bai Qiuyuan had planned to find a time to build a hot spring villa for himself to enjoy.

Robbing the stronghold and placing the hot spring’s source in the mountains far from the imperial city also saved Bai Qiuyuan a lot of trouble.

‘These rough and tough bandits won’t be able to learn advanced skills like hosting guests in a short time…’

‘If the hot spring villa is to operate, more people need to be recruited.’

‘The wealthy merchant from the Wen family, his name is Wen Zhenping, right?…’

…

— By the Wall of the Wen Residence —

A group of servants brought a girl in a long dress to a middle-aged man with a gold ring on his finger and a slightly plump build.

The middle-aged man looked at the girl and said with a headache.

“Yesterday, you climbed over the wall and ran out, only to be captured by bandits. Are you trying to get captured again today?”

The middle-aged man was none other than the wealthiest merchant in the imperial city, Wen Zhenping!

And the girl who was caught was none other than Wen Ningyu, who had been captured by the bandits before.

“Father! A Sword Immortal little brother said that if I want to play with him in the future, I can go to the stronghold and find him!”

Wen Ningyu explained with a smile.

For some reason, after speaking, Wen Ningyu seemed to recall something, and a faint, unnatural blush appeared on her face…

“What little brother? You mentioned a Sword Immortal saving you yesterday, but I think you’re hallucinating.”

“Stay at home today and behave yourself!”

“Take the Young Miss back to her room.”

Wen Zhenping rubbed his temples, looking troubled as he instructed the servant.

Just as Wen Zhenping was troubled, a boy’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Hello there.”

Everyone followed the voice and looked up to see a black-haired boy in luxurious fur clothing standing on the high wall!

And that boy was unusually handsome!

His demeanor made everyone feel that he was untainted by the world, like a miniature fallen immortal!

Everyone was stunned for a few seconds…

“Where did this kid come from, climbing on someone else’s wall and causing trouble?!”

“Bring him down!”

Wen Zhenping came back to his senses and said to the servants beside him with a headache.

Bai Qiuyuan: “…”

“Little Brother!”

Wen Ningyu saw this and exclaimed excitedly.

Wen Zhenping: ?

Bai Qiuyuan nodded with a smile, looking at the servants surrounding him. He then reached into his sleeve, pulling out the one-meter-four-long Ink Severing Sword.

Everyone: [???]

[How did he fit such a long sword into his sleeve?!?]

Bai Qiuyuan lightly tossed the Ink Severing Sword in front of him.

The Ink Severing Sword flew up and obediently floated beside Bai Qiuyuan!

“A flying Sword! You are the Sword Immortal little brother Ningyu was talking about, the one who robbed the stronghold?!”

Wen Zhenping saw the flying sword and exclaimed in shock.

‘Such a young child… is actually a Sword Immortal?!’

Bai Qiuyuan then leaped lightly from the wall, landing securely on the ground. With his hands tucked in his sleeves, he said with a smile.

“I’m sorry, I knocked on the door, but no one answered.”

That natural smile was like a spring breeze, melting the winter ice, gentle and refined.

The surrounding servants were all stunned, standing still.

Wen Zhenping looked down at his daughter, who was blushing and fidgeting with excitement, and then at the distant youthful Sword Immortal, who seemed to radiate a dazzling light, and fell into deep thought…

‘I finally understand why this little girl insists on running to the bandits’ den…’

…

…