Chapter 1, The Strange Cost of Cultivation

The constable named Ren Qing patted Xiao Wu on the shoulder and quickly walked towards the alley entrance

After having their eyes gouged out, one will be plunged into an endless darkness, perceiving things invisible to ordinary people. Those who have attained mastery can swallow their own eyeballs to heal their injuries and prolong their lives, with the human eye being the most optimal.

Age: 17

He took a deep breath and opened the slightly ajar wooden door of the bookstore

They laid down the corpse

He did not dare to look through it at all; any action taken by the white servant had to be approved by the constable, in order to ensure that no unexpected incidents would occur

This has already been processed by the authorities, making it difficult to imagine what the scene was like before

The constable replied in a hoarse and deep voice: "It's an old problem, it doesn't matter. Xiao Wu, keep an eye on things here, I will go to the shop."

His duty is to burn the corpses and the personal belongings of the deceased, and logically, he should not encounter any danger

It is nothing, I am fine

Moreover, it is peculiar to mention that the people in this region of the world are considered elderly and nearing death by the age of forty, and they typically do not live beyond fifty

The path of cultivation lies right before us, and it can even extend one's lifespan. Even if it is somewhat strange, it is still better than waiting for death in a daze.

Ren Qing allowed the two to continue tidying up while he sat at the entrance of the bookstore to rest for a moment, holding the book tightly in his grasp

Xiao Wu appeared very fearful, his legs trembled slightly, and his voice was as faint as a mosquito's.

The morning market is bustling with activity, with crowds of people clustering together. Even the dense, drizzling rain cannot hinder the vendors from shouting in their unique tones.

Although Ren Qing has not yet found a method for prolonging life, after inquiring about information from various sources, he has discerned clues from the officials of different departments.

This is a divine ability inherent to Ren Qingtian; as long as he touches another person, he can see their lifespan, but it is limited to this alone

A few days ago, there were still eight pyrotechnicians responsible for the street talks. However, when they were burning a corpse that had died unexpectedly, they detected a strange odor, which led to a situation.

The two constables, as if there were no one around, transported the corpse to a relatively open area

How unfortunate

Moreover, this peculiar world is filled with oddities, and the residents seldom leave the city. Every now and then, they inexplicably die, yet everyone has become accustomed to such occurrences.

Ren Qing took the book, and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mind

Bad person

Li Mian handed the book to Ren Qing

Ren Qingqiang suppressed his nausea, partly because he did not want his subordinates to look down on him, and partly because he was afraid that his weak constitution would cause him to faint

Is someone dead again

The crowd murmurs softly

Suddenly, the crowd fell silent, their gazes filled with fear as they looked towards a certain direction

Ren Qing

This method, understood by the monk Bai Mu Lao Seng from the Shou Leng Yan Sutra, requires the practitioner to remove both eyes, combine the eyeballs with medicinal ingredients, and consume them. After a period of forty-nine days, the eyes will regrow.

Generally speaking, in the event of a sudden death, it is first the duty of the guards to come and inspect the scene. Only after confirming that there are no issues do the fire workers, such as Ren Qing, proceed, followed lastly by the cleaning servants who are responsible for removing blood and filth.

Li Mian and Li Heng are biological brothers, bearing a striking resemblance to each other, approximately eighty to ninety percent alike. They have no connections within the yamen, which is why they were assigned to Ren Qing.

Another young constable, around thirteen or fourteen years old, was wearing ill-fitting black clothing and did not have the words "officially authorized constable" on it

Two grim-faced bailiffs carried a corpse wrapped in burlap on a wooden board, emerging from the alley, with blood dripping from the board onto the bluestone bricks.

In the days following his crossing over, he lived in a daze, but fortunately, he had not interacted much with others, so his unusual behavior did not attract attention

The Li brothers arrived at the corner of the alley and leaned against the wall, retching.

There is a book in the gap of the bookshelf

This month is probably the third time...

Do not look, do not look

Ren Qing's arms clutched the books tightly in his embrace, and after a while, some additional information emerged

The leading constable could not help but cough due to the heavy lifting, and it took several moments for him to stop.

It is unlike any dynasty of the previous lives

The One Hundred Eyed: Creating Illusions

Consume thirty days of lifespan, exempt from the cost control

Before Ren Qing, a multitude of lines surged, outlining chaotic patterns, which ultimately formed several segments of text

Both hands are presented in an open gesture, with the palms holding the eyeballs that have been forcibly excavated.

The Method of No Objective

The Unseen: Unraveling Illusions

Rest assured, I will return shortly

What does the term "cost" actually refer to? Is it the forty-nine days of blindness following the loss of sight, or is it something deeper and more secretive?

Ren Qing did not want to experience changes due to hesitation

Ren Qing walked deep into the alley, and a strong smell of blood assaulted his senses, so intense that it was nauseating

In an instant, the thirty days of his lifespan vanished with a single thought

Unfortunately, time did not allow him the opportunity to further adapt

The older constable, dressed in black, had a thin frame and slightly sunken eye sockets, giving the impression of someone burdened by illness.

The dilapidated bookstore came into view, with two young white servants standing at the entrance, both under twenty. Upon seeing Ren Qing, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief

All the pyrotechnicians fell to the ground, their faces still bearing a strange smile before they died

Moments later, Li Mian and another person bravely walked in

The white role asked with concern: "Qing Ge'er, are you alright?"

Xiao Wu actively sought refuge from elsewhere; he is a fellow townsman of Ren Qing's ancestors

Ren Qing carefully tidied up the room

Ren Qing appears to be the only one who survived, but in reality, his body has long since been replaced with another soul; in his previous life, he was merely an ordinary office worker

Moreover, the residents of this alley have all evacuated, making it far less noticeable than the bustling government office filled with people.

The room was filled with chunks of flesh and blood, and the bookshelves were askew, devoid of any books, creating an unusually empty atmosphere

The moment he touched the book, Ren Qing's supernatural powers were activated for the first time, and a stream of information converged before his eyes

Ren Qing could not help but swallow, her heart began to race uncontrollably, and a sickly flush appeared on her face

The mountain village outside is also filled with a sense of insecurity among its residents

The Dual-Eyed: Anticipating the Enemy in Advance

The reason he has five years left to live is due to the severe failure of his internal organs after being resurrected from death

Just like the shopkeeper in the bookstore, those with discerning eyes all know that he met an untimely death

Thus, he had no choice but to brace himself and deal with the bizarre and inexplicable mess alongside three completely inexperienced white laborers

They wrapped the pieces of meat in burlap bags they carried with them, dismantled wooden furniture into fragments, and took everything away without leaving anything behind

Upon witnessing this, the crowd scattered in all directions, and even the vendors hurriedly packed their belongings, as if they were trying to evade a plague.

Ren Qing had never come into contact with the forbidden soldiers, but he suspected that the forbidden soldiers were cultivators who had mastered spells; otherwise, how could Sanxiang City maintain its superficial stability

Although the yamen runners are situated within the government office, they are merely the subordinates and errand runners employed within the yamen, and the water and fire sticks are only used as tools for self-defense

Li Heng and Li Mian wanted to get closer, but were blocked by Ren Qing who reached out his hand

A bad person

Lifespan: 5 years and 113 days

Ren Qing nodded to the two individuals and then spoke: "If you want to vomit, go ahead, and then quickly go inside to pack your things. It must be completed as soon as possible; you surely do not want to stay here, do you?"

After a moment, new information regarding the method of no eyes emerged again

The body of the shopkeeper that was moved out earlier was originally kneeling behind the door

Alright, send someone...

His footsteps appeared somewhat unsteady, and his breathing became heavy, indicating that his inner state was far from the calmness he outwardly displayed

He fell to the ground, tears streaming down uncontrollably

His cuffs are embroidered with "Fu Xu Chai Yi", and he has a two-foot-long water and fire stick tied around his waist

Ren Qing is in charge of Tan Street in the West District of Sanxiang City, and is classified as a fire worker among the officials.

This is a white duty, often serving under formal officials, and it may take several years to be promoted.

Young brother ... ...