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Cultivation Nerd: Chapter 196
🕑 Added 2024-09-19 07:23:51 +0000 UTCChapter 196 - Freedom!!
In a desolate and uncharted region of the Western Continent, deep within one of its untamed jungles, lay a cave shrouded in moss and dampness. The humid air clung heavily, and the ancient stones seemed to exhale with the weight of centuries. Tonight, the full moon hung brighter than ever, casting its silver glow across the jungle unimpeded by even the faintest cloud. Its radiance pierced the dense canopy, bathing the cave entrance in a pale, otherworldly light.
Inside the cave, a young woman sat alone. Her skin, once smooth and unblemished, now bore the scars of battle, the most jarring being the hollow void where her left eye had once been. The empty socket was a stark, haunting contrast to the rest of her face. The faint moonlight highlighted her features, deepening the shadows around her body. At the same time, her remaining eye gleamed with a quiet, determined resolve.
Four stars…
Five stars…
Six stars…
Ye An could feel her cultivation surging as the moon's light reached her, even in the cave's depths. The cold Yin energy permeating the cave seeped into her. Still, the Yang energy within her swiftly consumed the Yin, transforming it into nourishment.
It had been over a week since she had consumed the Yang fruit, yet the searing Yang energy within her had barely diminished. Anyone else would have endured immense pain, struggling to prevent their body from being torn apart by the rampant energy. But for Ye An, it was like bathing in cool spring water on a hot day, the sensation soothing and pleasurable.
The process was nearly enjoyable, except for the occasional hunger and thirst pangs from not having eaten for days. But these were minor distractions compared to the intoxicating sensation of power coursing through her.
As she gradually acclimated to the raging energy, Ye An opened her lone eye wider and exhaled in relief. Unlike her usual cold breath, this one came out in a steamy rush, so hot it nearly scorched her lips.
Rising to her feet, she reached for a white medical eye patch and carefully fitted it over her empty socket. Her movements were deliberate, though her trembling fingers betrayed her excitement as she struggled to loop the string over her ear.
Her gaze drifted to the far corner of the cave, where a mangled, naked corpse lay in a twisted heap. "Corpse" seemed almost too generous a term—it was more like a grotesque pile of mutilated flesh. The limbs had been savagely ripped from the torso, lying in scattered pieces, and the decapitated head rested ominously at her feet. A gaping, ragged hole in the chest where the heart once beat was now teeming with writhing maggots, their pale bodies squirming as they feasted on rotten flesh.
The cave reeked of death and decay.
She crouched down, her fingers tangling in the severed head's matted, crimson-stained hair. With a casual flick of her wrist, she rolled the head in her hand like it was nothing more than a ball. The face was barely human now—a grotesque, mutilated mask. The eyes had been gouged out, leaving hollow, bloodied sockets, and the teeth were jagged, most of them torn away from the gums. The tongue, too, had been severed, leaving only a ragged stump behind.
Ye An sent the head hurtling through the air with a swift, brutal kick. It struck the cave wall with a sickening crunch, exploding in a burst of blood and decayed tissue. The red smear oozed down the wall, mingling with the putrid remains of the brains and flesh, like a rotten fruit smashed to pieces.
It was a shame, Ye An mused, that despite all the butchering she had done to Hu Jin’s corpse, most of the injuries had been inflicted after his death. She had vented all her pent-up frustrations on his body. However, she’d taken care to inflict as much pain as possible during the surprisingly long half-hour he remained alive.
His vitality had been unnaturally strong, and she could only hope he had been conscious through the worst of it. Perhaps he survived so long due to the Yang Fruit he had stolen from her. That would be a nice revenge.
In the past, the mere thought of Hu Jin taking the Yang Fruit from her would have ignited her fury. But now, after desecrating his corpse, she felt only calm—almost a fondness toward the situation.
Was it because she had ultimately consumed the Yang Fruit, or simply that the target of her rage was dead? Ye An couldn’t say, but the relief she felt was undeniable, like a bird freed from its cage.
With a casual swipe of her hand, the remaining pieces of the corpse froze instantly. Then, with a clenched fist, she reduced the frozen body to fine snow mixed with crimson and shards of bone. Even his clothes were torn to shreds.
Curiously, amid the destruction, the only thing left behind was a bronze coin. It looked so dull and worn that it could have been mistaken for a mere rock at first glance.
An artifact, perhaps? Ye An wondered.
She walked closer and picked up the coin, turning it over in her hand. Spreading her senses toward it, she found no trace of Qi. By all appearances, it was just an ordinary coin.
She tried to bend it between her fingers, but to her surprise, it didn’t budge.
“Huh? Still trying to curse me after death, are you?” Ye An muttered, eyes narrowing. She knew Hu Jin well—he was a vindictive bastard. He had taken her Yang Fruit without warning, without provocation. The last thing she needed was some parting curse he’d left behind.
Hu Jin had always been dumber than a rock, but he had a talent for being a thorn in her side.
Maybe the coin held some secret, but Ye An didn’t care. She had the Yang Fruit now, and she was confident that she would reach the Nascent Soul Realm within four years.
There was a reason why those with Extreme Physiques rarely lived long. If they survived too long, they could easily dominate the world. Still, even with her cultivation advancing, Ye An knew that unlike others, she wouldn’t enjoy the benefit of an extended lifespan unless she became immortal. And even that was purely hypothetical—that becoming an immortal would save her—it was just a theory spun by some book-loving scholar.
But Ye An refused to dwell on the idea that even immortality might not fix her. That road led only to despair, and she would not walk it. Nothing good would come of doubting that road.
Ye An moved toward the cave’s entrance with deliberate steps, where the vines clung tightly to the rock, filtering the moonlight. A familiar tingling sensation washed over her as the soft silver light touched her skin. Despite herself, she shuddered, the phantom pain of years spent under the oppressive moonlight rising unbidden within her.
And yet, it made her smile. Because while her body was instinctively reacting, there was no pain.
Pushing aside the vines, she stepped fully into the moonlight. It cascaded over her like water, bathing her in its glow. Her feet sank into the muddy earth of the jungle, and she closed her eyes, expecting to feel some pain.
But all she felt was a harmless tingle.
A smirk tugged at her lips. Amused by the moonlight’s lack of effect, Ye An chuckled. That chuckle quickly spiraled into a wild cackle, then erupted into full-blown laughter.
The once-silent jungle stirred at the sound of her laughter. Startled bats, owls, and other nocturnal creatures took flight, scattering into the night in a frantic rush. This only fueled her amusement, and her laughter swelled, echoing through the trees, wild and untamed like the wilderness around her. In that moment, Ye An cared for nothing. Her joy was as untamed as the wilderness around her.
Without a second thought, she flung the coin into the distance, watching it disappear into the shadows. She didn’t spare it another glance. Running her hands along her bare arms, she began humming a light, cheerful tune.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight of her past tortures no longer hung over her like a sword poised to strike. The darkness and pain that had haunted her seemed distant now, irrelevant. Ye An was overwhelmed with joy so pure and effervescent that no room remained in her heart for hate or sorrow—not at this moment.
Pure, bubbling joy swelled in her chest. She had never felt so happy, so unburdened.
*********
With autumn slowly creeping in, the once vibrant, lush forests outside the Sect had begun to lose their vitality. The leaves, tinged with the first signs of decay, no longer danced as freely in the wind. A faint chill clung to the air, and the season’s dampness seeped into the earth, turning the once solid paths into slick, muddy trails. Each step squelched underfoot. The world had grown quieter as if nature itself was preparing for the long sleep ahead.
As I walked, I couldn’t help but compare the Blazing Sun Sect to Goldwatch City. Sure, the Sect didn’t need roads much—most cultivators came and went on flying swords. But it was hard to ignore that Goldwatch City had better infrastructure for travelers and clearly a larger budget to splurge on such luxuries.
When I left the Sect, I chose to forgo using a flying sword once I was out of sight. Flying swords were far too conspicuous, and anyone who spotted me could easily report which direction I had gone.
Of course, the big-ass jade platform with Speedy on it was also quite the spectacle. Still, I was sticking to the uninhabited parts of the forest. For now, Speedy would have to stay behind. My footprints could blend in with the many outer disciples traveling in and out of the Sect on missions, but Speedy’s giant prints were a different story. Even with the rain and mud, those tracks would take a while to disappear.
For a moment, I considered leaving Speedy temporarily in the forest and visiting Greengrass Town, which was close to the Blazing Sun Sect. Maybe I could meet up with Mao Zhi, an old friend of mine and a guard there. But I quickly dismissed the thought. It would only expose him to any assassins Song Song’s granny might have sent after me.
Despite the less-than-ideal situation, I felt oddly okay with it. For the first time, I was truly free to do as I pleased. I had plenty of books stored in my ring, enough to last me months.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp morning air.
The question of the day was: where should I go first? Obviously, I wasn’t planning to visit most of the places I had mentioned to the Sect as excuses. For instance, if I didn’t use a flying sword, visiting my fiancée would take around six months.
I didn’t hate Fu Yating, but… it wasn’t like I was madly in love with her either. Aside from the fact that she was a schemer, I hardly knew her at all.
After mulling it over, I still couldn’t decide on a specific destination, so I shrugged.
Whatever. I’d just pick a direction and see where the road led me. There were plenty of places to explore—the Flaming Sea, Haunted Forest, Sleeping Dragon Mountains, and many more!
With excitement bubbling in my chest, I walked along, humming the tune to Jingle Bells.
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End of Book 3
Comments
Noah
A good way for the Heavens to get revenge would be for Liu Feng to “find” the coin. That way he could get help from the Old Grampa against Ye An. Liu Feng is a way better partner for the Ring Gramps. Hu Jin was way too much of an idiot.
marlassett
I hope Ye An just earned a shit ton of lot.
SirWinsALot
Not really there will come a point if diminishing returns her master stated it I believe i don’t think it would be as effective for a nascent soul
Sterban Friz
MC can't get with song song realistically, her cultivation requires her to be a virgin for life
Nicholas Mann
I don't think anybody's arguing whether it could happen. Just whether it would be good to read and the answer is no. Recurring villains suck. Especially if it's not a charismatic one. And Hu Jin is completely irredeemable. I'd rather read a book with bold choices than standard literary tropes that have been done to death
Maniac000
Can’t help but think Liu Feng is about to go on the kind of adventures legends are made of. The kind of travels that will help him accelerate his growth.
Nicholas Mann
Nobody cares about the heavens. It's a terrible writing trope that would ruin a good story. Death should be permanent for everyone but the MC. Besides, if the heavens care so much they can just pick a new guy as literally anyone they choose is "heaven's chosen." The story has already demonstrated they're as common as water.
LAG
Rip Hu Jin man, died young and dumb. Now into some new questions: Will the Heavens take revenge for its dead favored? Does Heaven’s Favor (HF) work with King of the Hill rules and now Ye An is the new HF? Or does some new random character take over the mantle? One things for sure though Ye An seems to have gone full blown psycho and will only be an even greater pain in the ass later. Also no doubt that coin will find it’s way back into the story somewhere down the line.
TheSniper
He did deserve death yeah. Him going through that torture? Neah.
lakenov
judging by how the four beast immortal said he didnt want to take the page to increase his talent from being top notch to extreme i dont think being immortal will save ye an, which begs the question what will?
SirWinsALot
Interesting end to this book, 1. it's possible that Ye an by killing Hu jin just earned a shit load of bad luck and is in for some deep shit unless our MC helps her out. 2. Ye an became the new heavens chosen and within a few years will be strong enough to be a tribulation for the blazing sun immortal. 3. Hu jin soul got sucked into the coin as well, and he is alongsde the grandpa in the coin which Ye An just tossed. 4. Frankly I simply don't care if Fu Yating lives or dies. Zero attachment to her character as of now. Still on the Song Song ship. Someone who after that revelation with the language, truly understands him the most in the world. 5. I really hope Liu feng stays on this wave of adventure and ignores fu Yating, going to the sect and fu yating seems vastly more boring.
Bereftreader
Sleeping Dragon Mountains??? That sounds cool af. I bet there's special qi there or unique flora and fauna. Definitely good research materials for LF. I'm always hype for a good survival in the woods arc, maybe with using the jade armor technique to make a campsite and guards or other arrays for controlling the weather/nature to defend himself or hunt for food. I'm excited to see where LF goes.
Conrad Manaugh
I mean nobody irl deserves that, if thats your point I agree. But he did deserve a reckoning of some kind.
BZD
Are the heavens about to pull the equivalent of a Fate Alaya and make basically a counter guardian?
BZD
Honestly I’m really pretty Sad about Hu Jin. I was actually pretty fond of him. Heck, he made a good foil for our protagonist too. Here were have a rather dumb guy (in comparison to Liu) who had great luck, and was favored by the heavens, vs our MC who is really smart, but not lucky (in comparison to Hu Jin). Not to mention, I was actually invested in Hu Jin’s own story line within the sect. Like his relationship with the guy who was poisoned and such. And I was excited to see how Hu Jin would work against or with Liu later on. He honestly felt like he could have been a “Gaara” to our “Naruto”. I do wonder though, has Ye A just made things much harder for everyone? It seems like a Heaven’s chosen is part of the ordeal to take out the immortals, so removing him before the ordeal starts, means that the heaven’s may try to overcompensate.
Skinnybonz
Perhaps Hu Jin survived? The coin could possibly hold his soul as well unless he couldn't regain his Heaven granted luck in the short time he was tortured. If Hu Jin won't be The Heaven's tool for the tribulation, (if that was his purpose) then what is plan b for The Heavens to take out the immortal?
Green0Photon
Probably old grandpa. Hu Jin wasn't high enough level to survive in a coin, and there was no one powerful/skilled enough to let him do so.
Undead Writer
Thanks for the chapter!
Maniac000
Liu Feng is going to need to fall into a lucky encounter of some sort (such as finding Hu Jin’s spirit coin grandpa)
TheSniper
Huh? Never said that. I said that he didn't deserve this slow type of torture death. That's quite intentionally done even too.
Gio
Liu Feng survived as a spirit. The blood step immortal appeared 20000 years ago. Did Liu Feng survive 20000 years?
lenkite
Heavenly Algorithm will simply choose another cultivator - there are so many of them around.
lenkite
You need to reach the higher stages of Core Cultivation or Nascent soul before you can survive as a spirit. Simple Qi Gathering doesn't cut it. If author does this - then it is stupendous break with Xianxia tradition and power levels. At that point, you might as well make Hu Jin utterly, unkillable immortal who can fart and fly to space, interstellar travel, can take over any body, blah-blah.
lenkite
The ghost may be an idiot jerk, but he is also a [Alchemy Master] - Liu Feng has no natural talent for alchemy unlike formations. However, I doubt that coin is going to be discovered by him anyways - it will take ages to be found by anyone.
lenkite
Hu Jin died ASAP after his luck got "normalized" to average. Showed that luck was pretty much the only thing keeping him alive. Unfortunately, though he died after stealing the Yang Fruit, now MC & Song Song will be in trouble if Ye An decides to pursue her grudges.
lenkite
If Ye An actually reaches Nascent Soul within 4 years, then MC & Song Song are dead 💀. That stupid senior giving the Yang Fruit would be the true root cause of their death.
StarBat
The maze immortal warned that killing Hu Jin brings bad luck and tribulation. Ye An is due for incoming bad luck. She probably won't reach Nascent Soul.
Maniac000
Calling it, Liu Feng gets the coin and he learns alchemy from the Old Ghost. Liu Feng only brought a few months worth of book with him? Isn’t he gonna be gone for years? He’s gonna go stir crazy. I could just imagine him seeking out ancient cultivator tombs or ruins in the hopes he finds something good to read.
Dragondragon
It would make sense since heaven is supposed to be the will of the world and it is a dog eat dog world.
Perf
Wow, can't believe there's a person here that likes Hu Jin
Perf
Good thing this isn't a joke story.
Gio
Hu Jin isn't just some guy, he is heaven's avatar on earth. He has a purpose. I'm guessing that he is a tribulation of someone powerful. Should the heavens just shrug and go "oh well, we'll find someone else"? I doubt it's that simple. We don't know the rules of heaven, perhaps the heavens don't have a choice in bringing him back. Or is death enough to escape heaven's reach? We'll see. There is already precedent of people coming back from the dead in this world, examples: - Liu Feng - Coin Grandpa - That immortal guy that killed Hu Jin. My guess is either the heavens transmigrated him into another body OR he's in the coin with coin grandpa.
Gremlin Jack
Nascent Soul within four years?! In that time, Song Song will only be in Golden Core, And Liu Feng might be in Foundation Establishment if he is lucky. Unless our boy can come with something truly bullshit, that's not a fight I see them winning.
Boyo
Cya later Hu Jin, it couldn’t happen to a dumber guy. I know this is just my own tastes influencing my opinion, but I really hope the fiancé ends up being a yandere after all, or that she ends up not being a love interest. With the yandere fiancé, he’d be 3 for 3 with crazy women interested in him.
focus2x
Goodbye Hu Jin, we hardly knew ye.
LordDark
I would really prefer it if rather than reincarnating Hu Jin, the title of heavans chosen gets passed to one of his killers. Imagine Liu Feng freaking out because he can no longer find the time to read or Yu An having a meltdown when too many good things start to happen.
Myrdin
That is what the ghost is attached to
Nicholas Mann
That would be a miserably disappointing and cliche end. Don't cling on to your characters when they're better off dead. Even if you think you need him going forward you'd have a better time creating a new character for people to fall in love with. Seeing Hu get punishment for his crime so to speak was nice closure. Nobody liked him and we are all waiting for him to die. It was just a matter of when, so don't cheat people. They won't trust your book anymore
Irakli Jishkariani
Why would he want some idiot jerk's coin?
Tejas Patel
Hu Jin is either going to be alive in the coin or that old grandpa is coming back. Thanks for the chapter, book 3 has been a blast. Can't wait for what comes next
TheSniper
Didn't that spear guy threaten him or something as well
MaliMi
Let's see. He killed the disciple of another sect by decomposing his body with acid in a spar. He agreed to annihilate a clan in order to get a sky grade technique. He stole a life saving medicine from Ye An (though here we are not sure whether it was already in her possession or not). He stole from the sect's library. He stole from the MC. And these are only the things we know of.
Myrdin
I must admit I didn’t believe that Hu Jin actually died, but there is no way to raise from something like that, even for him. Now, Liu Feng must somehow get the coin.
TheSniper
Idk how you would justify him dying like that through that torture. He didn't deserve that sort of death at all
Conrad Manaugh
He really did though
Gio
I bet Hu Jin is gonna be transmigrated into another body.
Tiarnaria
Good end to book 3 and really looking forward to book 4, will miss both old bag of bones though so hopefully there are short stories
TheSniper
RIP Hu Jin. You didn't deserve this 😭
John Doe
Yeah okay I was thinking that there was no way hu jin was gonna survive, but im curious now about the side effects of having him be dead, the heavens are probably gonna be enraged now
StarBat
She killed the hero! Tribulation incoming!
