Chương 34: Content with Simplicity, Untouched by Splendor

The Creation Immortal Cauldron devoured hundreds of pounds of refined metals like a ravenous ancient beast. As streams of immortal light flowed and mystical Dao resonances echoed, the cauldron within Su Zhe's sea of consciousness expanded once again. Its internal space now measured nearly twenty cubic meters. That meant he could store far more treasures inside. At this point, he hardly needed a storage pouch anymore. Not bad at all. A fourth Immortal Aperture appeared on the surface of the cauldron.

At the same time, new words gradually emerged. Fourth Immortal Aperture — Blood Treasure Refinement The essence blood of warriors contains the profound workings of heaven and earth. In ancient times, there existed a method known as Blood Refining, which used blood to temper weapons. By placing the essence blood of beasts or warriors into the cauldron and nurturing it over time, the blood can be elevated to a higher grade and transformed into Treasure Blood.

Treasure Blood may be used to nourish treasures and artifacts, gradually granting them spiritual awareness and allowing them to resonate with their master's will as naturally as an extension of the body. When combined with the ancient Blood Refining method, it can further enhance the quality of treasures. Treasure Blood is also an extraordinary tonic capable of restoring vitality, healing blood-related injuries, and serving as a supreme medicinal treasure.

"Blood Treasure Refinement..." Su Zhe pondered the new ability.

"But to bring Treasure Blood to its fullest potential, I would need this Blood Refining technique. I've never even heard of such a method. Finding it will likely depend on fate." Every time an Immortal Aperture awakened, the Creation Immortal Cauldron gained a new miraculous function. Mortal Transcendence. Treasure Forging and Body Refinement. Blood Treasure Refinement. Each ability defied common sense. Calling them divine miracles would hardly be an exaggeration.

On a whim, Su Zhe drew the Fiendblade and cut his fingertip. Circulating his qi and blood throughout his body, he condensed a portion of his vitality and forced several drops of essence blood out of his body. In martial cultivation, essence blood was often called Heart Blood —the purest concentration of a warrior's life force. There was an old saying:"The blood of the heart is the source of life itself. It contains the brilliance of spirit and soul.

A single drop outweighs a thousand pieces of gold; even ten thousand cannot buy another." That alone spoke of its value. For ordinary people, losing even a single drop of Heart Blood could result in severe illness and permanent weakness. In serious cases, it could be fatal. Su Zhe's physique far surpassed that of normal humans, yet after forcing out ten drops, his face turned pale and his limbs grew weak. The drops floated inside the Creation Immortal Cauldron. Golden light from the Five Metals enveloped them.

The metallic radiance seemed to possess a refining power, continuously purifying the blood.

"If Heart Blood becomes Treasure Blood, it'll turn into a supreme healing treasure..." Su Zhe watched the slow transformation and couldn't help but complain inwardly.

"Still... consuming my own blood feels a little strange." The discomfort lasted only a moment. Once transformed, the blood would absorb the essence of the Five Metals and become something closer to a pure energy construct than ordinary blood. Besides... His life was already hanging by a thread. Who cared about something like that now? He equipped the Phantom Shark Mask to the Fourth Immortal Aperture. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Immediately, he felt his strength, natural talent, and comprehension improve yet again.

"Losing ten drops of essence blood has left my vitality severely depleted."

"Now that Uncle and Auntie are settled, it's time to eat that Horn Pomfret and recover." Leaving the Artisan Courtyard, Su Zhe headed to the Su Residence beside the Sun Estate. Though it was called the Su Residence, no plaque had yet been hung at the entrance, nor had any housewarming banquet been held. To avoid attracting unwanted attention, they had also refrained from hiring servants openly. However, several loyal servants from the Sun Estate had been sent over to help his aunt with household chores.

Even so, she remained cheerful every day. Every so often, she would beam and say:"Little Zhe has made something of himself. Wonderful. Truly wonderful."

"Your mother finally has people serving her."

"I knew it—the best decision I ever made was marrying your uncle."

"Those village women who looked down on Su Yuan can regret it for the rest of their lives. They'll spend their whole lives trapped in that fishing village." Whenever Su Yuan heard this, he rolled his eyes. His wife always managed to twist every conversation so that she got the final word. Rather than argue, he simply sat in the courtyard smoking his pipe. When Su Zhe returned home, Lin Xia personally cooked the Horn Pomfret they had been keeping alive for two days and made a rich fish soup.

"That child really doesn't know how to manage money."

"At least three hundred taels of silver... and he's just eating it." She sighed as she cooked.

"If I weren't here, this family would fall apart sooner or later." Yet despite her complaints, the corners of her mouth curved upward into a gentle smile. Her true feelings were obvious. The family enjoyed a rare and peaceful meal together. After drinking only a small bowl of soup, Lin Xia and Su Yuan could no longer withstand the medicinal potency contained within the treasure fish. Su Zhe shared some with the servants from the Sun Estate and consumed the rest himself.

Sun Tiexin was among the wealthiest men in Lu County. After all, he controlled the Artisan Hall, practically a machine for printing money. Even so, he would never casually feed treasure fish to servants. For warriors, being able to buy such a fish for a few hundred taels of silver was enough to make them smile in their sleep. In all his years, even Sun Tiexin had only eaten such delicacies a handful of times.

"Master has treated me well, and the guards of the Sun Estate have looked after the Su Residence with great care."

"If I survive this ordeal, I'll catch a few treasure fish and let Master enjoy them too." Su Zhe silently made the promise. Night fell. The moon shone brightly amid a sky scattered with stars. Uncle and nephew sat together in the courtyard, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Su Zhe took out a handwritten manual. Inside was the complete cultivation method of the Sea-Dragon Diving Art, from beginner mastery all the way to major accomplishment. He had copied it himself.

"Uncle, this technique is extremely difficult to cultivate."

"But you've spent your whole life on the water. It should suit you."

"If you train diligently for ten or twenty years, you may achieve something with it." He handed the manual to Su Yuan. Su Yuan nodded silently, puffing on his pipe. First came the Crocodile Beast meat. Then the Horn Pomfret soup. His body was now stronger than many young men in their prime. The Sea-Dragon Diving Art required three things: Talent. Strength. Affinity with water. Even reaching minor mastery was extraordinarily difficult. But if Su Yuan persisted for more than a decade, he might eventually succeed.

The manual also included Su Zhe's own annotations, derived from the memory fragments he had inherited. At the very least, it would allow his uncle to enter the path of cultivation. Treasure Arts differed from ordinary martial techniques. Merely reaching the entry level allowed one to circulate qi and blood, equivalent to a First-Rank martial artist. Minor Mastery tempered the bones, equivalent to Second Rank.

With this foundation, even if Su Zhe met with disaster, the Su family would remain under Sun Tiexin's protection. Ten years later, they would never again fall to the bottom of society.

"Uncle..." Su Zhe's voice softened.

"If I don't return for a long time, take this manual and give it to my master, Hall Master Sun Tiexin."

"Master is a good man. For my sake—and for the value of this technique—he'll protect you and Auntie."

"You'll live out the rest of your lives in peace." Su Yuan's hand trembled around his pipe. Then his shoulders began to shake as well. A long silence followed. Finally, he lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot and swollen with unshed tears.

"Little Zhe..."

"Let's forget the mansion."

"Forget the cultivation manual."

"Forget being some great warrior."

"We don't need any of it."

"Let's go back to the fishing village."

"Let's just live out our lives in peace." His voice was dry and sorrowful. Su Zhe could hear it trembling. The uncle and nephew looked at one another. In Su Yuan's left eye, Su Zhe seemed to see a sentence: Content with coarse grain and simple fare. In his right eye, another: Untouched by wealth and splendor. To be satisfied with simplicity. To remain unstained by worldly glory. Those who know contentment enjoy lasting happiness.

"Uncle, don't worry." Su Zhe smiled.

"Now that I've stepped onto the martial path, I won't turn back."

"A warrior must fight for what he seeks."

"If a man only lives once, then he should at least fight for longevity."

"Fight for the chance to stand above the ages." His eyes shone with unwavering determination as he clenched his fist.

"My heart knows its destination."

"Even a single reed can carry me across the sea."

"Besides..."

"It's already too late to turn back."

"If we simply wait for fate to strike, our entire family will perish."

"I, Su Zhe... have no regrets." No regrets. Su Yuan fell silent. He could feel the boundless ambition burning within his nephew. The lofty aspirations of youth. And yet— He regretted everything. Deeply. Bitterly.

"I regret it."

"It's my fault."

"I've failed your parents." His head lowered again. The pipe smoke drifted into the night. Had he not dreamed of seeing Su Zhe rise above the common folk... Had he not spent the family's savings to send him into the Blacksmith Guild to become a warrior... Would they have ended up in such danger? It was like parents watching a child leave home. They wanted their child to soar like a dragon. Yet feared every hardship the child might suffer. And the cruelest feeling of all...

Was being family and being powerless to help. Su Zhe gently patted his uncle's shoulder. Then he smiled.

"Uncle."

"I practice martial arts." That simple sentence carried everything. Was Su Zhe afraid of death? Of course he was. Terrified. But precisely because he feared death, he refused to retreat. Everyone died eventually. Even warriors could not escape the limits of lifespan if their cultivation was insufficient. Su Zhe had already died once. That made him fear death even more. And because he feared it— He had to fight. Fight harder. Live longer. Su Yuan shuddered.

"Martial arts..."

"Martial arts..." He slowly opened the handwritten Sea-Dragon Diving Art. The road ahead was long. But if one kept walking, one would eventually arrive. A thought surfaced in his heart. He's my child too. And for his child's sake— He would become a warrior as well.